Why Fret About Voldemort Considering Riddle?

[meriaugust]

No: HPFGUIDX 106104

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "delwynmarch" 
<delwynmarch at y...> wrote:
> Meri wrote :
> > IMHO, in Harry's mind at this point the prophecy doesn't mean 
that 
> > he'll have to face LV in battle, but might perhaps have to go 
after 
> > LV like an assassin. 
> 
> Del replies :
> The Prophecy says no such thing. It doesn't even say that Harry 
will
> *intentionally* kill LV. It could all end that LV will die in some
> accident that Harry will make to happen.

Meri again: I know what the prophecy says, I'm just saying what I 
think is going on in Harry's mind. In fact, the prophecy is 
frustratingly nonspecific about the details of the final battle and 
who can do what to whom. But as I said IMVHO, in Harry's mind the 
prophecy seems to imply some sort of predetermination on his part. 
He's going to have to do *something* and be the pro-actor instead of 
the reactor. And, as I said in my original post, planning to go out 
an kill anyone, even someone as henious as LV, is something that 
should weigh heavily on anyone, even someone like Harry, who has 
suffered so much at LV's hands. 

> Meri wrote :
> > How many people do you think will try to convince him that 
killing 
> > LV, the one who killed James and Lily and Cedric and all those 
other 
> > people, wouldn't be murder but a justifiable act?
> 
> Del replies :
> It would be self-defence. The Prophecy states it clearly : it's 
Harry
> or LV. LV has already proven that he believes in the Prophecy, he's
> already tried to kill Harry. So whatever Harry does now would be
> rightfully considered self-defence. Even if he attacked. Attacking
> someone who already attempted to kill you and has made it clear 
that
> they will attempt to take your life again next time they see you IS
> considered self-defence still.

Meri: Fair point, but I still think that in Harry's mind the two are 
not the same. It would be one thing if Harry was cornered and had no 
other choice but to kill LV and entirely another if he actually had 
to plan an assault on LV's HQ, penetrate to LV's deepest hiding 
place and cast the final spell, whatever that is. I'm not saying 
that I see a difference, I just think that Harry does. 

> To be honest, I was dismayed when I read that part about Harry
> thinking that he would have to commit *murder* or be killed. It was
> such a pathetic attempt at making us pity Harry even more ! We've
> known for a long time, way before OoP, that it would end up like 
that,
> and Harry knew it too deep inside, it was obvious. But it was never
> considered murder, either by him or by us the readers. So where did
> that come from, honestly ?!

Meri: Really? You think that was supposed to elicit pity? I kinda 
thought that it was a reminder that Harry is still just a kid. I 
don't think an adult would hold any such romantic (not really the 
word I'm looking for, but you get the idea) notions that killing LV 
would be murder. I think that a grownup, something that Harry just 
isn't quite, would understand that there is a difference between 
cold blooded murder and what he has to do, but once again, I think 
in Harry's mind there is a distinction. 

Meri - with a nod to Del: always good to have a interesting debating 
opponent!