Dumbledore's Grand Plan

[phoenixmum]

No: HPFGUIDX 135411

Dumbledore's Grand Plan - my theory of  Dumbledore's
strategy for defeating Lord Voldemort:

Dumbledore, the wizard who defeated the last great Dark Wizard, is 
not satisfied with the MOM's efforts to overcome LV, and clearly
LV has infiltrated parts of the MOM. Having already established his 
own secret group (Order of the Phoenix) to work against LV, DD hears 
Trelawney's prophecy of how LV can be vanquished. DD doesn't
think much of Divination in general, but this prophecy, if true, is 
too good to ignore. After first protecting  the two children to
which the prophecy might apply  by putting the pregnant mothers, and 
probably fathers, into hiding, DD is approached by Snape, claiming 
to have renounced LV.  As LV has already tried to get back into 
Hogwarts himself in the past (the job interview with DD), DD must 
have considered that Death Eater  Snape may have been acting on  
LV's behalf.  DD is so convinced of Snape's trustworthiness,
there has to have been more than just a remorseful story.  When
Harry asks DD how he can be "sure Snape's on our side,"
DD "looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about 
something."(HBP p. 549, US ed.) He was, I believe, deciding how
much more to tell Harry, and whether giving Harry this information 
wouldjeopardize DD's Grand Plan.(DD decides not to tell Harry at 
this time,merely restating that he trusts Snape.)  This fits with 
DD's pattern of being very cautious with information, given LV's 
skill with Legilimency. For example, no one is told of the complete 
prophecy but Harry, and him not until he is almost 16 years old.   I 
think DD is so certain of Snape's loyalty because he either had
Snape share critical memories concerning his change in attitude, 
using the pensieve, and/or insisted Snape make an Unbreakable Vow to
protect the child of the prophecy. Snape tells Bellatrix (HBP p.26) 
that LV ordered him to spy on DD at Hogwarts. Assuming this is true, 
it is still possible that Snape took this opportunity to approach DD 
about defecting.  Perhaps Snape even suggested to LV the idea of 
planting a spy(himself) at Hogwarts.

DD takes Snape's defection as another asset to  his long range
plan to defeat LV.  When LV is apparently destroyed during the 
attack on the Potters, DD is anticipating a return,(p.835, OotP) and 
already plotting how to vanquish LV when he returns.  Snape is 
protected from punishment by the MOM, both to encourage further 
loyalty to DD and to keep him  at Hogwarts under DD's eye.  DD 
allows Snape to torment students, both because Snape is an excellent 
potions maker,and useful to have around for that reason, but mainly 
because DD has a plan for Snape when LV returns.  Allowing Snape to 
torment Harry in particular helps Snape maintain the facade to LV 
that Snape would be happy to hand Harry over to LV, and when LV and 
Harry have that critical confrontation, Harry's hatred of Snape
will encourage LV to continue to trust Snape, given that, at this 
point, Harry apparently still is no good at Occlumancy . DD was 
willing to put Harry into the Dursley's hands for ten years,
knowing 
they might mistreat him,because the Grand Plan to defeat LV takes 
priority. So,what's a little torment in Potions class and
undeserved
detentions from Snape.

What better way to place trusted Snape in a position to protect 
Harry than to give LV the ultimate reason to trust Snape: killing 
the feared rival, DD.  I interpret the overheard argument between
DD and Snape in the forest to be about DD insisting that maintaining 
Snape's cover is essential, and that Snape must do anything, even 
kill DD, to do so, and Snape resisting. After drinking the
potion in the cave, DD insists on getting to Snape, and no one 
else.  Snape can either save DD from the effect of the potion or, if 
the DD's death is inevitable, Snape will have the opportunity to
appear to "kill" DD.

Just as DD did not tell others of the complete prophecy, he most 
likely has told no one but Harry of the Horcruxes.  He never 
promises to tell Harry why he trusts Snape so completely, but he
does promise to tell the story of his withered and blackened hand.  
If DD is anticipating that he might be killed, either by Snape or in 
the search for the horcrux, I suspect he would have made some plan 
for passing on to Harry further information helpful for defeating LV
(how to destroy a horcrux, perhaps, or suggestions of where to 
look?).  This may take the form of DD's portrait in the
headmaster's office having some special charm to give a message
to 
Harry only, or some item that Dumbledore wills to Harry.

Harry's receives special training from DD to help keep him alive
and to defeat LV.  Rather than teach him Occlumancy (which I'll
admit I expected), DD shares memories concerning LV so that Harry 
will understand LV's weakness.  But he also gives him training in
how
to persuade others to help him. DD takes Harry to Slughorn to 
convince the latter to teach at the school, but, more importantly, 
gives Harry the homework assignment of "getting information from a 
reluctant source." The latter will be essential in Harry tracking 
down the horcruxes, carrying on Dumbledore's work.  By permitting 
Harry to tell Ron and Hermione about the horcruxes, and encouraging 
him to tell them about the prophecy, DD "teaches" Harry that
he needs his friends' help.  But by warning Harry to further tell
his
friends not to share this information with others, DD also 
emphasizes his belief that secrecy is also important in defeating LV.

I post this unattached to any thread, since it includes my response 
to multiple threads.

Phoenix