Trust in Dumbledore WAS: Re: The Statute of Secrecy

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 158962

> > Pippin:
> > 
>   While we readers know that 
> > Dumbledore is supposed to be the epitome of goodness
> > and everyone else would be better off if they just did what
> > he said, the characters don't know it. 
> 
> a_svirn:
> Actually, the events of HBP demonstrated that that's exactly the 
> wrong attitude. It's no thanks to Dumbledore that his students are 
> still alive. It's because Harry didn't do as he was bid and took 
> necessarily precautions.


Alla:

Yes, a_svirn, I agree and I still keep hoping and keeping my fingers 
crossed that one of the lessons of the books would be that second 
hand trust, even in the wise and powerful leader is wrong, that 
people should be thinking for themselves. 

I am preparing the discussion for chapter 25 and I so laughed 
through tears when I reread this quote ( I would have said Duh!, if 
Dumbledore would not be so dead and would not have paid the highest 
price).

"Do you think that I have once left the school unprotected during my 
absences this year? I have not. Tonight, when I leave there will be 
additional protection in place. Please do not suggest that I do not 
take the safety of my students seriously, Harry." - HBP, p.550, 
paperback.

Rrrrright, Headmaster - very seriously indeed. :(

In any event - there is actually a question I want to ask here 
instead of saving it for this chapter discussion.

I know we discussed this one over and over, but I am drawing a 
blank, what were the suggestions about the *additional protection** 
Dumbledore is talking about?

Help me or send me a link to relevant post, pretty please? :)



> Magpie:
<SNIP>
> I don't know it either, actually.  In fact, I think the fact that 
all too 
> many characters do think that Dumbledore is the epitome of 
goodness and 
> everyone else would be better if they just did what he said is one 
of the
> bad things about the universe as they know it.  Not because he's 
bad, or I 
> think he's never right, but because that seems to be exactly the 
kind of
> attitude JKR doesn't want in general (I don't like it myself), so 
why on 
> earth does Dumbledore seems to encourage it? <snip> 
> If Dumbledore is good he should be able to be more transparent, 
explaining 
> things to people to show them what he's doing.  <SNIP>


Alla:

Okay, I again randomly cut off your post, hoping to leave the main 
idea in, that is that this is the kind of attitude JKR does not want.

Absolutely, as I said above I hope so and I so like your example 
about Harry seeing for himself that Draco did not kill Dumbledore 
and not relying on anybody else later on. This is perfect and just  
may come into play.

Now, I am of course not saying that trust in Dumbledore words is 
always wrong, but yeah, we do disagree about whether his trust in 
Snape was wrong or not :)

JMO,

Alla