LV's survival [HPforGrownups] (quote taken from GH again (was Re: Why Voldemort Would Have Spared Lily))

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 112063

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Anita Hillin <akhillin at y...> wrote:
> 
> "And so I made my decision. You would be protected by an ancient magic of which *he 
knows, which he despises,* [akh emphasis]and which he has always, therefore, 
underestimated -  to  his cost. I am speaking, of course, of the fact that your mother died 
to save you." 
> 
> 
> akh: This triggered the synapses, connecting JKR's comment at the Edinburgh 
appearance, where she said we should be asking why Voldemort didn't die at GH.  Perhaps 
DD is saying LV knows about this specific magic; in other words, his mother deliberately 
did not save her own life, thereby saving her son's.  LV may have a version of the same 
"ancient magic," and his mother's sacrifice is what has kept him alive.  Because of his 
experience in the orphanage and his more negative nature coupled with what must be an 
enormous ego (I believe in nature+nurture+choices, but we'll save that for another time), 
he doesn't see his mother's sacrifice as noble.
> 

Small snag - "which he knows, which he despises and which he has 
always, therefore, underestimated - to his cost."

Sounds as if his underestimation has led him to have problems before
with this sort of magic. But when? He hated his father, but he talks of 
his mother somewhat differently. So why would he 'despise' the magic
that presumably saved him if your idea is correct?  

What was it that he underestimated and what was the cost he had to 
pay? IIRC his mother died almost as soon as he was born, he'd know
nothing of what happened and being brought up  in an orphanage
as a Muggle wouldn't appreciate the significance of whatever she did
anyway. 

I'm a bit dubious about this one.
I suspect that  DD is referring to events as yet unknown.

Kneasy