death to capslock

Harry's Luck

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:34:19 GMT

Posted by: oryx_leucoryx

In Terri's essay Dumble's (mis) conceptions about Godric's Hollow: James's and Lily's roles she showed how finally in June 1995 Albus realized one of his mistakes: That what protected Harry at Godric's Hollow wasn't a magical shield against the Killing Curse but an unusual level of luck that was conferred upon Harry by his parents' sacrificial deaths, and that this protection continues even after Tom used Harry's blood in the formation of his new body, whereas the protection from Tom's direct touch and direct spell-casting ended. In this essay I would like to explore some more aspects where luck was involved (and was likely necessary) in the events surrounding Harry, and what the impact of those lucky events were in the end. This is unlikely to be a comprehensive list, and anyone is welcome to add to it.( Read more... )

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Concerning the expected effects of reporting prophecies

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 21:50:00 GMT

Posted by: sunnyskywalker

I was re-reading some old DTCL posts, and started wondering about prophecies. Specifically, about what a young, Dark Arts-curious wizard might know--or believe--about how they work.

Divination class, as we see, teachings more indirect predictive methods, such as reading tea leaves and cystal-gazing. Actively channeling... something... to deliver a prophecy isn't taught as far as we know, and likely can't be. Moreover, that particular method seems to be rather obscure. An official Mystery, in fact.

But there are literary depictions of prophecies. And both Shakespeare and Sophocles lived before the Statute of Secrecy, and their works might be find in wizarding libraries regardless of their authors' actual magical abilities or lack thereof. Their depictions of how prophecies usually work may have been based on fact. At least in part.

Would a geeky young wizard combing through every reference he could find to the Dark Arts read Macbeth and Oedipus the King, one wonders? As part of being thorough? And wonder if, perhaps, trying to prevent a prophecy from coming true really will not only be futile, but might even be the very means by which the prophecy will come to pass? Or at least, the attempt could make the prophecy come to pass sooner than it otherwise would have?

Hypothetically, if such a young wizard overheard part of a prophecy while trying to apply for a job, on his terrifying new master's orders--perhaps with some vague hope of using the opportunity to switch sides, but scared off by the opposition's disdain--would he at least have reason to hope that delivering said prophecy to the terrifying master would actually be a way to strike a blow? A desperate hope, for desperate circumstances? (He'd surely noticed by then how, erm, suboptimal the working conditions under Voldemort were.)

When Severus told Voldemort that a prophesied enemy could defeat him, what exactly did he think might happen should Voldemort respond by trying to kill that enemy?

Very possibly, something more than just that enemy getting AK'd.

Very possibly, the same thing Dumbledore thought might happen: Voldemort would be arrogant enough to think he could outwit a prophecy, and would destroy himself in trying to prevent it.

Then Severus and all his friends could put that nightmare behind them, without having to risk their lives and their families (like, say, the expected Baby Malfoy). Whew! Brave, but saving their necks if possible.

How unfortunate that this turned out to mean Sev's childhood best friend would die in the process! But then, he should have known better. Trying to manipulate a prophecy is liable to rebound on one, after all. Yet another reason for him to wish he had died, afterward.

If he'd just kept his mouth shut, might Harry have been born in the wee hours of the morning of August 1?

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Lessons in Immortality

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 18:22:00 GMT

Posted by: sunnyskywalker

Condwiramurs, Terri, Sweettalkeress, and the rest of you are just too inspiring. I had plans for last night (okay, probably involving silly pictures of cats, but still), and instead all your brilliant commentary inspired me to write a short fic. Your punishment is to suffer the results. (Er, but only if you want to.)

Lessons in Immortality
Characters: Albus Dumbledore, Tom Riddle
Categories: Gen, PG
Word Count: 972
Summary: Albus is determined that his NEWT alchemy students not be lured onto any of the tempting, dark paths to immortality. Especially not Tom Riddle.

Fic this way

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Doubling his bets? Albus's silence about Severus's sacrifices

Sat, 08 Aug 2015 07:40:00 GMT

Posted by: terri-testing.livejournal.com

Condwiramurs, you asked last week (before embarking on your series):
“Why not tell Severus the reason for giving him both of these otherwise insanely-conflicting and emotionally devastating orders?”

Here, finally are a couple of possible answers.

( Read more... )

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Harry Potter Abridged! HBP Chapter 22

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 23:33:00 GMT

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

( Read Chapter 22 )

( Bonus Scene )

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Harry Potter Abridged! HBP Chapter 9

Fri, 29 May 2015 18:49:00 GMT

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

( Read Chapter 9 )

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Harry Potter Abridged! OotP Chapter 15

Wed, 08 Jan 2014 18:22:00 GMT

Posted by: sweettalkeress.livejournal.com

[The next day, an ominous newspaper article arrives at breakfast.]

( Read Chapter 15 )
*Okay, seriously—if this were important it should have been introduced a lot earlier. As it is it's a completely forced conversation, that they're having for no other reason than to inform the audience of the grading system! It's yet another thing you'd see in amateur fanfic, not professionally-produced novels!

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Greater Love, an Essay

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:43:00 GMT

Posted by: terri-testing.livejournal.com

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.”

So reads the epitaph on the grave Lily is visiting.

In a certain Mirror viewed by Severus, and perhaps also in his dreams. (EmmaD, “What I Wish”)

But the mirror lies, of course.

( ”Oh” )

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Speculation on Liquid Luck

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:18:00 GMT

Posted by: terri-testing.livejournal.com

This idea came up in an exchange with, if I recall, madderbrad, but for those who missed it there, here’s my theory on Felix Felicis.

Horace told his class it was “Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong.” (HBP 9)

Old Sluggy is glossing over things a bit here because Dumbledore is so hot against any Dark Arts theory being taught at Hogwarts.

( It’s )

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Dumble’s (Mis) Conceptions about Godric’s Hollow: James’s and Lily’s Roles

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 09:31:00 GMT

Posted by: terri-testing.livejournal.com

To figure out what Albus believed saved Harry from Tom that night, we have to look closely at his actions. (Including his speech acts, while making sure not to assume he’s invariably speaking truthfully.)

So, what acts can we judge Twinkles on?

( First )

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Extraordinary

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:25:00 GMT

Posted by: terri-testing.livejournal.com

I was in the middle of crafting an extremely ingenious and elaborate explanation of why, uniquely in the WW, Lily’s sacrificial death could possibly have powered a shield so extraordinarily strong as to have deflected the unblockable Avada Kedavra, when the question hit me: but did it?

Or did something else happen that night?

This meta is dedicated to Erastes’ Random Death Eaters, Chuck and Lance, who I think would appreciate my final supposition.

(If you never read the posts in “Deadly Hollow” sporking DH, why not? Do that first.)

( We inferred )

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