Aberforth

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 174929

Ceridwen:
I thought Aberforth would be more in tune with Albus, working 
together behind the scenes to further the mission of the Order.  I 
thought the public falling-out had something to do with the goat 
issue, and was a ruse to fool the questionable characters who haunt 
the Hog's Head; ditto Albus's comments about Aberforth's reading and 
writing abilities.

I liked what we got in the character.  I guess I should have guessed 
that, of all people, Albus's sibling would see him as merely mortal, 
and maybe more than a little flawed.  My kids don't think their sibs 
are anything spectacular.  As a sib, Aberforth had higher 
expectations for Albus as well, and was sorely disappointed.

I think they were both old enough at well over a hundred, to put 
differences aside and work together in the Order.  Aberforth was a 
member in VWI and II, gave Albus a place to meet Trelawney and 
presumably other appointments, and sent information about Riddle's 
group calling themselves Death Eaters, and that those DEs were 
waiting for Tom back at the Hog's Head.  Aberfort seemed to 
understand that carrying the grudge to extremes would not bring 
Ariana back.

va32h:
I do see a similarity between Aberforth and Snape...both men have 
loved someone very much (Ariana, Lily) and lost that person. It would 
appear that both men have concluded "right well, that's the last time 
I'm ever going to care about another human being, it hurts too much 
to lose them." But while Snape seems to be determinedly following 
that path, Aberforth has allowed himself to care about other people 
after all, even while outwardly continuing to deny it.

Ceridwen:
Yes, I see the similarity, now that you brought it up.  But, 
Aberforth has had a very long life to learn how to care again, while 
Snape died in his thirties.  He may have come around, like 
Aberforth.  It's interesting that, based only on what we have in 
canon, Aberforth, too, has never married.  Maybe he's able to care 
about people now, but not enough to care that deeply.

Ceridwen.