That Gleam Of Triumph!

"He said my blood would make him stronger than if he'd used someone else's," Harry told Dumbledore, "He said the protection my- my mother left in me- he'd have it too. And he was right. He could touch me without hurting himself. He touched my face."
For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes. But next second, Harry was sure he'd imagined it, for when Dumbledore returned to his seat behind the desk, he looked as old and weary as Harry had ever seen him.

We know this will be important, because the great Rowling herself has said so. But in what way?
I have always been bothered by it, ever since the fourth book, and I'd love to know what everyone thinks.

That "gleam" line just doesn't click for me at all.
I brushed right by it in the book, and shrugged
off Seriously's post at first, too.
But I keep coming back.

Third time through this post, and I'm consciously wondering.
What, exactly, did JKR say? In what context? What was asked?

So, what does it mean? What are you implying?
And watch it -- I don't take kindly to people bad-mouthing Dumbledore.

Was that "gleam" merely a smug, "I knew it!" reaction?
I'm half his age, and even I don't get that any more. Too petty.

Was it an "Oh, good -- he's taking the bait!" reaction?

Ok, I might do that. I'll plant a little idea and feel smug when my
husband thinks it's his own. But that's only for little things.

To set up Harry as bait is already unthinkable.
To feel smug when it works -- to the point of betraying a visable "gleam"?
Not likely.

So, what does it mean?

There's another thread on this site called 'Voldemort has Harry's blood'. There are heaps of interesting thoughts there - of course!! - but one keeps haunting me:
Does Voledmort's needing, taking and sharing Harry's blood, tie Voldemort like a wizards' 'life debt'??

This 'life debt' thingo has been kinda raised but never really explained. Has anyone any clue??

I can't find my PoA but I think it's talked about /hinted to in that in reference to Petigrew owing Harry but I might be mixing my chat theories with cannon. HELP!! ???? Who can find a reference to life debt

I still don't know what to make of that line.

here is a part of the interview:

There so many people with "Harry Potter" screen names! One asks: Why did Dumbledore have a look of triumph in his eyes at the end of book four?

Good question... excellent question, in fact, and like all the best questions I get asked, I can't answer it! Because it would give too much away. However, well-spotted. Have fun guessing... someone's bound to get it right!

Another one-

MA: Does the gleam of triumph still have yet to make an appearance?


JKR: That's still enormously significant. And let's face it, I haven’t told you that much is enormously significant, so you can let your imaginations run free there.


ES: I think everybody realized it was significant when they read it but we didn’t see it materialize in 5 or 6.


JKR: Well, it still is.


ES:We’ve been kind of waiting for the big revelation.


JKR: Absolutely, that's for seven. That's for seven.

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Well, there we go!

Ahhhh, brilliant! Well done for digging up this treasure trove of information, Sirius! You must be some kind of genius! I would never have thought of that, not in a million years. You're my hero.

Oh stop it, you're embarrassing me! It's no big deal, I'm sure anyone could have found that information.



Seeing as no one replied, I thought I'd reply to myself. This way, I get told what I want to hear!

Well spotted.
Good Show.
You're my hero.

=================

Now, tell me what it means.

Thanks for that!

But I'm afraid I haven't a clue what it means. At least now we know it's highly important.

Let's think about this though.

Dumbledore's eyes have a gleam of triumph in them when Harry says how Voldemort used Harry's blood and that Voldemort was able to touch Harry without hurting himself.

But, I just noticed something. Quite literally. Harry thought he saw a gleam of *something like triumph* in Dumbledore's eyes. Perhaps it wasn't triumph after all? But what emotion could it be?

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For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore's eyes. But next second, Harry was sure he'd imagined it, for when Dumbledore returned to his seat behind the desk, he looked as old and weary as Harry had ever seen him.
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But assuming that it was triumph...why was Dumbledore triumphant when he heard that Volemort could now touch Harry without feeling pain.

Basically it comes down to "Why was Dumbledore triumphant when he heard that Voldemort had risen to be stronger than ever before?"

I guess if we figure this one out, or at least come up with a couple of good strong theories, Dumbledore dying at the hands of Snape will probably have some new light shed on it.

Well, when you're happy about something, sometimes you can't hide a smile. Dumbledore probably didn't mean to betray a visible gleam. He was getting old and he made mistakes, same as everyone.

If I come across as bad-mouthing Dumbledore, I apoligise, it was never my intention.