I don’t necessarily think that these two concepts are mutually exclusive. I definitely believe that some incredibly powerful magical objects have the ability to use some sort of innate quality to influence events in the way they “should be.� However, ever since finishing the series and going back through I have been of the opinion that Dumbledore is behind a huge majority of events in Harry’s life.

The way I see it, Dumbledore knew with a high degree of certainty (because of the prophecy and the actions Voldemort took because of it) that one day Harry and Voldemort would be warring against each other. I feel as though many things Harry experienced were orchestrated by Dumbledore as a way of preparing Harry (and ensuring his success) in this eventual battle for the greater good of the wizarding world. If Harry hadn’t gone through the experiences he had in the first six books, it is obvious that he wouldn’t have been able to hunt down the Horcruxes and defeat Voldemort.

To think of Sorcerer’s Stone, I think that Dumbledore intended that Harry go through this adventure, whether or not Dumbledore knew that would mean facing Voldemort at that moment. To begin, leaving him with the Dursleys was a risk, but I feel as though Harry might not have had the same selfless personality, humbleness, and no desire for power had he grown up a hero in the wizarding world. These are qualities that were crucial to Voldemort’s defeat.

You spoke much about Hagrid’s trustworthiness and why he knew so much; I believe that Dumbledore trusted that Hagrid WOULD tell Harry things accidentally. He had to have known about Hagrid’s inability to keep a secret. Dumbledore was the one who ensured that Harry and Hagrid would be friends through sending Hagrid to rescue him from the Dursley’s (and also to rescue him from Voldemort’s attack). Many Hogwarts staff could have tracked Harry down and delivered the letter, and there are certainly many who would be much less conspicuous in the muggle world. Yet, he sends Hagrid, who, incidentally, has to pick up the stone while Harry is with him. Therefore, I feel as though this is just one example of Dumbledore’s manipulation. Another example would be the ease at which three first year students are able to gain access to the stone so easily, even though it is meant to keep out much more experienced wizards; I do not believe in coincidences where Dumbledore is concerned. He gave Harry the Invisibility Cloak at the right time, he left the Mirror of Erised out where it was easily found, and he knows exactly where Harry is at all times.

I do not believe that Dumbledore knows all or has complete control over all events; however, I feel as though he has the ability to use situations to his advantage in his greater scheme and plan. As he knows so much of what Harry does, it is my opinion that during Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore knows that there are two Harry’s on the Hogwarts grounds at the same time. He potentially put together that there must have been time traveling that occurred, and thus knows to tell Hermione to go back in time. This gives Harry Sirius, a father figure he never had, more knowledge of his parents, and even support he absolutely needs when he uses the Resurrection Stone when walking to his death. Dumbledore had no way of knowing the effect this would have, but he definitely knew that Harry needed someone like Sirius in his life.

I could go on for much longer and through all of the books, but basically I feel as though Dumbledore spent Harry’s years at Hogwarts preparing him for his destiny and future. Perhaps I’m stretching things and coming up with crazy theories (everyone loves a good crazy theory), but no one can deny that Dumbledore has had a lot of influence over Harry’s life; he also had the help and push of powerful magical objects along the way (which could be a whole different discussion.) So I suppose my simple answer to the posed question is both the inherent magic of powerful objects and Dumbledore’s meddling that guide Harry’s life and the story.

I think that in the first book, a lot of things are facilitated by Dumbledore. I mean, I think it's weird that Hagrid, knowing that the stone is top priority, would get it out of the vault with Harry with him. We know he could've got something out of the vault without Harry knowing because that's when he got Hedwig. I think that Dumbledore not only caused the series of events in book 1, but also in many other books. Even things outside of school were caused by him. EX. Harry going after the horcruxes. Whenever Harry reached a dead-end, something that Dumbledore planned for saves them.

So, I think that magic will find a way to work, but Dumbledore has the ability to bend it even farther, up to the point where everything in the whole series is caused by something that he's done. I also think that when he sets things into motion, the people involved have to ability to change the outcome, but really, Dumbledore is always the one behind the curtain, whispering the instructions.

I think it's a little of Dumbledore manipulating things, and magical energy. Why wouldn't Dumbledore keep an eye on Harry? Harry didn't know that much about the wizarding world. He didn't have to worry about Hermione, because she was just curious about everything and would just read up on something. Ron, knew a lot because of his family. As for Hagrid letting things slip out, Malfoy mentioned this, that Hagrid was just a servant who drank a lot and blabbed about stuff. Some people talk about fate or karma, and I think this had a hand in Harry's success.

Agree with previous points made - especially those by SarahSlytherin. I'd like to add that "magic always leaves traces", and Albus Dumbledore seems very adept at noticing these traces; proven when he finds the traces left by the hidden archway and boat in Tom Riddle's cave. Dumbledore seems to have an affinity, a kind of sixth sense if you will, for intuitively knowing that a place or object either is magical or "has known magic". Therefore, I would argue that this incredibly intelligent wizard is more able than others to give events that are enclined to occur in certain ways by their magical gravitational pull towards each other, exactly the push they might require to move in the right direction.

