Irritable Dumbledore?

[Alz]

OK - so this is bugging me and figured I would throw it out here ...

SO - we have the 'lesson' between Harry and Dumbledore - it is the one just after he sets Harry the homework of getting the memory from Slughorn.
Dumbledore acts very irritable during this first part of this encounter - it is very noticeable in his actions and thoughts - he even brushes past Harry's concern over Ron saying that once he realised Ron was going to be OK why he didn't re-engage - then almost has a sulk - being quiet till Harry breaks the silence ...

Now you are all thinking sure - that is because Dumbledore really wanted to know what happened in that memory - well I have a problem with that ...
Dumbledore seemed pretty much clued up on Voldemort using Horcruxes by this time - let's not forget he had already destroyed one and also attributed the diary in CoS to be a horcrux ...
Given his knowledge of Horcruxes, the facts Voldemort didn't die that night and also the full knowledge of Voldemort's fear of death - it seems the memory served no other purpose than clueing Harry into it ... what it does ect ...

I propose that indeed the reason Dumbledore wanted Harry to get the memory from Slughorn was to try and forge a relationship and trust that meant Slughorn would pass the details freely - and as such meant that Harry and Slughorn bonded ... they had a better relationship ... a relationship that could be useful after he departed maybe?

I really don't think Dumbledore needed confirmation on the facts Voldemort was using horcruxes - maybe you could question it was down to the amount discussed (7 is the most magical number) but still - I think there was a whole secondary reason Dumbledore wanted Harry to get it and maybe might explain his irritable manner - time running out and all ... things to tie up???

[Blanche A. McFusty]

This has bugged me, too. Like Dumbledore wouldn't know that 7 was a magical number? Something about the whole business has just zipped over my head. I don't know if it was to draw a bond between Slughorn and Harry, though. How much would Slughorn be inclined to trust Harry now? Something about the memory and the encounter has eluded me. Maybe Dumbledore was trying to ascertain whether or not Voldemort had entrusted anyone else with his horcrux plan. Knowing that he waited until everyone else had left the room to ask about them may have solidified to Dumbledore that no one was privy to his plans, and that made him feel safer about a course of action he was preparing.

[Seeker615]

I think it was a way to test Harry. To see if Harry could shoulder the responsibilty he will be undertaking and be able to (for the most part) do it alone.

DD knew his number was up soon and he needed Harry to be able to get info as needed as well as understand the way Voldy's mind worked. I think DD was irritable because Harry sometimes seems to be quick to judge people and their motives(Snape and Draco for example) and he will need to delve deeper into people in order to get what he needs from them.

[Alz]

I also got the feeling Dumbledore felt time was running out - that much I can agree with. His manner and behaviour seemed to suggest that he knew the moment was coming and he needed Harry to do this before that moment.
I think the way Slughorn left Harry that night after the felix moment and him passing up the memory might have changed Harry's mind about Slughorn somewhat.
I still have this feeling that Dumbledore wanted Harry to be closer to Slughorn - someone old and wise who Harry could go to in his absence ...

[Sirius Potter Fan]

I don't know . . . unless Sluggy has a side we haven't seen, he seemes to be too superficial to be of any real help or support to Harry.

Yes, I can see that it would be likely that DD knew time was short, since I believe that he knew of the unbreakable vow Snape had taken. I also think he should have known there would be 7 horcruxes, but, what else was he looking for. Perhaps just being thourough, and wanting to verify the number? Maybe he suspected something else? Maybe hoping that Riddle had told Sluggy something more?

I can see the possibility that he wanted to teach Harry to work on his own on things like that. knowing that he wouldn't be around to help him soon. Forcing Harry to work on his own on something that he didn't really want to do. Forcing Harry to be creative; to learn to use someones personality traits for his own means. I think that in all their "lessons" that they were all indeed lessons for Harry to learn something vital for the upcoming conflict.

