Like Flesh in Flame: Tom's Avoidance of Harry's Mind

[terri_testing]

The Twinkly One very kindly explained to Severus (and Jo to the inquiring reader) why Tom, after the debacle at the Ministry at the end of OotP, would never again voluntarily open his mental connection to Harry.

“…. Do not think I underestimate the constant danger in which you place yourself, Severus. To give Voldemort what appears to be

Comments

[terri_testing]

Thanks!

Yes on the burning-curse. I wrote it this way so someone who'd not read (or not accepted) that theory of what was really going on would not be distracted from my main point here. Of course, on further reflection Dumble's being responsible for the burning curse makes his use of the "flesh in flame" metaphor more, um. Definitely more something.

Good point of Twinkles having a further reason to want to believe Harry still utterly pure and uncorrupted.

In fact, take that thought further.... which does Albus identify with more, of his two proteges? Severus the desperately repentant sinner, who knows he went wrong, and whose sacrifices since then are merely the least he can do to try to make amends? And whose sacrifices, however great, can never truly redeem the wrong he has done?

Or Harry, who may have done one or two shady things but is in his fundamental nature the innocent victim, who must in the end sacrifice himself, not in expation of his own sins, but purely for the good of others? And whose great sacrifice will make him (or show him to be) the world's great hero and saviour?

Or rather, which does Albus prefer to think of himself as?