Dumbledore does make a reference in HBP that he "sometimes takes his custom" at the Hog's Head, and in one of the earlier books (I can't remember if it's SS/PS or CoS), he mentions that his brother, Aberforth, was accused of doing funky spells on goats. Combine that with the mention in OotP that the Hog's Head has a certain odor of goat inside, fandom knew back then that Aberforth was the barman at the Hog's Head.

Tricky. Dots I did not connect.

Hm. I may make that my very own version of "Things I Didn't Say."

Due to various factors I've not been able to commute and listen until this morning. Then I forgot to switch discs before taking off and I don't change discs while the car is moving. Thus I have not listened to much since the last post.

Hermione seemed displeased with Ron when he came back, but even in the short time I've listened things have calmed down quite a bit. Thanks to Ron's adventures, Harry has a wand again but it seems a dud. The mystery of how they where found that first time on topham road (or whatever) has been revealed, finally there's a good reason not to call Tom by his new name. I'm sure Dumbledore is still dead despite Ron's new theory. It is rather cool how Dumbledore knew that Ron would need a way back and provided one. Harry is feeling happy, that means something bad is about to happen.

Harry is feeling happy, that means something bad is about to happen.

Bwah.

I'm thinking the whole 'dark magic revolution' that V--- perpetrated would have been a very different deal if everyone just agreed to call him Tommy.

Seriously, a few people would have been cut down...but maybe fewer than actually were.

I can just see Tommy Riddle, all red-eyed and slitty-nosed completely losing steam and flouncing away to his dark lair of nobody-gets-me.

The Deathly Hallows have been revealed at last. Since my last installment, Hermione has suggested visiting Xeno about that symbol that keeps cropping up. Ron is totally on board because of the obvious reason. Off to the Lovegoods.

I gotta agree with the assessment of Xeno as a cowardly hypocrite. He has been printing Quibblers suggesting that people should help Harry and he is scared to help. Thing is, why wouldn't he be afraid to print the stuff in the first place. That is odd and is one clue that there is something wrong here.

I love how the Crumpled Horned Snorkack comes up once again. But of course the big event is the Deathly Hallows. Despite Hermione's skepticism, they have to be real because that's the title of the book. The wand, that has to be what Tom is after and probably means he will be dead at the end (not that that's a big leap). The cloak, Harry has it and that probably is a big clue that he will be alive when all is over. The stone, I don't know.

I've also learned that the Peveral brothers are the three brothers and that Harry has heard the name before. I'm sure that means I've heard the name from the books, but like Harry and Alberto, I can't recall. I liked the bit where they all three differed on which is the object they would choose. I left off at the part where Ron is saying that the wand is only deadly to the owner if you don't keep your mouth shut about it.

One thing I'm sure of is that Luna is not fishing for freshwater blimpies. There is something wrong here.

Harkening back to Sorcerer's Stone, I'm warmed with the recollection that Neville saved the day at the very end of the first book. "Standing up to an enemy is never easy, but standing up to a friend is even harder." Bless him for his unique and never wavering courage.

Also, this relistening if bringing Norbet(a) back. Poor Hagrid and his unfortunate affinity for dangerous animals. It so seldom ever goes well. But why does he call himself "Mommy" when talking to the baby dragon. Isn't he something of a big-daddy?

Just now, Hagrid hunting the unicorn killer and has run into Ronan. The centaurs play such interesting side characters...even to the very end.

Mummy! Mummy, not Mommy!

I love the bit where Hagrid is sniffling over putting Norbert's teddy in the box 'in case he gets lonely' on his journey to be fostered by Charlie in Romania. Then Harry hears 'a ripping sound, like a teddy's head being ripped off.' That's our Norbert...little tike.

Dragonish comfort is kind of peculiar.

Not much time for an update. They escaped from the Death Eaters at Xeno's place. Ron's line about how he didn't know how they were going to get out of that was odd to me, just disapperate what's the big deal? Hermione was smart enough to know that they needed to let the Death Eaters see Harry first. Luna is adorable even when she isn't there. Pity that she is in Azkaban, but she is tough like Harry says and isn't going to lose her mind there.

Then lots of excited Hallows talk. I'm sure Harry is right about everything, it all just fits together too neatly. However, I'm not sure what he is supposed to do with the information they've learned. Like Hermione said, Dumbledore left specific instructions and information about destroying the Horcruxes. I can't see Dumbledore misleading Harry to that extent, so the Horcruxes must be destroyed. However, there seems to be something to the Hallows. Maybe they will help destroy the Horcruxes or something. I'm pretty sure the way it is written, that Tom is really only after the wand and not the other Hallows.