Dumbledore meant to do it

'D'you think he meant you to do it?' Said Ron. 'Sending you your father's Cloak and everything?'
'Well,' Hermione exploded, 'if he did - I mean to say - that's terrible - you could have been killed.'
'No, it isn't,' said Harry thoughtfully. 'He's a funny man, Dumbledore. I think he sort of wanted to give me a chance. I think he knows more or less everything that goes on here, you try, and instead of stopping us, he just taught us enough to help. I don't think it was an accident he let me find out how the Mirror worked. It's almost like he thought I had the right to face Voldemort if I could...'

THE MAN WITH TWO FACES - Pg 325