In defense of Dumbledore (was In defense of Snape)

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 19357

Barbara wrote:

>  Thank you!  I've always thought that Dumbledore
>  probably knew exactly what was going on.  He doesn't
>  like to tip his hand.

Jami wrote:
 
> But this infers that Dumbledore knew that Quirrell was trying to 
kill Harry, 
> and didn't do anything. I don't want to go there.

Hi, Jami!  Welcome to the wonderful world of HPforGU!

I'm not entirely comfortable going there either, but Harry himself 
surmises that it's more or less the case, and is a lot more 
comfortable with it than I am:

  "D'you think he meant you to do it [i.e., go after 
Quirrell/Voldemort]?" said Ron.  "Sending you your father's cloak and 
everything?"
  "=Well,=" Hermione exploded, "if he did--I mean to say--that's 
terrible--you could have been killed."
  "No, it isn't," Harry said thoughtfully.  "He's a funny man, 
Dumbledore.  I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance.  I think 
he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know.  I 
reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of 
stopping us, he just taught us enough to help.  I don't think it was 
an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked.  It's almost as 
if he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could . . ."  
(PS/SS 17).

I've read a piece that quotes this passage in theorizing about 
Dumbledore as God:  the kind of God who steps back and lets us make 
our own decisions and mistakes in order to preserve human freedom.

Amy Z

---------------------------------------------------
   "Your father thinks very highly of Mad-Eye
 Moody," said Mrs. Weasley sternly.
   "Yeah, well, Dad collects plugs, doesn't he,"
 said Fred quietly, as Mrs. Weasley left the room.  
 "Birds of a feather."
                     -HP and the Goblet of Fire
---------------------------------------------------