Is Dumbledore Great? & Dumbledore's Successor

[cindysphynx]

No: HPFGUIDX 33407

Mahoney wrote (about the boggart cross-dressing):

> If a lot of kids are talking about it, and if it can be assumed 
that 
> Dumbledore's giving Snape a cracker containing a vulture-topped hat 
> at Christmas is not wild coincidence, Snape would probably be the 
> *only* person in school who doesn't know.
> 

Actually, it makes some sense to me that the rumor would not have 
made it to Snape.  Someone would have to walk up and tell him, or be 
so indiscreet as to mention it in his presence.  I doubt any student 
at Hogwarts is *that* brave or careless.

I'll bet Trelawney is pretty clueless, too.  Snape and Trelawney both 
seem fairly isolated, with her in the North Tower and him in the 
dungeon.  In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there is something 
going on between Snape and Trelawney in the North Tower, and it has 
nothing to do with Trelawney's Inner Eye. ;-)

Mahoney again:

>My opinion has always been that 
> Dumbledore is aging, and fast, and shows it in the books.  His 
power, 
> along with his youth, is waning.  

Given that Dumbledore is fading, I was wondering who is positioned 
right now to take over the fight against Voldemort should something 
happen to Dumbledore soon, like in Chapter Two of OoP.  Harry is 
clearly not ready; his magical skills are still quite limited, and he 
doesn't even know basic things like why Voldemort wants to kill him.

The candidates for Dumbledore's successor are (off the top of my head)
Lupin, Black, Snape, McGonagall, Moody, Arthur/Molly Weasley and 
Fudge.  Without getting into a great deal of detail, all of these 
adults sound like middling to dreadful candidates for Commander in 
Chief of the Forces of Good.  I guess I'd have to pick McGonagall, 
but I don't feel very good about that choice.

Cindy (stating the obvious by mentioning that she is no literary 
expert, no way, no how, uh-uh, not in this lifetime)