Dumbledore

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42788

I have always liked Dumbledore, after all, as JKR said "he's the epitamy of goodness."  But there's something that bothers me about him.  He seems to give Harry *way* more information than any other student at Hogwarts, but doesn't do much to help him handle it.  It's hard to explain, so I'll give a couple of examples.

1) In SS/PS, Harry's in the hospital wing.  Dumbledore tells him about his mother's sacrifice.  Then becomes interested in a bird out the window while Harry wipes away tears on the sheet.  Why pretend not to notice?  Sure, boys aren't supposed to cry.  But can't we get away from that stereotype?  Harry's never had a chance to grieve for his parents, let him cry and tell him it's okay.

2) In GoF, Dumbledore tells Harry all sorts of things that really aren't his business.  Such as Neville's parents.  If Neville wanted Harry to know he'd have told him.  Of course, after four years the topic should have come up.  Although I imagine Harry avoids the topic of parents as much as possible.

3) Here's where I have *real* issues with Dumbledore. Harry comes back from the graveyard, port keys back to Hogwarts.  Harry is horribley dazed, still hanging on to Cedric's body.  Dumbledore picks Harry up and set him on the ground.  Harry's swaying on his injured leg, his head is pounding, he feels like he's going to throw up, and is just standing there.  All Dumbledore says is "Harry, stay here." But instead Moody/Crouch half pulls, half carries him away to his office and sits him down.  Gives him whatever and he drinks it, and things start to clear up for Harry.  Fast forward a ways, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape all stupefy Moody.  McGonagall's even about to cry, tries to take Harry to the hospital wing.  Dumbledore makes him stay, goes on about understanding, etc.  Crouch Jr. tells all, Dumbledore is ready to take Harry upstairs.  Harry stands up, sways again, realizes that he's shaking.  Dumbledore grips his arm and helps him walk.   So Dumbledore knows he's hurt.  He's been hurt, not to mention traumatized.  No one does anything for the boy until he gets to Dumbldore's office and Fawkes fixes his leg and sings a note to strengthen him.  

Would it really have hurt for Snape to whip up a magical pain reliever while he's getting a truth potion anyway?  Can't someone *do* something to help?  I know Dumbledore's trying to take care of the emotional pain, but he seems to ignore the physical.  Unless of course he had instructed Fawkes to do something (or is Fawkes and using a time turner, which is way too complicated to be the key if you ask me) in which case he still let him suffer a while.  Is this a "guy" thing or is physical pain just an after thought to him?  I've probably got everyone else who's still reading as confused as I am, but every time I think I've figured Dumbledore out and he's such a great guy he goes and does something illogical.  Sorry, but I was with Minerva on this one, except I guess prolonging the retelling wouldn've helped.

Richelle
------------------------------------
Richelle R. Votaw
1st grade teacher
Kentwood Elementary
------------------------------------


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]