Dumbledore was a SLYTHERIN (NOT a Gryffindor) - Harry Potter Theory

Harry Potter Theory Podcast
22 Aug 202416:11

Summary

TLDRThis Harry Potter Theory video explores the possibility that Albus Dumbledore, known as a Gryffindor, might have been better suited for Slytherin House due to his ambitious and cunning nature. The video discusses Dumbledore's early life, his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, and his later decisions to avoid positions of power. It suggests that despite his Slytherin-like traits, Dumbledore's core values and individuality transcended house stereotypes, and his mentorship would have remained impactful regardless of his house affiliation.

Takeaways

  • 🏰 Dumbledore's Sorting: The script discusses the possibility that Albus Dumbledore might have been more suited to Slytherin House than Gryffindor, based on his traits and actions throughout the series.
  • 🧙‍♂️ Dumbledore's Ambition: It highlights Dumbledore's ambition and arrogance in his youth, traits often associated with Slytherin, and his desire to travel and be recognized as a brilliant wizard.
  • 🌐 Dumbledore's Early Beliefs: The script mentions Dumbledore's early prejudiced beliefs and his fascination with the Deathly Hallows, which he shared with Gellert Grindelwald, indicating a darker side to his character.
  • 🔮 Change in Perspective: As the Harry Potter series progressed, the initial dichotomy between Gryffindor 'good guys' and Slytherin 'bad guys' was challenged, showing more complexity in characters like Snape and Dumbledore.
  • 💡 Dumbledore's Resourcefulness: The script points out Dumbledore's resourcefulness, his ability to plan and manipulate situations to achieve his goals, which are traits often linked to Slytherin.
  • 🧙‍♂️ Dumbledore's Cunning: It emphasizes Dumbledore's cunning nature, showcasing how he used his intelligence to manipulate people around him to serve a greater purpose.
  • 🚫 Dumbledore's Rejection of Power: The script describes how Dumbledore consciously avoided positions of power, fearing his own ambitions, which contrasts with typical Slytherin traits but also shows self-awareness and growth.
  • 🔑 Dumbledore's Core Values: Despite his Slytherin-like traits, Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were always present and drove his actions.
  • 🤔 Individuality vs. Stereotypes: The script argues that house affiliations do not define an individual's character, suggesting that Dumbledore's individuality would have remained intact regardless of his house.
  • 👑 Dumbledore's Mentorship: It suggests that Dumbledore's mentorship and guidance to Harry and others would not have been significantly different had he been in Slytherin, as his impact extended beyond house boundaries.
  • 🌈 Dumbledore's Philosophy: The script concludes with Dumbledore's belief in the complexity of good and evil within everyone, and the importance of the choices individuals make, reflecting his nuanced view of morality.

Q & A

  • Why might Albus Dumbledore have been more well-suited to Slytherin House according to the video?

    -The video suggests that Dumbledore's traits of ambition, resourcefulness, and cunningness align more with Slytherin House, especially during his youth, and that he had a desire for power and was influenced by prejudiced ideologies, which are also associated with Slytherin.

  • What is the significance of the four houses in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

    -The four houses represent the characteristics and traits most valued by each of the founding members of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They are named after the founders' surnames and serve to divide the student population.

  • How did the early Harry Potter series portray Gryffindor and Slytherin houses?

    -In the early series, Gryffindor was portrayed as the house of 'good guys,' including protagonists like Harry and Dumbledore, while Slytherin was depicted as the house of 'bad guys,' including antagonists like Draco Malfoy and Lord Voldemort.

  • What revelation from wizardingworld.com challenges the traditional view of Slytherin House?

    -The revelation that the powerful and benevolent wizard Merlin was a Slytherin student suggests that not all Slytherins are prejudiced and that the house has produced individuals who have greatly benefited all of wizardkind.

  • What aspects of Dumbledore's character were revealed to be Slytherin-like?

    -Dumbledore's ambition, arrogance, and early desire for power and control, as well as his openness to prejudice, were revealed to be traits more commonly associated with Slytherin House.

