Why is everyone so convinced the prophecy is correct?

[slgazit]

No: HPFGUIDX 82294

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> What proof is there that Harry is Voldys equal?

Certainly he is not Voldemort's equal in knowledge. There is proof 
that he is as powerfull as him when both are on equal footing 
though. In fact, when it comes to a contest of wills, Harry is 
stronger. This is seen especially in GoF. Once the wands locked 
together it was Harry, through sheer willpower and determination, 
who forced Voldemort's wand to emit prior spells and he ended the 
contest on his terms.

There is some evidence to that end also in their encounters in SS/PS 
and CoS.

The only time where Voldemort is on top in the encounters between 
them was in OoP. At that point Harry is total shock, hasn't slept 
for two nights (remember the night before he was up due to what 
happened during his astronomy OWL and the fight in the DoM took up 
most of the next night. Has been through many frightening if not 
traumatic events (the vision of Sirius being tortured, the 
encounters with Kreacher and Umbridge, with the Centaurs, the flight 
to the MoM, the search in the DoM, the fight with the DE's and of 
course Sirius' death. He is physically and emotionally spent, 
whereas Voldemort is in top shape. Hardly a good example.

> Additionally, his escapes seem to rely on factors outside his 
control.
> Quirrell crumbling; Fawkes and a fangfully lucky guess in CoS; 
> conflicting wands in GoF; Dumbledore on OoP.

He gets help to counter Voldemort's knowledge. I don't see this as 
contradiction. As his knowledge increases, he gets less and less 
help and has to rely more on himself.

> The power the Dark Lord knows not.
> This really is a can of worms.
> Lots of posters will tell you they know exactly what this power 
is; it's
> love or friendship or self sacrifice or steadfastness or, or...
> We're all  guessing on that one. Me, I haven't the slightest idea;

Ditto here. I don't think we have enough information to draw 
conclusions, only educated guesses.

> You may be right, but I read it a different way.
> I don't think the MoM scene was about prophecies; yes, there was an
> indication that Neville is about to find his feet; but mostly I 
think it was
> about Harry and Sirius. About loss and it's effect.

I agree but also think it was also intended as a lesson to Harry 
that his actions can carry deadly consequences. In a way this is the 
book that Harry is forced to cross the barrier from child to adult - 
too early of course. That is the real "invisible barrier" that 
separates him from his friends. Neither Hermione nor Ron have had to 
go through this and both are still, in many ways, children.

The significance of revealing the prophecy at this juncture is that 
Harry the child could not handle it. Harry the adult, as in many 
ways he becomes at the end of OoP, can.

As for Neville, I am sure he is not the one meant by the prophecy 
(it's Harry), but that the fact that he was a possible candidate 
will play a huge and unexpected role in bringing about its 
fullfillment.

Salit