Draco and Dumbledore

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 160155

> Renee:
> <SNIP>
> Are we dealing with a Dumbledore who has to choose repeatedly 
> between two evils, instead of between what's right and what's
> easy? If this is the case, the series would actually gain depth
> for me, because in reality, choices aren't always between what's
> right and what's easy, and suggesting they are has always struck
> me as a bit simplistic. It also saves Dumbledore's character for
> me, because he realises he takes guilt upon himself, one way or 
> another, but is prepared to do so for the greater good. Also, I
> can retain more respect for JKR as a writer than if she made him
> choose the way he did because of plot demands.

Jen: Speaking from outside the story, JKR created a difficult 
character in Dumbledore as both the headmaster of a school and the 
leader of a covert military operation. Conflicts of interest between 
safeguarding young people under his care and strategizing military 
plans are inevitable. We see that most plainly in the events we 
argue about over and over---placing Harry at the Dursleys, Snape 
teaching at Hogwarts, Draco in HBP, etc. 

I believe JKR's intent is to show that Dumbledore views the two 
roles as one in the same: "If I don't neutralize the threat out 
there, how do I protect the children in here? If my plans don't make 
the WW a safer place to live, will my students suffer when they 
leave my protection?"  The problem by HBP is that the threat is both 
*inside* Hogwarts and the threat is a student. Voldemort's double 
whammy. 


Alla:
> Does it make sense to you? I just think that whether in fictional 
> reality or even in RL the leader, the politician who has
> supposedly **right** or **light** objectives in mind, should at
> least enter the fight **trying** to choose what is right, not 
> between two evils.
> 
> There would be plenty of times when life will force to make tough 
> choices, but I guess what I am trying to say is that Dumbledore 
> who makes those choices has to still remember that they are
> **wrong**, even if both of those choices are wrong.


Jen: You don't think he knows he's made wrong choices? I know the 
subtle little ways JKR attempts to show Dumbledore feels pain about 
his choices is not enough for people sometimes, but they have always 
been enough for me. And if the twinkle leaving his eyes or the tear 
aren't enough, the cave was particularly brutal. I used to think 
Dumbledore was experiencing pain over one particular incident; now I 
wonder if it wasn't his whole *life* he was lamenting there: "Don't 
hurt them, please,....hurt me instead." How many times he must have 
wished to take on the pain of others, only to sit on his hands and 
allow them their fate. How many times he must have tried to 
intervene and failed, *causing* the pain. 

No matter the times his choices are not my choices, as Renee said, I 
don't doubt he tried to discern the 'right' choice from the options 
placed before him. I find leaders who shrink from making choices or 
shrink from the consequences more bothersome than a leaders who make 
critical mistakes and can feel agony about them. 


Pippin:
> Finding traces of a rat in the baby's cradle is bad, but the thing
> about rats, as with Death Eaters, is that there's always a lot
> more than one. So which protects the baby better: getting rid of a
> lone rat? Or keeping watch and hoping it will lead you to the hole?

Jen: Well, both of course--you kill the rat and keep looking for the 
hole <g>. But since we're talking about human lives and not rats, 
killing Draco was not an option. Neutralizing him, setting non-
lethal traps, attempting to follow him to the hole--yes. I think 
most people who disagree with DD don't believe he did enough of 
option B.

Pippin:
> And they did find the hole! The way into Hogwarts through the
> vanishing cabinet was discovered and no child was killed or
> bitten. Would that be the case if Draco was hustled off and the
> problem was deemed solved?

Jen: Good point about the hole, thankfully it was plugged up before 
Voldemort decided to raid Hogwarts and set up shop there. Though 
with Dumbledore gone, presumably he will do so anyway.

Jen R.