The Dueling Club - an interpretaion

[GulPlum]

No: HPFGUIDX 57629

Jodel wrote, in reply to my previous comments:

>I think that the Dueling Club incident was another one of Dumbledore's
>set-ups. Very much like getting Harry into the same room as the Mirror of
>Erised in PS/SS. I still say that Dumbledore gave Harry the cloak and had
>Snape and Filtch "herd" Harry in the right direction (with Mrs. Norris, who
>could track him by scent's help) in order to acomplish that maneuver before
>the end of the Christmas hols. The Dueling Club nonsense reads very much the
>same way.

<snip rationale>

I'll admit that I've thought of that before. However, I simply don't buy 
it, for the same reason that I don't buy MAGIC DISHWASHER. Throughout the 
books, "evil" is portrayed as manipulative and spiteful. At the very 
beginning of the first book, McGonagall describes Dumbledore as "noble". 
This is a guy who "prefers truth to lies" and makes a big deal of being 
worried that Snape, a grown and fully-qualified wizard, is "ready" for his 
task at the end of GoF.

I simply don't see showing Harry up in front of the whole school, making 
everyone afraid of him and spreading wild panic, as the actions of a 
"noble" mind.

I agree that Dumbledore could have wanted to try his a theory that perhaps 
Harry picked up Parseltongue from Voldemort. But why do it in front of the 
whole school? Why not "accidently" let a snake loose during one of their 
private conversations, or perhaps during a COMC, DADA or other class?

Besides, far too much time goes past from the first petrification until the 
Duelling Club for Dumbledore suddenly to realise that Harry's abilities 
need to be brought to light *at that point*.

And if manipulating Harry into revealing his Parseltongue was Snape's doing 
(which, again, I agree would be entirely in character for him), WHY does he 
react with nothing more than a "shrewd and calculating" look? Why not make 
a big deal out of it, and make sure that Harry knows he's in trouble? He 
makes a big deal out of every other occasion Harry does something he 
considers "wrong", so why not this time?

Quite simply, it doesn't make sense.

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, off to bed