"Seeing" the Invisible

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 138635

Greg:
<snipping>
> We don't see much of this again until HBP, when Dumbledore
> identifies the entrance to the cave, the words that were written 
> and the location of the boat, all of which from Harry's point of
>  view seem to be invisible.
> 
> So the question becomes, is this "seeing the invisble" a.) a 
> unique trait of Dumbledore's, b.) a trait like a metamorphagus
> that is something inborn to each person (and so therefore 
> something Harry's going to have to deal w/o in book 7) or c.)
> something that Harry can learn.

Jen: I've been wondering when this interview snippet might come into 
play and I think your idea could be it (CBBC, 2000):

Lizo: "Are there any special wizarding powers in your world that 
depend on the wizard using their eyes to do something? Bit like
"
JKR: "Why do you want to know this?" 
Lizo: "I just vaguely wondered."
JKR: "Why?" 
Lizo: "Well because everyone always goes on about how Harry's got 
Lilly Potter's eyes?"
JKR: "Aren't you smart? There is something, maybe, coming about 
that. I'm going to say no more. Very clever."

I was wondering if the quote had to do with Lily's and Harry's eyes, 
and certainly that could still play out. Both are said to see the 
world in a compassionate way (although humanly imperfect as well), 
and maybe the gift of the eyes is also a magical ability to 'see 
through' what others can't. (Course that might be contradicted by 
JKR saying Harry's eyes are his most vulnerable area, darn 
interviews <g>).

Greg: 
> From both the trip to the cave, and the little we know about 
> Dumbledore's trip to the Gaunt house, both of Voldemort's
> Horcruxes were at least partially hidden from sight.  This means
> two things.  Number one, Voldemort is likely to be another person
> who can "see the invisible", and 2 Harry's going to need to be 
> able to do the same to find the remaining hidden Horcruxes.  But
> where's he going to learn that?

Jen: Voldemort's magical skill would probably be in the hiding and 
cursing rather than the seeing. He's proven how often he overlooks 
important information to the point you wonder if his extreme skill 
blocks his other senses! He's certainly cut off from his soul and 
intuition, we know that for a literal fact now.

Steve:
> The short version of my interpretation is that Dumbledore is an old
> and wise man. He is not distracted by the moment, and see and hears
> things that others simply block out as unimportant. In other words,
> Dumbledore is an extremely preceptive person.

Jen: While I completely agree, it would still be fun to find out 
there's a magical power involved, something connecting Harry with 
Lily. Dumbledore probably learned the skill, but perhaps it will be 
innate for Harry.

Jen