Instead of an explanation, and maybe even some recognition for his part in saving the kids' lives, Dumbledore stands there and twinkles (as was mentioned in a comment above). He gives the impression that he finds the whole situation funny.
Exactly. This is where I think *Snape* starts losing his faith in Dumbeldore, and begins to question him -- when Dumbledore publicly undercuts him and disbelieves him. Faux-Moody's accusation in GoF (in "The Egg and the Eye") upsets Snape so much because Snape actually has reason to believe that Dumbledore doesn't trust him. By OotP, Snape is at the point where he will defy Dumbledore's orders (at least when Dumbledore isn't there standing over him) when he throws Harry out of his office.
That statement, and Dumbledore's words to Snape in this chapter, sound like a barely veiled way of saying "you owe me, you have secrets of your own, so do as you're told and don't question my decisions."
I think Dumbledore took exactly the wrong tactic with Snape in this chapter. Shutting him up was effective, but told Snape that his efforts and loyalty were worth less than persuing the law and capturing a known murderer. Since Snape needs to be respected and valued, Dumbledore managed to convey that he was neither in one quick statement.
I don't know how else Dumbledore could have handled the situation, but it makes me think that for all his charisma, the Headmaster has a very superficial understanding of other people. Later revelations in OotP about Dumbledore's handling of the Prefect postion -- giving it to Lupin when he was so unable to handle it, and giving it to Ron over Harry for weak reasons (either Dean or Neville would have been better choices, imo) -- makes me wonder how the heck Dumbledore got to be so respected anyway.
Are wizards that bad at picking leaders? Or that blinded by war-heroism? Or has Dumbledore let all his press after defeating Grindelwald go to his head and degrade whatever talent with people he used to have?
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Re: Snape and Dumbledore
Date: 2004-05-29 12:08 am (UTC)Exactly. This is where I think *Snape* starts losing his faith in Dumbeldore, and begins to question him -- when Dumbledore publicly undercuts him and disbelieves him. Faux-Moody's accusation in GoF (in "The Egg and the Eye") upsets Snape so much because Snape actually has reason to believe that Dumbledore doesn't trust him. By OotP, Snape is at the point where he will defy Dumbledore's orders (at least when Dumbledore isn't there standing over him) when he throws Harry out of his office.
That statement, and Dumbledore's words to Snape in this chapter, sound like a barely veiled way of saying "you owe me, you have secrets of your own, so do as you're told and don't question my decisions."
I think Dumbledore took exactly the wrong tactic with Snape in this chapter. Shutting him up was effective, but told Snape that his efforts and loyalty were worth less than persuing the law and capturing a known murderer. Since Snape needs to be respected and valued, Dumbledore managed to convey that he was neither in one quick statement.
I don't know how else Dumbledore could have handled the situation, but it makes me think that for all his charisma, the Headmaster has a very superficial understanding of other people. Later revelations in OotP about Dumbledore's handling of the Prefect postion -- giving it to Lupin when he was so unable to handle it, and giving it to Ron over Harry for weak reasons (either Dean or Neville would have been better choices, imo) -- makes me wonder how the heck Dumbledore got to be so respected anyway.
Are wizards that bad at picking leaders? Or that blinded by war-heroism? Or has Dumbledore let all his press after defeating Grindelwald go to his head and degrade whatever talent with people he used to have?