Dept. of Mysteries Prophecies - Row 97=1997

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 125418


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "tinglinger" <tinglinger at y...>
wrote:
> 
> Maria  wrote:
>  
> I've read the other esponses to your post, but I think we
> need to keep in mind WHERE these orbs were before they broke.
> ...edited...  We don't know how the orbs are catalogued, but I would
> assume they are shelved according to the dates they were recorded. 

 
> Tinglinger/Samnanya:
> 
> ... Given that JKR loves riddles, it is more consistent to assume 
> that the prophecies are catalogued chronologically by the date they 
> are predicted to OCCUR.
> 
> Row 97 would correspond to 1997 (or even all years of the
> form xx97 since they are stacked very high up)
> 1997 would correspond to the year that Harry ends his sixth
> year at Hogwarts and starts his seventh year there - the
> perfect time for Harry to confront the dark lord once and
> for all.
> 
> ...edited..
> 
> I had posted on this extensively in 2003/2004 and will find
> the post(s) if anyone is really interested.
>
>tinglinger


bboyminn:

Well, I will admit it is an odd coincidence that the Prophecy is in
Row 97, and that may have some significants, but oddly, I don't think
it's significant significants. 

It may coincide with the year of the beginning of the seventh school
year ('97-'98), and the seventh and final book, and the year in which
Harry turns 17 becoming an adult in the wizard world, and she may have
picked that particular row as symbolic of all these things, but I
think that's as far as it goes. 

The problem is that the Prophecy was made in late 1979 or early 1980
(the year Harry was born), so that rules out a connection between the
row number and the year of the Prophecy. The books will conclude
during the 1997-1998 school year, but likely the climax will be in
1998. In addition, the Prophecy is vague enough that no one in the
wizard world could predict when it would be fulfilled which is what I
take Tinglinger's statement "...by the date they are predicted to
OCCUR..." to mean. 

In fact, while the Prophecy may be completely fulfilled during a
certain year, it is actually being fulfilled (occurring) in parts as
the years go by. So, the Prophecy is being fulfilled across a span of
time and not on a certain (unpredictable) date. Although, I
acknowledge that it may expire or conclude on a certain, again
unpredictable, date.

I think extrenal to the story, JKR needed to create some sense of time
and space for the reader. So, she had Harry enter the room in the
middle near row 50 (approx.) which means the group has to move through
the great room to row 97. That creates time and distance for the
search, and later, time and distance for the chase and escape.

So, I think any symbolism is external to the story. It may have value
to the reader, but is of no or little significant internal to the story. 

I'm willing to be proved wrong, but that's where I stand for now.
Certainly not an opinion that is as fun as a secret message hidden in
the story.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn