"in essence divided?" - The Essential Dumbledore

[nkafkafi]

No: HPFGUIDX 120723


">nicouise" wrote:
> <snip>
> Does anyone have any theories on what this instrument is, who he is 
> communicating with?  Is it a way of communicating with the Order? 
> What does the comment "in essence divided?" posed as a question 
mean?

Neri:
I think that the specific meaning of "in essence divided" is pretty 
obvious. OTOH, the general implications of this little scene are much 
more interesting.

First to the specific meaning: what I ask myself is why did DD 
conduct that small alchemical experiment just then, of all times? 
Harry was just brought to him in the middle of the night. It was an 
emergency situation and time was of the essence (erm... I mean of 
importance). DD had just determined that Harry saw the attack through 
the snake's eyes. He sends the portraits to check after Arthur and 
then, even before they are back to report, he conducts his little 
experiment. What is so important and urgent to determine at this 
stage? Obviously, ensuring that Harry is not possessed by Voldy. Read 
this whole incident from the moment Harry is brought into the office, 
and note how DD takes care not to look at Harry, certainly not into 
his eyes. He doesn't know if it is Harry or Voldemort!Harry he is 
talking to, and he doesn't take chances until finding out for sure 
with his alchemy.

Another support for the two snakes representing Harry and Voldy comes 
for the possession scene in the MoM, when Harry feels as if he is 
trapped in the "coils" of a "creature", and this creature tries to 
become one with him until they are "fused by pain". Again the image 
of two-snakes/one-snake.

I find the general implication of the "in essence divided" scene MUCH 
more interesting. It implies that DD is able to find out some 
ESSENTIAL truths about other people souls through his "alchemy". The 
silvery instruments are always described when we get to visit his 
office, and sometimes they are working. It means he is using them 
regularly. So what other things does he know "in essence"?

This suggests to me a slightly different DD than he sometime appears 
in fanon. He is not the puppet-master and the spymaster, who is 
always snooping on other people actions and manipulating them. Rather 
he is interested with their inner souls, their heart desires and 
their key choices. He is not the Sherlock Holmes type, who is 
addicted to gathering information and thinks that god is in the 
details. On the contrary, DD thinks that god is in the essence. He is 
a master of the alchemy of souls, fate and deep truth.

In the end talk of PoA, when Harry is distraught because Wormatil got 
away, the unperturbed DD tells him that "this is magic at its 
deepest, its most impenetrable" and also "The consequences of our 
actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the 
future is a very difficult business indeed". This doesn't sound to me 
like a puppet master who had just concluded a complicated but 
successful operation. It sounds like someone who doesn't know many of 
the details, but is very sure about the deep meaning of the event. 
Had he conducted another alchemical experiment that night? Did he 
examine the essence of Wormtail's soul?

In the end talk of OotP DD says to Harry "I have watched you more 
closely than you can have imagined". This is a rather strong 
statement. Not merely "more closely than you thinks" but "more 
closely than you can have imagined". To me this doesn't imply 
portraits snooping after Harry's actions. It implies looking deeply 
into the essence of Harry's soul and fate.

This might explain the apparent contradiction between DD's care for 
Harry and the WW of the one hand, and his seeming recklessness in 
leaving Harry and the trio to fight Voldemort alone of the other 
hand. DD is messing here with VERY deep stuff: immortality, ancient 
magic, life debts, a mysterious power more wonderful and terrible 
than anything else in the DoM, and a vogue prophecy that is critical 
for the future of the whole WW. And this prophecy says it is Harry, 
not DD, who has the mysterious power, and it is Harry, not DD, who 
has the only chance to vanquish the Dark Lord. If DD tries to 
manipulate Harry or even merely direct him, in effect he would be 
trying to be the one who vanquish the Dark Lord through Harry. Is 
this wise? Wouldn't it be a contradiction with the terms of the 
prophecy? 

Unlike Voldy, DD apparently has read all the legends and myths, so he 
knows that outwitting prophecies and meddling with mysterious powers 
is guaranteed to blow in your face. So he handles this "with the 
outmost care". He tries not to interfere too much, and he tries to 
understand the essence of things rather than manipulate the details. 

Neri