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The Repeating History of Dumbledore

by David Haber

When we first meet young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I believe J.K. Rowling is wording descriptions of events with it in mind for us to see similarities between Tom Riddle and Harry. But now that we know the end of the story, and now that we know more about Dumbledore himself, I have lately been thinking more about similarities between Tom Riddle and Gellert Grindelwald.

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Reader Comments: (Page 4)

About Dumbledore choosing not to try and Voldemort in OotP - Obviously Dumbledore knew that Voldemort could not be ed. If he did use the ing Curse successfully, then Voldemort would again be reduced to less than spirit, but don't forget, Dumbledore knew the prophecy. He knew that it was Harry who was going to have to finish Voldemort if anyone could do it. He wouldn't have wanted to do anything that might have interfered with that. Remember, the prophecy didn't say that Harry WOULD finish Voldemort. Only that he was the one who COULD. Suppose Dumbledore had reduced Voldemort to his former state and Harry had d before Voldemort returned again? Dumbledore of all people knew that messing with time and prophecy is a risky business. I think what he was doing in that battle was two part damage control; protecting Harry, not just because of the prophecy, but because he loved him; and giving the aurors time to arrive so the truth would be out.

Posted by Elizabeth from Australia on December 10, 2007 02:29 AM

it would be cool if a book was written from voldermorts perspective either how it was or if dumbledore had never visited him and riddle had of used his small magical power to torture the knowledge of who he was out of others like him (wizards) before buying a wand and many magical books to study from and then possibly trying for the post of defence against the dark arts at hogwarts....who knows it could have been better or worse?

Posted by Alex Bunzl from london on December 10, 2007 12:43 PM

yeah, it makes some sense, but as someone mentioned despite this first encounter in which dumbledor gives a boy a chance who perhaps didn't deserve one, that is the only instance he is shown in that way. Sure, Dumbledore always has to see the good in people, both a weakness and a strength, but Dumbledore is always refered to as the only one you-know-who was ever afraid of, and the other flashbacks showed them as being enemies in school, almost like reverse harry-snape.

Posted by Raven on December 10, 2007 7:29 PM

Dumbledore definitely didn't Voldemort in OotP because he knew about the horcruxes and knew that Voldemort wouldn't , but Harry would I guess, being possessed by Voldemort at the time...so as Elizabeth and others have said he didn't Voldemort both because he knew he couldn't and in order to protect Harry and give him his chance to finish Voldemort in the end, as stated in the prophecy. Only Dumbledore knew about the horcruxes at this pointand he wanted this knowledge kept secret. But also, only Dumbledore knew then that he had the elder wand...so I suppose Dumbledore was in control of that confrontation in more ways than one.

Posted by Joe from England on December 11, 2007 03:12 AM

I think he learnt from mistakes. He tried to watch him closely, and as far as I can remember. Pity that Dumbledore he didn't watch him closely enough. And Tom knew he couldn't charm Dumbledore, as well.

Posted by Enrique Olcina on December 11, 2007 04:41 AM

The difference between Tom Riddle and Dumbledore is Dumbledore chose to love. That's it, end of story. They were both similar, but Dumbledore chose to be loving and that influenced all of his decisions. He was always kind and considerate because he was loving in his heart. Riddle had a heart of stone.

Posted by Camille from Manchester on December 12, 2007 06:46 AM

Not everything has to be about Dumbledore's sexual orientation. Dumbledore always sees the good in people. He is also kind, understanding and forgiving. He wanted to give Tom a chance to improve himself. He did not coddle him or 'allow' him to be evil. He believed in second chances. Snape is the perfect example of this and I doubt he did that because he liked Snape's looks since he was a greasy git.

Posted by Pamela from Munich on December 12, 2007 11:50 AM

I agree with Pamela that even though JKR said Dumbledore was , that's not the only thing we should see about him. Dumbledore was alway kind and fair to people, and also like Pamela said, he believed in second chances. Of course Snape is an example, but what about Draco? Couldn't he have just expelled the lousy git? Instead of doing that, though, he was always fair to Draco and all his nasty followers. In my opinion, that's what makes Dumbledore different than everyone else. He never got angry at or hurt someone without a really really good reason.

Posted by Holly from Germany on December 16, 2007 07:34 AM

I think that Dumbledore just wanted to give Grindelwald a chance to find the goodness in himself. Even though Dumbledore didn't know that Grindelwald was bad at the begining I think over time Dumbledore began to see through Grindelwald and see what he really was. As we know Dumbledore always wants to give someone the chance to come to the good side. For instance, Dumbledore gave Tom Riddle the chance even though he didn't trust him. Even though Dumbledore means good sometimes he can give someone too much of a chance and then Dumbledore can become vunerable.

Posted by Amy from California on December 17, 2007 5:09 PM

I don't think that Dumbledore being affected any situation except that of Grindelwald. speaking of Grindelwald, did anyone else notice that his defeat corresponded with the WWII? Coincidence?

Posted by Abby from Minneapolis, MN on December 20, 2007 10:05 AM

Did anyone else notice that Dumbledore beat Grindelwald even though Grindelwald had the Elder Wand! How is that possible? If it was a fair duel then Grindelwald would have won! Also Harry and Tom Riddle are related! Harry gets the cloak from Ignotus and Tom's Grandpa gets the ressurection stone from a Pevrell so therefore since the Pevrell brothers are related then so is Tom and Harry! It is a distant relationship but did anyone else notice that?

Posted by Brett from Edwardsville, Illinois on December 21, 2007 8:22 PM

To put another perspective on the difference between attraction and sexual desire: being a straight female not only do I have an initial attraction to other women who I choose to be friends with, but also to my male platonic friends. These are men I have no sexual interst in and would not be my proverbial "just-in-case", but men who I care about dearly, who started with that initial "hey, he looks like he'd be a cool friend to go skydiving with!" attraction Dave was talking about. (Not that I skydive...)

The cutest child, the cutest kitten, the cutest puppy, they all get adopted first, or at least considered for adoption first, often with no matter to how they are acting in the orphanage/shop/shelter. In the human mind since the beginning of the homo sapiens race, aesthetics equals good.

As to whether I think there was such an attraction between Tom and Albus... Yeah, probably. And Tom was remarkably bright; I'm sure Albus could see that and was hopeful that Tom could change his baser insticts for evil because of this. What an asset to the wizarding world Tom would have been if he had not been so inclined to practice dark magic, if he had some sort of conscience!

Posted by monkeeshrines from orlando fl on December 22, 2007 5:03 PM

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