Mead in HBP

[pippin_999]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "bluesqueak" <pip at e...> wrote:
> --- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, Waldo wrote:
> 
> > Mead (Rosmerta's Oak matured, in particular) seems to
> > be DD's favorite and I wonder if it is intended as
> > part of his Odin-like persona. The wise, old bearded
> > guy seems to try (rather persistently) using mead to
> > seal an agreement with the sad mortals on Privet
> > drive, although they were ... unreceptive. Mead seems
> > to be the drink of heroes in the Norse tradition (as
> > well as Odins elixir of poetic inspiration), and it
> > may also be a fitting toast as one "step[s] out into
> > the night ...[to]pursue that flighty temptress,
> > adventure."  
> 
> Pip!Squeak
> Heroic imbibing of mead is in the Norse tradition, but also in the 
> English tradition - the Anglo-Saxon and Danish people have
something  of a mixed relationship, the Danes being the last 
successful  invaders before William the Conqueror. [Google 'Jorvik' 
for more  details]. 
> 
<snip fascinating mead facts...thanks, Pip!>

Pippin:
iMO, JKR needed a drink that was rare and distinctive enough that
Draco could assume it was meant for Dumbledore, (and that the 
reader would remember) and picked mead because of its heroic, 
noble and antique associations. 

Pippin