Gandalf-like!Dumbledore

[Melody]

No: HPFGUIDX 47619

First, Russ-

Clipping can be your friend.  So tidy.  So wonderful.  So precise. :)


Russ - Mr. fun_n_games_ wrote:
>I only referenced Gandalf to give you the picture of how I perceive
>that Dumbledore wishes to "sit this one out" so to speak, but to
>train and counsel others on the specific requirements of fighting the
>dark forces.  I think he is doing this because he feels that someone
>has to be trained to take his place when he goes.  150 is old even in
>the Potterverse.  He is not going to be around forever to defeat the
>Grindewalds of the world.

I have no problem with Dumbledore training the young.  It is, after
all, the *point* of the educational system.  But, I do not understand
the logic behind a Gandalf-like!Dumbledore who has all these wonderful
gifts and all these wonderful talents and yet does not enter the fray.

For Dumbledore (and this is *not* the Dishwasher!Dumbledore so this a
Dumbledore who is not planning anything unless Voldemort comes back to
life) to say that he wants to "sit this one out" is an even colder
version of Dumbledore in my eyes.  It says to me that even though he
is able to defeat Voldemort by himself, he chooses not to because he
wants to see if the younger generations can.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery but if you do not show them
something to imitate, then how can they ever learn?  Hearing someone
can be powerful and *seeing* Dumbledore blast Moody!Crouch's door is
two *very* different experiences.  I for one got goose-bumps at that
part.  Still do thinking about it right now.  :)  Harry learned at
that moment just what a powerful good wizard is, and no book could of
taught him that.


Russ also wrote:
>My point here is that Counselor!Dumbledore may not know what the evil
>side is cooking up ahead of time, but is usually smart enough to
>figure it out ahead of our heros.  He usually then leads them along
>the path to realization and provides them with the tools necessary to
>win the battle.  I agree that it is up to them to make the choice to
>act.

First,
If Dumbledore figures it out before it happens, then he *did* know
what evil is cooking.  You can only truly *help* the hero if you know
what to do to help precisely, and based on the fact Dumbledore was
always right on in his help, then it seems he does know his enemy
quite well even if he did not help create the 'flawed potion'.



And Second,
Let me understand you here because I am a bit confused.  Only a
bit...stop laughing.

Counselor!Dumbledore is not planning a war plan until the enemy truly
returns.  (so no flawed potion)

C!D knows evil is out there but he wants the youth to rise up and
defeat it.  (how will they ever learn)

C!D plans little ways to help "the heroes" to make them think for
themselves.  (got to busy the hours somehow)

-so then-

Bk 1:  C!D figures out Quirrelmort is coming after the stone but just
picks Harry to win that battle and shows him the mirror and lets him
work on his snitch/key skills.  (Why Harry?)

Bk 2:  C!D figures out there is a basilisk turning people into stone
and could in fact kill someone but wants Harry to defeat the snake
with a songbird and patched hat.  (Again, why Harry?  Why wait?)

Bk 3:  C!D knows that Black is after Harry, but upon discovering Black
is innocent and shows Harry and Hermione how to help him while letting
Peter get away.  (Ok, it is obvious why Harry there, so I ask why let
Peter get away?  Seems he slacked a bit there.)

So my question should be obvious.  Why is Couselor!Dumbledore so bent
on Harry?  There are other students that could use some war-time
education as well.  Why Harry?  Seems Dumbledore could have other
students involved to win this war and could of been there to get
Peter.  Why *only* Harry if all Dumbledore is doing is educating him?


Russ wrote:
>and it is only because of Harry's training in the
>first three years that he successfully escaped V in the graveyard.
>This is why I think the 4th book is a pivotal novel.  It is the first
>time Harry was really on his own (no help from Dumbledore) and
>succeeded.

It was Harry being trained about the three deadly curses and his
innane speed that got him out of the graveyard.  Well besides the wand
thing, but Harry was not taught that.  The curses were taught in the
4th year and earlier than normal at that.  So it seems, Dumbledore
knew they (i.e. Harry) might need it.

But, yes Dumbledore did not come running in GoF like in the other
three.  I cannot, nor will I, deny that. <g>


One last thing from Russ:
> True? of course not--we all know witches don't
> really burn, but use a freezing spell and only pretend to burn!

Ok, one question that has bugged me for a while.

How, on God's green Earth, can they *fake* burning?

I mean, those bored torture-happy villagers stood there until the
victim was ashes.  Wouldn't the villagers notice the witch was not
being consumed?  And if they did turn to ashes, then was it a few
hours until they popped back to witch human form?  And if that is the
case, what if there was a wind and blew the ashes around a bit?  Argh,
this conundrum annoys me.


Melody