[HPforGrownups] Re: Things that you wish were in the Harry Potter novels

[Bruce Mull]

No: HPFGUIDX 192026

> Alla:
> <snip> The only times when I kind of support Snape (if you must call it a support) is when I have to choose whom I dislike more Snape or Dumbledore. Sadly, after book seven I have to grudgingly admit that I grew to dislike Dumbledore more than Snape in the grand scheme of things. <snip>

> Geoff:
> <snip> I suppose the only hint for me was when, in that wretched
epilogue, Draco nods at Harry - interestingly not vice versa. Perhaps
> something lies behind that. <snip>


Bruce:
You need to remember that Dumbledore didn't always tell the truth. He would say whatever was necessary to convince the person to take the actions they did. Therefore, Snape's memories -- and anyone's memories about interacting with Dumbledore -- are not necessarily accurate as they reflect only what was said and how the person feels about that. I realize why he needed to do that, he was trying to save the Wizarding World and the tool he had to use was an inexperienced boy, but it does make me more critical about him sometimes. Dumbledore was working on several schemes at once -- not all of which happened as he planned -- but he was trying to make sure that Voldemort was weakened enough to be able to be taken out, even if it meant sacrificing Harry to do it.

I would have liked to see a longer epilogue, even one like you see at the end of some psuedo-documentaries, saying what each character is doing and what they "learned" from this experience. The train scene is nice and homey, but it shows that much of the Wizarding World hasn't changed much. I would have thought that Harry would have had more of an impact -- not to mention Hermione, whose thoughts were aimed toward truly great changes and who was always outspoken.

Dr Bruce P. Mull
Professor of Computer Science
Professor of Mathematics