JKR Chat "The Crucial and Central Question"

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 92332

Susan:
> > What I *don't* get in your argument is how much you seem to be 
> > blaming Dumbledore for this.  How is DD to blame?  How is he 
> > *orchestrating* Harry's future?  If Harry is Voldy's target...if 
> > the prophecy is to believed--that Harry & Voldy much face each 
> > other down at some point--then how is **Dumbledore** behind all 
> > this w/ some master plan?  If "it's all decided", it's been 
> > decided not *by* DD but by some larger "fates" or whatever.  
> > 
> > **Unless** you're saying that DD isn't just arranging those 
> > things which will train & prepare Harry in the way he [DD] 
> > thinks will best help Harry, but that he's actually **in 
> > control** of what will happen?  That he knows how it all will 
> > end because he's arranged it all?  

Kneasy replied:
> Blaming Dumbledore? Really? Just because I consider him to be a
> cunning, devious, conniving, cold-hearted fixer doesn't mean that 
> I blame him. Quite the contrary. Wars aren't won by kindly old 
> softies. I strongly approve of the way he's going about his 
> business and assuming that I'm right in my presumptions, that he 
> will do what is necessary.
> 
> In the past I've leveled all sorts of 'accusations' at him; that 
> he stood aside at GH, more or less abandoning James and Lily so 
> that the terms of the Prophecy would be fulfilled being among 
> them. But I don't *blame* him for doing so. It was a necessary 
> step in the formation of Weapon!Harry. So although I speculate 
> that he has been up to all sorts of shenanagins and suspect even 
> more I never call him evil or wicked. I don't think he's anything 
> of the sort; pragmatic with Machiavellian overtones is about how 
> I'd  describe him.
> 
> So my contention that he's manipulating Harry's mind and actions is
> to  be  expected from him. <snip> But this being the case I  can't 
> logically agree with the idea that Harry has choices springing up 
> around him and that his actions are of his own volition. He 
> doesn't and they aren't, otherwise I'm contradicting myself. 

> ***And DD will sacrifice Harry if it becomes necessary - which is 
> more important, Harry or the WW? No problem with that answer. DD 
> has been fighting Voldy since before Harry was born, he knows the 
> struggle is about much more than Harry (though I sometimes have 
> doubts about whether some of the fans do).*** [emphasis added by 
> Susan] 
<snip> And no, I don't think he's *arranged* the ending, but I 
> wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't already *know* the ending, or 
> perhaps the optimal way to achieve it. 


Susan:
Merci for the detailed explanation of how you read DD.  I am much 
relieved to understand the you approve of whatever it is that DD is 
up to. <g> Also that he's not arranged the ending so much as perhaps 
knows the ending.  Now I see why you *must* say that Harry's choices 
aren't real choices at all.  We may not agree, but your message is 
clearer to me now.

One question remains for me.  If DD knows the ending, then surely he 
knows whether Harry survives or not?  Does DD believe the prophecy?  
If he does, and if we've understood it properly, then how could it 
ever come to DD's needing to sacrifice Harry to the greater cause of 
saving the WW/defeating Voldy?  Doesn't it have to be Harry & Co. 
winning or Voldy & Co. winning?  Or do you have a different take on 
the prophecy--that there might be some wiggle room for someone other 
than Harry as the vanquisher?

Siriusly Snapey Susan