Phrophecy Orbs - Summary

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 109849

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Bex" <hubbarrk at r...> wrote:
> vmonte commented:
> > 
> > I agree. Besides, according to canon only Harry and Neville
> > touched the orb.


> Yb:
> Yes, but once Harry took it off the shelf, no one really minded 
> trying ton take it off his hands (Both Lucy and Trixie tried). Who 
> touched it after Harry grabbed it (*I think*) is not important.
> 
> ~Yb


Asian_lovr2:

I'm going to try and make a condensed statement of the possibilities;
however, I admit, condensed statements are not my strong suit.

The Nature of the Orb's Protections-

We must decide if-

1.) The nature of the Prophecy Orb's protection is inherent in the Orb
itself.

In a sense, we must ponder whether the Orb has a form of magical
intelligence that allows it to self-protect, and more over, adapt to
changing conditions. For example, when it was determined that Harry
was 'the one', the Orb self-adjusted to allow him to touch it. 

2.) The Orb itself is neutral, and it protective nature is subject to
the application of outside magic. Example; when it was determined that
Harry was 'the one'; the Keeper of Prophecies went down to the vault
and altered the enchantments on the Orb to allow Harry to touch it.

Points to Ponder-

1.) Once the Orb is off the shelf, it seems that anyone can touch it.
Lucius and 'Trixie' didn't have any reservation about touching it once
Harry removed it from the shelf.

If the Orb is magically intelligent and self-protecting, why does the
protection stop as soon as it is removed from the shelf?

2.) What is the purpose of the Orbs and the Hall of Prophecies? Is it
simply a storage facility, or are the Prophecies kept there so the
Dept of Mysteries can study them? 

Do they keep track of the accuracy rate of various Prophets like
Trelawny? Since many Prophecies are mulit-part prophecies, are the
researchers tracking and cataloging the various stages for accuracy?
If they are being studied, does that imply that the researchers must
handle them in their course of study? 

Note: they may study them by observing them on the shelf. I personally
assume they handle them, but that may not really be necessary.

3.) Is Harry being closely monitored at Privet Drive as an extension
of the research being done in the Hall of Prophecies? Are all people
whose fate has been prophesied being monitored to determine the
accuracy of their particular prophecy? 

Or, is Harry being monitored simply because he is tied to Voldemort
and the DE's, and they, The Ministry, are concerned about his safety?
Or, is Harry being monitored related to his Prophecy, but not as a
direct result of action on the part of the Hall of Prophecies, instead
by, for example, Magical Law Enforcement out of concern for his
safety, a concerned based in the Prophecy and Harry's connection to
'The Dark Lord', but not directly tied to the Dept of Mysteries?


My Opinion-

Since the protection seems to end once it the Prophecy is removed from
the shelf, I am inclined to think the protection is external to the
Orb itself. The Orb is neutral, and it's protections are applied to it
by the Keeper of the Hall of Prophecies, and modified by him as
circumstances dictate.

Since modification and control of prophecy orbs would be a very
specific, specialized, isolated, and obscure branch of magic, I think
very few wizards would know how to counteract the charms and
enchantments placed by the Keeper of Orbs. Also, in a sense, the Orbs
could be 'password protected'. You may be able to discover the charms
and spells necessary to alter the Orb, but without the 'password' or
'by-pass' key, you would not be able to alter them without suffering
the same consequences as trying to remove them.

That's a lot of speculation on my part, but I personally can't see
why, if the Orb was self-protecting, it's self-protection would stop
once it was removed from the shelf. And, I have to assume that the
Hall of Prophecies is more than a warehouse; it must exist as a
reseach facility, and that implies that the wizard who work there are
researching, tracking, and therefore handling the prophecies to some
degree.

For what it's worth...

Steve/Asian_lovr2