Does DD understand parseltongue? (was: Saving Ginny (was Re: Lockhart's incompet

[lyraofjordan]

No: HPFGUIDX 143849

> 
> Potioncat wrote:
> In one of the Harry/DD lessons, toward the end of the book (I 
think) DD 
> says something sort of off hand. It's along the line of "you've 
seen 
> that Parseltongue can be spoken by great and good wizards..."[snip]
> 
> DD understands Mermish, he appeared to understand the Parseltongue 
> memories, and he speaks in a language that Harry doesn't 
recognise. I 
> believe these examples would at least indicate that he did  
> speak/understand Parseltongue.


Lyra's research service to the rescue:

Here it is, from Chapter 13, The Secret Riddle. (p276, U.S.)

"And he was a Parselmouth," interjected Harry.

"Yes, indeed; a rare ability and one supposedly connected with the 
Dark Arts, although as we know, there are Parselmouths among the 
great and the good too. In fact, his ability to speak to serpents 
did not make me nearly as uneasy as his obvious instincts for 
cruelty, secrecy, and domination." 

(that's DD speaking, tho the attribution doesn't come until the next 
paragraph)

I also took this little speech, in conjunction with the fact that he 
seems to understand what the Riddles are conversing about durng the 
memory, as an indication that Dumbledore 
probably was a Parselmouth. As I recall, there are only three known 
parselmouths named in the series: Slytherin himself, Voldemort and 
Harry. I guess Harry could be the one Dumbledore is thinking of 
as "among the great and the good" but it certainly seems possible 
Dumbldore is referring to himself as well.

Lyra



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