Question regarding Dumbledore

[wook77]

Ok, question for the flist and any who can answer it.

Long rambling intro: I was re-reading Chapter 26 of HBP last night to do research on the cave and Inferi.

When I was reading... the below caught my eye. (directly quoted from page 572 of the American Version)

And obediently, Dumbledore drank, as though it was an antidote Harry offered him, but upon draining the goblet, he sank to his knees, shaking uncontrollably.

"It's all my fault, all my fault," he sobbed. "Please make it stop, I know I did wrong, oh please make it stop and I'll never, never again..."

What do you think Dumbledore did? Is this about Harry's parents? Is this about Snape? Is this about Malfoy? Is this about Aberforth's goat?



I honestly don't know what i think. I really dislike evil!Dumbledore so I don't think that it's all about how he did something extremely awful and evil.

Instead, I think it's something that he honestly regrets. Either his inability to act quickly enough to save Harry's parents. That seems a reasonable explanation but my curiosity is saying that I'm wrong on that one.

Is this about Snape somehow? Is it Dumbledore's "fault" that Snape is forced to go back to the DE's and he's regretting that now?


What are your thoughts and feelings on this?

Comments

[kabal42.livejournal.com]

I believe that Dumbledore is a good and concientous man. But, and this is an important "but", he's a very powerful man too - the fate of a nation has balanced on his shoulders many a time. He is bound to have a lot of regrets. Harry being a good example; he's used the boy, set him up, is setting him up again, for a lot of pain and suffering in the name of the greater good. He is doing what is right and not at all easy. And yes, he talks like a child here, like a confessioner asking for foregiveness. I do believe it's brought on by a hallucination, but Dumbledore does not have to have some horrid act on him conscience - the ersponsibility he's had for years is more than enough.

[wook77.livejournal.com]

evil!dumbledore stories annoy me to no end. That being said... I really do like your "but". To paraphrase and adapt a quotation... with great power comes great regrets.

Your last line really affects me for some reason. I read it late last night when I wasn't cognizant enough to respond. I actually woke up in the middle of the night with a thought (that I, err, promptly forgot once I went back to sleep) and then, on the way in to work this morning, thought about again.

With all that responsibility, he has to have regrets. Did he make the right decision, did he do the right thing, blahblahblah...

[kabal42.livejournal.com]

I tend to agree. And I do not think that my "but" makes him evil - just human.

And oh dear, I never meant to wake you in the middle of the night! *hugs* But it's quite flattering that it could make you think that much.

You nailed it there, what I meant with this. There just have to be regrets and doubts. If there weren't, Dumbledore would not be much better than Voldemort, he'd just have a more noble goal.