Some speculations on the night at GH

[Lyn J. Mangiameli]

There are certain guidelines I use when I explore the HP series. 

One is that events occurring in "real time" in the series are more reliable sources than 
"statements of fact" which come from characters.

Second is that descriptions of past events are more reliable sources than character's 
assumptions. However, past events, even if presented in "real time" are often related as 
isolated events that are either lacking in, or of ambiguous context. (Most pensieve scenes, 
and Harry's infant memories fall in this category).

Third is that characters have a personality and that their  past behavior is the best 
indicator of their future behavior (subject to the reliability of the source of information 
about their past behavior).


With these in mind, here are some factors that intrigue me:

The first and foremost is that no spell, AK or otherwise, directed towards baby Harry, was 
summoned forth during the PI in the graveyard scene. We clearly see the spells that kill 
James and Lilly, but nothing about Harry. This serves as a definitive indication to me that 
whatever wand issued spell, if any, that was directed towards Harry at GH was not emitted 
from the LV (phoenix feather) wand. (This meets my highest standard of proof, as it comes 
from an event directly occurring in real time before us).

Second is the Ollivander statement that the wand that gave you that scar came from the 
brother to this wand (i.e. the LV wand). This would directly contradict the above, only if we 
assume the scar was caused by magic that was channeled/emitted by the LV wand. (This 
however, involves a much lower standard of proof, and indeed, one wonders what was the 
source of Ollivander's knowledge about the wand causing the scar).

Third is the scene of his mother and LV contained in Harry's memory (I will overlook that 
such a vivid and accurate recollection of such a scene is not compatible with our real world 
understanding of episodic memory at that age). Here we hear Lilly say "take me" and LV 
say step aside silly girl. This points towards possession, prior to or instead of death of 
young HP. (I assess this a moderately high standard of proof as it is presented more as an 
event unfolding than as merely a memory). 

Then we have the long history of Tom Riddle as the excellent, indeed brilliant student, 
who engages in a prolonged search for knowledge. This seeking of knowledge (regardless 
for what reason) appears as a lasting personality trait associated with TR and the later LV. 
This leads me to believe that TR/LV would not pass up an opportunity to gain greater 
knowledge, particularly if such knowledge might enhance his power (seen in his search for 
the COS as well). (I again associate a moderate standard of proof with this.) This suggests 
to me that possession of HP would have been at least one of the motivations for LV at GH, 
and indeed why LV would make a personal visitation rather than employing his DEs to do 
the dirty work. 

Then we have the matter that TR as young as 16 had acquired (by whatever means—SS??) 
the ability to possess others. That possession is a frequent modus operandi for LV  (Ginny, 
adolescent Harry, the animals, Quirrell, etc.) (Very high standard of proof here, both 
because it has been directly evidenced, but also that it has been repeated). Hence, this 
makes it likely that LV would use the same approach to solving other problems. 

Then we have DD being a "student" of TR/LV's behavior (watching him closely) and having 
a long time to have a sense of what problem solving approaches TR/LV might take (i.e. 
possession & AK). Thus DD sets up barriers and responses to LV (and specifically LV—the 
only one likely to have the power to possess) engaging in either possession or AK on 
Harry.
 

Then we have the point that Phil makes about LV in the graveyard scene, that In GoF 
Chapter 'The Death Eaters' Page 567 UK'I remember only forcing myself, sleeplessly, 
endlessly, second by second, to exist...'from Voldemort to the assembled Death Eaters. 
This makes one seriously wonder just how much LV truly recalls from GH that night. (Alas, 
I feel this one only meets a low standard of proof.) Perhaps even some of LV's "memories" 
are more confabulation (or maybe even sourced from another at the scene) and for 
"impression management" than true.

Then there is the matter of Peter revealing to LV the location of the Potters. (Lots of direct 
and indirect confirmation of that, including direct from Peter's lips, thus a fairly high 
standard of proof). But in doing so Peter has proven himself untrustworthy. Would LV 
(even with legilimancy) be fully confident in one who would betray his former best friend? 
Therefore I think it likely that Peter was present, and very closely so, at GH that night, just 
to ensure that LV was not walking into a trap. (Low standard of proof, but logically 
consistent).

Then I think of Peter's reactions to the events in Snape's worst nightmare. His visceral as 
well as emotional excitement watching the relatively strong James and Sirius tormenting 
the compromised Snape. This leads me to consider that this as a persisting feature of 
Peter's personality. If so, then might not Peter get similar enjoyment from LV conquering 
James at GH. 

Then there is the matter that Peter was willing to turn on his more powerful friends (James 
and Sirius) when he could exploit their situation of weakness and that this too might be a 
personality feature that might be demonstrated again by Peter exploiting a situation of 
weakness in his new "friend."  

