WARNING, SPOILERS:
Full name Albus Percival Wolfric Brian Dumbledore. Born around 1840-46, died 1997. Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, in the novels by Jo Rowling. Named for the
Latin for white, and an Anglo-
Saxon term meaning "bumblebee", as Rowling imagined the old man humming about the school. Headed the Order of the
Phoenix in both its incarnations. Campaigned for the
truth about the evil Voldemort to be known, but was unimpressed by his power and pretensions; addressed Voldemort simply as "
Tom" (Marvolo Riddle) whenever they met. Killed for reasons Harry Potter does not at first comprehend, but as for the question of whether we see him again, hey, this is Hogwarts, remember? Recently outed by author Rowling as gay (!!! go Jo !!!); his greatest mistake was to fall
in love with Gellert Grindelwald. Wise old man who has come by his wisdom in that hallowed academy, the School of Hard Knocks. Warm, friendly, fierce when necessary, had style, truly unforgettable. Played in the movies by the late great Richard
Harris (years 1&2), and subsequently by Michael Gambon. At once among the finest wizards and finest gay characters to
grace the pages of fiction.
Albus Dumbledore. The only
wizard Voldemort ever feared.
"Exactly", said Dumbledore, beaming once more. "Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices,
Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, page 245, Bloomsbury ed.
"You mean he was weak!", screamed Voldemort. "Too weak to dare, too weak to take what might have been his, what will be mine!"
"No, he was cleverer than you", said
Harry, "a better wizard, a better man."
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
p. 592