Of course Dumbledore was keeping an eye on Harry, but taking this to a bigger extent, it might be the way that the "Universe" found to control the situation. It is interesting to think that way, because not only Dumbledore wanted to do that, and it was his personality, but there was something behind it making things work together.

Thinking further on the "Universe", I see it as the origin of the prophecies, so, a wizard with ability to divination is a person that can, in some way, capture what the "Universe" is planning. If this is true, depending on the ability of the wizard, the propehcy can be more accurate or not.

I think it's obvious that Steve is right. Dumbledore is meddling with the natural fabric of things to defeat Voldemort.

Think of it this way, the magical world exists in a balance, a seesaw if you will that leans one way or another from time to time, but essentially remains at equilibrium.

Think of Dumbledore and Voldemort as opposite ends of the seesaw, both messing with the equilibrium of the fabric of the magical world, both working to achieve their ideal view of the world. Voldemort is trying to usurp the overall equilibrium and establish a new order entirely. Dumbledore, however, being a very smart man, painfully aware of his own shortcomings is trying to manipulate the inherent balance of the world to achieve the equilibrium that the magical world needs. He understands that there are certain powerful objects that are imbued with an extra bit of oomph as it were that work within themselves to manipulate the small environment and people around them. This in itself is coincidental in that it is the inherent nature of the objects that is changing the people and places around them.

Dumbledore, as previously stated, is totally aware of these objects and their abilities and also how, depending on other factors such as astrological anomalies, certain events or actions are likely to succeed when undertaken. Therefore it makes perfect sense that he is manipulating things in and around Harry so that he can test the boy. As Snape says, he's raising him like a pig for slaughter, but Dumbledore wants that pig to fight back for as long as necessary before it is led to the butcher. Dumbledore needs to test Harry's mettle and does so by allowing certain things to happen. Whether Hagrid is complicit or not in this plan is up for debate.

I really believe that this question relates to the previous podcast's question about the invisibility cloak. If a person is particularly attuned to the magical world, I can easily see how they would be able to manipulate events to result in their favor.

We know from Dumbledore that magic, especially powerful magic, leaves traces that can be detected. We also know that Dumbledore can sense those traces (a la HPHBP, where he senses the magical wall in the cave). Additionally, with Dumbledore’s near obsession with discovering the truths of magical history, he would do whatever it took to reveal that knowledge to himself.

In regards to the invisibility cloak, it’s pretty obvious why Dumbledore would want to borrow the cloak—because he suspected it to be one of the Hallows. But beyond the laws of magical inheritance, why would Dumbledore, who so desired the Hallows for himself, give the cloak to Harry? I think it is because of the prophecy. Dumbledore knew from the prophecy that it would be very likely that Harry would have to face Voldemort again, and that this would probably be a battle to the death. Suspecting that the cloak was a Hallow, and thus had the potential ability to protect one from Death, Dumbledore would find it instrumental that Harry have the cloak.

I think, as we reread more of the books, we will find more instances where Dumbledore manipulates events so as to increase the likelihood that Harry will succeed in his final battle against Voldemort.

I like to think that like we have muggle science, there is a magical science as well, however one that is quite different, and would be very hard for us, so accustomed to muggle science with its strict structure, to understand. In Hogwarts, there is tons of magic in the air that can cause all types of reactions to happen. I think there is something like gravity, (like Steve said) that brings things together that need to be together. There is also a theme of destiny in these stories, especially through the study of Divination, and this must be a part of it.

I think it is both, because Dumbledore would be the one person who understands this the best out of anyone in the magical world, and can therefore manipulate it easily.

We MUST remember, Dumbledore is NOT superhuman, he's just like any other wizard, albeit a more powerful one. I'm certain there is some energy, as mentioned, like gravity, that radiates through the magical world making things happen. As with Harry and Voldemort, the connection between them, Harry's horcrux connection, and later, their blood connection and most importantly their wand cores, probably helps this 'gravity' pull events to happen. I bet it's in the stars, and that's why centaurs read them. Dumbledore is part of this system, and he goes to nudge things in the right direction.

As great as Steve's theory is, I think we should all keep in mind that the fact that everything happens at the right moment and in the right place is not necessarily due to a specific property of the magical universe but to a general property of novels. In a novel, things HAVE to fit together and happen at the right time, or there would be no storyline. I think these plot developments tell us more about Jo's storytelling than about the nature of the wizarding world.

That said, I agree with Steve that Dumbledore might well be behind some of the more unusual events, although I don't think he is *physically* present most of the time.

(Excuse the cross-posting. I accidentally posted something similar in the forums first. I know I'm too late anyway.)

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