Depth? Things to take on their face value (Was: Sirius' loyalty)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 139786

Nora:
<snipped explanation of taking Harry/Ginny at face value>
> I can think of other things. Dumbledore's assertions about Harry:
> his heart saved him and not his mind, Harry has a fundamentally
> pure heart. Enough potential treacle to make us look for a hankie,
> but all also intended in utter sincerity.
> 
> I'd offer the proposal that there are many things in the series
> which JKR as the author *intends* to be taken at their face value,
> and accepted by the reader. Correspondingly, this means that the
> subversive readings (which do not accept these things) are highly
> unlikely to receive any validation or confirmation in canon. Of
> course, nothing can stop the determined theorist.

Jen: My theme at the moment is 'the simplest may be the best 
explanation' so I agree with this, Nora <g>. This idea was certainly 
at the forefront of HBP, when Harry/Dumbledore wrapped up the loose 
ends from OOTP: No, Occlumency wasn't needed after all and Harry was 
no good at closing his mind anyway. Inhabiting Harry's body and 
feeling his love was enough to send Voldemort running. Harry 
is 'over' his anger and funk of OOTP because Sirius wouldn't want 
him wallowing, and life's too short. Harry is Dumbledore's man 
through-and-through because Dumbledore is going to die...erm...I 
mean because Harry had a miraculous change of heart from 
OOTP.....well....that one needs no explanation, right? ;)

Other simple ideas: Draco really did make a detour through the DE 
camp and had a true change of heart. Lupin & Tonks are for real--
more love in the world. 

Then we have the biggie, the one which is harder to accept: 
Dumbledore trusts Snape and since Dumbledore is so clever he 
sometimes makes comparatively 'huger' mistakes than the rest. Hmmmm. 
Still can't accept that one quite yet. Not because it would make 
Dumbledore a fool, since choosing to love and trust over feeling 
hate and suspicion are 'generally preferable' as DD (JKR) would say. 
But it would negate Dumbledore's life work, in a sense. He trusted 
someone he shouldn't have, allowed him into Hogwarts & the Order, 
and it led to death and destruction of many of the things he holds 
dear. And the chain is just beginning, the ramifications of 
Dumbledore's huge mistake would mount in Book 7 if Snape truly is 
working at Voldemort's side. If this one is true, the real 
redemption will be Harry righting Dumbledore's wrong. 

Oh, I'm probably overstating it. Hogwarts will re-open and hopefully 
McGonagall will have the power to continue admitting Muggleborns, 
safeguarding the house-elves, centaurs, merepeople and the rest. And 
the Order will support Harry and he'll defeat Voldemort, so no harm 
done if DD made a mistake about Snape, right? *Sigh*. It would be a 
let-down though, to see all the things DD stood for be in doubt, to 
crumble away, causing the loss of more people dear to Harry and 
possibly Harry himself in the end. *Sigh again*. Darn it! Dumbledore 
gave up his life, too! The moment he heard the prophecy and found 
out Voldemort was going to act on it, his life became wrapped up in 
Harry and the prophecy. He deserved to die in dignity *sniff* 

Not that he would care, as long as his picture stays on the 
chocolate frog cards......

Jen