Potion in the Cave

[Barry Arrowsmith]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at e...> wrote:
> 
> --- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "snow15145" <kking0731 at g...> 
> wrote:
> > My very first thoughts of Dumbledore's drinking of the potion in
> > the cave were that he was reliving the deaths of the inferri that
> > lay in the lake. You hear different responses with each swallow of
> > the potion. Dumbledore has never been afraid of death, so why
> > would he utter any such passage?  
> 
> Jen: 
> 
> My thought was Dumbledore sounded like a person trapped by an army 
> of Dementors and unable to break free. Dumbledore said he could 
> break out of Azkaban, but once he started drinking that potion he 
> was rendered unable to perform magic.
> 
> I think there's some evidence DD was indeed reliving his own worst 
> nightmares or greatest fears after drinking the potion in the cave 
> (from part 2 of Leaky Inteview):
>
> Milz:
> Interesting thought, Kneasy. If Dumbledore used Harry and Neville as
> the bait, then he definitely holds a great deal of responsibility for
> what happened to both families.
> 
> I guess then that this is part of the "Choices" theme in the book...
> 

All these are part of a whole, I think and it's something that crossed
my mind on the first reading of the Potion-drinking passage a week ago.

First thought is - it's poison, but slow acting.
Then comes the thought that Voldy would want any intruder available
for questioning, torment, a little light torture. Indeed the text states
as much. Fine. But in the meantime? Well, he wouldn't  want them to
have an easy  time of it would he? No lounging about complaining of
hot sweats and stomach cramps allowed. No, he'd want something
a little more cruel. Mental as well as physical degradation.

'Cos that's what DD demonstrates. He's seeing, feeling events that
are acutely distressing, his words are proof:

"It's all my fault, all my fault," he sobbed, "please make it stop, I know
I did wrong [...] Don't hurt them, don't hurt them, please, please,
it's my fault, hurt me instead...[...] I  want to die! I want to die! Make it
stop! [...] KILL ME!"

Very nasty, whatever it is he's seeing.
It seemed possible that the potion was designed to show any intruder
just what was in store for them with the agony of past victims thrown 
in for demonstration purposes. But what if.... what if the potion dredges
events from the victim's own memories? 'Cos it could be that what DD
is suffering from is guilt and remorse.  A subtle and very personal torture.

So what does he have to feel guilty or remorseful about?
Well, if the Prophecy was used to bring Voldy out into the open, if he
knew or hoped that Voldy would follow up whispers of a very interesting
prediction, then he might feel guilty about what happened to the Potters
and the Longbottoms. His plan would more or less seal their fates - because
before the protection becomes active, somebody has to die. His plan would
require it. Friends, colleagues, even loved ones. But it looks like the only
feasible way to  get at Voldy. What a dilemma, what mental anguish that
would generate. Sacrifice a few  to save many. Choices, always choices.

I think there's a word missing at the end of the above quote. It should read
"KILL ME INSTEAD!"

Kneasy