The Statute of Secrecy

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 158978

> a_svirn:
> That's interesting. So if I show a fake id to an immigration officer
> do I cheat him of anything? It's not like I deprive them of money or
> property.
>

Pippin:
Well, you'd be cheating everyone in the country including the officer
by depriving them of the ability to regulate their borders.

a_svirn:
And Dumbledore cheated Mrs. Cole of her ability to regulate her
orphanage. 

Pippin:
But if you are the immigration officer, and you know that
the foreign and uneducated people you're dealing with
would be bewildered by your actual credentials but will
understand a fake tin star, would you be defrauding them
by using it?

a_svirn:
Setting aside the underlying arrogance of that example and its
doubtful relevance to the Dumbledore-Cole situation, would you mind
explaining just what an immigration officer could use a tin star for?
Then I could decide whether such actions can be qualified as
defrauding. Although, to be accurate, we where discussing forgery, not
defrauding.   

Pippin:
Who's to say that the Order wouldn't have been able
to stop the DE invasion in its tracks if they hadn't had
students to defend? They might never have needed to send
for Snape.

a_svirn:
I don't remember from canon that members of the order defended
students in HBP. I remember that they were fighting together as
equals. Better even, thanks to Harry's forethought (I guess, Bill
could use the lucky potion that night). And from what Tonks said they
were rather relieved to see Snape at first. 

Besides, whether or not phoenixes could stop the invasion, surely,
Dumbledore's place should have been in his school when the invasion
occurred. If only he listened to Harry he would have been there.