Why now?

[kausarqadir]

originally quoted from THE MIRROR OF ERISED(PS/SS)
"your father left this in my possession before he died.
it is time it was returned to you.
use it well.
a very merry christmas to you."
Y giving it to harry NOW. what is expected from him?

[Boing]

I think most of us here are of the opinion that Dumbledore has "plans" for Harry and that he gave Harry that invisibility cloak so that Harry could find what Dumbledore wanted him to find - the mirror. Dumbledore is more scheming and plotting I think than we realize. He seems to be just behind the scenes, but he has a hand in guiding Harry from afar.

[Nagini]

I agree with Boing and would add that Dumbledore was well aware of what the Dursleys were like and he probably knew that they wouldn't send Harry anything for Christmas and if they did it would be the worst present ever anyway. Although he could have given it to Harry at any time, I think he held back until then to make it seem even more special and because he didn't want it well known that he had handed Harry the invisiblity cloak, he wanted it too remain a secret so that Harry was able to sneak around.

[Tonks]

I think it makes sense that he wanted to give Harry the invisibility cloak so he could sneak around, but there are dozens of empty classrooms in Hogwarts. However, isn't it a bit of a long shot to think that if he passed the cloak onto Harry, he'd be able to find the mirror? There have to be dozens of empty classrooms throughout Hogwarts - what are the chances that Harry would stumble into the one that contained the mirror? .. granted, he did.. but still..

Maybe Dumbledore was just planning and putting the cloak in Harry's possession early, though, and Harry found the mirror before he needed to do anything else. Also, Dumbledore probably realized Harry would really value his father's cloak and Christmas would be a good time to pass the cloak on..

[Tinkerbell]

My feeling is that Dumbledore had no reason to think that Harry would have a need for an Invisibility Cloak before he came to Hogwarts in any event, and therefore did not feel the need to give it to him before his first year at the school.

As for Dumbledore's comment "use it well" - I think he probably knows that an Invisibility Cloak in the hands of an 11 year old lad could prove too much of a temptation to create mayhem, and it was his way of gently guiding Harry towards using it for good rather than mischief!

[Hermione]

It was Christmas, and I think Dumbledore felt sort of sorry for Harry because of all the years he had spent at the Dursleys. He knew when he left him there on their doorstep that his life wouldn't be easy. I also think Dumbledore did it in the same mindset as a parent laying out Christmas gifts for their kids, they do it to see them get some enjoyment and to see them happy.

Dumbledore must have known that his gift would go to good use, but I doubt he planned for Harry to come upon the mirror.

[Alz]

I think Dumbledore had been keeping a close eye on Harry than most ever saw or considered.
I think he realised that Harry was curious so decided to give him a little helping hand - a way Harry could get around without causing too much of a scene and also raising people like Quirrell's attentions.
I think the timing was just a cover for Dumbledore to return a something to Harry - something that was salvaged from the ruines of his deceased parents home.

[kausarqadir]

I think Dumbledore had been keeping a close eye on Harry than most ever saw or considered.
I think he realised that Harry was curious so decided to give him a little helping hand - a way Harry could get around without causing too much of a scene and also raising people like Quirrell's attentions.


if that is the case, y didnt he then find out about Norbert.
talking about causing a scene, dont you think that he did when sending Norbert to Charlie and getting detention from Mc Gonagall.
not only that he had Naville in trouble too.
and then when he left it up, he got it back with JUST IN CASE tag when he turned up after detention in the forest.
y was it then.
did dumbledore want him to do something as he did?
was it pre planned in dd's head?

[Nagini]

if that is the case, y didnt he then find out about Norbert.
talking about causing a scene, dont you think that he did when sending Norbert to Charlie and getting detention from Mc Gonagall.
not only that he had Naville in trouble too.
and then when he left it up, he got it back with JUST IN CASE tag when he turned up after detention in the forest.
y was it then.
did dumbledore want him to do something as he did?
was it pre planned in dd's head?

Well there is no evidence that suggests Dumbledore didn't know about Norbert, but it wouldn't be surprising to me if he didn't know. Hagrid was hiding him and keeping him a secret - Harry and co found out by accident. At least from your post I am assuming you meant Dumbledore and not Harry, because Harry did find out about Norbert.

