Dumbledore (was: The Sorting Hat)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 87375

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Barry Arrowsmith 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:

Kneasy:
> Hate to point this out, but you're  starting to agree with me. This 
> could lead you into to all sorts of mental trauma if you're not 
> careful. This is the path that ends with full membership privileges 
in 
> the League of Conspiracy Theorists, Paranoia Division.
> 
> I've long bashed on about dear old bumbling DD as the Puppetmaster.
> He prevaricates, he obscures, he manipulates, he lies. I  don't  
claim 
> that he is evil, but  he is  setting everything up so that it 
conforms 
> to his plan, whatever that is.

Geoff:
S'funny, I was thinking of raising a point to get the PaCTs (Paranoid 
Conspiracy Theorists) going.

First, a quote:
"'There's a Ministry of Magic?' Harry asked before he could stop 
himself.
'Course,' said Hagrid. 'They wanted Dumbledore fer Minister, 
o'course, but he'd never leave Hogwarts so old Cornelius Fudge got 
the job. Bungler if ever there was one. So he pelts Dumbledore with 
owls every morning askin' fer advice.'"

(PS "Diagon Alley" p.51 UK edition)

If your view that Dumbledore is manipulative, devious and even ESE is 
correct, then why didn't he allow himself to be put forward for the 
Minister's job?

You suggest he is the Puppetmaster, using the pupils of Hogwarts like 
living chessmen.

Yet, as Minister (as Fudge shows in OOTP), you can be even more 
manipulative and devious with the command of the media and of the 
legal system which you possess. So why choose the lesser course?

Members of PaCT, leap to your keyboards!

Changing the subject in passing:
 
Kneasy: 
> I do love really satisfying baddies. Unmitigated villains; cruel, 
> vicious, unrepentant would-be despots. We need more of them - more, 
> more! Blood should drip from the pages; Draco should stuff Hedwig 
with 
> forcemeat and serve her up for Sunday lunch; Crookshanks would make 
a 
> great pair of gloves; turn Trevor into a yo-yo. Yes! And that's  
before 
> we get onto the characters that irritate. Luna Lovegood in 
particular 
> is deserving of very special attention, preferably involving Lupin, 
a 
> full moon and some Bearnaise sauce. And Dobby! No sadistic detail 
would 
> be excessive where that little toe-rag is concerned. I salivate at 
the 
> thought of a combination of fire ants and a chopped chilli pepper 
enema 
> while he's employed as a substitute bludger. Lovely! LOLIPOPS rule 
OK!
> 
> Mind you, I'm totally opposed to gratuitous violence. One must 
protect 
> the younger readers, after all.

Geoff:
Glad to know you are conforming to the sentiments of the Season. I 
presume you are looking forward to a Christmas Kneas(y)-up.

:-)