Dumbledore's family (was Re: Dumbledore's pleading)

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 141484

Jen:
Oh, I'm not saying this well!  Since we can't ever know what  Snape's 
up to, I look at it from Dumbledore's perspective, and feel certain  
he understood Snape in that moment, understood what he was about to 
do  and why. And most important, if Snape's actions required it, 
Dumbledore  forgave him in a way Snape didn't forgive himself, from 
the painful look on  his face in front of Hagrid's burning hut. That 
was the very poignant part  to me, that somehow even if Snape did 
betray Dumbledore in the end,  Dumbledore still *believed* in him to 
do the right thing and get the  DE's/Draco out of Hogwarts and ensure 
Harry's safety.

This isn't as  exciting as legilimency, yet in a way is more 
powerful. That somehow these  two men, from such very different 
backgrounds, beliefs, and agendas could  look at each other in that 
moment and understand each other so completely,  as well as know 
beyond a shadow of a doubt what needed to happen....now  *that* would 
be something, to me anyway.




Julie now:
To take this subject in a completely different direction (that  is,
 the subject of how well Dumbledore and Snape seem to 
understand each other in HBP), I've been wondering what JKR
meant when she said Dumbledore's family would be a good
avenue to explore.
 
When it comes to Dumbledore's family, so far we are only  aware
of one person who qualifies--Abelforth, Dumbledore's brother. I  do
suspect Abelforth will have some part in Book 7. If  Dumbledore's
family only consists of Abelforth, however, this seems a very 
narrow avenue to explore. What if there are other Dumbledores?
Or other relatives not necessarily named Dumbledore (from
the maternal side of the family)?
 
For instance, what if the Dumbledores and the Princes are
closely related, much like the Blacks and Malfoys? Now *that*
would be an interesting avenue to explore! And so I have a 
theory to present ;-)
 
My theory is that Eileen Prince is related to the Dumbledores. 
Perhaps her mother was a Dumbledore (an aunt, or a cousin).
Her mother married a Prince, then Eileen married a Snape (a 
Muggle no less), and eventually came little Severus, cousin
once(twice?)-removed or even great-nephew to Albus and 
Abelforth. 
 
A blood relationship isn't necessary to explain Dumbledore's
actions in regards to Snape, or the strong connection the two
seem to have (especially in HBP), but it does provide an added
dimension to various moments in the books--Dumbledore's  concern
for Snape's welfare, Snape coming "back" to the Order (which 
implies a previous connection), the ease with which Dumbledore
accepts Snape--warts and all--and that repeatedly drilled in 
"complete" trust he has in Snape. 
 
We've been trying to figure out why Dumbledore trusts Snape,
assuming it's something Snape did or said, or something that
was done to Snape, which convinced Dumbledore to trust him. 
But maybe it's not that at all; maybe Dumbledore trusts Snape
because of WHO he is. 
 
And, yes, I know a blood relationship doesn't guarantee true
loyalty or affection--just look at the Blacks, or the Dursleys with
Harry. But what it might guarantee is that Dumbledore *knows*
Snape very well, far better than we might have suspected--
knows all about Snape's family, his father, his home life, 
his hopes and dreams, etc.
 
A blood relationship could also explain a few other things, 
such as why Eileen Prince (aka Irma Pince) was brought to 
Hogwarts (presumably to protect her). It also would explain
why Dumbledore seems able to rebuke Snape when his 
behavior goes too far, yet Snape shows no resentment of
Dumbledore. And why Dumbledore seems determined to
believe in Snape's redemptive character. Maybe also why 
Snape seems jealous at times of Harry's relationship with
Dumbledore. (That's *my* relative, not yours!)
 
Plus, this could be a reason why Voldemort continues to hold
Snape in such high esteem, even with Snape's slithery ways
and avoidance of doing any dirty work. To have turned a relative
of Dumbledore's to the dark side would be a coup indeed, and
Voldemort just can't give up the idea of that victory!
 
Again, I know that none of this is necessary to explain 
Dumbledore's behavior vis-a-vis Snape. Harry's not a relative
(or if he is, that's another post!), and Dumbledore is certainly
as fond of Harry as Snape, if not more. But it does give  that
added dimension to their relationship, and some additional
poignancy to the Tower scene. 
 
Julie 
(Trying to recall, does Dumbledore call any of the other Hogwarts
professors by their first names on a regular basis?)
 
 
 
 






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