What Did Dumbledore Know and When Did He Know It

[va32h]

No: HPFGUIDX 174471

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman" 
<susiequsie23 at ...> wrote:

(big snip)
> Or am I missing the point altogether?  Did DD not really believe 
> Harry would have to die, and he just lied to Snape?

va32h:

Yes, I think Dumbledore lied to Snape. Well - misdirected. Not unlike 
the way JKR would misdirect, but not outright lie, in her pre-DH 
interviews. 

As soon as Snape makes the "you've been raising him as a pig for 
slaughter" comment, Dumbledore changes the subject and asks Snape if 
he has come to care for Harry. That's not a confirmation or denial. 

So why did Dumbledore lie? Because Dumbledore knew that Snape would 
have to show Harry some sort of "proof" that Snape really was 
trustworthy. Given the longstanding hatred between the two - is Harry 
really going to believe Snape if he just shows up one day and 
announces: 

"Hi Harry, it's me, Snape. Dumbledore told me to tell you that you 
have to let Voldemort kill you because you have a bit of his soul in 
your head. And you have to die willingly, can't even try to fight 
back or anything. No, really, I'm serious. Why are you running away? 
Hey, come back! I swear, it's true! He told me right before I killed 
him on his own orders! Because he was dying anyway! And I've always 
been on your side!"

Clearly - no. That's not going to work. There might be time for Snape 
to drag Harry up to the office and get confirmation from DD's 
portrait, but DD is not the type to put all his eggs in one basket, 
as he's said. Dumbledore does know that Harry is very accustomed to 
seeing and trusting Pensieve memories - and conveniently Harry has 
seen a falsified memory, so he knows what the real thing should look 
like. So why not give Snape a memory that he can give to Harry that 
says exactly what Dumbledore wants Harry to think?

Harry has to believe he's really going to die in order for his 
sacrifice to be a true sacrifice. As good a liar as Snape is - this 
is too important for DD to trust that Snape will be able to 
effectively lie (or be willing to, since Snape was none too keen on 
the "let Harry kill himself" plan in the first place).

It's distressing that Dumbledore lies so easily and to so many 
people - but apparently that *is* DD's style - secrets and lies, as 
his own brother says. In this case, I would consider Dumbledore's lie 
justified - given what's at stake. 

And to go a whole other direction - Dumbledore isn't really sure that 
Harry will be able to come back. He's pretty sure. But not positive. 
Better to be able to say "Surprise! Harry can go back!" 
than "Whoopsie! Harry is really, permanently, dead after all." 
Wouldn't *that* be an awkward moment in the afterlife, for 
Dumbledore, Harry, and Snape.

Snape: You said he'd be able to go back!
Harry: Wait, I was supposed to be able to go back?
Dumbledore (backing away slowly): Look, it was only a guess. My 
guesses aren't always right, you know. 

va32h