PS/SS - chapter 1, post DH look

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 180875

> Alla:
> PS/SS ch. 1:
> "I know you haven't, said Professor Mcgonagall, sounding half 
> exasperated, half admiring. But you're different. Everyone knows 
> you're the only one You-Know- oh all right, Voldemort was 
frightened 
> of.
> You flatter me, said Dumbledore calmly. Voldemort had  powers I 
will 
> never have.
> Only because you're too – well – noble to use them "– p.11

> Alla:
> I always thought that she is talking about Dumbledore's powers that 
> he is too noble to use. But in the previous sentence Dumbledore is 
> talking about Voldemort's powers. Is it possible that another 
> interpretation of this dialogue is that Dumbledore is able to use 
> something of Voldemort's? Like object? Does that make sense? 

zgirnius:
No, I think your original interpretation is the correct one. 
McGonagall is simply saying that some of Voldemort's power comes from 
his willingness to do evil, and Dumbledore will not do the same 
because he is too noble. This is a scene I see differently in the 
post-DH light, though. The bit you cite is followed by:

>PS/SS:
> "It's lucky it's dark. I haven't blushed so much since Madam 
Pomfrey told me she liked my new earmuffs."

zgirnius:
I presume Dumbledore may be blushing or feeling embarassed, but I no 
longer think he is merely modest. I think he is feeling just a tad 
guilty about the way he is perceived by Minerva and other Order 
members, when he does not see himself as 'too noble' at all. He knows 
what he was involved with  as a young man, and he may be thinking 
ahead to what he will be doing with Harry when Harry is older, and 
finding the words 'too noble' doe not fit all that well. <g>