The Gleam Revisited

[Ali]

No: HPFGUIDX 45118

> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "bugaloo37" <crussell at a...> wrote:
 IMO, I believe Dumbledore's gleam is a result of his realization 
that Voldemort has regained his human form- which now makes him 
vulnerable in a way he has not been for some time.  This may be a too 
simplistic view to take-

Grey Wolf responds:-

 More often than not, the most simple ideas are the ones that in the 
end are proven to be correct. This principle (known as Occam's Razor) 
tends to be ignored in this list (and I am the first to admit doing 
so. In fact, I once paraphrased Terry Pratchett by saying that, if 
Occam was a listee, he'd grow a beard). However, in this case, my 
favourite theory, MAGIC DISHWASHER, [Grey Wolf waits a few minutes 
for the groans and "not again"s to subside], while probably in direct 
oposition to Occam's razor as a whole, does propose the easiest 
interpretation to the gleam. 

 This interpretation is very close to your, although it does include 
a bit of the rest of the theory with it.
>  To put it in short (or as short as I can manage, which is more 
towards  medium), Dumbledore's eye gleams because one of the big 
points in his plan has finally happened, after long and hard 
preparation (a more than  a few gambles). This point was making 
Voldemort *mortal*. I had a pretty fun discussion some time ago about 
why the vapour!Voldemort was more dangerous than the human!Voldemort, 
that came down to: 

 vapour!Voldemort is inmortal, human!Voldemort is not. And to kill 
him  and be rid of him once and for all, you need him to be mortal. 
It gets a little more complicated (part of the gleam includes the 
fact that he used Harry's blood, which flaws the potion, according to 
MAGIC DISHWASHER, which was also part of Dumbledore's plan), but the 
general idea is that, finally, his main plan has advanced (after 14 
years) and finally Voldemort is in a position were he *can* be killed.


Ali wonders:-

I've always wondered if some of the significance of using Harry's 
blood is that he is "Pure of Heart". This is demonstrated by the 
courage that the Phoenix music instilled in him in the graveyard - we 
are told in FB&WTFT that Phoenix song is reputed to increase the 
courage in the pure of heart.

If Harry is pure hearted, then it is possible that using his blood 
has a similar effect to using that of a unicorn. Firenze tells Harry 
in PS/SS p 188 UK paperback edition:-

"The blood of a unicorn will keep you alive, even if you are an inch 
from death, but at a terrible price. You have slain something so 
pure, so defenceless to save yourself and you will have but a half 
life, a cursed life...

Now, I know Harry wasn't slain, but his blood was forcibly taken, and 
there could be some parallels there.

Just a thought anyway

Ali

Who's very upset that her car has been broken into and the radio 
nicked - in the same week that a couple (with a baby with them) have 
been seen dealing in the car park at the end of her road. So much for 
living in a "nice area"!