LV's pupil complex?

[Christopher Nuttall]

No: HPFGUIDX 47668

I was thinking about the relationship between Tom Riddle and Dumbledore, back when he was a student, and I was wondering if that did not affect his actions towards Dumbledore later in his life as LV.  If we assume Riddle to have a similar relationship to Dumbledore as Harry does, he must be somewhat in awe of Dumbledore as a wizard.  

When I recently went back to my primary school, I was amazed to discover that my headteacher, a fire-breathing woman, had shrunk.  Obviously, I had grown.  Could LV's reluctance to challenge Dumbledore spring from a similar source?

We do not know how Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald.  He might have succeeded by luck or by being prepared to use the AK curse.  This awe of being the person to defeat the last serious menace to the WW must be still with Dumbledore.

Now, we have no episodes in canon of a direct clash between Voldemort and Dumbledore (and if anyone knows of any fanfics that do, please point them out), but we do know of intellectual clashes, and Dumbledore has come off worse.  In PS, LV got into the castle and nearly took the stone.  Dumbledore was saved by luck.  I don't think that either COS and POA count as clashes, but in GOF, Dumbledore's protégé, Harry, is effectively kidnapped, barely escapes death and escapes without help from Dumbledore.

At this point, a less conceited man than LV might just decide that Dumbledore is over rated.  His experiences as a child have shaped his overblown assessment of Dumbledore's strength.  

That bodes ill for Dumbledore

Chris

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