Some questions on the series as a whole ...

[Beatrice23]

No: HPFGUIDX 181875

Samadjar Wrote:
> 
> 1. What happened to Voldemort's body in Godrics Hollow?  If his 
dead body was found in the ruins, then why did people think he 
disappeared?
> 
> If his body was not there - on what basis did everyone in wizarding
> world guess that something happened to him and started celebrating?
> Voldemort is very secretive about his whereabouts even to his   
followers- so what made people guess so early that he is not    
powerful anymore?

Beatrice:  This is a good question.  There doesn't seem to be a 
specific answer in the texts.  I would however assume that LV's body 
was not found in the ruins.  The body may have be obliterated by the 
force of the rebounded spell.  I suspect that no body was found, 
which is why Dumbledore, et al concluded that LV was still alive, but 
in a weakened state.  I would also argue that there was not body 
because no one indicates that a body was found - this for example 
would be a great argument for Fudge to make in OotP.  He could use 
this fact as proof that LV was dead.
> 
> 2. Was there really any long term "Plan" by DD? It seems to depend 
on
> winning too many jackpots by Harry.  Harry shows great heroism - and
> no doubt fortune favours the brave - but plans should not depend on
> fortune alone.

Beatrice:  Well, some things were planned.  But I suspect that DD put 
a lot of trust in people, particularly Harry and Snape.  I think that 
he is a great judge of character and that he had a lot of faith that 
things would go the way he hoped.  I suspect that DD formulated a 
plan as he went along and was elated when things fell into place.  

Here are some things in no particular order that I think were pre-
planned: 1. Harry's blood protection through Petunia.  2. DD death at 
the hands of Snape (although not planned until the summer between 
books 5 and 6). 3. Harry sacrificing his own life.   Again, I think 
that DD knew it had to happen, trusted Harry to do the right thing - 
but was thrilled when LV used Harry's blood in GOF, because it meant 
that Harry could live.  There are tons more, but I don't have that 
much time.

I think inessence DD is a great judge of character.  He is able to 
see with a great deal of confidence what people might do based on 
their characters and past history.  While I am sure that even he 
might admit that there is always a chance that people could do the 
unexpected, he makes excellent descisions based on his understanding 
of human nature.  (Of course, it doesn't hurt that JKR writes the 
story line).  One of the things, however, that I admire about these 
novels (and I am sure some people will take issue with this) is that 
these characters are pretty consistant.  Which means that JKR does a 
pretty good job of developing the characters and then keeping their 
actions / decisions appropriate for their own psychology AND keeping 
them in line with the plot... I wwould be happy to explain this 
further, but it will have to wait until I have more time.  
> 
> 3. Voldemort is so focused on defeating Harry that he goes abroad 
on a long journey in search of the elder wand. And still he doesn't 
bother to use the old connection between Harry and himself to know 
Harry's whereabouts when he has already used it so successfully? But
> suddenly Harry can use the same connection like Television without
> even letting Voldemort know?

Beatrice:  Well, no he doesn't use the connection, because he KNOWS 
that it works both ways.  In order to use the connection, he has to 
open the line of communication so to speak and that might allow Harry 
access to his own plans.  Again, I think that LV foolishly 
underestimates Harry and this demonstrates his own lack of 
understanding about the connection between them.  

LV assumes that Harry will have no choice but to reveal himself at 
some point.  He believes this because he thinks Harry is weak and 
foolish because of his compassion for others.  LV is focused not 
really on finding Harry, because he is confident that this will 
happen eventually.  He assumes that Harry is simply on the run / in 
hiding.  He NEVER considers that Harry and DD have figured out about 
the horcruxes.  IF he did, he might feel more urgency to find Harry.

LV focuses his efforts on ruling the WW and gathering tools to end 
Harry's life when the confrontation occurs.  In his mind, he has 
nothing to gain from reading Harry's thoughts, but everything to 
lose.  LV is like DD in one respect:  He expects people to act in a 
certain way based on their love / feelings for others.  But unlike 
DD, LV misunderstands this facet of human nature.  DD sees that this 
can be a source great strength; LV sees it as the worst kind of 
weakness.  And a weakness he can exploit.  

I think one of the primary differences is that LV makes his 
observations based on pure conjecture.  EG.  He sees a mother give up 
her life for her child.  Because he fears / hates death, he sees her 
love and sacrifice as a foolish weakness.  In his mind, "what idiot 
would die for someone else?"  What he fails to see is that in love it 
is sometimes necessary to make horrible sacrifices for those we care 
about.  (As a parent, I can tell you that I would subject myself to 
the worst horrors imaginable to save my child.  I don't consider 
myself a brave person.  I am just a mother who would do anything to 
prevent her child from being harmed, if I could help it). This is why 
he doesn't recognize Lily's sacrifice for what it is, he doesn't 
understand the nature of true love and sacrifice.  Dumbledore does.  
Because he has loved and been loved, he knows its power.

So in this way LV underestimates Harry.  He sees Harry as hiding to 
save his own life and foolishly thinks that Harry's only goal/option 
is to challenge LV face to face and hope that he wins.  LV thinks 
that this is foolish, but then he repeats the same mistake:  He 
allows Harry to die for the whole WW (kind of like Christ).  LV still 
hasn't learned anything about love in the end...oops, I kind of went 
way beyond your question.

Beatrice: ranting and raving, but only slightly off topic.  
>