View Full Version : Dumbledore and Harry's Scar
'I guessed, fifteen years ago,' said Dumbledore, 'when I saw the scar on your forehead, what it might mean. I guessed that it might be the sign of a connection forged between you and Voldemort.' - OotP hard cover pg 728
'Under a tuft of jet black hair over his forehead they could see a curiously shaped cut, like a bolt of lightning.
'Is that where - ?' whispered Professor McGonagall.
'Yes,' said Dumbledore. 'He'll have that scar forever.' PS/SS hard cover pg 16/17
It is necessary to begin with Dumbledore's comments about Harry's scar in OotP, because this is where the problem I have lies. I was under the impression that, apart from the Death Eaters that would want revenge on Harry, Dumbledore set up Harry's blood-protection to protect him from Voldemort, and what he may be able to do with the connection. However, in PS/SS, I thought Dumbledore was seeing Harry's scar for the first time, which means the protection has nothing to do with the scar or its effects. But then, when re-reading that particular comment, it seems that Dumbledore has seen the scar before, and is able to say it will be there forever, and instantly assumes, on page 17 'scars can come in useful'.
Surely Dumbledore could not make such a quick judgement having only just seen the scar? And surely he would not share so freely his first impressions? Not something as important as that.
This leads me to believe that Dumbledore saw Harry, and the scar, before Hagrid brought him to Privet Drive. I can understand Dumbledore going to the house, seeing Harry is okay, getting Hagrid to get him (does it say anywhere that DD and Hagrid didn't meet at the house?) then going off to prepare things...but I can't fathom the idea that he just knew that stuff instantly, without having seen it before.
If you can understand my ravings and have an opinion on this, please share!!
I can see it both ways and it makes sense:
First - there is a whole day missing from when Harry is attacked to when he is placed on the Dursley front step. So, I think it quite plausible that during that time, Dumbledore saw him and performed some of those charms he needed to do to protect Harry. So, in performing those charms, he would surely have seen the scar and figured out what it was - I think he knows a bit more about scars because of his own . . . and surely he has seen the effects of a curse scar in his many, many years as a wizard.
Second - If Dumbledore had only just seen Harry and noticed the scar, then he might be able to make those assumptions based on previous experience with his own scar and perhaps other wizards' scars.
However, I think the first scenario is most likely. Especially since Dumbledore chose not to remove the scar - he knows that it is risky to leave it open to Voldemort because Voldemort can see in, but he also realizes that it could be a really valuable asset to his side because he can see (through Harry) what Voldemort is doing/thinking as well.
Fortescue
09-06-2005, 17:38
Harry's scar has nothing to do with Dumbledore's protection. I think he probably did see Harry's scar for the first time when Hagrid brought him to the Dursley's. Dumbledore also told McGonagall when she asked him if he couldn't do anything about the scar that even if he could he wouldn't - as you said, kashlie - he said scars could come in useful.
I think that the scar Dumbledore has of the London Underground on his knee is also a curse scar, so maybe his scar does something in the manner that Harry's does. It could be he got it from Grindelwald.
That is what I was wondering, Fort, if the protection was partly based on the scar's capabilities. I just think it odd for DD to be so presumptious if it was his first time seeing Harry's scar, but as you say, if his scar is a curse one, then he may already know what he is talking about..
oh oh wild spec hhhhh
DD got his scar from Grindewald, and it is an exact map of the London underground because that is where Grindewald fled to, Pettigrew-style, so DD knows exactly where Grindy is at all times...
lol i astound myself with my weird ways.
Oh, also...DD mentioned his scar in passing, really, light heartedly. Like he did in GoF when he mentioned the Room of Requirements. Look how useful a comment that was!! Perhaps Hagrid will mention DD's scar to Harry and how useful DD said it could be?
oh now I have a mental image of DD wandering around the underground, occasionally stopping, sitting on the ground, lifting his robes and checking his knee...assuming of course the London Underground is what I think it is...
Kashlie - JKR said she was quite fond of the scar and we might see it again, so it could come into play.
As for the scar having to do with the protection - I really don't think so, either.
You guys both think that Dumbledore didn't see the scar at all before he got to the Dursleys?? I find that really hard to believe. Especially as he said that the Dursleys sealed the protection he put on Harry - it made it sound like he had done some other stuff. Don't you think that Dumbledore would have wanted to see Harry during that whole day and check him out? I mean, he's a one year-old baby - I'd think they would make sure his body was okay in terms of bumps, bruises, broken bones, etc. So, it seems to me that they would have seen it then.
Just my thoughts, though.
Boing, see, that is where I am stuck!! I am well and truly in two minds about whether or not Dumbledore saw Harry before Hagrid took him to the Dursleys.
It makes sense that he would check on him, and as I said, he could easily have said to Hagrid, on the spot, Harry is fine, but bring him to me, at 4 Privet Drive, such and such a time tomorrow night....and then set about preparing the protection.
It is possible that Hagrid then took Harry somewhere safe for the missing day, under DD's instructions.
But then again, we are, or at least I am, under the impression that Hagrid took him from the wrecked house on DD's instructions, waited until the time he was told, then took Harry to DD who was then seeing him for the first time.
Do you understand what I mean about Dumbledore making those comments to McGonagall and Hagrid though? I don't think he would have said anything like that about the scar had he not had time to think about it.
No, the more I think about it, the more I believe Hagrid and Dumbledore met at the ruined house and made plans from there. Heck, they could have even travelled together, checked Harry, DD left, Hagrid was leaving and then Sirius turned up...
Fortescue
10-06-2005, 16:09
Kashlie - JKR said she was quite fond of the scar and we might see it again, so it could come into play.
As for the scar having to do with the protection - I really don't think so, either.
You guys both think that Dumbledore didn't see the scar at all before he got to the Dursleys?? I find that really hard to believe. Especially as he said that the Dursleys sealed the protection he put on Harry - it made it sound like he had done some other stuff. Don't you think that Dumbledore would have wanted to see Harry during that whole day and check him out? I mean, he's a one year-old baby - I'd think they would make sure his body was okay in terms of bumps, bruises, broken bones, etc. So, it seems to me that they would have seen it then.
Just my thoughts, though.
I didn't really say that I was positive that Dumbledore hadn't seen Harry, but my first thought about the whole thing is - if Dumbledore had been with Harry between the time Hagrid had rescued Harry from the house and when he dropped Harry off at the Dursley's, why didn't Dumbledore deliver Harry himself? The story of Harry's scar must have gotten around. After all, look who had Harry - possibly for the entire day. Hagrid is famous for talking out of turn. The news definitely got around somehow. If the news of Harry's scar reached McGonagall's ears, it would surely have been relayed to Dumbledore.
And Dumbledore, having a scar of his own, and possibly a curse scar, could know of some kind of magical spell that would cause all the things that Harry has experienced over the years because of his scar. Maybe Harry's ability to connect with Voldemort through his scar is partly due to the magical connection Dumbledore made to protect Harry and could also lead to saving his life in the end.
Ana C.B.Rodrigues
16-08-2006, 05:30
Well dumbledore could have known about the scar without having been into the Potter's ruins... and also we can't forget that Dumbledore has a lot of experience though he doesn't know the effets of Harry's scar. And Maybe he said that to avoi the suspition that Voldemort could get the control of Harry's body through his scar... and also to get time to study Harry's reactions to the scar. It may be the reason he kept Harry followed so many years.
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