Dumbledore's Actions in MOM Duel

[P Dennos]

No: HPFGUIDX 83783

Greetings, all.  This is my first post after
lurking (and greatly enjoying!) since this summer.

I have thoughts regarding Dumbledores actions during
the MOM duel with Voldemort(Chapter 36, OoTP).  On
re-reading this chapter, I was puzzled by Dumbledores
reply to Voldemorts question as to why he didnt try
to kill him (page 814, US edition).  Dumbledore
stated, Merely taking your life wouldnt satisfy me,
I admit .  Now, while Im a huge Dumbledore fan, and
will NEVER believe hes in any way evil or
incompetent, I wondered why it would have mattered
whether or not HE would be satisfied by killing
Voldemort, when he might have been able to save the
entire WW by doing so.

I now wonder whether this relates to Dumbledores
knowledge of the prophesy (and Voldemorts not knowing
it in its entirety).  Dumbledore has always been The
Only One He Ever Feared  but would he still be quite
so feared if Voldemort knew that Dumbledore COULDNT
kill/vanquish him  that only Harry has that power?  
Dumbledore obviously doesnt want to lose this
advantage, and if he appeared to try (and failed) to
kill Voldemort, one of Harrys strongest protections
(at least as perceived by Voldemort)would likely be
gone. While I'm sure Dumbledore knows that there ARE
things worse than death and that there are other ways
to destroy a man, I think he's trying to keep
Voldemort from learning that he can't actually be
killed by Dumbledore  -- especially since death seems
to be the thing Voldemort fears most. 

(And now the standard disclaimer  I dont remember
having seen this theory since August.  If it has been
discussed and I missed it, my apologies!)

starmom513

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