Albus Dumbledore
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore | |
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Biographical information | |
Born | July or August[1][2], 1881 [3] Mould-on-the-Wold |
Died | 30 June 1997 (aged 115)[4] Astronomy Tower, Hogwarts Castle |
Blood status | Half-blood |
Marital status | Single |
Also known as |
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Title(s) |
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Physical information | |
Species | Human |
Gender | Male |
Hair colour | Auburn (Silver later in life) |
Eye colour | Blue |
Skin colour | Light |
Family information | |
Family members |
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Magical characteristics | |
Boggart | The corpse of his sister, Ariana. |
Wand |
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Patronus | Phoenix |
Affiliation | |
Occupation |
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House | Gryffindor[5] |
Loyalty |
- "Albus Dumbledore was never proud or vain; he could find something to value in anyone, however apparently insignificant or wretched, and I believe that his early losses endowed him with great humanity and sympathy. I shall miss his friendship more than I can say, but my loss is as nothing compared to the wizarding world's. That he was the most inspiring and the best loved of all Hogwarts headmasters cannot be in question. He died as he lived: working always for the greater good, and to his last hour, as willing to stretch out a hand to a small boy with dragon pox as he was on the day that I met him."
- —Elphias Doge.[src]
It was through Dumbledore that resistance to the rise of Lord Voldemort was formed, as it was he who founded and led both the first and second Order of the Phoenix. Due to the fact that he had a keen mind and legendary power, Dumbledore became the only wizard that Voldemort ever feared. He was the wielder and the master of the Elder Wand from 1945 until 1997 and considered by many as the greatest Headmaster to ever grace Hogwarts. As he was about to die by a cursed ring, he planned his own death with Severus Snape. Though he was no longer alive at the time, it was through Dumbledore's machinations that Voldemort was ultimately defeated and peace restored to the wizarding world. He is the only Headmaster that was laid to rest at Hogwarts. Albus Dumbledore's portrait still remains at Hogwarts.
Contents[show] |
BiographyEdit
Early lifeEdit
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was born to Kendra and Percival Dumbledore in the summer[1] of 1881, in the mainly wizarding village of Mould-on-the-Wold. The early years of Dumbledore's life were marked by tragedy when his younger sister, Ariana Dumbledore, was attacked by a group of Muggle boys who saw her performing magic and were frightened by what they saw.Ariana was left mentally and emotionally scarred by the event and her magical powers were left severely altered and would manifest themselves on rare occasions usually in random or destructive ways. Albus' father, Percival Dumbledore, was heartbroken and set out in search of his own brand of justice. He located the Muggle boys and attacked them, as they had his daughter. It is unknown exactly what he did to them, but it might be assumed he probably used the Cruciatus Curse on them as he was sentenced to life in Azkaban for the crime, and would later die there.[7]
To escape the accusing eyes of the wizarding world, Kendra Dumbledore moved her young family to the village of Godric's Hollow which, like Mould-on-the-Wold, was a mainly wizarding village. Kendra rebuffed all her neighbours, with the eventual exception of Bathilda Bagshot, preferring to be left alone: and Albus learned not to mention his sister or father in public.[7]
Hogwarts yearsEdit
- "By the end of his first year, he would never again be known as the son of a Muggle-hater, but as nothing more or less than the most brilliant student ever seen at the school."
- —Elphias Doge[src]
He befriended a young Elphias Doge on his first day at Hogwarts; Doge was suffering from Dragon pox at the time, which discouraged most from approaching him. Dumbledore, however, demonstrated his uncommon kindness and willingness to look past the surface and find inner beauty in people. Dumbledore also became very well-connected during his Hogwarts years, making notable friends such as Nicolas Flamel, Bathilda Bagshot, and Griselda Marchbanks, who marked him in his N.E.W.T.s for Charms and Transfiguration and later recalled that he did things with a wand that she had never seen before. He also had several of his papers published during his studies.[7]
During his school years, Dumbledore won the Barnabus Finkley Prize for Exceptional Spell-Casting, became the British Youth Representative to the Wizengamot, and received the gold medal for Ground-Breaking Contribution to the International Alchemical Conference in Cairo.[7]
In his third year, Dumbledore presumably took Study of Ancient Runes and at least one other subject, which is known not to be Divination.
During his fourth year, Dumbledore "accidentally" set the bed-curtains in his dormitory on fire (although he admitted that he had never liked them anyway).
Albus was made a prefect during his fifth year and was made Head Boy in his seventh year. He was considered the most brilliant student to have attended the school.
Tragedy and friendshipEdit
- "So that, when my mother died, and I was left the responsibility of a damaged sister and a wayward brother, I returned to my village in anger and bitterness. Trapped and wasted, I thought! And then, of course, he came."
- —Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter[src]
Albus returned to Godric's Hollow full of bitter resentment at his situation, feeling trapped and wasted. Fortune finally shone on Dumbledore in the form of Gellert Grindelwald, who was in Godric's Hollow to research the Deathly Hallows. Grindelwald was as talented and brilliant as Albus was. Dumbledore quickly became fascinated by Grindelwald's ideas of wizarding domination, obviously considering Grindelwald an unexpected new chance to show his own brilliance and come out of the local misery. Albus also harboured romantic feelings for the other boy, but regretted his relationship with Grindelwald later in life[7].
However, after two months, Albus' brother Aberforth confronted him over his neglect of Ariana over the past few weeks, telling him he couldn't carry out his plans with Grindelwald, as he would have to take her with him. Grindelwald then used the Cruciatus Curse on him. A violent duel erupted between the three teenage boys. Ariana herself tried to intervene in the fight, but couldn't due to her erratic abilities, and in the ensuing chaos was hit by a stray curse and died. No one knew whose curse it was that killed her, but Grindelwald fled immediately, as he already had a bad record back home, leaving the devastated Albus behind.[7]
Career at HogwartsEdit
- Dumbledore: "I had proven, as a very young man, that power was my weakness and temptation. I was safer at Hogwarts. I think I was a good teacher."
- Harry: "You were the best."
- — Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter[src]
However, as Dumbledore was educating young wizards and witches, Gellert Grindelwald was still at large in Europe, building up an army, and had already found one of the Deathly Hallows, the Elder Wand, which he used to terrorise Europe. Dumbledore was afraid to face Grindelwald, not because he thought he couldn't defeat him, but because he was afraid that Grindelwald could reveal to him who had truly killed Ariana. However, by 1945 Dumbledore could no longer turn a blind eye to Grindelwald's deeds, and tracked his old friend down. He duelled Grindelwald in what later became known as the most legendary duel ever fought between wizards. Dumbledore defeated Grindelwald despite his possession of the Elder Wand. Grindelwald was imprisoned in Nurmengard and Dumbledore kept the Elder Wand for himself.[7]
Alone of all the professors at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was not charmed by the natural charisma and cunning of Tom Riddle. In their first encounter, Dumbledore became immediately suspicious of his "obvious instincts for cruelty, secrecy and domination"[8] and resolved to keep a close eye on him during his studies at the school. As Dumbledore was not so easily taken in by his charming faƧade, Riddle came to despise and fear him.[8]
In 1943, several Muggle-born students were mysteriously petrified by a beast rumoured to have been released by the Heir of Slytherin from the mythical Chamber of Secrets. Indeed, the final victim of the beast, Myrtle, was actually killed; this act seemed likely to ensure the permanent closure of the school, forcing Riddle to go back to the orphanage. While Dumbledore rightly suspected Riddle was behind the attacks, the aspiring Dark Wizard expertly framed Gryffindor student Rubeus Hagrid as the perpetrator. Riddle was able to pass off Hagrid's tamed Acromantula, Aragog, as the beast attacking students, resulting in Hagrid's expulsion and ensuring that Hogwarts remained open. Dumbledore was never able to uncover hard evidence implicating Riddle, however, he convinced the Headmaster to allow Hagrid to remain at the school as the grounds-keeper-in-training.
After Armando Dippet left the post, Dumbledore was appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts. During this time, he was offered the position of Minister for Magic several times, but he turned down the offer every time, remembering how his quest for power had been his weakness in the past.
Shortly before the beginning of the First Wizarding War, Tom Riddle, now known exclusively as Lord Voldemort, approached Dumbledore with the same request he had proposed to Armando Dippet before him: to be allowed to return to Hogwarts as a teacher of Defence Against the Dark Arts. Dumbledore, who knew of Voldemort's illicit activities since he left Hogwarts, denied his application. This led to Voldemort cursing the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, preventing anyone from holding the position for more than a single school year.
