Where Did Dumbledore Grow Up

What Happens To Grindelwald And Dumbledore

As noted last time around, we do already sort of know where this is all heading: in 1945, Dumbledore and Grindelwald reunite, with the two powerful wizards facing off in what Rowling describes in the Harry Potter books as the greatest wizarding duel of all time. But Crimes adds a few new wrinkles to that eventual fight.

Specifically, theres more context about why it takes Dumbledore so long to rouse himself to fight his former friend / lover . Apparently, the two wizards once swore a blood pact against battling against each other, taking the form of a pendant that contains droplets of both their blood. Until that pact is broken Dumbledore suggests at the end of Crimes that its possible, since he ends up with the pendant in hand the wizarding worlds most powerful ally has his hands tied when it comes to confronting the threat.

Crimes adds a few new wrinkles to that eventual fight

We also get more information as to how Grindelwald is getting the Wizarding World on board with his agenda visions of the horrors of the future World War II, something that rings as tone-deaf, given that Grindelwalds movement is expressly designed as an emulation of the Nazi regime.

Is Credence Really Who Grindelwald Claims He Is

Crimes biggest twist is saved for its final moments, when Grindelwald reveals Credences supposed true identity. He apparently isnt a random orphan: hes Aurelius Dumbledore, the lost scion of the Dumbledore family and alleged brother to Albus and his siblings, Aberforth and Ariana. That reveal has staggering implications for the Potter world, given that it seems almost impossible that Dumbledore had a secret, lost younger brother, considering the timing.

To briefly recap the history of the Dumbledore family, as detailed in various interludes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: previously established history reveals that Dumbledores father, Percival Dumbledore, was sent to Azkaban sometime around 1890, after attacking three Muggles who traumatized and attacked his six-year-old daughter Ariana. Percival is then said to have lived out the rest of his life in prison, although its unclear how long that was.

That reveal has staggeringimplications for the Potter world if its true

Dumbledores mother, Kendra Dumbledore, took care of Ariana on her own as best she could, even though Ariana was unable to control her magic after her assault. When Ariana was 14, a magical accident or Obscurus outburst caused an explosion that killed Kendra, leaving Albus stuck at home as her caretaker at roughly age 17. That was when Albus met Grindelwald.

Magical Abilities And Skills

Dumbledore casting a very powerful firestorm

“Albus Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world.”

Harry Potter regarding Dumbledore’s magical skill

Dumbledore was an outstandingly talented wizard, even while still only a student of Hogwarts, excelling in many fields of magic to the point of being recognised by his friend Elphias Doge as the most brilliant student to ever attend the school, possibly rivalled only by the prodigiously brilliant Tom Riddle, and attaining many awards and prizes that required incredible magical capability to obtain. As an adult, Dumbledore had become an extraordinarily powerful and accomplished wizard of nearly unrivalled abilities and powers, to the point that he was admired and feared by even others of outstanding magical talent, considered to be the greatest wizard of all time by many. Indeed, Dumbledore was the only wizard capable of defeating Gellert Grindelwald and later forcing Lord Voldemort himself on the defensive.

“Examined him personally in Transfiguration and Charms when he did N.E.W.T.s … Did things with a wand Id never seen before …”

Griselda Marchbanks regarding Dumbledore’s exceptional magical skills in his youth

Dumbledore pushing back Lord Voldemort in a clash of magical power

Dumbledore non-verbally and wandlessly changing the colours of the house banners in the Great Hall

Dumbledore conjuring a firestorm to ward off the Inferi and protect Harry Potter

Albus’ Patronus in the shape of the Phoenix

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He Let Others Sacrifice Themselves Instead Of Taking Out Grindelwald Himself

We recently saw Dumbledore push Newt Scamander to unwittingly fight against Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts series, an occurrence that one might think would change his methods years later when dealing with an even younger, more naive Chosen One. Dumbledore could have prevented so much terror and loss had he acted against Grindelwald earlier.

It Doesn’t Make Sense That Dumbledore Would Have Such A Young Brother

The big reveal in “Crimes of Grindelwald” is that Credence Barebone, the powerful and unstable Obscurial, is apparently a Dumbledore: Grindelwald tells the young wizard, who was adopted by a No-Maj as a baby, that his real name is Aurelius Dumbledore and that his brother is Albus Dumbledore.

You can read our full analysis of the reveal here, but essentially, the timelines don’t match up.

Dumbledore’s father, Percival, was sentenced to life in Azkaban when the three Dumbledore children were still very young. Dumbledore’s mother, Kendra, died unexpectedly years later in 1899.

Credence is 18 years old in the first “Fantastic Beasts” film, which makes his birth year either 1907 or 1908.

