The All-knowing Albus Dumbledore

We've all had our speculations about Albus Dumbledore. One one hand he's always been there when Harry needed him. He's the only wizard that Lord Voldemort is afraid of. Albus Dumbledore is the ultimate good guy. He knows everything about Harry, including how to help him. On the other hand, however, Jk Rowling has instilled in us the phrase "Expect the Unexpected" In book one, we innocent readers were startled into the realization that Quirrel, not Snape, was the bad guy. In book two, we suspected that anyone suspicious sounding must be the heir of Slytherin. In book three, we we found out the "Mass murderer" Sirius Black was actually the good guy. In book four... you get my point. So why not be suspicious of Dumbledore? How is it that he always seems to know everything, despite the fact that no one informed him? For example...

In the first book, Albus left for London right before Ron, Harry, and Hermione left for there grand adventure to save the Sorcerers Stone. After Harry passed out and woke in the hospital, Dumbledore mentions that he had saved Harry from Quirrel. "Your got Hermiones Owl?" Harry asked. "We must have crossed in midair. No sooner had I reached London than it became clear to me that the place I should be was the one I had just left. I arrived just in time to pull Quirrel off you." So begs the question, how did Dumbledore know he needed to save Harry? How did he conveniently show up just as Quirrel was about to steal the stone and kill Harry? What made him return to Hogwarts? In the second book, Dumbledore appeared after being suspended, and although he didnt save Harry this time, there was plenty of time for talk about things no "normal" wizard would know about. In book three, Dumbledore knew Sirius was innocent, despite the fact that he had given testimony that Sirius was the Potters secret keeper, and had not seen Peter Pettigrew after he was forced to show himself. How would he have known that after believing that Sirius was guilty for twelve years, unless he had always known of Sirius's innocence? And how is it the Proffesor Lupin, Sirius, Pettigrew, and Jame's best friend, just happened to get the DADA job that particular year? Harry would have Killed Sirius (Or at least turned him in) if not for Lupin. Coincidence? Or did Dumbledore hire Lupin that year onpurpose? I find the fourth book supports my suspisions best of all. Harry was in "Moody's" office after the graveyard scene, and Dumbledore barges in and stupifies "Moody" I get how he knew it was a fake Moody, but he then asked for the the Crouch's previous house elf, Winky. How did he know exactly who was posing as moody? Everyone was told that Barty Crouch Jr. died in Azkaban. People saw what looked like his body buried. Until then, almost nothing was mentioned about Barty Jr. And how did Dumbledore know where The real Moody was being kept?

Another interesting tidbit from the fourth book, As Harry was telling Dumbledore what had happened in the graveyard, he mentioned that Voldemort had touched him. Harry mentioned that he for a second it looked like Dumbledore had a flash of satisfaction in his eyes. Harry thought he imagined it... I dont.

So what does all this mean? Well, think about it. Dumbledore is the only wizard Lord Voldemort is afraid of. People automaticly think its because of his great power for good... But what if Voldemorts afraid of Dumbledore because Dumbledore has more power, influence, and connections with the dark arts. What if Dumbledore is playing the ultimate role, the role of the best of the good guys.. He knows the Orders Plans, he knows the people in it... What their capable of and what makes them tick. Does anyone else realize that if Dumbledore turned to the dark side, there would be no hope for the good guys?

And of course, theres the prophesy at the end of book five. The prophesy that said "The one with the power to Vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who have thrice defied him....And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal...Neither can live while the other survives..." Lord Voldemort heard only part of it... But try this on for size. No one who knows what the prophesy says questioned who the Dark Lord that was mentioned is. Its always assumed that the Dark Lord is Voldemort. But what if its not. Perhaps Dumbledore is the Dark Lord... He purposly picked a place to interview Sibyll where he knew Voldemorts spies would be. (He knew the prophesy was comming) He tipped the bar owners off about the spy, but only after he had heard the first part. "Born to those who have thrice defied him" Dumbledore offered to be the Potters secret keeper. They refused the offer. Thats one. (I havent figured the others out yet.. input welcome!) So Dumbledore knew that either he or Harry had to die. But wouldnt it be easier if he just waited a few years so either Harry would kill Voldemort and get him out of Dumbledore's way, or Voldemort would kill Harry, and get him out of Dumbledores way. If Dumbledore really is the evil one, Both Harry and Voldemort would need to be killed eventually.

So what do you think? Good guy Albus Dumbledore? Or Dark Lord?

By Denise Golden

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Received feedback:

1. ALL KNOW THAT ALBUS DUMBLEDORE WAS THE TEACHER OF VOLDEMORT AND THE ONLY ONE TO SEE THROUGH HIM AND KNOW THAT THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS WAS OPENED BY HIM AND NOT HAGRID. DUMBLEDORE KNEW THAT VOLDEMORT WAS THE HEIR OF SLYTHERIN AND WAS GOING TO BECOME THE DARK LORD, IF DUMBLE DORE IS ACTUALLY DARK LORD THEN HE COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED TOM RIDDLE(VOLDEMORT).
2. DUMBLEDORE MANUFACTURED THE PHILOSOPHERS STONE WITH NICOLAS FLAMEL, IF HE IS THE DARK LORD HE COULD HAVE USED IT TO BECOME IMMORTAL.
3. DUMBLEDORE HAD ENOUGH OPPERTUNITIES TO KILL HARRY AND IF HE IS THE DARK LORD THEN HE WOULDN'T HAVE INFORMED HARRY ABOUT THE PROPHECY IN THE FIRST PLACE.
"THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PEICE OF EVIDENCE WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS DUMBLEDORE ISN'T THE DARK LORD"
4. IN BOOK 3 (PROISONER OF AZKABAN) SYBILL TRELAWNY MAKES A PROPHECY
'It will happen tonight. The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight, the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his mster. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible then ever before. Tonight ... before midnight ... the servant ... will set out ... to rejoin ... his master ...'
IN THIS PROPHECY SHE USES THE WORD DARK LORD AND SURE ENOUGH WORMTAIL SETS OUT TO JOIN HIS MASTER AND VOLDEMORT RISES AGAIN (IN BOOK 4),WITH WORMTAIL'S AID, AS SAID IN THE PROPHECY. THIS CLEARLY SHOWS THAT DARK LORD REFERS TO VOLDEMORT.