Random DH questions from a lowly Muggle

[dwalker696]

No: HPFGUIDX 172437

Mindy asked:
> > 1) Who DID betray Harry's escape date from Privet Drive to LV? I 
seem to have missed that.
 
Donna replies:
That would be Snape. Or rather, Snape actually SAVING Harry's 
escape from Privet Drive. Remember, DD told Snape he would have to 
relay the date info to Voldy to remain credible. We know that Snape 
planted the idea in Mundungus to use the 7 Potters, and it seems 
possible he could have even implanted the date change info or at 
least extracted it at an earlier date. I would rather believe that 
Snape was extracting info, not that anyone (as was insinuated about 
Hagrid) let it slip or intentionally betrayed Harry. Of course, Harry 
says "I don't think anyone in this room would ever sell me to 
Voldemort", but notice that Dung is not in the room. 

Mindy asked: 
> > 2) Who was Snape's 'source' to LV? I know it was DD, but LV didn't
> > know that - so who was his 'source'?
 
Donna replies: 
I am going to guess Mundungus - not that Mundungas was a willing 
source, but Snape was obviously meeting with him (to implant info 
on DD's orders) so it would make a good alibi to give Voldy. Plus, 
a "source" doesn't necesarily mean a willing source. He could tell  
Voldy he was EXTRACTING info from Dung, not Dung BRINGING him info. 
An occlumens like Snape wouldn't need someone working for him, he 
would just need a weak mind to read, and Dung certainly had no 
power over Snape's mind control.   


Mindy asked:
> >> > 3) Hermione managed to get her hands on the stocks of Mad Eye's
> > Polyjuice Potion - how??? Wasn't it on Mad-Eye when he was killed?


Donna replies: 
Hermione says she was "smuggling Mad-Eye's whole stock of Polyjuice 
potion right under Ron's mum's nose". I don't think Mad-Eye took his 
entire stock with him to Privet Drive, just enough to give the 7 
Potters. This quote to me sounds like Mad-Eye had his stock at the 
Burrow, and Hermione was able to nick it without Molly noticing.

Mindy asks: 
> > 6) I am so confused by Dumbledore's speech during Harry's near-
> >death experience. The entire premise of the prophecy has completely
> > crumbled. If indeed, Harry couldn't die as long as LV was alive
> > because of his blood being in LV, and LV being unable to die as 
> >long as Harry was alive because he was a Horcrux, how does that
> > explain "Neither can survive while the other lives" prophecy?

Donna exclaims: 
These are all such good discussion topics!
 
OK, the actual prophecy was "And either must die at the hand of the 
other for neither can live while the other survives"  JKR has 
always said the exact wording and interpretation is very specific (if 
not tricky). "Either must die at the hand of the other" - 
rather, "BOTH must die at the hand of the other" - and they did! This 
came true!! Voldemort "killed" Harry first, as we see in the hovering 
between death and life scene (which reminded me a great deal of the 
short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge") in King's Cross 
Station. Harry isn't dead unless he chooses to give up right there, 
DD tells him, or he can go back into the world, living. He goes back, 
so now he has "died", (or at least had a 'near death exp') so now 
it's Voldemort's turn to die. The prophecy meant that BOTH had to die 
before the Dark Lord could be vanquished.

OK now the second part. "neither can live while the other 
survives". Voldy "killing" Harry took care of the (accidental) 
horcrux in Harry, so now Harry is horcrux free, the connection there 
is GONE. Voldy has nothing left in Harry to keep himself alive. But 
Harry did not die along with that horcrux because his protection from 
Lily was still throbbing in Voldy's veins. DD says "Remember what he 
did, in his ignorance, in his greed and his cruelty...he took your 
blood and rebuilt his living body with it! Your blood in his veins, 
Harry, Lily's protection inside both of you! He tethered you to life 
while he still lives!"  My understanding of this is Voldy would be 
keeping Harry alive as long as he, Voldy, is alive - Lily's 
protection FOR HARRY still existed bc Voldy was still alive. But that 
protection only works one way, in one direction - it is not like the 
shared Dragon heart in the same named movie with Dennis Quaid, where 
killing one kills both. Lily's protection was for her SON, not her 
son's would-be- murderer. But as long as that murderer was keeping 
that protection, that charm alive, Harry would live. Even if the 
murderer was killed, who cares, the original protection is still 
alive in its original host (Harry), it only works one way.  
       
Ooo I am so glad there is still so much to talk about after the 
book! 
I am glad it doesn't all wrap up neat and pretty and perfect, I am 
glad there is still more to discuss, more questions unanswered to 
speculate on.

Donna