When Remus Lupin became of age to attend Hogwarts, he was afraid that he would be unable to due to being infected by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback. However, Dumbledore, being fair, believed that as long as special precautions were taken, there was no reason why Remus should be deprived of his education. As such, Dumbledore prepared the Shrieking Shack as a place for Remus' monthly transformation, with the Whomping Willow as guard. This would forever earn Dumbledore Remus' gratitude, as many other headmasters would simply forbid the boy from even setting foot into the school. When Severus Snape found out Remus' secret, Dumbledore forbade him from repeating it to anyone.
First Wizarding WarEdit
- Severus: "Hide them all, then. Keep her — them — safe. Please."
- Dumbledore: "And what will you give me in return, Severus?"
- Severus: "In — in return? Anything."
- — Severus Snape to Dumbledore[src]
Later on in the war, Dumbledore was approached by another person who also wanted a job at Hogwarts: Sybill Trelawney, who applied to become the new professor of Divination, lessons that Dumbledore disliked and barely considered a part of necessary education for young wizards and witches. Dumbledore gave her a chance because she was the great-great granddaughter of the celebrated Seer Cassandra Trelawney. To his disappointment, when he was interviewing Sybill at the Hog's Head, he came to the conclusion that she was not a real Seer. However, as Dumbledore was about to leave, Trelawney fell into a real trance and made a prophecy about the birth of the one that would have the power to vanquish the Dark Lord, who would be born to those "who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies".[9] This astonished Dumbledore, but as it turned out, the Death Eater Severus Snape had overheard most of the prophecy, but had been caught in the act of spying and ejected from the tavern by Aberforth Dumbledore.[8] Dumbledore hired Trelawney in order to protect her from the Death Eaters.
Later, Severus Snape approached Dumbledore, having already told Voldemort about the Prophecy. Snape was shocked by the fact that Voldemort had concluded that the prophecy was about Harry Potter, the son of James Potter, and Snape's own loved childhood friend, Lily Evans. Dumbledore made arrangements to ensure the safety of the three; he advised them to stay hidden in their house in Godric's Hollow, which was protected by a Fidelius Charm. However, their Secret-Keeper (believed by Dumbledore and everyone else to be Sirius Black, but was in truth Peter Pettigrew) betrayed them, resulting in James and Lily's deaths at Voldemort's hands. However, as Voldemort attempted to kill Harry, the curse backfired due to Lily Potter's love for her son and destroyed his body, only keeping a part of his soul alive.
Dumbledore, who likely already knew by then that a part of Voldemort's soul had concealed itself within Harry, made sure that Harry would be kept safe with his family, the Dursleys, as his spells ensured that Voldemort could not harm Harry there as long as he could have a home with them. He convinced Snape to help him protect Harry, although Dumbledore secretly planned to allow Voldemort to kill Harry in the end, which would destroy the piece of Voldemort's soul inside Harry. However, he also hoped to mould Harry into such a person who would willingly sacrifice his life for the greater good, allowing him the chance to choose between life and death in the end. Dumbledore gave Snape employment at Hogwarts as the Potions master, and later defended Snape against the Ministry of Magic, who were rounding up and arresting remaining Death Eaters. Dumbledore attended many Death Eater trials, including that of the Lestranges and Barty Crouch, Jr. He was also witness to Igor Karkaroff's testimony which secured his release from Azkaban in return for the names of fellow Death Eaters.
Shortly before the Potters' death, Dumbledore had borrowed something from James: his Cloak of Invisibility, something that Dumbledore saw was a part of the Deathly Hallows. Although Dumbledore had long given up his desire to unite the Hallows and become Master of Death, he could not resist the thought of studying the Cloak. But when they were killed, Dumbledore suddenly had two of the Deathly Hallows under his possession. Only the Resurrection Stone was left.[7]
Between the warsEdit
Attempt to protect the Philosopher's StoneEdit
- Dumbledore: "Harry, do you know why...Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him? It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you. And that kind of act leaves a mark... This kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."
- Harry: "What is it?"
- Dumbledore: "Love, Harry. Love."
- — Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter[src]
who did not intend to use or possess it, but only to keep it from the hands of evil. Dumbledore suspected that the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrell was behind the plot to steal the Philosopher's Stone, while working for the weakened Lord Voldemort, and as such he asked Snape to keep an eye on him.[10]
In the end it was Harry who protected the Philosopher's Stone from Quirrell and Voldemort. Voldemort failed for the same reasons he had failed to kill Harry previously: due to Lily Potter's love for Harry. When Voldemort, who had possessed the body of Quirrell, ordered his servant to attack the young boy, the protection instilled within him at the point of his mother's death killed him and forced the Dark Lord's spirit to flee. When Harry recovered from the ordeal in the hospital wing, he questioned Dumbledore about why Voldemort had tried to kill him as a baby. Dumbledore did not believe that Harry was ready to know the truth about the Prophecy Sybill Trelawney had made, and told him he would know when he was older.
Second opening of the Chamber of SecretsEdit
- Harry: "You. You're the Heir of Slytherin. You're Voldemort."
- Tom Riddle: "Surely you didn't think I was going to keep my filthy Muggle father's name? No, I fashioned myself a new name, a name I knew that wizards everywhere would one day fear to speak, when I became the greatest sorcerer in the world!"
- Harry: "Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world!"
- Tom Riddle: "Dumbledore's been driven out of this castle by the mere memory of me!"
- — Harry Potter displays his loyalty to Dumbledore in the Chamber of Secrets[src]
It was later revealed that first year student, Ginny Weasley, had come into possession of Tom Riddle's Diary, a bewitched object capable of interacting with whoever wrote in it. The diary slowly drained the life force from Ginny, and when the memory it contained was nearly strong enough to take physical form, it had her journey into the heart of the Chamber. However, Harry Potter was able to find the Chamber himself, and there, defeated the beast that dwelt within; Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk. He also destroyed the diary with one of the basilisk's fangs, saving Ginny and defeating the nearly fully formed memory of Riddle. Harry was only able to achieve these feats by displaying an extreme amount of loyalty to Dumbledore; for only someone truly loyal to the Headmaster would be capable of summoning his magical familiar, Fawkes, who provided the tools needed for Potter to defeat Riddle and the basilisk.[11]
Dumbledore returned to his position as Headmaster after the memory of Riddle was revealed as being behind the attacks. However, Dumbledore was privately concerned by the phenomena that Harry described; a mere memory capable of taking physical form was unheard of. Dumbledore then began to suspect that Riddle's diary was in fact a Horcrux, and furthermore, considering the lack of care the Dark Lord had taken in protecting the diary, that he had created more than one.[11]
Sirius Black's escapeEdit
- "Mysterious thing, time. Powerful, and when meddled with, dangerous. Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the dark tower. You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen, and you would do well, I feel, to return before this last chime. If not, the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. If you succeed tonight, more than one innocent life may be spared. Three turns, should do it, I think. ...Oh, by the way. When in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck."
- —Albus Dumbledore helping Hermione in 1993.[src]
However, the Dementors violated Dumbledore's decree when they entered Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, causing Harry to fall unconscious and nearly fell from the sky. Dumbledore is able to prevent Harry from hitting the ground and repelled the Dementors with a Patronus.[12]
As the school year drew to its close, it became clear to Harry and his friends that Sirius Black had been framed for his crimes. But Sirius was captured and sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss. Dumbledore believed Harry and his friends about Sirius's innocence, but was incapable of over-ruling the Ministry's decision. However, he told Hermione to use her Time-Turner to save Sirius. The rescue was a success, and the Dementors were removed from the grounds for their attack on Harry.[12]
Triwizard TournamentEdit
- "Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities which distinguish Hufflepuff house, he was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not."
- —Albus Dumbledore speaks about Cedric Diggory who lost his life during the Triwizard Tournament.[src]
However, unknown to anybody, a day before Moody was set to arrive at Hogwarts, he was overpowered by Death Eaters Barty Crouch, Jr. and Peter Pettigrew. On the orders of Voldemort, Crouch brewed Polyjuice Potion, which he used to impersonate Moody and take his place at Hogwarts. Crouch, in the guise of Moody, successfully fooled the Goblet of Fire and ensured that Harry Potter was chosen as the fourth champion of the Triwizard Tournament. Crouch secretly aided Potter throughout the tournament, so that in the final task it would be him to first touch the Triwizard trophy; which he had bewitched to become a Portkey.
When Harry and fellow champion Cedric Diggory touched the trophy at the same time they were transported to the graveyard of Little Hangleton. There, Diggory was killed on the orders of Lord Voldemort, and Harry's blood was taken as the final ingredient in a potion the Dark Lord used to return to full power. Using the Portkey, Harry was able to escape Voldemort and return to Hogwarts.
