The crucial questions

[Mistress Siana]

Okay, I've been thinking about this for a while now. According to JKR, the crucial and central question of the series, the one we should try to answer, is why Harry and Voldemort survived the killing curse. When it backfired, Voldemort should have died, but as we know, he's alive and kicking. Another thing she said was that we'd find out more about the circumstances of Tom Riddle's birth in the last two books.
So...if it was Lily's love that protected Harry, maybe it was Mrs Riddle's love that protected Tom? All we know is that his mother died shortly after his birth and that his father had a deep hatred for magic. Why did she die? Maybe her death is connected to Riddle Sr. hate and she died trying to protect the new born? After all, the prophecy only spoke about a boy with a power "the Dark Lord knows not", not a power he has not. Why else would we get to know more about his birth?
Apart from that, JKR said she didn't think the reason for Voldemort's immortality was all too guessable, but however, one might find out. And personally, I think some ancient lithuanian ritual involving the slaughter of a unicorn or something wouldn't fall under that category.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

Hmm yes it does leave you guessing why they [/i]both survived.
And, yes it was that Lily's love protected Harry, but it was also that she loved him so much she died for him. Thus creating a spell tighter than any other.
I doubt Tom's mother did the same, maybe coz he was the one that killed them.
It could be what Hagrid said, that he didn't have enough life in him to be stripped of it, but there must be a better reason, otherwise why would JK tell us that's the question that needs answering.
Hmm I'm also thinking that in the 7th book someone will die and give Harry the same protection as Lily gave him, and when L. VLDMT cast his death curse on Harry, it'll have the same effect, and before Voldemort can flee, Harry will cast his Avada Kedrava, and against the weakoned Voldemort, it will have it's desired effect...

[Mistress Siana]

And, yes it was that Lily's love protected Harry, but it was also that she loved him so much she died for him. Thus creating a spell tighter than any other.
I doubt Tom's mother did the same, maybe coz he was the one that killed them.

Not quite. Tom Riddle's mother died shortly after he was born, and he kind of glorifies her. The ones he killed were his muggle father and grandparents.

[Hagger 9003]

i don't kno whether harry could ever avada kedrava LV. he can't do crucio, and i reckon that AK would need alot more hate, and the wanting to enjoy death, than harry could ever have.

i think it might hav been something to do with the fact that a love charm reflected the curse. mayb, because it was made from love, it couldn't kill som1. or mayb the love sapped the power away from the AK. however, that doesn't affect the plot line, and i reckon the answer would, otherwise it wouldnt be so important.

really tho, i have no idea at all. mrs riddle dieing to protect her son sounds ok, but then y didnt harry end up like voldemort? its all so confusing!!!

[Mistress Siana]

Well, in fact he did.

Tom Riddle grew up unloved, in an orphanage, and blames his father, who went back to his Muggle parents for all that happened to him. Because of this, he developed a deep routed hatred for Muggles and considers them and their fear a threat to the wizarding world.
Now, Harry has experienced almost the same childhood, and he too is fighting the reason for that. They are pretty much alike, only that Harry made the decision to be sorted into Gryffindor. He chose to care for someone. Dumbledore said, what kind of person we are is defined by the choices we make.

[Hagger 9003]

yeh, but why didn't harry become a ghost/spirit thing when he was hit by AK? if LV had love protection, and so did harry, y didn't harry leave his body?

but your right, they are very freakishly similar. they talk about it in CoS after the basilisk. i reckon this is a bit of a theme. everyone makes a choice at some point that affects their lives drastically. maybe someone like snape will have to do this? or wormtail? i sense a future important bit.

[Tanuki]

I read a theory somewhere that Harry and Voldermort are in essence both Tom Riddlbe, but a Tom Riddle that made two seperate decisions about where to go in life

[Mistress Siana]

yeh, but why didn't harry become a ghost/spirit thing when he was hit by AK? if LV had love protection, and so did harry, y didn't harry leave his body?

Maybe Lily's spell was stronger, or maybe the same spell was once cast on Tom Riddle, but the hatred he carried around in his soul weakened it? How else could love be the key to vanquish the Dark Lord? Surely Harry's not supposed to love Voldemort.

"Get up! You are not trying to love him, you are making no effort!"
"I - am - making - an - effort, but I'm finding that hard at the moment."
"Once again. Close your eyes and kiss - the - snake!"

I like the theory, Tanuki. That would be a plot twist! I have to think about that, I guess.

[Tanuki]

Voldy doesn't care for love and wouldn't have love protection, I think this would have changed him drastically. No, Voldermort has other ways of keeping himself alive. He even mentioned it in one of the other books that he took preperations to never die. I think he cast a complex curse on himself to turn himself into the creature we see and this in turn made him immortal

[Just Mom]

Where did you locate this theory that Harry and LV are, in effect, both Tom Riddle split in half because of their choices? That's a very interesting theory. Kind of like The Dark Crystal where one creature became two and was then rejoined.

But the story doesn't seem to be going in that direction...even with all the strong connections. Would it be more likely that they are related somehow? Has JKR said they are NOT related?

[Mistress Siana]

Yep, she did. Ended all our lovely speculations, that cruel woman.

I don't think the story is heading into that direction (Harr+Tom=One person) either, but I still love it. It would be a nice fanficton.

[Phoenix in the Ashes]

I love reading fan-fictions, it's amazing what some people can come up with.
Not presuming anything, but I still doubt Tom's mum gave her the same protection as Lily, it's highly unlikely anyway. And yes, Harry couldn't even do Crucio in the OoTp after watching Sirius die , and it would take far more hate to be able to cast a Avada Kedavra strongely. But in another two years of the Second War, where Harry will pretty much be a full wizard, he will be even stronger, not to mention he'll be fighting Voldemort, not Bellatrix, so his hate for him will be much stronger too. I'm doubtful though. As for the Tom and Harry theory, I think we're reading a little too much into it. I mean yeah JK makes her plots very well, and some things are hidden, but your both right, I don't think it's leading in that direction either.
And it would make an awesome fan-fic , some of you people sound like really good writers, you should make it!!!

[Tanuki]

Where did you locate this theory that Harry and LV are, in effect, both Tom Riddle split in half because of their choices? That's a very interesting theory. Kind of like The Dark Crystal where one creature became two and was then rejoined.

But the story doesn't seem to be going in that direction...even with all the strong connections. Would it be more likely that they are related somehow? Has JKR said they are NOT related?

The idea isn't that they're one person split in two. Put two people who are identicle at the beginning and take two different paths. Voldermot is the Tom who forsaked love and turned to evil, while Harry is the Tom who took love and became a force for good.

There's also the idea that one person cannot exist in two places at the same time. Therefore, one will have to kill the other in order to continue living as the only person of this like

[Hagger 9003]

i do really think that, even if harry hates voldemort, it wont help him. actually, since he is supposed to use love, hate would get in the way. and when i say love, i dont mean kissing the snake...but that was very funny

yeh, that is a good theory. harry and LV are an example of the fact that your choices determine how you live, not ur origins. i think this will be a recurring theme, as it is going against the general wizarding world's ideals. most of them are very prejudiced, and they think that people who are half giant, muggle, etc are inferior. they also think other intelligent animal creatures are inferior. they will have to learn their mistake, or suffer the consequences.

[Tanuki]

It would also make sense that two half breed have the potential to become the greatest wizards in the world. People have already brought up just how strong Harry is