  • How did Dumbledore's ambition manifest in his early life?

    -Dumbledore's ambition was evident in his plans to travel the world and his belief in his own brilliance as a young wizard. He also resented his responsibility for his sister, Ariana, feeling that his talents were being wasted.

  • What is the significance of Dumbledore's relationship with Gellert Grindelwald?

    -Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald highlighted his early desire for greatness and power, as they bonded over the idea of uniting the Deathly Hallows and subjugating Muggle kind, showing a darker side to Dumbledore's character.

  • Why did Dumbledore turn down the position of Minister for Magic?

    -Dumbledore turned down the position multiple times because he did not trust himself with that much power, recognizing his past weaknesses and temptations towards power.

  • How did Dumbledore's resourcefulness manifest in his actions throughout the series?

    -Dumbledore's resourcefulness was shown through his meticulous planning and use of the people and resources around him to achieve his goals, such as arranging his own death to save Draco Malfoy and manipulate events to his advantage.

  • What is an example of Dumbledore's cunningness as portrayed in the video?

    -Dumbledore's cunningness is exemplified by his manipulations of those around him, including training Harry to be a 'pig for slaughter' and manipulating Newt Scamander into an unlikely hero role during Grindelwald's uprising.

  • What does the video suggest about Dumbledore's character regardless of his house affiliation?

    -The video suggests that Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were independent of his house affiliation, and that his individuality and personal agency would have driven him to make similar choices regardless of being in Gryffindor or Slytherin.

  • How does the video address the potential impact of Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin?

    -The video proposes that while Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin would add an interesting layer to his character, it may not have significantly changed his actions or the outcomes in the Wizarding World, as his character was defined by more than just his house affiliation.

  • What is the 'butterfly effect' mentioned in the video, and how does it relate to Dumbledore's house affiliation?

    -The 'butterfly effect' is a concept from chaos theory that illustrates how small changes can lead to significant outcomes. The video uses it to speculate on the potential changes in the Wizarding World if Dumbledore had been sorted into Slytherin, but ultimately concludes that the impact might not be as drastic as one might expect.

  • What does the video suggest about the relationship between house stereotypes and individual character?

    -The video suggests that while house affiliations carry certain stereotypes, they do not define an individual's entire character. Dumbledore's complexity and individuality would have remained intact even if he were sorted into Slytherin.

  • How does the video discuss the influence of Dumbledore's mentorship on Harry?

    -The video posits that Dumbledore's mentorship would have extended beyond his own house and that his guidance empowered Harry regardless of his house affiliation. The impact of his mentorship was not tied to being in Gryffindor or Slytherin.

Outlines

00:00

🐍 Dumbledore's Slytherin Suitability

This paragraph explores the possibility that Albus Dumbledore, known as a Gryffindor, might have been better suited to Slytherin House due to his ambitious and cunning nature. It discusses the initial dichotomy presented in the Harry Potter series between Gryffindors as 'good' and Slytherins as 'bad,' and how this perception evolved over time. The paragraph also delves into Dumbledore's early life, his ambition, and his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, hinting at a darker past that aligns with Slytherin traits.

05:01

🧙‍♂️ Dumbledore's Ambition and Resourcefulness

The second paragraph examines Dumbledore's ambition and resourcefulness, traits typically associated with Slytherin House. It highlights Dumbledore's early desire for power and how he later sought to distance himself from positions of authority to avoid the temptation of power. The narrative also showcases his meticulous planning and ability to manipulate events and people to achieve his goals, all of which are indicative of a cunning and strategic mind.

10:03

🦉 The Impact of Dumbledore's House on Wizarding World Lore

This paragraph contemplates the butterfly effect and its application to the Wizarding World, speculating on how Dumbledore's sorting into Slytherin could have led to significant changes in the lore. However, it argues that despite the potential for change, Dumbledore's core personality traits and values would have remained consistent, suggesting that his house affiliation may not have greatly influenced his actions or the overall narrative.

