[HPforGrownups] The House of Gaunt

[Peggy Wilkins]

No: HPFGUIDX 151036

On 4/17/06, steven1965aaa <steven1965aaa at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Does Dumbledore understand Morfin and Marvelo speaking Parseltongue in
> the Pensieve?  If so, how?

I always assumed he did, and was surprised when a bunch of people
questioned it.  However, on going back later and rereading the
multiple Pensieve scenes in which Parseltongue is spoken, it becomes
obvious that Dumbledore does understand it; there's no question.  He
and Harry discuss what was said; therefore, the only conclusion is
that he does understand it.  This shouldn't be surprising, given all
the obscure languages Dumbledore understands.  As for how he
understands it, well, how does he know anything that he knows?  He
seems to know a lot.  He even speaks Mermish (cf. GOF second task). 
How does he know Mermish?
--
Peggy Wilkins
enlil65 at gmail.com