GingerNewt/RescuingGoyle/TrustingRemusOrPeter/HarryChildhood/DracoRedemption

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 186637


> 
> Pippin wrote in <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/186555>:
> 
> << Do you think Goyle cared that one of the people who saved him from burning to death was a Dark Arts supporter and another had once used the cruciatus curse and they're possibly not sorry about it? Who cares whether they're sorry or not? >>

Catlady:
> Shouldn't the bit after "Do you think Goyle cared that one of the people who saved him from burning to death was" be "a Dark Arts *opponent*"? Considering that GOyle himself was a Dark Arts supporter and a Voldemort supporter, he may have been confused about having been saved by an enemy of his side. (Altho', being Goyle, he might be confused even without a reason.)

Pippin:
I was counting Draco as one of the people who saved Goyle. My point was that a willingness to risk your own life to save others is  a stronger indication of human feeling than regret for past acts or beliefs. 

Catlady:
> I assumed that every time that 'someone' (Wormtail) told Voldemort where the Potters were hiding, one of DD's spies (Snape?) told DD that LV knew, so the Potters moved to a new hiding place many times during that year. Maybe DD suggested the Fidelius because they were running out of hiding places. Or maybe because LV had started getting the information more quickly (due to questioning Wormtail more frequently).

Pippin:
Once Peter had the Dark Mark, he could communicate instantly with Voldemort, as could the other marked DE's. This *huge* advantage is probably why the DE's were winning. It must have been galling for Dumbledore, who knew about the mark from Snape, but would have to keep up with the fruitless and useless task of tracking the suspects' movements for appearances' sake. But that also meant that no matter how closely he watched Sirius, Dumbledore could never satisfy himself that Sirius wasn't in contact with Voldemort. 

I think Sirius reminded Dumbledore all too much of Grindelwald: brilliant, handsome, laughing, reckless, a Dark Arts background and a friendship with another boy who was equally brilliant and far too trusting. I think Dumbledore was willing to trust Sirius at first but never really liked him. And maybe he took Pettigrew's loyalty for granted because Pettigrew reminded him of dim but faithful Elphias Doge.

Dumbledore never went to visit Grindelwald or Sirius while they were imprisoned. It could be he was afraid of what he might do to them. Both had harmed people whom Dumbledore loved and he knew there was no one in the wizarding world who would or could call Dumbledore to account if they died. Grindelwald was the person that Dumbledore didn't kill because he didn't have to. Maybe he didn't trust himself to make that choice twice.
 
> Steve winterfell thinks in <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/186599>:
> 
> << considering his childhood, that Harry turned out pretty well.>>
> 
> What was Dumbledore thinking when he left the Chosen One to be raised like that? 

Catlady:
> One theory: he hadn't known that the Dursleys would be so cruel to Harry, and he didn't watch over Harry observantly enough to find out about it, or when he did find out, it was too late to do anything about it. Another theory: he thought that Harry would grow up being compassionate as a result of being on the receiving end of cruelty. Why would he think an unprecedented thing like that?

Pippin:
It's a myth that most abused children become abusers themselves. Harry is prone to depression and anger, which is a common result of verbal abuse. Dumbledore knew that Harry would suffer, but considered it worth the protection from Voldemort. 


Catlady:
> 
> I'm pretty sure that Draco followed Harry into the Room of Lost Things because he figured that Harry was going there to fetch a weapon against Voldemort. I think Draco wanted to get the weapon himself so he could trade it to Voldemort for his parents' safe release.

Pippin:
I think it was Harry Draco wanted to trade for his parents' return to favor. If so,  he's no worse than Mr. Lovegood. If Draco thought Harry wanted something of value, wouldn't he have tried to get the diadem?

Pippin