15:06

🌟 The Enduring Influence of Dumbledore's Mentorship

The final paragraph discusses the enduring impact of Dumbledore's mentorship on Harry Potter and the broader Wizarding World, suggesting that his house affiliation did not define his influence or the guidance he provided. It emphasizes the importance of Dumbledore's core values, such as love and compassion, and how these transcended house stereotypes. The paragraph concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on how a Slytherin Dumbledore might have impacted the Wizarding World and encourages engagement with the content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Dumbledore

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is the famed Headmaster of Hogwarts and a central figure in the Harry Potter series. The video explores the idea that Dumbledore, despite being a Gryffindor, exhibited many traits associated with Slytherin, such as ambition and cunning. The discussion revolves around whether he might have been more suited to Slytherin House.

💡Gryffindor

Gryffindor is one of the four houses at Hogwarts, known for valuing bravery, courage, and chivalry. Dumbledore was sorted into this house, and much of the Harry Potter series emphasizes the dichotomy between Gryffindor and Slytherin, with Gryffindor often associated with 'good' characters.

💡Slytherin

Slytherin is another Hogwarts house, often associated with ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness. The video suggests that Dumbledore's characteristics, especially in his youth, align closely with Slytherin traits, raising the question of whether he might have been better suited to this house.

💡Ambition

Ambition is a key trait of Slytherin House, characterized by a strong desire to achieve something. The video highlights Dumbledore's youthful ambition, particularly his early plans for greatness and his association with Grindelwald, which shows a side of him that aligns with Slytherin values.

💡Cunning

Cunning refers to the ability to achieve one's goals through clever and often deceptive means. The video discusses Dumbledore's use of cunning in his plans and manipulations throughout the series, particularly in his mentorship of Harry Potter, which reflects Slytherin qualities.

💡Sorting Hat

The Sorting Hat is a magical object at Hogwarts that sorts new students into one of the four houses. The video raises the possibility that Dumbledore, like Harry, may have influenced the Sorting Hat to place him in Gryffindor rather than Slytherin, a decision that could have shaped his role in the wizarding world.

💡The Greater Good

The Greater Good is a concept associated with Dumbledore's early ideology, particularly during his time with Grindelwald. It reflects the dangerous ambition to achieve power for a supposedly noble cause, a theme that aligns with Slytherin's more morally ambiguous traits. The video discusses how Dumbledore later rejected this ideology.

💡Manipulation

Manipulation is the act of controlling or influencing someone in a skillful but often unfair or deceitful way. The video explores how Dumbledore used manipulation in his plans, especially with Harry and others, showcasing a more morally complex side of his character that could be seen as Slytherin-like.

💡Machiavellian

Machiavellianism refers to a cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous approach, especially in politics or in advancing one's career. The video describes Dumbledore's actions as Machiavellian, particularly in how he orchestrated events and influenced others for the greater good, demonstrating traits typically associated with Slytherin.

💡Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect is a concept from chaos theory suggesting that small changes can lead to significant and unpredictable outcomes. The video uses this concept to discuss how sorting Dumbledore into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor could have drastically altered the course of events in the wizarding world, though it ultimately argues that Dumbledore's core values would have remained consistent.

Highlights

Albus Dumbledore may have been more suited to Slytherin House.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's four founding members and their houses represent different characteristics.

Early Harry Potter series emphasized Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, with protagonists as Gryffindors and antagonists as Slytherins.

Dumbledore's ambition and arrogance in his youth align with Slytherin traits.

Dumbledore's initial plan to travel the world and his resentment towards his family responsibilities reflect his ambition.

Dumbledore's relationship with Gellert Grindelwald and their shared desire for power and control.

Dumbledore's openness to prejudice in his youth is another trait associated with Slytherin.

Dumbledore's later life choices show a conscious effort to avoid positions of great power.

Dumbledore's resourcefulness is evident in his long-term plans, such as mentoring Harry.

Dumbledore's cunning is showcased through his manipulations of others for strategic purposes.

