Does the prophecy suggest that both have to die (was: Harry will die)

[dzeytoun]

No: HPFGUIDX 104458

Carin said:

> I agree with Wanda on this one. I recently had a look at what the 
OED
> has to say about "either", and without quoting dictionary-babble at
> you, I can report that it documents both either = "both", "each of
> two" and either = "one or the other". The former is verging on the
> obsolete, but was the original meaning of the word. The language of
> prophecy is typically tinged with the archaic anyway, which I think
> admits the obsolete meaning "both" here, and I think any ambiguity 
in
> the prophecy probably hinges on the interpretation of "either". When
> JKR says that both she and Trelawny phrased the prophecy very
> carefully, I take her to mean that she deliberately chose the
> ambiguous "either" (rather than saying "ONE must die at the hand of
> the other or sim.) to keep open the possibility that both will die. 
> 

This seems to me to be fundamental overreach.  Although JKR often 
makes wordplays, to use something THAT esoteric would be well out of 
character for her.  I think she meant exactly what she said "EITHER" 
as in the modern and common usage of ONE OR THE OTHER NOT BOTH.  I'm 
sorry, but I just can't see any ambiguity here.

Dzeytoun