A Theory On Dumbledore's "Gleam of Triumph"

[kazkitten29]

No: HPFGUIDX 165093


Firstly, before I begin my ramble, I would like to say hello to everyone
and explain that this is my first post and apologise in advance if I am
merely going over old ground.

I have been quietly obsessing on this topic for some time and, as I am
rereading THBP aloud to my 8 year old son at the moment, I have
gradually developed, IMO, what could be a plausable theory on the
possible downfall of Voldemort - please let me know what you think.

I used to believe, before the release of THBP, that however evil LV most
definitely was, the main reason for this was due to the rejection by his
natural father and the fact that this desertion led, inadvertently or
not, to the death of his mother. Although murdering Tom Riddle Snr and
his parents is undoubtedly extreme and points to an unbalanced and
dangerous individual even Harry is capable of avenging his parents'
death by killing the person responsible.

However THBP showed me that this was not actually the case, perhaps deep
down it helped him decide who to murder to attain his first horcrux but
vengeance was not what drove him to murder in the first place.
Therefore, IMO, Riddle Jnr does not seem to possess normal human
emotions in any way. Everything he "feels" is geared towards attaining
absolute power and immortality.

I also believe that in giving Lily Potter chances to save herself he was
not showing mercy but merely conducting a sadistic social experiment -
would a loving mother sacrifice her child to save her own skin? I think
if Lily had done so then she would have been killed anyway with LV
taunting her with her sin as she died.

In short, in the muggle world, he displays all the characteristics
adherant to Narcissists and Sociopaths.

>From this realisation I began to understand what DD's gleam of triumph
on learning that LV had used Harry's blood in his regeneration ritual
could mean, leading me to the following hypothesis:

Harry, as I believe we all know, feels in so many ways. A child, and
teenagers, feel so completely and absolutely all of the emotions that
exist in the vast spectrum, without a thought of controlling, hiding or
quashing them. They feel love, happiness, excitement, disappointment,
pain, sorrow, hatred, envy, pity, disdain.....no matter how misplaced or
inappropriate an emotion may be they at least have the ability to allow
themselves to feel and learn from them.

LV, however, does not possess this ability. He sees the ability to feel
as a human weakness that deserves either to be destroyed or, as is more
often the case, not even worthy of this - just an obvious failing to be
exploited, mocked or derided.

It was because of this that he underestimated the power of love and
because he still has not allowed himself to feel and therefore
understand emotions then he is continuing to make that same mistake.

Basically my theory is, what if, having used Harry's blood and now
having it run through his own veins, it begins to infect him with
feelings he cannot understand or possibly deal with?

After committing so many attrocities without a second though or ounce of
regret imagine how it would feel to begin to experience empathy and
guilt.....would an being such as LV be able to handle this? I personally
dont think so.

IMO, it is already starting to become apparent that LV is beginning to
show signs of this "weakness". In OP Chapter 36 when LV possesses Harry
and tries to taunt DD into killing him, his reaction to Harry's grief at
losing Sirius, and basically welcoming death, is very telling;

           "And as Harry's heart filled with emotion, the creature's
coils loosened, the pain was gone...."

Why would LV, who has only shown contempt for emotions thus far, be
suddenly afraid or incapable of dealing with them? Surely the LV of the
past would have exploited Harry's pain, seized on the chance of
fulfilling Harry's wish to die?

My theory is that, on experiencing Harry's anguish of losing Sirius, LV
suddenly felt guilt and remorse....now THAT would scare him wouldnt it?

I think being trapped in a vicious circle of trying to eradicate the
"affliction" in whatever way he could - such as continuing his mother
and son's love experiment through Narcissa and Draco - but not escaping,
simply adding to, the alien feeling of guilt, would be enough to send LV
towards his own downfall. I believe that DD, wise and loving and
patient, would have known this hence his gleam of triumph in GoF.

To this end I wonder whether Harry will need to murder LV, thus
destroying a part of his own soul - surely not a fate we, or DD, would
wish to befall Harry - or whether LV will end his own life willingly or
plead for merciful death ( could DD's frantic pleading while drinking
the potion be a foreshadow of LV's end?)

After all, surely to someone as barren to empathy and love as LV most
certainly is, this would be exactly the fate karma would deal to him?

I may be way off the mark with this theory but it made sense to me. Feel
free to let me know if you agree or disagree :-)

Kaz - who always looks for a redeeming quality in literary "bad guys"
but recognises when there isnt one afterall.



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