Why were the sacrifices different? (was: A moral theory of Magic )

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 95517

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at y...> wrote:
> 
> IMO, the ifs, buts, and maybes do exist. They involve how and when and
> which of the two will die. 
 
> Harry is not predestined to defeat or kill Voldemort, much less at a
> certain time and in a certain way. He is simply the only one in the WW
> with the power to do so. If he doesn't do it, no one else can or will.
>  
> Destiny (being fate's chosen agent) is not necessarily predestination,
> and however limited Harry's choices, he must still make them, just as
> his mother did before him. Both Harry and Voldemort have already made
> choices that turned out to be mistakes. They will face other choices,
> and perhaps make more mistakes, before the final confrontation. And
> it, too, will involve choices. You yourself have said that he'll
> probably be tempted by the Dark Side but will end up (presumably) on
> the side of good, facing his duty squarely. And isn't that a choice?
> 

No matter what 'choices' Harry makes they are not made in a vacuum nor
can they be made expecting that the choices of others will not affect their
outcome.

Voldy will be actively seeking out young Potter. Not only was he the 
proximate cause of 10  years in the wilderness, Voldy also believes that
Harry has also been tipped by the Prophecy as hot favourite for Voldy's top
spot. No matter what choice Harry makes it won't change that situation. 
If things go on as they are, one day he will turn a corner and ..Surprise! 
Short of offering to shake Voldy's hand and let bye-gones be by-gones
(which is not the most brilliant of ideas) there's not much he can do about 
it. So far every time he has run into Voldy it has either been a chance event
or something organised by Voldy and his crew. To say that he has a choice 
in the matter is a bit like saying a sheep has a choice when a wolf-pack  is
prowling round the fold.  

'Predestination' and 'destiny' are not subjects that I would normally consider
to be suitable subjects for mature adults - much too close to barmy ideas
about being able to foretell the future. Fortunately in this instance they can
be dealt with in short order. 

What is a Prophecy? A collection of words purporting to tell of future events.
The accuracy of any supposed prophecy can only be determined *after* the
events have happened. Even then there are matters of interpretation to be
considered - how clear and specific was this so-called prophecy? Was it
vague and generalised so that the gullible can be conned into being
impressed by something that was not all that wonderful when it's viewed 
objectively? Sybill's effort is a mixture, some specificity (circumstances of
Harry's birth, marking, etc) that can be applied to Harry. Vague when 
dealing with things to come. (What a surprise!) Bits about some power or
other and a suggestion that one or the other will maybe die at the hand of 
the other. Not very  impressive. The problems arise when people start  to
believe prophecies and IMO DD believes this one and so does Voldy. That's
when there's a danger that they can become self-fulfilling; folk act in ways
that consciously or unconciously make the prophecy seem a certainty even
though it is their decisions that are closing off the alternatives.

IMO this is what''s happening. Voldy sees the Prophecy as a threat warning
to be acted upon and DD sees it as a useful indicator for defeating Voldy. 
Harry is being manoevered by the actions of others, not by the inevitability
of words spoken by some batty old bird. His range of action is limited by
decisions made by others and it will continue to be so. I  fully expect him 
to try and escape the coils, but it will be those others that deny him the 
opportunity. Harry defeated Voldy once and they expect him to do it again.
Forget destiny and predestination.
His role is cast - by others. His future is being determined -  by others.

But I wouldn't place bets on the final outcome if I were you; JKR is tricky -
expect the unexpected.

Kneasy