It’s interesting that Voldemort is so attached to the idea of this restraining power Hermione has over Harry. Does Voldemort believe that this restraint weakens Harry significantly, by restricting him from making morally ambiguous choices? There’s strong evidence that Harry shies away from evil solutions (Horcruxes are not a valid immortality method while they require human sacrifice), but he is certainly capable of morally neutral solutions. Hermione’s emphasis on doing the Right Thing in all cases might strike Voldemort as a weakness he can then go on to exploit in his counterpart.
I think it’s mostly because of Trelawney’s prophecy. The second Hermione died, Trelawney blurts out: “HE IS HERE. THE ONE WHO WILL TEAR APART THE VERY STARS IN HEAVEN. HE IS HERE. HE IS THE END OF THE WORLD.”
Maybe he’s really worried about Harry breaking the Universe at some point like Quirrel’d been worrying about some chapters earlier, and yet for whatever reason Harry’s too important for his future plans to just kill? Though I can’t decide which idea leaves me less confused, that one, or just “ulterior motives, hidden because able to lie in parseltongue”.
It’s interesting that Voldemort is so attached to the idea of this restraining power Hermione has over Harry. Does Voldemort believe that this restraint weakens Harry significantly, by restricting him from making morally ambiguous choices? There’s strong evidence that Harry shies away from evil solutions (Horcruxes are not a valid immortality method while they require human sacrifice), but he is certainly capable of morally neutral solutions. Hermione’s emphasis on doing the Right Thing in all cases might strike Voldemort as a weakness he can then go on to exploit in his counterpart.
I think it’s mostly because of Trelawney’s prophecy. The second Hermione died, Trelawney blurts out: “HE IS HERE. THE ONE WHO WILL TEAR APART THE VERY STARS IN HEAVEN. HE IS HERE. HE IS THE END OF THE WORLD.”
Which, y’know. Is a tad ominous.
Maybe he’s really worried about Harry breaking the Universe at some point like Quirrel’d been worrying about some chapters earlier, and yet for whatever reason Harry’s too important for his future plans to just kill? Though I can’t decide which idea leaves me less confused, that one, or just “ulterior motives, hidden because able to lie in parseltongue”.