Dumbledore the General

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 124441


>>Nicky Joe: 
>I really don't see DD supporting Harry as much as I see the 
potential of DD USING Harry.  The whole SS/PS scenario seemed like a 
big setup to find out how good Harry was.  Probably a good idea, on 
DD's part, I admit, but not very sterling, character-wise.<

Betsy:
Why do the two have to be mutually exclusive?  Dumbledore realizes 
Harry is the only one who can take down Voldemort, so he (and the WW) 
will use Harry.  Dumbledore loves Harry and wants him to get through 
this ordeal in one, stable, piece, so Dumbledore also supports Harry.

And I, for one, think Dumbledore *never* intended for Harry to get 
involved in the Stone adventure, as I've explained in other posts, 
because I do not think Harry's involvment was a good idea.

>>Betsy:
<snip>
>We do know, however, that the magical folk who worked for Voldemort 
were a great asset to him in the last war (as per Lupin IIRC).  So 
I'm not sure why Dumbledore approaching them now can be defined as a 
waste of time.  Even neutrality would be a gain.<

>>Nicky Joe:
>Okay, maybe it wouldn't be a complete waste of time, but he also 
should have started on the negotiation thing about fifteen years 
ago.  When it was clear that Voldemort was gone (at least for awhile) 
he should have started campaigning.  Now that LV is back, I don't see 
13th hour scrambling having much effect.<

Betsy:
Erm...  Dumbledore started his recruiting back in the days of Tom 
Riddle (witness his treatment of Hagrid - the half giant).  He speaks 
the language of the Merfolk, he gets on as well as a wizard can with 
the Centaurs, and I dare say Hogwarts under his watch is one of the 
best places to be a House Elf.

The first Order was made up of folk that he's using as outreach 
agents now, and he's involved in the international branch of the 
Ministry, IIRC.  One of his former Head Boys works with Goblins, 
another loyal student works abroad with dragons.

Dumbledore is rallying his troops, yes.  But scrambling?  
Dumbledore's groundwork has been in the works for years.

>>Nicky Joe:
>Why wasn't he watching the Riddle home?  Why didn't he take the time 
to find out everything possible about Tom Riddle?  And where were 
LV's headquarters during the first war?  Someone had to have known 
that.<

Betsy:
Why *would* anyone watch the Riddle home?  Voldemort never lived 
there.  Ever.  I don't think he was even born there.  And who says 
the Death Eaters ever had a steady headquarters?  They were a 
terrorist orginization.  I imagine their meeting places floated (part 
of the advantage of the Dark Mark).      

>>Betsy:
>...Voldemort is still in the dark as to Harry's role in the whole 
thing...<

>>Nicky Joe:
>Unfortunately, so is Harry, except that he knows he might have to 
kill Voldemort, and frankly, is that really a surprise?  Did he think 
LV was going to wake up one morning and realize he'd been a very bad 
boy and want to make friends?  Mass murderers tend to require 
extermination because they just don't change.<

Betsy:
Huh?  Harry knows exactly what the prophecy says and he knows exactly 
how Dumbledore interprets it.  And I'm once again surprised at folks 
wondering why Harry is shocked he's supposed to become a killer.  
It's one thing to recognize that someone needs to be stopped.  It's a 
completely different thing to be told that someone needs to be killed 
and you're the only one who can do it.  Or you will die instead.  
Especially if you're a fifteen year old kid.

>>Betsy: 
>...and Voldemort lost a good handful of Death Eaters, and a powerful 
influence at the Ministry.< 

>>Nicky Joe:  
>He didn't lose any Death Eaters.  Who is going to keep them in 
Azkaban without the Dementors?  Malfoy was right - I think they'll be 
free before the next book begins.<

Betsy:
And once again, you're assuming.  And projecting.  Right now, the 
board stands like this:  Dumbledore - 11, Voldemort - 1.  Yes, things 
will change (this is a war after all).  But at the moment, Dumbledore 
is winning.  And even if the Death Eaters do escape, I doubt Lucius 
will be as closely listened to at the Ministry.

>>Nicky Joe: 
>Obviously, JKR doesn't come out and say, "DD hasn't been doing much 
in the past fifteen years to prepare for LV's possible return."  Like 
everything else, we're just guessing (which is why we're on this 
list!).  

Betsy:
Yes, we are just guessing.  But I feel like there are plenty of 
examples of Dumbledore being prepared.  We'll just have to wait 'til 
the next book!

>>Nicky Joe:
<snip>
>When I first read the book, I assumed that DD was nearly omniscient 
and had moved it for that reason. After reading it again with my 
omniscient theory crushed by OoP, I'm thinking that he only moved the 
stone because Harry was coming to Hogwarts and he was setting up a 
test.<

Betsy:
After reading OotP I've come to the conclusion that Dumbledore 
*never* intended Harry to have any involvment with the Stone.  I just 
don't see what it would have gained anyone, and I see far too much 
risk.  I think it's a parrallel with Harry and the prophecy.  
Dumbledore sets up a trap, Harry walks into the middle of it and 
almost screws everything up, Dumbledore steps in and saves the day.  
That's my guess, anyway. :)

Betsy