Prophecy Problems (WAS: why are prophecies stored in glass orbs??)

[happybean98]

No: HPFGUIDX 94046




Kashelkar wrote:

> > Why do MoM people save the prophecies in glass orbs??  Is not 
there 
> > any other method of saving the thousands of prophecies in a 
better, 
> > safer and more secure way (consuming less space, maybe)?  

Kathleen:

I've wondered about this too. My guess is that having them shelved 
and labeled, similar to books in a library, dignifies the prophecies 
as being worthy of study. It also conveys the number of prophecies 
that exist in the WW, (a lot), and shows us that the MoM takes them 
seriously.

Practically speaking, it does seem silly to have a record that can 
only be used one time, and for it to be so fragile.  I think that 
because JKR made a prophecy the axis of the entire plot,  she had to 
solve the problems she encountered by giving prophecies a lot of 
extra rules and unusual properties.

The rule that they can only be touched by the people concerned is 
handy because it now requires some trial and error (rising action) on 
the part of Voldemort to figure that out. The fact that they are so 
fragile adds the element of suspense when Harry almost drops it 
several times. And then when it finally does shatter, there's the 
suspense that the all important 'weapon' is now useless.

My biggest problem about the prophecy is this:

If the motive of the Order of the Phoenix was to keep the record of 
the prophecy away from Voldemort, and Dumbledore already knew what it 
said, why didn't the Order of the Pheonix just destroy it? Instead of 
risking their lives protecting it, why didn't they just destroy it 
the same way Harry and company smashed all the other prophecies on 
that row?

Kathleen