It was when Crouch, still in the guise of Moody, took Harry from out of Dumbledore's presence (something the real Moody never would have done in such a traumatic situation) that the headmaster realised that it was not Moody who had been at the school the whole year. Dumbledore, Snape and Minerva McGonagall quickly overpowered the Death Eater, who revealed the entirety of Voldemort's plan under the influence of Veritaserum.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge refused to believe that Lord Voldemort had returned to power and had Crouch subjected to the Dementor's Kiss before he could be forced to stand trial before the Wizengamot. In response to Fudge's stupidity, Dumbledore reconvened the Order of the Phoenix.
Tensions with the MinistryEdit
- "Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort! The Ministry of Magic, does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so — either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Cedric died as a result of an accident of some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory!"
- —Dumbledore defying the Ministry's wishes.[src]
Dumbledore came to fear the connection that existed between the Dark Lord and Harry, and purposely avoided him throughout the school year. When signs of this connection became increasingly obvious, Dumbledore had Severus Snape attempt to teach Harry the art of Occlumency, rather than himself, as he feared that Voldemort may have been able to peer into his mind through his connection to Harry.
The Ministry also began to interfere at Hogwarts, appointing Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Umbridge and Fudge slowly passed laws that siphoned the powers of the Headmaster, while increasing those of Umbridge herself, who had been granted the new position of High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. In response to Umbridge and the Ministry's refusal to teach practical defensive magic, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley created a group of students that met secretly to learn defence against the Dark Arts. This organisation was known as Dumbledore's Army.
When this illegal society was uncovered, Dumbledore willingly took the blame; pointing out that it was named "Dumbledore's Army, not Potter's." While Fudge ordered his arrest, Dumbledore easily overpowered his would-be captors with a single spell, and went underground; working to aid the Order full time. In Dumbledore's stead, Umbridge was named Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Second Wizarding WarEdit
Battle of the Department of MysteriesEdit
- "Kill me now, Dumbledore... If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy..."
- —Lord Voldemort possessing Harry Potter[src]
Voldemort's curse, however, was prevented; Dumbledore quickly animated a golden statue to cover Harry and shield him from the curse. He animated the other statues from the Fountain of Magical Brethren to immobilise Bellatrix and alert Ministry officials. Subsequently an intense duel erupted between Dumbledore and Voldemort; arguably the two most powerful wizards of their time. Both wizards displayed a deep understanding of magic, though Voldemort was forced to flee the battle after Dumbledore imprisoned him within a dome of water.
As Voldemort fled, he briefly possessed Harry, hoping that Dumbledore would sacrifice the teenager in an attempt to kill him. However, as Harry dwelt on his grief for his late godfather, the power of his love forced Voldemort to release him. Voldemort took Bellatrix with him as he fled, but not before he was seen by Ministry officials, including Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, who was finally forced to admit that Dumbledore had been truthful in his assertions that the Dark Lord had returned. Dolores Umbridge was permanently removed from Hogwarts, and Dumbledore was reinstated as Head of Hogwarts.
Search for HorcruxesEdit
Later on, Dumbledore made it his business to try and find out about Lord Voldemort's past. He did this by questioning people who had known him as a child and a teenager, and obtained Voldemort-related memories from them. He collected memories from Bob Ogden, Morfin Gaunt, Horace Slughorn and the house-elf Hokey. Using these memories, along with some of his own, he discovered that Voldemort had created six Horcruxes, and also figured out what they could be: Tom Riddle's Diary, Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, Salazar Slytherin's Locket, the snake Nagini and an object of Rowena Ravenclaw's, later revealed to be her lost diadem.During the summer of 1996, Dumbledore tracked one of Voldemort's Horcruxes to the house of the Gaunts. Dumbledore journeyed to Little Hangleton, where he found the remains of the shack hidden behind weeds and bush. Voldemort had placed many powerful enchantments around the former home of his ancestors; however, Dumbledore proved skilful enough to pass through them unharmed. When he found the Horcrux, a ring formerly owned by Marvolo Gaunt, he saw that the stone in the ring was one of the Deathly Hallows, the Resurrection Stone. This stone, according to legend, had the power to revive the dead (but in reality, a spiritual form of the person was brought back instead). His desire to see his family overrode his common sense for just a moment and he placed the ring on his finger, forgetting that the ring had been cursed by Voldemort. The curse quickly spread, and were it not for his own prodigious talents, he would have died within moments. Despite this injury, Dumbledore proceeded to destroy the ring, and with it, a piece of Voldemort's soul.
Dumbledore quickly returned to Hogwarts, where the skills of Severus Snape managed to trap the curse in Dumbledore's hand. However, both Snape and Dumbledore knew that it would eventually spread to the rest of his body. Knowing that the curse would kill him, Dumbledore asked Snape, that when the time came, that he be the one to end Dumbledore's life, rather than Draco Malfoy, who had been given the task of assassinating the headmaster, in order to spare Draco's soul from being torn. Snape later objected to the plan, but was reminded by Dumbledore that it was the only way to spare him from great suffering.
Throughout the 1996–1997 school year, Dumbledore passed on certain pieces of information to Harry Potter that would be important for the boy in his quest to destroy the Dark Lord. Dumbledore held private lessons with Harry, revealing in them much of what he had learnt about Voldemort's past, life and Horcruxes.
Horcrux caveEdit
Arriving at the small island, they found a basin filled with glowing green potion. This last defence could not be removed by Vanishing or being scooped out; someone would have to drink it to get to the Horcrux that lay within. Dumbledore ordered Harry to help him drink all of the potion, no matter what effects it caused, even if Harry had to force it down Dumbledore's throat. Dumbledore drank and he saw a vision of the duel between him Gellert Grindelwald, and Aberforth Dumbledore and Ariana's death as well as weakening him and made him extremely thirsty as well and inside pains (the whole purpose of the potion). He coulnd't bear it but Harry succeded at getting it down him. On his last drink he fell unconcious. After a failed atempt by Harry to revive him with renervate, Dumbledore woke up and wanted water. Harry then attempted to summon water for Dumbledore with an Aguamenti charm, but this proved ineffective as the water, for some reason, was scooper-resistant. In desperation, Harry filled a cup with water from the lake. After Dumbledore drank it, the Inferi climbed up from the lake and attempted to kill them. Harry panicked and attempted to fight back with a multitude of spells and curses, including Impedimenta and Sectumsempra, but none of them worked since the Inferi were too numerous and did not feel pain. Dumbledore, having regained consciousness, created a ring of fire around them that repelled the Inferi, driving them back into the lake while he and Harry escaped in the boat whith the horcrux.
Harry used a small cut on his arm to reopen the hidden doorway, and once outside the cave they Disapparated back to Hogsmeade. They would find no rest there, however, as the Battle of the Astronomy Tower had already begun. Harry and Dumbledore took brooms from behind Madam Rosmerta's bar and flew to the Astronomy Tower.
to end Dumbledore's life.]]
Battle of the Astronomy Tower and deathEdit
- "Severus...please..."
- —Dumbledore pleads with Snape to end his life.
Post-mortemEdit
- "To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
As it turned out, the night of Dumbledore's death was not the last time Harry saw him. After finding out he was one of Voldemort's Horcruxes (Voldemort having accidentally made him one the night he tried to kill him), Harry bravely walked into Voldemort's camp to be killed. But Voldemort's Killing Curse once again failed to kill Harry. Instead, Harry entered a limbo state, where he spoke with Dumbledore's spirit. Dumbledore explained to Harry everything he had not told him when he was alive: the nature of the Deathly Hallows, his friendship with Gellert Grindelwald, and a number of other things. Most significantly, he revealed that Harry was not dead because, when Voldemort had used Harry's blood to restore his body, he had unintentionally linked Harry's life to his own, with the result that Voldemort's curse had 'killed' only the fragment of his soul that had remained in Harry all these years. Harry also attempted to console Dumbledore when his old teacher asked if he had been any better than Voldemort in his quest for power; Harry pointed out that Dumbledore had never killed if he could avoid it, and argued that Dumbledore's search for the Hallows, as opposed to any attempts to create Horcruxes, made him completely different from Voldemort.
After he had finished his talk, Dumbledore and Harry parted ways: Harry returned to the mortal world and Dumbledore boarded a train to leave the limbo state. He was the only Headmaster to be laid to rest on the Hogwarts grounds, after Hagrid argued that no other Headmaster had ever given as much to the school as Dumbledore had. He was also one of few in the Wizarding World whose body would be in-corrupt in death. His portrait also remained at Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny Potter's second son was named Albus Severus Potter, after Dumbledore and Severus Snape.
