Which Dumbledore ?

[abergoat]

No: HPFGUIDX 157227

Lynda wrote:

> And, if the barman is Aberforth, I'm a little surprised that Harry 
> hasn't realized the reason yet that he always seems so familiar.

Abergoat writes:
If I'm getting the right impression you think that it is strange that
if Aberforth truly resembles Dumbledore then Harry should see the
resemblance, right? I completely agree. Sure Harry was distracted when
Moody showed him a picture of Aberforth, but if Aberforth looked like
Dumbledore wouldn't Harry register that? Dumbledore is Harry's new
father figure - and Harry certainly looked at the picture well enough
to see Peter and his parents. And I recall that Harry is still looking
to note that Moody isn't as scared as he is now.

Here is JKR's quote (she even has it on her website):
Ooh-you are getting good. Why do you think that it is Aberforth?
[Audience member: Various clues. He smells of goats and he looks a bit
like Dumbledore]. I was quite proud of that clue. That is all that I
am going to say. [Laughter]. Well yes, obviously. I like the goat
clue-I sniggered to myself about that one.

So JKR refuses to answer (her 'obviously' undoubtedly refers to the
fact she refuses to answer - because she always does when asked to
confirm theories).

I do think the barman was Aberforth in the past, but  JKR's quote
works with Aberforth being transformed into a goat by Voldemort and
Dumbledore's words work better that way. 

Dumbledore OoP:
<snip>
My own brother, Aberforth, was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate
charms on a goat. It was all over the papers, but did Aberforth hide?
No, he did not! He held his head up high and went about his business
as usual! Of course, I'm not entirely sure he can read, so that may
not have been bravery...
<end of snip>

If Aberforth had learned to read but is now a goat Dumbledore couldn't
be sure he could still read. McGonagall seems to read as a cat (she
looks at a street sign in PS/SS) but a goat may not be able to -
partiularly if transformed against their will.

And have any of you seen a goat? Its head goes up nearly 90 degrees
from its back...cannot hold a head higher than that.

So Harry may think the barman looks 'vaguely' familiar because the
barman is Caradoc Dearborn - the Order member in the picture that went
missing six months after the picture was taken...right around the time
of the prophecy!!!! Did Dumbledore ask him to go undercover to keep
the Hog's Head bar open as part of Dumbledore's information network?

Abergoat