Dumbledore's mistakes

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 74419

As I continue rereading OOP (what do you mean there are other books?!) I keep noticing mistakes Dumbledore has made.  Some he's admitting to, and some he makes while admitting to others.  Just a few here:

1) Not telling Harry about the prophecy to begin with.  A mistake?  Maybe.  May also have been a mistake to tell an eleven year old (in so many words) he has to save the world.  No win situation on that one.

2) Not telling Harry specifically why he wanted him to study Occlumency.  Big mistake.  Snape's "because Dumbledore said so" reasoning isn't enough for Harry, especially after the way Dumbledore had been acting toward him.  And after everyone raving about how Arthur would've died if not for Harry's dream, you can't really blame  Harry there.

3) Seemingly not noticing (or not doing anything about it) that Sirius was rapidly deteriorating while basically kept caged.  Yes, it was for his own good.  But yes, he also felt useless and I don't blame him.   Not to mention anybody shut up with Kreacher so much couldn't help but deteriorate.  And that portrait!  Ugh.  Someone mentioned that being back in that house to Sirius may have been a lot like being back in Azkaban again.  I agree, a lot of bad memories must have been there.  Sure it was okay when the house was full of people, but I'm sure there were a lot of long lonely days and nights there.  How could Dumbledore have helped?  I'm not entirely sure, but surely something could have been done.

4) Okay, this is picky, I'll admit it.  But as soon as Dumbledore got ready to explain everything to Harry, he made another mistake.  He starts right off with "I know how you're feeling, Harry."  He just broke rule number one of dealing with someone who is grieving!  Never ever tell them you know how they feel.  Even if you do.  Never say you do, it only opens the door for their "no you don't" which was Harry's response, of course.

I'm sure I've left out a number of mistakes, but these particular ones just bounced to the top.  Four four years Dumbledore was the god like figure to Harry.  Now, suddenly, he has taken a huge tumble.  Any additions to this list?

Richelle


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