The Isolated Headmaster: Implications for Snape and Harry

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 163723

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at ...> 
wrote:
>
> 
<SNIP>
> 
> Pippin:
> Watch, yes. But interfere? 
> 
> Do you think the head of the CIA interferes every time there's
> a personality conflict between his agents? Dumbledore
> believed, right or wrong, that Snape's conflict with Harry had
> nothing to do with Voldemort. It wasn't his business as Head
> of the Order unless it interfered with Order business. Then
> indeed, he realized that he should have taught Harry 
> occlumency himself.

Well, speaking as someone who's had some experience with both the CIA 
and the NSA, as well as  various Pentagon intelligence agencies, the 
agents' handlers most certainly do interfere, if they have good case 
management skills and they want things to proceed smoothly.  The 
question here is "rightly or wrongly."  I think what Alla and I are 
saying is that Dumbledore is showing severe mistakes here, and those 
mistakes have moral ramifications.
> 

> 
>  Harry, struggle though he might, was not failing potions and has 
> never failed any course with Snape except occlumency. It would 
> make sense if Dumbledore didn't interfere until then, given his
> detached style and his determination not to single Harry out
> for special treatment.
> 

Simply because Dumbledore has a pattern of mistakes and bad behavior 
does not excuse that behavior.  Nor does the fact that the Wizarding 
World is a reprehensible dystopia excuse anything about Hogwarts or 
Dumbledore's policies.  Dumbledore's consent to Snape's abuse of 
Harry, like his consent to the Dursley's abuse of Harry, sets up a 
deep moral conflict at the heart of the character -- a conflict that 
severely undermines the messages about him that Rowling clearly wants 
to get across.


Lupinlore