An idea I read on the HPMoR subreddit that I don’t remember finding here is that “the very stars in heaven” could refer to the Blacks (Every last one of them that we know of has star, constellation or galaxy-related names, including Draco). Hermione also offered “the skeleton is a key” as a hypothetical for what a prophecy that means “Susan Bones has to be there” might sound like, and Hermione did study prophecy on Harry’s urging, and we know that Hermione retains book knowledge much better than Harry, though this is still rather weak evidence for a stars → Blacks style riddle. It did seem pretty unlikely that Belatrix/Sirius would have a reasonable way to reenter the story in the time that remains, but that particular interpretation of the prophecy does point that way—and they are unclosed plot parentheses in the story’s final stretch.
Side note: Narcissa was a Black by birth (Belatrix’s sister, in fact), and “stars in heaven” is, as other readers have pointed out, an odd phrasing for what would normally be called “the heavens”, but not particularly odd if heaven = happy afterlife or wireheading.
“very” is the original “literally”. I.e. it used to mean “verily” or “in actual fact” and has gone through the same process that “literally” is going through now, where it’s just intensive. “really” went through this process shortly after “very” did.
Agreed, unless of course Quirrell realizes it is a possible interpretation, at which point he either throws members of the family or their corpses or the tapestry into an airship and manipulates Harry into shredding it. For added effect, he names said airship “The World”, then feels much less terrified. (Until Harry applies the principals behind said magical airship to create a magical mech capable of destroying planets, of course!) The defense professor’s relationship with puns, however, seems insufficient for him to attempt such a strategy. (Then again, he figured out an interpretation of Harry’s ritual chant at the end of Self Actualization...)
An idea I read on the HPMoR subreddit that I don’t remember finding here is that “the very stars in heaven” could refer to the Blacks (Every last one of them that we know of has star, constellation or galaxy-related names, including Draco). Hermione also offered “the skeleton is a key” as a hypothetical for what a prophecy that means “Susan Bones has to be there” might sound like, and Hermione did study prophecy on Harry’s urging, and we know that Hermione retains book knowledge much better than Harry, though this is still rather weak evidence for a stars → Blacks style riddle. It did seem pretty unlikely that Belatrix/Sirius would have a reasonable way to reenter the story in the time that remains, but that particular interpretation of the prophecy does point that way—and they are unclosed plot parentheses in the story’s final stretch.
Side note: Narcissa was a Black by birth (Belatrix’s sister, in fact), and “stars in heaven” is, as other readers have pointed out, an odd phrasing for what would normally be called “the heavens”, but not particularly odd if heaven = happy afterlife or wireheading.
The word “very” in this sense means “literal”. The prophecy is talking about actual stars.
“very” is the original “literally”. I.e. it used to mean “verily” or “in actual fact” and has gone through the same process that “literally” is going through now, where it’s just intensive. “really” went through this process shortly after “very” did.
Interesting idea. Unlikely though. PredictionBook link.
Agreed, unless of course Quirrell realizes it is a possible interpretation, at which point he either throws members of the family or their corpses or the tapestry into an airship and manipulates Harry into shredding it. For added effect, he names said airship “The World”, then feels much less terrified. (Until Harry applies the principals behind said magical airship to create a magical mech capable of destroying planets, of course!) The defense professor’s relationship with puns, however, seems insufficient for him to attempt such a strategy. (Then again, he figured out an interpretation of Harry’s ritual chant at the end of Self Actualization...)