Does Dumbledore love Harry?

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 124738


On another group there has recently been a slight flurry of
disagreement with regard to how DD feels about Harry.  Particularly,
what are we to make of statements in OOTP like:

"I acted just as Voldemort expects we fools who love to act."  And "I
never dreamed I would have such a person on my hands!"

The opinion seems to have come down to several options:

1) Dumbledore loves Harry in a fatherly/grandfatherly manner.  This
was clearly the most popular option.

2) Dumbledore is a manipulator and nothing he said is to be trusted. 
This was the least popular option.

3)  DD is fond of Harry but no more fond than he is of any of his
other students.

4)  Harry is DD's favorite but it isn't appropriate to use the word
"love" to describe his feelings.

The difference between the first option and the last is very
interesting.  I personally think it is clear that DD has very strong
feelings about Harry.  But is it appropriate to call them "love?"  I
think it is, because of the statements like those above and because of
the emphasis on love JKR is building into the series.  But of course
that begs the question of how you define love.  When does fondness
slip over into love?  One respondant says that "DD cares really,
really deeply about Harry but doesn't love him."  Well, what exactly
is the difference?   

Another way to put it is:  What would DD give up for Harry?  Would he
give up his life?  Would he give up the future of the WW (as he
implies he was in effect doing, in my opinion)?  Would he give up
another student?  Would he give up the Order?  Would he give up Hogwarts?

Anyway, what do you think?


Lupinlore