GOF: Some things cleared up by reading. And LOTS of various questions/theories

[c_voth312]

No: HPFGUIDX 46242

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "erisedstraeh2002" <erisedstraeh2002 at y...> 
wrote:
> While I agree that Voldemort is power hungry, I don't think he's 
> stupid.  He has a need to show his DEs that he can kill Harry 
because 
> he's has three unsuccessful attempts at killing Harry so far.  By 
> showing the DEs that he can kill Harry in a fair and square duel, 
he 
> restores his DE power base and facilitates his rise to power.

"Stupid" is probably the wrong word for it.  I think "hubris" is a 
lot closer to the mark.  Voldemort tends to be overconfident in his 
power and knowledge, and this leads him to overlook the very things 
which undo him time and again.  He doesn't know how Lily's sacrifice 
will protect Harry, he forgets phoenix tears have healing properties, 
he doesn't expect the Priori Incantatem effect (this last is kind of 
understandable, though--even if he knows about this particular 
phenomenon, how would he know Harry's wand core is identical to his 
own?).  Each time, he believes it impossible for him to fail; each 
time he's proven wrong.  In a way, it's almost like Voldemort is his 
own worst enemy.
And yes, I do think a large part of Voldemort's motivation for the 
duel was to prove he was better than Harry, not only to his followers 
but to himself.  After all, he's the greatest wizard in the world (in 
his own mind) and this *kid* who hasn't even gotten himself through 
school yet keeps tripping him up!  That's got to be driving him nuts.

~Christi