Categories > Books > Harry Potter
Dumbledore's Final Trick
15 reviewsHarry believes he has finally achieved true independence. But the Headmaster has one last trick to play - and an offer Harry would be a fool to turn down. Or would he?
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Reviews
Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) shaman_king 2011-01-31
I honestly didn't understand this story.Author's response
Well, I'm not entirely sure where you are confused. Is it about the point of the story?
As I said in my profile, this story is a response to all those cliches out there about a Manipulative Dumbledore that always repeat themselves and rarely think the "Manipulative" thing through. This story brings up the idea of "What if Dumbledore was both Manipulative and Competent?"Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) Pyrogin 2011-01-31
You do know that Harry was abused right? Abuse isn't just physical there is emotional as well. Harry certainly qualifies for abuse he was forced to live under the stairs in a tiny room. Also the stone could be construed as a test if three 11 year olds get passed it then its rather sad. I also highy doubt that Dumbledore was in the room with the stone. But I quess everyone has their own oppions so why you think you have good reasons why Dumbledore didn't do these things in the hundreds of stories that say he did. Those authors do and truly it their own oppion that matters not yours, mine, or anyone else.Author's response
Thanks for reviewing.
Well, emotional abuse is a concept a lot newer in our society as a real thing - it's conceivable that the old magic society wouldn't even think of it as anything close to "abuse". The stone business wasn't about pure logic - it was an element of a story to generate an exciting ending where Harry could save the day.
However, this story isn't about the mistakes Dumbledore made in canon - and he made a bunch. He died because of a pretty big mistake in judgement, after all.
I wouldn't say that I have a serious problem with these other Dumbledore fics, they just all seem the same, and are rarely consistent - if he's so manipulative, then why isn't he competent enough to foresee Harry trying to rebel? If he's just incompetent, then he's not a manipulator at all.
This story is a response to all those cliches out there about a Manipulative Dumbledore that always repeat themselves and rarely think the "Manipulative" thing through. This story brings up the idea of "What if Dumbledore was both Manipulative and Competent?"Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) rijlkent 2011-01-31
I think your implication at the end is a little too subtle.
Oh, and: EW!Author's response
You think? Maybe it's not what you think it means? (I'm wondering myself what you thought...)Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) Circaea 2011-02-01
I'm working through your stories. This is yet another that is densely packed with skewered cliches. Awesome. I might even use it as a reference of things not to write...Author's response
It's awesome that you're reading my stories - some of them aren't as good, but of course it's highly appreciated. This particular one is a direct response to all those cliches - a bit of a satire, not necessarily intended to be taken seriously.Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) haldriel 2011-02-03
It is a very interesting story, with an original idea.
I like it very much and I hope that you enjoyed to write your story as I enjoyed to read it
Only a mistake : The philosopher Stone was really a test, it was said,implied in fact, during one of Snape's memories of HP and the Deathly Hallows.
Sorry for the poor English, I'm French.Author's response
Do not worry, your English is better than many people's. Merci bien for your review. I feel I must disagree with you about the Stone - Harry suspected it might be a test in the first book, but in Snape's memories, Dumbledore says nothing about the Stone - he only says much later that it was necessary to try Harry's strength. I don't think there's enough obvious one way or the other what Dumbledore really planned.Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) stag 2011-02-04
this was a very different story i liked it. however i'm a sucker for storys where harry is the one to winAuthor's response
Thanks for reading my stories - I know how you feel, but who's to say that Harry didn't win in the end?Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) Theo 2011-02-08
Using a frying pan to try and hit someone with would not be considered physical abuse and making Harry live under the stairs wouldn't be emotional abuse?
The traps around the stone I could see as a way to ensnare Riddle. It is when Fawkes is the one to come in Harry's second year without Albus which is the one you need to explain.
Along those lines, why couldn't Albus have used Fawkes to find Harry at the grave yard?Author's response
A lot of things to think about, but...
Well, Petunia didn't actually hit Harry with the frying pan - also, do you recall when that was? It was the summer after first year, when Harry was pretending to use magic on Dudley. He was hardly a pure innocent at the time.
Getting past plot contrivances, why couldn't he use Fawkes? If it's the same reason as in 2nd year, then perhaps Harry has to ask for Fawkes to come? Hard to say.
However, this story isn't about the mistakes Dumbledore made in canon - and he made a bunch. He died because of a pretty big mistake in judgement, after all.
I wouldn't say that I have a serious problem with these other Dumbledore fics, they just all seem the same, and are rarely consistent - if he's so manipulative, then why isn't he competent enough to foresee Harry trying to rebel? If he's just incompetent, then he's not a manipulator at all.Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) Nakor 2011-04-05
While I don't agree with your arguments about Dumble the story is nicely done, thank you!Author's response
Thank for the review - I might put in a bit of additional explanation at some point to clarify my position.Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) FlickeringShadow 2011-05-20
who is the girlfriend? nice story by the way...ending with just dots is not nice...unless ur writing a sequel where harry aprentices some other poor soul....but i liked it....Author's response
Probably no sequel, but thanks for the review anyway!Dumbledore's Final Trick
(#) qiaoyech 2012-01-01
This is the most insightful one shot I have read in 2011. I really liked a more neutral point of view to everything. Well done!Author's response
Thanks - but I will need to add a footnote for explanation.
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