Aberforth / Albus' jokes--gifts

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 128037



 
"Catlady: 
> > 
> > I don't understand why so many listies don't share my certainty that
> > Albus knows perfectly well that Aberforth can read perfectly well, and
> > was just making a joke.
> > 
> 
> Hickengruendler:
> 
> Because almost every time Dumbledore seemingly makes a joke, it turns 
> out to be the truth. This started back during the Sorting in Harry's 
> first year, when he said that every student who goes into the Third 
> Floor is in danger of dieing a gruesome death. I grinned after this 
> statement and so did Harry, but the students who knew him better did 
> not and rightfully so. Dumbledore was absolutely serious.
> 
> And then during the Yule Ball he said that even he didn't know all the 
> secrets of Hogwarts and told Karkaroff (?) about the Chamber-Pot room, 
> and again I thought he was making a joke. Comes OotP and we see again 
> that he was serious.
> 
> I can't remember a Dumbledore statement that didn't turn out to be the 
> truth, (well, maybe that he saw a pair of socks in the Mirror of 
> Erised, but even this could be the truth).
>  
> Therefore I'm inclined to take most of Dumbledore's "funny" statements 
> as the truth until proven otherwise.

Finwitch:

Quite right - remember his announcement in GoF, causing lots of
tension, relieved by Fred who said right out and loudly: "you're joking".

Dumbledore counters with: "No, I'm not joking, Mr Weasley. Now that
you mentioned it, though, I did hear an excellent one about a troll, a
leprechaun and a hag who all go into a bar..."

So no - I'd say Dumbledore is often quite literal, though - like with
his famous few words: 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! -- Thank you!"
Maybe those were names of some new/old Hogwarts elves...

About that mirror -- yes, I do believe old Albus was being honest. "I
see myself holding a pair of thick socks. Another Christmas gone and I
didn't get a single pair. Everyone insists on giving me books".
Now, when we add this comment about his brother, Aberforth "not
certain whether he can read" - If Aberforth can't read (or Albus
doesn't know he can), would he be giving Albus *books* for Christmas?
Sure, he *could* just ask the shopkeeper, but... 

Maybe Aberforth used to give him socks (thread spinned from goat-hair,
I suppose) and was so at odds with his brother that he didn't give him
*anything*. Albus would desire to see that traditional pair of socks,
showing his brother was ready to make up... (as to why Aberforth would
be upset... well, for Albus spending Christmas at Hogwarts-- or
something like Aberforth believing Sirius was innocent or at least
should have a fair trial (remember Aberforth had been persecuted for
those *improper charms* -- who ever said he was guilty of anything?) ...

You know - what ever. Does Aberforth, the possible illiterate - also
give his brother books (I don't see why he'd do that! Such a silly
idea... or maybe he can't read, but keeps sending his brother books
anyway via the shopkeeper...) - or he used to give dear brother Albus
socks but hadn't given him anything due to some dislike for a while...

Finwitch