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The Mystery of Aberforth

by David Haber

During the interview after the launch of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling said, "There is one member of the Order of the Phoenix that you have not yet met properly, but you will meet them in seven." Is this person Dumbledore's mysterious brother, Aberforth? What do we know about Aberforth, and how is he involved in the story?

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Reader Comments: (Page 23)

In regards to them being twins, I'd have to say they're not. I've seen a picture of Aberforth from movie 5 and he looks very different to Albus, I'm sure JKR would have had to say something about this if they were.

Posted by mmc from sa on May 12, 2007 02:24 AM

First of all they don't have to be identical to be twins. However i don't think that they would swap places just like that. About Mundungus smuggling items from Grimmauld place to Aberforth might not be what it seems, Mundungus could have been delivering some news to Aberforth under cover or vice versa.

Posted by Prongs from Athens,Greece on May 13, 2007 2:56 PM

If mundungus wasn't smuggling stuff then why would he try and hide from Harry. Let's face it even if he was working for the order he still is a thief and do certain things for his own benefit. But it could also be possible that Mundungus was selling stuff to Aberforth cause Hagrid mentioned in book 1 that he got Fluffy and the dragons egg from a stranger in Hogs Head. "You get a lot of strange looking people in Hogs Head".
So maybe Aberforth saw some of the things from Grimmauld Place and tried to buy them or take them from Dung.

Posted by Divi from dubai. U.A.E on May 15, 2007 09:25 AM

I�m of the mind that Snape is good and that he help Harry and the order by passing valuable information about The Dark Lord�s plans and concerns, but I was faced with a problem.

How can Snape pass on information if everybody on the good side thought that he was evil? This got me thinking about this �Little� problem. Albus Dumbledore would not leave this world without a contingency plan.

Every character that has had contact with Harry and Friends since Dumbledore's thinks that Snape is a Eater and a er, this is a logical conclusion for all of them after what has happened, considering that they where not privy to Dumbledore�s and Snape�s conversations and plans.

We know we are going to get to know one of the order members better, and we suspect that this be Abeforth, Albus� brother.

What if Albus had confided his plans to his brother? What if Abeforth knew or at least understood why his brother had to , and was prepared to continue his work? Who could be better to be Snape�s contact on the order, than Abeforth Dumbledore?

We know Abeforth was (and probably still is) an active member of the Order, but he has had a very low profile, so nobody would make much of it is Snape was ever in contact with the shady bartender of a pub where all sorts of strange characters meet?

If my theory is correct, Snape be able to provide valuable information to Harry through Abeforth.

Posted by Emilio from Mexico City, Mexico on May 18, 2007 10:08 AM

have you ever thought that when harry told dumbledore that he told the minister of magic that he was "dumbledores man through and through", that all dumbledore said was he appreciated it... well, maybe he couldnt answer... but i thnk it was because it wasnt dumbledore, dumbledore would've said something more profound...

also when harry goes to the headmasters office to tell him about what trelawney said, once again it took him a while to answer. as i recall "dumbledore" opens his mouth closes it and opens it, and all he says more or less is that he already told harry he trusts snape completly. dont you think albus dumbledore would have elaborated more?

Posted by juparee' from texas on May 18, 2007 7:36 PM

juparee' is this the relevant piesechap 17

'I told him I was.'
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Behind Harry, Fawkes the phoenix let out a low, soft, musical cry. To Harry's intense embarrassment, he suddenly realized that Dumbledore's bright blue eyes looked rather watery, and stared hastily at his own knees. When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady.
'I am very touched, Harry.'

Posted by gordon from uk on May 20, 2007 10:20 AM

Juparee

Didn't Dumbledore say that his reason were his own for trusting Snape and that he didn't need to explain it to anyone? That sounds like a very typical thing for Dumbledore to say.
And why would Dumbledore need to elaborate on Harry saying that he was Dumbledore's man through and through? He would just say exactly as he was feeling and then leave the matter. I think he responded appropriately. And not many times on the book has dumbledore elaborated on how fond he is of Harry. And neither has Harry. They both know that they mean a lot to the other so why say more?

Posted by sanitylost (Divi) from Dubai, U.A.E on May 21, 2007 03:41 AM

Just want to say, Aberforth and Albus could be identical twins and Harry not notice.

Dumbledore has extremely long hair and a long beard, his half moon specs and his oddball manner. If Aberforth has short hair, no beard, no specs and a bad tempered manner then an immediate connection on the appearance not be made.

As to the film Aberforth not being similar to the film Dumbledore - well, in the LOTR books brothers Borimir and Farimir are supposed to be strikingly alike - yet in the films they are not alike at all!

Posted by Orlando from England on May 26, 2007 12:52 PM

Another piece of evidence/ reference to the barman of the Hoggs Head- When Dumbledore interviews a younger Voldemort who has a desire to teach defence against the dark arts at Hogwarts: 'then if i were to go to the Hoggs head i wouldn't find Nox, Mulciber etc. sitting in the bar' Tom with a grim smile 'omniscient as ever Dumbledore'. Dumbledore ' no, merely friendly with the barman'. He would certainly be more than friendly with the barman if it were his brother!

Posted by Jonathan Williams from London on May 27, 2007 1:18 PM

If Dumbledore is alive, be hiding, ready for the big final battle (if there is one that is). Also, if Dumbledore is , he might have information about the Horcruxes because, if Aberforth is the bar man of the Hogs Head, he would have heard loads of important information from the "dodgy" people in the pub, for we know that Voldemort/Quirrel have been in the pub in PS, because that is where Hagrid won Norbert.

Other Eaters may have been in there and so has Mundungus (disguised) because he may have the locket found in Number 12 Grimauld place which may be the Horcrux.

Posted by Katherine from Southend, England on May 29, 2007 08:02 AM

Wow. I literally just discovered that this site existed, and I have to congratulate the creator. It has provided me with a lot of insightful views, and before reading this article, I hadn't even considered the Hog's Head barman to be an important character, let alone Aberforth Dumbledore. Now I am very much so convinced because a lot of evidence points to this theory, and on imdb, there is a cast listing and Aberforth is mentioned. However, he is not a mentioned character in OotP, so he must be the barkeep. I also believe he is the member of the Order that we learn more about in DH.

Posted by Rashida from England on May 31, 2007 6:33 PM

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches..." Could be referring to Snape, since he was "approaching" the room, i.e., sneaking up on it? That part of the prophecy at least might be much more literal than we've been led to believe...I mean, what's the time line on this? When did Trelawney make this prophecy in terms of Harry's birth? Harry was 1 year 3 months old when his parents were ed, and I assume Voldemort acted on the prophecy as soon as he heard it, and that Snape told Voldemort immediately after hearing it, so Harry must've already been born when Trelawney made this prophecy? In that case he wouldn't be approaching, he'd be "here," right? So, and therefore, this must refer to someone other than Harry.

Posted by Megan from Austin TX on June 2, 2007 7:17 PM

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