In defense of DD WAS musings on Dumbledore - Even Longer/Sirius and DD

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 158684

<snip>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> But sure, it is Sirius own fault that Dumbledore did not bother to
> investigate further and once deciding that he is guilty, went with
> it. ;)
> 
> Sirius agreed to decision made by great Albus Dumbledore.
> Reluctantly, if I may say. Per Hagrid, he **argued**. He should not
> have been agreed of course. Just take the kid and leave, but since
> he had his mind bent on revenge, well, I suppose he did not want to
> endanger Harry further.
> 
> Again, not a good thing, revenge that is. Understandable to me, but
> not good.

Julie:
Yet you stated earlier that Sirius *didn't* relinquish his 
guardianship of Harry, when in fact he did, whether because revenge 
weighed stronger in his priorities at the moment, or he thought Harry 
would actually *be* safer at the Dursleys. It doesn't really matter 
if Sirius **argued** or *****argued***** or ***ARGUED!!!!*** ;-) 
However much he argued and for whatever reason he acquiesced, he did 
allow Hagrid to take Harry to Dumbledore to be placed with the 
Dursleys. 

In essence Sirius GAVE UP any claim to guardianship at that point. 
(Certainly he could have fought to get the guardianship back at a 
later point when things settled down and he was done hunting Rat--and 
if he hadn't ended up in Azkaban of course--but at the moment of 
Godric's Hollow he definitely reliquished it). This seems pretty 
clear to me, though apparently it isn't to everyone. Why is this?


<<snip>>

Alla:
> I am really unhappy to go against author's intent and I know what 
> JKR intends with DD, I think, but DD who plays God, but who is not 
> really God, deserves a major slap IMO.
>  

Julie:
Maybe you think he's *playing* God because you are MAKING him out to 
be God. Especially this idea that it was Dumbledore's responsibility 
to keep Sirius out of Azkaban in the first place. WHY is this 
Dumbledore's responsibility?? He's the Headmaster at Hogwarts, he 
knows Sirius from when he was a student but we have no indication 
that he knew Sirius any better or had any closer relationship with 
him than he does with, say, Dean Thomas. Why would he be expected to 
have some great insight into Sirius, so great he automatically 
suspects or knows that Sirius *isn't* guilty of betraying the 
Potter's secret, when every single bit of evidence points directly to 
that guilt?

Dumbledore isn't judge, jury or executioner in this matter, he's 
nothing more than one witness who told the only truth he knew, that 
James had told him Sirius was the secret-keeper. But the fact that he 
didn't go beyond that, didn't step out of his own position as 
Headmaster at Hogwarts and take over the WW court system and take on 
the case of one student out of thousands he's watched pass through 
Hogwarts who was to all appearances very guilty of the crime, makes 
*Dumbledore* the guilty one. And isn't it just too bad someone who 
actually KNEW Sirius well, McGonagall, Lupin, perhaps other former 
student friends, apparently didn't bother to vouch for him--or more 
accurately, BELIEVED he was guilty? Yet Dumbledore should have some 
sort of omniscient realization of Sirius's innocence. God, indeed.

Of course Dumbledore isn't God, not even close. He can't stop Fudge, 
he can't stop Umbridge, he can't even maintain his position at 
Hogwarts when politics rears its ugly head, but he should have saved 
Sirius from his ignominous fate? Uh huh.

Also, I know part of your reference to Dumbledore playing God, Alla, 
is him taking Harry to the Dursleys. But he didn't play God there, 
because he had Sirius's permission, however reluctantly it may have 
been given. And his action was precipitated by Lily's sacrifice and 
the blood protection it provided, an unforseen circumstance that 
required an unforseen resolution. 

Nope, no God-like Dumbledore anywhere that I can see ;-)

Julie