Dumbledore's actions again. WAS: Re: Snape and the "Chosen One" /JKR listening

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 153813

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Tonks" <tonks_op at ...> wrote:
>

> Tonks:
> Why DD did nothing to protect Harry from the Dursleys is a question 
> that comes up here time and again. And the arguments on both sides 
> get very heated.  I think that the answer is that the author wants 
> to point out to children that sometimes bad things happen and even 
> the wisest and most loving of Wizards can do nothing to prevent it. 
> 
> Simple as that. 
> 


Well, if that's what JKR is trying to do she's done a spectacularly 
bad job of it.  Because there are MANY things DD could have done to 
prevent this particular "bad thing" from happening -- starting with 
making a wiser decision in the first place.  And having found out 
that he made a bad decision, or at least one that didn't come out as 
he hoped, there were many actions he could have taken to correct it.

To return to a metaphor I used recently, when you come across a 
counterfeit bill you have no obligation to just shrug and say "well, 
these bad things happen in any economy."  When you run across a 
severe problem with character and action in the Potterverse, you are 
under no obligation to give JKR any sort of break because "the plot 
wouldn't work otherwise" or "she's trying to send a message."  
Merchants and banks should beware of counterfeit bills and authors 
should beware using inconsistency of character and gaping plot holes 
to move the story along or to send a message.


Lupinlore