JKR's FAQ poll -- Neville's potential as prophecy boy (spoilers for FAQ)

[mad_maxime]

No: HPFGUIDX 129086

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hickengruendler"
<hickengruendler at y...> wrote:

Max wrote:

> > Secondly, I don't think we can assume that the rebound effect only
> > occurs when one sacrifices themselves for a child. The love for a
> > child is certainly very deep and unique, but love for a spouse, 
> > parent or other family member can be just as powerful.
> 
> Hickengruendler responed:
> 
> And there I disagree. I can't really say why, since I'm aware that 
> there is nothing in canon that explicitly states this. All I can say 
> is, that from reading the books I got the impression, that it is 
> something special that it was a parent, who sacrificed herself for 
> Harry. But we will see if this is further explained in the later 
> books. But note that JKR's poll answer at least doesn't contradict 
> this, when saying, that Frank and Alice could have sacrificed 
> themselves for Neville the same way Lily did for Harry, and the 
> curse would have rebounded as well. There is no mention of Gran or 
> Great Uncle Algie doing so. (Of course I know that it's entirely 
> possible that this was just to make the answer at least a bit 
> shorter ;-) ). 
>  
> Hickengruendler

Max responds:

Even if you're right and the sacrifice has to be made by a parent to
save a child in order to activate the ancient magic, it still doesn't
explain the complete absence of any similar events in wizarding
history. This simply can't be the first time a parent has jumped in
front of an AK curse in an attempt to save their child (whether the
curse was thrown by a dark lord, a villain, a deranged family member,
or whoever). The situation would be more rare certainly, but not
unheard of. That's my opinion, anyway. :)

Max