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alex_zag_al comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 16, chapter 85 - Less Wrong Discussion

9 Post author: FAWS 18 April 2012 02:30AM

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Comment author: alex_zag_al 22 April 2012 08:53:42PM *  1 point [-]

Maybe Ridvolquir interpreted the prophecy as saying he can't defeat Harry until Harry becomes a Dark Lord???

For Harry to be the Dark Lord in the prophecy, and Voldemort the one with the power to defeat him, would require Voldemort to be born to those who thrice defied Harry. Taken literally the prophecy requires the one with the power to defeat the Dark Lord to be younger than him.

Quirrell's explanation of his motives for breaking Bellatrix out of Azkaban (she might know something useful, also a whim, see Ch. 60) aren't terribly satisfying

Yeah, they're not satisfying to me either. If Bellatrix knew any rare and dangerous magic, I'd expect Dumbledore to have learned whatever he could from her by whatever means are within his moral restraints, and then Obliviated her to stop anyone else from doing the same thing. This puts some restraints on Quirrill's magic usage, too: if he uses any magic that he taught to Bellatrix, Dumbledore will recognize it.

Comment author: pedanterrific 22 April 2012 09:08:18PM 1 point [-]

I think that was a hypothetical alternate interpretation of "and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal", actually.

Comment author: ChrisHallquist 23 April 2012 02:00:28AM -1 points [-]

Yes, that was my intent. The thought is that Voldemort thinks that by helping Harry become a Dark Lord, he can fulfill that part of the prophecy.