Your thoughts on Dumbledore....

[Kitty279]

Same here. The 'blending in' for the sake of keeping the magical world hidden clashes horribly with the total ignorance of too many wizards, so Muggle studies should be mandatory, save maybe for Muggleborns who would profit more from a wizard studies class. But we talked about that already.These examples really make one wonder.

Besides, which sense makes it that all children have to start at King's Cross? What about students who live in Hogsmeade? Why is there only one train, not a few, spreading out? Why does the train not stop now and then to let other students board?

[Silvertongue]

I've wondered that too. Especially for the kids in Hogsmeade. It's stupid. Surely the CCTV would pick up someone disappearing into a wall? And if not then at least one person must have seen it.

[Kitty279]

Then they send Obliviators. No, it doesn't make much sense. And the wizards wouldn't know what a CCTV is to begin with, never mind how to manipulate it.

[kumainpink]

The secret will come out one day...and when it does, there's going to be a hell of a lot of problems because of it.

[Kitty279]

That's why I don't see why they can't use a floo. The Muggleborn could at least go via Leaky Cauldron or something (though the entrance of tht one isn't any better).

At that rate, it will come out because all the purebloods have no idea how to blend in, and they are stupid enough to believe that they as wizards are invincible where Muggles are concerned. Yeah right, I can just see how they are going to defend themselves from a fun, or a bomb!

[Silvertongue]

I always figured that they DID have floo there and the Weasley's used the other entrance because they couldn't afford to use all that floo powder every year.

[Kitty279]

But wouldn't get to the platform in another way be even more expensive? I mean, more than one taxi for such a distance??

[Silvertongue]

I don't know, that depends on the price of floo powder.

Makes me wonder whether apparation is possible there too.

[isk2837]

I don't see any reason Apparition directly into Platform 9 3/4 wouldn't be possible, though they would likely need set apparition points and some kind of system set up to prevent mass apparitions into the same area at the same time.

[G. Novella]

Yes, but isk, you forget, wizards have no idea what a system is at all.

Though I am more inclined to believe that they apparate in and out because how else do parents leave when the barrier closes? Actually, how would the muggles leave..? I doubt they floo though, it seems too chaotic. Probably side along apparition. And chances are the Weasleys go the muggle way for Arthur's sake, he would enjoy it.

[Silvertongue]

But Arthur wasn't even there that time.

[G. Novella]

Only the first year, the rest of the years Arthur was very much there, and I can still see them taking the muggle way to cheer Ginny up or something (insert manipulative Dumbledore using Weasley story here) or it just became habit

[hollywollypolly]

Jun 9, 2012 18:48:51 GMT -5 Animikokala said:

Jun 8, 2012 22:29:06 GMT -5 Trilonias said:

Dumbledore, to me, as always been a character who was too set in his ways. It didn't help that everyone revered him, which just made things worse. I thought a lot of the wizarding world was full of fools, which having magic to circumvent logic doesn't help. So here's a guy who has been given too much power/leeway to do things, and enables certain events to come true, simply because of how he sees things. Sadly, this leads to a great deal of problems, which includes letting Slytherin house get out of hand and ruining several lives through either inaction or neglect. Then there's Harry Potter. It also doesn't help that he has too many responsibilities, some foisted, others willingly taken on, to be able to give the appropiate attention and gravitas certain issues needed. I see too many things wrong with Albus and most of the rest of the wizarding world. But I at least know he is trying. Very trying.

I agree. Dumbledore was definitely too set in his ways; too used to keeping things to himself and disregarding other peoples' opinions. He certainly left an awful lot to chance in the end. And some things he didn't do did not make sense: if he suspected that the diary was a horcrux back in Harry's second year, he should have begun searching for the other horcruxes once he believed there were more before Voldemort was resurrected.

I like Dumbledore overall but some of his actions I didn't. Although for that I think he wasn't sure and he didn't want to act too hastly if he wasn't correct. Sometimes when we believe things they turn out to be false. So he was probably still in thought he after Voldemort was ressurected.

[hollywollypolly]

Jun 9, 2012 19:20:15 GMT -5 Animikokala said:

While we're at it, I'm going to point out why nearly everybody in the Harry Potter books is a douchebag (in honor of one of my younger brothers who ranted for 20 minutes why Dumbledore was a douchebag after having read all the books). Dumbledore - manipulative and secretive douchebag Snape - bitter, bullying douchebag Minerva - "enabling" douchebag - gives token protests but follows Dumbledore anyways, doesn't listen to the students or protect them (forbidden forest detention at night for a bunch of 11 year olds?!) Tom Riddle - psychopathic douchebag Draco - spoiled douchebag Harry - malleable douchebag - spends most of the books being told what to do all the time by Hermione/Dumbledore/etc Hermione - bossy, know it all douchebag - seriously, I love learning and all, but even I would have either strangled her or slapped her silly if I had to dorm with a girl like that for 7 years Ron - "fair weather friend" douchebag - even if he always comes back, he shouldn't keep leaving in the first place Sirius - bullying douchebag Remus - "woe is me" douchebag Molly - overbearing douchebag Arthur - ignorant douchebag - if he really cared about muggles and muggle culture so much, he'd actually take the time to truly learn about them instead of just tinkering with things Peter - backstabbing douchebag There's so many more, I'll just end with those that I can think of offhand that don't appear to be douchebags. Neville and Luna (and possibly) Ginny are the only major characters I can think of that don't have some major flaw that makes you want to do this: (¨s¡ã¡õ¡ã£©¨s¦à ©ß©¥©ß TLDR: Wizards and Witches appear to be major douchebags, and should probably seek professional help.

