Question #3

[kennyg1864]

No: HPFGUIDX 183402


> > lizzyben:
> > Maths strikes again.
>
>
> CJ:
> Not to resurrect old discussions (or was that over in OT?) but is
> "maths" singular or plural?

kennyg1864:
"Maths" in the UK, "Math" in the US.  JKR has used the (UK) term a few times, so HP fans tend to say "Maths"--even US fans, to show what smart insiders we are  [:p]


> CJ:
> As to Harry becoming the "Boy Who Lives", since there were no
> living eye witnesses to the events in Godric's Hollow (save
> Harry and Voldie, and neither was in a position to give
> testimony), one wonders how even DD knew Harry had survived
> an AK -- since no one had ever managed it before, it's not like
> he had prior experience to guide him -- let alone
> the entire WW knowing it within hours.

kennyg1864:
IIRC the prevailing guesswork is that DD knew of the breaking of the
Fidelius Charm as soon as LV broke it (thanks to Wormtail's betrayal), since he had cast the Charm.  As for Harry himself, maybe he had a baby monitor (special Wizard Edition â„¢) that  showed Harry still alive? After all, he knew of the prophecy, and thus of Harry's importance, so maybe he put a long-distance Sneakoscope (or perhaps something of Mad-Eye's) to keep an eye on him.


> CJ:
> One might easily imagine DD deducing even that unlikely conclusion
> from the evidence at the scene, except for his statement to
> McGonagall to the effect "We might never know" how Harry survived.

kennyg1864:
Or maybe he didn't want McGonagall to know just yet.  Or maybe that
statement meant that he hadn't yet figured out why Harry survived the AK curse, but only that he had done so.


> CJ:
> But since DD was the only one on the scene who could possibly have
> pieced together what happened, and the only one in the WW save
> Hagrid who knew about Harry's scar, it's hard to escape the
> conclusion that he was the source of all the rumors that
> eventually fell into McGonagall's ears.

Agreed!

kennyg1864, who wishes JKR would just let us see the Daily Prophet
Special Edition for that day