Dumbledore's socks, Sirius/Snape, fanfic, Karkaroff

[David]

No: HPFGUIDX 28851

Susanna Luhtanen wrote:

> Similarly, Dumbledore may wish for socks, because for several 
decades he's 
> always had a book, a piece of jewelry or some other piece 
considered "suited 
> for someone in his position" - while wollen socks, hand-made with 
love 
> specially for him would mean a lot more for the philosopher he is, 
warming 
> both his feet and soul. A gift for [i]him[/i] - not for the 
Headmaster of 
> Hogwarts IFYSWIM.

or is that sole?

Yes, I wonder if this is really a comment on the loneliness of 
leadership.  In Britain, socks for Christmas is a sort of standing 
joke as the present you give to a family member you can't think of 
anything for.  If Harry's relations with the Dursleys were better 
he'd give Vernon socks.  So it could be similar to Harry's own 
longing - for close family and friendship.  Not that Dumbledore 
literally sees socks in the mirror - but it wouldn't be like him to 
be completely untruthful about his wants to Harry.

-------

In another post, Susanna, you mention the possibility that Snape and 
Sirius are half-brothers.  Is this speculation, or a reference to 
fanfic, or based on some particular thing you have read in the 
books?  It just seems so unlikely to me.

--------

Tabouli wondered if her Snape bio could really be construed as 
fanfic.  I would have thought not, except for the bit about (avert 
eyes now Amanda!) the Slytherin Gilderoy.  If I know anything, that 
bit is in danger of being Accio'd for Fictionalley.

-------

I haven't anything to add to Christian's excellent post on 
Durmstrang, except to say that I find Karkaroff's name slightly 
mystifying.  His history is obscure, but I think of these double f 
Slavic names as having gone via France.  Slavic languages with the 
Roman alphabet usually end in -ov, as do English transliterations of 
Cyrillic; German transliterations end in -ow (compare Yasov and 
Jasow).  French names of Slavic origin do however end in -off and -
eff, as possibly do older (ie Victorian and earlier) English ones.  
(British) English names of Slavic origin are however mostly recent, 
and mostly Polish.

Could Karkaroff be American?  We don't know where he was pre-
Voldemort.

David