Physical appearanceEdit
Albus Dumbledore was tall and thin, with silver hair and beard (auburn in his youth) so long that they could be tucked into his belt. He had a very long and crooked nose that looked as if it had been broken at least twice. (It is speculated that his brother's punch during their sister's funeral may have played a role in shaping his nose.) He was also said to have long and skilful fingers. His eyes were described to be a brilliant, soul-piercing shade of blue, and usually twinkled with kindness and mischief.When he became genuinely angry, however, Dumbledore would transform from a benign-looking, bright-eyed old man into a wizard even more terrifying than Lord Voldemort himself, with a face that was a classic portrait of cold fury and an aura of power that made him seem as if he was giving off burning heat. Indeed, Harry had - after witnessing a rare moment of Dumbledore's furious rage - confessed to fully understanding why people always said that Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared.
Dumbledore wore half-moon spectacles and a colourful array of robes, ranging from purple to crimson-red. He once claimed to have a scar above his left knee in the precise shape of a map of the London Underground, but whether or not he actually does is unknown. Dumbledore often spoke in a calm, pleasant voice at times,even when Harry thought he would be furious on several occasions, he doesn't show it through his voice, he always is very calm.
During the last year of his life, Dumbledore's right hand was scarred when he donned Marvolo Gaunt's Ring, which was cursed. Had Severus Snape not intervened with a counter-curse, Dumbledore would have died much more quickly. Regardless, the curse left his hand blackened and dead-looking, and no amount of healing could repair the appearance. According to Snape, the curse would eventually spread itself from the contained hand, and Dumbledore was doomed to die in no more than one year's time. Whether this means the blackening dead-look appearance would spread throughout the entire body is unknown.
Death, however, served to restore him to full health and strength: his spirit was described as walking sprightly and upright, with hands that were both whole and white and undamaged, and looking exactly how Harry remembered him to be.
Personality and traitsEdit
- Albus Dumbledore: "Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
- Harry Potter: "Is he — a bit mad?"
- Percy Weasley: "Mad? He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes."
- — Harry Potter and Percy Weasley about Albus Dumbledore.[src]
Dumbledore was very eccentric and even slightly effeminate; he was very fond of knitting patterns and frequently wore flamboyant clothing (at one point, he is seen wearing a flowered bonnet). His Chocolate Frog card mentions that he enjoyed chamber music and ten-pin bowling. The card also revealed that he had a sweet tooth for treats both magical and non-magical. He frequently set the password for the entrance to the Headmaster's office to the name of one of his favourite sweets. However, he disliked Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans after coming across a vomit-flavoured bean in his youth. He was a fan of knitting patterns and once told Harry that one could never have enough woollen socks. His favourite flavour of jam was raspberry[HP6].
As a supremely talented wizard, Dumbledore showed numerous examples of extraordinary powers. His abilities as a wizard were combined with a kind of cunning and subtlety of mind that allowed him to comprehend human nature and turn the better aspects of humanity (trust, love, and friendship) to Voldemort's disadvantage in particular. Yet despite his many talents and accomplishments, Dumbledore was never arrogant, self-important or pompous and in this he stands above the other great wizards of his day. Despite this fact, however, Dumbledore was quite aware of the fact that his power outmatched everyone else's and would not hesitate to remind others of this fact, if the situation demanded it.
- Harry: "But you think you're right?"
- Albus Dumbledore: "Naturally I do, but as I have already proven to you, I make mistakes like the next man. In fact, being — forgive me — rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger."
- — Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore discussing Dumbledore's mistakes.[src]
His knowledge of people's true personality appears to go beyond being simply a good judge of character. Despite Snape's background as a Death Eater, and despite strong incriminating evidence, Dumbledore trusted him with many important tasks. Dumbledore also allowed Draco Malfoy to remain in school, wanting to save him from Voldemort, and offered him mercy and protection, despite the fact that the pure-blood supremacist student tried to kill him and harmed many others in the attempts.
In addition to Dumbledore's great trust in the power of the human spirit, he also had a deep understanding of the power of love. This perhaps stemmed from his "great tragedy" of his affections for Gellert Grindelwald, whom Dumbledore not only loved, but greatly admired for his innovative ideas.
Dumbledore showed remarkable consideration when Petunia Dursley, wrote him asking if she could come to Hogwarts during her childhood. He sent her a personal letter explaining why she would not be admitted to Hogwarts along with her sister Lily Evans. It is exceptional that a Headmaster would treat a Muggle child so graciously.
Although he tells Harry that what he saw in the Mirror of Erised is himself holding a pair of thick socks, something no one ever gives him as a present, what Dumbledore saw is in fact his mother and sister living, his father free and living, and his brother on once more established terms with him[13]. Dumbledore's sorrow for the pain in his family reveals his great love for them.
Dumbledore admitted to Harry that he has also withheld from him knowledge of Sybill Trelawney's prophecy which marked Harry as the only wizard who could destroy Voldemort. He did so out of love, in an effort to protect Harry from fear in his childhood. This was the same reason for which he hid Harry's true identity from him during his early life with the Dursleys.
Albus Dumbledore had a passion for teaching and studying, which he reflected throughout his years at Hogwarts school. His ambition was not to join the Ministry of Magic, as many thought he would do, but to teach and become a professor. He encouraged students to develop a thirst for knowledge and was seen by many as the best Headmaster Hogwarts had ever seen.
Dumbledore continually reminded Harry that love was the greatest magic of all. After one such reminder, Dumbledore immobilised Harry to save him before Dumbledore was killed by Severus Snape.
Dumbledore was known for his odd displays of his whimsical sense of humour. This humour is sometimes considered inappropriate by some of the other teachers, such as Professor Minerva McGonagall, who is serious at all times. Dumbledore uses humour to include people and make them feel more comfortable in his presence.
- "Even I, Albus Dumbledore, would find it easiest to refuse the Invisibility Cloak; which only goes to show that, clever as I am, I remain just as big a fool as anyone else."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
Dumbledore was also haunted by his sad family life, most particularly the death of his sister, which would ultimately lead to his death. When he discovered Marvolo Gaunt's Ring and realised it contained the Resurrection Stone, he was overwhelmed by his desire to see the deceased members of his family once more. Completely forgetting that the Ring had become a Horcrux, and so was likely to be cursed, Dumbledore put it on, triggering the curse that would have killed him, had he not asked Severus Snape to make it quick for him.
Dumbledore was gay, but after falling in love with Gellert Grindelwald in his youth lead him to lose his moral compass and flirt with the idea of Muggle oppression, he did not trust his own judgment in matters of the heart.[14][15] He became "quite asexual," and lead a "celibate and bookish life."[15]
Magical abilities and skillsEdit
- Dolores Umbridge: "But I dare say the Ministry of Magic will track him down soon enough..."
- Griselda Marchbanks: "I doubt it, not if Dumbledore doesn't want to be found! I should know... Examined him personally in Transfiguration and Charms when he did N.E.W.T.s... did things with a wand I'd never seen before..."
- — Dolores Umbridge and Griselda Marchbanks discussing Dumbledore.[src]
- Magical Mastery: Albus Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard of his time, and he lived up to this title on many occasions. After his first year at Hogwarts, he was considered nothing more or less than the most gifted student the school would ever see. Dumbledore was known to be prodigiously talented magically, and was admittedly more skilful than the second most powerful Dark Wizard of all time, Gellert Grindelwald.[7] He was also the only wizard to ever be feared by the most dangerous Dark Wizard of all time, Lord Voldemort, whom he forced to retreat during their only known duel. This act was aided by Dumbledore's wielding of the Elder Wand, unknown to Voldemort at the time, although Voldemort noted that Dumbledore was not actually trying to kill him.[9]
- Patronus Charm: Dumbledore devised a method of sending messages via Patronus which enabled the caster to speak with their own voice through their Patronus, a skill he taught only to members of the Order of the Phoenix.
