It’s all a fake. Harry set the whole thing up with Dumbledore, then obliviated himself. The real Hermione has been spirited away somewhere she won’t be in any danger. Harry relied on his own likely reaction to ensure things would occur more or less as planned.
We can keep Hermione alive yay! But it doesn’t work dramatically.
Other unlikely theory:
Harry will calm down tomorrow and realise his vow was a mistake.
I kind of like this as what a saner person might do, but again it seems very unlikely within the confines of Harry and the story.
I think the obvious solution is basically this, with a Time-Turning involved. The troll could be real, or not (probably is). The hardest part about changing the past is faking the evidence including memories, but with a False-Memory Charm that becomes trivial. Memory charm Harry and possibly Dumbledore as well, depending on whether he objects “but I remember feeling a student die.”
They won’t do it this way because it’s too finger snap-ish and not dramatic enough, but if it’s not at least addressed then I will allege a holding of the Idiot Ball.
Harry will need the help of Dumbledore or Quirrel to unlock the time-turner and cast the memory charms. Quirrel wouldn’t help but I’d be interested to see his excuse; Dumbledore should be possible to convince but might not be. McGonagall or someone might be capable of it but wouldn’t obliviate Albus without him asking for it. Unless this is what was foreshadowed with the question about her first loyalty?
dumbledore tried this level of deception once, and then decided not to attempt it again. although...if he hasn’t gone into his office yet, he MIGHT be willing to consider it.
Unlikely theory:
It’s all a fake. Harry set the whole thing up with Dumbledore, then obliviated himself. The real Hermione has been spirited away somewhere she won’t be in any danger. Harry relied on his own likely reaction to ensure things would occur more or less as planned.
We can keep Hermione alive yay! But it doesn’t work dramatically.
Other unlikely theory:
Harry will calm down tomorrow and realise his vow was a mistake.
I kind of like this as what a saner person might do, but again it seems very unlikely within the confines of Harry and the story.
I think the obvious solution is basically this, with a Time-Turning involved. The troll could be real, or not (probably is). The hardest part about changing the past is faking the evidence including memories, but with a False-Memory Charm that becomes trivial. Memory charm Harry and possibly Dumbledore as well, depending on whether he objects “but I remember feeling a student die.” They won’t do it this way because it’s too finger snap-ish and not dramatic enough, but if it’s not at least addressed then I will allege a holding of the Idiot Ball.
Harry will need the help of Dumbledore or Quirrel to unlock the time-turner and cast the memory charms. Quirrel wouldn’t help but I’d be interested to see his excuse; Dumbledore should be possible to convince but might not be. McGonagall or someone might be capable of it but wouldn’t obliviate Albus without him asking for it. Unless this is what was foreshadowed with the question about her first loyalty?
dumbledore tried this level of deception once, and then decided not to attempt it again. although...if he hasn’t gone into his office yet, he MIGHT be willing to consider it.