Albus Dumbledore



Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is best known as the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during Harry Potter's six years attending the school.

In the movies, he is played by Richard Harris for the first two films and Michael Gambon for the rest. Harris sadly died of Hodgkin's disease in October 2002 and Gambon died in 2023. His younger selves are played by Toby Regbo in the first Deathly Hallows film and second Fantastic Beasts film, and Jude Law in the final Fantastic Beasts film.

Character
Dumbledore is widely acknowledged to be very wise and almost omniscient when it comes to goings-on within the grounds of Hogwarts (though he has been known to miss things). He is kind, unfailingly congenial in conversation, and possesses a quirky sense of humor. He is fond of sweets, such as sherbet lemons, Cockroach Clusters, and hot cocoa. All of the above serve to disarm those who underestimate him, leading them to take him for nothing but a potty old man. These invariably find out too late that they've been had. Dumbledore wasn't awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class and made Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot for nothing. He is, in fact, the most powerful wizard of the age, whatever that young upstart Voldemort might think.

This is probably a good time to mention that Dumbledore is very, very old – 111 in Harry's first year at school, according to information collected in the Harry Potter Lexicon. His long hair and beard (long enough to tuck into his belt) are silvery-white, his eyes are light, bright blue, and he is tall and thin. He wears half-moon spectacles and his nose is long and crooked.

Before becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore taught Transfiguration and was the Head of House Gryffindor. At that time, his hair and beard were a rich auburn.

During Voldemort's first rise to power, Dumbledore founded and led the Order of the Phoenix as a resistance movement, directly opposing Voldemort's Death Eaters. Related trivia: Dumbledore keeps a pet phoenix named Fawkes and his Patronus is, unsurprisingly, a phoenix.

Dumbledore tragically dies at the end of the sixth book, when Severus Snape performs the Killing Curse on him at the top of the Astronomy Tower. In Snape's defense, he was acting at Dumbledore's request and in accord with a previous agreement between them. By killing Dumbledore himself, Snape prevented Draco Malfoy from having to do it and therefore saved him from Voldemort's wrath should the boy have lost his nerve (which he did). It was Dumbledore's wish to not die with his blood on Draco's hands. Also, at that point Dumbledore was already dying of the magical poison he was forced to ingest in order to retrieve one of the Horcruxes, and he was also slowly dying of a curse that he'd incurred as a result of trying to put a Horcruxed ring on his finger (to explain why would be too much of a spoiler). A quick Avada Kedavra was probably a kinder alternative to slow poisoning. Not that anyone knew any of this at the time.

Relations
Dumbledore is the son of Percival and Kendra Dumbledore. His only living relative at the time of the books is his younger brother Aberforth, who only appears a few times and is known mostly for being rather odd and more than a little dodgy. He was once arrested for performing "inappropriate charms on a goat." A goat also happens to be his Patronus. Aberforth is the publican of the Hog's Head pub in Hogsmeade.

Dumbledore had a sister, Ariana, but she was accidentally killed in the midst of a duel between Albus, Aberforth, and Gellert Grindelwald. Aberforth blamed his brother, but it is unknown who actually fired off the lethal spell. Previous to her death, she was attacked by Muggles and so traumatized that she tried to repress her magic, which led to instability requiring the full-time care of her family. Albus, caught up in his project with Grindelwald, didn't have much attention to spare for his sister, something he regretted until his own death.

Grindelwald was Dumbledore's love interest when they were both teens with great plans to discover the Deathly Hallows and use them to bring order to the Force Wizarding World, but Dumbledore realized how dark Grindelwald's ambitions were becoming and was instrumental in his eventual defeat. It is unknown whether or not Dumbledore had any other serious romantic relationships, but that's probably none of our business anyway.

In Badfic
Dumbledore is often rendered into a cliché, appearing only to award house points, or say a few pseudo-clever lines, or generally look wise and twinkly-eyed. Unfortunately, these attempts often end with Dumbledore looking daft at best, stupid or incompetent at worst.

In Mary Sue stories wherein the Sue is in Gryffindor, he may overturn punishments handed down by other professors, especially Snape, because the Sue is just that special. Conversely, if the Sue is in Slytherin, Dumbledore may be villainized and shown to unjustly favor students in other houses, especially Gryffindor. He often appears as a relative of a Sue, usually the Sue's father, grandfather, or uncle. In these cases, the favoritism shown the Sue may increase exponentially. Rarely, he may appear as a Sue's love interest despite his age and his known preferences.

There is also an alarming number of fanfics in which the benevolent Dumbledore gets twisted into a cruel and manipulative control-freak: While he often hides the truth and arguably manipulates characters in canon, he always has people's best interests at heart and does not enjoy this. Yet, some fics portray him raising Harry as a weapon or sacrificial lamb, knowing full-well that the Dursleys treat him like crap but doing nothing because a broken Harry is easier to manipulate; subtly guiding characters into hating Slytherins; wanting to become Minister for Magic and/or having the whole ministry in the palm of his hand; among many examples miles away from canon.

