DD's dilemma (was: Hogwarts Teachers - Lockhart)

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 126427


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "someoneofsomeplace"
<someoneofsomeplace at y...> wrote:
> 
<SNIP>
> 
> 
> John:
> Hmmm. I still feel we're many of us being perhaps a *teensy* bit too 
> harsh on DD, in general, not just on this point. 
> 
> 
> His priority, remember, was to keep Harry alive; invoking the blood 
> protection by giving him to the Dursleys was the best, probably 
> only, way to do that.

That may be.  If that is explained specifically, and the reasons why
given, and the reasons DD never intervened given, I would say a good
case for Dumbledore has been made.  But it certainly hasn't been made yet.


> 
> BTW, I don't think we've by any means been given the full story on 
> *that* particular matter—I adhere to that idea which's been floating 
> around that Lily left some sort of loving imprint of herself in 
> Harry's sub-conscience, so that he would hang on to the feeling that 
> he had *some* worth as a human being, in spite of all that Durlsley-
> neglect. I also think DD knew about this. How else would Harry grow 
> up to be the relatively healthy boy that we are introduced to in 
> PS/SS?
> 

That is certainly an intriguing possibility.  Personally, I doubt it's
the case, although my doubt isn't particularly strong.  Like you say,
it would explain a lot.


> But back to my first point, try putting yourself in DD's shoes. The 
> burden he bears, as the (very much) self-appointed protector of the 
> WW, means that he is under a duty, nay *contract*, to keep alive the 
> WW's, as he sees it, only hope of survival. 
> 
> Sure he's probably made some mistakes at different stages but it's 
> none of our duty IMHO to act as any type of moral authority over 
> him.

I would most vehemently disagree with the idea that we have no right
to morally judge Dumbledore and his inaction.  Now, we may have no
DUTY to do so, however I think we have every right to judge him to
this point, and to find him badly wanting, at least by the standard
JKR seems to want him to exemplify.


 Note that it's essentially a no-win situation DD is in; even if 
> Harry and the WW survive, he'll have to live, or die, with the fact 
> that he knowingly subjected Harry to some pretty tough times. We're 
> obviously pretty lucky that we aren't likely to be faced with these 
> types of decisions at any point in our lives.

Well, yes.  I'm also never faced with the decision whether to take the
country to war or not.  However, I think I have every right to have a
moral opinion about that decision.  Once again, I, and many others,
would be more inclined to be sympathetic toward Dumbledore if indeed
we did see some of that anguish and tension people are postulating.



Lupinlore