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

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 122993


> > Siriusly Snapey Susan, willing to blame DD for some things but 
> > not quite so much as this.
 
Magda: 
> Quite possibly the biggest mistake that DUmbledore made was not
> talking to Harry about the occasions when his scar hurt and finding
> out what exactly the pain entailed.  It's clear that Dumbledore
> didn't take into account the fact that Harry was not only 
> channelling Voldemort's thoughts and receiving his mental images 
> but was also experiencing his emotions as well.  

<snip>

> Certainly Harry didn't seem to be aware that he was receiving more
> than just mental images from Voldemort.

<snip> 

> By the end of the book, before they go to the MoM, it's hard to know
> which emotions were Harry's and which were Voldemort's.


SSSusan:
All very true.  We know that DD feared that if he looked into Harry's 
eyes Voldy might "see" too much... or that if Voldy "rose up" in 
Harry and caused him to attack DD, this might force DD to harm Harry 
while defending himself.  [I think I've stated that accurately?]  But 
would these beliefs of DD's have precluded his finding out about what 
you ask, Magda?  Is there a truly plausible reason why DD didn't get 
at this himself or have someone else -- MM, perhaps? -- do so?  

Or would some argue that this was likely part of what Snape was 
attempting to ascertain during Occlumency lessons?  To which I would 
respond, it still didn't do anything for helping *Harry* recognize 
what was happening to him.


Magda:
> One missed opportunity was at Christmas time when Harry told Sirius
> he thought he was going mad, and Sirius tried to dismiss it so as 
> not to worry Harry and obey Dumbledore's strictures about not 
> talking to Harry about the subject.

SSSusan:
I'm often a Sirius defender, but this was one of those moments where 
his behavior perplexed me.  Here's the scene:

'Sirius', Harry muttered, unable to stand it a moment longer. 'Can I 
have a quick word? Er - now?'

He walked into the dark pantry and Sirius followed. Without preamble, 
Harry told his godfather every detail of the vision he had had, 
including the fact that he himself had been the snake who had 
attacked Mr Weasley.

When he paused for breath, Sirius said, 'Did you tell Dumbledore 
this?'

'Yes', said Harry impatiently, 'but he didn't tell me what it meant. 
Well, he doesn't tell me anything any more.'

'I'm sure he would have told you if it was anything to worry about', 
said Sirius steadily.

'But that's not all', said Harry, in a voice only a little above a 
whisper. 'Sirius, I... I think I'm going mad. Back in Dumbledore's 
office, just before we took the Portkey... for a couple of seconds 
there I thought I was a snake, I felt like one - my scar really hurt 
when I was looking at Dumbledore - Sirius, I wanted to attack him!'

He could only see a sliver of Sirius's face; the rest was in darkness.

'It must have been the aftermath of the vision, that's all', said 
Sirius. 'You were still thinking of the dream or whatever it was and-'

'It wasn't that', said Harry, shaking his head, 'it was like 
something rose up inside me, like there's a snake inside me.'

'You need to sleep', said Sirius firmly. 'You're going to have 
breakfast, then go upstairs to bed, and after lunch you can go and 
see Arthur with the others. You're in shock, Harry; you're blaming 
yourself for something you only witnessed, and it's lucky you did 
witness it or Arthur might have died. Just stop worrying.'

He clapped Harry on the shoulder and left the pantry, leaving Harry 
standing alone in the dark.


Wow.  How disappointing.  I mean, Harry TOLD Sirius that DD wasn't 
talking to him; he, unlike his more typical way, persisted with 
Sirius, insisting that it was more than just the aftermath of the 
vision.  And yet Sirius just said Harry needed sleep & food & should 
stop worrying.  And then walked away!  *Is* this his following DD's 
instructions not to say too much?  Or is this Sirius seriously 
failing in his "parental" role?


Magda:
> On the other hand, will we see in Book 7 an attempt by Harry to
> reverse the process and take control of VOldemort's mind?

SSSusan:
A possibility especially interesting to me because ::rubs hands 
gleefully:: I suspect it would require Snape's assistance to train 
Harry how to do this.  

Siriusly Snapey Susan