Trelawney's second prediction/Forbidden Forest Creatures

[sophierom]

No: HPFGUIDX 89345

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lizvega2" <lizvega2 at y...> 
wrote:
<snip>
< isn't it reasonable to 
> assume that he will begin a very public reign of terror, worse 
than fifteen years ago? After he gets the DE's out of Azkaban that 
is. Which brings me around to my second point. Based on the above 
> theory, if Voldemort does gain more power, and is able to take 
over certain arenas that were out of reach to him during his first 
swing, wouldn't he want to take Hogwarts? Hagrid said in PS that 
Voldemort was getting powerful, but not powerful enough to take the 
school. If Voldemort is more powerful this time, isn't it likely 
he'll go after the place where:
>
> 1. Harry is. 
> 2. Dumbledore is.
> 3. And, I'm still not discounting Neville as a 
> possible 'alternative' 'one with the power to vanquish the dark 
lord'
> 4. Not to mention a place that would be 'safe' for him- as there 
are 
> few places as safe as Hogwarts. 
>

Sophierom:

I think you're right about most of this ... Hogwarts would make the 
perfect setting for a final showdown.  But, I'm confused about your 
point #4 - how would Hogwarts be "safe" for LV, or am I 
misinterpreting your sentence? Sorry. 


LizVega again:
> Now, if Voldemort does decide to take Harry at the school, 
something that can only happen in book 7, is it logical to think 
that the army that will stop him will not only be students and 
staff, but as a first defense, the creatures of the forbidden 
forest? 
> 
> Pretty scary stuff:
> 
> Centaurs
> Grawp
> Unicorns
> Aragog and family
> Fluffy
> 
> 
> Not to mention a whole lot of House Elves (Not in the forest of 
> course) who we as readers know to possess a certain amount of 
power of their own.>

Sophierom: 

I wonder if all the creatures you listed would happily serve as 
a "first defense?" I think that many of these creatures will only 
band together with the humans at Hogwarts after something 
catastrophic has happened.  For example, I think the centaurs would 
not fight unless first attacked by the DEs; otherwise, they'd 
happily stay out of mere human affairs.  And if the DEs have really 
gotten most giants on their side, Grawp's loyalty to Hagrid might be 
tested severely.  While Argog might happily feed the DEs to his many 
children, would he be willing to make a distinction between the DEs 
and the followers of the Order? I can't say much about Fluffy and 
the unicorns, and I do think the House Elves would fight along side 
the Order/Hogwarts army, but then the question becomes, would all of 
the Hogwarts fighters be happy about fighting along side house elves 
whom they might consider below them? Dumbledore and Hermione seem to 
represent a minority view when they call for respect and tolerance 
toward the House Elves.  

I think this coalition will come together in the end, but it will be 
interesting to see how the WW works out its own set of prejudices to 
keep a diverse group of creatures fighting together. And I think 
that no one can count on these creatures to act as a first line of 
defense or as mere tools for defeating LV.  The wizards against LV 
will have to come to recognize all the creatures as partners, and 
these humans will have to make some sacrfices and/or changes of 
attitude and custom.  

Interesting topic. Thanks!

Sophierom