CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Prisoner of Azkaban Chapter 5: The Dementor

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 189517


> Mike:
> Well, somewhat after the fact, I figured Dumbledore brought in Lupin because of his connection to Black. But here's the thing, if DD believed the story and his own testimony about Black, why would he think that Lupin was going to be of any use? If DD really believed that Black had gone over to the dark side, Lupin would hold no sway over Black any more, now would he? 

Pippin:
What about Lupin's connection to James? I don't think Dumbledore believed that Lupin could have any sway over Black, but at this point Dumbledore needed a DADA teacher who really knew his stuff and could be counted on to protect Harry. 

Mike: 
> At this point in the story, I didn't believe anything sinister about Dumbledore. But with all the facts in, I now think that Dumbledore knew full well that Black had never betrayed James and Lily. Dumbledore wasn't all knowing, but he was wise, and this story of betrayal made no sense with everything he knew of Black and the Potters. 

Pippin:
Dumbledore's own dearest friend had betrayed him and gone to the dark side, why wouldn't he believe that the same thing could have happened to James?  Don't forget that Sirius wasn't sent to Azkaban for betraying the Potters, he was sent there for the daylight murder of thirteen people. If he was capable of that, who could doubt that he'd set up the Potters as well?  

I think the parallels between Grindelwald and Sirius made it all too easy for Dumbledore to suspect  -- both brilliant, powerful, good-looking wizards with a troubled history and a tendency, which Dumbledore knew of but chose to discount, towards cruelty and violence. 

Indeed, I think Sirius's great good looks are in the story only for that reason, so that we'll see a resemblance when the time comes. He seems to be made for some character to fall hopelessly in love with, but no one ever does, millions of swooning fans aside. Grindelwald though...

Pippin