Post by ravenclaw18 on Aug 2, 2007 14:26:27 GMT -5
For the greater good - Gellert Grindelwald's way of justifying his ideas. An idea which Albus Dumbledore gave him, unwilling to accept that Grindelwald was far from a good person. And a recurring theme in HP, though it was never previously mentioned.
I thought it would make an interesting talking point.
First of all, it is important that Dumbledore was ashamed of the things he planned with Grindelwald, and what they ultimately lead to. However, even though Dumbledore turned his back on the plans for wizard domination, I believe that he never gave up on the main ideal.
Knowing the meaning of the prophecy, he did nothing to stop Voldemort from killing Harry's parents, while Snape, a servant of Voldemort at the time, tried his hardest. Dumbledore believed that James's and Lily's courage would be for the best in the end. Perhaps he already knew Lily would give herself up to protect Harry, and, not knowing about the Horcruxes at this point, Dumbledore may have expected this to kill Voldemort.
Still knowing the eventual truth of the prophecy, Dumbledore let Harry test himself, without telling him he would have to be killed by Voldemort. Dumbledore knew that Voldemort could not be defeated otherwise, and Harry's death would be all too necessary.
At some point while Harry was at school, Dumbledore found out about the Horcruxes. He may have had an inkling before, but it was the diary that made him realise what Voldemort had set out to do. At this stage, he was unaware that Voldemort had any more that one Horcrux - excluding Harry.
Voldemort came back, and at this time, Cedric Diggory, an innocent bystander, was killed. Harry proved himself further by making use of the qualities of the dual core wands, though he did not know it. This was the first point at which Harry may well have died. Had he died then, Voldemort would be easier to kill. Harry would have then had the choice of whether to stay or to go, but without guidance, he would have indeed died.
Harry discovered the prophecy himself. Dumbledore chose not to tell Harry what it truly entailed, maybe because it could put the fight against Voldemort in jeopardy. Sirius died battling the Death Eaters, though if Harry had died now, still not knowing what he eventually would, lives would later be spared.
Dumbledore found out more about Voldemort's youth and seeked the Horcruxes. He destroyed one, but because of his lingering desire for the Hallows, he succumbed to a curse that would soon kill him. Carefully, he planned things out, so as to give Harry the correct weapons to battle Voldemort. Relying on what he assumed about Harry's nature and about Voldemort's use of Harry's blood, he made no further movement before dying than to tell Harry about the Horcruxes.
Dumbledore's portrait continued to tell Snape to put himself at risk, as it would be necessary for the destruction of Voldemort.
Many people died protecting Harry, who could've sacrificed himself had he known the truth. With Dumbledore being dead and Harry having the right tools, Harry would have the guidance to return if he was killed, according to Dumbledore's assumptions.
As innocent people continued to die, Harry finally found out what he had to do, because the dying Snape gave him the memories explaining everything, at the time Dumbledore told him to.
Everything worked according to Dumbledore's plan: based on Harry's and Voldemort's natures, his own discoveries and guesses, and a healthy dollop of luck. Had he counted on so many unnecessary deaths? Perhaps it was okay, as in the end it would lead to victory over Voldemort - the greater good. But, if Dumbledore had been more careful, more trusting and had thought more about the innocent people involved, maybe Voldemort could have been stopped sooner, and then perhaps so many lives could have been spared.
Well, that's that for now. I'd like to see what you think about it, and then after that I'd like to share some more ideas on this topic. Thanks for bearing with me.
I thought it would make an interesting talking point.
First of all, it is important that Dumbledore was ashamed of the things he planned with Grindelwald, and what they ultimately lead to. However, even though Dumbledore turned his back on the plans for wizard domination, I believe that he never gave up on the main ideal.
Knowing the meaning of the prophecy, he did nothing to stop Voldemort from killing Harry's parents, while Snape, a servant of Voldemort at the time, tried his hardest. Dumbledore believed that James's and Lily's courage would be for the best in the end. Perhaps he already knew Lily would give herself up to protect Harry, and, not knowing about the Horcruxes at this point, Dumbledore may have expected this to kill Voldemort.
Still knowing the eventual truth of the prophecy, Dumbledore let Harry test himself, without telling him he would have to be killed by Voldemort. Dumbledore knew that Voldemort could not be defeated otherwise, and Harry's death would be all too necessary.
At some point while Harry was at school, Dumbledore found out about the Horcruxes. He may have had an inkling before, but it was the diary that made him realise what Voldemort had set out to do. At this stage, he was unaware that Voldemort had any more that one Horcrux - excluding Harry.
Voldemort came back, and at this time, Cedric Diggory, an innocent bystander, was killed. Harry proved himself further by making use of the qualities of the dual core wands, though he did not know it. This was the first point at which Harry may well have died. Had he died then, Voldemort would be easier to kill. Harry would have then had the choice of whether to stay or to go, but without guidance, he would have indeed died.
Harry discovered the prophecy himself. Dumbledore chose not to tell Harry what it truly entailed, maybe because it could put the fight against Voldemort in jeopardy. Sirius died battling the Death Eaters, though if Harry had died now, still not knowing what he eventually would, lives would later be spared.
Dumbledore found out more about Voldemort's youth and seeked the Horcruxes. He destroyed one, but because of his lingering desire for the Hallows, he succumbed to a curse that would soon kill him. Carefully, he planned things out, so as to give Harry the correct weapons to battle Voldemort. Relying on what he assumed about Harry's nature and about Voldemort's use of Harry's blood, he made no further movement before dying than to tell Harry about the Horcruxes.
Dumbledore's portrait continued to tell Snape to put himself at risk, as it would be necessary for the destruction of Voldemort.
Many people died protecting Harry, who could've sacrificed himself had he known the truth. With Dumbledore being dead and Harry having the right tools, Harry would have the guidance to return if he was killed, according to Dumbledore's assumptions.
As innocent people continued to die, Harry finally found out what he had to do, because the dying Snape gave him the memories explaining everything, at the time Dumbledore told him to.
Everything worked according to Dumbledore's plan: based on Harry's and Voldemort's natures, his own discoveries and guesses, and a healthy dollop of luck. Had he counted on so many unnecessary deaths? Perhaps it was okay, as in the end it would lead to victory over Voldemort - the greater good. But, if Dumbledore had been more careful, more trusting and had thought more about the innocent people involved, maybe Voldemort could have been stopped sooner, and then perhaps so many lives could have been spared.
Well, that's that for now. I'd like to see what you think about it, and then after that I'd like to share some more ideas on this topic. Thanks for bearing with me.
