[HPforGrownups] Draco and Dumbledore WAS: Re: Dumbledore Does Lie - Sort Of

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 159829

> Alla:
>
> I randomly cut your post to say that absolutely I have the identical
> idea of Dumbledore's motivations, we just disagree on whether he was
> careless in doing it, I suppose.
>
> I will tell you even more, I can totally buy your idea that
> everything that happened on the Tower, except Dumbledore's death,
> may end up helping good guys, unintended consequences and all that.
>
> Unintended consequences are indeed happening all the time in
> Potterverse, like Snape telling the Prophecy to Voldemort brought
> not only the deaths of innocents, but the peace to WW for more than
> decade.
>
> That does not mean that because of unintended good consequences the
> bad action will look any better for me, although maybe you are right
> and everything what happened would be intended consequence, hehe.
>
> I totally get the storyline, I just think that Dumbledore
> concentrated on one soul and neglected many others, but I do not
> think that JKR thinks the way I do.
>
> I think her reasoning is exactly as yours, that it was all worth it.

Magpie:
Just wanted to make the distinction that when I say it's a good plan etc., I 
mean for the story.  It's going to work out because, as I think you're 
saying here, the author means to make a point about Dumbledore's way of 
giving people a chance being the epitome of goodness.  However, your 
argument from an ethical pov is pretty darn valid--it's one thing for 
Dumbledore to risk Draco hurting him, but it becomes clear pretty quickly 
that he's risking the lives of others besides Dumbledore.

I mean, if Ron had died, could Dumbledore's character have survived it? I 
know plenty of readers could be persuaded to just say that Draco did it so 
the responsibility is all his (and obviously there's truth in that) and not 
Dumbledore's fault but really...wouldn't it be a little creepy that Ron died 
as part of this kind of plan:  "I just heard that a girl got killed here 
last week and you knew it and you let people go swimming anyway!"

-m

-m