Dumbledore's sorting into Gryffindor may have been a plot decision rather than a reflection of his true nature.

The butterfly effect illustrates how Dumbledore being in Slytherin could theoretically change the Wizarding World significantly.

Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were independent of his house affiliation.

Dumbledore's mentorship and guidance extended beyond his own house, impacting students from all houses.

Dumbledore's character complexity and individuality would remain regardless of his house affiliation.

Dumbledore's quotes emphasize that a person's worth is not determined by their house or background.

The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their thoughts on how a Slytherin Dumbledore might have impacted the Wizarding World.

Transcripts

play00:02

Hey everyone,

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Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter  Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing the many  

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reasons why Albus Percival Wulfric Brian  Dumbledore, famed Headmaster of Hogwarts  

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and former Gryffindor student, may have  been more well-suited to Slytherin House.

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As fans, soon after Harry Potter received  his letter of acceptance and we were first  

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introduced to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft  and Wizardry, we also learned about the magical  

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institution’s four founding members and how  they decided that the student population would  

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always be divided into four houses, which would  represent the characteristics and traits most  

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valued by each of those founding members. As the  majority of you watching this will already know,  

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the four founding members of Hogwarts School  were Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff,  

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Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, with  the corresponding houses being named after each  

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of their surnames. And while later instalments of  the series eventually focused on students from the  

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houses of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, the beginning  of Harry Potter certainly had a lot more emphasis  

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on Gryffindor and Slytherin. What’s more, there  was a very obvious dichotomy presented between the  

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two, with all of the protagonist characters—aka  the “good guys”—being Gryffindors, and all of the  

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antagonists—or “bad guys”—being Slytherins. From  Harry to the compassionate and friendly Weasley  

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family who helped him find Platform 9 and ¾, and  the world-famous Headmaster Albus Dumbledore,  

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everyone who was presented as good and heroic in  the first few years of Harry’s time at Hogwarts  

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was a current or former Gryffindor student.  By contrast, each of the BADDIES that we  

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met during Harry’s first few years were all  Slytherins, including the bully Draco Malfoy,  

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the cruel Professor Snape and, of course, the most  evil wizard to have ever lived—Lord Voldemort.  

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And who could forget what Hagrid told Harry  before he entered his first year at Hogwarts:

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“There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad  who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one.”

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As the series continues on and the  wizarding world grows, however,  

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adjustments were made that seemed to be trying  to rectify this initial black-and-white world  

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where all of the best witches and wizards were  Gryffindors and all of the most evil ones were  

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Slytherin. For example, years after the final  book was published, wizardingworld.com revealed  

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that the great and powerful wizard  Merlin was once a Slytherin student,  

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describing the many great accomplishments he  achieved during his lifetime to support all of  

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wizardkind, despite their blood purity  or ancestry, because—oh ya—almost all  

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Slytherins were previously described  as being super prejudiced as well.

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So, it would seem that Professor Albus Dumbledore,  who’s initially presented as a mentor and hero to  

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Harry, was most likely made to be a Gryffindor  simply because it aligned with the universe’s  

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limited perspective of good versus evil  at the time. After all, The Philosopher’s  

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Stone was a novel written for a rather young  readership, considering the overall story,  

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language and age of the central character,  Harry Potter. But as the novels progressed,  

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the plotlines matured and the characters evolved,  so did our perspective and understanding of many  

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of the witches and wizards presented throughout  the series. Professor Snape, as it turned out,  

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wasn’t a two-dimensional, desperately evil Death  Eater—and nor was Albus Dumbledore simply a wise,  

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old wizarding hero, who was Gryffindor through and  through. In fact, as mentioned earlier on, some  

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of Dumbledore’s most prominent characteristics  were actually incredibly Slytherin in nature.  

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And of the top traits associated with  that house—ambition, resourcefulness,  

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and cunningness—Albus Dumbledore had them in  spades, if not in his later years, certainly in  

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his youth. This means that when he was sorted  into his house at Hogwarts he would’ve...