Expect this in fics that show:


 * Harry with dark powers that ostracize him from his friends, but which he uses to defeat Voldemort.
 * Voldemort or other villains getting redeemed.
 * In the numerous "Harry's twin brother is thought to be the Boy-Who-Lived but is not" fanfics.

Occasionally, he is thrown so far out of character as to be hardly recognizable. The most infamous examples of this are "Subjugation" and "My Immortal." Both of these are Legendary Badfic and neither Work Safe nor Brain Safe.

In crossover fic, Dumbledore is often related to or conflated with Gandalf (in The Lord of the Rings) or another old-and-wise archetype character, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy. This rarely goes well.

PPC Missions Featuring This Character
Listed in chronological order according to when they take place on the HQ Standard Timeline, as near as can be determined.


 * 2002
 * "Harry Potter and the One Ring of Power" (crossover with The Lord of the Rings), Agent Architeuthis (DoI), June
 * "Dancing With Fireflies," Agents Aria and Polaris (DMS - HP) c. October


 * 2003
 * "The HP Series," Agents Magnolia Grey and Myfanwy (DMS - HP), January
 * "Of Mice and Sues," Agents BriRi and Melissa (DMS - HP), c. January
 * "Gryffindor Past," Agents Aria and Polaris (DMS - HP), February
 * "Apologies and Past Mistakes," Agents Dee and Milask (DBS - HP), c. July
 * "Legolas' True Love AKA The Lost Princess" (crossover with The Lord of the Rings), Agents Anne and Kate (DMS - LotR), c. August
 * "Why You Shouldn't Kill Your Partner," (crossover with The Lord of the Rings), Agents Verra Rose and Lorac Seriph (DI), c. August
 * "By My Side," Agents Ekwy Fields, Milano Cricket, and Nea Forrest (DMS - HP), c. late 2003


 * 2004
 * "Middle-earth Meets Hogwarts" (crossover with The Lord of the Rings), Agents Twain and Jeanlily (DMS), c. 2004
 * "Of Books and Cleverness" (crossover with The Lord of the Rings), Agents Death and Random (DIC), c. 2004
 * "The Protector of Hogwarts," Agents Ekwy Fields, Milano Cricket, and Nea Forrest (DMS - HP), c. early 2004
 * "Harry Kathy and the Sorcerers Stone," Agents Ekwy Fields, Milano Cricket, and Nea Forrest (DMS - HP), c. April
 * "Pain and Regrets, Power and Battle," Agent Dafydd Illian (DOGA) with Agent Vemi Fincaran (DMS), April 17
 * "Harry Potter and the Girl with the Gift," Agents Loren Blue and Amelia Hayward (DMS - Rare Fandoms), c. late 2004


 * 2005
 * "Prophecies," Agents Rez Montrose and Flip Finley (DF), September
 * Agents Jenn Wren and Nel Lemon (DMS - HP), September
 * "When the Mary Sues Became Too Much"
 * "Censors and Bogeymuggles"


 * 2006
 * "Ow, Ow, and Ow Again, Agents Suicide and Rowen Windfall (DMS), April
 * "Just One Letter," Agents Suicide and Ithalond (DMS), April
 * "Subjugation" (incomplete; NSFW, Legendary Badfic), Agents Suicide and Diocletian (DMS), Gunny and Wayne (DMS), Rez and Flip (DF), and Jo and Shae (DMS), June
 * "The Veronica File," Agents Mithrenriene Rochmabriel and Isabel Stanton (DMS), Beth and Sam (DMS), Twitchy and WarPrincessSushi (DMS - HP) and Diana and Valdenia (DRD), October
 * "Family Ties," Agents Ilraen-Aroline-Fothergill and Supernumerary (DIC), November


 * 2007
 * "The Elf from...Hogwrats?" (crossover with The Lord of the Rings), Agents Manx and Shadow (DF), c. mid-year
 * "They Did What With a Baseball Bat?", Agents Foxglove and Laburnum (DMS) with Agent Naomi (DMS), November


 * 2008
 * "Manhood" (NSFW), Agents Trojanhorse and Paddlebrains (DBS), June
 * "Hidden Truths, Hidden Lies," Agents Tawaki Penguin and Tadkeeta (DTO), July
 * "Thesuperfunnumynoseisrunnyextracrazystory," Agents Tawaki Penguin and Dustin O'Grady (DTO), September
 * "Inconceivable Conceptions," Agents Teek Virtanen and Crelmos (DMS), September/October
 * "Extending the Family," Agent Oscar Henson (DBS - Mpreg) with Agent Paddlebrains (DBS), December


 * 2009
 * "A Modicum of Pleasure" (NSFW, NSFB), Agents Agents Trojanhorse and Paddlebrains (DBS), March


 * 2010
 * "What If?", Part 1, Part 2, Agents Ian Nahinu and Lee Keaton (DMS), July


