Albus Dumbledore: the myth and the man

[laylalast]

No: HPFGUIDX 96164

pippin_999 wrote (in answer to Kneasy):

<snip> 
> I can't think of anything Dumbledore knows that he couldn't have 
> learned from the portrait spy network and Legilimency.  
<snip>

Lilian:
I can! 
Thanks to Kneasy and others I reread CoS, totally suspicious -
bordering on downrigh paranoid ;-) - of DD. What convinced me? The 
scene of petrified Mrs. Norris.
DD tells Filch that they can revive Mrs. Norris using a special 
potions of Mandrakes AND that Professor Sprout just acquired quite a 
number of Mandrakes this year. Off went my pocket-sneakascope!
What a happy coincidence! Nope, didn't buy that (anymore).

DD knew already that Lucius Malfoy (Kneasy started a thread 
concerning this) would try something at Hogwarts and that it would 
have something to do with the Chamber of Secrets. He knew also, as 
he was around during the first time it all happened, that kids were 
likely to be petrified so he took care that this time they would 
have some means to revive them. Probably asked Mundungus to help 
Prof. Sprout to some Mandrakes. 

He could not have known beforehand that they needed Mandrakes from 
the portrait spy network and/or legilimency, so he learned that 
another way.
 
<snip>
> Pippin wrote: 
> Barty would have to be a terrific Occlumens as well, but then he 
> must have been, or Dumbledore wouldn't have needed 
> veritaserum in order to question him.

Lilian:

Not necessarily. First, if DD would have questioned Barty by using 
legilimency, Snape (although he probably knew already), McGonnagal 
but also Harry would have known that DD is a legilimens. It was an 
advantage to DD to keep this quiet.
Second, legilimency only informs you that you are being lied to, 
however it does not tell you the truth. And the truth was needed at 
that very moment.
Last, veritaserum is a proven truth-potion. Any evidence acquired 
through this will be taken as being the truth, whereas the evidence 
acquired through legilimency can remain circumspect.

<snip>
> Pippin wrote:
> The question is why Dumbledore doesn't interfere more than he 
> does, if he knows so much, but that's simple too, once you 
> understand that you're dealing with a macho society. 
<snip>

Lilian:
Apart from that, why should he solve other peoples mistakes before 
they make them? The best way to learn to stand on your own feet is 
to make mistakes.
DD might have done something about LV earlier, but (as it has been 
pointed out before by posters -including yourself, right?) LV is not 
so much the problem, it is the entire attitude of the WW. The lie 
the fountain tells us - OotP. 
The WW must become aware where a reign of terror like LV and his 
DE's comes from, thrives upon. Only then the WW can learn from its 
mistake - and do something about it.

Lilian