Ah, I missed this, I think you’re correct (upvoting you and maltrhin). I suppose that my interpretation is the one EY is trying to trick unobservant readers such as myself into making.
I do still think there’s still some wiggle room for that interpretation though: Harry’s whole outburst about Trelawney’s “He’s coming!” prophecy, where he said it couldn’t possibly be about him because he’s already arrived, would seem to indicate that EY is willing to use prophecies whose proper interpretation is not-quite-literal.
Or maybe Harry was right, and “he” in the “tear apart the very stars” prophecies refers to death; after all, “he is here!” happened as soon as Hermione died, so death had indeed arrived at Hogwarts.
It occurred long enough afterwards for Quirrell to realize, stop casting Fiendfyre, stop moving, land the broom, and then think for a small time. It wasn’t the same instant.
Ah, I missed this, I think you’re correct (upvoting you and maltrhin). I suppose that my interpretation is the one EY is trying to trick unobservant readers such as myself into making.
I do still think there’s still some wiggle room for that interpretation though: Harry’s whole outburst about Trelawney’s “He’s coming!” prophecy, where he said it couldn’t possibly be about him because he’s already arrived, would seem to indicate that EY is willing to use prophecies whose proper interpretation is not-quite-literal.
Or maybe Harry was right, and “he” in the “tear apart the very stars” prophecies refers to death; after all, “he is here!” happened as soon as Hermione died, so death had indeed arrived at Hogwarts.
It occurred long enough afterwards for Quirrell to realize, stop casting Fiendfyre, stop moving, land the broom, and then think for a small time. It wasn’t the same instant.