Where is Caradoc Dearborn, and why did he disappear?

[sunshine1313]

In book five, when Moody shows Harry the picture of the original members of the Order of the Pheonix, he makes it very clear that many members were killed in the line of duty, but one name stuck out from all the rest. Caradoc Dearborn, the man who disappeared. What is his past, and why did he disappear? Was he killed, or did he just leave? And could he be important? Tell me your ideas.

[lupislune]

You know he may be dead, but in JKR's world presumtion should never be counted on. In all probability, it is probably nothing, but Caradoc, or Caractacus in latin, was a British Celtic Prince. He rebelled against the Roman ocupation of parts of Britian.

[LexiBlack]

He could have been another Bertha and just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. And I believe that it has been said in the books, that disapperances were common when Voldemort was at his strongest. However, it is odd that he is a member of the order and went missing. You would think that the order members would have been more careful about things like that. But I guess you couldn't really trust anyone back then, so who knows? Maybe this character will be of more importance in the next two books.

[Unicorn21]

Maybe he switched to Voldies side, although this seems unlikely.

[Zachere]

He's the HBP. Or the new DADA teacher. Or both. Maybe!

I mean, Dumbledore's been having loads of trouble finding DADA teachers. I think it's almost come down to DD having to teach it himself (which would be extremely cool). But an old Order member who finally regains his memory/escapes from DEs/pops up out of seclusion? Why not?

[squirrely_wrath]

Well Caradoc means beloved, it comes from the roman Caradius- This was the name of a 1st-century British chieftain who rebelled against Roman rule.
I'm not sure if there is a cnnection to be made there.... but,my guess would be that he like Mungdungus, was a bit of a socital reble, gathing info from the less "politically correct"

[SoXsirius]

hmmm...that is a good eye, i never even gave that a second though! perhaps he is the HBP...

[ravenclaw02]

Where is Dearborn? Erm, dead, isn't he?

I'd highly doubt that he's important, or that he's coming back. JKR's already used the back-from-the-dead device once, with Pettigrew, so for the same reasons that I doubt we'll ever see a live Regulus Black, I doubt we'll ever see a live Caradoc Dearborn. Most likely, she just needed a name to put in for Dead Order Member #3, but perhaps Dearborn did something in the past that will come up later. Either way, he does have a wickedly cool name, though. :)

[Zachere]

Yes, but she didn't say 'dead'. He's missing! Whee!

EDIT: Oh and I agree, his name rocks. 'Caradoc' rocks! I'm going to go lie down.

[Sunfish McCaul]

Professor Dearborn... it has a nice ring to it. ;) He was probably more of the Tragically Perished Anonymous- the countless dead good guys whose deaths add a bit of urgency and bittersweetness to the proceedings in Harry's time.
Of course, Caradoc could emergence in book 7 as Mark Evans' father, the Half Blood Prince, owner of the Hand of Glory and inhabitant of the Tower of Storge, but my instinct says, "No."

[sunshine1313]

He's the HBP. Or the new DADA teacher. Or both. Maybe!

I mean, Dumbledore's been having loads of trouble finding DADA teachers. I think it's almost come down to DD having to teach it himself (which would be extremely cool). But an old Order member who finally regains his memory/escapes from DEs/pops up out of seclusion? Why not?

That's what I was thinking. And you know that is her style. Small character only mentioned once, and for a brief second, then BAM! there the answer to everything. Take Sirius for example. barely mentioned in book one, then, in book three, becomes a major character. Same with Figgy. :huh:

[Zachere]

And if you check out the HBP discussion thread, he's on the list for possible candidates. I changed my mind about him maybe being the DADA teacher, it doesn't fit JKR's pattern. But he could very well be the HBP.

[kingwidgit]

Or how about this "What if?"
What if there is a link between Neville's toad 'Trevor' and Caradoc Dearborn?
I know it would be a Peter Pettigrew moment all over again, but there is just something about that toad that niggles at me. There was also a mention of another Order member who they only ever found bits of...like Pettigrew, again !*sigh* His name was Benjy Fenwick....

[sunshine1313]

Small characters almost always turn out to be the biggest ones. That's something I always try and remember.