CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 27, The Centaur and the Sneak

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 113993

Hannah: 
> The other thing that comes across in this scene is DD's arrogance 
(I 
> bet a lot of people will disagree with me on this!).  But DD 
really 
> does think a lot of himself - his lofty assertion that he could 
> escape Azkaban for example.  He is probably justified in this 
> comment, since he is the greatest wizard of the age or whatever, 
> but I do think that over confidence is an error made by DD as well 
> as by LV.

> In OotP, DD messes up big time IMO.  And a lot of his problem 
comes 
> from believing that he is all-powerful, and can somehow make 
> everything work out all right without even explaining the 
situation 
> properly to those it concerns (ie. Harry).  He doesn't teach Harry 
> occlumency himself in case LV uses it to attack him, but considers 
> it OK to get his top spy to take that risk!


Jen: This is an interesting point. One of Dumbledore's flaws in OOTP 
was keeping too many people in the dark in an attempt to safeguard 
the Order. Underlying that error may be this arrogance you 
mention, 'I must manage everything because I'm the only one who can 
do it right.' Unfortunately, when you don't have faith in others to 
be confident and capable, they often become what you believe them to 
be. Sirius did not obey orders. Snape obeyed but couldn't follow 
through. Harry couldn't follow orders, partially because the 
priorities weren't explained to him. The Order is a jumble of in-
fighting and back-biting. So what's Dumbledore to do? Well, if unity 
really is his goal, then it's time to get everybody on board the 
same ship! 

Hannah: 
> I'm not trying to argue for an ESE!Dumbledore here, and I do think 
> that DD is basically good.  But I don't think that he's perfect, 
and 
> I think he is prepared to do some pretty unpleasant things in the 
> interest of the greater good, and this scene hints at that.  But I 
> have to agree with Phinease Nigellus, he does have style!

Jen: Yes, Dumbledore states his goal clearly in OOTP, that the 
community must be prioritized over the individual. "What did I care 
if numbers of nameless and faceless people and creatures were 
slaughtered in the vague future, if in the here and now you were 
alive well, and happy?" (US, chap. 37, p. 839)

But of course he cares very much! Otherwise he wouldn't bother to 
safeguard the largest population of house elves under his roof; 
protect the centaurs, unicorns and other creatures in the Forbidden 
Forest; allow the 'outcasts' of wizard society to live, work and 
study at Hogwarts. This is his life's work! He must be prepared to 
sacrifice the individual over the community as a last resort, no 
question.

But I don't think that makes him blood-thirsty or heartless. And I 
don't believe Harry is the sacrifical lamb in Dumbledore's 
manipulative schemes. Harry was born with both a burden and a gift, 
and Dumbledore is simply the only adult around now who fully 
understands the situation. Probably the only one who ever *did* 
fully understand what was in store for Harry. What parent, 
godparent, surrogate parent, etc. is able to truly contemplate 
losing a child for the 'greater good?' And here's the important part-
-now that Harry knows who he IS, he probably wouldn't have it any 
other way. He'll be prepared for whatever Fate places before him.