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Remembering Albus Dumbledore

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
29 views1 page

Remembering Albus Dumbledore

Uploaded by

evilofdark
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

robes, cauldron, parchment, quills, and most of his textbooks were piled in a corner, to be left

behind. He wondered what his aunt and uncle would do with them; burn them in the dead of night,
probably, as if they were evidence of some dreadful crime. His Muggle clothing, Invisibility Cloak,
potion-making kit, certain books, the photograph album Hagrid had once given him, a stack of
letters, and his wand had been repacked into an old rucksack. In a front pocket were the Marauder's
Map and the locket with the note signed R.A.B. inside it. The locket was accorded this place of
honor not because it was valuable – in all usual senses it was worthless – but because of what it had
cost to attain it.
This left a sizable stack of newspapers sitting on his desk beside his snowy owl, Hedwig: one for
each of the days Harry had spent at Privet Drive this summer.
He got up off the floor, stretched, and moved across to his desk. Hedwig made no movement as he
began to flick through newspapers, throwing them into the rubbish pile one by one. The owl was
asleep or else faking; she was angry with Harry about the limited amount of time she was allowed
out of her cage at the moment.
As he neared the bottom of the pile of newspapers, Harry slowed down, searching for one particular
issue that he knew had arrived shortly after he had returned to Privet Drive for the summer; he
remembered that there had been a small mention on the front about the resignation of Charity
Burbage, the Muggle Studies teacher at Hogwarts. At last he found it. Turning to page ten, he sank
into his desk chair and reread the article he had been looking for.
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE REMEMBERED
By Elphias Doge
I met Albus Dumbledore at the age of eleven, on our first day at Hogwarts. Our mutual
attraction was undoubtedly due to the fact that we both felt ourselves to be outsiders. I had
contracted dragon pox shortly before arriving at school, and while

I was no longer contagious, my pock-marked visage and greenish hue did not encourage
many to approach me. For his part, Albus had arrived at Hogwarts under the burden of
unwanted notoriety. Scarcely a year previously, his father, Percival, had been convicted of a
savage and well-publicized attack upon three young Muggles.
Albus never attempted to deny that his father (who was to die in Azkaban) had
committed this crime; on the contrary, when I plucked up courage to ask him, he assured me
that he knew his father to be guilty. Beyond that, Dumbledore refused to speak of the sad
business, though many attempted to make him do so. Some, indeed, were disposed to praise
his father's action and assumed that Albus too was a Muggle-hater. They could not have
been more mistaken: As anybody who knew Albus would attest, he never revealed the
remotest anti-Muggle tendency. Indeed, his determined support for Muggle rights gained
him many enemies in subsequent years.
In a matter of months, however, Albus's own fame had begun to eclipse that of his
father. 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.
Those of us who were privileged to be his friends benefited from his example, not to
mention his help and encouragement, with which he was always generous. He confessed to
me later in life that he knew even then that his greatest pleasure lay in teaching.
He not only won every prize of note that the school offered, he was soon in regular
correspondence with the most notable magical names of the day, including Nicolas Flamel,

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Initially, Albus Dumbledore was burdened by societal perceptions of his father's crime against Muggles, which led some to mistakenly assume he shared anti-Muggle sentiments. However, through his determined support for Muggle rights and his brilliance at Hogwarts, he disproved these misconceptions, thereby enhancing his legacy as a progressive force in the wizarding world. Over time, Albus's achievements and reputation for brilliance completely overshadowed his father's notoriety, transforming society's initial challenge into a testament to his character and achievements .

Elphias Doge's article reveals that personal adversity, like the stigma from his father's crimes and his own outsider status at Hogwarts, influenced Dumbledore to develop resilience and empathy. These experiences nurtured his career motivation towards teaching and advocating for the oppressed, such as Muggles. Dumbledore's choice to support Muggle rights and his enthusiasm for educating others were directly informed by his early experiences of overcoming personal challenges and societal expectations .

Albus Dumbledore was misunderstood by many due to his father's actions against Muggles, but he never displayed any anti-Muggle tendencies. His determination to support Muggle rights gained him numerous enemies. From an early age, Albus was recognized as brilliant, which helped him quickly build a reputation that overshadowed his father's notoriety. His friend Elphias Doge highlighted Albus's generosity in sharing knowledge and his greatest pleasure in teaching, aligning with his moral convictions that were distinct from those of his father .

The friendships and experiences Albus Dumbledore formed at Hogwarts with peers like Elphias Doge profoundly influenced his vision for his career and stance on Muggle rights. These relationships provided him with support and exemplified the value of diversity and acceptance. Experiencing and witnessing prejudice firsthand likely reinforced his commitment to equality, leading him to champion Muggle rights. Moreover, his passion for teaching and sharing knowledge with others was rooted in the encouragement he received and the intellectual camaraderie that he enjoyed at school .

The items packed into Harry's rucksack, such as the Invisibility Cloak, potion-making kit, select books, and Hagrid's photograph album, symbolize his personal growth and values. The Cloak and the Marauder's Map represent his connection to his family's legacy and his commitment to discovery and secrecy. The potion kit and books reflect his dedication to mastering the magical arts, while the photograph album underscores the importance of his connections and memories. The locket, with R.A.B.'s note, signifies the cost of bravery and the quest for justice. Together, these possessions illustrate Harry's journey towards understanding his identity, valuing friendships, and preparing for the challenges ahead .

Albus Dumbledore's exceptional academic achievements at Hogwarts, where he won every notable prize and engaged in correspondence with the most renowned magical figures, established him as a preeminent figure in the wizarding community. This early success facilitated his future roles as a mentor and leader, while his friendships and professional relationships were deeply influenced by his reputation as the most brilliant student the school had seen. His teaching orientation, rooted in his early academic successes, also played a significant role in shaping his life's work and relationships .

Harry's emotional conflicts about the possessions left behind at Privet Drive—such as his robes, cauldron, and textbooks—represent his transition from boyhood to maturity and the severing of ties with his past that did not belong to his true identity. This conflict symbolizes his readiness to fully embrace his role in the magical world, prioritizing tools and keepsakes that are integral to his future challenges. The left-behind items also signify his emotional detachment from a life of oppression with the Dursleys, highlighting his need to move forward and affirm his place within the wizarding community .

Media presence, as illustrated by the stack of newspapers Harry had at Privet Drive, played a significant role in shaping his understanding of the wizarding world's events and how they might affect him. Despite being isolated during his stay with the Dursleys, the newspapers connected Harry to broader societal issues and personal concerns, such as Charity Burbage's resignation and insights into influential figures like Dumbledore. This access to media likely heightened Harry's awareness of his precarious position and the gravity of current events, framing his perception of his responsibilities and role within the wizarding community .

Albus Dumbledore's early correspondence with notable figures like Nicolas Flamel was significant as it established him as a key intellectual and innovative presence in the magical world. These connections laid the foundation for his profound influence on magical scholarship and policy, enabling him to play a pivotal role in shaping and advancing magical society. The exchanges likely enriched his understanding, inspired new ideas, and solidified his position as a future leader and teacher. This link between his academic prowess and prominent peers underscored his broader contribution to the wizarding community as both an academic and a leader of change .

Harry's intention to find and read the article about Charity Burbage's resignation indicates his conscious prioritization of staying informed about the state of the wizarding world and his readiness to confront impending challenges. His interest in the resignation reflects his awareness of the instability and changes within Hogwarts and the broader magical society. This behavior shows his deepening understanding of his responsibilities and the need to be prepared for the effect these events may have on his actions and decisions in the upcoming months .

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