Dumbledore's watch

[Melody]

No: HPFGUIDX 45092

Catlady wrote:

> Canon of Dumbledore's watch (from chapter one, book one): "It was a
> very odd watch. It had twelve hands but no numbers; instead, little
> planets were moving around the edge." I think it was an astrological
> or astronomical depiction of the skies at the present moment, from
> which any devout amateur astronomer could tell the time.


So I write:
Ok, I had to wait to get home to my books---Home is where the HP Books
are, right?---to look up the references to wizard clocks.

First reference is Dumbledore's watch
PS/SS Ch 1:
twelve hands, no numbers, little planets running around the edge
We are given no knowledge about what the watch says, but we do know
after Dumbledore peers at the watch, he announces that Hagrid is late.

Second reference is the clock *on the wall* in the Weasley's kitchen
CoS Ch 3:
only one hand, no numbers, written words around the edge
This clock seems to assist Molly in her chores like a day planner.  It
only gives constructive, household instruction and only has one hand
which I presume to be representing Molly.

Third reference is the *grandfather* clock in the Weasley's house
GoF Ch 10:
nine golden hands engraved with each family member's name, no numbers,
written around the face are "descriptions of where each family member
might be"
Each hand of the clock represents a family member and reveals to the
viewer what the current state of the family.
This clock and the kitchen clock are both in English and can be
understood by every member of the Weasley family.


So from these examples, I assumed that Dumbledore's watch had the same
purpose and characteristics.  Since his watch has planets running
around the edges instead of English phrases, it does need a bit of
creative thinking to explain.  I suggest that since Dumbledore is so
educated and wise in the magical arts and is fluent in many languages,
he can read the plants as if it was just a foreign language.

I am not saying his watch is a fortune-telling/ seeing sort of a
pocketwatch, but more of a pocket translated version of a different
language.  Only Dumbledore can read his watch and know what it is
implying, because he knows what the intent of the watch is in the
first place.

Since Dumbledore looks at the watch and determined that Hagrid was
late, I lay on the table that one of the twelve hands on Dumbledore's
watch was assigned to either Hagrid of Harry that night.  From the
little planets orbiting his watch, Dumbledore knew what the present
state of affairs were.

Melody
Who is greatly sorry about double posting her last post.  Slippery
fingers and tired eyes.