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I don't know how many times I've already written this sentence but I am still writing on the parody. *bangs head against desk* It's the hardest thing I've ever written. So no, I haven't given up on it. Must be about 5000 words now and it's still not nearly finished. Gah! I also started writing on a summer fic, which is great fun to write. I also have to write three term papers, which cuts down my fanfic time. TEH EVIL! Anyway, I did some theorising about the prophecy. I am well aware that nobody is really interested in this but I post it here anyway. :p
What has been eating me for a while is not what the prophecies mean but who sent them. Who is behind the prophecies in HP? Trelawney's voice changes and she is in some kind of trance, unaware of the presence speaking through her. She is only the medium. But who is at the other end? It has to be someone who knows the future or at least one future. Dumbledore told us that some prophecies go unheard by the ones they are about. We do not know whether the prophecy fulfils itself in these cases or whether the person can really choose to live a different life. Is there some kind of divine presence? I do not mean the Christian God here. HP is a fantasy book and traditionally the Gods speak through madmen and children to announce their will. It is an accepted way of interference because it is subtle and indirect. Only the people who are worthy and know what they are looking for will be able to distinguish between babbling and the divine message. Dumbledore does allegedly not believe in prophecies but he believed that Trelawney's prophecy was real and had to be remembered.
Voldemort obviously believes in prophecies and Harry is forced to play along. Dumbledore said that Harry could walk away if he really wanted but the question is could he really? What if he was meant to be Voldemort's antagonist? Whoever sent the prophecy must have had a purpose. This being wanted the prophecy to be known and intended that Voldemort acted accordingly.
Was it coincidence that Dumbledore himself heard the prophecy?
Was it coincidence that Snape overheard parts of it?
I think not. This however leads to another question. How much is coincidental?
a)Was Snape meant to overhear the entire prophecy? If Voldemort had known it he would not have killed Harry's parents and the world would have lived in terror for another decade. On the other hand, we cannot know whether another prophecy was supposed to be made at some point but was rather redundant after Lily's and James' death and Voldemort's first defeat.
b) Was there really a choice between Neville and Harry? Was is coincidence that Voldemort went after Harry first? He could certainly not have known that Neville would turn out rather weak. But if Voldemort had heard the entire prophecy he would not have marked Harry or any of them so early. He would have had time to choose. But the marking itself is mysterious as well. The scar came into existence because Lily gave her life for Harry. Was this meant to be? Was she predestined to sacrifice herself for her son? Or was it rather coincidence and another mark would have done as well?
c) Was it coincidence that Harry heard the prophecy in Trelawney's room? Of course not, but the timing was perfect, wasn't it? Harry returned alone and Sybill fell into a trance. This prophecy was certainly not made spontaneously. It is also curious that Sirius, Remus and Peter were all at Hogwarts at the exact moment. Peter was meant to join his master that night but he needed Harry's help. Harry had to interfere and Remus had to forget to take his potion. Although Harry didn't really understand the meaning of the prophecy he acted the way he was supposed to.
Now, what did Dumbledore know about who is behind the prophecies? He thought of death as the next great adventure but could this acceptance be based on superior knowledge? I don't mean that Dumbledore saw himself in heaven, wearing beautifully knitted socks at last. But did he know more about the big picture? Not the moment of his death or how it will end but whether there is some being, that has some kind control, that will prevent the world from tumbling into chaos. I am aware that this casts a new light on the theme of choices. However, predestination doesn't make choices redundant. It is necessary for the characters to make the right decision or else history takes a different course.
Anyone eager to share his thoughts on this?
What has been eating me for a while is not what the prophecies mean but who sent them. Who is behind the prophecies in HP? Trelawney's voice changes and she is in some kind of trance, unaware of the presence speaking through her. She is only the medium. But who is at the other end? It has to be someone who knows the future or at least one future. Dumbledore told us that some prophecies go unheard by the ones they are about. We do not know whether the prophecy fulfils itself in these cases or whether the person can really choose to live a different life. Is there some kind of divine presence? I do not mean the Christian God here. HP is a fantasy book and traditionally the Gods speak through madmen and children to announce their will. It is an accepted way of interference because it is subtle and indirect. Only the people who are worthy and know what they are looking for will be able to distinguish between babbling and the divine message. Dumbledore does allegedly not believe in prophecies but he believed that Trelawney's prophecy was real and had to be remembered.
Voldemort obviously believes in prophecies and Harry is forced to play along. Dumbledore said that Harry could walk away if he really wanted but the question is could he really? What if he was meant to be Voldemort's antagonist? Whoever sent the prophecy must have had a purpose. This being wanted the prophecy to be known and intended that Voldemort acted accordingly.
Was it coincidence that Dumbledore himself heard the prophecy?
Was it coincidence that Snape overheard parts of it?
I think not. This however leads to another question. How much is coincidental?
a)Was Snape meant to overhear the entire prophecy? If Voldemort had known it he would not have killed Harry's parents and the world would have lived in terror for another decade. On the other hand, we cannot know whether another prophecy was supposed to be made at some point but was rather redundant after Lily's and James' death and Voldemort's first defeat.
b) Was there really a choice between Neville and Harry? Was is coincidence that Voldemort went after Harry first? He could certainly not have known that Neville would turn out rather weak. But if Voldemort had heard the entire prophecy he would not have marked Harry or any of them so early. He would have had time to choose. But the marking itself is mysterious as well. The scar came into existence because Lily gave her life for Harry. Was this meant to be? Was she predestined to sacrifice herself for her son? Or was it rather coincidence and another mark would have done as well?
c) Was it coincidence that Harry heard the prophecy in Trelawney's room? Of course not, but the timing was perfect, wasn't it? Harry returned alone and Sybill fell into a trance. This prophecy was certainly not made spontaneously. It is also curious that Sirius, Remus and Peter were all at Hogwarts at the exact moment. Peter was meant to join his master that night but he needed Harry's help. Harry had to interfere and Remus had to forget to take his potion. Although Harry didn't really understand the meaning of the prophecy he acted the way he was supposed to.
Now, what did Dumbledore know about who is behind the prophecies? He thought of death as the next great adventure but could this acceptance be based on superior knowledge? I don't mean that Dumbledore saw himself in heaven, wearing beautifully knitted socks at last. But did he know more about the big picture? Not the moment of his death or how it will end but whether there is some being, that has some kind control, that will prevent the world from tumbling into chaos. I am aware that this casts a new light on the theme of choices. However, predestination doesn't make choices redundant. It is necessary for the characters to make the right decision or else history takes a different course.
Anyone eager to share his thoughts on this?