Dumbledore's Dubious Disciples(WAS Musings about Mundungus)

[charisjulia]

No: HPFGUIDX 34422

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "ftah3" <ftah3 at y...> wrote:
> When I first read that bit, where Dumbledore includes Mundungus 
> Fletcher in the "old crowd," I thought it was a scream.  Let's see, 
> Dumby's got on his side (not just in terms of the "old crowd"):
> 
> - normal, respectable, level-headed, if slightly uptight, McGonnagal
> - normal, respectable Mr. & Mrs. Weasley
> - nasty, ill-tempered, probable-ex-DE Snape
> - hot-headed, possibly suffering from PTSD due to incarcaration in 
> Azkaban Black
> - secretive werewolf but otherwise normal and very dependable Lupin
> - off his rocker and also possibly PTSD afflicted due to 
> incarceration in a travel trunk Moody
> - whiney, spastic, goofy, loyal to an often serious fault Hagrid
> - crotchety, sneaky, wierd Mundungus Fletcher
> - three talented but admittedly young and barely-trained students
> - a phoenix
> and
> - Arabella Figg, about whom all we know is that she was obsessed 
with 
> cats until she supposedly tripped over one and broke her leg, and 
> possibly kept an eye on Harry
> 
> Strangely, I now have great faith in the future success of the Good 
> Guys.  With colorful rabble like that inspiring loads of 
> underestimation while probably hiding a great deal of potential and 
> latent talent, Go Dumby & Co!
> 
> But then, I am rather partial to the underdogs....  :-P
> Mahoney


         Yeah, I know what you mean! Thinking about Dumbledore and 
his "crowd" old or new always leaves me with a wide grin spread from 
ear to ear! Go League of the Magnificently Misunderstood!


         Seriously, from ditsy Muggle enthusiasts to under-fed 
werewolves Dumbledore certainly has a rather miscellaneous group of 
supporters to say the least. Why, even Harry is "Disturbed and 
Dangerous"! The only thing they all seam to have in common is that it 
is tremendously easy to underestimate and defame them all. Oooh, 
score for Voldie! How has he managed to concentrate all the 
respectable, well-thought-of wizarding citizens on his side? A "Giant 
Mistake" of Dumbledore's? It can't be helped of course and if you 
want the best and worthiest you have to put up with certain side 
affects of their dynamic personalities. So Sirius may be an escaped 
convict accused of mass murder and betrayal, but D. (and I along with 
him) is probably ready to overlook this in favour of the determined, 
loyal, passionate, dare devil character (I'm enumerating traits that 
would be useful in a fight against V.) that led to these charges. And 
after all you probably have to be slightly crackbrained to be ready 
to take on the evilest wizard of all times.



            I think we're going to hear more about this in the next 
books. It seems to me that JK Rowling has set up in GoF the level on 
which the Good v. Evil fight will take place in OoP: not bloody 
battles this time but instead a popularity race of sorts. Who will 
the wizarding community side with? Dumbledore and his dubious 
disciples or Fudge supported no doubt by Lucius Malfoy and 
other "esteemed" personalities? And then, when his opponents are all 
nicely confused, only then will Voldemort strike.



         Every requisite for such a scenario is taken care of. For 
one thing Dumbledore is already warning against the danger of 
division: "Lord Voldemort's gift of spreading discord and enmity is 
very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of 
friendship and trust". And when Dumbledore says something I for one 
take notice! Of course this phrase also informs us of one of 
Voldemort's many meritorious talents, which I would hate to see go to 
waste. And then there's Rita Skeeter. Wonderful caricature of the 
ruthless reporter though she is, I don't think that is all the role 
she serves in the series. Her career might have come to a standstill 
courtesies of Hermione but her articles cannot be forgotten so 
easily, especially the last one on Harry. So Dumbledore & Co are 
facing not only the expected and normal prejudice against them but 
one heightened by Rita's slander.


Devin wrote:
>One thing I've been longing to discuss with others is the future of 
>Voldemort vs. Harry, in direct conflict, that is. How many more 
>times can Harry face Voldemort and maintain realism?

>Do you believe Harry can face Voldemort three more times?



          This theory also gives my answer to Devin's question. I 
don't see Harry facing Voldemort again till the last book, the fifth 
and sixth only building up the final confrontation. This actually 
works out quite symmetrically too, for then Harry and Voldemort come 
face to face three times in the whole series: in books 1,4 and 
7,while there's a gap of two books between each conflict.


           Charis Julia.