Voldemort's "happy" thoughts

[Elizabeth Dalton]

No: HPFGUIDX 30588

A couple of people (Cindy and Liquidfire) responded to my question about whether
Voldemort has "happy" thoughts by pointing out that the happiness of the thought
seems to be a subjective thing. I agree. Harry is able to concentrate on things
like winning the House cup, that might or might not matter to someone else, to
produce a Petronus.

I was really getting at something a bit deeper. I don't think Voldemort is a
"happy" person. Maybe I'm splitting hairs here. I know Cindy pointed out the
scene where Voldemort was at least "excited" about the idea of whacking Harry in
GoF. But I don't know if he has any ideas in his head that would really count as
"happy." I can see him being "satisfied", "excited", "smug", possibly even
"pleased" (though he seems like a hard guy to please), but not really "happy." I
guess I just see him as being too twisted up for happiness.

I'm basing this partly on what Sirius said about his ability to stay sane in
Azkaban: he knew he was innocent. It wasn't a "happy" thought, so the Dementors
couldn't take it from him. It probably also wouldn't have been useful to
generate a Patronus. But Sirius is capable of being happy: remember when Harry
says he wants to come live with him, and he smiles? Suddenly Harry sees how he
*is* the guy in the wedding picture. His opportunities for happiness have been
few and far between, lately, but he is capable of it.

For the record, I don't see Lucius Malfoy being capable of "happiness" either.
And Draco is rapidly heading in that direction. (So is Fudge, probably.)

All of this came up, of course, because we were wondering if the Dementors would
turn on Voldemort and be his undoing. Other than not liking the idea of
Voldemort's soul still being around, even in Dementor-digested form, I think
that would be a workable outcome. Then Harry & co could destroy the Dementors,
who have been much more thoroughly dehumanized than Voldemort can be. Except
that Voldemort may easily know of some other way of driving off the Dementors
that doesn't require happy thoughts, of course.

Elizabeth
(Who thinks the "treatment" for Dementor exposure is perfect.)