- Intellectual Genius: Dumbledore was not only an extraordinarily powerful wizard but was also a genius who possessed a superior intellect, capable of devising an elaborate master plan to defeat the seemingly unbeatable Lord Voldemort and was also particularly brilliant at guessing, hypothesizing, and predicting. This was seen quite predominantly during the events surrounding the Second Wizarding War, when Dumbledore, through various strategical plans and an almost Machiavellian manipulation of key persons (such as Severus Snape) before his death, is able to set the path for Harry Potter to locate Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. His intellect, or at least his strategic thinking, is one of his key talents. His genius was mainly noticeable even after his death through his will. He bequeathed Ron Weasley his Deluminator, understanding that even though Ron would initially walk out on the Horcrux hunt, he would be just as likely to return to it. He knew that Hermione Granger's thirst for knowledge would lead her to investigate the symbol that he had drawn in the copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard that he left her. This ultimately brought Harry to not only learning of the Deathly Hallows, but of how to obtain the Resurrection Stone through the Golden Snitch Dumbledore had left him, giving Harry the emotional support he needed to sacrifice himself to the Dark Lord. His vast and extensive knowledge on subjects such as Love and his acceptance that there are worse things than death makes him wiser than Voldemort.
- Master Duellist: Dumbledore was an exceptionally skilled duellist, capable of capturing several Death Eaters at once and duelling Lord Voldemort to a stalemate during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, though it should be noted that he was wielding the Elder Wand at the time. He also easily defeated Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge, Kingsley Shacklebolt and John Dawlish when they attempted to arrest him (though Kingsley was secretly on Dumbledore's side). The most impressive display of his duelling skills were shown when he defeated Gellert Grindelwald, despite the fact that Grindelwald was the master of the Elder Wand. Eyewitnesses claimed it was the greatest wizard duel ever fought. Albus described himself as being "a shade more skilful" than Grindelwald. Dumbledore's duelling style often involved using fire though he also used water during his duel with Voldemort.
- Invisibility: Albus had the ability to render himself invisible without the use of an Invisibility cloak. To achieve such a state, Dumbledore merely used an extremely powerful Disillusionment Charm.[16] He was also capable of using Homenum Revelio, wandlessly and nonverbally[17] to detect the presence of people who were invisible, even if they were under an Invisibility Cloak.
- Occlumency and Legilimency Expert: Dumbledore was also skilled in Occlumency and Legilimency. Many people, particularly Harry Potter, often noted that Dumbledore sometimes seemed to see right into their mind and correctly decipher what they were thinking.[9] Some of Lord Voldemort's followers, such as Barty Crouch Jr., were skilled enough Occlumens to hide their thoughts from him.
- Master of the Elder Wand: Although Dumbledore was admittedly not worthy of uniting all three Deathly Hallows, in his later years he proved fit to wield the Elder Wand. Dumbledore's reason for owning the wand was to use it to protect others from Dark forces and from the wand itself, ensuring that the wrong person could never again use it to bring about the deaths of others and ultimately themselves. Dumbledore was the first master of the Elder Wand who did not use it to commit murder or brag of it to the public and his attempt to have its power die with him shows how he understood that something so powerful and dangerous is best not lasting forever.
- Wandless and Non-verbal Magic Expert: Albus could produce magic without the use of a wand, and was highly skilled at nonverbal magic. While some people, such as Antonin Dolohov, as seen during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries,[9] seemed to produce lesser magic when using it non-verbally, Dumbledore was capable of extraordinary feats such as conjuring hundreds of squishy purple sleeping bags to accommodate the students of Hogwarts, without saying a word.[12] While in the Horcrux cave, Dumbledore proved capable of foiling the defences set up by Lord Voldemort, using wandless magic. He also performed the Arresto Momentum spell, without a wand, to save Harry from falling to his death at the hands of the Dementors. He could also light and put out candles, both with the wave of his hand.[8]
- Spell Creator: Dumbledore was known for having created unique magical spells and devices. In particular he was the only known user of a spell that stuns several people at once, bearing the sound of a gunshot; he also used a spell in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries to yank a fleeing Death Eater back to him with no physical effort.
- Fire Magic Affinity: Albus' weapon of choice appeared to be fire. In his duel against Voldemort he used a fiery rope; when he displayed his Wizarding powers to young Tom Riddle, he did so by setting Riddle's wardrobe on fire, without actually burning anything; he once used a vast amount of fire to hold off a throng of Inferi. He is known to be able to conjure Gubraithian Fire. His magical familiar, Fawkes, is a phoenix, which dies and is reborn from the ashes. Although Dumbledore favoured fire, during the Battle of the Department of Mysteries he used water to encase Voldemort; that was possibly because he did not want to harm Voldemort, but merely protect Harry.
- Magical Multilingualist: Among all these talents, Dumbledore also possesses the ability to speak Mermish[18] and Gobbledegook. He can recognize Parseltongue, the language of snakes, as he demonstrates while he and Harry are inside Bob Ogden's stored memory; he is able to quote verbatim a Parseltongue phrase uttered by Morfin Gaunt in a later stored memory.[8]
- Skilled Potioneer: Dumbledore is also proficient at Potions, as, according to the obituary written by Elphias Doge, his papers were published in The Practical Potioneer. This was likely instrumental in his discovery of the Twelve Uses Of Dragon's Blood.
- Charms Master: Albus was known to be a master in Charms, as, his papers were published in Achievements in Charming. He created new parameters for the Patronus Charm, allowing it to be used as a form of communication, and was capable of performing the extremely complex Fidelius Charm.
- Transfiguration Expert: Before becoming headmaster, Albus was the Hogwarts transfiguration teacher, showing that he had a high level of skill in that branch of magic. During his battle with Voldemort in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, Dumbledore was able to make a shield that immediately transfigured the thousands of glass chards that were directed at him and Harry by Voldemort into mere sand.
- Apparation: A master of Apparation, Dumbledore was able to transport himself from one place to another with pinpoint precision, even when locked in combat. He used this ability to avoid some of Voldemort's spells during their duel before counter-attacking. He was also able to apparate silently which only a master of Apparation could do.
- Flying skill: Dumbledore was a skilled broomstick flyer. Shortly before his death, he flew to the Hogwarts Astronomy tower, despite being weakened by a potion. He also was able to cast jinxes during flight.[19]
Career accomplishmentsEdit
Albus Dumbledore was a famous alchemist who has worked with Nicolas Flamel, the only known maker of the Philosopher's Stone and was trusted in ensuring that this stone was well protected. Dumbledore was credited with discovering the twelve uses of dragon's blood. He was also capable of conjuring a Patronus, one that took the form of a phoenix.Dumbledore became the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards. He was removed from these posts during his conflict with the Ministry of Magic under Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge, but was reinstated when the Ministry was forced to concede that he had correctly warned that Voldemort had returned. He holds the Order of Merlin, First Class, for Grand Sorcery.
RelationshipsEdit
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FamilyEdit
ParentsEdit
- "Do not misunderstand me. I loved them. I loved my parents, I loved my brother and my sister, but I was selfish"
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
Later on, during his conversation with Harry in limbo, he confessed that he truly loved each and everyone of his family, but was blinded by his ambition and his madness. He had, originally, intended to use the Resurrection Stone to bring back his parents, so that the heavy responsibility on his shoulders would be lifted. After Ariana's tragic and unexpected death, he planned, instead, to use the stone (if he ever found it, that is) to bring back his parents and his sister to apologise to them. This desire, however, ultimately caused his death: the Resurrection Stone had become part of a ring whose curse infected him the instant he put in on, and slowly killed him.
Ariana DumbledoreEdit
- "They say he feared me, and perhaps he did, but less, I think, than I feared him... You see, I never knew which of us, in that last, horrific fight, had actually cast the curse that killed my sister... I dreaded beyond all things the knowledge that it had been I who brought about her death, not merely through my arrogance and stupidity, but that I actually struck the blow that snuffed out her life. I think he knew it, I think he knew what frightened me."
- —Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter about his guilt over Ariana's death[src]
Aberforth DumbledoreEdit
- "They were not alike: Aberforth was never bookish and, unlike Albus, preferred to settle arguments by duelling rather than through reasoned discussion... In fairness to Aberforth, it must be admitted that living in Albus' shadow cannot have been an altogether comfortable experience."
- —Description of the Dumbledore brothers[src]
After their sister's death, Albus came to believe that Aberforth was a better person than he was, which Harry Potter disagreed with.
Gellert GrindelwaldEdit
- "Did I know, in my heart of hearts, what Gellert Grindelwald was? I think I did, but I closed my eyes."
- —Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter, about his friendship with Gellert Grindelwald[src]
Grindelwald spent a number of years gaining power in Europe while Dumbledore spent his time teaching young wizards at Hogwarts. While Grindelwald and his army terrorized Europe, Dumbledore refused to face him out of fear that Grindelwald knew who had really killed Ariana. But after five years, Dumbledore could no longer stand idly by, and went after his old friend. When Dumbledore found him, they engaged in the legendary duel of 1945, eyewitnesses said no greater duel was ever fought between wizards. Dumbledore won in the end, and took possession of the Elder Wand and imprisoned Grindelwald in his own prison Nurmengard.
