Something I've been pondering.

[Tim Regan]

No: HPFGUIDX 160834

Hi All,

Audrey replied to Catherine's post:
>>> Dumbledore does refer to Tom as Tom during the fight at the 
Ministry. I always loved that aspect of the scene.  I saw it as 
Dumbledore saying, "You may think you're Lord Big Stuff but as far 
as I'm concerned all you will ever be is Tom Riddle".<<<

The sense I got reading Dumbledore's use of Tom's name in this 
passage from the fight in the MoM was threefold. Firstly Dumbledore 
wants to remember that Voldemort isn't just an evil wizard, he wants 
to remember that there was a time when other futures were open to 
Tom. By using his childhood name Dumbledore is trying to remind 
himself and to remind Tom of that possibility. That's the bit about 
redemption. Secondly he may be reminding Harry that Lord Voldemort 
can be beaten by alluding, in Harry's mind, to Diary!Tom. And 
lastly, the one I felt most clearly was that Dumbledore wanted to 
undermine Tom. I am of an age where my wife Kate and I have to go 
into the (high) school our kids attend for parents' evenings and 
such. Even though I am now 41, have a doctorate in theoretical 
computer science, a successful job, and am over six foot tall I 
still feel slightly cowed by the experience of being in a school! 
I'm not quite myself and hence not quite as natural, not quite as 
effective. For Tom those feelings may well be more intense since for 
his school years Hogwarts was his 'home'. So by explicitly referring 
Tom back to those times, Dumbledore is hoping that Tom will be wrong-
footed, more nervous, more likely to make a mistake.

Dumbledore doesn't need to do that when talking about Tom to other 
wizards. Then Dumbledore's goal was to confront them with their 
fears and show them that even while acknowledging the danger posed 
by Lord Voldemort, one doesn't have to cow away from his name.

Cheers,

Dumbledad.