Voldemort's Plan in Book 7

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 144762

Orna:
> I find your definition of Voldemort's power very precise and 
> pointed. 

Jen: Thank you! I've been thinking about his 'lure of power' since 
HBP was released.

Orna:
> It's not just being evil, inventing horrible spells – but this
> very human-connected thing – despising weakness, and being able to 
> locate it in others and use it against them. Thanks – that's it, I
> think.

Jen: That's a good way to put it. Manipulation was the word in my 
head, but it's not quite strong enough. Voldemort actually has the 
ability to locate a weakness inside another and twist the knife. 
 
Orna:
> And I think you are right – Harry's power lies in his power never
> to use people's weakness against him – he gets compassionate – 
> against his will. When he thinks about Merope not willing to live
>  for Tom – he "forgets" it's Voldemort, and feels pity. 

Jen: Harry *is* capable of enormous compassion for others, even his 
enemies. Like seeing the Pensieve scene and knowing exactly how 
Snape felt being humiliated in a crowd of onlookers. And the moment 
Harry sees Draco crying in the mirror in HBP, his first instinct is 
not to taunt him or attack him, but instead to feel shocked 
and 'rooted to the spot', only pulling out his wand in defense when 
Malfoy draws his. If Malfoy had not seen Harry, I think it likely 
Harry would have closed the door and wondered about the incident, 
talked to R/H or perhaps gone back to Myrtle with his questions.

Orna:
<snipping>
> It's interesting although natural, that Voldemort's tremendous 
> effort to conquer human weaknesses, results even now, before his 
> downfall, in him being superstitious, obssessed, irrational (I 
> mean instead of telling everybody to kill Harry – he makes sure he
>  stays alive), and driven by forces outside his ability to choose.
> In comparison, DD helps Harry to grow out of the compelling force
> of the prophecy, and making his choice – such being a master of 
> his fate, and not driven by events. 

Jen: That moment when Snape told the DE's to leave Harry, that he 
belonged to the Dark Lord...it seemed clear *anyone* could kill 
Harry except Voldemort himself. And I think Snape knows it <g>. I 
hesitate to say LV is no longer a threat to Harry, but I do think he 
has given Harry all the weapons needed to defeat him, and Harry's 
blocks to overcome are within himself. He doesn't fully understand 
his power or believe in it, and now there's the side-show with Snape 
that draws the focus from Voldemort. Although Harry's laser focus on 
the horcrux in his pocket is foreshadowing, I think. He's really not 
going to be diverted by Snape unless Snape gets in his way...and, 
erm....we can guess what that means!

Even if Voldemort were to hear the full prophecy, I'm not certain 
he's capable of changing his strategy. I think he'd just up the ante 
of killing Harry himself.

Jen