Years later in 1998, Grindelwald refused to give any information to Lord Voldemort about the Elder Wand despite the fact that he was imprisoned, wandless and face-to-face with the only Dark Wizard ever considered more powerful than himself. This seems to indicate that Grindelwald no longer held with the views of those who practised the Dark Arts. It was speculated by Harry Potter that Grindelwald had given his life to prevent Voldemort from desecrating Dumbledore's tomb.
Tom Marvolo Riddle (Lord Voldemort)Edit
- "The time is long gone when I could frighten you with a burning wardrobe and force you to make repayment for your crimes. But I wish I could, Tom, I wish I could..."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
When then-headmaster Armando Dippet confided in Dumbledore about Tom Riddle approaching him about staying on after graduation to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts — which he only refused due to Tom's age, suggesting he ask again in a few years — Dumbledore advised him against it. Though he explained none of his reasons to Professor Dippet, for the headmaster was just as charmed by Tom as the other professors, Dumbledore felt uneasy about the request and did not want Riddle back at Hogwarts in a position of power.
- "Yes, I certainly do know that you have seen and done much since leaving us. Rumours of your doings have reached your old school, Tom. I should be sorry to believe half of them."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
It was clear that Dumbledore viewed Tom Riddle as a former student of his to be pitied for his childhood, and that he never understood love, as he had never received any. Dumbledore understood the evil in Tom as a result from a string of unfortunate events and performed intensive research on him, eventually discovering his Horcruxes. After Riddle's transformation into Lord Voldemort, contrary to the rest of the wizarding community's fear of saying the Dark Lord's name, Dumbledore, as the only person Voldemort (secretly) feared, refused to be intimidated by the Dark Lord, referring to him as "Voldemort" to others and as "Tom" in conversation with Voldemort himself, a subtle but steadfast refusal to allow Lord Voldemort to dictate the terms of their relationship and a trait that would later be inherited by Harry Potter.
In 1996, Dumbledore and Voldemort met face to face in the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort started a deadly duel during which he tried hard to murder his former teacher. Dumbledore was able to block Voldemort's spells, and the pair fought to a draw. A short while later, Dumbledore became aware of Voldemort's plan to use Draco Malfoy to kill him. Dumbledore requested to Snape that he should be the one to kill him instead of Malfoy. Despite dying to Snape in 1997, Dumbledore's legacy allowed Harry Potter to defeat Voldemort once and for all in 1998.
Harry PotterEdit
After the Return of the Dark Lord, Dumbledore, in an effort to save Harry more pain, refused to disclose certain details to the young wizard. This caused some friction between the two. When Dumbledore explained to Harry that he had done so, because he cared a great deal for him, Harry was still angry but was more understanding.
By Harry's sixth year, Albus Dumbledore took on the role of providing Harry with additional insights into the origins of Lord Voldemort, as Voldemort's power was growing enormously stronger. He did this largely through the use of the Pensieve. He entrusted Harry with the task of getting a final, crucial memory from Horace Slughorn regarding Voldemort's knowledge of Horcruxes.
Harry and Dumbledore forged a strong mentor-pupil bond, comparable to that between two close family members (most likely case of a grandfather-grandson), in spite of the century in age difference. Harry felt comfortable enough around the impressive, intimidating figure of Dumbledore to shout at him in frustration, cry out of grief, admit to his fears, and entrust him with his life.
Before the final event of the Battle of Hogwarts, after Harry sacrificed himself and was struck by Voldemort's Killing Curse and nearly died back in the Forbidden Forest, his soul went to a place resembling King's Cross Station, where Dumbledore was waiting to speak with him. The fact that Dumbledore himself was there to meet Harry in a place between life and death attests to the bond of fellowship between them. After the war, Harry also named his second son after Dumbledore.
Rubeus HagridEdit
- "I would trust Hagrid with my life."
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
Minerva McGonagallEdit
- Minerva McGonagall: "Professor Dumbledore is a very great wizard, Potter, he has many demands on his time —"
- Harry Potter: "But this is important."
- — Minerva McGonagall and Harry Potter in 1992.[src]
Minerva had great faith in Dumbledore, placing great stock in the differences between him and Voldemort.[10] However, she did not hesitate to disagree with him when she felt the need to do so. She was extremely opposed to his decision to place Harry Potter with Petunia Dursley and her family, calling them the "worst sort of Muggles imaginable."[22] She also served more than once to bring Dumbledore back on track when he became distracted from the matter currently at hand.[18]
Minerva had no qualms about displaying her loyalty to Dumbledore. When Cornelius Fudge brought Aurors to arrest Dumbledore in 1996, she boldly stepped forward and announced her intention to fight the Aurors on his behalf. She only stepped back at Dumbledore's insistence when he reminded her that Hogwarts and her students would need her in his absence.[9]
Minerva was devastated when Dumbledore was killed in 1997 during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, and attended his funeral.[8] A year later, when Harry Potter returned to Hogwarts on a mission given to him by Dumbledore, she did not question the decision of her dead friend, but immediately sought to provide whatever assistance she could.[7]
Severus SnapeEdit
In 1991, Snape saved Lily's son, Harry Potter from Quirinus Quirrell. Snape seemed to hate Harry, for being James's son, but Dumbledore told him that Harry's deepest nature looked most like his mother's. Snape became member of the Order of the Phoenix, while Voldemort thought he was loyal to him.
In 1996, Snape saved Dumbledore's life from a cursed ring, which was in fact a horcrux. As Dumbledore knew that his life would soon end, and that Draco Malfoy had to murder him, he asked Snape to kill him. Snape was surprised, but, in the end, accepted. After Dumbledore's death, the portrait of Dumbledore told Snape the plans they should make. Snape also gave Harry Godric Gryffindor's Sword, in the Forest of Dean.
Snape was killed by Lord Voldemort's magical familiar, Nagini, under Voldemort's orders, during the Battle of Hogwarts. Voldemort believed that mastery of the Elder Wand had passed to Snape upon Dumbledore's death, when in fact it had actually passed to Draco Malfoy moments before.
Some years later, Harry Potter gave his son both Dumbledore's and Snape's names.
Elphias DogeEdit
- "Thought the sun shone out of my brother's every orifice, he did."
- —Aberforth Dumbledore on Elphias Doge[src]
Elphias pitied Dumbledore about his father, mother and sister, and had a highly opinion of him. Elphias soon became a member of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation that Dumbledore had led. He also attended Albus Dumbledore's funeral.
Elphias also told Harry to never believe Rita Skeeter and Muriel's slanders about Albus Dumbledore's family life, including that Ariana was a Squib. It is possible that Elphias Doge fought in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Ron Weasley and Hermione GrangerEdit
- "Headmaster, you've got to stop them. They've got the wrong man."
- —Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley talking about Sirius[src]
These gifts were proven very useful, as Ron abandoned Harry and Hermione formerly to find his family, and, when he wanted to come back to Harry and Hermione, the Deluminator showed him the way. The trio also read the Tales of Beedle the Bard, and learned about the Deathly Hallows. Harry, Ron and Hermione also visited Dumbledore's portrait, after the Battle of Hogwarts.
James and Lily PotterEdit
- "James had showed it to me just few days previously. It explained much of his undetected wrongdoing at school"
- —Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter[src]
When the Potters became Voldemort's targets due to a prophecy made about their son and the Dark Lord, Dumbledore had tried to protect them by offering to be their Secret Keeper, but the role of Secret Keeper went instead to Peter Pettigrew, which turned out to be a fatal mistake, as Peter turned out to be a spy, and he betrayed Lily and James to Voldemort, who killed them. Dumbledore was very saddened by their deaths, and dedicated the rest of his life to protecting their son, Harry. He often told Harry about the great goodness of his parents, and repeatedly consoled him with the assurance that his parents would never ever truly leave him because of their love for him. Dumbledore also believed that Harry's love for his parents was his greatest power.
Sirius BlackEdit
The two resumed their friendship, and Sirius helped Dumbledore to recall the Order of the Phoenix an hour after Voldemort returned. However, their relationship was soon strained: Dumbledore forced Sirius to stay at 12 Grimmauld Place on account of his being a wanted convict, and because he had a tendency to act rashly, which could lead him to put himself in great danger. Though his intentions were noble, Sirius could not bring himself to appreciate Dumbledore's thoughtfulness, as he utterly despised the home which brought him many bitter, unhappy memories, and the fact that he was to be alone in the house most of the time made it all the more intolerable. Nevertheless, he still trusted Dumbledore enough to confide in him about how Harry felt Voldemort awaking inside him the night that Mr. Weasley was attacked. Dumbledore was devastated when Sirius died, and comforted Harry to the best of his ability, and expressed his belief that Sirius was a lively man of wit and courage, with a deep and genuine concern for his loved ones, and would not hesitate to come to their rescue even if it meant putting himself in danger. Sirius' death was also a factor that led to Dumbledore confessing to Harry several things that had been kept secret from him, mainly about the true power of his mother's sacrificial protection, and the prophecy about him and Voldemort.
