Why Didn’t Dumbledore KILL Tom Riddle to Save Thousands of Lives? - Harry Potter Theory

"Did you know, sir? Then?..."

"Did I know that I had just met the most dangerous Dark wizard of all-time? No."

These were the words exchanged by Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore after taking a glance in to the Pensieve and observing Dumbledore’s first encounter with a young Tom Riddle. And it’s these words that clarify WHY Dumbledore saved Tom, invited him to Hogwarts, and gave him a magical education. Because you see, Dumbledore, despite a few signs here and there, could never have known that this young troubled boy would go on to cause so much death and destruction. I mean, how could he?

But the exchange does make me wonder: what would have happened IF Dumbledore HAD known what young Tom Riddle’s TRUE capabilities were? What if he knew just how many lives he’d claim, and how much destruction he’d cause? Would things have been different? Would he have attended Hogwarts? Just how different would the magical world have been had Dumbledore obtained that singular (albeit, MASSIVE) piece of information.

Today we’re going to be answering all of that and more as we discuss a scenario in which Dumbledore WAS aware of Voldemort’s true capabilities.

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