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Displayed immense ambition. After Dumbledore’s  death in Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts,  

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we come to learn about a side of the Headmaster  that had previously been kept quite secret—at  

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least from Harry: he was once terribly ambitious.  In his youth, after Albus graduated from Hogwarts,  

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he planned to travel the world, believing himself  to be an incredibly brilliant and gifted young  

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wizard—which shows he was also rather arrogant,  another trait often associated with Slytherin.  

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Tragically, before setting off on his world  travels, Albus lost his mother and was left  

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with the responsibility of caring for his unwell,  younger sister, Ariana. In a conversation filled  

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with regret, Dumbledore shared with Harry that he  greatly resented his responsibility as Ariana’s  

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guardian, feeling as though his talents were  being wasted with such a task. This was also  

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around the time that he met Gellert Grindelwald,  who inflamed his hunger for greatness and power  

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even more. The two formed a close relationship,  bonding over the idea of uniting the fabled  

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Deathly Hallows and using them to take over the  wizarding world and subjugate Muggle kind. Yes,  

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the widely celebrated and famously just Albus  Dumbledore once wished to force humans into  

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subservience. This, of course, also demonstrates  Dumbledore’s openness to prejudice in his youth,  

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which as we discussed earlier is another one of  the values frequently associated with Slytherins.

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Fortunately, Dumbledore eventually moved away  from this type of thinking—no longer hiding  

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hateful and harmful ideologies behind obscure  concepts such as “the greater good”. In fact,  

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Albus even went so far as to carefully remove  himself from positions of great power in order  

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to help keep his propensity for ambition at  bay. For example, in 1932, he turned down the  

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opportunity to be the Supreme Mugwump, leader  of the International Confederation of Wizards.

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He also turned down (on several occasions)  the opportunity to become Minister for Magic.

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While catching up with Harry in limbo  in 1998, he explains that he turned the  

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position down repeatedly for one main reason:  he didn’t TRUST himself with that much power…

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“… I, meanwhile, was offered the  post of Minister for Magic, not once,  

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but several times. Naturally, I refused. I had  learned that I was not to be trusted with power.”

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"But you'd have been better, much better,  than Fudge or Scrimgeour!" burst out Harry.

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"Would I?" asked Dumbledore heavily.  "I am not so sure. I had proven,  

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as a very young man, that power was my weakness  and my temptation. It is a curious thing, Harry,  

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but perhaps those who are best suited to power  are those who have never sought it. Those who,  

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like you, have leadership thrust upon them,  and take up the mantle because they must,  

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and find to their own surprise that they  wear it well. I was safer at Hogwarts…”

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And it’s for this reason that Dumbledore  remained Headmaster at Hogwarts for as  

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long as he did - he simply didn’t want  to have access to any more power. This  

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suggests that despite getting far  better at suppressing his ambitions,  

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Dumbledore continued to fear what he may  do if given the opportunity for power.

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Dumbledore was also very resourceful. Despite  keeping himself confined to the position of  

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Hogwarts’ Headmaster, Albus still managed to  use who and what he had access to in order to  

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accomplish the many plans he put into action over  the years. He was a meticulous planner, which was  

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evident by the end of the Harry Potter series  when his six-year-long mentorship of Harry was  

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revealed to have been motivated by Dumbledore’s  desire to set the Boy Who Lived up to sacrifice  

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himself and defeat Lord Voldemort. Albus also uses  his own impending death—after touching the cursed  

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heirloom ring of Marvolo Gaunt—to his advantage,  arranging for Professor Snape to kill him, thereby  

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saving Draco Malfoy from having to commit murder  against his will and solidifying Snape’s position  

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with the Dark Lord as a loyal Death Eater—which,  of course, he was not. In Harry’s sixth year,  

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Dumbledore also used him as bait to convince  Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts as the  

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Potions Professor so that he could eventually  use Harry to get Slughorn to share what he told  

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Tom Riddle about Horcruxes. And so, time and time  again, Dumbledore used the people and things at  

