Marking as an Equal

[hermionegallo]

No: HPFGUIDX 82295

There's been some debate about Harry's ability, or lack thereof, to 
be EQUAL to Voldemort.

It's obvious to us, and especially to Harry himself, that he has got 
by in his confrontations with Voldemort on a combination of luck, 
simple charms, guesses, willingness to accept death, courage, 
loyalty, outside help.  I don't think we're intended to see him as an 
equal match -- except, possibly, in his innate power, which is 
evident but still untrained and not fully realized.

As for being "marked" as an equal, it seems the general assumption 
has been that Voldemort marked him as a baby, and thus making 
the "mark him as his equal" part of the prophecy fall into place.  
But it seems to me that trying to kill a baby isn't considering that 
baby an equal, unless we assume that his reason for trying to kill 
him is that he believes Harry is to grow to be as powerful as he.  

What I see as more likely is that Harry was "marked as an equal" in 
the graveyard scene, when Voldemort was mocking Harry, forcing him to 
go through the motions of a duel.  In that scene, even though it was 
all in ridicule, Voldemort did indeed mark Harry as an equal.  And so 
in light of that, I can see where Kneazle can speculate that 
Voldemort would do the same with Neville; and thus the terms of the 
prophecy could still just as likely apply to Neville.
hg.