ChapDisc: DH 18, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 182713

Pippin:
<SNIP>
I don't think Dumbledore thought of himself as acting for the greater
good after Ariana died. I think he believed he had to act for the good
of those like Ariana who had no power and no voice. That
explains, I think, the seeming shifts in his policy, so that, for
instance, he took heed for young Tom's Muggle victims but left the WW
to its own devices. It also accounts for his championing of
werewolves, giants, Muggleborns, Dobby and others like them.

Alla:

Okay, this is very nicely said, so you are arguing that DD decided to 
fight only for those who are weaker in different aspects, yes?


Pippin:
 It might
even explain why he was hands-off with the Dursleys. Who was really
the weaker party? The magical and possibly deathless child or the
mean-spirited but merely mortal and Muggle Dursleys?

Alla:

Child I would say without any doubt IMO. Ariana was also a magical 
child, yes? And she was attacked by three little muggle creeps and 
hurt very badly. So I do not know how many times Dursleys could have 
damage Harry, irrevocably that is IMO. Thanks Dumbledore.


Pippin:
<SNIP>
So Dumbledore goofed. But was his plan needlessly risky? Wouldn't
information about the Order's plans have reached Voldemort even if
Snape hadn't revealed it? I think that was a real possibility, since I
know of no reason that Voldemort couldn't have forced an Order member
to talk as easily as Snape did.

If Snape had not produced the information, Voldemort would have tried
to get it elsewhere, and doubtless he would have succeeded. Surely he
wouldn't simply have taken the Ministry's information as a given.

Alla:

See this part I do not get at all. It is not like plan gets to 
Voldemort by accident. Dumbledore deliberately, I repeat deliberately 
tells Snape to **deliver information**. What does Dumbledore think 
Voldemort will do with it if not attack?

So yes I think plan was not also needlessly risky, but treacherous 
towards other order members and what is the most annoying I still do 
not understand what was the underlying reasoning of Dumbledore 
wanting Voldemort to know except to get few people killed before 
their time. Oh, he actually did.

And heee, you are saying Voldemort would have hunted for information? 
SURE, but why make it easy on him? Maybe he would have gotten it 
maybe not, but that would not be because White bearded man or his 
portrait betrayed the information to Voldemort.

Pippin:
IMO the "epitome of goodness" remark needs to be considered in
context. JKR was answering a question about whether writing good
characters was boring, and her answer applied to the characters she
created, not good people in general, IMO. Was there a better example
than Dumbledore of a good character in the books at that time?

Alla:

Oh that lovely remark again. Where JKR does says that DD is an 
epitome of goodness among her characters? How I wish she would never 
said it, ever. But hey, as I said I love her interviews, but do not 
always agree with them.

I have no problem with her lying in the interviews to protect plot. I 
think she was entitled to. I just wish she did not open her mouth and 
said she never did lie. I find it hard to interpret this remark as 
anything but lie OR if I am generous the biggest joke from her ever.