I'm still confused about the prophecy

[mad_maxime]

No: HPFGUIDX 95442

Steve wrote:
> <snip>
> Remember, Voldemort still has not heard the prophecy, and he still
> doesn't know whether it has helpful information or not. We, on the
> other hand, have heard it, and most of us conclude that it was not
> that useful. Although, the prophecy is subject to interpretation,
> and may contain a clue that we, the reader, haven't realized yet.
> <big snip>
> So, we are enlightened, but Voldemort is still in the dark.

Max responds:

Hmmm. . . I don't know. I find the information quite useful. If you
just see the prophecy as confirmation that Harry and Voldemort will
ultimately come face to face (or mind to mind, if you will) and that
one of them will triumph, than, I agree, it's not that revelatory -
this is something that we've guessed from the very beginning.

I think one of the most important revelations from the prophecy,
though, is to confirm the fact that Harry is, in some way, Voldemort's
equal and that he has a power that Voldemort is ignorant of.
Personally, I believe it's safe to assume that this 'power' will be
what brings about the downfall of Voldemort. So we're potentially
being given a big piece of information here - Voldemort's ignorance
could once again lead to his ruin.

Also, the fact that Harry is "enlightened", but Voldemort "is still in
the dark" can give us great hope. We see that Harry is being given an
upper hand here, an actual chance to defeat Voldemort. If he can learn
to develop or harness this 'power', he will have the element of
surprise on his side. Voldemort will continue to underestimate the
boy, thus laying all of his vulnerabilities open for attack.

So I see the prophecy not as a confirmation that a final battle *will*
occur, but as a blueprint for *how* this battle might play itself out.

Imo, this is all quite useful. :)

Max