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his disposal to help him achieve his goals. Cold,  calculating and resourceful…which leads us to…

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The fact that Dumbledore was also an incredibly  cunning wizard. While some may argue that  

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Professor Dumbledore’s smarts align him more with  other Ravenclaws, the way in which he utilised his  

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brilliance was a master class in being cunning.  Throughout the series there are many examples of  

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Dumbledore leveraging this skill, but one of the  most notable ways in which Albus showcases his  

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cunning is through his flawless manipulations of  those around him. Of course, we primarily see this  

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with Harry—with his ultimate manipulation being  that he trained up the boy to be—how did Professor  

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Snape put it?—ah, yes, a “pig for slaughter”.  But we also see this with others. For example,  

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Dumbledore manipulates Newt Scamander into being  an unlikely hero during the uprising of Gellert  

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Grindelwald. And on a much smaller scale, we also  see Dumbledore’s calculated manipulation in place  

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during Harry’s second year, when he hired Gilderoy  Lockhart to be the newest Professor of Defence  

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Against the Dark Arts, knowing that Lockhart  was a fraud and believing that this position  

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would reveal him as such to the wizarding  world. Of course, he could’ve just called  

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him out…but that would’ve lacked Dumbldedore’s  affinity for cleverness and intricate planning.

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While, of course, it goes without saying that  almost every character in Harry Potter COULD be  

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sorted into any number of houses, there does  seem to be some particularly strong evidence  

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suggesting that Dumbledore may have been a  better fit for Slytherin, rather than Gryffindor.  

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Whether it was simply a plot decision made early  on in the series, which then couldn’t be altered,  

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or the character of Dumbledore asked the Sorting  Hat to place him in Gryffindor over Slytherin,  

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as Harry did, remains to be seen. All I know  is that Albus Dumbledore would’ve made a great,  

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balanced addition to this otherwise rather  narrowly defined house of Slytherin.  

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But I also can’t make a statement  like that without next exploring…

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What if Dumbledore WAS in Slytherin?

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Now..Let me just kick this off by  saying that Dumbledore being sorted  

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in to Slytherin instead of Gryffindor  could potentially serve as the catalyst  

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for an unfathomable number of  changes in Wizarding World lore.

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For those unfamiliar, there is a  concept from chaos theory called  

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the butterfly effect that illustrates how a  small change in one part of a system can lead  

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to significant and unpredictable outcomes  in another part of the system over time.

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The name "butterfly effect" comes from the idea  that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in one  

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location could potentially set off a chain  of events that eventually lead to something  

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like the formation of a tornado  in another location. In essence,  

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it symbolizes the idea that seemingly  insignificant actions can have  

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far-reaching and amplified consequences.  It’s used to illustrate the idea that even  

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the smallest changes can lead to outcomes  that appear unrelated or disproportionate.

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So, as you can imagine, if such  small things have this sort of power,  

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a change as big as Dumbledore  being sorted in to Slytherin could  

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theoretically result in an entirely  different Wizarding World altogether.

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But here’s where it gets really interesting… I  don’t actually think much would have changed.  

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I think Dumbledore would have very  much remained…Dumbledore. You see,  

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despite being sorted in to Gryffindor, Dumbledore  was still quite Machiavellian- often pulling the  

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puppet strings on others and allowing events  to unfold in a way that he saw fit. He liked  

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to control the narrative, but not for his  own personal satisfaction. He exhibited many  

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stereotypically ‘Slytherin’ traits while  remaining in Gryffindor, which tells me  

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that Dumbledore was not overly influenced by his  affiliation with one of the four Hogwarts houses.

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Dumbledore is also able to, on multiple occasions,  recognize and subdue his desire for power,  

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something which I feel sets him apart from some  of the other Slytherins in the story. I think that  

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his association with Grindelwald in his youth is a  pretty good indication of what he might have been  

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like in Slytherin: very tempted but ultimately  able to avoid straying down the path of darkness.

