[HPforGrownups] Dumbledore's mean streak.

[Neil Ward]

No: HPFGUIDX 1162

Scott said:
>Someone (I think it was Neil) suggested that Dumbly most likely has 
>some type of "badness" in him.  Ok, how on Earth can we say that 
>Snape is essentially good despite his nastiness and yet think that 
>Dumbly could be bad!?!?

***
'Twas me. You said yourself, recently, that ANYTHING is possible.  I was
trying to play devil's advocate to some extent and remove the implicit
assumption that Dumbledore represents 'the good wizard' against Voldemort's
'the wicked wizard' and that that should be the reference point for Snape's
behaviour.  Dumbledore's character still carries a bit of mystery, so let's
not treat it as some sort of moral anchor. I wasn't suggesting that
Dumbledore is allied to Voldemort or that he is evil in the same way, just
that perhaps he isn't as pure as the driven snow.  

Making black/white assumptions about JKR's characters is the easiest way to
fall into another of her traps and we need to think about that grey area. 

Scott added:
>I do think that he most likely has some weakness (Was it Dee who said 
>stealing socks?).  Well that's probably not it, though maybe an 
>affinity for House Elves...hmmmm

***
Well, you're right - a weakness or failing in Dumbledore's character is more
likely than his being a demonically-cackling maniac, but sometimes a small
failing can have big repercussions. Someone implied that he might have
sneaked off with the Philosopher's Stone (probably hid it in a sock under
his pillow) for example, and I've suggested that his use of the Pensieve
might at least have addled his brain.  And don't forget my even more
ridiculous theory that Peeves is Dumbledore's 'Id', based on that fact that
'Pensieve' is an anagram of 'In Peeves' (... and you thought I was joking
about that?  Would I jest?).  What better way to keep an eye on things?   

Neil, who is not always as lucid as he could be.
            Flying-Ford-Anglia

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   "Then, dented, scratched and steaming, 
   the car rumbled off into the darkness, 
   its rear lights blazing angrily"

 [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]

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