Chamber of Horcruxes

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 161505

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" wrote:
>
> > k12listmomma (Shelley) wrote:
> 
> > About this, I think Dumbledore is smart enough to understand that
> > this language is Parceltongue, and to figure out approximately 
> > what was said. I was surprised that he didn't ask Harry to 
> > translate, <snip> 
> > Or, like you suggested, he's Parcel-eared.  <snip>
> 
> Carol responds:
> <snip> 
> Parseltongue, however, is not a human language or one spoken by
> magical beings like Goblins or Merpeople. It's an animal language 
> and the ability to speak it seems to be inborn (but note that 
> Animagi can speak with animals, too--PP with rats and Sirius Black 
> with a half-Kneazle cat. Interesting that Squibs can also 
> communicate with cats, though I don't think they speak, erm, cat 
> language). At any rate, I don't think that DD can understand 
> Parseltongue or he'd have heard the Basilisk in the pipes in CoS, 
> <snip>

Mike:
I also like the idea of Parsel-eared. I'd like to point out that the 
memory of Tom encountering his Uncle Morfin was conducted entirely 
in Parseltongue. Surely Dumbledore was able to understand what was 
going on there a little more than just getting the gist of it. Being 
slightly sleuthy, Morfin tells Tom that Merope took the locket. This 
would be where Dumbledore learned that bit of info. Combining that 
with Hokey's memory gets Dumbledore to Burke, which informs him that 
Merope was in London. I suppose he could have just guessed that 
Merope took and pawned the locket, but Dumbledore likes a little 
more positive proof. 

I'm thinking that this memory and the first memory have enough info 
in them that Dumbledore must have gathered more than just the gist. 
And not asking Harry for a translation seems to cinch it for me that 
Albus didn't need it. I'm also down with Parseltongue being 
inheirited, for the most part. Although, I do think a very 
intelligent and powerful wizard like Dumbledore could learn it, it 
is a magical language after all.

As far as hearing the Basilisk, I put this down to plot device. JKR 
needed Harry to be the only one (as far as he knew) who could hear 
the Basilisk. It falls in line with Harry and Ron *discovering* the 
entrance in Myrtle's loo, like Dumbledore couldn't have figured that 
out 50 years ago when he had more and direct knowledge. BTW, those 
pipes in the walls must have been huge to accomodate a Basilisk. 
Doesn't sound like that would pass a code inspection if you ask 
me. ;-)

> Carol cont.:
> much less speak it or he'd have been able to find and open the 
> chamber. Not being Slytherin's true Heir, he couldn't do it.
> <snip>

Mike:
OK, I can't resist <eg> If only Slytherin's heir can open the 
chamber, how did Harry do it? Ginny could do it because she had a 
piece of Riddle's soul possessing her, meaning the soul of Riddle 
identified him as the heir of Slytherin. Did Harry have something in 
him that would also identify him as the heir of Slytherin, thereby 
allowing him to open the chamber?

The evidence mounts. <veg>

Mike