Norbert the Norwegian Plot Development

[caesian]

No: HPFGUIDX 97039

albus_the_white wrote:
> So...I tried searching but the yahoo search over these enormous archives is next to 
> worthless, so I hope this is not a suggestion/question akin to that infamous gleam-in-
> the-eye, but...
> 
> Norbert: when he hatches, he sees Hagrid and, as the big guy says, "knows his mommy" 
> (SS 235 USHB).  Do dragons, like many other animals, "imprint" their parent's face into 
> their memory so that they can recognize them instantly from among a herd?  And if so, 
> will Norbert make a return visit as a (nearly-)adult dragon, and recognize Hagrid as his 
> mommy?  (HR&H were there too...are they equally parental or avuncular?)  <snipped 
excellent questions from albusthewhite -- whose first post is not nearly as long as his 
beard>

Caesia replies:
Hail Albus, whose moniker I envy.  

When I read your post I was strongly reminded of the photographs of Zoologist Konrad 
Lorenz with his gaggle of imprinted goslings in tow.  My favorite is the photo of his woolly 
white haired head just above the water line, with a string of woolly little birds following 
him across the pond.  In Hagrid's case, I suppose we can imagine a string of Norwegian 
ridgebacks (are we sure Norbert was a boy dragon?), screwts, or *shudder* acromantula.  

If I were going into the penultimate battle for the soul of the wizarding world, I would 
definitely bring my imprinted monster friends.  A bit like the battle for Narnia with good 
monsters.

Welcome from a fellow newbie
Caesia