The Gleam

[Jen Reese]

I know this came up a few days ago

and I wanted to add a couple of thoughts 

from HBP.

Because now I wonder

if we'll ever find out

what that @#%&$ gleam meant.

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I've been thinking about the cave scene and how Dumbledore felt the 
blood offering at the archway was 'crude': 

"The idea, as I am sure you will have gathered, is that your enemy 
must weaken him-or herself to enter. Once again, Lord Voldemort 
fails to grasp that there are much more terrible things than 
physical injury." (The Cave, p. 559)

Dumbledore is quite dismissive about this blood 
offering, 'disdainful' even.

DD then goes on to say Harry's blood is 'worth more' than his. At 
first I couldn't understand that statement. We know DD doesn't 
ascribe to blood purity or any of those notions. It doesn't seem 
likely he would think Harry's blood is more valuable just because 
he's younger. So it would have to be the blood protection that runs 
through Harry's veins that is 'worth more' than Dumbledore's blood.

Since DD professes to know Riddle's style of magic, I think he 
realizes the moment Harry tells him about the blood that Voldemort 
seriously miscalculated again. The blood-letting in the graveyard 
won't weaken Harry or his protection. Voldemort thinks he's able to 
touch Harry because he has some of Harry's protection in his own 
veins, but to Dumbledore the reverse must be true---Voldemort 
actually weakened himself by taking in Harry's 'valuable' blood, 
allowing the sacrificial magic to course through his own veins. He 
can touch Harry only becuase he himself is weaker, not the reverse. 

Here's where information in the HBP might expand the interpretation 
of Dumbledore's gleam. I think DD's statement after the gleam, that 
LV had 'overcome that particular barrier' isn't about the blood at 
all! I think he feels a moment of triumph hearing LV has once again 
overestimated his cleverness and weakened himself in the process, 
but in the next second Dumbledore realizes that with a corporal 
body, Voldemort will be able to continue his work toward 
immortality. 

We now know the diary incident caused DD to speculate about 
Voldemort's road to immortality, with attendant suspicions regarding 
soul-splitting. In that instant, Dumbledore realizes that even in a 
weakened body Voldemort will quickly continue his work toward 
immortality. The Order is in a race against time to figure out how 
to stop him before it's too late. All DD has is an inkling though, 
no facts, so Voldemort is one step ahead again.

Jen