Remus LupinEdit
- "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin who had kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher"
- —Albus Dumbledore[src]
Peter PettigrewEdit
Peter Pettigrew was a member of the Order of the Phoenix and a friend of James, Sirius and Remus. It is possible that he was a friend of Dumbledore, before he betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort. Dumbledore learned of his betrayal in 1994, and told Harry that, after he had saved Pettigrew's life, he would requite. Dumbledore was true: Pettigrew attempted to strangle Harry during the Skirmish at Malfoy Manor, but he hesitated, causing his silver hand that was made by Voldemort to strangle and kill him.Alastor MoodyEdit
- "He's not Alastor Moody. The real Alastor Moody would never remove you away from me, after what had happened..."
- —Dumbledore, talking about Barty Crouch Jr.[src]
Dumbledore and Moody fought along in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries, where they suffered a devastating loss: Sirius, one of their dear friends, was killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. Moody turned out to be the next member of the Order to die after Dumbledore.
FawkesEdit
Albus Dumbledore had a very strong bond with Fawkes, his pet phoenix, who served as a messenger and close companion. Dumbledore always looked after Fawkes when he was reborn after his countless deaths and in return Fawkes was extremely loyal to him. Fawkes was willing to take a Killing Curse in order to protect Dumbledore, and did so in order to defend him from Lord Voldemort. He also helped Albus escape from several members of the Ministry of Magic when they tried to arrest him. When Dumbledore died Fawkes mourned him by singing a lament and then left Hogwarts and was apparently never seen again.Order of the PhoenixEdit
- Draco: "I was supposed to meet you here, but your phoenix lot got in the way!"
- Dumbledore: "Yes, they do that."
- — Draco Malfoy to Dumbledore during the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.[src]
He was also friends with Kingsley Shacklebolt, who believed in equality and fairness for all wizards and witches and Muggles, Arabella Figg, whom he trusted to watch Harry Potter during his years at the Dursley's house, Nymphadora Tonks, an auror, Dedalus Diggle, Hestia Jones, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Mundungus Fletcher and the Weasley family. Emmeline Vance was killed by Death Eaters during the Second Wizarding War.
Other possible Dumbledore's friends who were killed or seriously injured during the First Wizarding War were Edgar Bones, Caradoc Dearborn, Benjy Fenwick, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadowes and Fabian and Gideon Prewett, and Alice and Frank Longbottom, who were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr.
Dumbledore was also friend of many allies of the Order, including Olympe Maxime, the headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, whom he met during the Triwizard Tournament, his co-workers Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout and Horace Slughorn, Augusta Longbottom, Ted and Andromeda Tonks. Other allies of the Order were Dumbledore's students, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Lee Jordan and Percy Weasley. He also liked the house-elf Dobby, and pitied the house-elf Kreacher, asking them to work at Hogwarts kitchens.
It is possible that all the members and allies of the Order who were neither killed nor imprisoned, fought in the Battle of Hogwarts (except Arabella Figg, who was a Squib, and couldn't fight. However, she might have helped by another way.)
Hogwarts staffEdit
Except the already mentioned Minerva McGonagall, Rubeus Hagrid, Severus Snape, Remus Lupin and Alastor Moody, Dumbledore had many co-workers during his career at Hogwarts. Some of his earliest co-workers were: Armando Dippet, the previous Headmaster; Herbert Beery, the Herbology Professor, who later resigned his teaching post at Hogwarts to go teaching at the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts; Galatea Merrythought, the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, who retired before Dippet's death; Silvanus Kettleburn, the Care of Magical Creatures Professor; and Horace Slughorn, the Potions master, who was hired twice, and gave Harry Potter his memory, helping him and Dumbledore find and destroy Voldemort's horcruxes.After Dippet's death, he became the new Hogwarts headmaster. He also had a friendship with Filius Flitwick, the Charms Professor and Head of Ravenclaw House, Pomona Sprout, the Herbology Professor and Head of Hufflepuff House, and Poppy Pomfrey, the nurse. Every Hogwarts staff member, with the exception of Dolores Umbridge, both respected and held a high opinion of Dumbledore.
Other staff were Argus Filch, the caretaker; Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, the Care of Magical Creatures Substitute Professor; Firenze, a centaur and the Divination Professor; Rolanda Hooch, the Flying Instructor; Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy Professor; Bathsheda Babbling, the Study of Ancient Runes Professor; Septima Vector, the Arithmancy Professor; Irma Pince, the librarian; Cuthbert Binns, a ghost and the History of Magic Professor; Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor (1992-1993); Charity Burbage the Muggle Studies Professor.
Another Professor was Sybill Trelawney, who taught Divination. Dumbledore thought she was a fraud, but when he heard her conceiving the Prophecy about Voldemort and Harry Potter, he hired Trelawney to protect her from the Death Eaters.
Quirinus Quirrell was the Muggle Studies Professor, before he started to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. He met Voldemort when he travelled around the world, and shared his body with him. Since then, he served him faithfully, trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone and kill Harry Potter. He was killed by Harry Potter in 1992, being burned by Harry's touching.
In 1995, Dolores Umbridge was appointed the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor by the Ministry of Magic. She was a sadistic woman who enjoyed punishing students. Umbridge became High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, and later Headmistress. In the end of the year, she was chased by centaurs, and left Hogwarts.
Every member of the Hogwarts staff was devastated by Dumbledore's death, and it is more than likely that every member fought in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Dumbledore's ArmyEdit
- Albus Dumbledore: "Well, the game is up. Would you like a written confession from me, Cornelius — or will a statement before these witnesses suffice?"
- Cornelius Fudge: "Statement? What — I don't —?"
- Albus Dumbledore: "Dumbledore's Army, Cornelius. Not Potter's Army. Dumbledore's Army"
- — Albus Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge discussing Dumbledore's Army[src]
All of the members of Dumbledore's Army were devastated by Dumbledore's death, and it is possible that all of them fought in the Battle of Hogwarts. Two of the members were killed: Fred Weasley and Colin Creevey. The two defectors, Marietta Edgecombe and Zacharias Smith, are the ones who did not believe in Dumbledore from the beginning, and did not participate in the final battle.
Other friendshipsEdit
During his life, Dumbledore became friend of many famous wizards and witches, such as Nicolas Flamel and his wife, Perenelle, Bathilda Bagshot and Griselda Marchbanks. Nicolas Flamel and Perenelle were over 650 years of age, when they agreed to destroy the Philosopher's Stone to thwart Lord Voldemort's return. Bathilda Bagshot died a few months after Dumbledore, being killed by Voldemort.Death Eaters and enemiesEdit
Death Eaters were Voldemort's servants, and Dumbledore's enemies.- "...or dear Bellatrix, who likes to play with her food before she eats it..."
- —Dumbledore on Bellatrix Lestrange.[src]
Bellatrix also killed many of Dumbledore's friends, such as Sirius Black, Dobby the house-elf, and Nymphadora Tonks.
Albus Dumbledore also encountered the savage werewolf, Fenrir Greyback. It is implied that they had dealings in the past as Dumbledore was shocked that he, of all people, had come to Hogwarts the night that the Death Eaters entered the Astronomy Tower. He was also disgusted that Greyback had started to attack outside the full moon and enjoyed the taste of human blood. Greyback offered to 'do Dumbledore for afters', indicating that he would, possibly, maul him to death after attacking children within the castle. In fact, Dumbledore seemed somewhat disappointed when he incorrectly believed that Draco would invite Greyback into the castle.
- Dumbledore: "Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please, let me help you."
- Draco: "I don't want your help! Don't you understand? I have to do this... I have to kill you... otherwise... he's going to kill me..."
- — Dumbledore and Draco Malfoy, when Draco attempts to kill Dumbledore.[src]
Igor Karkaroff was a Death Eater in the First Wizarding War. Dumbledore participated in his trial, and saw him betraying many Death Eaters to avoid imprisonment in Azkaban. After his release, he abandoned Voldemort and became the Headmaster of Durmstrang Institute. He again met Dumbledore in 1994, when he went at Hogwarts, during the Triwizard Tournament. He thought Dumbledore was a fraud, who put Harry Potter's name in the Goblet of Fire. He left Hogwarts after Voldemort's rebirth. He was killed by Death Eaters in 1996.
