very basic confusion

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 163731

---  Akash aki <akash2006k at ...> wrote:
>
> aki wrote :
> > I was thinking and got confused how it all got 
> > started, that Potters realised that Tom Riddle is 
> > behind their son. Prophecy was something 'he will 
> > mark other to his equal' but why he chosen Potters'
> > son.
> > 
> > Also how DD and others so convinced that it is going
> > to be HP whom Tom is going to mark ...
> 
> Geoff:
> >I think there is a fairly clear explanation of some of
> > your questions in the books themselves. If you read 
> > the last few pages of "The Lost Prophecy" - chapter 
> > 37 of OOTP - which is about pages 740-744 UK edition,
> > Dumbledore tries to show Harry how Voldemort's 
> > thoughts had been moving. ...
> > <snip>
> 
> 
>   aki wrote again...
>   Thanks Geoff, but how was he so sure that it is 
> going to be Harry, prophecy doesn't say clearly about 
> the person, as far as I know. Did DD also made safety 
> arrangements for other kids?

bboyminn:

Remember that the conversation Geoff references occurred
long after Voldemort's downfall and equally long after
the Prophecy was made. By the time Dumbledore has this
conversation with Harry, the Prophecy has already been
made, Voldemort has already attacked Harry, 10 years have
passed, and Harry has come to Hogwarts and has been 
involved in many heroic events. 

Dumbledore is not making his decision based on just the
Prophecy, he is basing it on many many events that have
occurred after the Prophecy was made. At the time 
Dumbledore makes his statement (referenced by Geoff), it
is VERY clear that Harry is the 'Chosen One'.

Notice that it is not Dumbledore who makes the 
arrangements to protect the Potters. They make their
own choices and their own protective arrangements. They
cast their own Secret Keeper Charm.

I can only assume that reasonably Dumbledore make the
information about the Prophecy available to both the
Potters and the Longbottoms. He certainly also offerred
to help them. The Potters made their choice about how
to respond to the Prophecy and the Longbottoms made their
choice about how to protect themselves. Dumbledore's
offer to assist was very likely made to both families. 

My point is that before the events occurred they could
/not/ know that Harry was the Chosen One, only that he 
might be. But when Voldemort attacked Harry, by virtue of
that attack, Harry was made the Chosen One. Based on what
Dumbledore observes of Harry's selflessness and heroic
actions, it becomes clear beyond any doubt that Harry is
indeed the Chosen One, but that is after the fact. Before
Voldemort's attack no one knew with any certainty which
kid Voldemort would choose. 


> Aki continues:
>
> And how Volde came to know that prophecy was about some
> child who is not yet born? Most expected guess one can
> made, which relates (unknown) prophecy and downfall of 
> Volde that it can be none other than DD.
>
>Can you please clear my doubts?

bboyminn:

Snape told Voldemort about the Prophecy, though, according
to the books, Snape only heard the first part of the
Prophecy. From what Snape told Voldemort, he had enough
information to conclude that it was about a child that
was about to be born in at the end of the next up coming
month of July. 

Now, the Prophecy doesn't specify a year. It could have 
been a child born this year, next year, or ten years from
now, but a reasonable interpretation is that it means the
next up coming month of July. 

Regardless of what the /correct/ interpretation of the
Prophecy was, Voldemort gathered the information and
made his choices, and those choices /created/ a correct
interpretation of the Prophecy. In a sense, Voldemort's
own actions made it a self-fulfilling Prophecy. 

Hope that helps.

Steve/bboyminn