Science Fiction & Fantasy Asked by Sister Student on March 30, 2021
I’ve noticed that Dumbledore seems to have some correlation with many of Harry’s perils. Probably the most obvious example would be in The Philosopher’s Stone. It really started at the very beginning, when Hagrid went to pick up the Stone with Harry. Dumbledore is a smart man, he knows that Hagrid is good at heart, but he has an issue with being secretive. Also, why wouldn’t he let Hagrid go at a different time? This just sounds like something that was planned out to be done with Harry. Was it to spark his curiosity and set him (Harry) up?
This website explains my concern better than I can:
Why would Dumbledore send Hagrid to retrieve the Philosopher’s Stone when he knew Hagrid would be with Harry, given that the Philosopher’s Stone is such a secret and powerful item? Was it that Dumbledore wanted to test Harry, to see what he would do with the knowledge that there was a secret item hidden at Hogwarts? Dumbledore could have sent Hagrid to do pick up Harry and retrieve the Stone from the Gringotts vault at separate times. If there were some urgency requiring the Stone to be retrieved from Gringotts at precisely the time Harry needed to be picked up, Dumbledore could have sent someone else to Gringotts. The best reason for sending Hagrid to do both is so that Harry would know that the item was at Hogwarts.
In addition, Hagrid lets very important parts of the plot, such as Fluffy and who he got Norbert (the dragon) from, just slip. If the stone was really so important to be kept away from students, then why would Dumbledore place his trust in Hagrid to keep this a secret? McGonagall says this herself:
“I’m not saying his heart isn’t in the right place… but you can’t pretend he’s not careless.”
So, why him? Does Dumbledore know he’s placing Harry in peril? He knows that Hagrid is careless, and he’s aware that Hagrid can slip up. It just seems like something he just wouldn’t do.
Dumbledore gave Harry the details of the Mirror as well, explaining how the mirror would show your deepest desire at that moment. However, he also says "back again", implying he was aware that Harry had been looking in the mirror before. Then he says that they’ll be taking the mirror away. Dumbledore knows that the mirror is the only thing that Harry has that shows his parents. It feels like a setup: like he wants Harry to try and find the Mirror again, or find where the Mirror happens to be.
Maybe this is just Dumbledore trying to give Hagrid a chance, and Dumbledore understands Harry’s situation and being honest with him, but then there’s the invisibility cloak and told him to ¨use it well¨. Dumbledore even says that James used to sneak off, highly implying for Harry to use it to sneak off. Sneak off and find the stone, perhaps.
Now, for my question: Is Dumbledore intentionally putting Harry in danger by letting him search for the stone? If so, why would he?
Harry and friends consider something to this effect at the end of the book:
"D'you think he meant you to do it?" said Ron. "Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?"
"Well," Hermione exploded, if he did – I mean to say – that's terrible – you could have been killed."
"No, it isn't," said Harry thoughtfully. "He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could...."
Correct answer by Alex on March 30, 2021
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