Was Dumbledore the Puppetmaster I Never Suspected He Was?

[entropymail]

So, I've been slogging through the last hundred or so posts (and
relishing every minute of it), but I haven't seen much written about
what I perceive to be the stripping away of Dumbledore's saintly
persona. Forgive me if I've missed it. It's been a harrowing few days!  :P

The backstory of his shady associations with Grindelwald...
Aberforth's take on DD's secretive personality... and don't even get
me started on the weakness of character which lead DD to try on that
cursed ring! But the revelation of DD's true motives during Harry's
viewing of Snape's memory-file takes the cake. If anything could ever
back up the "Dumbledore as puppetmaster" theory for me, that was it. 

Snape finally realizes that he's simply kept Harry alive only long
enough to be slaughtered by Voldie at the "proper time". Dumbledore's
answer is a remorseless yes. YIKES! And, unless I read too much into
it, Dumbledore's remark that he's "touched" by Severus' affection for
Harry is simply dripping with sarcasm.

Far and away, most characters throughout the series were not what they
seemed. Always felt that Snape was a good guy in Death Eaters'
clothing. But Dumbledore was the one character whose motives were
(seemingly) crystal clear: to protect Harry and allow him to live long
enough to defeat Voldemort. Close, but no cigar! Apparently, it was to
protect Harry and allow him to live long enough to be the sacrificial
lamb in the defeat of Voldemort. Big difference.

What's next?? Hagrid only pretending to enjoy Harry's company so that
he might fatten him up and feed him to the hippogriffs when the time
is right? Do the Weasleys only feign a fondness for Harry so that they
might one day glean the combination to his Gringott's vault? Sheesh.

Any other takes on this? Can Dumbledore ever be redeemed in my eyes?
Go ahead, give it a shot.

:: Entropy ::