Can we believe in Dumbledore?

[lj2d30 at gateway.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 11627

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Sister Mary Lunatic" <klaatu at p...> wrote:
> I find Dumbledore very fallible and sometimes frighteningly 
ineffective. The first time I really felt that way was the scene when 
he was consoling the Weasleys on the loss of Ginny, all the while 
Harry and Ron were in the Chamber of Secrets fighting Tom Riddle and 
rescuing Ginny.  If D is such a great wizard, why didn't he know what 
was happening?  Or worse, DID he know, and left Harry to deal with it 
because it was good training?  URF!  Four lives could have been lost 
that day (Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Lockhart).  At least D's phoenix 
(Fawkes) went to the rescue...

Remember at the the time Ginny is taken into the Chamber of Secrets, 
Dumbledore is not at Hogwarts, having been temprorarily removed as 
Headmaster thanks to Lucius Malfoy's intimidation of the other 11 
school governors. However, he did return forthwith after news of her 
abduction reached him.  Somehow, I have the impression that he was 
met with the Weasley parents immediately upon his arrival who then 
demanded to know the details and what they could do, etc. I can't 
imagine Molly Weasley being told "Wait here, my dear, I need to go to 
the Chamber of Secrets," and sitting docilely by without knowing all 
the details.  After all, for a short, plump, kind-faced woman it is 
remarkable how much she looks like a saber-toothed tiger.  

Just because Dumbledore seems to be all-knowing doesn't mean that he 
is.  Salazar Slytherin hid his chamber very well and, indeed, no one 
seems to be sure of its existence, except as legend.  Even Prof. 
Binns denies it exists and he's been at Hogwarts longer than 
Dumbledore (at least I think he has, he is a ghost after all.).
  
>> He fails to prevent Sirius Black from entering Hogwarts.<<

He doesn't know Sirius is an animagus, or that he knows the secret 
passageways into Hogwarts.  

>>>But I don't see Dumbledore as a tower of strength, or an all-
knowing mentor.  Rather, he is a witness to the battle of good & 
evil, a general marshalling his forces the best way he can; a 
powerful wizard, with scruples, going up against an equally powerful 
wizard without scruples<<<

I agree.  Dumbledore is a very powerful wizard doing his best agaisnt 
the very worst.  No one is infallible, least of all Albus Dumledore, 
but I would rather he be in charge of my child's education at 
Hogwarts than Cornelius Fudge, who looks the truth squarely in the 
face and denies it's there.  Dumbledore is aware that Voldemort is on 
the return and is willing to give his students the tools necessary to 
fight, for whichever side they so choose.  He never dismisses the 
existence of free will.  Every student will have to choose where 
thier allegiance lies in the coming years and it will be out of his 
hands.  He knows this, and he will do all he can to help them make 
the right decision, but he is only one man. 

But a good man.

Trina