DAMN, CRAZED TOME Canon: DD/MD, Locked Room & The End

[boyd_smythe]

boyd:

Yesterday I posted the most ridiculously crazy theory in my history, 
but I think there are kernels of truth in there, so I'm restating it 
in a more serious way. Note: assumes aspects of MD and inclides 
new discussions of socks, the Locked Room in the MoM, and an end-game 
analysis.

A brief synopsis of DAMN, CRAZED TOME?!?: DD's true goal is far 
broader than the defeat of LV; he wants nothing less than to try to 
eliminate magic from the world.

This begs three questions that I shall attempt to answer with canon.

1) Is there any proof that DD wants to eliminate magic? Yes.
 - Dumbledore sees himself "holding a pair of thick woollen socks" in 
the mirror of Erised (SS/PS). Very non-magical vision, that. 
Especially when paired with the following.
 - He says "One can never have enough socks...Another Christmas has 
come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on 
giving me books." (SS/PS) Since every book in the WW that we've seen 
relates in some way to magic, we can perhaps paraphrase this quote 
thus, "I prefer non-magic comforts to magic."
 - Further, these socks represent freedom in HP, thanks to Dobby whom 
we see "holding up Harry's disgusting, slimy sock and looking at it as 
though it were a priceless treasure" in CoS.
 - So socks represent freedom and non-magic, or is it freedom *from* 
magic? When Dobby is given a sock, doesn't that break the magic 
binding of elf to wizard, thus substituting freedom for magic? I think 
JKR is trying to tell us something more here that has been very hard 
to discern.
 - He destroys the Stone in PS/SS, a powerful magic of its own.
 - When he tells Harry, "it is our choices, Harry, that show what we 
truly are, far more than our abilities," isn't he saying that Harry's 
choices are more important than his magic? Just a roundabout way of 
saying that magic is not very important.
 - In PS/SS, DD tells Harry "the trouble is, humans do have a knack of 
choosing precisely those things that are worst for them." He mentions 
money and life specifically, because he's talking about the Stone, but 
his actions against would-be evil lords (Grindlewald in 1945 and LV 
ongoing) make it clear that he feels the same about magical power.
 - Q: Whom does he choose to teach his students DADA? A: Individuals 
who will teach the students to mistrust magic and authority. Each has 
betrayed the kids in some way, although Lupin's betrayal is simply 
that he is dangerous magic incarnate, not his choice. Among the other 
teachers, it seems that DD has collected individuals based more on 
loyalty to him and his cause than magical ability (notice how inept 
Trelawney and Hagrid are, for example). Seems quite a dismissive act 
for the headmaster of a school of magic, doesn't it?
 - Also, we have all noted just how little useful magic seems to be 
taught in Hogwarts. In particular, DD seems not to think Harry needs 
reasonable training in magic, even assigning the dreadfully ill-suited 
Snape to "teach" him Occlumens. Perhaps this is intentional on DD's 
part--he does not see salvation for Harry or the other students in 
magic. This may be why we see so many classes that do not teach magic: 
Quiddich/riding brooms, History of Magic, Hagrid's classes on magical 
beasts, and Divination, which has been up to this point apparently 
worthless to its students.
 - Despite his powers, he has done little to advance the magical 
capabilities of the WW since leaving Flamel and finding the 12 uses 
for dragon's blood. He did not choose to work at the MoM as an auror 
or Unspeakable, and in fact turned down an offer to be its Minister. 
(SS/PS and OoP)

2) Why would the most powerful magician of his generation want to 
eliminate magic? Now we get to the real meat of my argument. Listen to 
what these quotes imply about magic and wizards in HP.
- "Not a wizard, eh?  Never made things happen when you was scared or 
angry?" (PS/SS)
- "He was tipped for the next Minister of Magic. He's a great wizard, 
Barty Crouch [Sr.], powerfully magical -- and power-hungry." (Hagrid 
in GoF)
- "If Filch's trying to learn magic from a Kwikspell course, I reckon 
he must be a Squib. It would explain a lot. Like why he hates students 
so much. He's bitter." (Ron in CoS)
- "It's about the most insulting thing he could think of....Mudblood's 
a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born -- you know, 
non-magic parents." (Ron in CoS)
- "It's a disgusting thing to call someone. Dirty blood, see." (Ron in 
CoS)
- "I am calling you a Muggle. It means that you are not a wizard. ... 
But I am not a man, Muggle. I am much, much more than a man...."  (LV 
in GoF)
- "We don't send people to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!" 
(Fudge in PoA) Note that this aunt is a muggle.
- "We are all familiar with the extremists who campaign for the 
classification of Muggles as 'beasts'," writes Newt Scamander (FB 
xiii).

Taken together, these demonstrate that to many wizards, Muggles are 
not just different; they are *inferior*. They study them like we study 
beasts; they discuss them condescendingly. They treat wizards who 
consort with Muggles badly (Mr. Weasley), and they treat the offspring 
of Muggles or Muggle-Wizard unions even worse.

Why? It's not just about the blood, or squibs like Filch would be 
treated better. It's clearly that they feel the magic sets them apart 
from mere Muggles.

So if Dumbledore wants to eliminate racism, cruelty to Muggles, and 
all related prejudice from the WW, then there is just one solution: 
eliminate magic.

But, you say, what about all the good that magic does? Well, show me 
what good magic does that can't be done with good old Muggle hard 
work. Sure, cleaning houses with the flick of a wand is nice, but that 
benefit pales in comparison to the constant danger of evil lords, 
Muggle-bashing, pure-bloodist divisiveness and the resulting constant 
threat of civil war within the WW. Not to mention the constant danger 
from many magical creatures, objects and so forth.

DD sees all of this and chooses the less-travelled path: eliminate 
magic.

3) How could one eliminate magic from the world?
- "...and that's Bode and Croaker...they're Unspeakables...[f]rom the 
Department of Mysteries, top secret, no idea what they get up to..." 
(Arthur Weasley in GoF)
- The locked door in the MoM melts Harry's *magic* knife.

I posit that behind the locked door in the MoM is not some squishy 
aspect of Love (yuck), but the Source of Magic itself. Why else would 
the magic knife have instantly melted? What else would 'Unspeakables' 
work on that is so top secret? And what is the source of Harry's power 
against LV?

Yes, the scar on Harry's forehead is a piece of this Source, or 
perhaps a direct link to it. Unfortunately, because LV is now linked 
to it, as well, thanks to the failed AK and Lily's protection, the 
only way to ultimately destroy LV is to destroy the Source of Magic 
itself. Perhaps by throwing it into the Veil, perhaps by Harry and his 
link to the Source stepping through the Veil.

The important thing is that, in the end, Harry and others will have to 
decide whether saving the world from LV is worth the end of Magic.

So, tell me, am I completely nutters here, or is this at least a 
possibility?

--boyd
hoping he's seen as crazy-like-a-fox, not should-be-locked-up-crazy