Sending the Trio after the Hallows (Re: Dumbledore)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 177426

Pippin:
> Dumbledore explains in detail why he sent Harry after the Hallows
> while withholding so much information about them. He wanted Harry
> to have them so that Harry would know there was nothing to fear
> in death, but he was afraid that  if he made it too easy, Harry 
> would misuse the Hallows as Dumbledore had done. He begs
> Harry's forgiveness for not trusting him more. 

Jen: I read it as fitting in with Harry's quest to learn the truth 
about Dumbledore and himself, that the Hallows were important for 
Harry's past as the last descendent of Ignotus Peverell and owner of 
one of the Hallows.  Plus, Dumbledore expected Voldemort to seek out 
the Elder Wand.  Since Harry never learned Occlumency, he'd be able 
to see this happening and might leave the Horcruxes to find out what 
Voldemort was after.  Learning the truth about the Hallows and 
himself in the process is what stopped Harry from seeking the wand 
instead of the Horcruxes: "And I am meant to know, but not to seek?  
Did you know how hard I'd find that?  Is that why you made it this 
difficult?  So I'd have time to work that out?" (DH, chap. 24, p.483, 
Am. ed.)

Pippin: 
> As it unfolds, it can really only have been the Stone that 
> Dumbledore wanted Harry to use.
> 
> Harry already had the cloak. Snape was supposed to have had the  
> wand, and, presumably to know what it was, because otherwise
> Dumbledore could not have been sure that Snape would take it.
<snip>
> It's not clear what Dumbledore expected Snape to do with
> the (secretly) disempowered wand but it might have kept 
> Voldemort from attacking him, since Voldemort knew
> he'd come so close to being beaten by that wand at
> the MoM. It's interesting that Snape raises a wand in
> the Shrieking Shack but apparently decides not to fight.
<snip>
> Dumbledore's "Poor Severus" remark suggests he didn't
> intend for Snape to die as he did. That this contradicts
> "Don't pity the dead" suggests two intriguing possibilities:
> one, that Snape isn't dead (I wish!) or more likely, IMO,
> at this point Harry has worked out for himself that no 
> one who has not abused their soul as thoroughly as
> Voldemort did has anything to fear from death. 

Jen:  What is explicit in the story is that Dumbledore planned for 
Snape to end up with the wand, and for the Trio to seek the Hallows 
since he prepared his will before his death.  If Draco hadn't 
disarmed DD, I speculate he expected Hermione to trace the wand to 
Snape at about the time Snape was ready to reveal his memories to 
Harry, thus they might work together.  That sounds like an Optimistic!
Dumbledore plan to me.  Perhaps the idea was for Harry to finish off 
the Horcruxes and Snape to actually kill LV if Harry didn't end up 
surviving (or even if he did).  For one thing, that would clear 
Snape's name.  Snape qualifies as a wizard of uncommon skill and 
power, especially with the element of surprise on his side and the 
Elder wand.  But, 'that but didn't work out' and Draco was the master.

Jen