Dumbledore (gasp!) Cheats!!! (was: Chapter 26 - The Second Task)

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 9430

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, heidi <heidi.h.tandy.c92 at a...> 
wrote:
> 

> Questions:
> 1. Did Harry show moral fiber or was be being a prat?

"Cheating's a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament
and always has been"  Moody/Crouch tells Harry just before the First 
Task (Chap. 20).  Mad-Eye Crouch goes on to say that "I've been 
telling Dumbledore from the start, he can be as high-minded as he 
likes, but you can bet old Karkaroff and Maxine won't be. They'll have
told their champions everything they can. They want to win. They want 
to bet Dumbledore."  

RED HERRING ALERT!!!   RED HERRING ALERT!!!  

The view being promulgated here is that the Bumblebee is either too 
high-minded and/or too naïve to descend to the sort of sleazy 
underhanded tactics that are merely second nature to Karkaroff and 
Maxine.  Yeah right!  Not even Crouch Jr. could  possibly outfox the 
Double-D, who can change shapes with Proteus and add colors to the 
chameleon for advantages.   Obviously, Hogwarts, Durmstrang & 
Beauxbatons have fallen hook line and sinker for this "barmy old 
codger" image that Dumbledore so assiduously cultivates.  But we
the reader must not be deceived.

Dumbledore clearly set up the Second Task to Harry's advantage. 
No less than three of the four merpeople's hostages were individuals 
extremely important to Harry, while the other three contestants had 
no meaningful ties to more than a single hostage.  Dumbledore is 
someone who knows Harry forwards and backwards, and, if he was 
dedicated to a fair and objective contest, would have made sure that 
Hermione and Cho were  declared ineligible.  But, no – the crafty
old codger kept his mouth shut.  And of course when it comes time to 
consult with the Merpeople, who on the scene just happened to speak 
Mermish?  The predictable result: Harry loses some time and a few 
points because he wants to save three very important people to him 
(and he might as well save the little kid sister as long as he's
at it), but gains extra points for moral fiber and integrity.  Harry 
was not being thick.  What person worthy of admiration would not risk 
all to save someone they loved?  Dumbledore simply made sure that 
Harry had three times as much  motivation as the other Triwizards 
Champions.

    -  CMC