Dumbledore's serious errors & what did he do to make up for it/Harry's trust

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 122892


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman"
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:


> 
> I also don't think DD should have *known* Sirius was innocent.  And 
> he was shuffled off to Azkaban w/o a trial, so that's hardly DD's 
> fault.  OTOH, it doesn't make much sense that he didn't, in the 
> intervening 12 years, at least attempt to go talk w/ Sirius.  That 
> part has me puzzled & disappointed in DD.

This raises an interesting question.  WAS DD HEAD OF THE WIZENGAMOT
WHEN SIRIUS WAS SENT TO AZKABAN?

If he was not, then I tend to agree that I am still disappointed in
him.  However, if he WAS, then the questions of morality become
monstrous.  The Chief Warlock appears to be the Chief Legal Officer of
the WW.  As such, it would be primarily his responsibility to prevent
miscarriages of justice, and failure would be both a professional and
a moral stain.

Now, we are dealing with a world in which Veritaserum and Legilimency
are available.  Given that:

1) Sirius is accused with seemingly good evidence.  DD does not know
about the change of Secret Keepers.  However, DD knows how close
Sirius was to James.

2)  A five minute session of Veritaserum or Legilemency could, as far
as we know, have cleared things up beyond question.  Surely this would
be especially important if you are dispensing with a trial?

3)  If DD was the Chief Warlock, failure to devote five minutes to
getting at the truth of the matter becomes, as I said above,
monstrous.  If he was not, his actions or lack thereof are still
disappointing.

On a related note, this seems to be one of the clearest examples of
the deep flaws running through the WW.  People in the Wizarding World
are often very powerful.  However, wizards in general seem to be
astoundingly incompetent.  Which is why, by the way, I tend to think
the muggle world has nothing really to fear from Wizards.  Were their
existance ever to become known wizards would be overwhelmed, albeit
with high losses, by cultures that not only greatly outnumber them but
are as systems vastly more competent in every signficant area outside
of magic itself.


Lupinlore