Voldemort in Godric's Hollow in book 7, remembering what happened when he looked into the face of a baby, wanted to watch, saw the baby cry, saw that the baby now felt the same way Tom Riddle felt as an infant when there was nobody for him, realized *he* had done that to the baby and made someone into a baby like he was himself, and then felt pain beyond pain because "he had killed the boy, and yet he *was* the boy." That was empathy and guilt and remorse.
Ahh, I just re-read the chapter and I see what you mean. I think on first reading I wasn't sure if "he had killed the boy and yet he was the boy" referred to the fact that by this point, Harry's experience of Voldemort's memories is deteriorating and he's literally no longer sure who he is, or if it could also reflect Voldemort's realization on some level that a part of his soul had entered Harry when the curse failed. Your idea is far more interesting, of course! I'll have to ponder it. :)
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Date: 2016-08-02 03:51 pm (UTC)Ahh, I just re-read the chapter and I see what you mean. I think on first reading I wasn't sure if "he had killed the boy and yet he was the boy" referred to the fact that by this point, Harry's experience of Voldemort's memories is deteriorating and he's literally no longer sure who he is, or if it could also reflect Voldemort's realization on some level that a part of his soul had entered Harry when the curse failed. Your idea is far more interesting, of course! I'll have to ponder it. :)