Three People in the Prophecy

[Cathy Drolet]

No: HPFGUIDX 105969

David said:

"What if there are three people referred to in the prophecy? On her 
website, JKR says she worded the prophecy "extremely carefully."

What if:
The one = Harry Potter
The Dark Lord = Lord Voldemort
The other = Neville Longbottom

JKR writes:
"and either (*the one* OR the *Dark Lord*) must die at the hand of 
THE OTHER for neither can live while THE OTHER survives..." (all 
emphases mine)

Since I first read the prophecy, I thought that "the other"
referred to Harry or Voldemort and they would have to try and kill 
each other to truly live.

It makes a whole lot of sense to read it that way and it is quite a 
bit simpler than the theory I'm throwing out here, but stay with me.

In the American version of OOP, P. 841, Harry hears the phrophecy 
and then asks: "What did that mean?" Dumbledore explains that the 
only person who can ultimately defeat Lord Voldemort was born at the 
end of July sixteen years ago... Harry asks: "It means -- me?" 
Dumbledore then explains that it could have applied to two wizard 
boys with parents who escaped L.V. three times. Dumbledore 
says: "ONE, of course, was you. THE OTHER was Neville Longbottom." 
(Again, my emphasis.)(OOP American version page 842)

Could JKR throw this type of twist at us? Does she gives us the 
answer to her "extremely carefully"-worded prophecy eight tiny 
paragraphs after she writes it?"


Cathy:

Glad to know someone besides myself is still wrestling with this dratted prophecy.  On page 736 of the Canadian version of OofP, Dumbledore says: "Voldemort had been *vanquished* hours before..."  The first part of the Prophecy is: "the one with the power to *vanquish* the Dark Lord approaches..born as the seventh month dies."  Has Harry already *vanquished* the Dark Lord, now leaving room for "THE OTHER"?  I don't know, but it adds fuel to your fire, doesn't it?  

I've pondered over this prophecy so long my head nearly fell off and I had to stop.  As to whether JKR could throw this kind of twist, of course she could, it is her book after all.  My only problem with the whole theory is this from OotP: 

'So,' said Harry, dredging up the words from what felt like a deep well of despair inside him, 'so does that mean that ... that one of us has got to kill the other one...in the end?'
'Yes,' said Dumbledore.

Which at first glance looks like DD is saying Harry has to kill LV or LV has to kill Harry, but what if it means one of them has to kill Neville?

Good.  More now to think about.  






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