Clues in COS (was Re: Dumbledore's integrity)

[Linda]

No: HPFGUIDX 79908

> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
> <arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
> > 
> > IIRC, JKR said that in CoS she nearly "gave the whole thing away".
> > (I know I can rely on a rapid correction if I'm wrong.) CoS has
> > something(s) apparently much more important buried in it. But
> > we consistently ignore the biggest clue JKR has given and chase 
off
> > down side alleys. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
> 
I think that purity of blood is the big thing we learn in CoS, but to 
hedge my bets, I'll put forward another theory too :o)  

We find out in CoS that some of Voldemort's powers were transferred 
to Harry when the curse rebounded.  Is that because the 
curse 'malfunctioned', so to speak, when it hit baby Harry? Or does 
the killing curse normally transfer the powers of the victim to the 
culprit?  

For example:  when Dumbledore defeated Grindlewald, did he gain 
Grindlewald's powers?  Wizards are long-lived, but Dumbledore is 150 
or so.  Has his extra life-span come from taking the life of another 
wizard?

Voldemort said in GoF that his goal is to conquer death.  Does he 
prolong/strengthen his life force by 'feeding off' others?  Why would 
that be important for the septology?  

Theory One
As the prophecy says it is only Harry who can 'vanquish' the Dark 
Lord, does poor Harry stand to inherit a whole lot of dark magic one 
day if he finally kills Voldemort and survives?

Theory Two
This might belong in Theory Bay, and I might need to get a lilo for 
it, but what if Voldemort and Dumbledore have the same goal - 
avoiding death?  They would have very different approaches to 
achieving it, of course, but however he's doing it, Dumbledore has 
reached a good age.  And he worked on creating a Philosopher's Stone. 
Was it just an interest in Alchemy that made him do that?  That's the 
only canon I can think of to back it up, so I might need to downgrade 
to a set of arm bands..

Transfer of powers in general, though - what do people think?

Lumos