HBP CH 17-19 Post DH Look

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 184376

"He accused me of being Dumbledore's man through and through."
"How very rude of him."
"I told him I was."
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Behind 
Harry, Fawkes the phoenix let out a low, soft, musical cry. To 
Harry's intense embarrassment, he suddenly realized that Dumbledore's 
bright blue eyes looked rather watery, and started hastily at his own 
knees. When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady.
"I am very touched, Harry" - p.358


Alla:

Interesting. I did remember the gist of this conversation before I 
reread the chapter, but I did not remember Dumbledore's *watery* eyes.

I wonder whether in light of the DH revelations Dumbledore may think 
that to be called Dumbledore's man is not that big of an honor for 
Harry and more of an honor for Dumbledore that he may not think he 
deserves that much. Because after book 6 I just thought it was a 
sentimental acknowledgement or something.


"And Morfin never realized he hadn't done it?"
"Never," said Dumbledore. "He gave, as I say, a full and boastful 
confession."
"But he had this real memory in him all the time!"
"Yes, but it took a great deal of skilled Legilimency to coax it out 
of him," said Dumbledore. " and why should  anybody delve further 
into Morfin's mind when he had already confessed to the crime? 
However, I was able to secure a visit to Morfin in the last weeks of 
his life, by which time I was attempting to discover as much as I 
could about Voldemort's past. I extracted this memory with 
difficulty. When I saw what it contained, I attempted to use it to 
secure Morfin's release from Azkaban. Before the Ministry reached 
their decision, however, Morfin had died" - p.368


Alla:

Ouch. I was always angry at Dumbledore for not helping Sirius, but I 
honestly never connected this with Sirius' plight.

Now tell me, I am not crasy, right? This happened at least several 
years earlier before Godric Hollow and Sirius' arrest? Yeah, math is 
not my strong suit either, lol.

SO if it is happened much earlier, Dumbledore already **knows** of 
the precedent that somebody can be framed for murder. I mean, of 
course circumstances are not exactly alike, but I believe that the 
key point here is framing for murder. He extracted a memory with 
legilimency and he did not even bother to try that with Sirius, who 
was one of his soldiers? Ugh.

On the other hand, here I see another very understandable reason why 
Dumbledore is in no great hurry to go out of his way to cooperate 
with Ministry. Not that I fully justify him, but it looks to me as if 
he got burned more than once on that in the past.


"Professor Slughorn is an extremely able wizard who will be expecting 
both," said Dumbledore. "He is much more accomplished at Occlumency 
than poor Morfin gaunt, and I would be astonished  if he has not 
carried an antidote to Veritaserum with him ever since I coerced him 
into giving me this travesty of recollection" - p.372


Alla:

Did Dumbledore ever wanted Horace back in school for any other 
purpose other than getting a memory from him? I really am not sure 
anymore. I mean I always thought it was a part of the reason, but I 
was hoping that he really wanted him as teacher too.


"It's terrible," growled Hagrid into his beard, as the three of them 
walked back along the corridor to the marble staircase. "All this new 
security, an' kids are still gettin' hurt... Dumbledore's worried 
sick... He don't say  much, but I can tell..." - p.404

Alla:

You sure about that Hagrid? I mean, as you kindly informed us 
Dumbledore is not saying much, maybe you just reconstructed what you 
would like Dumbledore to think?

Because if he is so worried sick about kids getting hurt, maybe it 
makes some sort of sense to apprehend the one who is hurting them?


"And Harry Potter's now having an argument with his Keeper," said 
Luna serenely, while both Hufflepuffs and Slytherins below in the 
crowd cheered and jeered. " I don't think that' ll help him find the 
Snitch, but maybe it's a clever ruse..." - p.414


Alla:

I laughed over this commentary. If Luna had more moments like that, I 
would have liked her so much more.