[HPforGrownups] Re: Dumbledore the parselmouth?

[Peggy Wilkins]

No: HPFGUIDX 151320

On 4/22/06, Kim <spirittalks at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Kim:  This post makes me think about the basilisk slinking through the
> pipes of the castle.  I've always wondered why the other students and
> teachers couldn't even hear the snake hiss, though Harry wasn't always alone
> when he heard it.   While Harry could hear it plainly enough to understand
> the words he was saying.  Now I also wonder why a very observant Dumbledore
> didn't hear the snake hiss and understand the language, as well.  He's all
> through the castle all the time.  Or maybe it's just that the trio, and
> especially Harry, are very "lucky" and always in the right place at the
> right time.  Or it's just an oversight by the author who's trying to get a
> gazillion elements of a long and wonderful story all packed into 7 books and
> sometimes has to just ask us to overlook some inconsistencies.
> Kim

My interpretation is that Harry could hear it but others (including
Dumbledore) didn't because it was part of Harry's specific connection,
through Voldemort's failed curse, to the Heir of Slytherin.

Regarding the topic of this thread, this doesn't say anything one way
or another about whether or not Dumbledore could understand or speak
Parseltongue; it only underlines that Harry is connected to the Heir
of Slytherin, while Dumbledore is not.  COS seems pretty clear (I
think so, anyway) that the only reason the Chamber couldn't be found
or opened was because no one seeking it was related to Salazar
Slytherin.

--
Peggy Wilkins
enlil65 at gmail.com