If DD knows, then why...? [was: Snape, trying very hard not to smile?]

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 94037

Potioncat wondered:
> Why do you think DD knew Tom Riddle opened the Chamber?  I'm 
> sure he knew Hagrid didn't but what did he know for certain? 
> Perhaps he tried to talk to Myrtle, but didn't learn anything. 

SUSAN:
> Yes, I think these are good questions as well. Is there something 
> in canon which makes people *sure* DD knew Tom opened the Chamber 
> and what was within it, or is it the "all-knowing DD" assumption?  

Carol:
> Dumbledore may have suspected that Tom had opened the Chamber, but
> surely he would have testified against him at Hagrid's expulsion
> hearing if he had conclusive evidence. Instead, Hagrid's wand was
> broken and he was expelled. <snip>
> I think Dumbledore suspected that Tom had
> opened the Chamber and may even have suspected that it contained a
> basilisk but could prove nothing and so he did nothing. 
> Well, I thought I knew where I was going on this post, but now I've
> succeeded in confusing myself. At any rate, I started out thinking
> that DD didn't know that Tom Riddle had opened the Chamber. Now I'm
> leaning the other way--he either knewor strongly suspected but had 
> no proof.
> Coming to my rescue, SSS?

Sue: 
> I'll help Carol! (At least I will try.)  I didn't see any 
> reluctance in Myrtle about sharing her experience, in fact when 
> Harry asked, "Myrtle's whole aspect changed at once.  She looked as 
> though she had never been asked such a flattering question."  CoS 
> US pb 299.  If DD had bothered to ask, she would have been more 
> than willing to share.  

SUSAN AGAIN:
Hmmmm....  Things get curiouser & curiouser, then, don't they?  With 
JKR's fondness for "as though" and "as if" statements being clues, I 
suspect that this DOES mean Myrtle was never asked before.  Why the 
dickens didn't DD ask her anything?!?  Surely he couldn't be unaware 
of her ghost's presence at Hogwarts??

Sue:
> I tend to think that, as you [Carol] said, there was no way for DD 
> to prove what he believed.  There was probably nothing he could do 
> about the Chamber either.  Only a Parselmouth can open it, he just 
> had to wait and hope another one didn't come along.  <snip>
> Once it was open, all he could do was sit and wait.  Harry was the 
> only one who could do anything about it anyway.  I do wonder why DD 
> didn't just head down there with Harry but as others have already 
> said, that would have made a very short book.  Maybe only a 
> Parselmouth could destroy the Basilisk (or maybe only an ancestor 
> or heir could)...

SUSAN AGAIN:
Well, two issues I see here.  One is that idea that DD could've done 
nothing, since he's not a parselmouth.  I believe you're right that 
DD could not have OPENED the Chamber, but I'm not so sure that once 
it **was** opened he couldn't have done anything.  Surely Snape 
reported to DD the news about Harry after the dueling episode?  Once 
DD knew Harry was a parselmouth, he could have accompanied Harry or 
had Harry open the Chamber and gone on himself.  Of course, this is 
*assuming* DD knew where the entrance was...and perhaps he did NOT?  
[If he did, he'd have likely found Myrtle, so may he really did not 
know?]  And even if DD had said straight out to Harry, "Listen, young 
man, if you ever FIND that entrance, you'd better come & get me or 
Minerva or Severus!" what are the odds that Harry would listen to 
that?  [See, Kneasy?  I can play this game, too!]

The other issue ties into this, I think.  It's that same old issue of 
whether DD really doesn't know things/really can't help...or whether 
he WANTS Harry to set off on these tasks without him.  In this case 
DD had been removed from Hogwarts, so he really wasn't around, but I 
think he believes Harry needs these "opportunities" to encounter 
Voldy and these tests of his courage & will.  

Don't get me wrong, I don't think DD is *ALL*-knowing or *ALL*-
controlling, but because he does know about the prophecy and believes 
Harry will need to be the one to eliminate Voldy, I think he does 
allow these dangerous scenarios to play out, hoping Harry will learn 
lessons & skills and will gain confidence ["only a true Gryffindor", 
for instance].

Sorry, Carol, didn't do any rescuing, did I?

Siriusly Snapey Susan