Question re Chapter 13 - The Secret Riddle

[pippin_999]

Magda: 
> 
> Yes I agree that that's WHY Dumbledore performed an act of magic but
> why did he pick that SPECIFIC act, namely flaming Tom's wardrobe and
> apparently destroying it?  Would this not send a message to an
> already clearly disturbed kid that when you've got a wand in your
> hand you can wreak real destruction?

Pippin:

Dumbledore didn't do real destruction, he created an illusion. It's
not like it would take Tom a long time to figure  out that he could 
learn to do real damage, anyway. I think it was a bit of tough love. 
If Dumbledore was to have any chance of reaching Tom, he had to get
his attention first.  

Pippin