[HPforGrownups] Re: Dumbledore the Strategist / Dumbledore Knows...

[Magda Grantwich]

No: HPFGUIDX 130825

> Chris: Do we really know he was caught by surprise? DD seems in
> full control from the moment Umbridge escorts Harry into his 
> office. Remember, when Fudge asks Harry if he knew why he was 
> there, Harry is about to defiantly scream "Yes!" but one look at DD

> convinces him not 
> to. It's almost as if DD knows what is coming and is steering Harry
> through his answers.... 
>      Look at the situation with Marietta Edgecombe. Umbridge had 
> notified Fudge after Edgecombe came to her after dinner that
> evening. However, Fudge had no idea who the witness was before she 
> was introduced. But DD is reserved as hell when she is introduced,
> almost as if he knew this was coming. He even gives Shacklebolt 
> signals that 
> cause Shacklebolt to modify Edgecombe's memory, already knowing
> that Marietta was about to spill the beans.
>      Was there ever really any tension present here? DD steers the 
> entire conversation away from Harry, puts it on himself, and then 
> stuns everybody in the room with no more trouble than popping a
> lemon drop into his mouth.
> 
>      I understand that people like DD, and I am one of those
> people.  BUt there are just too many circumstances where DD knows 
> what is going on before everyone else does.


Actually I think you have the answer right in your own words. 
Dumbledore is "reserved as hell" - he gives nothing away, including
the fact that he's feeling out a situation even as he seems to be
above it all.

When he signals Harry to say "no" to Umbridge's question, he's really
trying to find out just what Umbridge really knows.  All she's done
so far is give Harry the chance to tell them everything.  If Harry
shuts up, then Umbridge and Fudge will have the onus on them of
making a case against Harry.  Dumbledore basically makes sure that
Harry doesn't incriminate himself before he hears what the charges
are.  This isn't a matter of knowing in advance; it's a matter of
tactics that have probably served Dumbledore well over the decades.

Ditto with Marrietta.  Kingsley is a member of the Order; do he and
DUmbledore really have to know what she might say to decide that a
mute Marietta will cause Umbridge's case to crumble to dust?  What
Umbridge needs is someone to admit something about the DA.  If
everyone goes mum, she's helpless, as she shows when she's driven to
manhandle Marietta in her fury.

Dumbledore doesn't know in advance what's going to happen, he's just
better equipped to wing it than other people.

Magda


		
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