When Harry left the cloak in the tower, I wonder who found it and passed it to Dumbledore though? Perhaps McGongall or Filtch - maybe he has to hand items of value over to the Headmaster?

I think Dumbledore gave it back to Harry a second time for the same reasons as the first time.

[Kingsley]

I agree with Gini and to further your question about Neville getting in trouble--Neville stood up to the trio later and he happened to get house points for it--

I think you are underestimating the control DD has over everything--when was the last time DD was surprised about anything that happened :cool:

[Boing]

I definitely think Dumbledore has (and has had) a plan for Harry. And, hey, if he believes in the prophecy as he has interpreted it, then he wouldn't have any reason to believe Harry in any really great danger until he met up with Voldemort. So, I think Dumbledore wants Harry to learn about things for himself, become familiar with the castle, etc. And he wants to see how he approaches adversity - what sorts of resources he might have inside himself for when the big battle comes around.

[kashlie]

I'm not positive, but it wasn't actually said that Dumbledore gave him the cloak, was it?
Please point me in the right direction if it is said somewhere for certain...

[Alz]

If i remeber right it was heavily implied - I think it was down to the note about 'your father wanted you to have this' or something similar.
I for one think it was Dumbledore that gave him the cloak - i mean who else would have either been trusted by the Potters or had access the the wrecked house to retrieve it?

[kausarqadir]

I'm not positive, but it wasn't actually said that Dumbledore gave him the cloak, was it?
Please point me in the right direction if it is said somewhere for certain...


yes, it was told by dumbledore himself in the room of Mirror of Erised.

[Fortescue]

Dumbledore told Harry that it was he who had given Harry the cloak when Harry was in the hospital wing after his confrontation with Quirrell/Voldemort.

"Ah - your father happened to leave it in my possession, and I thought you might like it." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Useful things ... your father used it mainly for sneaking off to the kitchens to steal food when he was here." (SS, pg 299 US HB) It seems that Dumbledore was also watching James closely when he was at Hogwarts. :rolleyes:

I think Dumbledore was working on his plan at the time - seeing what Harry was capable of, yet watching out for him at the same time. When Harry first found the mirror of Erised, and then took Ron to see it too, Dumbledore was watching. On Harry's third visit to the mirror, Dumbledore revealed that he knew Ron saw himself as Head Boy - Dumbledore also revealed he didn't need a cloak to become invisible. This scene really opens up many questions about Dumbledore and what he's capable of. When Harry left his cloak in the tower, Dumbledore returned it to Harry's dormitory and placed it under his bed covers with a note : "Just in case". It's as if he was encouraging Harry to spread his wings and see what he could do. It could have also been a test of Harry - so Dumbledore could see what type of person Harry was. Look at all the things an eleven-year-old boy could do that would not be considered appropriate if he could be invisible. :D

At the end of SS, Harry relates to Ron and Hermione his feelings on Dumbledore and his testing of Harry, "He's a funny man, Dumbledore, I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you know. I reckon he had a pretty good idea we were going to try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the mirror worked. It's almost like he though I had the right to face Voldemort if I could...." (SS, pg 302 US HB)

I think Dumbledore has done this many times with Harry through his first five years at Hogwarts. Maybe in HBP, we will find out how Dumbledore can be invisible without a cloak, and how closely he really has watched Harry over the years.

[kashlie]

All this testing of Harry...it makes me wonder if Dumbledore knows EXACTLY what is going on, and not just the big stuff.
Everytime Harry has used the cloak, he has discovered something, however unimportant it has seemed. And the fact that Dumbledore has on occasions known that Harry was right there in the room (Hagrids Hut).
It is like Dumbledore knew no harm would come to Harry by giving him the cloak, because he knew exactly when and where Harry would use it, and what the outcome would be. Has Dumbledore EVER been shocked at something that has happened, like he didn't know it was coming?

[Alz]

You see I question that - but I wear the DiE badge with pride ;)
The fact Dumbledore seems in control seems to allow him to give Harry the space he needs to discover and find things out himself.
But I question did Dumbledore really know the threats before Harry in PS/SS - and if so why did he allow Harry to be in such danger?
i think it is important for Dumbledore to really see what Harry is all about - how blessed he is and what he is capable of :)