Dumbledore the teacher (was: Umbridge, detention, scars, and plotlines, oh my!.

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 126107


phoenixgod wrote:
> > this is the same man who *encouraged* Harry to travel back in 
> > time..., a man who *rewarded* Harry for his quick actions in 
> > books one and two instead of punish him because of the danger, 
> > and in book four saw Harry outwit a dragon, survive a duel with 
> > his nemesis, .... Then, all of a sudden, in the fifth book he 
> > wants to shield Harry because he cares too much? No, I just don't 
> > buy it. 
 
Magda: 
> All very true and the main reason why Dumbledore's book-end chat 
> with Harry in OOTP was a major "Huh?" moment for me.  Especially 
> after letting his name stand for the Triwizard Tournament.  
> Dumbledore knew that the only reason someone put his name in there 
> was for not-Harry-healthy reasons and yet he basically let Harry be 
> a decoy for a year.  Major, major character dislocation here.
 

SSSusan:
Two questions.  And I'm *not* trying to convince either of you that 
you're wrong -- just trying to think through possibilities here.

As for the TWT, I think how one evaluates DD's behavior turns on 
whether one believes that the name's having gotten into the cup and 
then gotten out as a selection *truly* constitutes a binding 
contract, regardless of HOW those things happened.  This has been 
debated here before, and there are those who feel that there has to 
be a way for a Headmaster or step in and say, "Oh, no, no.  This is a 
mistake.  He's underage and he will NOT compete."  There are others 
who believe that the stated *binding contract* really is just that 
and there was nothing DD could do to get Harry out of it.  (Hard to 
imagine, a bit, I'll admit -- I mean, what if Harry had just 
said, "No, thanks"?)

The question which came to mind for me as I read Phoenixgod's reasons 
for not finding DD very believable in OotP was this:  Could it be 
that until the very end of GoF, DD could convince himself that 
Harry's antics were all "practice," but now that Voldy had a 
*corporeal body* back, could hold a wand and move about at will, was 
human again, it meant that DD could no longer deny the reality of the 
situation?  Voldy was back at full force, and Harry would have to 
face him -- the real thing.  It wasn't "practice" anymore.  I mean, 
could that explain why he so suddenly turned *from* allowing Harry to 
do all these risky things *to* trying to protect him in ways he 
hadn't before?

Just askin',
Siriusly Snapey Susan