Identity of Hog's Head bartender

[jlv230]

No: HPFGUIDX 95913

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, tyler maroney <tmar78 at y...> 
wrote:
> flqalady wrote: 
> I think the Hog's Head bartender is Aberforth
> Dumbledore...  <snip>
> 
> Tyler wrote:
> I think so too.  Of course,  its always possible he's
> somebody else,  but the clues listed make Aberforth
> the most likely candidate in my mind.  
> 
> This does raise some interesting questions.  How come
> Dumbledore has never mentioned that his bro
> works/lives so close by?  Does Albus ever go to visit
> him?  Or do they not really get along?  After all,  AD
> is generally in a good mood and the bartender seemed
> like a real grouch.  I could definitely see a real
> personality clash here,  not to mention potential
> sibling rivalry since Albus is the greatest wizard in
> the world and Aberforth is just serving up drinks (and
> apparently to a very small clientele)  
> 
> Tyler,  who,  out of morbid curiousity,  would love to
> hear JKR expand on what she meant by "performed
> inappropriate charms on a goat".

If, indeed, the bartender at the Hog's Head is Aberforth Dumbledore, 
wouldn't this add a new dimension to the exchange between Hermione 
and Umbridge in OotP:

"'Dumbledore?' said Umbridge eagerly. You know where Dumbledore is, 
then?'
'Well... no!' sobbed Hermione. 'We've tried the Leaky Cauldron in 
Diagon Alley and the Three Broomsticks and even the Hog's Head -'
'Idiot girl - Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole 
Ministry's looking for him!'"

There are two possibilities here - Umbridge is right and they would 
have looked in the Hog's Head because they knew the bartender was 
DD's brother, or (my preferred option!) they didn't even bother 
looking because they thought it would be obvious he wouldn't go there 
and DD, knowing how short-sighted the ministry are, went to stay with 
his brother.  I prefer the latter option because I love the fact that 
Umbridge would have been so ironically wrong, and like the image of 
DD happily sitting in a pub with those idiots on his trail, not 
because I think it more likely in any way!

Just my two knuts,
JLV