The Statute of Secrecy

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 159107

a_svirn:
> <big snip> Where does it leave Dumbledore, I wonder? The best thing
for the common good would have been for Riddle to stay in the orphanage.
>
Carol responds:
The best thing for the WW, possibly. At least he would never have
learned to make Horcruxes and would not have killed the Potters or
given Harry the powers required to destroy him. But what about the
Muggle world? What about the children he tortured at the orphanage?
What about his power to control animals, including snakes? He was
already lying, stealing, torturing animals and children. He could
perform wandless magic without even knowing any spells? What might he
have done when his powers developed further, along with his
intelligence, physical strength, strength of will, and ability to
charm and manipulate people? Would the Muggle world have been safe?
Would the Muggle authorities have been able to capture him? I think not.

Again, I think Dumbledore made the best decision possible--teach Tom
to control his magic and keep an eye on him. True, Myrtle died and
Hagrid was framed, but matters could have been much, much worse during
Riddle's school days--and terrible for the Muggles afterwards. If only
he hadn't somehow found out about Horcruxes (he knew of their
existence, though not how to make them, before he talked to Slughorn).

Sorry to snip so much of your post, but I just wanted to address this
one point.

Carol, noting that DD could not possibly guess what Tom Riddle would
become