Dumbledore & Flamel(Was: Dark Magic and Evil)

[linda_mccabe <lmccabe@sonic.net>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52533

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tom Wall <thomasmwall at y...>" 
<thomasmwall at y...> wrote:
>> 
>> 
> Now, on immortality, we're given the idea somehow that pursuing it 
> is 'evil' or something, but DUMBLEDORE helped to research 
immortality with Nicolas Flamel. We're never given any inkling on 
whether or not Flamel is 'evil,' but I'd suggest that he's not. 
Dumbledore says:
 "You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. As much 
> money and life as you could want! The two things that most human 
> beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a 
> knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them."
> (PS/SS, US softcover, Ch 17, p297)
> (snip)
> But Dumbledore doesn't say that the stone is a 'dark' or even 
> an 'evil' object. So, why is it bad for Voldemort to desire 
> immortality, when Dumbledore worked on Alchemy with Nicolas 
Flamel, 
> and we also know that Alchemy is focused on creating the 
> Sorceror's/Philosopher's Stone. So, is Dumbledore 'evil' for 
> researching immortality? 
> 
> I hardly think that anyone'd take that line when it comes to old 
> Albus.
> 
> > -Tom

Tom you made some excellent points in this post and raised many 
questions.  The one that I think I can answer is that according to 
Dumbledore's trading card found in the Chocolate Frog is that he is 
Nicolas Flamel's partner.  Remember Flamel is over 600 years old and 
according to a JKR chat session, Dumbledore is 150 years old.  That 
leads me to think that Flamel worked out the mystery of alchemy and 
created the stone far before Dumbledore was even a twinkle in his 
daddy's eye.

Instead the partnership to me implies that maybe Flamel helped 
Dumbledore figure out the 12 uses of dragon's blood *or* Dumbledore 
is willing to help secure the storage and protection of the stone 
for someone that probably has some brittle bones.  People have asked 
before whether or not Hogwarts has an endowment in order to cover 
their expenses.  I think that Old Nick might be able to float a bit 
of gold Al's way in return for continuing to bring forth the Elixir 
of Life whenever he and Perenelle need to drink a powerful cocktail.

At least that's my opinion on the issue.  As for the others?  I 
agree that to think that all of Durmstrang is Evil because they are 
taught the Dark Arts there seems very prejudiced.  I can't see that 
Albus would allow ESE students to be in his school for months on end 
and risk the personal safety of his student body if that were the 
case.

Athena