Possession

[drjuliehoward]

No: HPFGUIDX 89902

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "arrowsmithbt" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
><snip>
> Is it a power that Tom developed on his own or is it a power from 
> elsewhere that also possessed Tom (maybe when he first entered the
> Chamber) and is it this possession that turned him into Voldy?
> If you're an heir, there is something to be handed down to you 
> isn't there?
> 
> If it is a power or entity separate in origin from Tom does Tom 
still
> exist as a personality in some form inside the Voldy!Monster?
> Is this why DD keeps appealing to Tom; is he trying to break the
> hold of whatever has taken him over?
> 
> <snip> Could it be that Tom is an (almost) innocent victim? Shock!
Horror!
>  
> Kneasy

Julie:
I certainly have held that theory myself.  That is part of the 
reason for my posts on Grindelwald and Tom Riddle.  DD defeated 
Grindelwald at the time Tom was at Hogwarts.  A former post (I can't 
find it at present...no time) suggested that the "evil" is something 
much greater than Voldemort.  It is the same evil that possessed 
Grindelwald and possibly the same that possessed ole Sal.  Remember 
when Flitwick (in the movie MM) talked about the founders?  SS got 
along with them at first then dissented.  I think having an evil 
presence that can possess others (SS, Grindelwald, Tom) makes this a 
far more complex and dimensional character development than "Tom = 
Bad Guy and Harry = Good Guy."

Given this hypothesis, I think of several questions stemming from it:
1) Does this "evil" possess only one person at a time?
2) What common characteristics do SS, Grindelwald, and TR have that 
would make them a target?
3) Would this not open up the possibility of redemption?  Given that 
JKR is big on choice, coupled with the prophecy not stating clearly 
that either would HAVE to DIE, this IMO stands as a plausible 
possibility.
4) Does Harry have the same characteristics as the others, thus 
making him susceptible to the temption that this "evil presence" 
has?  If so, and he defeats LV, would this not make him face the 
ultimate choice...follow the same path as SS, G, and TR or finally 
CHOOSE good, thus possibly banishing this presence forever?  
Wouldn't that be an interesting conclusion to the Septology?

Julie