Resolving (?) the Riddle

[Barry Arrowsmith]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, SongBird3411 at a... wrote:
 >
 > For the longest time I have struggled with the ending of OOTP.  The
 > whole MOM scene seems like a big blur to me.  However, I get
 > particularly hung up on the possession scene.
 >
 > I am still somewhat confused on the mechanics of possession in the
 > Potterverse.  I would love for someone to clear up for me exactly how
 > this works.  (Or will I have to see the movie?)  Anyway, one detail
 > stands out to me in that scene:  the description of Harry's
 > possession as feeling like he was wrapped in snake's coils.  I, too,
 > immediately started suspecting that at some level, Voldemort must
 > *be* a snake.
 >
 > The idea that Voldemort has a dual nature begins to clear up the
 > possession thing to me.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I
 > have never read any story in which a human can possess another
 > human.  It has always been some sort of evil or animal spirit.  So, I
 > never quite understood how Voldemort could do it.  I am intensely
 > curious to know if any other wizard has this ability, or if this is
 > something unique to Voldemort.
 >
 > If this is unique to Voldemort, then I think Barry's original
 > possession theory gains more weight.  This would also serve, to me at
 > least, to make Chamber of Secrets as relevant to the overall story as
 > JKR says it is.  Truly, this idea is sounding better to me by the
 > minute.  I would love to review the original posts on it.  Barry,
 > post numbers?
 >
 > This idea also clears up my confusion of Dumbledore's "divided in
 > essence" question.  Perhaps it was solely about Voldemort.  This
 > makes a lot more sense to me than it being about Harry.
 >

It's not a certainty that my ideas about possession are totally 
original.
In fact I'd be amazed if they were since possession in one form or
another occurs in every book (if you assume Sybil is a mouthpiece for
somebody or something when uttering  prophecies).  Unfortunately,
Yahoo!Mort being what it is, that's been difficult to confirm and
searching the 130,000 back posts with any sort of confidence is a
mugs game. Hopefully the new catalogue will provide an answer.

The theory  developed slowly over months rather than springing full
blown onto the page - originally I was more interested in what the hell
Voldy actually was and this gradually expanded into considering how
this might have affected Harry. So  there's a string of posts each
venturing a little further into the mire.

Probably the most comprehensive overview is "Shared Thoughts"


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/108664


If you're interested in tracing the theory  from first tentative 
genesis (you masochist, you!) then the following show steps in the 
elucidation and expansion of the theory. Some contain bits that aren't 
included  in the 'Shared Thoughts' post - mostly to avoid digression 
and to keep the piece from getting out of control.

You'll note that Lyn and Phil were in the game early, Boyd joined  the 
fun soon after and Carolyn and SSS both prodded me to whip it into some 
sort of shape. Blame  them as much as me.

Once again I stress that it's an attempt, using what information is 
available to come up with an explanation for a significant chunk of HP. 
No claims are made for superior insight. The product of a devious mind 
perhaps, but no more than that. But right or wrong, it's been fun.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/85913


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/89817


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/89892


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/91823


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/91987


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/100775


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/107246


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/113741


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/117541