The Fear Factor

[JuHu]

No: HPFGUIDX 91493

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The concept of fear has been quite constant throughout
this series, and I'm wondering how it will pan out in
the future. The only big "Look at this!" flags have
been the fact that Dumbledore is the only one Voldy
ever feared, and this comment from Lupin:

" '...I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort
to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined people
would panic.'

" 'I didn't think of Voldemort,' said Harry honestly.
'I - I remembered those dementors.'

" 'I see,' said Lupin thoughtfully. 'Well, well . . .
I'm impressed.' He smiled slightly at the look of
surprise on Harry's face. 'That suggests that what you
fear most of all is - fear. Very wise, Harry.'

"Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he drank
some more tea." ("Flight of the Fat Lady" U.S.
155-156)

Now we know it's common for JKR to drop hints and
hastily change the subject. The only reason this
remark has stood out to me is because, every time I
reread PoA, I wonder, "How does Lupin conclude that
dementors are the embodiment of fear?" I would argue
them to be depression, or maybe whatever your concept
of hell, but fear? I've never been able to make the
leap with him in his reasoning.

Fortunately, Snape wanders in and distracts us. But
this isn't the only mention of fear.

" 'Well - I don' like sayin' the name is I can help
it. No one does.'
" 'Why not?'
" 'Gulpin' gargoyles, Harry, people are still scared.'
" ("The Keeper of the Keys" U.S. 54)

"Hermione looked very frightened, but she had a word
of comfort.
" 'Harry, everyone says Dumbledore's the only one
You-Know-Who was ever afraid of. With Dumbledore
around, You-Know-Who won't touch you...' " ("The
Forbidden Forest" U.S. 260)

I could go on and on. The panic Hogwarts was in with
the Heir of Slytherin on the loose. The alarm when
Sirius Black was first on the loose. The terror at the
World Cup. The hysteria when the Death Eater's escaped
Azkaban. Fear seems to be one of Voldy's most powerful
weapons.

But could it also be his Achilles heel? It worked
against him when Dumbledore turned up at the
Department of Mysteries. The Death Eaters were doing
pretty well against the Order members until they tried
to run for it. Only Bellatrix seemed oblivious to his
arrival, due to fighting her cousin, and is the only
one who escaped.

Where is JKR going with this? Does Harry have to
figure out some way to make Voldemort fear him? Right
now, Harry's just an increasingly annoying kid who
would be hardly worth his time, if only he'd stop
thwarting his hostile take-over bid. Perhaps she's
hoping the rest of the WW will take a hint and begin
to fear fear. What are everyone's thoughts?

"Fire away, then Rita."
JuHu, who wonders if there's enough canon quoted on
this board to recreate the books.

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