Contrasting Harry's and Tom's beginnings

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 150245

Dumbledore mentions several times the differences between Harry and
Tom when they had similar upbringing: orphaned.

But does that matter as much as their conception/births?

As love (abundance and lack) seems to be the primary difference, I
think we should look at MeropeandTom v LilyandJames.

Merope experienced no love, yet held hope for it though she
misperceived lust for love.  When she stopped the love (should be
renamed to infatuation or fixation) potion, she suffered the truth of
her situation: a loveless life.  In that suffering she lost hope for
love, giving up love entirely.

Tom was not conceived in love (not too uncommon in the RW,
unfortunately), he was also not in utero with love, and he wasn't
birthed in love.  Yes, she gave him a name but then she went away.

Though the Orphanage had seemingly caring people working in it, I
believe in a real world sense that it would be hard for any staff
working with this population to fully give a parent's love.  Not
because these staff would be callous, but because they, too, don't
want to be heartbroken or have been heartbroken too much, so they give
what they can.  But sometimes, if not most, it's not enough.

Harry was the opposite, up until he became orphaned.  He was
conceived, in utero, birthed, and reared (for 15 months) in and with
love.

-Kemper, not knowing what these thoughts suggest to the plot, if anything