Why isn't Dumbledore at the Ministry (was Harry's barriers

[foxmoth at qnet.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 14769

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., eccleston at c... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Rachel Brantley" <hera_rab at h...> wrote:
> > Subjects: Harry's Protective Barriers (reply), Hagrid's magic wand, 
> > Dumbledore, Voldemort's control, Snape & DADA, Marauder's Map
> > 
> > Dumbledore:
> > 	I've wondered that if Dumbledore was such a great wizard (the 
> only one 
> > Voldy fears) why he isn't in the MoM, perhaps the minister. He's 
> probably 
> > too smart for that though.
> > 	> Rachel Brantley
> 
> 
> I'm sure there's a reference (?Hagrid) saying that Dumbledore was 
> offered the Ministry of Magic, but turned it down 'cos he liked 
> Hogworts too much
> > 
It's in SS/PS chapter 5:
	[Hagrid speaking]"They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, o' course, 
but he'd never leave Hogwarts, so old Cornelius Fudge got the job. 
Bungler if there ever was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with owls every 
morning, askin' fer advice."
[Harry asks]
"But what does a Ministry of Magic do?"
"Well, their main job is to keep it from the Muggles that there's still 
witches and wizards up an' down the country."

As for *why* Dumbledore turned the job down, he says in his eulogy for 
Cedric,
(GoF ch.37) "It is my belief that truth is generally preferable to 
lies..."
	I think Dumbledore prefers to be in the business of imparting the 
truth rather than concealing it.

Pippin