Greetings and Dumbledore Question

[grey_wolf_c]

No: HPFGUIDX 37085

Joy wrote:
>> First off, hello to everyone.  I joined a couple weeks ago and have been lurking getting the flavor of the group.  I must say it is extremely refreshing to "listen" to intelligent discussion about the HP books and characters as opposed to other groups I've lurked in for awhile before unsubscribing.

Welcomed to the lists! I hope you enjoy your stay

 
> Anyway enough of an introduction I suppose, and my apologies if the following topic has already been addressed.  One thing has always perplexed me about the books, and that is Dumbledore seems to know things that are going to happen, and lets Harry face them either alone, or perhaps with Ron & Hermione.  I'm thinking right now of the basilisk in the hidden chamber. Surely Dumbledore knew it was there, could he have not destroyed it himself? And giving him the invisibility cloak, and telling him about the Mirror of erised.  There are other things as well, it just boils down to being confusing that Dumbledore can let Harry endure so many life threatening occurences with an apparent knowledge of at least part of them.  Do you guys think Dumbledore is really the "all-knowing" type, knowing not only what Harry will face but also that he will be victorious, perhaps letting him build up his power and confidence for an ultimate battle with Voldemort?  Or could he really be as surprised as everyone else is when the events happen?
> 
> Well what a long first post huh?  <g>
> 
> Joy

Dumbledore looks like he knows everything at first glance, but there 
are numerous situations which demonstrate otherwise. You ask, for 
example, why he doesn't attack the basilisk. For starters, he doesn't 
know where the entrance to the secret chamber is, and even if he knew, 
you need parseltongue to enter.

Other examples: for the longest time (all of GoF) he doesn't realise 
that there's a hidden DE in the school. He only discovers it when 
Crouch Jr. makes a big personality error: taking away Harry from 
D'dores view, right at the end (after the graveyard scene). Note that 
it takes very little, however, to make D'dore start to discover things.

Again: In PS, it looks like he's aware during the whole book that 
someone is trying to steal the stone, but nontheless he leaves the 
school because of a false letter.

So no, I do not think D'dore is the all-knowing type. He recognizes the 
potential of Harry and allows him to develop it, but I do not think 
that most of the time he knows what the trio is planning or doing. 
IIRC, there is one time he actually says "...which demonstrates that 
sometimes, everyone has to swallow his own words" (liberal 
translation). D'dore says it after threatening Harry with expulsion if 
he did something, when doing that thing is what saves the day. (Yes, I 
know I don't remeber the details. Could s.o. please look up the canon 
for me? My books are currectly unavailable).

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf