The Potion in the Cave Possibly Revealed (Re: Dumbledore MAY be alive....)

[h2so3f]

No: HPFGUIDX 149988

Carol wrote:  <SNIP a ton of excellent post>
"I think it's more likely, that the potion is some sort of poisoned 
memory. The stone basin in which the potion is placed is described 
as being "rather like the Pensieve," and the green light emanating 
from the basin is "misty," like the mist that rises from a Pensieve. 
After drinking several gobletfuls of the potion, Dumbledore seems to 
be "dreaming a horrible dream," reliving terrible memories that may 
or may not be his own. (IMO, they're not his, but that's another 
topic.) But the potion itself seems to be causing him pain, physical 
agony as well as mental anguish: <<SNIP quote>>
Clearly the potion causes a terrible burning sensation, an agonized 
thirst that causes the drinker to crave water, which he can only 
acquire by touching the lake water and waking the Inferi, but it 
also weakens the drinker, rendering him helpless. Dumbledore 
is "drawing great, rattling breaths that sounded agonizing," and as 
Harry's Aguamenti spell repeatedly fails, "his breathing [is] 
failing." When Harry splashes him with water, he gains enough 
strength to grab the locket and cast a fire spell, but he remains 
weak, leaning against the cavern wall after they reach the shore. 
Harry notes his "extreme pallor and his air of exhaustion." As 
Dumbledore says later, "That was no health drink."



Warning:
**Lord of the Ring Spoiler**


CH3ed:
I agree with Carol's theory here. And the passage above reminds me 
of Frodo and Sam and the Mirror of Galadriel in LotR. All the way 
down to Galadriel's warning, "Do not touch the water!" Perhaps 
beside containing poison that kills you slowly and painfully, and 
horrific memories.. it also projects the drinker's deepest fear for 
what may happen in the future? No canon, of course. Just my own 
fantasy. 


"Carol, who finds Dumbledore's words to Harry at the end of the 
chapter, "I am not worried, Harry. I am with you," the saddest line 
in the book"


CH3ed:
It is! To me that was when I was sure on my first read that DD 
wouldn't make it thru the night. He was a goner. I think the torch 
was officially passed when DD realized after recovering in the cave 
that Harry would do what it takes to defeat LV (Harry kept his 
promise to DD even when the order was to force feed DD the horrible 
potion that could have killed him). I'm glad DD had seen that before 
he died because I think after that realization DD could die in peace 
that Harry is capable of doing the job and save the WW. 

CH3ed :O)