Harry Potter Abridged! DH Chapter 18

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

[Harry is still bent out of shape about his broken wand the next morning]

Harry: My wandwork was the ultimate form of pleasure for me. And now that my wand is gone, will I even have any protection against the Dark Lord at all? After all, it’s not like I can ward him off myself—my wand always did all the work! [Cries]

[Harry puts the broken wand in Hagrid’s pouch, which also contains the Snitch Dumbledore had left him]

Harry: Oh, whyyy did Dumbledore never explain anything to me?! Why did he leave me all alone with no help or support?! Why do I have to suffer this way?! [Sobs noisily]

Hermione: Harry!

Harry: Yes, what is it? Do you presume to share my pain?

Hermione: Well…see, I’ve picked up a copy of Rita Skeeter’s book! The one in Bathilda Bagshot’s house!

Harry: Am I correct in assuming you didn’t tell her you were taking it?

Hermione: Well she is a giant snake now, isn’t she?

Harry: True, true.

Hermione: Anyway, did you, perhaps, want to give this book a read?

Harry: You know, yes. Yes I do. I want to see everything Dumbledore’s been hiding from me over the years. I know Rita Skeeter repeatedly slandered me before, but this time she’s right, I know she is!

Hermione: If you say so. [Hands over book]

[Harry opens the book]

Harry: Aha! That blond man! He was Grindlewald! And…and…he used to be Dumbledore’s friend?! What the hell?! [Reads on] It says here, that by the time Dumbledore graduated from school he was essentially the most successful, best-loved, and studliest man around, and every single male student was following him around begging on his knees to warm the bed of the great Albus Dumbledore. The rumor had it…only Grindlewald was good enough for him?! And…and…Dumbledore shared Grindlewald’s opinion that the muggles ought to be subjugated?! And he fought with his brother, Aberforth!? Oh, no! Dumbledore is not the angel I thought he was! Woe is me! [Sobs more noisily than before]

Hermione: There, there. I know it’s awful to think Dumbledore thought Grindlewald a worthy sexual partner—

Harry: A worthy sexual partner nothing! He shared Grindlewald’s view of subjugating the muggles and the whole world!

Hermione: Yes, that too. But…don’t you think he’s seen the error of his ways and become a better person for it?

Harry: Oh, please! Since when has any character in this series ever learned from his mistakes?

Hermione: You do have quite a good point there.

Harry: [Bitterly] And to think I trusted him. Trusted him to tell me what to do and think!

Hermione: Well, at least you still have me.

Harry: But my angel. The light of my life….

Hermione: Never mind.

Comments

[hwyla.livejournal.com]

Quote: "Since when has any character in this series ever learned from his mistakes?"

Only Snape and Regulus - and possibly the Grey Lady and the Baron - but that's more regrets, once they had died. Not sure it counts. I think I would include Draco in this, too. But that's really too subtle for most folks, or at least too subtle for Harry.

But then, in canon, I'd say we aren't supposed to believe Gryffs ever see their actions as mistakes. JKR admits they have flaws, but whatever her 'heroes' do, it was apparently not a mistake. Apparently it was all intentional, I guess?

Notice how the only characters I mention are Slytherins and a Ravenclaw? Gryffs are always 'right', no matter what they do wrong.

I suppose one could also include Albus (as Hermione does), but I'm not sure he recognized which mistake was important to change. He decided not to bring power to himself, but he really only avoided being the Minister of Magic. He accepted plenty of power otherwise. And it wasn't 'power' that he needed to avoid, it was wanting to control others that was the problem.

[nx74defiant.livejournal.com]

He decided not to bring power to himself, but he really only avoided being the Minister of Magic.

Dumbledore pats himself on the back for turning down the official position. Telling himself that shows he's learned and changed. Which allows him to pretend that by acting behind the scenes he really isn't seeking power, when the truth is has even more power.

[oryx_leucoryx]

And for longer. A minister usually holds his position for a few years, maybe a decade. Dumbles was headmaster for some 40 years and may have started manipulating much earlier.

[vermouth1991.livejournal.com]

Don't forget to put the uniqueness of Hogwarts into the equation: How much power do you think the Principal of, say, Stanford would have if Stanford is the only university in the US and anybody who ever wants to become somebody has to study in Stanford and get a good degree?

[hwyla.livejournal.com]

Worse than that. We're talking HIGH SCHOOL level! He's getting them young enough that they've not learned to think got themselves yet.

[vermouth1991.livejournal.com]

When thinking of out-of-school-&-into-the-career-pool I don't usually think of High School (at least you can't get Silicon Valley-level jobs out of High School, right?), so it's more of a middle-school-thru-college thing that Hogwarts reminds me of. (for the kids' age if nothing else)

[guardians-song.livejournal.com]

"Harry: But my angel. The light of my life…."
Hahaha! Not much of an exaggeration, the way Harry behaves in this book...