Dear Voldemort,
You're probably wondering why I'm sending you this letter. Truth be told, I came to a bit of a startling realization a couple of days ago, one that puts a new perspective on our situation. To give a bit of background, here's the full, unadulterated prophecy. I really don't see why everyone made such a big deal out of it, really.
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not, and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.'
Now, I want to draw your attention to one particular line, 'either MUST (emphasis mine) die at the hands of the other'. I, for one, have no desire to die at the present time, so I'll leave you be. You don't come near me, I don't go near you. That way, neither you nor I have any chance of dying.
So at this point, you face a choice. You can leave me alone, or come after me. Likewise, I can leave you alone, or go after you.
If we both leave each other alone, we both stay safe and happy.
If one goes after the other, and the other does nothing, one of us is happy, and the other very dead. However, given my mother's blood protection, it seems inadvisable for you to come after me. Likewise, even though you may not actively pursue me, I am a teenager, and really have no chance of killing you.
Finally, if we both go after each other, it seems to be a flip of the coin, and there exists the possibility we'll both kill each other.
In summary, I have no intention of risking my life to try and kill you. So will you leave me alone, or risk it all on a gamble?
Sincerely,
HP
- Four days later -
Potter,
I must admit, I thought I was the only wizard who ever read Nash, excepting Lucius.
You seem to assume I haven't been working on a way around said blood protections. I freely admit progress has been… slow, but time may very well provide an answer.
But the longer I wait, the more skilled you become, thereby increasing the chance you'll kill me.
We are forced into a state of truce. Neither can kill the other, at this time. That may change.
But let it not be said Lord Voldemort tempted fate. You'll have your peace, for a time.
Lord Voldemort, Earl of Conway
AN: Just a one-shot for now, don't expect I'll continue this. It's just a look at what would happen if, after OOTP, Harry thought the prophecy through, and the context of everything surrounding his life, and picked up a book on game theory.