Back to the cave and Dumbledore's screams

[Sherry]

No: HPFGUIDX 137589

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at e...> wrote:

> We know from Lupin in POA a boggart will "become whatever each of us 
> most fears." So Dumbledore wouldn't be seeing memories so much as 
> his greatest fear after drinking the potion.
> 
> My guess to his greatest fear is the fact that he's spent his life 
> defending and safeguarding many people and creatures in the WW. 

> People depend on him, go to him in emergenices, expect he will have 
> the right answers. And most times he does. But what a huge burden to 
> carry! So many people depending on him, and what if he lets them 
> down, makes one of his 'correpsondingly huge mistakes'? **One that 
> leads to the torture and death of his students, say.** [my emphasis
addeded]

Amontillada:
I believe that's the key. Dumbledore has spent many years, since long
before Voldemort arose, teaching and guiding generations of witches
and wizards. He would protect them in any way he could, even putting
his own life on the line.
> 
> Basically what we saw on the Astronomy Tower was very similar to 
> what Dumbledore experienced in the cave (without the same 
> particulars of course). He's weak, defenseless, hears his students 
> are dying. ...

> I think we saw his greatest fear being played out there, and we 
> saw Dumbledore react as he did in the cave--'don't hurt them, kill 
> me instead.'

Amontillada:
His greatest fear was happening, and he was ready to sacrifice his own
life in an effort to protect his students. The worst part was that he
couldn't guarantee the safety of his students, but he would give
everything he had, even his own life, in his best attempt.

Amontillada