Dumbledore as a judge of character (Was:Why DD did not ask Snape to kill him

[vexingconfection]

No: HPFGUIDX 166076

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...>
wrote:
> Dumbledore also trusts another powerful wizard who demonstrates
> pettiness, childishness, and immaturity: Sirius Black
<snip>
> That aside, let's look at the people Dumbledore trusts (perhaps not
> as completely as he trusts Snape). We can start with Harry, whom he
> loves and admires and from whom he withholds information only
> because Harry is too young, not yet ready, or because the link with
> Voldemort is too strong (in OoP). <snip> And DD sldo trusts Ron and
> Hermione, to whom he allows Harry to confide the Prophecy and the
> existence of the Horcruxes. He trusts Hagrid with his life (but
> perhaps not with his secrets). He trusts the members of the Order
> with the knowledge that Voldemort is back before that becomes
> common knowledge and with helping him in the fight against LV.
<snip>
> He doesn't trust Trelawney enough to make her an Order member
> apparently, but he keeps her at Hogwarts, even allowing her to
> share classes with Firenze, because it's the only way to protect
> her.
<snip>
> But Dumbledore never trusted Tom Riddle, even as an eleven-year-old
> boy. So where and when has Dumbledore been wrong as a judge of
> character? I don't see it.
<snip>



Absolutely brilliant! Well thought out and particularly insightful.

I think JKR is very keen in regard to human nature.  Just being immature does not mean a person is untrustworthy. What I would be interested in knowing is how can Dumbledore, who is so intelligent that he surprises himself, always be so trusting?

You mentioned Tom Riddle-DD gave him a chance. Why? Trelawny has made several actual forecasts, yet he does not trust her.  Why?

And, just because, I want you to explain something else to me:  why did every prediction made by Ron and Harry in GOF come true? Is it a testament to friendship or something that will be used in this coming book or just something thrown in to make it interesting?

Thanks for your patience.
Vexingconfection