Fawkes

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 98633

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:

bboy_mn:
 
> As far as Tom's 'song bird' comment, I think to some extent he was
> trying to ridicule Harry and undermine his confidence. He would
> logically have, and later demonstrates that he has knowledge of the
> Phoenix. But given that Harry was a young boy, and that Tom had a
> wand, a Phoenix would not seem like much of a weapon. Phoenix has
> great defensive capability in the sense that it is, in a manner of
> speaking, immortal, but it doesn't have much in the sense 
of 'attack'
> or offensive capability. 

Geoff:
I think we have already touched on this approach recently in the 
discussion regarding Tom's reference to Hagrid as "Rubeus" in the 
Diary scene in COS where it was suggested that Tom did it to belittle 
Hagrid and suggest his own superiority.

Attempted ridicule seems to be a weapon of Voldemort. Another 
instance where he tries it is in GOF:

'"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Harry," said Voldemprt's soft, 
cold, voice, drawing nearer as the Death Eaters laughed. "You cannot 
hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this 
mean that you would prefer me to finish it now, Harry? Come out, 
Harry... come out and play, then....."'

(GOF "Priori Incantatem" pp.574-75 UK edition)