It means that only one can die at the hand of the other. You know how Voldy has gone to desperate measures to make himself immortal? No one can really kill Voldy then. Well, Harry is the only person who has the power to truly kill him. And I'm guessing that there has to be something going on with Harry that makes him unable to die at the hands of anyone else, either. What I'm guessing is that nobody would try to kill Harry, because they either want him to kill Voldy, or because they want to bring him to Voldy so he can kill Harry himself. Basically, the prophecy is only completed when one of them dies at the hand of the other. Harry can live if Voldy dies. And Voldy will live if Harry dies.

And that's why a lot of people think that Voldy will die. Because it's a book, afterall, and the bad guy just has to die. A lot of people think Harry will die, as well, but I don't think so.

Do you remember in GoF when Harry and Voldy cast spells at each other at the same time, and that caused Priori Incantatem (or something like that, I forget the exact name)? Well, if Voldy and Harry tried to kill each other at the same time, this would happen again. So basically, they literally aren't able to kill each other. One MUST die and one MUST live at the hands of the other.

Hope that helps! <3

And I'm guessing that there has to be something going on with Harry that makes him unable to die at the hands of anyone else, either.

Could this maybe have something to do with the "protection" Harry's mom gave him? I think Voldy mentioned it in GoF?

Yes, that was what Ii was thinking, I beleive Dumbledore mentioned it, but im not sure~*~RITA~*~

I persoanlly think that aHarry will die and in the 6th book. BUt the priori Incartantum(wrong word sorry) what if they didnt try at the same time? Or if they didnt use magic?
~*~RITA~*~ Gryffindork

If Harry dies in the sixth book, then what will the seventh book be? Harry Potter's ghost and the phoenix core wand?

See that what everyone says! That Because its a series about him he cant die early! Well why not? Who says the 7th book has to be about him? IT might be LIke yoiu said, or maybe, there is more to his story, But you never know, Anyways i think that jkr makes major twists in the plot all the time so you can never really predict one.
~*~RITA~*~ gryffindork
Ps then again im only 13 and i just think diffrently

IF, and I repeat, IF Harry dies, it will be in the 7th book. JKR has already stated that. DON'T ASK ME WHERE, but I know she's implied it somewhere. I swear lol.

And the mother's protection isn't in effect anymore. Remember how Voldy purposely used Harry's blood, because it has his mother's blood in it? And then after he resurrected in GoF, he could touch Harry again? So that's no longer in effect.

He can touch Harry, but he can't possess him (as we saw in OotP). This is because Harry is so filled with love that Voldy finds it impossible- it hurts him too much. But that just has to do with Harry's love and loyalty for everyone he knows- his mother's protection isn't the reason.

Jacquie, Gryffindor (I forgot to sign last time, so here I sign now! Haha! Both shall count!)

It is strange that a lot of people think Harry will die, because JK has specifically said that he won't. Plus Children's Fantasy is the main genre it is in, and good always wins over evil in Children's Fantasy novels...

You did an excellent job explaining the prophecy.

-Audra, Gryff

Thank you! :D

And I completely agree! I find it soo odd why people would think Harry is going to die. JKR has referred to Harry as practically another son, and do people really think that she's going to kill off her own son? Harry has consumed the better part of her adult life, and I just don't think JKR would do something as drastic as that. And I know that a lot of childhood characters die in children's books, but come on. Harry is the hero, and I just refuse to believe he won't live.

I can understand where people think Harry is going to die, though. I just prefer to be optimistic! :P

Jacs, Gryffindor

JKR has referred to Harry as practically another son, and do people really think that she's going to kill off her own son?

"The death of a child is intolerable. It realizes our most secret and profound wish...
"It is remarkable that until recently we seem to have focused in the Oedipus story on fantasies about the murder of the father and seizure and mutilation of the mother, not paying attention to the attempted murder of the baby Oedipus which assured and made inevitable the tragic destiny of the hero."

-From "On tue un enfant," Serge LeClaire, trans. Shoshana Felman

It's possible that JK may HAVE to off Harry, so that for the rest of her life she isn't hounded with, "So, why don't you write book 8?"

Anna - Ravenclaw

It's possible that JK may HAVE to off Harry, so that for the rest of her life she isn't hounded with, "So, why don't you write book 8?"

