Dumbledore and Voldemort

[catja3000]

No: HPFGUIDX 39818

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Christopher Nuttall" 
<christopher_g_nuttall at h...> wrote:

> When Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald in 1945, did he get the thanks 
>of the magical community? Sure, he's regarded as the greatest wizard 
>of modern times, but what rewards has he got?  The headteachership 
>yes, but anything else?<  

Catja:
What, being considered the greatest wizard of modern times isn't 
enough?  I get the impression that the Headmastership of Hogwarts is 
a very great honor, and it seems to be exactly what Dumbledore 
wanted -- it's obvious that he loves his job.
 
> We know that Dumbledore was offered the post of Minister of Magic, 
>but he turned it down.  Did Voldemort know that?  If he thought 
>Dumbledore might be bitter about his 'rejection', might Dumbledore 
>join him?  I suspect that Voldemort and Dumbledore met during or 
>just before his first rise to power.  Then, Dumbledore would have 
>learnt Riddle/Voldemort's history and refused him.<

Catja:
What, exactly are you asking here?  Dumbledore *turned down* the post 
of MoM; he wasn't "rejected."  Can you really see Dumbledore as an 
uber-bureaucrat?  At Hogwarts he has quite a bit of freedom, more 
than he would have in the Ministry.  He's an academic, not a 
politician.  He has quite a bit of political finesse (the 
headmastership is like being president of a university), but he's not 
a Fudge or Crouch Sr.-style wheeler and dealer.  JKR continually 
lampoons those who buy into the corporate mentality (Percy, anyone?), 
and sets them against people, like Arthur Weasely, who are committed 
to performing useful service for the WW rather than advancing their 
careers.  Dumbledore and Arthur are very much birds of a feather. 

> On the other question, we know that Dumbledore had a fair suspicion 
>where Voldemort's resurrection was going to happen, and we know that 
>the Killing Curse is unstoppable.  Harry was the only person to have 
>survived it.  In that case, why not stake out the Riddle house with 
>Aurors and hit Voldemort just after he is resurrected.  Or wait for 
>the death eaters to arrive and make a clean sweep.  If magic near 
>the house will tip Voldemort of, why not use a Muggle atomic bomb to 
>finish the job?<

Catja:
That's what Crouch Sr. would do, and he probably suggested something 
very like (without the Muggle bomb, of course).  And that sort of 
military tribunal justice is explicitly condemned in Book 4 by 
Sirius, who suffered for it -- use of the Unforgivable Curses, 
suspects imprisoned without trial, etc.  Dumbledore hardly seems the 
type to shoot first, ask questions later, and he'd never condone 
those sorts of actions.  He believes in second chances, remember?

Catja