The Unforgivable Curses

[Ali <Ali@zymurgy.org>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48360

Ing said of Voldemort in the graveyard:-
 
>>> I don't think he wanted Harry to be weak.  A weak Harry would not 
 have made Voldie look good, because it was Harry who 
 defeated him.  Showing that he could defeat a strong and 
 accomplished Harry who had just won the Tri-Wizard 
 Tournament and could fight Imperio would be much more 
 impressive.

Surely Harry was weak when bound to a gravestone and unable to 
speak?  He was injured from the Triwiard tournament, had terrible 
pains in his head (ok, Voldemort possibly didn't know about this), 
terrorised by the murder of Cedric and the reincarnation of 
Voldemort. Then, Voldemort tortures him. Only after he has thus 
further weakened Harry does he decide to "Duel". Even at this point, 
he begins before Harry has a chance to do/think of anything. True, 
Harry is untied and given his wand back, so he's not completely 
helpless. But weak, I certainly think he was.

I actually think that Voldemort *did* want to show that Harry was 
weak and helpless. A mere child who defeated Voldemort by fluke. This 
is Volemort's failure. He seems so convinced that Harry escaped by an 
accident, he's so sure of his own omnipotence that he can risk 
freeing Harry. Unfortunately for him, his little game goes wrong. 
Harry may be weaker but he still manages to escape. In effect, he has 
defeated Voldemort yet again.

Ali