Glum?

[Weasleyfanforever]

Professor McGonagall's voice trembled as she went on. 'That's not all. They're saying he tried to kill the Potter's son, Harry. But -- he couldn't. He couldn't kill that little boy. No one knows why, or how, but they're saying tht when he couldn't kill Harry Potter, Voldemort's power somehow broke -- and that's why he's gone.'
Dumbledore nodded glumly.

Why would Dumbledore be feeling glum about Voldemort's failed attack, which destroyed Voldemort's powers but left Harry unharmed? Was it because he knew that Voldemort would someday rise again? Or was it because he had already knew that one of them had to kill the other, and he felt bad for the poor boy, after finally finding out who he was, knowing that he would either kill or be killed? Could it be because he was sad because the Potter's were good friends, and had they had fought on the same side during this war, and now their only son would grow up never knowing the great people they were? What are your thoughts?

[Norbert]

Yes, Voldemort appears to be gone - for the time being!

But... It was at a great cost. This is not the time to be jumping for joy! Possibly Dumbledore knows already that this is not the end.

[Tinkerbell]

Perhaps Dumbledore had some knowledge of Voldemorts intentions, that he was attempting immortality and that this was merely a setback? So believing that the prophecy could have meant that when Voldemort tried to kill Harry that in fact Voldemort would die, but was now 'glum' because it merely broke his powers rather than killing him, and just delayed the inevitable - that Voldemort would try again.

[PrettyMS.Potter]

Why would Dumbledore be feeling glum about Voldemort's failed attack, which destroyed Voldemort's powers but left Harry unharmed? Was it because he knew that Voldemort would someday rise again? Or was it because he had already knew that one of them had to kill the other, and he felt bad for the poor boy, after finally finding out who he was, knowing that he would either kill or be killed? Could it be because he was sad because the Potter's were good friends, and had they had fought on the same side during this war, and now their only son would grow up never knowing the great people they were? What are your thoughts?

I agree here - I think after Dumbledore finding out who the boy was he felt bad for him since he already new the prophecy, and new everything that was instored for the "poor boy".

[Aurora]

There is also the fact that Lily and James seemed to be close to him, therefore losing them would hurt deep down. Also the fact that he was aware of the prophecy and yet was unable to stop this from happening. The lose of two friends, a prophecy seeming to fulfill itself. The knowledge that Voldemort was not dead, meant that Harry had to still face his destiny in the future. That he would met, battle and perhaps die at the hands of Voledmort, and if he did not die and was the one to survive, what kind of damage would all of this inflict on the innocent infant?!

[Tonks]

To sound relatively evil, yet to agree with everything mentioned above (especially Aurora's post):

Dumbledore obviously had heard the prophecy. He knows that even if Voldemort appears to be gone, he will have to come back at some point or another and fulfill the rest of it. I think he is glum because there is no way he can "save" Harry from this future, and yet the poor kid will have to spend his childhood growing up with such terrible Muggles and will never know his parents.

Maybe Dumbledore thinks it would have just been easier if Harry had been killed that night, because he is going to have a really difficult life ahead of him and might just be killed by Voldemort anyway... (told you it was kind of evil).

[Alz]

See, I understand the point above and dont have any real arguments against them ...
But then look at what Dumbledore knew then - A prophecy is a prophecy but doesnt mean he couldnt in some way try and remove Harry from the situation full stop.
I also think he would have served as the best person to train Harry and make him strong for the battles ahead.
I know that it is said Dumbledore wanted Harry growing up without being famous and well known - but in doing that he also segregated him from the world that Harry would really need to know in order to make the biggest impact ...
For me glum - because he didnt really belive he was doing the right thing - not deep down ..

[Boing]

I had always just assumed he nodded glumly because everything that she was saying was true and that he was upset about the Potters - I mean, it's one thing for Voldemort to be gone, but it seems he also lost some people that were close to him.

Upon reading the other posts, I also agree that we now know that Voldemort knew of the prophecy and knows there is more to come, that Voldemort is just gone for a little while and then a big battle will have to be fought again - perhaps he feels the Potters died in vain because Voldemort is going to come back to power again.

I think he might just be getting old and the glumness was him being resigned to the desperate life that Harry was going to lead and he just didn't see the point anymore, with Lily and James gone and so many others that had died noble deaths.