Speak of the Devil (was re:YKW -FideliusSwap -Madam -SeekerTom)

[Dr. Jekyl]

No: HPFGUIDX 87456

TravellerRose wrote:
>>Actually, the reaction whenever Harry says Voldemort instead of
>>"You Know Who' put me in mind of the old English saying, ``speak of
>>the Devil and he shall appear''. There is an old belief that if you
>>actually name the thing you fear it will manifest - so that, to me,
>>explains why the WW is afraid to call LV by name. (snip) Dumbledore
>>calls LV by name because he is too intelligent to fall for such a
>>silly superstition

Catlady wrote:
>Maybe in this case it ISN'T superstition. Maybe Voldemort DOES has a
>magical awareness whenever his 'name' is spoken.

I've always doubted that the whole 'you know who' thing is pure 
superstition. Say Voldemort's name and bad things happen.  This belief must 
have *some* factual basis within the wizarding world (even if only 
coincidental), else fear of the name would not have become so widespread.  
In this I see two scenarios.

Hands up those of you who ever tried to summon Bloody Mary as a kid.  Maybe 
you didn't , but dared someone else to do it.  Or maybe you have kids who 
tried it out.  You know, go into the bathroom, turn off all the lights and 
then, at the stroke of midnight, chant "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody 
Mary" or "I believe in Mary Worth".  As the legend goes, complete the ritual 
and the malignant spirit of Mary Worth or Queen Mary or whoever appears and 
tries to kill or maim you.  A friend of a friend of a friend of yours 
summoned her up and was scarred for life, cursed with bad luck or maybe was 
even killed.

In the first scenario I envision, the name 'Voldemort' has become an urban 
legend along the lines of 'Bloody Mary', but of mammoth proportions.  It's 
mainstream. Say the name and he appears.  Say the name and people get killed 
or hurt.  There are probably documented instances of this happening: someone 
joked about being killed by Voldemort and the next day he was.  Someone 
mentions 'Voldemort' in a conversation about current events and seconds 
later the place is under attack.

While in actuality these events are pure coincidence, the legend takes on a 
life of its own.  In a small community, its easy for everyone to have a 
friend of a friend who said 'Voldemort' and subsequently regretted it.

The second scenario is the more sinister of the two, and for that reason I 
like it better.   As Catlady said, perhaps Voldemort does have an awareness 
of when his name is said  not to mention who it is said by and where.

At the height of his power, Voldemort cast or created a particular spell 
that altered him to when he was the topic of discussion.  And every now and 
then, when he didn't like what was being said about him, he would appear and 
leave bloodshed and chaos in his wake.  Would you not fear to speak his name 
if you knew that there's a good chance he might hear you and show up?  
Wouldn't you adopt phrases and code-names that the spell wouldn't pick up 
on?  It's not an urban legend; it's an urban reality.

This would certainly explain why witches and wizards such as McGonagall and 
Snape are afraid to say Voldemort's name, something I've had trouble 
rationalizing.  I can't see McGonagall, one of the most even-keeled and 
logical witches we've encountered, adhering to this superstition if it did 
not have some real, factual and documented basis or it did not threaten her 
in some way.  And Snape, being a former Death Eater, is certainly in a 
position to know the truth of the matter.

Dumbledore, on the other hand can freely save YKW's name because Voldemort 
is reputed to fear him.  He is too powerful to be worried.  Dumbledore 
encourages Harry to use YKW's name as Harry needs to believe he is 
Voldemort's equal, and what better way to demonstrate that than by calling 
Voldemort by name when no-one else will? When there is, in fact, inherent 
danger to doing so?

I'm hoping this makes sense for an inaugural post compiled at 2:30am.

-Dr. Jekyl

_________________________________________________________________
E-mail just got a whole lot better. New ninemsn Premium. Click here  
http://ninemsn.com.au/premium/landing.asp