Dumbledore and Favoritism in CoS

[Grey Wolf <greywolf1@jazzfree.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 51361

Tom Wall wrote:
> 
> I have really enjoyed reading all of the 
> different persepectives regarding Dumbledore and 
> the redistribution of house points and the end 
> of PS/SS. And I also have enjoyed the way that 
> many have defended his actions as "righting the 
> proper balance" to paraphrase Ali's paraphrasing 
> of that side of the debate. Whether or not I agree 
> is different, but I can respect that people sincerely 
> believe that Dumbledore was being fair.

Point one: I don't think Dumbledore was being fair. I, like bboy, think 
that they should have been given more, and that Dumbedore didn't 
because he wanted to enhance Neville's act. I hardly feel it is "fair" 
to give a boy who has stood up to Voldemort 60 points.
 
> Recap: In PS/SS, HHR did stuff, and got 60/50/50 
> points respectively for the stuff they did.
> 
> In CoS, Harry and Ron are awarded TWO-HUNDRED POINTS EACH.
> 
> Okay. I would have been able to play along, I might 
> have even been convinced that Dumbledore isn't unfair, 
> no matter how tactless he may be.
> 
> But if this doesn't prove that Dumbledore picks favorites, then... 
> well, it completely proves that Dumbledore picks favorites, there's 
> no question about it. ;-)

Excuse me, but there is *always* a question about it. I honestly cannot 
believe that you can think that Harry hasn't earned those points.
 
> WHAT did they do in the Chamber of Secrets to deserve two-hundred 
> points each?
> 
> 200 POINTS: Harry was *loyal.* Harry stabbed a Basilisk, and stabbed 
> a book. FAWKES did all the really dangerous work... NOT TO MENTION 
> giving Harry the strength (via song) to do the above stuff.

[sarcasm on] And the sword. If Harry hadn't had the sword... why, he 
was almost incidental, wasn't he? Anyone could've done it with all that 
help. [end sarcasm]. You are (deliberately or not) distortioning the 
facts. Harry and Ron figured out where the chamber was - something not 
even Dumbledore knew. Got it open. And had the guts to enter.

And when Harry is in front of Tom and the Basilisk and receives help. 
But, as I point out in my little piece of sarcasm, you cannot say that 
"Fawkes did all the work" anymore than you can say "the sword did the 
killing". Both things are *instruments* -weapons, if you will- that 
Harry has the chance to use to help him along. Humans are not like 
lions or tigers or other animals. We are the dominant species of the 
planet because we have brains and hearts (i.e. spirit) - and in this 
case Harry's heart gives him the weapons he needs to defeat the 
basilisk.

But that is besides the point - Harry kills the basilisk, and that is 
worth 400 points alone. A monster that has terrorised at least two 
generations of shool children is gone forever. Not only that, a girl's 
life is saved from possesion and her soul is rescued from utter 
destruction. And Voldemort is stopped once again.

And *that* is also worth a couple hundred points in my book (if not 
more). In PS, Harry did nothing to stop Voldemort, when you get right 
down to it, since Voldemort had already been stopped - by the mirror. 
Harry created a problem when he took the stone out of the mirror, and 
solutioned by forcing Voldemort to flee. But in the chamber, Harry 
stops Voldemort completely - by figuring out that the basilisk's venom 
is potent enough to kill a book. As I said, we are supposed to be 
intelligent, not fighting machines. And wizards more than anyone.

If what you want is a hero capable of taking a basilisk on hand-to-hand 
combat, go see a James Bond film or any of Arnold Schwarzenneger (I'm 
pretty sure I misspelled that). Luckily, Harry is not that way.

> 200 POINTS: Ron did NOTHING... he was just *there,* which means that 
> Ron's complete lack of any action was worth more in Dumbledore's eyes 
> than the actions of all four Gryffindors the previous year.

Being there is an achivement in its own. I think that willingness to 
risk your own life to save another's -even if it is your own sister- 
should be encouraged, don't you? And, as I said as my first point, the 
points awarded in PS where ridiculously few, probably to enhance 
Neville's actions (which wouldn't have happened if Harry had gotten the 
300 points or so I feel his actions were worth).

Besides, by what I've seen lately in the list, the fact that Ron was 
the one that caused Lockhart to loose his memory means that there are 
many that would give him 500 points alone for that little comunity 
service. I know I would, at least (and I don't particularly "hate" 
Lockhart).

> AND not *only* did they get all the points, but they also both got 
> Special Awards for Services to the School.

It's only fair, since they both colaborated in throwing out of the 
school the Heir. If Tom Riddle got himself award for that, why 
shouldn't Harry and Ron? I am disapointed that Hermione didn't get one, 
though. She's part of this just like the other two. Maybe Dumbledore 
isn't that bent on having favourites.
 
> Now, even if you endorse Dumbledore's decision to grant all those 
> points at the end of PS/SS, personally overturning the results of the 
> House Cup, I'd like to see how anyone can defend him for this. This 
> is blatant favoritism. AND it's not canon, but my personal belief is 
> that he gave the points for the loyalty. Which doubly proves the 
> favoritism, 'cause the loyalty shown was to him.

Exactly, this rant was all your personal belief, looking for ways to 
demonstrate Dumbledore's suposed favoritism. Notice I haven't mentioned 
loyalty at all in my own interpretation, although I could've had: 
loyalty to your elders and betters is something that should be 
encouraged too - especially when you consider that, in the upcoming 
war, loyalty to Dumbledore is probably going to be a must if Voldemort 
is to be defeated. But never mind that - defeating an immortal monster 
and saving a human life is more than enough to account for 400 points 
(evenly distributed) in my book. The rest of the things I mentioned are 
in the nature of a bonus, if you will.
 
> Harry and Ron did NOT deserve 200 points each for the events in the 
> Chamber of Secrets. Special Awards, definitely. Some points, 
> definitely. 400. No way.
> 
> -Tom

Defeating Voldemort: +100. Killing a basilisk: +100. Saving a human 
life (AND it's soul): + 200. There you go - 400 points. And I still 
think it's a little stingy. I would raise the basilisk to 200, and also 
the defeat Voldemort part - but in my book saving a life is the most 
important thing, so this way it adds 400 and still gives credit were 
credit is due.

Hope that helps,

Grey Wolf