Theory about Priori Encantatem discrepancy

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 160076

---  skywalker1 at ... wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>    ...
> Anyway, I also have been puzzled by the order Voldy's
> victims emerged from his wand.  Well, it suddenly 
> occurred to me today that perhaps Lilly and James knew
>  that Voldy was after Harry and took some extra last 
> minute precautions to protect him.  What if James gave 
> Harry a polyjuice potion so he looked like James and 
> then James drank one himself to look like Harry?  That 
> way Harry would be protected since Voldy wasn't after 
> James.  ...edited..

bboyminn:

Well, I can't deny that it is an interesting and clever 
thought, but as you have already envisioned, it has some
glaring flaws. 

First and foremost, if Harry Polyjuiced into James, that
character Poly!James(Harry) would have had no magical 
knowledge or skill. He simply would have been a little
boy in grown-up clothes (figuratively). It seems from the
description that James(actually, Harry) charged forward
to stop Voldemort while Lily ran to protect Harry. That 
would mean that it was Harry disguised as James who rushed
forward and was quickly killed.

Next Polyjuice only lasts an hour. Poly!James(Harry) lies
dead on the floor, and James disguised as Harry lies in 
Harry's bed. Even if the EverBuildingMagic you speak of
was there and working, Harry is dead, and when the 
polyjuice wears off, it is James who lives. Of course, 
that's not how the story goes.

True the story does have many many twisting turns and
surprises, but I don't see how this particular one could
work.

Many speculate that Lily put some kind of additional magic
into the mix to protect Harry, but, though we can't be
absolutely sure, it doesn't appear as if Lily had her wand,
so how did she manage to add this 'special magic protection'?

Other speculate that the 'special magic protection' was added
long before the attack occurred. But again, how could she know
that she was adding the right magic, since she couldn't really
predict what would happen in the final attack by Voldemort? 
Still, some general magical protection could have been added
by Lily to Harry in advance, but that seems to go against the
story, and seems to diminish the value of Lily's sacrifice.

Sometimes, despite the many twists, turns, and surprises, the
story really is just the story as presented. But, until the
last book is published, I can't really prove that position;
anything could happen.

Hang in there, keep reading the group, and I'm sure more
brainwaves will strike you.

Steve/bboyminn