Tom, Merope and the Love Potion of Doom

[ericoppen]

No: HPFGUIDX 152369

I have posted here before that Merope Gaunt reminds me of the 
equally-tragic Mayella Ewell, in _To Kill a Mockingbird._  Like 
Mayella, who is so desperate for affection as to make a pass at a 
black man while still considering herself far above blacks due to 
her white skin, Merope is willing to do anything at all for some 
love in her life, but still does not really see her target (Tom 
Riddle, Sr.) as human or an equal who has feelings and rights.  And, 
like Mayella Ewell, Merope's actions set a train of tragedy in 
motion.

While I feel that Merope is culpable for her behavior, I pity her 
deeply, and were I on the bench for _R. vs. Gaunt,_ I'd go as easily 
on her as I could, but I'd still want to make _very_ sure that she 
couldn't harm another Muggle.  And I think even Rumpole Of The 
Bailey would agree with me on that point---she's guilty (of serious 
misuse of her magical talents, at the least; I don't know how WW law 
works so I don't know if charges of assault or rape could be 
brought) and should be prevented from doing further harm, but not 
punished harshly.  Now, if I had Morfin or (especially!) Marvolo 
before the bench...*hideous sadistic grin*

One thing that AFAICT hasn't been brought up before is that Merope's 
love potion may well have had nasty side-effects, which affected TR 
Sr.'s behavior even after he stopped being dosed with the stuff.  
Long-term drug abuse leaves damage behind even after the drug use 
stops, and I don't doubt that the same thing could be true with love 
potions.  Also---where did she _get_ a love potion?  She's as poor 
as the proverbial ecclesiastical rodent, so I would expect she had 
to whip it up herself, and, somehow, I don't see her as ever having 
been any threat to Snape as Top Dog in Potions-Making.  She could 
have damaged TR, Sr. badly just by ineptitude.  

Think about it.  If _you_ were a wizard or witch, would you trust 
Merope Gaunt to make a potion you needed to take?  I sure wouldn't!  
I'd sooner trust Neville Longbottom and Nymphadora Tonks to handle 
nitroglycerine!