[HPforGrownups] Voldemort *inside* Harry's head (mind)? (Was: Re: Wanting or presenting: Was: Sn

[Laura Ingalls Huntley]

No: HPFGUIDX 93491

One more observation, really quickly before I get off to bed:

Carol:
> First, I hope I have the attributions correct here. If not, please
> accept my apologies.
>
> I wanted to comment on the "small and truthful voice inside [Harry's]
> head, with which he has as Laura points out, an entire conversation.
> This is quite clearly an example of Harry talking to himself; the
> voice refers to itself as "I," but that "I" is as much Harry as the
> Harry who is answering it, addressed by the voice as "you," as the
> following excerpts illustrate:

I'm not sure if I'm following you at all, but . . .

You're right, the small voice refers to itself (and Harry) as 'I' for 
most of the conversation, which I agree shows Harry talking to himself.

However . . .

> "'Not all the time, though,' *Harry argued with himself.* 'They didn't
> fight Quirrell with me. They didn't take on Riddle and the Basilisk.
> They didn't get rid of all those Dementors the night Sirius escaped.
> They weren't in that graveyard with me, the night Voldemort returned 
> ...'"
> <snip>
> "'But maybe,' said the small voice fairly, 'maybe Dumbledore doesn't
> choose prefects because they've got themselves into a load of
> dangerous situations ... maybe he chooses them for other reasons ...
> Ron must have something *you* don't ...'

Along the voice has been saying this like "*I'm* better at quidditch," 
and "Ron and Hermione were with *me* most of the time." Now, suddenly, 
the voice has switched to *you*.

Carol:
> As I've tried to indicate with the asterisks (for italics), Harry is
> speaking, apparently aloud, to himself, though the voice identified as
> "himself" is inside his head. Both perspectives are Harry's own, but
> the "small voice" is clearly his better self, calm and fair, opposing
> the Harry who wants to sulk because he hasn't been selected as
> prefect. The voice, to me, suggests the "still, small voice" of
> conscience, the internalized sense of right and wrong that all of us
> have but that we don't always listen to. <snip>

I agree that when the voice is talking as 'I', it is a very healthy, 
wise, conscience-like voice.  It tells Harry that he can't take all the 
credit for his success, but it also reassures him that he is not 
arrogant like Draco Malfoy.  However, when it switches to 'you', the 
voice is suddenly encouraging self-doubt and jealousy -- "Ron must have 
something *you* don't."  Directly thereafter, Harry recalls Fred and 
George saying that no one in their right mind would make Ron prefect 
and sniggers.  After *that*, he feels profoundly guilty for thinking 
such a thing.

So, *maybe* there is a piece of Tom Riddle in Harry, trying to get him 
to doubt himself and think uncharitable things about his friends -- or 
maybe he's just a frustrated, angry, but ultimately good teenager. 
*shrugs* I haven't completely jumped on with this theory yet, but it 
*does* make sense to be that if Voldemort somehow transfered a bit of 
his power to Harry, a bit of his psyche might have gone along with it 
(perhaps this is the source of their mental connection).  Whether that 
means that the voice Harry hears in his head is sometimes that part of 
Voldy's mind manifesting itself is anybody's guess.

Laura (who is really and truly going to go to bed now.)