Harry's behavior was Re: Riddle's information re:

[Lady Pensieve]

No: HPFGUIDX 83938

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jen Reese" <stevejjen at e...> 
wrote: 
> Jen: Harry learns by experience, not by words; when he feels, he 
> acts. Telling him everything sounds good in theory, but the 
outcome could have been disastrous as well. Dumbledore says: "You 
see...I believed it could not be long before Voldemort attempted to 
force his way into your mind, to manipulate and misdirect your 
> thoughts....I feared the uses to which he would put you, the 
> possibility he might try and possess you, Harry."  (OOTP, US 
> hardcover, chap. 37, pgs. 827-828).

and...

>>Now, I think Harry is too hard on himself here, mistakes were made 
all around and Dumbledore is right to shoulder the blame. But the 
bottom line is, telling Harry "everything" at the beginning of the 
year would not have guaranteed anyone safety, especially Harry.<<

Kathy----------There's got to be much more here than meets the eye.  
Dumbledore is still holding out. Telling Harry anything in the 
beginning would have been a disaster - because it's through Harry 
that they have an idea of what's going on with the dark lord.  Much 
more important that V thinks they aren't aware of this connection 
until the last possible moment.------------

> "It was his fault Sirius had died; it was all his fault. If he, 
Harry, has not been stupid enough to fall for Voldemort's trick...if 
he had only opened his mind to the possibility that Voldemort was, 
as Hermione had said, banking on Harry's *love of playing the 
hero*..." (OOTP, chap. 37, p. 821). > 


Kathy-------  It's not Harry's fault.  I believe Kreacher fed Sirius 
that plant that Harry was reading about (and falling asleep over).  
In the beginning of the book, Sirius wasn't that rash - it's only 
later...after they hadn't seen Kreacher for awhile and wondered 
where the house elf had gone to (around the Christmas holidays)- 
when he shows up in a much more pleasant mood...  This mood is 
probably activated by his knowing he'll be helping get rid of Sirius.

Now - that gives Sirius an excuse for his arguing with Snape and 
being childish, but it sure doesn't give Snape any excuse for being 
as childish as he was...duh!-------------

> Dumbledore, while not Harry's parent, is in the unenviable 
position of being the person *chosen* to hear the Prophecy (yes, the 
Prophecy could be a red herring as you mentioned, but Dumbledore 
appears to believe it's important and this belief underlies his 
relationship with Harry). 
> 
Kathy---------It's either a red herring or will be explained away 
later on when it's not quite as direct as we're led to believe.  
Again, there's no year attached to this prophecy...anyone born at 
the end of July could be THE one...or not.

>> Dunmbledore knows he failed Harry, "For I see now that what I 
have done, and not done, with regard to you, bears all the hallmarks 
of the failings of age." (OOTP, chap. 37, p. 826). This time I think 
> Dumbledore is being too hard on himself, 

Kathy----------Again - I think this is still a bit of a show for 
Voldemort and not completely for Harry's sake.  It's the best 
Dumbledore can do while he worries about how much is still 
being 'given' to "Tom".  Bet Harry studies his Occlumency now!