Prophecies have always bugged me. Mainly because people always have the same reaction when they hear them — they try to do everything in their power to stop them from coming true. Oedipus. Macbeth. Countless other books and myths and stories — including Harry Potter.

I always wondered what would happen if someone in a story heard a prophecy and then did absolutely nothing about it. Would the prophecy still happen? I think not. To me, it seems like every action taken to stop a prophecy only brings it that much further along.

Let’s look at Harry Potter. His parents are murdered. He lives with his uncaring aunt and uncle. He is alone and friendless and unloved. Then, he goes to Hogwarts and finds his home, his friends, the world he belongs in. So, is it any wonder that Harry does everything in his power to keep his world safe? Harry fights for Ron and his family. He fights for Dumbledore. He fights for Hogwarts. He fights for all the people who have been kind to him since he grew up without a real family. He knows how important they all are, and he’ll do whatever he has to — including dying — to keep them safe.

But what if Voldemort hadn’t killed Harry’s parents? Would Harry be a different person?

Oh, yes.

Snape describes Harry’s father, James, as arrogant. And you know what? Snape is right. The images we see of James Potter aren’t very nice ones. He plays a cruel prank on Snape. He’s mean to Lily Potter. He struts around Hogwarts with Sirius. James Potter is arrogant. (I’m not saying he stays this way, but that’s how he was a kid.)

But what if Harry had grown up in the magical world with his parents. With the same sense of entitlement that James and Sirius had. Would Harry value Hogwarts and his parents the same way he does in the books? Maybe, maybe not. Harry might still be a hero, might still take on Voldemort, but he wouldn’t have the personal reason to fight. The sense of longing and loss. Which, to me, makes all the difference. That’s why we care about Harry. That’s why we root for him.

And really, it’s all because Voldemort acted on a prophecy. Just like Oedipus. Just like Macbeth. Just like countless others, most of whom meet a grisly end.

It bugs me.

What about you? Do prophecies bug you? Inquiring minds want to know …