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Albus Dumbledore - Genius, Best Wizard in the World, 'But he is a bit mad, yes.'

DumbleDebbie View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 12:11 PM Post #1
Dodgy Cauldrons Dealer Posts: 1,683 Joined: 7:58pm April 7, 2006 Location: Maine	Here's a thread for us to discuss our favorite Hogwarts' Headmaster! Albus Dumbledore QUOTE 'Nothing like this man had ever been seen in Privet Drive. He was tall, thin and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak which swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore.' ~ Bloomsbury, paperback p. 12 This is our introduction to Dumbledore. To me he's the sage old grandfather. In fact, in a lot of ways he reminds me of my grandfather. He was also tall and long limbed, and he had that twinkle in his eye when telling a story (or pulling a joke on one of his grandkids ). There are SO many questions surrounding this central character. Here are a few to get things rolling: How did Dumbledore know that the Potters had been killed but that Harry was still alive? How did Dumbledore get the scar above his left knee that was 'a perfect map of the London Underground'? How was it useful to him? Did DD get this scar in an early battle with Grindelwald and did it somehow help him defeat Grindelwald? How was Dumbledore's nose broken and why was it not mended? What exactly did Dumbledore write in that letter to Petunia? What exactly did Dumbledore do to seal the protection given to Harry by Lily's blood sacrifice? What is it about Dumbledore's family that may prove important? Did Dumbledore have a family of his own prior to teaching at Hogwarts? Dumbledore has some of the most fantastic lines in the series! My favorite from Chapter 1 of PS/SS: QUOTE 'I have never seen any reason to be frightened of saying Voldemort's name.' I love that Dumbledore understands that a large part of his battle against the forces of darkness is to resist giving in to that controlling fear that Voldemort exerts on the bulk of the wizarding population. Post away! Debbie -------------------- 'It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.' ~ APWB Dumbledore "Caput Draconis" :D Congrats Knight62442 Werewolves! Awooooo!!!

Velse View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 12:56 PM Post #2
Eeylops Owl Cage Cleaner Posts: 235 Joined: 12:36pm October 25, 2006 Location: New Jersey	What seems most remarkable about Dumbledore is his wisdom, more even than his power. He understands young and old alike, forgives when he feels it's justified, and yet also can be strong in resisting injustice and evil. In fact we don't see Dumbledore use his power much, and I suspect that is a choice he makes. He is not in love with power, but with Love. -------------------- How will you learn if you don't read Scribbulus? Emily and Nina

davidenglish View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 01:31 PM Post #3
Official Singer of the Sorting Hat Song Posts: 6,421 Joined: 3:12pm July 22, 2005 Location: Lost in Hermione's beaded bag	The thing that strikes me is that Dumbledore likes to overturn conventional wisdom. He likes to question assumptions held by students or readers by simply shocking, being silly, or speaking frankly. I have listened to many a headmaster's speech in my time and I'm afraid they are more likely to sound like Umbridge's speech in OotP. Dumbledore doesn't try to maintain authority through bafflegab. He expects one to know he is wise or to openly question his wisdom if they don't. Bafflegab. Official pronouncements. Conventional wisdom. These are all the mind-numbing killers of curiosity and learning. How often does authority claim to be wiser because they are authority and not because they really are wiser. Dumbledore separates the two: He is headmaster and demands respect for this authority, but he doesn't confuse power with wisdom. He is quite willing to concede that a First Year may be wiser than he is in some matters. And that's what makes Dumbledore a great teacher. He lets in be known that he is on the same quest for knowledge as all his students. And that what we feel is as important as what we think. Anger, laughter, tears are just as important as knowing 2 + 2 = 4. -------------------- Come the words that bubble Up through broken laughter, Sweeter than spring-water, "Gods, I am so happy!"

