What's in the locked room?

[augustinapeach]

No: HPFGUIDX 89153

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
Anne asks a cogent question arising from my argument - what would 
happen to Voldy if it is life in the room and he were exposed to it? 
Being alive includes accepting all the pain, regrets, remorse and 
responsibilities that arise from your own actions. Could Voldy face 
those?

> Kneasy

AP here, joining your "lonely furrow":

Your post reminded me of something that bothered me when I first 
read OoP.  Like many others, I assumed that it was Harry's love for 
Sirius that saved him from possession by Voldemort -- at first.  
Later, that didn't seem to be quite right.  I mean, I know there was 
love, but it seemed a lot more complicated than *just* love.  I came 
to the conclusion that maybe it was Harry's capacity to *feel* so 
strongly that made him unacceptable as a vessel for Voldemort.   On 
looking back into the book, I found these lines that seemed to 
confirm my conclusion:

"There is no shame in what you are feeling, Harry," said 
Dumbledore's voice.  "On the contrary . . . the fact that you can 
feel pain like this is your greatest strength." (p. 823)

and

"Harry, suffering like this proves you are still a man!  This pain 
is part of being human ---" (p. 824)

I agree with your insightful posts. Harry is so full of humanity - 
of being able to feel for others - of life -- everything that 
Voldemort has rejected.  I like the idea that what Voldemort sees as 
the ultimate weakness and has such contempt for is actually the 
power that is going to bring him down.

(hoping this makes sense -- my five-year-old keeps asking me 
questions that I actually have to answer - can't just say "uh-huh")