The truth ?

[tinglinger]

No: HPFGUIDX 128268

gelite ---
Yes, I know DD said in SS that Harry will always have the scar, 
but DD is not infallible and it is clear that he does not understand 
everything that's going on.

greatelderone
He is not infallible, but within the realm of the story, all 
information that he gives to the reader can be viewed as nothing, 
but the divine words of the writer. So in a nutshell, he can make
mistakes of judgement, but not mistakes of fact.


tinglinger
------------
The divine words of the writer? I would not always assume that
everything Dumbledore says is "true".

 SS (pg 298 us ed)
[Harry speaking..]
"sir, there are some other things I'd like to know, if you can tell
me... things I want to know the truth about..."
"The truth." Dumbledore sighed. "It is a beautiful and terrible thing,
and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I shall
answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in
which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie."


That little snippetwhich apppears to be the basis of Dumbledores truth
telling does NOT mean that Dumbledore will always speak in clear
declarative sentences or say something meaningful that can be relied
on as truth. For example, when Harry is asking Dumbledore about Tom
Riddle at the end of COS (pg 332-333)......

"Unless I am much mistaken [1], he transferred some of his own powers
to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to
do, i'm sure..."
"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" H
arry said, thunderstruck.
"It certainly seems [2] so."

[1] maybe he WAS much mistaken. 
[2] "seems" is not the same as "is"
YET BOTH SENTENCES ARE TRUE STATEMENTS!
Both statements allow for exceptions.

It is as if Dumbledore said
"Voldemort transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave
you that scar unless I am not interpreting the facts correctly and he
didn't.........."
"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" Harry said, thunderstruck.
"It certainly seems so, but hell, it's as good an explanation as any
and better than most!"
 


I am skeptical in my interpretation of any statement where Dumbledore
uses the word "seems"; "seems" is not a synonym for "is", and you can
be entangled in semantic Devil's Snare if you aren't careful.

It is safe to cross the busy intersection.
It seems to be safe to cross the busy intersection.

or

This tax return I prepared for you is correct.
This tax return I prepared for you seems to be correct.

Which provides a higher degree of certainty? 

Do you understand what I am saying?
You seem to understand what I am saying.
Right?



tinglinger
whose yahoogroup potterplots plays around with semantics
all the time, and if you are not antisemantic you should
check it out
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/potterplots