Is Dumbledore still useful? Was:Re: Adults "failing" Harry (was: Themes in OotP)

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 119956


> SSSusan:
Sure, I think he could still lead.  As long as "a foolish old man" 
is still capable of learning and changing [unlike a 37'ish young 
fool --  whoops! different thread], then I think there is hope he 
can lead. 

Alla:

LOL! So, yes, if 150 old man can change, then  37 year old should be 
able too. :o) You said it yourself, not me. :o) 


SSSusan:

If Harry was spending OotP discovering that adults are fallible, 
then I think DD was spending OotP discovering that he, in 
particular, is fallible and that he MUST begin to treat Harry as an 
adult and full member of The Order now.  If he can do that, and if 
the connection between Harry & Voldy has been altered now [??] such 
that Harry isn't in the same kind of danger he was in in OotP from 
it, then I think DD & Harry can pull that off.


Alla:

I am all for it, honestly. I HOPE that Dumbledore learned from his 
mistakes at the end of OOP as he claimed, but we shall see . 
Hopefully, we won't have to wait for too long. :)


 
Alla:
I frankly come close to thinking exactly that and that is why I 
contrary to many posters' opinion think that it is possible that 
Dumbledore will survive the end of the series to see that once 
again he interepreted the prophecy incorrectly.

 
SSSusan:
An interesting take, Alla.  I still think DD's toast, but you could 
be right.  If you're right, though, what would JKR's message to us 
be in that?  That DD is an old fool yet again?  I can't quite 
imagine her wanting to do that. 


Alla:

I will try to clarify, see if it makes sense to you. If 
JKR "disillusioned" Dumbledore's supposed infallibility in front of 
readers' eyes, he cannot be very effective mentor to Harry, right? 
So, traditional feature of the heroic quest,where mentor dies, 
leaving hero battle evil all alone does not necessarily has to be 
fulfilled.

Why? Because an old mentor even though alive is as good as dead. He 
is of no help to the hero. I guess I meant Dumbledore being wrong 
about prophecy interpretation to be an extra bonus only.

I would love Dumbleodre to be surprised about something, anything. 
Prophecy interpretation will do quite nicely.
  
Alla: 
I don't know. Could you convince me that Dumbledore is still 
capable of being good general and good headmaster at the same time 
and if not who will be the better one, in your opinion?
 
 SSSusan:
Who better?  I've no idea!  
I've heard many people speculate that Snape would take over The 
Order if DD died, but I can't see that -- at least not without his 
full story coming out so's people could trust him.
Assuming Lupin's not ESE!, and even as much as I like him, he's 
still not forceful leadership material, imo.
McGonagall has been DD's trusted Deputy Headmistress for awhile now, 
and she seems quite capable in that role, but we're not even all in 
agreement that she's even *in* The Order, let alone in on all the 
secrets or competent to head it up.

snip.

Alla:

Well, no, of course not Snape (in my opinion only of course) Him as 
a leader will  be a disaster in making, IMo. Can you see him... I 
don't know to be fair, especially if he also has to take on 
headmaster duties?

Can you see him as a person who can unite all four houses? Not me. 
Do we really have any doubt that houses will be united at the end of 
the series in one way or another?


I like the idea that secondary characters may get more space and I 
LOVE Longbottoms idea, if they recover, of course. We do know that 
they were very popular in WW.

I also like Kingsley idea, but sure he has to be more developed for 
that.


Going back to Dumbledore, I now remember that in one of the recent 
chats (was it also march 2004?) JKR got a question about 
Dumbledore's capabilities and she replied something to the efect 
that judging by the battle  at MOM, he is quite capable still.

Again, I would say we will see.