What Did Dumbledore Know and When Did He Know It

[colebiancardi]

No: HPFGUIDX 174444

SSSusan wrote:
<after much snipping>
> Or am I missing the point altogether?  Did DD not really believe 
> Harry would have to die, and he just lied to Snape?
> 
> Thoughts? Opinions?
> 

colebiancardi:

As I am not all together thrilled with the version 3.4.7 Dumbledore,
the only saving grace for him, in my eyes, is that he didn't know for
sure and he didn't lie to Snape.  The only thing that I can think of
that could back up my PoV is that conversation in King's Cross - where
DD & Harry discuss the Elder Wand and Snape's demise:

DD speaking:
"Poor Severus...."
"If you planned your death with Snape, you meant him to end up with
the Elder Wand, didn't you?"
"I admit that was my intention," said Dumbledore, "but it did not work
as I intended, did it?"
"No," said Harry.  "That bit didn't work out."
The creature behind them jerked and moaned, and Harry and Dumbledore
sat without talking for the longest  time yet.
DH US Hardcover p 721

Dumbledore is not a seer.  He makes guesses, as he states about the
whole Harry death thing (p710)

His guesses have been usually good (paraphrasing DD here), but he
*has* made mistakes before.  He failed to save Harry's parents, he
failed to convince them to make him the Secret Keeper;  he failed to
see that Sirius was not the murderer;  he failed at recognizing
Fake!Mad-Eye; he failed at recognizing that Snape & Harry would not
work well at the Occlumency lessons - just to name a few.

DD was taking a calculated risk here.  He told Snape the worst case
scenerio, imho.  I do agree that Harry could not know his fate until
the last possible moment - otherwise, Harry might get cold feet or try
to find another solution instead.  Heck, I would.  

DD is the general in this war.  He does put people he cares about at
risk.  I do not believe he was lying to Snape about "Harry must die" -
DD knew that was a possible outcome.   I think DD *left* out the other
outcome on purpose, however.  If DD told Snape about his guesses,
would Snape have held back the "Harry must die" possible outcome?  He
might.  Afterall, Snape's reasons were for Lily and by proxy, Lily's
only offspring.

JMHO

colebiancardi