 * 2011
 * "Dirty Rotten Cowards" (crossover with Stargate Atlantis), Agents Florestan and Eusabius (DIC) with Agents Maria Nightingale and Mark Sienna (DF), July
 * "Harry Potter the Death Eater," Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Agents Kirill and Zug (DF), August
 * "Dragon Lady," Agents Cadmar, Maria Nightingale, and Mark Sienna (DF) with Agent Miah Arthur (DMS), September
 * "Harry Potter and the Twin Stus," Agents Ellipsia, Nathan, and Saline (DF), October
 * "'The Making of a Queen', a.k.a. The raison d’être" (crossover with Labyrinth), Agents Mittens and Radioactive Moss Creature (DF), October


 * 2012
 * "Legendary Illogic" (crossover with Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha), Agents Sergio Turbo, Nikki Cherryflower, and Corolla (DF) with Agents Ari and Tera (DF), April
 * "'Smells of Rose', a.k.a. The Enemy of My Enemy" (crossover with Labyrinth), Agents James Vulpes and Saxo Cruore (DF), November


 * 2013
 * "Time to Fix the Mistakes in 'Time to Fix the Mistakes'," Agents Heather Warner and Ted Williams (DF) with Agent Kayla Morrison (DMS - HP), January
 * "A Girl Out of Time" (NSFW; crossover with Doctor Who), Agents Eledhwen Elerossiel and Christianne Shieh (DMS) with Agents the Disentangler and the Agent (DIC), April


 * 2014
 * "Ordellya's Untimely End," Agents Rina Dives and Randa Roan (DMS), March
 * "Lord Potter and the Barking Owl," Agents Rina Dives and Randa Roan (DMS), July
 * "When Stus Stalk Sues," Agents Rina Dives and Randa Roan (DMS), December


 * 2015
 * "Retribution," Agents Rina Dives and Randa Roan (DMS), January
 * The Girl Who Lived Series, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 (NSFW, Legendary Badfic), Agents Rina Dives and Zeb (DMS), February–March
 * "Misophist," Agents Rina Dives and Zeb (DMS) with Agents Desdendelle and the Librarian (DF), April
 * "But Is She Goffik?", Agents Rina Dives and Zeb (DMS), April
 * "Of Effing WHAT!?", Agents Valon Vance and Kala Jeng (DF), April
 * "Snake Eyes," Agents Falchion and Velociripper (DF), May
 * "So Much for Subtlety," Agents Rina Dives and Zeb (DMS) with Agents Desdendelle and the Librarian (DF) and Agent Corolla (DoSAT), May
 * "Little Rascal" (crossover with Thunderbirds), Agents Desdendelle and the Librarian (DF), June
 * "Little Miss Mary" (NSFW, Legendary Badfic), Agents Rina Dives and Zeb (DMS), August
 * "The Gods Must Be Crazy" (crossover with SMITE), Agents Cupid Carmine and Sarah Katherine Squall (DIC) with Agent Backslash (DMS - VGD), August
 * "Angels and Demons," Agents William Grey and VJ (DMS), September
 * "Irregular Apocalypse," Agents Aviator (formerly known as Rina Dives) and Zeb (DMS) with Agents Desdendelle and the Librarian (DF), October
 * "Shoot Them Later," Agents Aviator and Zeb (DMS) with Agents Desdendelle and the Librarian (DF), November


 * 2016
 * "Why Would You Quit?" (crossover with Five Nights at Freddy's), Agents Valon Vance and Kala Jeng (DF), January
 * "Full Metal and the Hogwarts Mishap" (crossover with Fullmetal Alchemist), Agents Ilraen-Aroline-Fothergill and Supernumerary (DIC), February
 * "'Wishes and Crystals', a.k.a. Mistakes Were Made" (crossover with Labyrinth), Agents James Vulpes and Saxo Cruore (DF), September
 * "Hair of Slytherin," Agents Ix and Charlotte Webb (DF), October
 * "Death: Accept No Substitutes!", Agents Jack Riggs and the Detective (DF), November


 * 2017
 * "Homecoming" (crossover with Doctor Who), Agents Aviator and Zeb (DMS) with Agents Detective and Jack Riggs (DF), February
 * "Unwildest Dreams," Agents Ix and Charlotte Webb (DF - ESAS), July
 * "Mirror Image," Agents Ix and Charlotte Webb (DF - ESAS), July


 * 2018
 * "Universal Constant," Agents Aviator and Zeb (DMS), June


 * 2019
 * "Princess of the unicorns," Agents Edward Stone and Katarina Eagle (DMS - HP), March
 * "The Heir of the Phoenix," Agents Peregrin and Taq (DMS), July


 * 2034
 * "Runs in the Family" (crossover with Twilight), Agents Keiko Turbo and Elanorelisindrivar
 * Since this mission takes place in the future, its canonicity is dubious at best.