You just bashed almost half of the main characters. They have faults you know like you and me but they also have a lot of good traits to match if you really look at it.

[Silvertongue]

I just hate when people thing he's perfect and brilliant and won't hear a word against him, or any other Gryffindors (although I personally think he must have been a Slytherin). My cousin is like this and talks over me when I try to explain a fault of his (She's 22 so this is kind of sad...)

[sherza]

I completely agree that Dumbledore had to be a Slytherin.

I mean, he was a blood-bigot! To his dying day. Not necessarily a 'kill the freaks' sort of bigot, but definitely a 'pity the poor savages' type. And he was more the first type up until his late teens ... and they get Sorted at 11, so ... yeah. And then look at the rest of his life! Even if you *don't* buy into the manipulative thing!

1) Apparently worked with/apprenticed under Flamel. Just how many folks do you think have THAT on their resume?

2) was capable of incredible feats of magic at his OWL/NEWTS, per Mashbanks' comments

3) Tromped all over Grindlewald, earning him an Order of Merlin, First Class

4) Became Headmaster

5) Became head of the wizarding United Nations

6) Became head of the wizarding UK's judiciary.

All of that? Took some serious cunning (in a political sense, not a 'ruin people's lives' sense) and a crapton of ambition.

So yeah, Slytherin to the core, that one.

[basketsarah120]

Hermione states in PS chapter 6, on the platform Dumbledore was in Gryffindor. That was the reason she wanted to be in it instead of Ravenclaw.

[isk2837]

I've heard it also says that Dumbledore was a Gryffindor on Pottermore in the message that Gryffindors get welcoming them to the house, according to this website - pottermorespoilers.tumblr.com/post/8984341241/welcome-to-gryffindor

[readingwizard4]

Dumbledore was Gryffindor but I think Snape's memory in DH of their conversation in GOF needs to be mentioned. Something along the lines of the Sorting Hat sorting too early. How Snape could be considered a Gryffindor now in addition to being a Slytherin so Dumbledore being Gryffindor and Slytherin isn't that much of a stretch

[sherza]

Hermione says that Dumbledore is *supposed to have been* in Gryffindor. All I'm saying. It's not definitive, and in the books/movies, that's the only mention of what House he's in. And given that JKR is clearly pushing an agenda to try to make Dumbledore look as lily white as possible, I'm eyeballing her declaration that he's a Gryff with suspicion.

Snape was ... well ... yeah. It takes MASSIVE cojones to lie to Voldie's face, Occlumency be damned. It also takes massive cojones to agree to off someone when you know doing so is going to make you Enemy #1 to pretty much the entire wizarding world ... and to be Headmaster under Voldie's regime and keep the kids from being outright killed, or yourself discovered. Yeesh. So yeah, courage aplenty.

That said, he was also sneaky, conniving, ambitious as hell, and ... yeah. In most ways, a TRUE Slytherin, as opposed to idiots like Draco Malfoy, whom I'm STILL wondering how the hell he got into Slytherin, 'cause the boy had no guile, little cunning, and his only ambition was to be Voldie's stooge.

[Trilonias]

I do agree about that on Slytherin house in general... I mean, what the hell were Goyle and Crabbe doing in Slytherin? It's like Slytherin became the house of rejects, instead of Hufflepuff taking all the rest. Salazar would've been ashamed of what his house had become.

[sherza]

I know, right? I mean, Pansy seemed to only want to be straddling Draco, if you get my drift, Millicent seemed to be as stupid as Draco's goons, yeesh.

There's really only a few that have any hope of being actual Slytherins ... Zabini, Greengrass, Davis, and ... crap, who was the fifth male Slytherin? I can't ... Nott! that's it. Nott.

So, we don't see any of the four of them being epically stupid, so they at least have the possibility of being true Slytherins, compared to the *other* five. Yeeeeeeesh.

I mean, I'm wondering how in hell Crabbe and Goyle got ANY OWLS, considering one of the two couldn't pronounce 'disillusion'. If they can't even speak properly to do the spells ... *whines*

And then we've got 'I'ma tell my daddy on you' Draco. *headdesks* Salazar would be HORRIFIED.

[Trilonias]

Don't forget the other Slytherins in other years... like how Flint had the look of a troll... and from the sounds of it, the cunning of one too. And when the team is described as more brawn... Where's the cunning intellect? Though admittedly the others have a chance, since they aren't described too much... well, till you find out Zabini listens to Draco.

Crabbe even offed himself! Urg. Though I'm sure that doing what he did wouldn't get him a Darwin Award.

