TBAY: Radio TBAY and the inconsistent behaviour of Albus Dumbledore

[Cindy C.]

No: HPFGUIDX 45232

PIPSQUEAK:  Great news!  You're Caller 169!  Are you ready to play?

CINDY:  Huh?

PIPSQUEAK:  *Play,* I said!  Are you ready to play?  If you can tell 
us the titles and artists of the last 5 songs we just played on the 
air, you'll win tickets to the concert of your choice, anywhere in 
the world!

CINDY:  Look, I don't care about that.  I want to talk to 
Dumbledore.  I want an explanation for inconsistencies in his 
characterization.  I mean, sometimes I wonder if the man is 
completely *insane.*

PIPSQUEAK:  Oooh, that's a pretty Big accusation, caller.  You got 
any canon for that?

CINDY:  You bet I do.  Right in the very first chapter of the 
series, in fact.  Dumbledore shows up on Privet Drive.  He knows the 
Potters have been killed.  He knows that this Fidelius Charm thing 
he cooked up led directly to their slaughter.  He knows that he 
should have persuaded James to make him the Secret Keeper.  He has 
reason to think the Potters were betrayed by Sirius Black, James' 
best friend.

PIPSQUEAK:  Go on, caller.

CINDY:  Yet Dumbledore is *smiling* and popping *candy* into his 
mouth!  "'Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall.'  He turned 
to smile at the tabby, but it had gone."  And there he is, trying to 
unstick candies when he can't be sure Hagrid will even succeed in 
his mission to bring Harry to Privet Drive in one piece!

PIPSQUEAK:  Whoa!  That's pretty Tough talk, caller.  Doesn't 
Dumbledore say that he'd trust Hagrid with his life?  So what makes 
you think he lacks confidence in Hagrid?

CINDY:  Hagrid is late, and when he finally turns up, 
Dumbledore "sounded relieved."  So if Dumbledore is worried and 
should be racked with guilt because the whole operation had been so 
badly botched, what's up with the smile, the candy and the earmuff 
wisecracks?  Has the man no *soul?*

PIPSQUEAK:  You make a good point, caller.  But . . . are you sure 
you don't want to try to identify the last 5 songs we played on the 
air?

CINDY:  All *right,* then!  Let's see . . . "Copacabana," "I'd 
Really Love To See You Tonight," "I Write The Songs," "Looks Like We 
Made It", and "Can't Smile Without You."  And the artist is the man 
Rolling Stone Magazine once called, "A giant among entertainers."  
Barry Manilow!

PIPSQUEAK:  That's -- that's *right,* caller!  You win!  Now, what 
concert would you like to see.  We can get you anything you like, 
you name it.

CINDY:  Mmmm, I think I'll take two for the Barry Manilow concert in 
Akron, Ohio, if that's all right.

PIPSQUEAK:  Barry Manilow?  In Akron?  Uh, caller, I can get you 
*any* tickets to *any* concert *anywhere* in the world.  Are you 
sure about that?

CINDY:  100 percent sure.  Stoned!Harry's a Big Manilow fan, and 
he's going to go with.  It's the least I can do for the kid.

************

Cindy

***********

For an explanation of the soothing music of Barry Manilow, including 
his Barryography, check out:

http://www.barrynet.com/hismusic.html