[HPforGrownups] Re: OoP SPOILERS: Worries for Harry? Warning: Long Reply

[Sunnylove0 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 58452

In a message dated 5/21/2003 1:58:48 PM Mountain Standard Time, 
cindysphynx at comcast.net writes:

> 
> "Impotence of the authorities at Hogwarts."  OK, this is not good.  
> Dumbledore is the only real authority at Hogwarts.  No way would 
> they be calling Dumbledore "impotent," even if he, er, were.  
> 
Ahem.  (will not read into it....no, no, no fanfic uses of Skele-Gro...no, 
no, no gaack)

But to answer your question, why not?  JKR has said in numerous interviews 
that Dumbledore. Is. Not. Perfect.  and Harry has yet to comprehend it.  

Dumbledore actually makes quite a few mistakes in canon, most of which I can 
understand, but are mistakes in judgement nonetheless. Some examples below ( 
Quotes are from American ed. Hardcovers.)

PS/SS:

1) Leaves Harry with the Dursleys, who while perhaps necessary for whatever 
the protection charm is, are emotionally abusive and are raising a spoiled 
brat. And McGonagall calls him on it!  ( "You can't mean the people who live 
here....They've got this son--I saw him kicking his mother all the way up the 
street, screaming for sweets...  the Boy Who Lived pg. 13) That Harry turns out all 
right after eleven years of undeserved crap is a miracle.  Tom Riddle sure as 
heck didn't. (I know, choices over abilities.) 

2) Hires back Professor Quirrel, who after a long sojourn (in freaking 
*Albania*), stutters and jumps at anything that moves. ( I know, Dumbledore is an 
eccentric himself, but still, something is obviously wrong with the guy.) 

COS:

1) Hires Lockhart (I really, really, really hate Lockhart. I mean it.) who is 
a fraud, a braggart, and imcompetent at almost anything except his very 
useful memory charms.  Are this kids going to learn anything at DADA?  It's no 
wonder Snape thinks he has to tough them up somewhat (though it's not really his 
place to do so).  Even after he takes all the bones out of Harry's arm, lets 
Cornish pixies injure students and destroy his classroom, and so on and so 
forth, he doesn't get sacked.

2) Doesn't try to interrogate Harry any further when he is obviously upset 
and not telling him everything. (in his office) I do appreciate wanting Harry to 
talk about it when he's ready, but the basilisk is still running around, and 
it's a matter of extreme luck that nobody's died.

POA:

1) Hires Lupin, who while a competent teacher for once (thank heaven!) is 
nevertheless a werewolf , and does slip up once in a while (" He didn't take his 
potion tonight! He's not safe!"--The Dementor's Kiss, pg 380) I know that 
Lupin is only human and I love him, but one slip up at the wrong place, the wrong 
time and he could kill and/or infect a lot of students.  It really does suck 
all around, I must say.

2) Does not take Snape seriously when he suggests that Lupin knows how Sirius 
Black is getting into the castle. Snape flies way off the handle here,and 
most of his accusations are unfounded, but he is right to a point, Lupin is 
hiding the fact that Sirius is an Animagus. (MD aside, though I love that 
theory..waves at the Safe House)

3) Not a mistake, but an admission of imperfection.  Dumbledore freely admits 
to Harry and Hermione that he cannot save Sirius Black from the Dementors.  
(But they can.)                                                                 
                                                                              
                                                 

GOF:

1) When Harry's name comes out of the goblet, Dumbledore allows him to enter, 
despite the age limit, the unfairness of having two contestants from one 
school, and the obvious conclusion that something fishy is going on.

2)  Does not spot that Alastor Moody, whom he is implied to have known for 
some years, is a imposter until it is almost too late.

3)  Cannot convince Fudge of anything (which is hardly his fault, seeing as 
Snape's Dark Mark can't either)

There are others that have been mentioned, but the general point is, 
Dumbledore, cannot predict everything, cannot be everywhere, cannot be omnipotent.  
and when the dominoes fall in OOP, whether it is Rita Skeeter, Voldemort, Hagrid 
or Hermione dying, or anything else (and I am sure one domino is going to 
fall) it will lead to a scene where a weary and very human Dumbledore says: 
> 'It is time, for me to tell you what I should have told you five years ago, 
> Harry. Please sit down. I am going to tell you everything.'
    
The Queen of Serpents




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