I think this is why Harry didn't become Slytherin. Also, this is what happens when you interbreed too much. Perhaps only the half-bloods in Slytherin had the brains... because the Purebloods certainly did not.

[sherza]

Well, in defense of all the smart, but physically huge/ugly people out there ... physical appearance does not immediately equate to low IQ, or a correllating lack of cunning and ambition. It just means you're freaking huge, or are ugly.

That said, Flint DID evidently have to repeat a year, so he's no genius. The rest of the team is far more debatable, since we really only see them when playing.

[Kitty279]

Jun 17, 2012 20:33:31 GMT -5 sherza said:

I know, right? I mean, Pansy seemed to only want to be straddling Draco, if you get my drift, Millicent seemed to be as stupid as Draco's goons, yeesh.

There's really only a few that have any hope of being actual Slytherins ... Zabini, Greengrass, Davis, and ... crap, who was the fifth male Slytherin? I can't ... Nott! that's it. Nott.

So, we don't see any of the four of them being epically stupid, so they at least have the possibility of being true Slytherins, compared to the *other* five. Yeeeeeeesh.

I mean, I'm wondering how in hell Crabbe and Goyle got ANY OWLS, considering one of the two couldn't pronounce 'disillusion'. If they can't even speak properly to do the spells ... *whines*

And then we've got 'I'ma tell my daddy on you' Draco. *headdesks* Salazar would be HORRIFIED.

*snicker* Beautifully summed up, Sherza! It's so true, Salazar must be rotating in his grave about what his house has become!

That said, I have been wondering about Dumbledore's house, too. Hermione believed he was in Gryffindor, but we know that the books she did read weren't necessarily all true. Personally, I'd not be too surprised if Dumbledore was in Slytherin and just took steps to hide that as much as possible, due to the prejudice in the magical world. The wizards are more likely to follow him when he's the shining Gryffindor, right? The good guy? From that position, it's so much easier to get a hold of nearly every powerful office to lead the sheeps where he wants them.

[Ithiarel]

Jun 17, 2012 23:52:46 GMT -5 Kitty279 said:

That said, I have been wondering about Dumbledore's house, too. Hermione believed he was in Gryffindor, but we know that the books she did read weren't necessarily all true. Personally, I'd not be too surprised if Dumbledore was in Slytherin and just took steps to hide that as much as possible, due to the prejudice in the magical world. The wizards are more likely to follow him when he's the shining Gryffindor, right? The good guy? From that position, it's so much easier to get a hold of nearly every powerful office to lead the sheeps where he wants them.

I have no trouble at all seeing Dumbledore in Gryffindor because of two reasons:

a) He is incredibly prejudiced on their behalf. In his eyes the Gryffindors can do no wrong, and he even undermines his own authority to show that. Just think back to the end of the first year, when he awarded Gryffindor those extra points, just enough for them to win the HouseCup no less. He consequently ridiculed all the other houses and all the other student's efforts by doing so publicly. It's not proper behaviour for any teacher much less the Headmaster!

b) I never trusted the house System in the first place. The Sorting Hat seems to be way to busy sorting children into the houses they want to be in. The hat wanted Harry in Slytherin but sorted him into Gryffindor after Harry said "No" often enough. It's not even as if the boy argued in a way. He just said "No" again and again. If that's all it needs to get into Gryffindor... well, Dumbledore is definitely stubborn enough for that.

[Silvertongue]

That's kind of what I meant. I think Dumbledore was probably sorted into Gryffindor but should have been in Slytherin. He hasn't shown all that much bravery, unless you count going up against the person you love (who happens to be someone you were going to 'Take over the worl' with) and put him in jail because you can't bear to kill him as bravery. Not much else he did is brave in my opinion. Allowing yourself to die? He was dying anyway and probably in a heck of a lot of pain, and he was supremely old. I suppose it does require a bit of bravery but mostly a lot of faith in your beliefs of the afterlife.

[Ithiarel]

Jun 18, 2012 5:40:25 GMT -5 Silvertongue said:

That's kind of what I meant. I think Dumbledore was probably sorted into Gryffindor but should have been in Slytherin.

*nods*

Wormtail is a good proof that not everyone who get's sorted into Gryffindor grows up to embody the ideals of the house. Neville might have grown into them, but I'm certain that there are a lot of people who don't.
(The same is probably true for all houses.)

[Silvertongue]

Yeah, like Hermione at first would have been much better suited to Ravenclaw but she grew into Gryffindor very well. And Neville would have suited Hufflepuff at first but grew into Gryffindor too. I reckon Draco would have grown into a Slytherin mindset better after Hogwarts.

[Ithiarel]

Jun 18, 2012 5:51:37 GMT -5 Silvertongue said:

I reckon Draco would have grown into a Slytherin mindset better after Hogwarts.

Maybe. Or maybe he grew a bit more into the Hufflepuff mindset instead. Narcissa might have been in Slytherin, too, but her unending loyalty towards her family always made her feel like a Hufflepuff in disguise to me. (She lied straight into Voldie's face in order to help her son, and she is in all likelihood not half as good at Occlumency as Snape was.)
*shrugs*