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The power The Dark Lord knows not

by David Haber

It all comes down to this. The big difference between Voldemort and Harry. The only difference that's really important. It couldn't be more important to the climax of the Harry Potter Septology Mystery. And the reason we know it's important is because J.K. Rowling went out of her way to tell us about it, right out, in plain language, not couched in a riddle, in the very first Harry Potter book.

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Reader Comments: (Page 15)

Perhaps Snape redeem himself by to save Harry...or protect Harry in some way. This would absolve him from betraying Lily (if he did) and would also link with the fact that James saved Snape's life and hence Snape owes him (Dumbledore mentions this connection in relation to Harry saving Wormtail's life..Wormtail and Harry are also connected in this way). Saving his son might absolve this too. And would be an expression of great love on Snape's part. There must be a strong reason why Dumbledore sacrificed himself to maintain Snape's cover with Voldemort, and to save Malfoy.

Also, Snape is very good at healing the wounds and other hurts/enchantments caused by the dark arts. Dumbledore seems to rely on him for this in HBP particularly. We also see evidence of it when Snape heals Malfoy after Harry's disaster with the Sectumsempra curse, and when Katie Bell is cursed by the necklace. Will Harry have to call on Snape's healing ss perhaps?

I still don't think that Harry and Voldemort duel ultimately in the conventional way. They now know that their wands not work against eachother. I think the disappearance of Ollivander has to do with this. Either Voldemort trying to understand what happened in the grave yard or possibly wanting Ollivander to make him a new wand with the power to work against Harry's. Though, as others have pointed out in a different thread on this site, there are no wands in any of the cover art for book 7.

I don't think Dumbledore is the only male in the book to understand love. Harry does for sure, and what about Lupin, Sirius etc etc.

Posted by Joe from England on April 22, 2007 09:55 AM

Yes, Dumbledore is probably the only male to understand love, but definatly not the only one to feel or give love. Every character in the books have given/recieved love, including voldy. What? Oh, he hasn't, yuo may be saying... but his mother loved him, doesnt that count as recieving love? Yes she d, but she still loved him.
But I don't know if even Dumbledore understands love. It's a very complex feeling and I don't think anyone can understand it.

Posted by claire from queensland, australia on April 23, 2007 01:27 AM

I disagree, I think that it wouldn't affect Voldemort at all because he, as you said, simply can't understand it.

Posted by James from Sydney on April 23, 2007 02:28 AM

Even if you don't know what a gun is or how it works, its bullets still you.

Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on April 23, 2007 07:01 AM

Joe! A stroke of inspirational genius! What if Harry's ability to Love is what leads him to be ABLE to forgive Snape and hence trigger the assets you have listed? Only Harry can truly forgive..unlike Voldemort.. but he could make Snape feel loved/forgiven after Harry learns the truth.

Of course there is the incomparable power of a soul which is intact and unblemished..(Dumbledore). But what is that power? Is that the power which made Harry the only one in Moody's (Crouch's) class who could throw off the imperius curse? Is that the power which made Harry able to resist Voldemort's imperius curse in GOF?

If it is not as simple as hugging Tom Riddle and saying 'I love you Tom'... then what exactly is the 'incomparable power' of Harry's intact soul which Voldemort lacks? Dumbledore stressed to Harry that this was a large advantage for Harry which Voldemort had given to Harry.

Posted by Charlie Tarbox from Gettysburg, Pa on April 23, 2007 07:07 AM

if harry's power is love, could ginny's love for him help him in the end?

Posted by Andrea on April 24, 2007 10:51 AM

I think that Harry can destroy Voldemort not with love but with somethin that is born from love, called FORGIVENESS. Harry cannot love Voldemort, period, but think about it. Voldemort wishes to be famous and notorious. When someone does something wrong, they are viewed on with disgust or anger, which makes them notorious to a small extent. But when someone forgives them, which is also born from love, they make that person equal to everyone else, not like when they are notorious and are viewed as infamous or outcasts. Voldemorts dearest wish is to be separate, yet forgiveness can unite. In unity there is lots of love, which means if Harry can find it in his heart to forgive Voldemort, even if he cannot truly love him, forgiveness is a form of love which can destroy Voldemort. This is just my theory for an alternate way to him, which I think is VERY probable, because Voldemort ed Harry's dad, mom, godfather, and mentor, and if Harry can love Voldemort after THAT, then he has no place to judge Dumbledore for giving Snape a second chance and trusting him completely.

