Yes, I always assumed so. Same way he knew about Harry’s mysterious conversation with Lucius. Heh probably didn’t need Harry to repeat it, but used the occasion for some teaching (“write it down!”) and for checking Harry’s honesty and trust.
I think if he had actually been there to overhear it he would have handled the trial a little differently. It seems very likely at this point that he didn’t get “Lucius thinks I’m Voldemort” from Harry’s retelling, and he certainly would if he had heard it himself.
And I don’t see the fact that he knew of Harry’s encounter with Lucius as needing any particular explanation; it happened in public, with at least one person who might have spoken to Dumbledore about it standing right there.
Dumbledore’s apparent knowledge and how it is used or not always seemed inconsistent to me (example).
Regarding Harry’s dark side=Vold’s Horcrux, there were many hints that Dumbledore knew it from the beginning (Tolkien quote, inappropriate laughs at exactly the right places, questions about Dark Wizards). So he would be able to deduce Lucius’ thoughts from Harry’s story, even without being there.
But I’m not sure how the knowledge (or its lack) would affect his behavior in the trial.
About the Horcrux (what brought this up?): Dumbledore implied to McGonagall that there was only one Horcrux. It’s possible to construct reasons why he would do that when he knew there were more, but it’s evidence against the idea.
And the trial: Dumbledore seemed to be basing his actions on a rather bad model of Lucius. Unless you think the outcome of the trial was what Dumbledore had in mind?
Knowledge that Harry is a Horcrux, plus Harry’s recitation of his encounter with Lucius, are sufficient to deduce that Lucius thinks Harry=Voldemort. So, “Dumbledore doesn’t appear to know this during the trial” is not evidence for or against “Dumbledore overheard Harry-Lucius conversation”.
Dumbledore implied to McGonagall that there was only one Horcrux.
He only implied there was one that needs to be found.
And the trial: Dumbledore seemed to be basing his actions on a rather bad model of Lucius.
Could you show specific bad actions that Dumbledore would perform differently if he knew Lucius’ thoughts about Harry (assuming he actually didn’t)?
And I don’t see the fact that he knew of Harry’s encounter with Lucius as needing any particular explanation; it happened in public, with at least one person who might have spoken to Dumbledore about it standing right there.
I just went and reread “38. The Cardinal Sin”. The only strange remark that Madam Longbottom heard is:
“Of course...” said Lucius slowly. “I do feel the fool now. This whole time you were just pretending to have no idea what we were talking about.”
It’s not obvious, to put it mildly, to get from this to “writing notes about a long mysterious conversaion”.
EDIT: Hmm. Or maybe it is obvious to Dumbledore...
Yes, I always assumed so. Same way he knew about Harry’s mysterious conversation with Lucius. Heh probably didn’t need Harry to repeat it, but used the occasion for some teaching (“write it down!”) and for checking Harry’s honesty and trust.
I think if he had actually been there to overhear it he would have handled the trial a little differently. It seems very likely at this point that he didn’t get “Lucius thinks I’m Voldemort” from Harry’s retelling, and he certainly would if he had heard it himself.
And I don’t see the fact that he knew of Harry’s encounter with Lucius as needing any particular explanation; it happened in public, with at least one person who might have spoken to Dumbledore about it standing right there.
Dumbledore’s apparent knowledge and how it is used or not always seemed inconsistent to me (example).
Regarding Harry’s dark side=Vold’s Horcrux, there were many hints that Dumbledore knew it from the beginning (Tolkien quote, inappropriate laughs at exactly the right places, questions about Dark Wizards). So he would be able to deduce Lucius’ thoughts from Harry’s story, even without being there.
But I’m not sure how the knowledge (or its lack) would affect his behavior in the trial.
About the Horcrux (what brought this up?): Dumbledore implied to McGonagall that there was only one Horcrux. It’s possible to construct reasons why he would do that when he knew there were more, but it’s evidence against the idea.
And the trial: Dumbledore seemed to be basing his actions on a rather bad model of Lucius. Unless you think the outcome of the trial was what Dumbledore had in mind?
Knowledge that Harry is a Horcrux, plus Harry’s recitation of his encounter with Lucius, are sufficient to deduce that Lucius thinks Harry=Voldemort. So, “Dumbledore doesn’t appear to know this during the trial” is not evidence for or against “Dumbledore overheard Harry-Lucius conversation”.
He only implied there was one that needs to be found.
Could you show specific bad actions that Dumbledore would perform differently if he knew Lucius’ thoughts about Harry (assuming he actually didn’t)?
...Oh.
You know, reading back through, I actually can’t. So, um, nevermind then.
I just went and reread “38. The Cardinal Sin”. The only strange remark that Madam Longbottom heard is:
“Of course...” said Lucius slowly. “I do feel the fool now. This whole time you were just pretending to have no idea what we were talking about.”
It’s not obvious, to put it mildly, to get from this to “writing notes about a long mysterious conversaion”.
EDIT: Hmm. Or maybe it is obvious to Dumbledore...
I think it kind of is, actually.