It’s also notable that Dumbledore’s family strife is a source of great pain and guilt for him throughout his life. If he had had another brother a brother who was abused and manipulated throughout his life and never went looking for him , then that feels very out of character.

You can read our review of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” and follow along with our coverage here.

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Harry Potter And The Half

In the sixth book, Dumbledore fetches Harry from Privet Drive and takes him to persuade Horace Slughorn to rejoin the Hogwarts staff. Harry notices that Dumbledore’s right hand is shrivelled and black. During the school year, Dumbledore teaches Harry of events in Voldemort’s past that he feels are of immense importance. Using the Pensieve, they visit the memories of others, which contain important information about Voldemort’s life and his genocidal rise to power. While using the pensieve, Harry sees a vision of Dumbledore’s first encounter with the young Tom Riddle Dumbledore had known from the beginning that the boy was dangerous, but believed that Hogwarts would change him.

It is learned that Voldemort created six Horcruxes to gain immortality and that they must all be destroyed before Harry goes after the final piece of Voldemort’s soul in the Dark Lord’s body. Harry also repeatedly warns Dumbledore in most of their lessons that school bully Draco Malfoy is working for Voldemort. Dumbledore refuses to take any action against Draco, and instead tells Harry that he already knows more about what is happening than Harry does.

Here Are Some Ways This Zany Plot Twist Might Work Though Again Its A Huge Stretch

Its always possible that Aurelius is Albuss half-brother, and that Albuss mother had an affair with someone we dont know about. But here, again, we run into the age issue. If Albuss mother, Kendra Dumbledore, had a baby out of wedlock after her husbands death, the youngest that kid could be in 1927 is 28.

Thats because its well-known that Albuss mother, Kendra Dumbledore, died in 1899 in a tragic accident caused by her daughter Ariana, whose own magic had been difficult to control since the Muggle attack that left her debilitated and indirectly sent her father to prison. Ariana herself, we should note, later also died tragically in a standoff between Albus, their brother, and Grindelwald.

There are some other ways this twist could be finagled: For instance, Credence could actually be 10 years older than he thinks he is by virtue of a lot of handwavey magic. But thats a lot of trouble to go to in order to explain the timeline discrepancy.

Another possibility is that Kendra Dumbledore didnt actually die in the 1899 accident, that she could have somehow faked her own death, and gone on to have another kid. But that assumes shed be willing to leave her children parentless for some as-yet-unknown reason, and also opens up the question of why shed do that, and what eventually happened to her and how, again, Dumbledore and a horde of gossip columnists never uncovered this information before.

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Duel Between Albus Dumbledore And Gellert Grindelwald

How Did Ariana Dumbledore Die

When Ariana was young, she was beat up by Muggles who saw her using magic. She then became unable to properly harness her powers and was unpredictable at no fault of her own. Because of this, she was always at home and defenseless. Albus and Grindelwald were home researching dark magic and the Deathly Hallows, wanting to make wizards be able to be publicly in charge of the world. Aberforth was very angry when he found out and a duel ensued. Ariana was there and witnessed it all. How did she die?

After his trip with Elphias Doge was cancelled, his sister died, and his friend, Gellert Grindelwald, fled, the grief-stricken Albus returned to a Hogwarts. His career at Hogwarts was more diverse than just being a teacher. He also worked to recruit new students, one being the young Tom Riddle. Since Dumbledore was the only one who did not fall for Riddle’s charm, the boy came to fear Dumbledore. In fact, Dumbledore was the only one that Voldemort ever feared. What subject did Dumbledore teach?

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Why Did Dumbledore Turn Down Tom Riddle’s Request To Teach Defence Against The Dark Arts

Tom Riddle had approached Armando Dippet, the previous headmaster, about becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor but was turned away. He returned to Hogwarts with the same request soon after Albus Dumbledore became headmaster but was turned away again. Out of anger, he cursed the position so that no teacher would last longer than one year. Throughout the Harry Potter series, we watched a new teacher come and go every year as a result of this curse. Why did Dumbledore say no to him?

He Led The First Resistance Against Voldemort

Dumbledore has always seemed to prefer acting through agents than taking an active role, but he took a direct approach when it came to Voldemort. He never hunted down the dark wizard, but Dumbledore did form a resistance to help fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

This organization was called The Order of the Phoenix, and it consisted of several characters and prominent wizards throughout the course of the series. They disbanded after Voldemort’s first defeat, but reformed after he returned in order to protect Harry and ensure that a prophecy about Voldemort’s death would come to pass.

