Someone else missing from DD's funeral.

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 167606

Some have been curious about Trelawny's presence of lack thereof at 
DD's funeral, but it occured to me that there's another non-mention 
that is almost as glaring.  I'm referring to the Giant Squid.

The squid is mostly background, having his big moment when he rescued 
little Dennis Creevy from sure drowning in his first year.  What a 
good character.  

There is one occasion, however, in which the squid is not there, and 
it is specifically called to our attention.  The one time Harry is IN 
the lake (2nd task, GoF), when he really should have seen the squid, 
the narrative states that the squid is nowhere to be seen.  

"Why is this?" I ask.  Wouldn't the squid, having established himself 
as the gentle hero by setting little Creevy back into the boat, want 
to be there to make sure that the contestants were unharmed?  Who 
better to moniter them and make sure of their safety?  Who better to 
be able to pull off a rescue should the contestants have a bit of 
technical difficulty which would result in their drowning?  The 
merpersons were busy playing the role of bad guys and stopping the 
contestants.  They weren't in any position to pull off a rescue.  It 
would have blown their cover.  So, I ask, "Where was the squid?"

Fast-forward to DD's funeral.  The whole of the WW is there (except 
DEs and maybe Trelawney).  The centuars even show up, for crying out 
loud.  The merpersons sing their song, which draws the attention of 
all to the lake.  Harry is sitting by the lake, and would have 
certainly noticed the squid, even if he had just been floating there, 
rather than, say, accompanying the merpersons on his harmonica.  Or 
bongos.  Whatever.

On the other tentacle, the squid is there when students are hanging 
out by the lake.  Lily states that she would rather date the giant 
Squid than James.  (How fortunate for Harry, genetically, that she 
ended up with James.)  I'm not sure what the life expectancy of a 
squid is, but that one seems to have been in there for quite some 
time.  

But back to the lake.  The students hang out there when they have 
free time, when they need to be alone, and when they are wishing to 
talk out of the earshot of teachers.  The presence of the squid would 
hardly be a deterrant to those planning something mischevious, and 
his presence might soothe those who hide there in time of personal 
pain; like having a dog to pet and talk to with complete confidence 
that you can vent your personal feelings and they will go no further.

I noticed a pattern here.  The times when the squid is not present 
are times when DD's whereabouts are accounted for.  In GoF, DD was on 
the shore with the rest of the judges.  In HBP, he was, of course, 
dead.  

Therefore, I have come up with my latest blindingly brilliant <---
sarcasm<--- theory.  Dumbledore's animagus form is the Giant Squid.

He will be missed.

Ginger, not placing any actual money on this, just keeping the old 
noodle occupied.

Oh, yes, for a theory to be complete, it needs an acronym:
SQUID- Sympathetic, Quiet Underwater Inhabitant's Dumbledore.