Indeed ;)

And also, I think it would just be the right way to end the story. It all starts with a boy who lost everything because of Voldemort. He should have died but he lived. And from that moment on he lived with a mission. In the next books he gets prepared for what he has to do. And then when he finally is ready to kill Voldemort I just think it's right if he dies doing that. Mission accomplished. It's tragic, it's dramatic, it's what he was meant to do. It's beautiful :D
I do like Harry though, and it would be great if he survived. I would definitely cry my eyes out if he died. But if he kills off Voldemort and walks away unharmed that would be just such an anticlimax..
(this is all of course assuming Harry is the one in the prophecy and the one to kill Voldemort)

The Narnia series ends with the deaths of the main child characters. It's a children's fantasy series. And the HP stories are extremely dark, even grisly. Besides, there is a definite doppelganger element to Harry/Voldemort- they are the opposite side of the same coin. They're matched- both half-Muggle, both orphaned, both gifted. But one can love and the other abhors it, and can only hate.

I'm not sure she will kill Harry, but it would make the most sense from a literary perspective if she does. It's the setup, really- that they will both die, and cancel one another out.

Iv always thougt Harry was to gonna be the one to be cut.But where does she say he wont? i know she never did
Shes always said, How do you now he will live after the 7th book?(or until then)
she would never say who dies and who lives.
~*~RITA~*~ GRyffindork

Well, for one, literary-wise, it wouldn't make any sense for Harry to die. Harry or Voldemore has to die. For Harry to die would mean that Voldemort lives and in Children's fiction, evil would never win out over good, NEVER. Plus, she has constantly been hinting at a sequel, and there could be no sequel without Harry.

See, what if he isnt immortal after harry dies? What if he is weaker? What if he dies with Harry?
YOu never know>Anyways, Shes amazing*jkr* she can find ways to write a book without Harry.
~*~RITA~*~Gryffindork

That just doesn't make any sense to me as a writer. But I guess we'll see.

I totally agree with everything she said. It has to be one or the other. However, I sort of think that Voldy will live. Why? Because goodness gracious is this series getting dark, and what a good, dark, gothic end to it. That would rock.

The cool thing is that if Harry survives, according to HP mythos, no one else can kill him. Talk about immortality!

~ Melinda o' Ravenclaw

Ya i was also thinking about that, whaat would happen if they dont kiil someon? Would they be eternal? or if someonewas killed*still think its gonna be harry that dies* would the other be imortal? As you said
~*~RITA~*~ Gryffindork

Well, no matter what, one of them will die. This we know, because the series only has a couple of books left, and something has to happen by book 7. ;)

But yeah, I think that the one who survives will be immortal. We already know for a fact that no one has been able to kill Voldy except Harry. We also know that no one has been able to kill Harry, period. And people have tried!

~ Melinda o' Ravenclaw

Lol, i dont know what else to say but I agree! lol
~*~RITA~*~ Gryffindork
Do you have msn or yahoo? maybe we can chat.

Harry should just get betrayed by Ron or Hermione. That would be an odd twist to the series and be dark and Gothic-ie xP

And I keep forgetting to sign D:

-Kathleen, Ravenclaw Student-

Very true. :P

I think the prophecy is worded oddly on purpose, so that there are many interpretations, and no way of knowing which one is correct until book 7.

However, the scene after the prophecy, where Voldemort taunts Dumbledore, trying to get him to kill Harry, seems quite telling. It seems almost as if Harry is Voldemort's One Ring; now that Harry has a bit of Voldemort in him (parseltongue, the scar burning thing, etc) Voldemort can always come back as long as Harry is alive. If Harry dies, Voldemort can finally be killed permanently, because that tie is lost.

dammit.

Anna - Ravenclaw

**I think the prophecy is worded oddly on purpose, so that there are many interpretations, and no way of knowing which one is correct until book 7.***
MAkes really good sence! i never thought of that or heard it before!

But when does Voldemorte try to get D. to kill Harry? sorry im lsot and ignorant.lol
One ring?? What do you mean?

Do you think that if Voldi dies, he can come back Through Harry? HWat if the scar disapears? I read that the last word of book 7 is scar *interview. Genuine* But I read the last Sentance might be : Harry,where is your scar?

~*~RITA~*~

One ring?? What do you mean?

Have you ever read/seen The Lord of the Rings? The ONe Ring is the ring in that -- basically the Big Bad put a bit (or a lot) of himself into making the damn thign, so as long as it exists, he exists. The books are about the questot destroy teh One Ring so they can get rid of the Big Bad once and for all.

Iv only seen the fisrt half of the first movie, I own it,I just havnt gotten around to finisheing it, it didnt cacth my attention the first time.

~*~RITA~*~ Gryffindork

I agree. Deep down inside, I could see a Harry suicide in the future. But I'd rather not admit that (even though I just did, BUT STILL). Voldemort would probably be sooo weak without Harry alive. But I also think that whomever survives will live until they die of natural causes as well.

