Can we believe in Dumbledore?

[bob.mornington at wanadoo.fr]

No: HPFGUIDX 11611

I've been having some doubts recently about Dumbledore, and I wondered 
what you all feel about this:

It's just that I don't believe that Dumbledore is an entirely credible 
character.
Are we to believe that he is the father, the son and the holy ghost 
all rolled up into one benevolent grandfather figure dispensing 
incessant pearls of wisdom to who so ever is willing to listen?

Let me put it to you that if Dumbledore had a bit more depth to his 
character and was seen to exercise just a little choice about being 
good and moral, he'd be that much more believable.
What about if he were involved in allegations about sharing an 
improper cigar with one of his interns? Or if he were accused of 
harbouring an excessive fondness for the young boys in his care? Or if 
some unexplained bank movements were discovered in his account from a 
muggle bank in an offshore tax haven. Of course, he'd shake off all 
the accusations and come out of it entirely vindicated, but never the 
less, that would have left us with just a trace of a thought that he 
might just have been capable of doing those things but chose not to.

Wouldn't that make him more believable? 
Don't you think that only a credible Dumbledore who has weaknesses and 
overcomes them would be capable of helping Harry to become street 
wise? 
Because Harry's going to have to develop into a pretty shrewd 
character to bring about the final downfall of Voledemort and his 
cronies, and believing in a Dumbledore-Father Christmas just isn't 
going to help him.

Bob