Albus Dumbledore: the myth and the man

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 96167

> 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.<

Pippin:
Hmmm....the Blacks are related to the Malfoys. Could there be a  
portrait of Phineas Nigellus, that most unpopular 
Hogwarts headmaster, hanging innocently on the walls of the 
Malfoy manor?  Phineas might have heard Dobby or Lucius 
himself mention the Chamber and reported it to Dumbledore. 

> Lilian:
 
> 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.<

Pippin:
 It was certainly an advantage to JKR to keep us in the dark about 
Legilimency a little longer but I think that Voldemort would not 
neglect to instruct his spies in Occlumency. Where do you think 
Snape learned it?

  Voldemort, without the benefit of any foolish wand-waving,knew 
not only that Harry was lying about the Stone but that it was 
actually in his pocket. I must presume that Dumbledore can do 
the same.

Pippin