Another very loyal Death Eater was Barty Crouch Jr. Crouch was imprisoned in Azkaban by his father, but escaped with the help of his mother. Crouch played a key-role in Voldemort's rebirth, after he captured and imprisoned Alastor Moody, and took his form, to teach at Hogwarts, while Dumbledore thought he was dead. Crouch put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire, and helped him with the tasks of the Triwizard Tournament, sending him to Voldemort. When Harry escaped, Crouch attempted to kill him, but was stopped by Dumbledore. Barty Crouch was given the Dementor's Kiss in 1995.
Regulus Black was Sirius Black's younger brother and a Death Eater. When he realised who Voldemort truly was, he escaped from the Death Eaters and learned about Voldemort's horcruxes. He stole Salazar Slytherin's Locket in order to destroy it. They both have one thing in common, they found out about Voldemort's horcruxes though they never knew that they knew. They both also drank the drink of despair. Had Dumbledore survived, he might have learned what Regulus had done. Harry found out about RAB just after Dumbledore's death.
Other known Death eaters were Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Walden Macnair, Crabbe, Goyle, Avery Jr, Mulciber Jr, Jugson, Thorfinn Rowle, Travers, Yaxley, Evan Rosier, Gibbon, Nott, Alecto and Amycus Carrow, Selwyn, Wilkes, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange. Rodolphus and Rabastan were two of the four Death Eaters who tortured the aurors Alice and Frank Longbottom to insanity. Dumbledore also disliked Fenrir Greyback, a sadistic werewolf and a Snatcher. Greyback enjoyed torturing and killing young children.
Evan Rosier and Wilkes were killed by Aurors in the end of the First Wizarding War, and Gibbon was accidentally killed by Thorfinn Rowle in the Battle of the Astronomy Tower. It is possible that Avery Sr, Mulciber Sr, Rosier and Lestrange were deceased before the Second Wizarding War.
It is also possible that every Death Eater, Snatcher and creature that was under Voldemort's orders fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and was either killed or imprisoned in Azkaban (except the Malfoy family and the people who were under the Imperius Curse).
EtymologyEdit
Dumbledore's given names could be interpreted as representing the four primary divisions of the British Isles:- Albus may be the masculine form of "Alba", the Gaelic name for Scotland or an Italian word meaning "sunrise", possibly alluding to the rebirth symbols associated with him (see Phoenix). It is also a Latin word for white, and thus could be meant to invoke Good as traditionally associated with white, or merely to refer to his long white hair and beard.
- Percival is a legendary Arthurian knight from Wales involved in the Grail quest. In Le morte d'Arthur by Thomas Mallory, Percival is both hero of the quest for the Grail and narrator of the tale, as is the case for Dumbledore in parts of the story. It is a name which presumably comes from his father.
- Clodius Albinus was a Roman usurper proclaimed emperor by the legions in Britain and Hispania upon the murder of Pertinax in 193.
- Wulfric is an Anglo-Saxon name found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and could be representative of England. Wulfric translates literally as "wolf-power", and is reminiscent of another similar name, Beowulf, which means "powerful wolf-bear". The legendary hero Beowulf slew the monster Grendel as a youth, a name similar to Gellert Grindelwald, the dark wizard Dumbledore defeated in his own youth. Beowulf was fatally wounded by a dragon in a sea cave, and the only one who would help him was his squire, an orphaned son of some loyal followers.
- Brian is the name of the legendary Irish high-king and hero Brian Boru who defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf near Dublin. Dumbledore himself was a veteran of many wizarding battles against the forces of Darkness. However, this name was probably chosen because of its comic mundanity compared to his other four names.
- Dumbledore is an old 18th century English word for 'bumblebee'. It is still used in Newfoundland, Canada, to refer to a bumblebee. Rowling stated she imagined him flitting about the castle humming to himself.
- "Albus Dumbledore" could also be inspired from JK Rowling's old school headmaster, Alfred Dunn.
Behind the scenesEdit
- Dumbledore is portrayed by Irish actor Richard Harris in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Chamber of Secrets. When Harris died of Hodgkin's Disease in 2002, Michael Gambon was recast as Dumbledore and portrays him in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Part 2. Therefore, Dumbledore is one of the 14 characters to appear in all 8 film adaptations.
- A younger Dumbledore is portrayed by Harris in Chamber of Secrets and Gambon portrays a younger Dumbledore in Goblet of Fire and Half-Blood Prince. Toby Regbo portrayed an even younger Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.[23]
- Michael Gambon's portrayal of Dumbledore is noticeably different from both Richard Harris' and from the books'. In the books, Dumbledore is noted to have been very calm and collected in nearly all circumstances. He has also been known to have worn a pointy wizard's cap, long majestic robes, and have a lengthy untethered beard. However, Gambon's Dumbledore is somewhat different in that regard. Though still calm and collected most of the time, he tends to traverse further into the emotional spectrum of his character. This can be seen clearly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where he sometimes raises his voice at Harry Potter and the students respectively. This somewhat uncharacteristic behaviour is wholly absent, however, in his portrayals in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
- His physical portrayal is also slightly different, opting for a somewhat bohemian look, including a fez-like tasselled hat (as of fourth film) along with long and flowing robes that seem to have subtle Indian/Arabian influences. His beard is also tied with a thread-like chain, the ends of which feature miniature bells.Dumbledore doesn't wear his spectacles in the movie.What can also be noted is that Gambon's Dumbledore is far more energetic than Harris' Dumbledore which is more in line with the character from the books. Discounting the special case of Tom Riddle/Voldemort, Dumbledore is, to date, the only major core character in the series to be recast.
- In the films, Dumbledore has the distinction of being the first character to appear in the film series, as opposed to Vernon Dursley in the books.
- Both actors who have played the adult Dumbledore have been Irish. In an interview on the DVD of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Gambon mentions that his Irish accent is quite pronounced as Dumbledore, but no one asked him to change it. (The Irish tones of Harris' accent are less pronounced.)
- In 2007, J.K. Rowling revealed that Dumbledore is homosexual, and harboured romantic feelings for Gellert Grindelwald. No comment was made upon Grindelwald's sexuality or whether Grindelwald returned his feelings, so the status of the relationship is unknown. Rowling also commented that "this added to Dumbledore's horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was." This love was caused by Dumbledore meeting someone "as brilliant as he was." Only the subtlest of hints can be found in Deathly Hallows relating to this. Reportedly the earliest indication of Dumbledore's orientation came when Rowling vetoed a line of dialogue in one of the recent movie scripts that would have referenced a romantic involvement with a woman.[14] Rowling explains this further by elaborating on the motivations behind Dumbledore's flirtation with the idea of wizard domination of Muggles: "He lost his moral compass completely when he fell in love and I think subsequently became very mistrustful of his own judgement in those matters so became quite asexual. He led a celibate and a bookish life."[15]
- The published version of The Tales of Beedle the Bard reveals that Lucius Malfoy tried to assure Dumbledore would be removed from the post of Headmaster of Hogwarts after he had ensured the inclusion of pro-Muggle tales in the book. Dumbledore, in turn, commented that he worked hard to make Malfoy "Voldemort's least favourite Death Eater".
- In J. K. Rowling's web site Wizard of the Month archive, Albus Dumbledore was the Wizard of the Month before Harry Potter, which was the last. In that page, Dumbledore's death is incorrectly written as if it happened in 1996, when it actually happened in 1997.[24]
- Ciaran Hinds, who played Albus's brother Aberforth, claimed that Dumbledore was 123 years old when he died. [25]. This would make his year of birth 1874. Actually, he was born later.
- In one interview J.K Rowling said that Dumbledore was 150, however it was later confirmed that he was younger than that. This is possibly referenced in the Half-Blood Prince film, when the trio humorously speculates 150 as his age, before cracking up.
- At the end of the first part of the Deathly Hallows film, it is shown that Dumbledore is buried on the island in the Black Lake that Harry and Lupin take a stroll through in the Prisoner of Azkaban film.
- Albus Dumbledore has a scar above his left knee which is a perfet map of the London Underground.
- Dumbledore is similar in appearance and role to Gandalf from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. His resemblance to Gandalf is perhaps strongest in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and he also resembles Gandalf the White in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. The fire attack he uses to fight the Inferi could also be compared to Gandalf's "Flame of Anor". Many used Gandalf's supposed death (as he survived) to support their theories that Dumbledore survived, but J.K. Rowling said to not expect him to "pull a Gandalf".
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