One heavy tear

[Freud]

No: HPFGUIDX 124120


Discussion questions:

>1. Do you think we will ever meet Phineas again? 

Absoutely.  Phineas also has great style. 
(I hope his brother Phallic is with him...) 

>2. Harry blames himself for Sirius's death. Do you?

Of course not.  The followers of Voldemort are to blame for his 
death.  Nevertheless, JKR stated his death served a divine purpose.  
I'm hanging onto that.  

>3. Dumbledore is sure that Harry IS the person the prophecy talks 
>about. Are you?

If there is a prophecy child.  I can't help but wonder if the whole 
prophecy thing is a setup engineered by Dumbledore to distract 
Voldemort from what Dumbledore plans to do to destroy him.  

>4. Harry complains to Dumbledore that Occlumency lessons were 
>weakening him. Dumbledore replies with his usual vow of trust for 
>Snape. Do you trust Snape? 

Heck no!  He is a self-centered jackass!  And so much fun...

But, back to the plot...
I don't believe Dumbledore trusts Snape either. I believe he 
pretends to trust Snape.  Especially to Snape. Just like he did 
Lockhart, and Quirrel, and Filch and Trelawney, and all the other 
questionable characters he keeps at Hogwartz.  

I don't believe Hogwarts is about school for Dumbeldore.  I believe 
he is attempting to create powerful wizards, who can stand up to 
evil, and be his successor.  I think he is willing to expose the 
students to some disturbing characters in order to give them life 
experience.  Thats why he allows Slytherin to exist.  He is setting 
up conflict on purpose. 

Dumbledore seems to be able to read minds.  So of course he knows that Snape is 
Harrys enemy.  He knows everything.  

In my opinion, Dumbledore was using Snape as a boggart - he forced 
Harry to take occlumency with Snape so that Harry had to keep in the 
constant practice of defying an enemy.  But he sure doesn't want 
Harry to know that.  

He wants Harry to rely on himself and no one else.  More and more 
Dumbledore resists the position of comforting Harry.  I think 
Dumbledore is deliberately forcing Harry to stand alone.   

JKR stated that life is not going to get any better for Harry.  
Surely more betrayels are coming.  Harry can trust no one.  Only 
Dumbledore knows how bad it will get because he defeated a dark 
wizard once before.        

>5. Dumbledore blames himself for Sirius death. Do you?

I believe Dumbledore said he blames himself in order to ease the 
guilt that Harry was burdoned with.  A psychological gambit that 
won't work, alas. 

>7.  Do you agree with the possibility that Neville may turn out to 
>be the real prophecy child? 

No - but I think the followers of Voldemort may think so.  
I think Neville will volunteer to be used to distract the 
deatheaters from going after Harry.   
 
>10.  Who is the infamous eavesdropper?

A new character we haven't been introduced to yet.  Someone
from the mysterious past. 

>12.  Do you think that this chapter was well done "plot wise"?
 
As well as any other.  All chapters leave maddening questions that
can't be answered yet.  

>13. We see Dumbledore crying in this chapter for the first time in 
>the books. Despite the fact that a similar question was already 
>posted couple of days ago,(message 123486) I decided not to delete 
>mine. What did you feel when you read about Dumbledore's tear?

I felt terribly sad for him.  

I think his tear represented the loss of his close relationship with 
Harry. 

Harry cannot trust him anymore and he knows it. 

I believe it frustrates him terribly to have to keep Harry at a 
distance.    

I believe his tear was also sign that the war with Voldemort is now 
at a critical point and many good wizards will die or worse than 
death, join Voldemort.  I think Dumbledore has seen more tragedy 
than most, and therefore it takes a great deal of sorrow and stress 
to make Dumbledore cry.  

--Freud