R.A.B. Theory/Question - combining ESE!DD (long)

[colwilrin]

No: HPFGUIDX 172027

> 
> *****KATIE REPLIES:

>   While I truly believe DD is exactly what he seems to be - the most 
gifted and intelligent wizard of his time, a nice old man with a loving 
heart, and also slightly arrogant - It would be brilliant to have him 
turn out to be the master of everything that's happened so far...
<SNIP> 
  Katie, hoping that Dumbledore IS what he appears, that Snape is NOT 
what he appears, that Ron and Hermione both survive, and that Harry 
lives a long happy life with Ginny and finally gets to have some peace. 


Colwilrin:

That is my biggest problem with DD...I just can't figure him out.  I 
too, would love to believe that he is this lovable old well meaning 
grandfather figure.  However, then I have to believe that the "greatest 
wizard of our time"...can't figure out the simplest of clues.  That he 
can be outwitted by a very dim Draco and his bumbling side 
kicks...despite the warnings that Harry has given him.  I will also 
have to believe that is off grounds at crucial times "by coincidence".  
This is contrary to canon that shows him as almost omniscient at 
times.  For example...seeing Harry and Ron under the invisibility cloak 
in Hagrid's cabin, knowing that the MOM had moved Harry's hearing up 
and changed the room, etc...  There are just so many inconsistencies 
between how talented we know he is...and the things we must chuck up 
to "mistakes" to believe he is not manipulative.

In the end...I think that he will lie somewhere in between.  
Manipulative enough to harden, and train Harry correctly to do the job 
that must be done...perhaps more manipulative than many of us find 
tasteful.  On the other hand, well meaning enough to try and keep the 
largest of people living safe and normal lives for as long as he could.