Capturing a Memory

[Rachel-K]

When Harry and Dumbledore do finally get to see Slughorn’s true memories, do you understand at all why Slughorn chose to teach Riddle about Horcruxes? Do you see what he found that was sympathetic in this young man? Did Slughorn understand his student?

[Bookladt]

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rkubie wrote:
When Harry and Dumbledore do finally get to see Slughorn’s true memories, do you understand at all why Slughorn chose to teach Riddle about Horcruxes? Do you see what he found that was sympathetic in this young man? Did Slughorn understand his student?

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I think in some ways Slughorn is clueless. He sees great potential in Tom Riddle and was always enticed by the potential for greatness. He aligns himself with those that go on to acheive greatness and that was and is still his focus. Teaching Tom about the horcruxes was a way to make himself knowledgeable and respected but I do not think he saw the potential for disaster he unleashed until much later. When Tom mentioned 7 as the most magical number Slughorn realized how twisted and terrible the actual workings of Voldemort's mind were. Still he is another optomist - hoping for the best from his students until he is faced with the indisputable fact that not all who aspire to greatness will follow the rules and mores of society to acheive it.