Did DD lie about the Prophecy?

[Smythe, Boyd T {FLNA}]

No: HPFGUIDX 117911

Del wrote:
> We don't know anything about how the Seer gift works. Because of that, we
don't know what kinds of conditions it works under, if any. How practical !
But let's assume that it doesn't just work at random, and that some kinds of
conditions must be met. In that case, the major differences between the
circumstances in which the two prophecies were given strike me as
suspicious. <


boyd:
Nice analysis of a great topic, Del, but I think you miss one other
possibility. Warning--I'm about to spout some MD-ish subversion.

But first a few observations. 1) We don't ever see or hear the prophecy
firsthand. 2) We don't where prophecies come from. 3) We don't know by what
process they are recorded into the MoM warehouse. 4) Dumbledore is not
around when Harry hears Sybill's prophecy about the servant returning to its
master.

That leaves plenty of room for a most subversive reading of these
prophecies: they're all a big fake-out. And a manipulative Dumbledore is the
perpetrator, deftly using his partial knowledge of the future to nudge
things in the right direction--with the 'prophecies.' I'm suggesting that he
'talks' through Sybill--a known seer-wannabe--to create bogus prophecies
that meet his needs.

So the other possibility is that these are not actual prophecies.

But, you say, what about Jo's declaration that DD never lies to Harry?
Believe it if you want, but consider this: Jo has misled us all many times
before, both in-book and out. Remember the flim-flammery of the wand order?
This is a mystery, and red herrings are part of the author's style. Perhaps
she has merely extended her scope to include subterfuge within interviews,
as well. Seeing the quantity of discussion out here, maybe she simply
decided to throw a wrench in the works to keep us off the scent. She'd
likely enjoy it!

Apologies if I've ruffled any feathers, but let's continue to question
everything in this HP-universe. Especially Dumbledore.

--boyd
rainy days and mondays always get me subversive