~ Melinda o' Ravenclaw

Ah yes, I thought of that too. That would make a great end to the story.. ah, the drama... ^_^

One ring to rule them all . . . It's a literary allusion to The Lord of the Rings. Sauron couldn't be defeated unless the ring is destroyed.

O, So your saying that Harry is the ring that Voldi has *visa versa*? That s a cool uh.. metaphor??
~*~RITA~*~

Uhh, yes, I think one has to kill the other for the prophecy to be fulfilled. Of course, I suppose someone could kill either one...
Gah, I've been thinking of the whole thing like a Macbeth and Demona (Gargoyles) style dilemma: both are immortal, but they can kill each other. (Of course, the primary difference between Harry and Voldemort is that when one kills the other, the killer won't die, too)

But... I've never thought of what would happen if someone went out and killed Harry. Good question, well presented, no idea.

Actually, I suppose that would make Voldemort truly immortal. If someone killed Harry, I mean.

But, then... this is primarily a children's book, so I doubt it would happen.

Well you never now really.He was immortal in the past till the stone was destroyed and the blood was another factor, so I think he has found enough ways to live forever,he might find another.
~*~Rita~*~Gryffindork

Oh, that ruddy Voldemort. Someone should just bitch-slap him. Yeah... Yeah, that would do.

hehehe that would be funny, they are dueling agains each other, Neville comes from behind and bitch slaps him and he drops to the ground, almost dead, They just shove Ron's old wand up Voldemorts nose and he dies.
O btw I took your icon a while ago, hope you dont mind
~*~RITA~*~Gryffindork

hehehe that would be funny, they are dueling agains each other, Neville comes from behind and bitch slaps him and he drops to the ground, almost dead, They just shove Ron's old wand up Voldemorts nose and he dies.
O btw I took your icon a while ago, hope you dont mind
~*~RITA~*~Gryffindork

Exactly, children's books, the hero always triumphs. Plus, I think a lot of people have not read where JK specifically said that Harry would not die.

-Audra, Gryff

She's said that? (Heh, I live in a world of my own, I never notice these things. ^^)

WHERE HAS SHE SAID THIS? I know she alwyas said how do you know he will live till then
~*~RITA~*~Gryffindork

Thank you, i really was pissed bout this, that none of my friends really care so i needed to ask and this is the best place.Thas cuz hogsmead is cool


**Off to Zonkos.searchning for he twins *wink* and some things to piss the teacher off. I dont need any help doing that but o well**
~*~RITA~*~Gryffindork

Well, the prophecy says
either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives
I don't think this means they can't be killed by anyone else. (though in the case of Voldemort I'm not sure, the prophecy is quite clear on the fact that Harry (or... Neville?) is the only one to do that and well.. maybe some of the immortality stuff Voldemort used did reflect upon Harry when he accidentally transferred some of his powers) But anyway if one of them is killed by someone else then the other still won't be able to live. This would explain why Dumbledore didn't kill Voldemort when he had the chance. Because he knew it had to be Harry to do it.
There is this connection between Voldemort and Harry. Voldemort transferred some of his powers to Harry, and I think the only way he can get it back is to kill Harry. If he doesn't do that then he'll never feel complete again; he won't be able to live. As for Harry, he is connected to Voldemort and has a part of him inside him (the speaking with snakes and all) and I think the only way he can get rid of that is to kill Voldemort. If he doesn't.. he'll always have those powers inside him, which would make it impossible for him to truly live.
Oh, and I mentioned Neville, because I'm not convinced that the prophecy isn't about him. We saw how he grew in book 5 and I think he will be more important in 6 and 7. And yeah, Harry has the scar, but doesn't Neville have it too? Psychologically? What with his parents like that? Maybe Harry and Neville will kill Voldemort together!
Uhmm... where was I going with this again? Yeah.. just babbling I guess ;)

You know... Neville isn't outside the realm of possibility... but the thing is, the year or time frame is never discussed... so it's possible that ANYBODY born at the end of July whose parents defied a nebulous 'dark one' can vanquish Voldemort. Hmm.

Anna - Ravenclaw

hmmm yes, but the prophecy says 'will be born' so it wasn't anyone who was born before that. And 'he will mark him as his equal'. Well, he didn't do a lot of marking after he lost his powers. But it doesn't say when he will mark him as his equal. Maybe now that he has his powers back he'll go and mark someone else :o Err.. nah, I think it's safe to say the prophecy is either about Harry or Neville ;)
Or maybe Snape has a hidden child somewhere that was also born back then and that is the Halfblood Prince :o (well.. it's possible :p)

-Marije, Hufflepuff