Hermione's Hypocrisy?(long)

[kavallas]

No: HPFGUIDX 129186

In an earlier post, Sophie suggested that Dumbledore's advice at the 
end of OoTP was meant more practically (being more respectful of 
Kreacher=paying more attention to Kreacher=not telling Kreacher 
to "get out"=Kreacher never being able to tell Narcissa of Harry's 
affection towards Sirius). However, I can't help but feel that that 
wasn't the tone of Dumbledore's entire speech; he advised kindness, 
not shrewdness. Although there is the whole idea that kindness will 
pay ou in the long run, I feel that Dumbledore was trying to counsel 
kindness for the sake of kindness, not for any long-term reasons.

Dumbledore's advice, then, held no real value for that time in 
Harry's life. Let us look at the situation: Harry has just lost a 
loved one (again?!). He was stunned, angry, and upset. He looked to 
Dumbledore for comfort and guidance--and was given half a chapter of 
advice on how his life (and his recently deceased father figure's 
life) could have been improved by being nice. 

Did Dumbledore really expect Harry to thoughtfully absorb this 
advice, nod in introspection, and go on as a better person? 

I think that this situation (along with many others--see the end 
chapters of virtually every other HP book) expresses Dumbledore's 
pure conceit. The utter temerity to advise a bereft and grieving boy 
of how to be kinder is impossible to grasp. Dumbledore might be 
wise, might be thoughtful, might be powerful, but he is far from 
modest. 

And in that, I think, there is a greater degree of hypocrisy than 
Hermione could ever express.