Why Fret About Voldemort Considering Riddle?

[estrilda_wolfegg]

No: HPFGUIDX 106046

 "Louis Badalament" <lb140900 at y...> wrote:
> [Harry]killed Tom Riddle easily enough. . . 
> Riddle was something of a ghost (a 'memory' for all you 
> nitpickers,) but Voldermort's not exactly a human being either, no 
> matter whether we're speaking figuratively or literally, 
either. . . Harry also didn't seem to have any qualms about ending 
> Bellatrix Lestrange's life, either . . .  
> No sympathy for the one who killed his godfather, and yet Harry 
> feels regrets about killing the one who murdered his father and 
> mother?  
 

I think there are two issues here. 

First, the quasi-alive and quasi-human analogy.  The diary-based Tom 
was created by magic (never was a person) and only existed by 
literally sucking the life from Ginny Weasley. Ending the existence 
of the memory directly saved the girl. The ritual-revived Voldemort 
is the warped end product of the actual person of Tom Riddle. 
Killing him would stop his crimes, but it would end the life [I 
admit - a very warped and barely human life] of a wizard.

Secondly, premeditation.   The difference is between 1) killing in 
the heat of the moment and 2)working toward the goal of ending the 
life of a specific person as part of your destiny.  In the case of 
Bellatrix (mentioned later in your post),it is the difference 
between a "passion" killing, done in the heat of a very strong 
emotion, and a planned execution.  

An execution with pre-planning (what the prophecy tells Harry he 
must do to Voldemort) has a very different type of mental thought 
(intent) involved than a passion killing or a defense of life 
killing.  These different kinds of killings are given different 
punishments or no punishment under criminal law for this reason of 
intent.  [Note that homicide includes murder, manslaughter, and even 
other killings which are not punished crimes.  For specific 
examples, look at dictionary.com, under "homicide."]   

Hope this answers the question.  *grin*

Estrilda