Who told Umbridge leading to dark thoughts about Flitwick

[saraquel_omphale]

No: HPFGUIDX 145174

Saraquel:
I've been reading OotP and have come across a little puzzle.  How 
did Umbridge find out that they had formed the DA? They had the 
meeting on Saturday and the notice banning all groups appeared on 
the following Monday.  Now it could be coincidence, but the 
characters in the book are convinced that it is not, but they don't 
come up with an explanation.

So, who knew they were in there, and who heard what was said?

Hermione asked Flitwick whether they were allowed into the Hog's 
Head on Hogsmeade weekends.  So Flitwick could have deduced that 
something was going down there.

In the Hog's Head at the time of the meeting there was:
Mundungus in the Witches outfit.
Two hooded strangers talking in Yorkshire accents.
A man at the bar, his head wrapped in bandages drinking fire whisky.
And the barman (Aberforth, DDs brother we all assume.)

None of the DA  participants could have said anything because of 
Hermione's hex. However, Hermione does imply that telling Umbridge 
triggers it, but does not say whether telling anyone else would 
trigger it. (UK ed  ch17 p315)

We are told at some point, is it by Sirius? that Mundungus has been 
banned from the Hog's Head for 20 years, which is why he went in 
disguise, but we also know that Mundungus and Aberforth are actually 
on speaking terms (HBP, the stolen Black silver incident.)

I don't recall any characters as having been specifically identified 
as having Yorkshire accents (although it is possible that Snape 
comes from Yorkshire – Spinners End being in a mill town. However, 
IMO Snape is nowhere near this scene.) It could be someone posing as 
the whisky drinker - any ideas of who and why?

I think that the likelihood of Mundungus telling Umbridge is pretty 
remote. We know that Mundungus reported back to the Order, so it is 
possible that everyone in the Order knew pretty quickly.  Saturday 
night would be a good night for a meeting. This must include Snape, 
who, if you go in for ESE!Snape (which I don't) could have tipped 
Umbridge off.  Personally I don't think so.  It could be a yet 
unidentified spy in the Order, but thinking of the ESE!Tonks/Lupin 
adherents, you could point the finger there – but I'd have real 
difficulty in seeing Lupin, however Evil and wanting to call a halt 
to things, tipping off Umbridge.

Aberforth, the barman is as yet an unknown quantity.  We have seen 
him in the photo of the order at the start of OotP, and Moody says 
it was the only time he met him.  It would appear that DD has a 
fondness for him even if goats don't. I suspect that he is now in 
possession of the locket from Grimauld Place (Horcrux or not, as the 
case may be.)  If anything, I think he is probably on the side of 
good rather than evil.

I've been thinking a bit about Flitwick, and whether he might be a 
fly or even a spy in the ointment.  I'd be really grateful if 
someone could point me to any ESE!Flitwick discussions which have 
taken place, as I'm sure there will have been some.

Is he in the Order? IIRC, we never see him at the meetings at 
Grimauld Place, but he was patrolling the corridors on the fateful 
night in HBP. Could he have found out from Aberforth what was 
discussed in the Hog's Head, if he didn't find out through the 
Order.  If he is ESE, then it could explain why Snape knocked him 
out when he ran to the Tower in HBP.  That bit has never really made 
sense to me, as I really can't see Snape as being ESE, there are too 
many holes in it, but why would Snape take out Flitwick if he was 
OFH! or DDM!?

Ah well, any thoughts anyone – if it's been really discussed in 
length before (highly probable) I really would be grateful for a 
synopsis or a post number.

Saraquel