Timelines - Dumbledore in Gryffindor?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 144848

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hp_lexicon" <steve at h...> wrote:
>
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Miles" <miles at m...> wrote:
> 
> > 
> > Miles, still waiting for an answer from the Lexicon
> >
> 
> We haven't been ignoring you, I promise you. We've been having an 
> internal discussion about how certain we find Hermione's statement 
> in book one that she's "heard that Dumbledore was in Gryffindor." 
> 
> Technically, we can't be absolutely certain that what Hermione is 
> saying is actually true, so by strict interpretation of canon, we 
> don't know that Dumbledore was in Gryffindor. 
> 
> However, in my judgement, Rowling wrote this sentence intending to 
> say that Dumbledore was in Gryffindor. There is no reason whatsoever 
> for this sentence to be here otherwise. There are plenty of other 
> clues in the books to support the idea that Dumbledore is a 
> Gryffindor, ...edited...
> 
> So in the end it's up to you to decide what you want to believe. As 
> for the Lexicon, we'll edit the pages to reflect the slight 
> uncertainty in canon. We are convinced, however, that canon places 
> Dumbledore in Gryffindor.
> 
> Steve 
> The Lexicon
>

bboyminn:

Lexicon Steve, very kind of you to take the time to respond to us
directly.

I think you are right, the books are written in such a way that we are
intended to assume that Dumbledore was/is indeed a Gryffindor. Futher,
I think that was a conscious action on the part of the author and at
this stage of the story is indeed a correct assumption.

However, lacking the final book, we can't be sure that JKR won't throw
in a stupendous plot twist and make Dumbledore the 'Good Slytherin'
that many of us have been expecting. I think that is HIGHLY unlikely
though. Yes -- plenty of plot twists, but not that particular one. 

I think Dumbledore role is done. He has played his hand, and other
than an unsatifying conversation or two with his portrait, I think for
the most part, Dumbledore is out of the story. 

Certainly plenty of plot twists, but I can't imagine any reason for
finding out that Dumbledore was not Gryffindor at this stage of the
game. I really can't see it serving any story purpose. 

Like you said, I really can't see any reason for Hermione making that
statement other than to establish in the books that Dumbledore was a
Gryffindor. Once this bit of information is established by Hermione
other events occur which re-enforce it. 

For example, in the Chamber of Secret when Harry affirms his loyalty
to Dumbledore and calls on him for help. Dumbledore's phoenix brings
Griffindor's hat which eventually provides Gryffindor's sword to
assist Harry. That's an awful lot of 'Gryffindor' to be provided by a
Headmaster who is Ravenclaw or Slytherin. 

Barring any stunning and nearly unfathomable plot twists, I think the
author had every intention of us assuming Dumbledore was Gryffindor.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn