Harry Potter Theory: When did Dumbledore learn to understand Parseltongue?

[@Now_I_m_Taken_The_Night_Has_Me]

I actally thought he might have been able to understand Parseltoung ONLY AFTER wearing the GAUNT'S RING !! Indeed he found the ring ( in 1996)after the events of the Chamber of secret (1992-93). And I kind guessed all Voldemort's HORCRUX could pass the ability of Parseltongue . Indeed: - Harry speaking parseltongue - Ginny under the influence of the Tom's Dairy controling to the Basilis and so we can think : -Dumbledore understanding parseltongue after being cursed by Marvolo Gaut's ring and maybe also: -Ron opening the chamber of secret after being affected by Salazar Slytherin's Locket

[@phe7156]

yooooo this comment needs more likes people ^^^

[@doxiedarling144]

THIS NEEDS MORE LIKES PEOPLE

[@lloydgammadon1962]

Like it

[@ki-adi-mundi635]

All of these make sense except for the Ron one, he said he heard and learned it from harry's sleep talking.

[@radcircles9865]

Dude, I love this theory

[@bradyroose9401]

maybe Dumbledore can understand parcel tongue, but has to pay close attention. Like when you are speaking a language you know but are not fluent in. So he also didn't hear it in the chamber of secrets since it wasn't natural for him to pick out. Harry heard it cause he picked it out more naturally. Like how it's suddenly much easier to hear someone when they are saying your name compared to random things. but this is just making excuses for something that doesn't quite make sense

[@Magmortarism]

Brady Roose I was literally just about to comment something along these lines. Harry hears Parseltongue as if it was his natural language and didn't even realise he was speaking a language he did not know. Someone who has had to learn it would probably hear nothing but a low hiss (if anything) unless they were listening for it. Until Harry and Ron, with huge help from Hermione, figured out it was a Basilisk nobody knew what Slytherins monster was so Dumbledore wouldn't be purposely listening out for it.

[@smhassassin9285]

Brady Roose it's not an excuse, it's actually quite logical. I speak Spanish, though not fluently, and if people are holding a conversation in Spanish nearby and I'm not giving it my full attention I don't catch more than the general topic (at best). If I was half listening through a rock wall and Spanish sounded like regular background noise that I normally tune out anyways, I'm fully confident I wouldn't even know the conversation was happening.

[@helenhodges2656]

smhassassin that makes Sence

[@LillyMoore]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

[@nixkee]

this is a better explanation on why dumbledore didn't hear it and i was thinking the same thing while watching the video because you to think and listen in order to understand a language not native to your tongue..nice one 👍

[@wbvtje]

I don't think Parseltongue is the same as a snake's hissing, that way, you could learn to understand people speaking Parseltongue, but you cannot learn to understand snakes, only true Parselmouths can do that trick. In that way, Dumbledore can learn it with years and years of training, and never understands the Basilisk in CoS, but Harry can

[@TheDark4light]

That does sound likely. We never really hear what a snake sounds like when talking to Harry, the only time a snake talked back was the Brazilian boa constrictor, which is one of the reasons I refuse to take Rowlings word as gospel, no way that snake was Naigini. And the movies don't count as hearing parsletongue because the only time we ever hear someone else say it in the book is Ron, which comes out as a garbled hiss. Not something you could spell.

[@rileykabanek619]

I was going to comment that.

[@joeyflint7232]

I'm fairly certain Rowling never said that and it started on tumblr as a rick roll. There is no video proof of it. So don't go bashing on Rowling, go bash on tumblr

[@EntropiReality]

Ron was able to do it though, and he only heard Harry speak parseltongue once. So Parseltongue seems like an easy language to learn apparently. Given more time, someone of Dumbledore's intellect would surely be able to master it

[@makingthingsintoharrypotte9345]

Entropi: on page 623 in Deathly Hallows( my copy) I quote *"he did!" Whispered Hermione. "Show him, Ron!" Ron made a horrible strangled hissing noise. "It's what you did to open the locket" he told Harry ...* if he was speaking Parseltounge, Harry would have understood Ron, but he didn't, and that means that Ron was doing exactly what we see on the page: making a "horrible hissing noise"

[@vitalspark6288]

In the books, Dumbledore only understands PEOPLE speaking parseltongue. He's never been shown understanding SNAKES speaking parseltongue. Snakes and people might sound different when speaking parseltongue, which might explain why he couldn't understand the basilisk.

[@uniqueusername_]

good idea! but if they sounded different, how would they understand each other (people and people) if the Gaunts spoke also mostly to snakes???

[@vitalspark6288]

uniqueUsername_1024 because to a true parselmouth, they don't sound different. They only sound different to people who have taught themselves parseltongue.

[@brentlionakaboldchamp]

Vital Spark He doesnt have to understand the snake, to hear it, though.

[@mastertofu]

@@brentlionakaboldchamp the man's old, his hearing can't possibly be better than kids'.

[@brentlionakaboldchamp]

MasterTofu That doesnt apply to wizards, really, who generally maintain such things in old age. He learned parsletongue on his own, and in that sense he can understand it, but not like a true parsletongue.

[@katiegeorge7065]

There will never not be mystery around dumbledore

[@hridaymehta5782]

Katie George Always

[@Cherrie_whine]

I feel like dumbledore just wanted a break and stuck in his room eating sweets and ignoring all because he knows it's all part of his plan and that Harry will survive like last year , like every year. I feel like dumbledore didn't die at all , I feel like he just hides around hogwarts drinking hot coco

[@candykitten0575]

Niffy Tonks I agree

[@anna_caps]

It would be so good to see the Trio in a tense moment and out of the blue Dumbledore appears from the shadows with a hot coco, looking at them mischievously, creeping everybody out.

[@DoctorOctobussy]

This is a theory I can get down with

[@adronius147]

"So we meet again, children. May I interest you in some hot coco?" Dumbledore smiled at their petrified faces.

[@Teenytinymia]

Or the trio trying to work out a mystery and Dumbledore leading them to it with a trail of lemon drops and cockroach clusters. At the end of the trail Dumbledore appears (because only he can apparate in the castle) and says "Alas!!! You've found it!!! May interest you all in a hot cocoa?" Because Dumbledore is weird like that lmao

[@justinamotiejauskaite2069]

When it's 1am in your country, you have school tomorrow and you still have homework to do, but you watch KZbin.

[@hackfraudfilms]

Naughty naughty.

[@TheLuckOfTheClaw]

Same except that I don't have homework but I have an exam.

[@Cherrie_whine]

Justina Motiejauskaitė my brothers keeping me awake

[@phoebehunter674]

Justina Motiejauskaitė that's me but not the homework

[@user-rm5tk5db7e]

Justina Motiejauskaitė Yup xD

[@duckykittn]

Isn't Slytherin\s portrait hung in the headmaster's office? He could have simply learned from him, or at least had him translate the memories. The portraits were magically bound to obey the true sitting head.

[@TheRealCamelT]

K Lewis that's a good idea

[@teddybear5788]

K Lewis but a portrait can't go into a memory can it? You can't see the memory if you're not in the pensieve... And I strongly believe Dumbledore couldn't just have taken it with him. What if one day there's a headmaster who doesn't like one of the earlier headmasters? I think the founders or someone else put an enchantment on them so they can't be taken off. Back to topic! I know Dumbledore could have remembered and then imitated what the Gaunts were saying but I think that even Dumbledore couldn't remember that. They had quite much of conversation in the memory. Another point, maybe he could have made the people to be outside of the pensieve (idk how else to describe it, but I mean what he did to the memory of Trelawney saying the prophecy at the end of the 5th book). That could be an option could it?

[@LillyMoore]

that's a good idea!

[@Erigalus]

Well, if the portraits in the headmasters office are magically glued to the wall, it wouldn't pose a big problem. Slytherin would just have to go into another one (the people in the HM-portraits can move freely between their respective portraits), so Dumbledore could've just taken any portrait of Slytherin into the pensieve to have him translate the parsel in the memory. Just saying.

[@teddybear5788]

Erigalus well that makes sense. You got me :D

[@cutecats532]

Because he understands parseltongue as it's spoken by humans, but can't understand snakes... or he wasn't in the right place at the right time. I like your theory.

[@zcst4eva]

Sierra Davis My thought exactly. If he's not a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, and he had to learn Parsletongue on his own, it stands to reason that he would understand other wizards speaking it, but not be able to communicate with actual snakes.

[@fuzzyswclips6540]

Hey, I didn't create this "theory" but I saw it on another channel in the comments section, and it wasn't answered so I thought I'd just copy paste it here to see if Seamus will answer it, so here it is: In the Prisoner of Azkaban Remus Lupin tells the students that no witch or wizard has ever seen a boggart's true form, but in order of the Phoenix, Mrs. Weasley ask Moody to check in the cabinet upstairs contained a boggart reason being that he has a magical eye that can see through walls. That means that the boggart couldn't see him so it couldn't transform into his worst fear which means Mad-Eye Moody is the only wizard that we know of in all oh time that knows what a boggart actualy looks like but it's never mentioned by anyone ever again. I thought it would just kinda be a cool theory, so yeah....

[@veeasaurus]

oh my gosh you’re right..

[@hemlock29]

Last time I was this early, Seamus still had braces.

[@keeleyorr8338]

Mira Kel I actually didn't notice that he dodn't have braces now. Lol

[@NickCoppell]

Mira Kel d-did you not see the video

[@thequeenofbooks24]

Mira Kel WHAT HE DOESN'T!! Yay! The Darla comments will finally stop lol

[@MrCrlschwrtz]

Nicole C I like your profile pic. I knew I would find another tøp fan

[@cyberwolf5787]

Ørcaløver me too

[@lincolnjohn8227]

It is probably because Dumbledore can understand parseltounge but not snakes. What I mean is that the books never states that any snakes are speaking parseltounge only the people. Parseltouge is portrayed in the book not only as a language but also like a form of magic. It allows the speaker not only to communicate with snakes but also control them. l think the decendants of slytherin can understand snakes in addition to speaking parseltounge. My theory is that Salazar Slytherin was able to understand snakes first and used the ability to developed a method to communicate and control them. It would explain why people could say or understand things in parseltounge without being able to talk to snakes. I think Dumbledore understands parseltounge, in that he can distinguish the sounds and translate what they mean, but I don't think he has had the need, and thus the practise, to be able to use parseltounge conversationally or pronounce the syllables. The same way babies understand their native language long before they can utter a single word.

[@brentlionakaboldchamp]

Lincoln John Babies dont really understand language before they can speak it. They just hear the words, try to mimic, as well as remember the tone used. After a while....we start to understand more.

[@bryrk]

I stopped in the middle of my Beauty and the Beast binge to watch this, you'd better appreciate my sacrifice m8

[@bryrk]

Bella Midnight ugh the soundtrack is so gooooooooood

[@freddymeng]

u know what soundtrack is good? Hamilton.

[@Randomlego108]

How do u binge one movie

[@siri5186]

Freddy Meng yaaaaas

[@inderjotsingh57]

In the chamber of secrets, tom told harry that only the true heir of slytherin could control the basilisk. So maybe only the heir of slytherin could hear the basilisk. we know being a horcrux harry had a part of tom riddle's soul inside him(who was heir of slytherin) , so he was able to hear basilisk. I Think if harry had tried , he could possibly even have controlled the basilisk but then he didn't knew that he gad a part of the true heir's soul inside him, so he didn't tried. This is why dumbledore couldn't hear the basilisk

[@harini6092]

when you're always on KZbin that you don't need notifications​.

[@helenhodges2656]

hi there I like his theory its good

[@stellafolwarska4216]

Basilisk : *Let me kill you and tear you and rip you...* Dumbledore : *Just another basilisk hissing in the pipes.*

[@matthewhenthorn3343]

I have some theories to answer this query about the inconsistency of Dumbledore's parseltongue. Firstly: he understands parseltongue at the time of chamber of secrets, but only well enough to understand when he knows what he is hearing. Someone who doesn't know that someone is playing the drums might not understand what all the banging and crushing is about until they go to investigate (or someone checking their fridge or boiler and wondering what is causing the thundering rumble, when the neighbor is playing the organ on the other side of thin walls and has just stepped of the Contra Bombarde). He may have heard it same as anyone but because he didn't identify it as parseltongue he didn't translate it automatically. Second: his parseltongue was rusty at the time of chamber of secrets and so couldn't understand it on the fly. During his studies of Voldemort's past and the horcruxes could have brushed up on his parseltongue so he could understand it when looking at Ogden's memory. Thirdly: (and this is controversial but gives better reasoning) he doesn't understand parseltongue. on looking over the scene from the half-blood Prince where they are listening to the Gaunts `domestic problems`, one could in theory perceive a general idea of what is going on without the need to understand the language being spoken. we have to assume that the cadence and tones of parseltongue are at least similar to english. if we take say an italian couple arguing, we can tell immediately when things are getting heated due to raised voices. The exchange of parseltongue between the Gaunts was certainly heated. If we also assume Dumbledore was good at judging situations and combine that with his knowledge of Voldemort's parentage (muggle father, witch mother as stated in the chamber of secrets) and Gaunt's view on muggles (which he stated proudly to Ogden before in that same scene) he could easily understand what was happening and work out the rest without difficulty. i like this as it says Dumbledore does his research and can sense the issue (this is probably why Dumbledore is such a good Legilimens)

[@AriAri-vs6we]

I agree with your 3rd theory. More: is it possibile to conjure Legilimancy on someone you only see in someone else's memory? Because, if so, it could explain a lot

[@fawkesontheroll8594]

The 3rd theory is good but as J.K. Rowling stated he did understand parseltongue

[@chrisrudolf9839]

I like your third theory and was thinking the same. Plus he also did reap some of Morfins memories later, so he might have access to Morfins thought's directly. There is at least no clear indication in the Gaunt memory scene that Dumbledore understands the Parseltongue bits word by word and nowhere in the books does Dumbledore directly state that he knows Parseltongue, which would have been a huge comfort to Harry in book 2, where he instead told Harry that all known Parselmouths (except Harry himself) have been descendants of Salazar Slytherin and thus usually dark wizards.It would not be the first time that dear JK had totally messed her "facts" up and wildly improvised in her interview without noticing the plotholes and contradictions she creates.

[@matthewhenthorn3343]

I wouldn't think so, unless you in a legilimens memory and even then i can't see it working. i like you're thinking though.

[@kayleeheltne3300]

Don't argue with J.K. Rowling

[@sarahbeth1199]

What if Newt Scamander taught Dumbldore it after he picked it up in his travels well enough for him to teach Dumbledore a rough understanding. They would know each other because Newt was a Hogwarts student and who's to say they didn't come back into contact between the time fantastic beasts and where to find them was set and any point during Harry's Hogwarts career. He may have learned it but has to try to hear it and translate it. Dumbledore would not have know what to look for if he didn't know there was a big-ass snake in the school to hear. Harry could hear it easily because it sounds like English to him and he doesn't need to translate it like Dumbledore might. It also could be a person Dumbledore was friends with from another country where the prejudice is less.

[@doreencloutier1066]

Oh my God. Just came up with the same theory.

[@catgilfillan2991]

So I was brought up in a very old house in the Scottish Highlands and whenever the heating is on or the hot water is running, the old pipes emit a hissing noise. In more modern houses (I've never lived in a property less than 100 years old), plumbing systems are much more efficient. The first harry Potter book came out when I was 8, and living not far north from Glenfinnan on the same train line, I had assumed hogwarts was based on our local architecture, and was possibly a nod to Glenfinnan house, Arisaig house or flora Stevensons house (armadale castle) in South skye (the ride across the loch, the scenery described on the journey, it sounded exactly like journey from glenfinnan north to Mallaig where you take the ferry to armadale in skye). Realistically the description of the exterior of hogwarts matches more closely the architecture down the rarely used glen etive road, near the glencoe pass, where one of the largest stately homes I've seen in the Highlands exists, or perhaps eilean donan or duart castle. Even my home, albeit much smaller, makes these hissing sounds as the old metal pipes expand and push the high pressure water through. I was surprised to hear people didn't recognise or know the sound.

[@alexiswelsh5821]

You should do a colab vid with Super Carlin Brothers and MatPat

[@TheKeeperOfTheQuill]

I would die a happy girl.

[@nayanatara2781]

Alexis Welsh the bakeey too!

[@gabbyc7358]

Alexis Welsh Yes! 2 of my favorite KZbinrs! (not MatPat

[@kylonglaegs]

Love the name Magic Skittles!

[@sofiag4298]

Alexis Welsh Defo not mat pat

[@ashleymcgee4156]

Harry could hear the snake when no one else could because the piece of Voldemort still inside him was an heir of Slytherin and had a special connection with the snake - the snake was speaking to gain his attention

[@Fangoddess]

If they remake the movie they HAVE to cast Seamus as the voice of the Basilisk.

[@RoyHelling]

Maybe a human speaking Parceltounge is different from an actual snake hissing.

[@n.e.v.e.r]

I would love to have an audiobook with Seamus reading the HP books.

[@orange.circles402]

Maybe the basilisk could only be heard by the heirs of Slytherin, and since Harry had a part of Voldemort soul in him (which is why he was a parselmouth) he could heard it when no one else could. I think this really helps to explain as I’m sure Filtch, Ms. Norris, or any other staff members would have heard a faint hissing in the nighttime when there was next to no noise.

[@phelisejoy7118]

Dumbledore probably heard it and was like "oh, the Slitheryns and their silly conversations" or "Malfoy's at it again"

[@fizzyflair4155]

A little theory of my own here: Seamus Gorman is really just Seamus Finnigan.

[@Coutinho236]

Dude, I started watching you recently and now I'm addicted to your videos, great job and keep it up!

[@sebastianfrost5035]

What if basilisk was speaking only to Harry plus they could have been on opposite ends of the castle

[@payton_bagel8317]

0:46 Seamus should make an asmr video of him reciting everything the basilisk said.

[@doublerainbow9127]

Hello huffelpuffs where you at?

[@adrianna5936]

YAAAA. Go Hufflepuff

[@whitebrowedtitwarbler]

HUFFLEPUFF 😁

[@goldenplayzmc1355]

Hufflepuff power :D

[@tuana9004]

your profile pic is us babe😁

[@peggyknecht3326]

Hello my fellow Hufflepuffs.

[@thefoolwholovestheworld]

Dumbledore learned Parseltongue. Harry is a parselmouth. There's a big difference. I think Dumbledore understands Parseltongue only when he is close to the person speaking. Also he can only understand parselmouths, not snakes. But parselmouths hear the snakes whispering from long distances. Snakes can also feel their presence and are attracted to them. Tom Riddle said "I can speak to snakes too. They find me. Whisper things." He made it clear that the snakes FIND him. I think Parselmouths have a deeper bond with snakes.

[@samsongaming5577]

I have a theory: as Ron immetated Harry in the Deathly Hallows part 2, surely Dumbledore (the greatest wizard of all time) could immetate Harry more quickly?

[@hotjanuary]

you are very entertaining. I laughed when you read the basilisk's lines. Good job on the video. Good pacing, quick delivery of ideas, and you separated your information with comments made to be funny--hence, part of what gave it good pacing. Keep doing what you're doing :)

[@jfraserfisher]

Could be as simple as Dumbledore was not in the castle when snake was in pipes or in a different part of the castle, it is a huge place and a snake won't be shouting!

[@trishahhh4208]

Seamus’ basilisk impression is spot on xD

[@niclasian6740]

I think it says in The Camber of Sacred that Tom Riddle is the last descendent of Salazar Slytherin ..?? But I will sure check the theory out 😆

[@fawkesontheroll8594]

Camber of Sacred????

[@EyreAffair]

Niclas Lund Nope, Rowling wrote that a branch of Slytherin's line moved to America and were descended from the Irish branch of the Gaunt family (the Sayres / Stewards).

[@johncorcoran3013]

Chamber of Secrets

[@Gr_d]

Ur one of my favorite KZbinrs KEEP ON DOING HARRY POTTER PLEASE!!!

[@mikebrown1881]

Maybe Dumbeldore can only understand parseltong when a human speaks it.

[@juditveres_hearts]

You have a fair point, Seamus! Thanks for this energetic video!

[@ohyeahyeah4323]

notification squad where you at

[@heyimsophiaiguess8835]

bad hair day ayyy

[@ram0n_h]

I love how you cite certain passages from the books. You must be really good at citing books the school assigns to read.

