DH reread CH 9-11

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186410

> > Alla:
> > But hey, at least you have not been manipulated into fighting by playing on your guilt over the death of the woman you loved, OR you had not been manipulated into return to Hogwarts by using the son of the same woman who was your favorite student.
> 
> Zara:
> Snape and Sluggy are big boys, they can make these sorts of decisions for themselves.

Alla:

Well, yeah they could the question for me remain would have they made the same decision without one white bearded man manipulating them, IMO?

Zara: 
> In Sluggy's case, I did not even get a vibe that it was sentiment that brought him to Hogwarts. He saw the opportunity that teaching the Chosen One presented, and it was also pointed out to him that Hogwarts might actually be a fairly safe place to be. Is pointing out previously overlooked advantages of a course of action even manipulation? 

Alla:

Well, I guess we differ on this one. I felt Albus exploited Harry's green eyes and him being Lily's son to the full advantage, even if he was not talking much about it.

And actually, it is a good question, I mean if Albus truly wanted him to come and teach and to a relatively safe place, I guess I would still consider it manipulation, but  of more harmless variety.

But to me the only reason Albus wanted him to come was to make it easier for him to *take a stub* at getting a memory and then to let Harry loose at him. To me it is a masterful manipulation.

Zara:
Now, *Harry* did play on Sluggie's emotions to get that memory.<g>

Alla:

Well **of course** he did! Per Albus' persistent requests he did that. Albus taught Harry many things and I do not consider many of them to be a good things to learn.

Zara:
And Albus was dead when Slughorn decided to come back for a second year, and long dead when Sluggie decided it would be a fine idea to duel Voldemort himself.

Alla:

Ah yes, Sluggy turned out to be a braver and better person than Albus ever expected IMO.

Of course he made all those decisions without Albus, you are totally right. The thing is I do not really find it relevant to determine whether he was badly manipulated, just as I do not find a fact that Erlein  from "Tigana" saved Alessan and his gang's asses several times and took his cause. I still find what Alessan did to be unforgivable and while Albus did not enslave Sluggy against his will, I find what he did to be of the same variety, even if much milder one (Sluggy could refuse of course, but I think Albus knew damn well that he could not while looking at Lily's eyes, that it really was not a choice for Sluggy)

JMO,

Alla