Dumbledore's authority WAS: Re: Fees for Harry

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 179403

---"dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> 
> >> bboyminn:
> <SNIP>
> > So, yes, Dumbledore took it upon himself to decide Harry's
> > fate. He did so openly, and with no objections from any 
> > other member of the Order, who were likely the people 
> > closest to the Potters. Sirius offered no objection when 
> > Hagrid took Harry on Dumbledore's orders. <SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Um, yes he did object. Not enough, sure. But he objected.
> 

bboyminn:

I don't think Sirius objected at Godrics Hollow, I think
he simply had an alternate suggestion, and when Hagrid
explained that Dumbledore had a plan to protect Harry, 
Sirius relented ... for now. 

To the best of my recollection, since I can't find the
passage, Sirius offered to take Harry from Hagrid, though
we don't have a direct quote, Hagrid seems to have explained
that he was taking Harry on Dumbledore's order so Dumbledore
could protect him. Sirius relented ... for now.

Again, I keep saying 'for now' because I don't think Sirius
believed for one moment that he was totally abdicating his
rights as guardian. He was simply allowing Dumbledore to have
control while the situation was so volatile. Of course, 
Sirius immediately got himself arrested, so that sort of
curtailed any guardian activities on his part.

> 
> bboyminn:
> <SNIP>
> > Dumbledore had control because the people who counted and
> > eventually the Ministry allowed him that control. 
> <SNIP>
> 
> Alla:
> 
> Sure, members of the Order blindly followed Dumbledore. They
> blindly followed Dumbledore when they did not bother to check
> on Harry till he turned eleven.

bboyminn:

Not quite true. Harry had several encounters with wizards and
witches in his life. Wizards and witches that we eventually
discover were members of the Order. Dedalus Diggle bowed to 
Harry in a shop one day, and Dedalus was thrilled that Harry
remembered him. 

Plus, Mrs. Figg was always on the scene keeping tabs on Harry.
Now it is clear that Harry wasn't treated the best, but being
treated bad is far better than being dead. 

Further since Harry didn't die and wasn't attacked at Privet
Drive, Dumbledore's choice seems pretty sound. 

> Alla:
>
> They blindly followed Dumbledore when Dumbledore 
> forbade them to tell Harry about prophecy ....
> 
> They blindly followed Dumbledore in their trust of Snape..
> 
> I do not see that it in any way reduces Dumbledore's 
> responsibility as I perceive it, just shows their blind 
> faith in Dumbledore IMO, for which I sure hold them 
> responsible.
> 
> JMO,
> 
> Alla
>

bboyminn:

Yes, precisely, they trusted Dumbledore, he was their accepted
and respected leader, so they let him lead, and they followed.
That is how these things work. Dumbledore may not have
ultimately been great, but he was the best they had, and he
was the man with the plan. A plan that, by the way, ultimately
worked.

As to what Dumbledore is responsible for, I'm not quite sure.
Well, I know what he is accused of, but war is never clean.
To fight war, even wars that haven't started yet, people
have to get their hands dirty. Yes, Dumbledore had dirt on
his hands. He had to make dark and terrible decision. But
again those decisions ultimately worked out and paid off.
So where's the problem?

Steve/bboyminn