[@addisonhancock9757]

I thought you said you had no ideas?

[@jamieee03]

I got shivers when you did the Basalisk lines

[@kburley8190]

Mhmm I'm here early AF for the smol's video

[@pauline9958]

0:16 This is exactly what I have been thinking for ages! Finally someone who talks about it XD

[@ShadowBlack090]

Dumbeldore can indeed go down as worst headmaster is a way. explanation to the previous sentence is...for as long he lived Harry went through countless near death experiences where Dumbledore was like...go ahead Harry it's okay to be friendly with three headed-dog and that big ass snake in the hidden chamber and dementors are friendly and Triwizard tournament is child's play, basically could have said little death never hurt anyone. and all that was in school years he was playing with Harry's life before hand by putting him with abusive relatives. If I were in Harry's shoes I would be like "Hey Tom! *grabs dark lord by ear* we are going back in time right now and you do your job correctly. You won't believe me what i had to live trough."

[@judywright4241]

ShadowAmery Black ---Wish I could ❤️ this comment more than once!

[@ladyfoxwf1075]

Seamus whispering was the best 🤣

[@carolinedixon5913]

I think you give too much credit to J.K. Rowling. She has changed her mind on so many things enough times for me to be a little upset and not trust what she says about the potter universe. Too much of what she does is fan service. She changes her mind based on how well received something she drops is. My biggest one is the snake in the first Harry Potter book in the zoo is supposed to be Nagini. She "dropped" that spoiler saying, "I can't believe no one has figured this out yet (paraphrased)." But there are so many things wrong with that statement, and I can disprove her based on her own words and the wording in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I'd love to hear if you have a theory on this. Every angle I have come at to try and make that fact fit is met with a block that can't make that snake Nagini.

[@mollie.28.15]

Caroline Cole she’s actually never ever said that

[@anmoltaneja3381]

MissMXoXo ikr

[@doreencloutier1066]

That was a rumours started by a fan on reddit. She never actually said that. It was debunked years ago.

[@shawngross5420]

Your idea about Dumbledore learning Parseltongue to interpret Ogden's memory makes sense! I agree.

[@ichhabeein]

Early Sqaud Where u at

[@uniqueusername_]

Me

[@rjcubed8811]

Blame it on Caitlin right here :)

[@PooperJeans]

sup homies

[@davishatler1874]

Blame it on Caitlin hi

[@charlespletzke8311]

Blame it on Caitlin present

[@susanasilva2232]

I think Dumbledore learned Parseltongue during Order of the Phoenix (he already knew that Voldy had a pet snake by then). I also think that the fact he was learning Parseltongue (in order to understand the Ogden's memory about the Gaunts and get to know Voldemort's past) may have contributed to Dumbledore 'abandoning' Harry during that period (OoTP) (he knew about the Voldemort-Harry connection [from the dreams Harry had in GoF] and he didn't want Voldy to figure out his plans).

[@oliviabarnard9470]

Just found out I'm getting my braces off in 5 weeks! I've had them for 2 years now. 😁

[@potatoe911]

Olivia Barnard I’m soooooo happy for you even tho that was 10 months ago I have braces and I get them off on March

[@EyreAffair]

Hey Seamus! Big fan of your videos! I'm the original Redditor who posted the Reddit theory about Dumbledore being a Parselmouth. Username Obversa because people kept getting my real name wrong (kept calling me "Amanda"). Anyways, thanks so much for crediting me in your video!

[@helmi3208]

finally!

[@ruby-fo2yl]

I totally agree yet when dumbledore said "I'm different" to Tom Riddle surely he would confess being a parselmouth, as he was reassuring him making him feel like he's not the only one; AND he seemed to be extremely shocked at the fact he was a parselmouth as well

[@alishaharvey861]

earlybird then why are you late?

[@mayasoley4847]

omg i love the Two Door Cinema Club in the transitions!!!

