Dumbledore the parselmouth?

[Tonks]

No: HPFGUIDX 151149

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Peggy Wilkins" <enlil65 at ...> 
wrote:
> 
> The reason this topic interests me so much is that it has an 
impact on the characterization of Dumbledore.  I find it difficult 
to imagine a "squeaky clean" Dumbledore who would never, under any 
circumstances, do anything that is considered "dark" or that 
has "dark" associations.
(Snip> On the one hand, we have McGonagall in SS/PS calling 
Dumbledore "too noble" to use Dark Magic.  On the other hand, we 
have Professor Binns in COS referring indirerectly to Dumbledore (in 
the context of all Hogwarts headmasters) saying "just because a 
wizard *doesn't* use Dark Magic doesn't mean he *can't*".  

Tonks:
I agree that DD knows the Dark Arts and probably knows them better 
than LV. I don't have any problem with the idea of DD understanding 
or even being able to speak Parseltongue. (This ability does not 
make the wizard dark.) Remember it not our abilities, it is our 
CHOICES that matter in Potterverse. DD would never USE the dark 
arts.  He is capable of doing so.  By this I mean that in addition 
to the knowledge, he also has the ability and power to use them. But 
he does not.  He has clearly made that choice. I also think that in 
the fight against the forces of Darkness DD has never, would never, 
and would never train his OP to, use the Dark Arts.  DD does not 
return evil for evil, nor does he use the weapons of Darkness 
against the Darkness.  DD's weapons are the weapons of Light, never 
the weapons of the enemy. 

A word about DD's methods with Kreacher; I am sure that, while milk 
and cookies would never work with Kreacher, DD did not use an 
unforgivable on him.  DD probably only had to threaten to burn Mrs. 
Black's portrait to get anything he wanted from Kreacher.  No 
unforgivable there.

I also think that DD was probably, at some point in his life, 
tempted just as Tom Riddle was tempted, as Snape was tempted, as 
Draco was tempted, and as Harry was, to use the Dark Arts.  'Oh, 
just once', you can hear a voice saying.. 'no one will know...  You 
will be honored above all others...'  And DD turned away. That is 
what makes DD the greatest wizard of the ages. That is what causes 
LV to fear him.  DD can use the Dark Arts and has come up against 
the temptation within himself to do so, and has not. Imagine the 
power that gives. Imagine the POWER.

Tonks_op