Gandalf and the Magic Dishwasher

[fun_n_games_2663]

No: HPFGUIDX 47180

It is with great tripidation that I make this post.  Frankly, I have 
avoided the magic dishwasher debate because it has been in TBAY, and 
I'm simply not as eloquent as those that post there regularly.  I 
believe that Grey Wolf is right--Magic Dishwasher is only a theory, 
not gospel.  The only thing that will break the theory, though, is 
cannonical evidence or a better theory until one is proven right.

I for one think Magic Dishwasher is an excellent theory (if I 
understand it correctly).  I wait with bated breath for the unifying 
post, because I certainly don't understand it all.  For purposes of 
this post, I will state my simple understanding of the theory--that 
Dumbledore is waging a war with V through the use of spies and has 
actually trapped V with a defective potion.  I would, however, offer 
a different theory.  

What if Dumbldore doesn't know all that is going on, although he 
knows more than others.  Further, what if he chooses, for whatever 
reason, to not be the lead actor in the battle with V, but to be the 
powerful "counselor" who encourages the lesser mortals to take 
responsibility into their own hands and carry on the fight?

I liken this to Gandalf--the wizard who has the power to fight Sauron 
himself, but because of moral codes and the codes of the Gods, must 
only counsel the humans, encourage them to do what is right, give 
them sufficient knowledge to wage the battle--but ultimately let 
winning or losing the battle rest with those who will be left when 
the battle is over.

Yes!  I have cannon to support the theory.  In PS, Dumbledore gives 
Harry the tools and knowledge to fight V--he teaches him about the 
mirror, he has Hagrid pick up the stone with Harry in tow, etc. I get 
the feeling in PS that Dumbledore knows exactly what Harry is doing 
to uncover the secret.  He probably knows that Harry has mistakenly 
pinned it on Snape.  He's going to let the action go, however, and 
let the "lesser humans" assume the responsibility for protecting the 
stone.  Ultimately, though, he lets Harry choose--do I go through the 
trap door?  Do I fight?  It is Harry's choice to jump into the 
battle, and ultimately it is Harry who must win, with a last minute 
save by D pulling Quirellmort off of Harry.


This theory can be carried through the other books.  In CoS, 
Dumbledore calls Harry into his office and asks him if there is 
anything Harry wants to tell him.  When Harry says no, Dumbledore 
lets him go.  I get the feeling in this section that D is asking 
Harry if he needs help.  Once again though, he shows Harry the tools 
he will need--the hat and Fawkes.  Once again, Harry has to choose to 
jump into battle by going down the opening.  It is also ultimately 
Harry who must win the fight, once again with a few more favors from 
D in the form of Fawkes and the sword.  In the end, Dumbledore tells 
Harry the upshot of my theory--"It is our choices that make us who we 
are."

With regard to the Snape assassin! theory, I would once again posit 
that Dumbledore can only give Snape the information and tools he 
needs to carry out his part in the battle.  It is Snape who must 
choose ultimately whether he will join the fray and how he will go 
about it.  If Snape feels he must kill Karkaroff to get back into V's 
good graces, it will be Snape's decision and not D's.

Because of my theory, I would disagree with the defective potion 
portion of magic dishwasher, because it presumes that D is the Master 
Chess Player--moving pieces (in the form of Snape, Harry, and others) 
in his fight with V, as opposed to merely being the counselor who 
provides those who must live with the future with the tools necessary 
to fight against the orchestrations of V.  D doesn't necessarily know 
which move V is going to make.  Even D says in GoF that he didn't 
know Crouch!Moody was the imposter until he took Harry away.  How 
could D be the Master Chess Player if he doesn't know that a spy is 
sitting right next to him?  No--many things come as a suprise to D.  
He is not all knowing, but he finds the information and provides the 
tools necessary to let "the future" make their own choices to carry 
on the fight in response to what V does.

Under this theory, D doesn't have to choose to let one die to save 
twenty.  He is merely arming the rest of the wizarding world as best 
as he can to defend themselves.  He won't be around forever to be 
their champion. 

The interesting question if this theory is right, of course, is why D 
seems to think he should let others settle the battle with V instead 
of just marching off and hunting down Vapor!mort while he is in 
hiding.  Once again, I think D wants to try Harry by fire and see if 
he makes the right choices before D can safely fade into the "next 
great adventure" knowing that he has been succeeded by a worthy 
candidate.

I know this isn't as fantastic a scenario as magic dishwasher, but I 
believe it more plausible.

Allright--shoot me down.  I'm ready!
By the way, I'm leaving town for Turkey day, and won't be able to 
defend myself for a week.  I hope someone agrees with me and will 
help me out!

Russ--Fun_n_games.