[SnarkologyMajor]

This might be a bit left field, but what effect did that ring horcrux have on Dumbledore? I know we've speculated that it may have quite literally killed him and that Snape put a stopper on that death-but now I'm thinking of Ginny and the diary. Tom's horcrux was in effect possessing Ginny and also in Book 5 Voldemort was flitting in and out of Harry's head which I believe is due to the fact that the scar is a horcrux. From what we have seen, horcruxes have a very profound and harmful effect on people who come in contact w/them. Dumbledore throughout Book 6 often said things that were irritable and out of character, could this be because of the ring horcrux, are we seeing any Voldemort traits in these statements?

[Sirius Potter Fan]

I'm not certain, but it seemed to me that if DD was "like" anyone in particular, it seemed that he was like Sluggy . . . used his pet phrases etc. of course there are other theories about that.

When Harry destroyed the diary, the horcrux - Voldemort's soul bit - was also destroyed, and Giny was freed of his "possesion". So, even if the bit of Voldemort's soul that was in the ring could have possessed Dumbledore (which i don't believ it could, because it was not made like the diary which was more like a pensive that put memories into the "readers" mind) it would have been destroyed when the ring was, so there would be nothing to posses DD.

I believe the "irritability" simply due to the fact that DD knew time was short, he knew either Malfoy or Snape would have to kill him at just about any time. I know he understood that Harry is still just a boy, but he had so many things to teach him and patience wears thin when someone is putting off something difficult.

[Alz]

Dumbledore had a great deal of time and also respect for Sluggy - I mean we saw the lengths he went to so he could have his man.
I just have a feeling there was more to that appointment than respect for a fellow professor from years ago. I know storywise why he had to come into it - but I just wonder if there was more to the appointment.
I'm not totally done on the idea that Dumbledore wanted Harry to get close to Sluggy yet.

I am also liking the thoughts of Dumbledore trying to prep his young learner - but the desperation and character change in him was noticable at this point - he acted liked a big kid and required Harry to be the bigger person in order to get Dumbledore back with the program - just seems so unlike Dumbledore!

[Sirius Potter Fan]

he acted liked a big kid and required Harry (http://www.thefinalhorcrux.com/forum/showthread.php?p=25876#) to be the bigger person in order to get Dumbledore (http://www.thefinalhorcrux.com/forum/showthread.php?p=25876#) back with the program

OK . . . clarify just what you mean by "big kid" here please . . .

[Alz]

Dumbledore acted very out of character.
He impressed upon Harry that his task was very important and that Harry needed to engage more - Harry acted this. He then sat back almost in a mood and said nothing - Harry then makes an apology to Dumbledore - then Dumbledore speaks again and they continue.
Just those few moment it appeared like Dumbledore was in a silent strop with Harry and it required Harry to suck it up and make an apology before Dumbledore would re-engage ...

[Sirius Potter Fan]

I don't see that as acting like a "big Kid" but, he is indeed seeming impatient, but with obvious good reason. He has to make Harry grow up and realize that this is his job whether he likes it or not, and he is going to have to take responsibility or die. Harry just can't be a kid anymore, and after Dumbledores death, he accepts that and begins acting very mature and responsible. Yes Dumbledore was being impatient, and not at all his usual self, but he had to, I believe as do many that he knew his own death was immenint and had to get some things through to Harry while he could! Not that I don't think there won't be any further instructions or advice from Dumbledore through other means, but he had to get Harry to grow up and take the lead now . . . This is all the same reason I first predicted that DD would be the character that would die in HBP.

[Alz]

Guess it is an opinion thing - there was other occasions where Dumbledore has tried to focus Harry onto tasks but he never took such a stance before - and I stand by my point, he was acting like a child - I wonder how long they would have sat in silence to Harry actually spoke up and apologised ... because I dont think Dumbledore was going to say or do anything else till Harry did this.
If you are a mentor and guide, that kind of behaviour isnt teaching or even helping - he should have explained to Harry his disourse and then move on ... I dont think that was the case here.
As I said, we are all entitled to opinons - but I feel there is basis for my assumptions on the facts present.