Why did Albus Dumbledore care for Harry Potter so much?

Answer 1

He became loyal to Dumbledore after Snape learned that Voldemort was planning to kill the woman he loved (Lily Potter). In turn for her safety he joined the order - sadly she was still kill however Snape promised to help keep her son safe.

Answer 2

Because Snape came straight to him after he realised that by telling Voldemort the contents of Trelawney's prophecy that he overheard, he effectively delivered the Potters to their deaths. It was because Snape showed true remorse that Dumbledore trusts him. I'm guessing Dumbledore knew Snape had always been in love with Lily.

Answer 3

Dumbledore has basically been Snape's only friend ever since he became a double-agent and started spying on Voldemort for Dumbledore. In the seventeen years since Snape swore allegiance to Dumbledore on that windy hill, Dumbledore became not only a trusted friend to Snape, but also a father figure.

Snape had a terrible relationship with his father. The book arguably implies that Tobias Snape was abusive, at least verbally, if not physically as well. The one flashback we see of Snape's parents describes, "a hook-nosed man...shouting at a cowering woman." Not only is Severus' father possibly abusive, but he is also a Muggle who hates magic (and apparently everything else: as young Snape says of his father, "He doesn't like anything, much"). Ever since he was a little boy, all Severus ever wanted to be was a great wizard.

So, the fact that Tobias Snape shared none of his son's passion for magical learning, and on top of that may have been abusive, means that Snape had a terrible relationship with his father. Thus, Dumbledore in some ways became the father that Snape never had, but always wanted.

Harry, on the other hand, has always been nothing more to Snape than a reminder that Lily loved James Potter and not him. Every time he looks at Harry, he sees Lily's eyes in James' face, and it reminds him of how he not only lost Lily to James, but ended up causing her death (remember, Snape is the one who told Voldemort about the prophecy, which led Voldemort to mark the Potter family for death).

Also, ever since Harry came to Hogwarts (actually, pretty much ever since Harry was born) Snape had been determined not to like him. He always wanted to believe that Harry was as arrogant and self-satisfied as his father.

From The Prince's Tale (Deathly Hallows, USA Scholastic hardcover edition, p679):

"--mediocre, arrogant as his father, a determined rule-breaker, delighted to find himself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent --"

"You see what you expect to see, Severus," said Dumbledore, without raising his eyes from a copy of Transfiguration Today. "Other teachers report that the boy is modest, likable, and reasonably talented. Personally, I find him an engaging child."

Dumbledore turned a page, and said, without looking up, "Keep an eye on Quirrell, won't you?"

As we can see from this passage, Snape had been determined to see nothing but James in Harry, starting from the moment Harry set foot in Hogwarts in his first year.

Fate brought Snape and Dumbledore together, and Dumbledore's wise, patient nature made him both Snape's only friend and a father figure. On the other hand, Snape never got a chance to know Harry the way he knew Dumbledore, because he never allowed himself to.

Another interpretation:

I think Dumbledore simply used both Snape and Harry as Chess-pieces, even if he pretended he cared for them.

Answer 4

He is loyal to Dumbeldore because of the fact he saw him as a father figure in a sense. He brought him away from his aunt and uncle and into this amazing new world and taught him many things and plus he taught his parents so he used Dumbeldore as a friend and to learn more about his father and mother.

Or: Dumbledore carefully manipulated Harry all along -- just like he did with everyone else...

Answer 5

Dumbledore was a loving person who cared about all the children at Hogwarts.

He recognised Harry as the world's last hope if they were to be rescued from Voldemort, so he took special care of him. He recognised Harry as unselfish and brave and therefore loved and admired him all the more.

In the end he came to think of Harry as his own grandson.

Answer 6

Are you asking about the events of the sixth and seventh books? It was important for the Order of the Phoenix to have a spy among Voldemort's ranks, someone Voldemort trusted with his most confidential plans, so they could keep Harry safe and fight back. Harry was the only person that could have destroyed Voldemort, so his safety was top priority. Because of Snape's unique position as a trusted member of both the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix he had access to valuable information (like how much Voldemort really knewand the ability to plant false leads (like when the Order planned to get Harry from Privet Drive). He had to stay at Hogwarts after Dumbledore's death to

Answer 7

Because they are not quite so unbelievable after all. For a start, Hagrid himself does some magic (lighting the fire). Also, Hagrid points out that strange things happened to Harry when he was angry or so.

Answer 8

Because Dumbledore can see the nice in others. Unlike Snape and everyone else.

Answer 9

Because Dumbledore made it clear that he trusted Snape and Lupin trusted Dumbledore's judgement.