Of Caves and Tarot Cards

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 135426

Merrylinks:
> <snipping>
> In spite of Harry's warning that Draco has fixed something and
> that Hogwarts is in danger, Dumbledore dismisses Harry's fears and
> chooses to go to the cave to hunt for the Horcrux. As a result, 
> Hogwarts will be invaded by Death Eaters, including one who is a
> notorious werewolf.

Jen: Dumbledore is very intent on Harry not getting side-tracked by 
the Draco situation. Since Harry is prone to reckless choices at 
times, I think that's probably a wise decision. And Dumbledore may 
not be ignoring what Harry tells him either, just trying to redirect 
him back to the more important business at hand.

I don't believe Dumbledore knew the extent of Draco's plan, i.e. the 
Vanishing cabinents nor DE invasion. But he knew Draco was 
attempting to kill him. He's not at all surprised when Draco corners 
him on the tower.

As to how much he knew about the Unbreakable Vow and Snape's role, 
well depends on Snape's loyalty now, doesn't it <g>?

Mainly I think DD felt it extremely crucial Harry focus on the 
Horcruxes and leave the rest to him. Mistake? Maybe, but only in 
retrospect. After all, DD would find his potential death a must less 
interesting question than the permanent defeat of Voldemort.

Merrylinks:
> I think Dumbledore is seeing his future.<
<snip> 
> As Dumbledore drinks the potion, he says, "Make it stop;" "It's
> all my fault;" "Don't hurt them;" "Please...no not that."  All of 
> these are consistent with what he is going to learn when he 
arrives 
> at the Astronomy Tower. 
<snipped rest of explanation, see upthread>

Jen: You know, you may be right. He seemed to be reliving his past 
mistakes, but actually Voldemort would find it much more interesting 
to force someone to see his own death, wouldn't he?? The thing 
Voldemort fears the most. He assumes everyone would be tortured by 
the thought. But DD doesn't fear dying or the ways he might die.

My only quibble, if he's seeing the future: Dumbledore seems to be 
begging and pleading in the cave, something he doesn't do on the 
Astronomy Tower (I'm of the camp he's not begging Snape to spare his 
life, but asking him to do what he must). The begging and pleading 
still makes me think he's being flooded with past memories, 
exaggerated many times over and magnified by the potion.


Kemper writes in post #135399:
> I don't think LV cares how someone worked through his protections,
> he would understand the possibility.  What he does care about, you
> mentioned, is how the person located the cave.
> 
>If I were LV, I would be thinking, "If the cave was discovered, then
>so was some of my past.  What do they know about me?  Are my other
>soul pieces safe?!  M. effer!!!"

Jen: Just to be picky, DD does say this: "He would want to keep them 
alive long enough to find out how they managed to penetrate so far 
through his defenses and, most importantly of all, why they were so 
intent on empyting the basin." (Chap. 26, p. 569, US)

So you don't believe DD is right, that instead Voldemort would be 
more concerned with concealing his past?

Jen