[@ayeshkream]

NOTIFICATION SQUAD

[@ravenclawseagle]

You did a really good impression of that basilisk

[@me-gs3nh]

First

[@20Korna07]

I think dumbledore could speak parseltongue by the time of the second book but he just didnt hear the basilisk because it always was near harry (his primary target) and dumbledore somehow taught himself how to speak parseltongue when he used legilimency on morfin gaunt. that would be the only possibility in my opinion considering the fact that the gaunts were the only known parseltongues

[@kristinastevic1583]

Seamus you make great and original videos! Good on you mate! I'm a huge fan☺

[@scemobimbo6457]

Subbed because I love your theories. Btw YOUR ACCENT IS SO CUTE!!! 💀

[@michellebeeket]

I am crushing so hard on Seamus. Omg why is your voice so awesome...

[@hello99127]

I'm will point out that sometimes when pipes have problems, which I could easily see being an occasional issue that comes up in such and old building, that pipes "hiss" due to things like air leaking out. So especially if the sound was already muted, the basilisk could have sounded like a perfectly ordinary hiss of a pipe to anyone who didn't automatically have its voice translated into English words. And since if Dumbledore can't speak Parseltounge naturally, he would have had to translate in order to understand the basilisk, but if he too mistook it for ordinary hissing from old pipes, he may not have realized that there *was* anything to translate.

[@mirandaluke3002]

understanding parseltongue and being parselmouth is different. parselmouths (harry and whoever) hear it as their spoken language and dumbledore only understood what the hissing meant, but still only heard hissing, which made it more difficult for him to notice or hear it.

[@RDGHsimulations]

McGonagall: You've been raising him like a pig for slaughter

[@imridiculous3866]

we can’t deny Seamus can do a good basilisk impression

[@fatimasuhail0411]

your theory are getting 👌👌...and intresting ...love them

[@maxlavallee443]

I love your videos Seamus, your channel is great

[@emcabest]

it's literally 12.01 where I live. it's Friday already. you have failed me seamus

[@jayden-pv3ck]

hands up if you think Seamus should do a version of the Harry Potter audiobooks *raises both hands*

[@jamievaugh9015]

Yay! Its a Seamus video, just I time for my sick day

[@adventuresofraindancecharl5025]

Watching this video I was racking my brain trying to think of how to get around the plot hole of Dumblydore not being able to hear the basilisk, it made me think that maybe Harry could only hear the basilisk because of his connection to Riddle/Voldemort? It just made me think of when Riddle's all like "Parseltongue won't save you now Potter, it only obeys me" because there's a connection with Riddle being a descendent from Slytherin and then the basilisk being Slytherin's pet snake n stuff - idk, but it got me thinking! Love the video, as always :D

[@lukejw2009]

He could’ve learned it from Morfin we know he saw him in Azkaban to get the memory.

[@Algorithm_Poison]

I heard Dumbledore enjoys having conversations with trouser snakes

[@Addiep03]

When he said "try to say basalisk hissing fast" i tried and it sounded like BASKET-LISP-KISSING

[@ThiefKingofLegend]

I think it's unbelievable how big the pipes are in Hogwarts (except deep down in the castle)

[@jane.w0567]

This video was really good! Btw your teeth look really good!

[@sirtsukiyama2158]

0:47 - 0:59 thanks for the ASMR, Seamus...

[@Azire]

"I thought you were waiting for him to die at the proper moment" that BUUURN THOOOUGH ! D'you want some aloe vera ?

[@actress5256]

its also possible that the basilisk was specifically keyed into the heir of Slytherin. Since only the heir of Slytherin is capable of controlling the basilisk its possible that only the heir can hear it. True, Harry isn't technically the heir of Slytherin, but he is harboring a piece of the heir's soul via horocrux. This seems unlikely until you consider that a horocrux in the second book was capable of controlling (and hearing the basilisk) both on his own (as Tom Riddle) and from within Ginny when it had possesed her for a short while. Tom tells Harry that only the heir of Slytherin can control the basilisk, so Harry never even attempts to control it, but I wouldn't be surprised that if he tried it would have worked. Harry is essentially the same as a young Tom Riddle, a horocrux.This would also be super cool because it would mean that everyone's joking/suspicions that Harry is the Heir of Slytherin isn't entirely wrong. If this is true then Dumbledore could have learned parseltongue long before Chamber of Secrets. it would also just be extra horocrux foreshadowing, which I love.

