Babbling on on Avada Kadavra mechanics

[jwlerch78]

No: HPFGUIDX 172548

The mechanics at the end are definitely confusing - but here's my
analysis for what it's worth:

Initial questions I had were:

1) What was the reason that Harry did not die in the forest?  A few
possibilities all seemed likely:
a) He was tethered to life by his blood in Voldemort (per DD at
King's Cross)
b) He was master of death (all 3 hallows)
c) The Elder wand couldn't kill him because he was its master?

2) If the Elder wand couldn't kill Harry, then what was the point of
DD's discussion of being tethered by Voldemort's own blood?


My interpretation (and I'm sure there could be several that work) is
the following:

Harry was a Horcrux, and for a Horcrux to be destroyed it's container
(i.e. Harry) needs to be destroyed (per Hermione earlier in the
book).  If Harry did not go willingly to his death in the forest
than the forest battle would have gone just like the final battle
actually did go (i.e. - the Elder wand would have backfired on
Voldemort because Harry was its master).  The problem here would be
that the piece of Voldemort would have lived on in Harry as a Horcrux
and still need to be destroyed.

Since Harry willingly chose death, the Elder wand followed through
with the Avada Kadavra curse - and in doing so it killed off the
piece of Voldemort's soul and sent Harry to death or its brink.
However, Harry did not die since Harry was tethered to life via his
protected blood in Voldemort.

When Harry faced Voldemort in the end, he understood he was the Elder
wand's master.  Since he did not wish the Elder wand to kill him, but
to kill Voldemort instead, the wand obliged.

My interpretation is that Deathly Hallows, again per DD at King's
Cross, were simply 3 objects created by the gifted brothers and
legend built around them.  The legend that the possessing all 3 made
one the master of death could certainly be read to be more
metaphorical - i.e. make you very formidable and near invincible.  As
DD says, to be the master of death you need to accept death.  It's
not that possessing all 3 makes you the master of death; you need to
be the Master of death in order to possess all 3 safely.  In short, I
think the mechanics at the end work best if power created by united
Deathly Hallows is more legend and metaphor.

Anyway - just my two cents.

JWLerch