I like the analysis, but I think I’m going to have to diverge near the top.
/The only other person strong enough to be the agent behind Hermione’s death is Voldemort./
The problem is, we’re fairly sure that Voldemort is Quirrell. There’s the Pioneer plate, the amusing questionnaire about “where to lose something you want never to be found,” and of course the sense of Doom; in addition, I’m pretty sure that Ryvrmre fnvq fb, va gur ergenpgrq Nhgube’f Abgr sbe Puncgre 20.
You’re also missing a candidate. Throughout the story, there’s been hints at the presence of a Peggy Sue—a long-distance time traveler with unknown intentions and unknown motives. Unfortunately, it’s something of a Fully General Explanation for that reason...
Personally, I’m betting somewhere around 65% that Future!Harry is the culprit—less because I’m 70% certain that Future!Harry is responsible, and more because I’m 95% certain Dumbledore didn’t, and 75% certain Quirrell didn’t, and after that I’m out of conscious hypotheses so the rest get the ~5%.
The problem is, we’re fairly sure that Voldemort is Quirrell. There’s the Pioneer plate, the amusing questionnaire about “where to lose something you want never to be found,” and of course the sense of Doom; in addition, I’m pretty sure that Ryvrmre fnvq fb, va gur ergenpgrq Nhgube’f Abgr sbe Puncgre 20.
I continue, despite all that, to be sceptical that the relationship between the two is anything so simple as plain identity. There is a connection between the two, but Quirrell strikes me as someone who has learned how to be Voldemort but whose terminal values remain on the light side. I will be disappointed if the reveal turns out to be “Surprise! Q is V! Just like you expected all along!” Unless it’s something like Q = V, but is in alliance with Dumbledore against a far greater enemy, a future dark-side Harry who is reaching back through time to bring himself into existence.
I know about the ergenpgrq Nhgube’f Abgr, but it’s ergenpgrq, and I pubbfr abg gb xabj bs vg sbe gur checbfr bs gurfr fcrphyngvbaf. Vg unf ha-unccrarq, naq Ryvrmre vf serr gb jevgr gur fgbel jvgubhg ertneq gb vg.
You’re also missing a candidate. Throughout the story, there’s been hints at the presence of a Peggy Sue—a long-distance time traveler with unknown intentions and unknown motives. Unfortunately, it’s something of a Fully General Explanation for that reason...
That’s a problem with a lot of the paraphernalia of the setting. In a world with time travel, memory erasure, false memories, and ineluctable commands, the most important thing about these is the detailed rules about what you can’t do with them.
There is a connection between the two, but Quirrell strikes me as someone who has learned how to be Voldemort but whose terminal values remain on the light side.
Non sequitur. We have no evidence that Voldemort is necessarily “evil,” only that he committed atrocities. It is possible that an extremely cynical, but otherwise rational David Monroe decided that the best way to save the world was to rule it, and the best way to rule it was to become a hero, and then went about the dirty business of becoming heroic enough to qualify for world domination.
In fact, I rather imagine this being likely. Quirrell as we know him does not seem like the sort of person to have fame, money, or even really personal happiness as terminal values; if nothing else, he seems like the type to take over the world just so he doesn’t have to deal with complete morons anymore, and/or get off this planet.
I like the analysis, but I think I’m going to have to diverge near the top.
The problem is, we’re fairly sure that Voldemort is Quirrell. There’s the Pioneer plate, the amusing questionnaire about “where to lose something you want never to be found,” and of course the sense of Doom; in addition, I’m pretty sure that Ryvrmre fnvq fb, va gur ergenpgrq Nhgube’f Abgr sbe Puncgre 20.
You’re also missing a candidate. Throughout the story, there’s been hints at the presence of a Peggy Sue—a long-distance time traveler with unknown intentions and unknown motives. Unfortunately, it’s something of a Fully General Explanation for that reason...
Personally, I’m betting somewhere around 65% that Future!Harry is the culprit—less because I’m 70% certain that Future!Harry is responsible, and more because I’m 95% certain Dumbledore didn’t, and 75% certain Quirrell didn’t, and after that I’m out of conscious hypotheses so the rest get the ~5%.
I continue, despite all that, to be sceptical that the relationship between the two is anything so simple as plain identity. There is a connection between the two, but Quirrell strikes me as someone who has learned how to be Voldemort but whose terminal values remain on the light side. I will be disappointed if the reveal turns out to be “Surprise! Q is V! Just like you expected all along!” Unless it’s something like Q = V, but is in alliance with Dumbledore against a far greater enemy, a future dark-side Harry who is reaching back through time to bring himself into existence.
I know about the ergenpgrq Nhgube’f Abgr, but it’s ergenpgrq, and I pubbfr abg gb xabj bs vg sbe gur checbfr bs gurfr fcrphyngvbaf. Vg unf ha-unccrarq, naq Ryvrmre vf serr gb jevgr gur fgbel jvgubhg ertneq gb vg.
That’s a problem with a lot of the paraphernalia of the setting. In a world with time travel, memory erasure, false memories, and ineluctable commands, the most important thing about these is the detailed rules about what you can’t do with them.
Rot13, granted.
Non sequitur. We have no evidence that Voldemort is necessarily “evil,” only that he committed atrocities. It is possible that an extremely cynical, but otherwise rational David Monroe decided that the best way to save the world was to rule it, and the best way to rule it was to become a hero, and then went about the dirty business of becoming heroic enough to qualify for world domination.
In fact, I rather imagine this being likely. Quirrell as we know him does not seem like the sort of person to have fame, money, or even really personal happiness as terminal values; if nothing else, he seems like the type to take over the world just so he doesn’t have to deal with complete morons anymore, and/or get off this planet.