Which Dumbledore ?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 162007

Chris wrote:
> <snip> Another interesting thought, we know that Mundungus was
banned from the Hog's Head, and that the barman (Aberforth) has a good
memory. However, we see the two of them in Hogsmead, possibly doing
business. Why is Aberforth dealing with 'Dung?

Carol belatedly responds:
As catlady says elsewhere, possibly it's Order business? We know that
Mundungus was hanging out in the Hog's Head in disguise in OoP and
that he reported the organizational meeting of the DA to Dumbledore
(as Willy Widdershins, also in disguise, reported it to Umbridge).
Aberforth seems to have acted as Albus's eyes and ears on other
occasions, for example, reporting to his brother the names of
Voldemort's companions and that they called themselves Death Eaters
and, much later, discovering and ostensibly evicting a young
eavesdropper named Severus Snape. (I'm still unsatisfied with any
explanation of the conflicting versions of that story.) 

I think Mundungus and Aberforth are both members of Albus Dumbledore's
extensive spy network, mentioned by Fudge in PoA, which includes
people (e.g., Snape and Lupin), portraits (Phineas Nigellus in
particular), and even possibly ghosts. I also think that the business
of Aberforth kicking Mundungus out of the Hogshead is a cover story.
(Esactly what purpose it serves, I can't guess, but we've seen DD
using cover stories before, notably attributing his injured hand in
HBP to slowed reflexes, and possibly parts of the eavesdropper story.)

Maybe Aberforth is a fence and Mundungus is selling him stolen goods
(conveniently outside the bar Mundungus was ostensibly kicked out of)
as a way to transfer goods from 12 GP into Aberforth's possession?
Since DD reports that Mundungus has "since gone to ground," it's clear
that he knows (or knew) more about the incident than Harry does. It's
possible that Aberforth has the locket Horcrux--without, of course,
knowing what it is.

Carol, who thinks that Albus's remark about not being sure that
Aberforth can read is a Dumbledorean joke that should not be taken any
more seriously than "nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak"