"Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war ..."

[ftah3]

No: HPFGUIDX 30916

Emily wrote:
> > > Before, the wizarding community was more or less unified 
> > > against LV and his followers -- how will they cope now that 
there 
> > is 
> > > an apparent split in opinion as to whether he has truly 
returned ?

And then also wrote:
> most of them would not be convinced that Voldemort had truly 
returned 
> until he launched his first attacks. Until then, can Dumbledore or 
> Harry or anyone do anything to convince any doubting wizards to 
> prepare for the upcoming onslaught ? That was the import of my 
> question.

The doubting wizards probably will not be convinced until Voldemort 
makes his presence publically, irrefutably known ~ probably in the 
form of an attack.

On the other hand, I don't think this dooms the side of Good ~ I 
don't think they'll cope any less well, simply due to being currently 
fractured, than was done in the first go-
round with Voldemort.

You note (and I neglected to quote it ~ sorry) that by the time 
Voldemort was defeated, it appeared that all wizards were unified at 
least in terms of wanting to see him vanquished.  You also make a 
comparison with the current Afghan issue, in terms of a general 
consensus to see terrorism defeated.  I think the comparison is a 
good one in another way:  somehow, I would guess that during 
Voldemort's initial rise to power, there were plenty of doubting 
wizards, as many as in the current storyline, and that they only 
unified when he finally did something truly frightening.  

I imagine that it will be the same this time round.  Which isn't 
good, but I think the wizarding world (the anti-Voldemort side, at 
any rate) eventually has a chance to cope well enough.

Actually, I think the problem this time around is that Dumbledore, 
unlike Voldemort, is *not* resurging in power/vitality.  Dumbledore 
was the one wizard Voldemort feared, and possibly couldn't defeat ~ 
but he's aging, and I think is more vulnerable.  Is there anyone, 
after Dumbledore, Voldemort might fear?  He doesn't seem to fear 
Harry, though he hasn't been able to defeat him.  I get the 
impression that Dumbledore might have been the center of the forces 
against Voldemort before; if he dies, or is proved to no longer be 
strong enough to frighten Voldemort, is there anyone left who could 
be the center?

Rambling; will pipe down now.

Mahoney