Then there is the matter that Peter seems particularly talented at causing large explosions. 
(Fairly high standard of proof, corroborated by Sirius, Peter himself, and the reports of 
what occurred at the street where Peter and Sirius met). A person's behavior tends to be 
consistent, particularly in resorting to similar problem solving approaches when under 
stress. 

So, this leads me to surmise that LV went to GH that night to at least possess HP with the 
purpose of learning, and acquiring, if possible, any powers that HP might have that would 
benefit LV. He brought with him Peter, and likely only Peter, for three reasons. One, he did 
not fully trust Peter and did not want to enter into a trap. Two, that he was going to be 
temporarily vulnerable during a possession attempt and did not trust stronger others such 
as Lucius to be around during such a period of relative vulnerability. And three, he didn't 
want the other Death Eaters to know that HP might have something that LV didn't (and 
keep in mind, this is an ongoing theme, from both TR and LV to HP, "you are not really 
anything special"), and that LV was seeking to gain power from an infant. Furthermore, LV 
had every intent to kill Peter after he dealt with his other business, leaving no witnesses to 
the events. 

LV dispatches James while Peter watches in glee. Then LV moves on to HP but Lilly gets in 
the way. Lilly makes her "silly" plea, but likely a very thoughtful and deliberate one. After 
all, she has stayed around and is giving her life to be able to utter these words (and 
perhaps to buy time for DD to arrive on the scene). Indeed, her words ensure that LV will 
think about possession and almost invites LV to attempt a possession of HP. She wants 
him to possess HP because that is where the trap has been set. Not in GH, but in the mind 
and soul of the infant HP. And sure enough LV does so. 

Upon attempting to possess HP, LV discovers the trap. He is loosing control of the 
possession (does this not pre-echo the dueling wands at the graveyard and his failed 
possession at the MOM?) and is having trouble getting out. LV may or may not at this point 
have communicated to Peter to kill the kid. Or it may well be that Peter becomes aware of 
the vulnerability of LV (and also perhaps had a sense of LV's intention to kill him) and 
decided to kill both LV and the kid. It is then Peter with Peter's wand that launches the AK 
towards Harry and indeed it does rebound, but not onto Peter, but on the body of LV as 
the protection/counter-curse was always intended against/for LV. LV's spirit/soul/mind 
(which some believe is some composite of TR & SS) was until that point still largely trapped 
within the Harry he had attempted to possess. LV is now stripped of his body and in the 
disruption surrounding the AK and its repulsion, a portion of his spirit/soul/mind 
manages to break free from the trap of HP-though with some still left behind. His 
traumatic exit may have caused the scar, but there is another possibility. Peter remains on 
the scene. He is aware that not all of LV was destroyed, the kid still lives, and he (Peter) 
will soon be associated with the events and hunted by both sides. So an alternative is that 
Peter takes the LV wand and mechanically makes the scar upon HP's forehead with it 
(making Ollivander's words become true), he destroys the house in an attempt to destroy 
evidence of what truly took place, and (just maybe) sends word to DD providing DD with a 
story that contains only what Peter wants DD to know of what has happened. If the latter 
takes place, this may be why DD was so quick to condemn Sirius as at fault. 

But Peter knows that some bit of LV is out there, and he doesn't know that LV has no 
memory of the actual events. Peter must hide from LV as well as from the DE. After being 
confronted by Sirius, he must also hide from the WW. Thus the explosion with Sirius and 
the long life as a rat. The situation might have stayed that way indefinitely if it hadn't been 
for Quirrell who brought LV into Hogworts. Peter could recognize what was happening and 
it was during this time that Peter came to understand that LV truly didn't recall the actions 
of Peter at GH. 

Meanwhile DD knew all along of the attempted trap of LV via the possession, for he had 
set it up. He also knew that it involved capturing all of the spirit/soul/whatever into HP 
and perhaps killing them both (echoed at another level in the MOM). With his plans upset 
by Peter's intervention, he knows that it is unlikely that all of LV escaped and that surely 
some of LV remains within HP. This residual is the reason why HP is quarantined for 24 
hours of observation and then placed outside the WW for long term observation. He needs 
to see if any magical funny business percolates to the surface spontaneously, and reveals 
any lingering LV within Harry. At this time he truly doesn't care about the kid, but his 
focus is solely on the attempt to capture the essence of LV/SS and if any remains. This is 
also why HP is given the opportunity to confront LV in SS/PS and later. It is always to see if 
the real LV will begin to come out. It is from these times when HP shows he is not acting 
from the essence of LV that DD develops his love for HP. But then the essence does 
beginning to emerge, and the rest takes place as it does in OOTP.