[@mariciojongma8582]

Perhaps Dumbledore is a parselmouth himself. the reason he was not able to hear the basilisk, like Harry did is because a piece of Harry (Voldemort inside Ginny's body) was right next to the basilisk. Seems fair for me, sorry if the English is a bit weird guys. leave a like so that Seamus can see it

[@brudidog970]

My theory is that he wasnt able to understand it in the Chamber of Secrets because he isnt a Natural parseltounge and therefore cant hear it through walls ans would also have to deciver the hisses individually, for example when Harry and hermionie were at backshots House the couldnt hear nagini call for Harry either while for him it was a Loud call.

[@faatimaismail8856]

Hearing Seamus speak snake is like a asmr channel

[@chillero2]

It's actually explained in camber of secrets at the dueling scene when harry was speaking to the snake. People can hear and imitate parcel tongue but they can't hear or understand the snake. Plus when a snake is moving in a pipe the hissing sound is impossibly to hear but for parcel mouth it's like someone is shouting to them.

[@BeCuzImBatman]

Great videos mate

[@iio-chanmoon5151]

Dumbledore doesn't walk around the castle like Harry so he might not have heard the hissing.

[@althealligator1467]

Actually Gobbledygook is a way of speaking that uses very technical and rare terms to try to impress other people.

[@alphasyntax8085]

Hi man keep up the great work

[@MrBorn-rf4pn]

My theory is that Dumbledore could only understand Parseltongue if it was obvious that someone was speaking Parseltongue, just like with the Gaunts. For example in a song when you dont actually know if its english or not, until someone tells you and you finally understand it.

[@katiep2700]

I always thought that Harry could hear the basilisk later because he could hear parsletongue... like when snakes speak it it isnt a spoken language... like more with your thoughts... but then when we found out about the horcruxes I came up with this: the snake is speaking to the diary/tom riddles soul. 1. because there are more horcruxes still in play harry is more connected with voldemort's soul/mind at the time of the secone book and 2. harry can thus hear things happening when voldemorts soul from the diary is close to him as it possesses or controls the snake. 3. we have very little evidence for how the horcrux in harry reacts when close to other parts of voldemorts soul... for example... in the first book his scar would burn and later when the link activated his scar would burn. however... his scar didnt hurt when he was around the diary or when he heard the snake... perhaps because this was one of the few times when voldemort had plenty of sould pieces left but did not have a body...

[@yiklongtay6029]

2:44 Counter-proof. Ron said that he had to try several times before getting it right. Since there is no strategic value in messing up a few times before opening the chamber, liquid luck would have let him succeed right off the start. There are two contrived possibilities for why this happens. The felix felicis was a faulty batch so it had limited effectiveness. They did stress how difficult it is to produce it. Second, there was a fatal obstacle on the other end that needed a couple more seconds to no longer be a threat. LIke maybe if they enetered 5 seconds earlier, a spider would have crossed his line of sight, he jumped in shock which causes him to get scratched by the fang. Contrived I knoq

[@Lucky_Daguenet]

I love this channel soo much!

[@Marxyon]

Ayyyyeee grats for the braces bro. I just got started today :((

[@helenhamilton2544]

I think its probably like how you never notice the clock ticking yet it always does. You can hear yet not truly listen

[@JarlGrimmToys]

Maybe Dumbledore just wasn’t around when the basilisk was around. It is a castle and a creature whispering isn’t going to be heard everywhere in it. Harry heard by just being near to Myrtle bathroom at the time of a few of the attacks.

[@keshavdhand1607]

Another theory Actually if harry did not come voldemort would have definitely killed as neville killed nagini without help of harry and harry did the same thing as his mother and when voldermort would duel everyone then when he would try to kill Neville then voldemort will die as lily's sacrifice would maybe only work for him killing harry and that will be the best ending i can think of Please reply

[@greylizard1040]

I am imagining Dumbledore with a caged snake in his office, shining a light on it interrogation style while hissing random things at it. Maybe it happened somehow when he put on the cursed ring, which was worn by generations of parselmouths. Dumbledore is the kind of guy that could probably figure out any kind of magic if he needed to. He has a gift of knowing who to ask and where to go, as well as the magical talent to pull off almost anything.