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He Was In Love With Grindelwald

Dumbledore raised his siblings in Godric’s Hollow , where he would eventually meet a young, brilliant wizard named Gellert Grindelwald. Dumbledore and Grindelwald shared much in common and the two of them eventually became close friends, bonding over their intellect and shared enthusiasm of the Deathly Hallows.

Friendship turned to romance, and while Dumbledore loved Grindelwald, it was only recently that Rowling confirmed the two of them shared an intense sexual relationship. However, Grindelwald was not a good influence, and he began to turn Dumbledore to an anti-Muggle point of view. In fact, Dumbledore began to agree with Grindelwald’s idea of wizard domination and helped him plan the early stages of his “revolution.” Dumbledore ignored Grindelwald’s obvious darkness and he would soon pay for it dearly.

Who Is Aurelius Dumbledore

In the last minutes of the movie, Grindelwalds followers decamp to Nurmengard, the prison that Grindelwald builds for dissenters and eventually becomes his own jailhouse. There, Grindelwald reveals that Credence is in fact Aurelius Dumbledore, Albus Dumbledores brother.

We dont yet know why a secret Dumbledore brother has never been mentioned before in the Harry Potter universe or how the Dumbledore baby ended up on the boat to America.Rita Skeeter would be disappointed to learn she hadnt dug up all the dirt on the Dumbledores.

Grindelwald offers one impressive piece of evidence: He tells Credence that a phoenix is said to appear to Dumbledores in times of need, and a phoenix does, indeed, appear to Credence. Could this possibly by a young Fawkes?

If Credence is, indeed, a Dumbledore, that means that Albus Dumbledore had two Obscurial siblings. Grindelwald feels that Credences power and perhaps Dumbledores guilt over Arianas fate will be his most powerful weapon against the great wizard.

Write to Eliana Dockterman at .

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Its Complicated: Albus Dumbledore

By Sara FreemanNov. 15, 2016

We’re celebrating Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them with a week of Harry Potter content. Get your tickets here!

Dumbledore is the epitome of goodness. — J.K. Rowling

It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. Professor Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets

There are few characters as confounding in the Harry Potter universe as Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. The beloved headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a rather complicated fellow with a complicated history. Some of the choices and decisions he made in the fight against evil were questionable, to say the least, especially in regard to the key people in his life. Why did he make Harry live with the Dursleys when he knew they were mistreating him? Why did he toy with Snapes emotions the way he did? Manipulate both of them so thoroughly? Was it all just for the greater good? These questions, amongst many others, have puzzled Harry Potter fans for close to two decades. I dont know if well ever receive satisfactory answers and, frankly, I dont know if we really need to since everything turned out more or less how Dumbledore intended in the end. However, maybe we can better understand Dumbledores great and powerful Oz-like intentions by examining some of the most important relationships in his life.

Flirting with the Dark Side: Professor Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald

James And Lily Potter

“James had shown it to me just a few days previously. It explained much of his undetected wrongdoing at school”

Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter

James and Lily Potter, his friends and former students

Dumbledore first met James Potter and Lily Evans during their first year at Hogwarts, where he was the Headmaster. Dumbledore had a good relationship with both of them, knowing them both to be pure souls. James had lent Dumbledore his Invisibility Cloak one of the three Deathly Hallows. After James’s death Dumbledore returned the cloak to James’s son, Harry.

When the Potters became Voldemort’s targets due to a prophecy made about their son and the Dark Lord, Dumbledore attempted to protect them by casting the Fidelius Charm and 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, without giving him any happiness in his childhood. 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.

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Abuse Over Celebrity For Harry Potter: Did Dumbledore Choose Correctly

be famous a legend I wouldnt be surprised if today was known as Harry Potter Day in future there will be books written about Harry every child in our world will know his name! Exactly, said Dumbledore, looking very seriously over the top of his half-moon glasses. It would be enough to turn any boys head. Famous before he can walk and talk! Famous for something he wont even remember! Cant you see how much better off hell be, growing up away from all that until hes ready to take it?Philosopher’s Stone – pages 15 – 16 – chapter one, The Boy Who Lived

Did Dumbledore choose correctly?

Knowing what we do about Harry and his canon character attributes , was Harry really better off enduring eleven years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the Dursleys than eleven years of celebrity and fame in the wizarding world? I’m sure we’ve all read about child celebrities who have done well handling fame, and some who have not fared so gracefully.

Would Harry have endured celebrity as stoically as he did the Dursleys’ abuse? Did Dumbledore make the right choice in leaving Harry with the Dursleys instead of letting him grow up in the wizarding world?

Was Harry really better off?

ETA: I’m looking for an answer grounded in Harry Potter canon and written in the spirit of canon. Please do not pair Harry with Elle Fanning or opine that he’s secretly an American ) Thanks!