TBAY: Dumbledore's feelings about Voldemort

[Grey Wolf <greywolf1@jazzfree.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51089

The Grey Wolf  looked at Melody for a few moments, her mind pondering 
Melody's arguments. Melody looked into his eyes and could almost hear 
the "click" inside his head when he reached a conclusion
"Ok, little bunny, let's see how well you do on your own" he addressed 
Coney, "I want you to catch a badger now, let's see how well you do. 
Remember that he won't suspect you, but don't expect it to allow you to 
get close anyway, so you'll still have to surprise it"

The bunny twitched her little nose and hopped into the forest, her eyes 
intent. Grey Wolf turned to Melody and said
"So, first things first, you told me that
> "I can see Dumbledore
> being cautious and deeply careful with his steps.  I can see
> Dumbledore wanting to create Hogwarts a safe haven from Voldemort,
> but Grey, that safe haven is created because Voldemort fears 
> Dumbledore. If Dumbledore cannot, and will not kill him, then why
> would Voldemort fear anything that Dumbledore can do to him?  In 
> Voldemort's eyes, there is more to fear here then.  You said
> yourself, Dumbledore will not use Avada Kedavra out of nobility, so
> then what is it that Voldie fears exactly?  Being tricked into being > caught and kept at Azkaban?
>
> "You said in a duel, Voldemort would win because he would use the
> unblockable AK on Dumbledore.  I think that is a fair and reasonable
> assumption.  Voldemort, given the chance, would kill Dumbledore.  So
> then, what is stopping him?  Why does he not get up, go there, and do
> it?  It is not out of respect, or even fair play obviously.  Seems,
> if I was a dark wizard and I would use spells and potions that no one
> else can except this one guy who will not, then I would rule the
> world.  And yet, even though Voldemort has all this power, he is
> scared because someone else could too?  That makes no sense Grey.

My answer is easy enough. Voldemort not only fears Dumbledore (that 
much is obvious), he's also absolutely incable of understanding him. We 
know Voldemort doesn't understand love. He doesn't understand morality, 
either ("There is no good or evil, just power and those too weak to 
grasp it"). Now, Dumbledore is *not* too weak to grasp power - 
Voldemort knows that too well. Dumbledore commands powers far greater 
than Voldemort's, and Voldemorts knows that. However, I don't think 
Voldemort can grasp the concept of morality, anymore than he can 
understand love. He must think that, faced with utter destruction, 
Dumbledore would stop at nothing - especially if that would kill the 
famous Voldemort.

You see, there are two great forces working in tandem here. In one 
hand, Voldemort believes himself to be the most dangerous wizard of all 
time, and he believes that any wizard that was given the chance to 
destroy him would do so without a thought (candor compels me to admit 
that most wizards would). On the other hand, he cannot even begin to 
understand the power morality has over a (moral) man's actions. I don't 
think Voldemort can understand that Dumbledore *wouldn't* use an AK, 
even if it using it would destroy Voldemort. Thus, Voldemort fears 
Dumbledore because he compares him to his own self, and if the roles 
were reversed (if he was the most powerful one), he wouldn't even think 
about it, he would destroy Dumbledore as soon as he had the chance."

Melody seemed itching to make a point, but Grey Wolf raised his paw
"Not yet, Mel, let me finish my counter arguments and *then* you can 
give me your own views. Besides, it will give you time to think over 
your arguments. I would accept nothing less than iron-cast arguments 
from a fellow MDDT. What was your other point, by the way?"

"I said:
> "Remember the boggarts?"
> "Remember that Harry did not fear Voldemort the most?"
> "Are you telling me the only character in the books that does not
> fear Voldemort is Harry?" 
> "See - the way I see it.  There are precious few
> people in the series to date that will actually say Voldie's name
> without prompting or reserve.  Dumbledore, Harry, Sirius, and Lupin.
> Interesting line of people there really.  Even Snape has not said it.
>  So, what is the line that draws those four together?  They do not
> fear Voldie.  That is what I always assumed at least.  Is it more,
> they do not fear the name?", said Melody.

"Ah, yes, now I remember" answered Grey Wolf, "But I'm afraid (pun 
unintended, I asure you) that you've answered yourself. Harry does fear 
Voldemort - he's had nightmares about him most of his life, even before 
he knew about him, and facing Voldemort, albeit common in his everyday 
life, is not his cup of tea. As you said yourself, Harry does not fear 
Voldemort *the most*. Harry fears more fear itself, which doesn't 
discard Voldmort as a good runner-up. 

You see, fear is not a bad thing, Melody - and I think this is clouding 
your judgement, if you don't mind me saying so. Fear keeps us alive, 
and pumps our bodies full of energy when you most need it. Fear makes 
you cautious and preternaturally alert. Fear, in a nutshell, is the 
most perfect survival trait ever devised. I should know, having 
participated in the hunt many times" Grey Wolf grinned". Just like our 
little Coney can feel me when I am around, Harry's fear of Voldemort is 
the one thing that gave him enough strenght to survive the GG with a 
badly hurt leg and a couple of Imperious and Cruciatus thrown in for 
good measure.

The important point about fear is to be able to accept it, face it and 
come out victorious *on the other side*. Harry, Dumbledore, Lupin and 
Sirius know Voldemort for what he is, an evil wizard that, given half a 
chance, won't stop at nothing to destroy them utterly. They've faced 
that fear, and learned to grow from it, but that doesn't mean they 
don't fear him at all. As I said, I believe that Dumbledore has a very 
healthy fear of Voldemort that keeps him on his toes - although 
Dumbledore's fear is not for himself, but for the entire WW, and what 
would happen to it if he wasn't around to stop Voldemort from total 
freedom for destruction."

At this point, Coney came back to the clearing pulling the dead bodies 
of two badgers, both bigger than she was. Grey Wolf stood up to help 
her and compliment her in her catch. Afterwards, he turned to Melody 
and said
"That's my answer, mel. I certainly hope it helps, and I look forward 
to an answer, yours or from anyone else"

-----------

Grey Wolf