[HPforGrownups] Voldemort's death

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 40245

Liz writes:

> Fist of all, I would like to apologize if this has been posted
> before.  I couldn't find it anywhere in the archives.  Okay, when
> Voldemort was "killed" the first time, (incident that resulted in
> Harry's scar) he was able to come back.  He was able to become a
> parasite off of Quirrell.  Then, finally, in book four, he got his
> body back.  So what I'm asking is, if Voldemort can keep on coming
> back like that, how can they ever really kill him?

Well, the way I see it is that he wasn't really "killed" the first time,
just extremely weakened.  In Book one, when Hagrid is out on the island/rock
to get Harry, and is explaining about his parents death, Harry asks:

"But what happened to Vol-, sorry, I mean, You-Know-Who?"

To which Hagrid replies:

"Good question, Harry.  Disappeared.  Vanished.  Same night he tried ter
kill you.  Makes yeh even more famous.  That's the biggest myst'ry see . ..
he was gettin' more an' more powerful--why'd he go?  Some say he died.
Codswallop, in my opinion. .. (skipping brief discussion on theories) " . .
. "Most of us reckon he's still out there somewhere but lost his powers.
Too weak to carry on."

Richelle