Siriusly Alive; Aberfoth?

[annemehr]

No: HPFGUIDX 96980


> Annemehr: 
> > Well, there are quite a few of us who will assure you that Aberforth
> > Dumbledore is tending bar at the Hogs Head:
<snip>
> > Personally, I like to amuse myself with the thought that, after he
> > left Hogwarts right from under Fudge and Umbridge's nose, *Albus*
> > Dumbledore would put on some of Aberforth's old clothes, look 
> grumpy,
> > and tend bar sometimes, just to keep an ear out for news.
> 
> Finwitch:
> 
> It sure could be. BTW, if Aberforth was tending to the bar, what did 
> they need that er - was it Tonks - in there for? Or was it just so 
> they could tell Harry they were watching him without letting him know 
> about Aberforth?

Annemehr:
Ah, I've been sandbagged.  You tossed out an innocent-looking question
to the list to see who would bite, when all along you had this post in
your head ready to respond with, right?  Oh, well, I always wanted to
post that "Albus took Aberforth's place at the bar" idea, only it
didn't seem to merit starting a whole new thread, since nothing we
know of actually happened at the Hogs Head while Albus was gone from
Hogwarts.

Anyhow, it was Mundungus, posing as a veiled witch, who reported on
the first DA meeting for the Order.  But why, indeed, if Aberforth
could report Harry's doings to Albus?  Maybe Aberforth's disaffected
with Albus' machinations and wants no part of them?  Doesn't agree
with Albus' interpretation of the prophecy or his plans re Harry?  Or
Mundungus was Harry's appointed "tail" for the entire Hogsmeade
outing, from the minute he stepped off Hogwarts grounds to the moment
he returned, so naturally he followed him into the Hogs Head?

Finwitch:
> Personally, I think Aberforth tried (successfully?) to inwent a charm 
> so that it was possible to remove bezoars from their stomachs without 
> killing them (which is what the accusation was about), who sees no 
> value in reading (let's say he thinks learning from books is 
> absorbing thoughts of others instead of using one's own brains), and 
> considers it unhealthy (won't do to dwell on books and forget to 
> live - compare to Albus' advice on the Mirror of Erised), dangerous 
> (well, just look at the Riddle-Diary, the Monster Book of Monsters, 
> and some those in the restricted section give me creeps - I mean 
> really, blood-stains? Human skin?...)
> 
> All in all, I think he got - if he went to Hogwarts - an O for every 
> practical course he took (Transfiguration, Charms, DADA), and a T for 
> any that required writing. (and he loathes potion makers who kill his 
> goats. I believe he has a goat for a pet... and I seriously doubt 
> he'd trust Snape).
> 
> Oh, and here's one other thing: Hogwarts Library has full section 
> devoted to invisibility (Bit after it came clear Harry's a 
> Parselmouth..), so there must be MANY ways invisibility can be 
> obtained. Whatever way Albus uses, I think Aberforth will know he's 
> there, anyway...
> 
> Finwitch

Annemehr:
Well, sure, even if Albus sincerely doubts Aberforth's ability to
read, that doesn't prove he's dim.  What you've written seems possible
and even likely.  I like to see Aberforth as following his very own
drummer; though he can be counted on to oppose LV, he doesn't take
orders from his brother.  His grumpiness and the filthiness of the bar
could be a cover, or they could be a sign that he's disaffected with
everything in life, maybe including the Order of the Phoenix.  When
Moody showed Harry the photo of the Order, he said he'd only seen
Aberforth that one time, which suggests he knew about the Order but
was never truly involved.  Still, he's there for a reason -- maybe
he'll clean up and impersonate Albus sometime, so Albus can secretly
be somewhere else.

Well, I'm rambling now -- found your post much too late at night and
it's about 3:00 a.m. here.

Annemehr
imagining Harry in the Headmaster's office wondering why it suddenly
smells so strongly of goats