Harry without Dumbledore

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 169128

---  "Lauren Merryfield" <lauren1 at ...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> A concern I have with the upcoming DH is that if
> Dumbledore is really gone, how will Harry get the help
> he needs? So far, Dumbledore has always helped Harry.
> 
> Especially if Harry does not go back to Hogwarts, so
> he can't go to what was Dumbledore's study to
> communicate with Dumbledore's portrait, I wonder how
> Harry will get the help he needs finding all of the
> Horcruxes and dealing with You-Know-Who?
> Thanks
> Lauren


bboyminn:

I think Bart has the right idea in general. True with
Dumbledore gone one really huge asset is lost, and I 
think, ultimately, that is true for every fictional
hero; in the end they must go it alone. 

Still Harry is not without resources. As I've said 
many times before, Harry has Bill Weasley to teach 
him and help him with Curse Breaking. Curse Breaking
is difficult and dangerous, especially since you 
are dealing with unknown curses, probably very old
and likely cast in long dead languages. Those are
exactly the skills Dumbledore displayed in the
Cave in HBP. Those are exactly the skills Harry will 
need to safely find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes,
and Bill is the man to teach Harry those skills.

Harry also has Remus Lupin and Mad-Eye Moody to help
him the offensive and defensive curses, jinxes, and
spells. Moody is one of the most famous and effective
Aurors, though it irritates me to no end that now in
retirement, he gets no respect. Certainly he has a 
wide range of skills to offer Harry. Remus, while
somewhat shabby, still seems a very competent, 
knowledgeable, and skilled wizard; he certainly has
something to offer Harry.

Arthur Weasley (and a few other Order members) work
for the Ministry, which should allow Harry inside
information, and when the time is right, inside
access to important Ministry actions and policies.

So, while one very  important man is lost, there are
several people, who as a collective group, come 
close to Dumbledore.

As to Harry not going back to Hogwarts...hog wash!
There is a big difference between deciding not to
continue his schooling and declaring never to set
foot in Hogwarts again. Harry certainly has NOT
declare to never enter Hogwarts again, he simply
can't be bothered with school lessons. 

Certainly Harry will return to the school many times,
and he certainly will have free access to Dumbledore's
portrait when ever he needs it. If nothing else, Phineas
can carry messages to and from Dumbledore. In addition,
I suspect the Gang will come to Hogwarts to use the 
library when they need to. 

Personally, I am expecting Harry to revisit the Chamber
of Secrets, as well as the Room of Requirements, and the
blocked secret passage behind the mirror. The Chamber 
seems like a good place to hide a Horcrux, or if the 
school is attacked, seems like a good place to hide 
some students.

True Dumbledore was a great loss, but what can we (or
Harry) do, people die, and the rest of us have no
choice but to muddle through and do the best we can.

Just a few thoughts.
Steve/bboyminn