The truth ?

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 128293

 I would not always assume that everything Dumbledore says is "true".
> 
Snip)> 
> 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. (snip)> 
> 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.
> 

Tonks:
You may be right. I am one of those people that always have to be 
right. And like DD I try never to lie, but will withhold the truth. 
So if I am 100% sure of something I will make a statement that shows 
that. But if I am not sure, I will do the same as DD with the "I 
think", or "it seems", "some folks have said", etc. SO I have an out 
if (God forbid) I am wrong. Since I didn't make an explicit 
statement of fact, then my being "always right" still stands. So DD 
*could* be doing the same.  ;-)

Tonks_op