PigWithHair View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 02:40 PM Post #4
Knight Bus Driver in Training Posts: 593 Joined: 3:16pm September 21, 2005 Location: None too far from the Magic Kingdom	Two more things to add to the vast list of Dumbledore questions: * Did he really see himself holding socks in the Mirror of Erised? And if so, is there any more meaning to that than appears to be? Is there any connection between Dumbledore longing for socks and socks being the thing that gives freedom to Dobby? * Any significance to Dumbledore's watch in PS that features the planets? Any connection to the watch Ron receives for his seventeenth birthday? *Edited to remove off topic question Fawkes28 - LL Mod This post has been edited by fawkes28**: Jan 1 2007, 03:50 PM -------------------- My Ron & Hermione fan fic and music vids can be found here.

JaneMarple9 View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 03:01 PM Post #5
Teaching Professor Longbottom the language of Typonese Posts: 9,346 Joined: 8:51am January 28, 2006 Location: Planting the Holy Grain with Professor Longbottom	Dumbledore is a very intriguing character. He seems old, but also know how the young students at Hogwarts feel. I think he is rather sorry, to be leaving Harry at Privet Drive, but knows it is the best place for him, until he is ready to attend Hogwarts. About what Dumbledore saw in the Mirror of Erised. He told Harry that he saw socks, but I am not so sure. I think he saw something in the mirror, connected with Voldemort. -------------------- (Avatar from Hagiographer13, Siggy from Dreamteam) Everybody needs a hug!!

antonin View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 03:07 PM Post #6
Professional Diagon Alley Window Shopper Posts: 66 Joined: 1:43pm September 2, 2006	dumbledore and voldemort are both exceptionally powerful wizards, but i think the defining difference is dumbledore's understanding of people, to know how they feel at all times, and nothing ever seems to be something he does not know is going on, if that makes any sense ;)

Bewareifyourinti... BewareifyourintialsareSS View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 03:09 PM Post #7
Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 19 Joined: 11:34am July 16, 2005 Location: The Room of Requirement...with Ron	I loved the character of Dumbledore from the start...I always pictured him as the Merlin type of character... I love how wise and kind and humble he is. -------------------- Severus Snape and Salazar Slytherin...I shall never trust another with the initials S.S.

luna_lupin7 View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 03:15 PM Post #8
Kibble Boy/Girl at the Magical Menagerie Posts: 301 Joined: 2:28pm October 25, 2006 Location: On my way to McGonagall's office to enjoy a nice biscuit.	What Dumbledore sees in the Mirror of Erised has always intrigued me. For the first, about four books, I thought there was no WAY that he actually saw socks. But as I got further into and further examined the series, the more I thought he actually might see socks. He may be exceptionally smart and wise, but at the same time he's a very simple man. I could see him wanting socks, just socks. The thing that has always bothered me though, is that I do not think Dumbledore would lie to Harry. So I'm left with just more questions... -------------------- "No, I think I'll just go down and have some pudding and wait for it all to turn up.... It always does in the end." -Luna Lovegood

fawkes28 View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 03:36 PM Post #9
Organizing the Halo Rebellion Posts: 3,214 Joined: 2:09pm April 16, 2006 Location: Being angelic, of course	QUOTE(PigWithHair @ Jan 1 2007, 02:40 PM) [snapback]1048838[/snapback] * Did he really see himself holding socks in the Mirror of Erised? And if so, is there any more meaning to that than appears to be? I do not think Dumbledore was telling the truth. This is really his first encounter with Harry and we already know how much he held back from him. I think that socks may have been up there with his desires but not what he saw in the mirror. I think he may have seen Harry being happy and safe in the mirror. Dumbledore really looks out for Harry and we know he has a desire to protect Harry. I would like to think that this is what he saw in the mirror, which is very understandable as to why he could not tell Harry. -------------------- The Quest Books We will NOT be swayed by a halo draggin', eye batting Phoenix!!! ~DMD

Snitch2006 View Member Profile	Jan 1 2007, 04:37 PM Post #10
Cauldron Bottom Measurer Posts: 125 Joined: 6:19pm February 2, 2006 Location: Dumbledore's Office	Thanks, DumbleDebbie, for starting this great thread! My love for Dumbledore is no secret. I wrote a tribute to him in the third issue of Scribbulus. (Link below.) http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/#scribbulus:essay:189 It addresses a few of the questions posed above. Dumbledore is gone, but he isn't forgotten! --------------------