The Iron Fist of Will - body/body or body/spirit

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 142552

Ceridwen:
> While non-corporeal possession leaves too many unanswered questions
>(such as the problem of what Voldemort did with his body while he
> was in Harry, which is a decent-sized problem), I still have to
> disagree.

Steve:
> Let me point out certain phrases that seem to re-enforce my
> personal position of physical possession. Though, I admit they
> don't really /prove/ anything. "...locked in the coils of a
> creature..., so tightly bound that Harry did not know where his
> body ended and the creature's began. They were fused together..."
> 
> Again, that sounds pretty physical to me; locked together, tightly
> bound, can't tell where one begins and the other ends, fused
> together. 


Jen: I'm just getting caught up on all the possession posts and 
wanted to add a couple of thoughts on bodily vs. spirit possession. 
For one thing, I noticed this quote:

"Harry opened his eyes, saw his glasses lying at the heel of the 
headless statue that had been guarding him, but which now lay flat 
on its back, cracked and immobile." (chap. 36, p. 816, Scholastic)

Although I initially read the possession scene as Steve did, a body 
and spirit possession, I think a case can be made that Voldemort 
entered the statue come-to-life, then possessed Harry in spirit. It 
would happen simultaneously and Dumbledore was watching Harry 
intently, as he undoubtedly was writhing in pain. I just found the 
imagery of the statue lying 'cracked and immobile' as similar to 
what happened to creatures and to Quirrell when Voldemort left their 
bodies.

Also, undoubtedly Voldemort expected Dumbledore would act as 'fools 
who love' act and *not* kill Harry when he entered him. But 
Voldemort wouldn't take any chances, would he? If he was intending 
to kill Harry by possessing him until he died, or killing him as he 
left his body, he was taking a very big risk that Dumbledore would 
stand by and watch that process and do nothing. If Voldemort's 
spirit only was inside Harry, and his body hidden, there was a 
smaller risk. 

One last thought on Harry having the power of possession: "But I 
don't!" said Harry in a strangled voice. "I haven't any powers he 
hasn't got, I couldn't fight the way he did tonight, I can't possess 
people or--or kill them--" (chap. 37, p. 843, Scholastic) 

Dumbledore goes on to talk about the power Harry possesses 'in such 
quantities'...I don't know, makes me wonder if there really is more 
to it. No power of possession, no Harrycrux, just the unexplained 
power transfer at GH, and Voldemort handing Harry weapons to bring 
about his own demise. The core of the story is Love made manifest in 
powerful magic, such as that residing in Harry's skin, or when Harry 
feels James alive inside him and calls forth the stag patronus, or 
when Harry gains courage from the phoenix song because he is 'pure 
of heart'. I love this theory you guys put together, particularly 
Steve and Valky, I just wonder sometimes...

Jen