The prophecy in Harry Potter defined much of Harry and Voldemort’s battle, and there's a theory that the prophecy potentially wasn’t real but still managed to defeat Voldemort. The prophecy told by Sybill Trelawney tied Harry and Voldemort together and predicted that one must die at the other’s hand for “neither can live while the other survives.” Once acted upon by Voldemort, the prophecy doomed Harry and Voldemort to a life of battling each other which concluded in the Battle of Hogwarts.
The prophecy was the reason for Voldemort’s downfall, and his decision between Harry and Neville being the Chosen One only emphasized this, but there is a third option that the prophecy was not real at all. Trelawney made the prophecy while interviewing for the Professor of Divination position with Dumbledore. Snape overheard the prophecy and relayed it to Voldemort who then decided it was James and Lily Potter’s child. However, the prophecy could have just been a ploy, conveniently relayed by Snape who became a double agent for Dumbledore shortly after, which meant Voldemort was distracted from his main agenda.
Why Harry Potter's Chosen One Prophecy Might Not Have Been Real
Trelawney’s prophecy never specified who the Chosen One was, so there is debate over whether it was really Harry or if Neville Longbottom was Harry Potter's Chosen One, as both boys fit the bill. There is a third option: that there simply was not a Chosen One. This would explain why both Harry and Neville seemed to fit the bill; if the prophecy had been referring to a specific boy then Voldemort was lucky to guess the right one. But most importantly, it was Voldemort's own decision to act upon the prophecy that made it come to fruition. If Voldemort had not acted upon it, it would not have come true, which only enforces that it wasn't real in the first place.
Dumbledore already has a morally questionable character.
Why The Chosen One Prophecy Was Useful Against Voldemort
The Chosen One prophecy was extremely useful against Voldemort and makes sense to have been ed as real by Dumbledore, as a preventative measure. The prophecy completely switched Voldemort’s focus to a much smaller issue, rather than taking over. With the Potters originally protected by a Fidelius Charm, the prophecy distracted Voldemort from his main goal. He then became focused on hunting them down to save himself and gave the forces of good more time to counter Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Even when Voldemort returned, his main goal was to eradicate Harry to properly be able to take over. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Voldemort pretty much had full reign of the Wizarding World again but still was focused on beating Harry before being able to fully rule.
Similarly, it helped to ensure for Voldemort's return, treated him as the Chosen One to enforce everyone's belief.
How A Fake Chosen One Prophecy Changes Harry Potter
The prophecy being fake makes Harry’s arc a little sadder, as well as much more triumphant. Harry’s personal suffering would be the creation of a myth, and fully in Dumbledore's control. Everything from losing his parents, to having to accept his own death and sacrifice would have ultimately been unnecessary. It would have all been just pure bad luck that he was the one Voldemort chose. However, the fake prophecy makes Harry’s arc much more triumphant because everything he achieved was because of his own merit. Harry did not overcome Voldemort due to being the Chosen One or having any particular set of powers to match the Dark Lord’s, but because of his own skill, determination, and the love of his family and friends.
Harry Potter being the Chosen One may have been a ruse to vanquish Voldemort, but Harry was able to save the Wizarding World thanks to his strong sense of morality and determination. The prophecy being fake only emphasizes Harry’s strength and will; while he may not have been the Chosen One, he is one of the few who could have achieved what he did. The prophecy potentially being fake changes Harry Potter. If the theory is correct, however, it would not have changed Harry and Voldemort’s journey and battle. Ultimately, they would have ended up in the same places.