Posted by Dante on April 24, 2007 3:53 PM

I think we overestimate love as a universal weapon against Voldemort.

Up to now, Harry didn't show more ability than anyone in loving. I would say, for instance, that Remus's behaviour looks more like the behaviour of a mature loving person than Harry's.

If Harry was loved by someone, he would be more self-confident and it would help him in this way (when Ron felt lucky, he did a tremendous job during a quidditch game). But I don't think it would give him more power against Voldemort.

What makes Harry dangerous for Voldemort is:

(1) First, the magical connection that Voldemort created in Harry's body. This connection makes a very strong link between Voldemort's soul and Harry's soul, so strong that "noone can live while the other one survives".

(2) Second, the power of love that Harry has, which protects him - and particularly his soul - from Voldemort's intrusions.

In conclusion, love may be what defeat Voldemort, but Harry is the only one who can use this power, not because he has a better ability for loving, but because he was chosen by Voldemort to be his opponent.

Posted by herve from strasbourg on April 24, 2007 10:58 PM

You are protected, in short, by your ability to love!" said Dumbledore loudly. "The only protection that can possibly work against the lure of power like Voldemort's

when i read these lines in your post, i imediately thought of Snape. is it possible that our beloved professor fell in love, thus giving Dumbledore the reason(not only,of course) why he should trust him? because he was able to love? and once he had experienced it, could never go back and be loyal to a person who despises it?

Posted by Last kiss from Split,Croatia on April 25, 2007 1:24 PM

There hasn't been much talk about Patronusses.
Harry can produce a powerful patronus, that may be able to defeat Voldemort in the end (in stead of the hug...)

It just occured to me that Voldemort probably can't produce one. Does he have any powerful positive emotions?

Posted by Lilly on April 25, 2007 3:14 PM

Great theory but is it possible that this may come down to Voldemort�s broken SOUL rather than his inability to love?

Harry�s soul is protected by his own ability to love and to be loved- this is the power that LV knows not - an intact and unblemished soul. Therefore Voldemort�s soul is the key.

Once Harry has completed the task of locating and destroying LV�s horcruxes (which be a dangerous and ardous journey I�m sure), Voldemort�s remaining 1 part of his soul is the key to finishing him off. Is it possible that Harry not be able to do this because of the love he has inside of him and also if we think back to POA, Harry stopped Sirius and Lupin from ing Peter Pettigrew because he didn�t think his parent�s would want their 2 best friends to become ers. Surely then it stands to reason they wouldn�t want this destiny for their only child?

Therefore how do you destroy someone without ing them and what fate could be worse then ?

Is it possible that the Dementors turn on Voldemort once his soul is weakened and perfom the kiss? As Dumbledore has said many times there are many things worse than and Voldemort doesn�t understand them - surely then a souless existence for Voldemort would be a fitting end? To the Demetors, Voldemort�s soul must be worth a fair bit - as we know they feed off a person�s worst memories and I�m sure Voldemort must have a plethora of nightmare�s to keep them satisfied, surely his soul would be priceless!

I think this would be a neat ending without JKR having to go down the " to avenge his parent�s route" and also we�ve never actually seen the kiss performed - the only time I recall it taking place was when Barty Crouch Junior was apprehended - but JKR didn�t go into any detail - perhaps she was saving it until last?

Posted by Jeanna from Tenerife on April 26, 2007 08:30 AM

Lilly, in support of your theory, I thought about the memories of Harry's that produced the best Patronuses, and lo and behold, every single time he has been able to produce a corporeal Patronus, it has been because he was filled with thoughts of people he loves. In Prisoner of Azkaban, he was thinking of his father. In Goblet of Fire, he thought of celebrating with Ron and Hermione, thoughts of whom also came to his aid in Order of the Phoenix. You might be onto something!

Posted by Monkeeshrines from Orlando FL on April 26, 2007 09:11 AM

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