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Dumbledore was not a man who believed  the past had any power over dictating  

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the future. He was also quite outspoken  about the fact that the lines are  

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exceptionally blurred when it comes to  the traditional good vs evil dichotomy.

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There are quite a few Dumbledore quotes in line  with this messaging…Here are a few of them…

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"It matters not what someone is  born, but what they grow to be."

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This quote means that a person's true worth is not  determined by where they come from or who their  

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family is, but rather what kind of person they  have become based on their growth and development.  

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Here Dumbledore reminds us  that just because someone  

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comes from humble beginnings or faces  obstacles in life does not mean they  

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cannot achieve great things through  their own efforts and determination.

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"While we may come from different places and speak  in different tongues, our hearts beat as one."

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This quote emphasizes that while people may be  from different backgrounds and have different  

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cultures, they can still have a common bond  through their shared humanity. Dumbledore  

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is pointing out that despite our differences in  language, geography, nationality, or blood-status,  

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we share the same basic emotions and experiences,  

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and that should bring us  together rather than separate us.

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"Differences of habit and language are nothing at  

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all if our aims are identical  and our hearts are open."

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This quote suggests that despite our  differences, we can still work towards  

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the same goals as long as we share the same  passion and kindness. Dumbledore is saying that  

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superficial differences are insignificant  in the face of a shared aim or desire,  

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and that an open heart can help bridge  any gaps and bring people closer together.

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But if you still aren’t convinced, here are  some more of the reasons for why I believe  

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a Slytherin Dumbledore is effectively  the same as a Gryffindor Dumbledore.

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Core Values: Dumbledore's core values of love,  

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compassion, and the pursuit of good were deeply  ingrained within him, independent of his house  

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affiliation. Throughout his life, Dumbledore  consistently displayed these values, which played  

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a critical role in shaping the wizarding world's  future. I think that, regardless of his house,  

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Dumbledore's personal agency would have driven him  to make similar choices and take similar actions.

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For example, Dumbledore's decision  to form the Order of the Phoenix  

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and fight against Voldemort was driven by  his commitment to protecting the innocent,  

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preserving freedom, and upholding  justice. These values remained  

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unchanged and were not necessarily  influenced by his house affiliation.

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House Stereotypes and Individuality: While house affiliations in Hogwarts  

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carry certain stereotypes, it's important to  remember that these stereotypes do not define  

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an individual's entire character. Each  student possesses a unique combination  

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of attributes that cannot be solely  attributed to their house. Dumbledore,  

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even in Slytherin, would have retained his own  complexity and individuality. Dumbledore had  

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a very strong character and I’m not sure  that would have changed in any scenario.

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Influence of Dumbledore's Mentorship

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But now you might be wondering-wouldn’t this  have changed his dynamic with Harry? Well,  

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I don’t think that Dumbledore’s house  had anything to do with it. In truth,  

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the impact of Dumbledore's guidance and  mentorship always extended beyond his  

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own house. As the Headmaster, Dumbledore  had the opportunity to shape the minds and  

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values of students from all four houses. His  mentorship empowered Harry to challenge evil,  

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foster inter-house unity, and be a driving  force in the war against Voldemort.

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While Dumbledore being sorted  into Slytherin would have added  

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an interesting layer to his character and  potentially provided some unique perspectives,  

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I just don’t think things would have  been as different as you might expect.

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Although, I could be very wrong on  this. And that’s why I want to hear  

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from you guys. Do you agree with this?  How do you think a Slytherin Dumbledore  

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would have impacted the Wizarding  World? Leave a comment down below

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And, as always, if you enjoyed this video, don’t  forget to like it and subscribe to the channel!

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Also—be sure to check out the content on Spotify  

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as well as EXTRA content on my second  channel, Harry Potter Theory EXTRA.

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Until next time…remember…

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“The world isn't split into good  people and Death Eaters. We've all got  

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both light and dark inside us. What  matters is the part we choose to act on.”

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DumbledoreSlytherinGryffindorSorting HatWizarding WorldHarry PotterTheoryCharacter AnalysisPower StruggleMoral Ambiguity
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