Dumbledore's role in Trio becoming friends Was: Chap 10

[bboyminn]

No: HPFGUIDX 188441



---  "dumbledore11214" <dumbledore11214 at ...> wrote:
>
> > > Bart:
> > > JKR has strongly implied that the student's desire 
> > > is a major consideration in the choice of the Sorting 
> > > Hat. Also, ...how much the headmaster has to do with 
> > > the choices; ... my contention that ... Harry becoming 
> > > friends with exactly the people he needed ...
> > 
> > Geoff:
> > As time has gone by, I have leaned more to the manipulative
> > Dumbledore theory, although manipulative is perhaps rather 
> > a strong term.
> > 
> > ...
> >
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> I will be the last person to disagree with manipulative theory, but I will ask simply out of curiosity, how do you think Dumbledore did it?
> 
> ....
> 
> So, to go back to Hermione becoming part of the Trio, how did Dumbledore accomplish that?
> 
> Did he make sure that Troll appeared as well?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Alla.
>


bboyminn:

No doubt Dumbledore was manipulative, as all great leaders
are; he was also painfully secretive, but there is a reasonable
limit to his manipulation, and also much better and easier
ways to accomplish what we assume he wants.

For example, instead of having Ron and Harry 'accidental' 
meet, why not just tell Harry to keep an eye out for a red
headed family at the train station, and that they would
help Harry onto Platform 9-3/4's, and help him get accustom
to the wizard world? 

That seem much easier than trying to secretly manipulate
everyone into meeting. There are just to many coincidence
to think it was being manipulated in the background. To
simply introduce Ron and Harry would likely assure that
Ron and Harry had a train compartment together. And would
be far more likely to assure that they become friends. 

As to Harry meeting and becoming friends with Hermione,
again that is just way too much coincidence to have been
manipulated into happening. If Dumbledore thought they 
should become friends, there were much much easier methods
of accomplishing this. 

As to the Sorting Hat putting them in the same house, again,
that is just too unlikely. I think the Sorting Hat reflects
the Will and Nature of the Founders, and is not prone to 
be manipulated by outside forces. Certainly, Dumbledore 
could have had a conversation with the Sorting Hat, and
that conversation could have even influenced the Sorting
Hat, but I do not believe the Sorting Hat would have gone
against its own nature to please the current Headmaster.
It would not put Harry in Gryffindor, if Harry did not 
belong there. 

I think that is the whole point of the Sorting Hat, that it
is the unbaised Will of the Founders, and not prone to any
kind of outside influence or manipulation. Prone to suggestions
maybe, but not prone to going against its natural instinct. 

Still, all that said, Dumbledore was still a manipulative
B(*cough*)stard. 

But then, that's just my opinion.

Steve/bboyminn