Dumbledore WAS: Re: Love and Joy vs. Hate and Despair

[rtbthw_mom]

No: HPFGUIDX 190897




> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Margaret Fenney <fenneyml@> wrote:<SNIP>
> >. Much, if not most, of the discussion on this list recently,
> > is an effort to redefine the books as a story of Evil, Hatred and Despair
> > where the villain is not Lord Voldemort but rather Dumbledore (who could
> > have simply handed Harry over to LV and been done with it had he wanted it
> > that way). <SNIP>
> 
> 
> Alla:
> 
> You know, one can argue that he did handed Harry to Voldemort when it suited his plans ;). Remember triwizard Tournament? Remember how everybody thought that Dumbledore should withdraw Harry and there were those mysterious rules that he supposedly cannot withdraw. Did anybody doubt that Dumbledore could withdraw him if he actually wanted to? So here we go, while even as a joke I will not claim that Dumbledore predicted Cedric's death and went along with him (although I personally would not put it past him), Dumbledore could have avoided Harry's ordeal and did not do so.
>

Pat: Alla, I know that you have strong anti-DD feelings :o) but I am really confused here. Can you show me canon that says that DD could have gotten Harry out? I was under the impression that since Harry's name came out of the Goblet, it was presumed to be a magical contract. The contract part I get - the other kids put their names in, which indicates their willingness to participate, no matter what the events were. Yes, I understand that Harry did not put his name in, that was Fake!Moody, but nobody knew that at this point in the story. DD specifically says -

GOF, Am. ed, p. 256

"Finally, I wish to impress upon any of you wishing to compete that this tournament is not to be entered into lightly. Once a champion has been selected by the Goblet of Fire, he or she is obliged to see the tournament through to the end. The placing of your name in the goblet constitutes a binding, magical contract. There can be no change of heart once you have become a champion. Please be very sure, therefore, that you are wholeheartedly prepared to play before you drop your name into the goblet."

Barty Crouch Sr. and Ludo Bagman, the two *in charge,* are sitting behind DD at the staff table when DD makes this pronouncement. Neither one disputes anything that DD says. My conclusion from this is that there is no way for Harry to back out. Both Crouch Sr. and Bagman are there in the room afterward when DD questions Harry and McGonagall is anxious for DD to find a way to let Harry out of it. But again, no way is mentioned. I have to think that JKR means it when she says there is no way out for Harry - nothing DD or anyone else can do. He must participate. Canon seems very firm here. 

You are free to dislike DD as a character. :o) But let's be careful to make sure that canon backs us up when we're throwing stones at his character. 

Pat,
not trying to throw stones myself, just trying to inject a little canon into the discussion