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Complete the quote quiz: Albus Dumbledore edition 

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Dumbledore uses the Elder Wand to extract a memory

The chapter that made us fall in love with... Albus Dumbledore

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It’s important to note, first of all, that Albus Dumbledore was loved – by us, and by you – long before *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows*.

He was loved in *Philosopher’s Stone*, when he comforted Harry about the loss of his parents; he was loved in *Order of the Phoenix*, where he faced off against Lord Voldemort; he was loved in *Half-Blood Prince*, in which he sacrificed himself for the greater good. If anything, Albus Dumbledore is as much loved as Harry Potter himself – maybe even more so.

And yet it wasn’t until *Deathly Hallows* that we realised: did we ever really know Dumbledore? Or had we merely *met* him? Sure, we knew Dumbledore as well as Harry knew Dumbledore: as a kind, wise, lovely bearded headmaster; as one of the wizarding world’s most famous figures; as a wizard of incredible power and prestige. But *know* him?

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Dumbledore casts fire spell against the attacking Inferi in Horcrux Cave.

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To truly know someone, you have to go beyond the mystique of what they are, and find out who they were: the past that shaped them, the experiences and decisions that informed who they have become. And that is exactly what we got in *Deathly Hallows*... and especially the chapter ‘King’s Cross’.

## King’s Cross

It’s one of the final chapters in *Deathly Hallows*, a book defined not only by the end of the Harry Potter series – and indeed, the end of Lord Voldemort – but by Harry discovering that Albus Dumbledore was not the man that he thought he was.

For with Dumbledore’s death came revelations of a murky past; stories of Dark Arts and a mysterious sister. As revealed by his brother Aberforth, Dumbledore used to be a different man. He was young, brilliant and frustrated; his talents were held back by the responsibility of caring for his sister Ariana, who was left traumatised after a Muggle attack. Aberforth bitterly painted Dumbledore as pompous and arrogant, as thinking he was above the task, that it was a waste of his talents. Hence his seduction by ‘equal’ Gellert Grindelwald, a Dark wizard with plans for a new wizarding order: a world in which Muggles were taught their place. Their friendship partly resulted in the death of Ariana, killed during a three-way duel between Albus, Aberforth and Grindelwald.

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These revelations troubled Harry; they tainted his perception of a man he’d long admired. But then ‘King’s Cross’ happened. You no doubt know the circumstances: Harry, having found out that he himself was a Horcrux, has sacrificed himself to Lord Voldemort. In ‘death’, he woke in a strange but familiar place (King’s Cross Station), only to be greeted by a strange and familiar friend. It was unclear, of course, whether Dumbledore was actually real, whether this King’s Cross Station was some kind of purgatory between life and death, or whether it was just some sort of elaborate dream. But as Dumbledore said, ‘Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?’

Real or not, ‘King’s Cross’ allowed Harry to confront Dumbledore – or, at the very least, allowed Harry to come to terms with Dumbledore’s demons. Ashamed, and with tears in his eyes, Dumbledore told Harry how he had been a selfish young fool; how he – ‘trapped and wasted’ – had let himself be seduced by the brilliance of Grindelwald and the power of the Deathly Hallows.

‘Master of death, Harry, master of Death! Was I better, ultimately, than Voldemort?’ Despite Harry’s protestations, he went even further to say that power was his greatest weakness, his greatest temptation, and that he should never be trusted with it; he even revealed that he turned down the post of Minister for Magic several times, for fear that absolute power would corrupt him absolutely. It was a version of Dumbledore that Harry had never seen before: vulnerable, flawed, human.

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The Hogwarts Express at platform nine and three-quarters.

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And that’s what was so important about ‘King’s Cross’. It’s the chapter that humanised Dumbledore, that grounded him from the heights of gods, that let us truly know him for the first time. And despite the faults, despite Dumbledore perhaps not being the perfect wizard Harry thought he was, never before has Dumbledore seemed more heroic. For men and women are not born great. They learn greatness over time – from experience, from mistakes. Dumbledore looked at his deeds, at his flaws, and he had the wisdom to confront and overcome them; he fought the greatest nemesis there was: himself.

And in the end, that was what made him so remarkable: for in order to become a great wizard, Dumbledore had to know what it meant to be a bad one. Who better to teach the next generation of wizards? Who better to face Lord Voldemort? Who better to send Harry on his way from King’s Cross station, with one last piece of wisdom: ‘Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.’

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Dumbledore smiling from the Philosopher's Stone 

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<em>Pottermore looks back at the moments that made our favourite characters so memorable. Read about the chapter that made us fall in love with... [Professor Snape.](/features/chapter-that-made-us-fall-in-love-with-severus-snape)</em>

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Things you may not have noticed about… Albus Dumbledore

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Dumbledore sitting in a chair from the Half Blood Prince 

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## Oh, and if you haven’t finished the books, beware of a few spoilers.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore was so much more than the headmaster of Hogwarts. While you might know all about his discovery of the uses of dragon’s blood, his London Underground-shaped scar or his fluency in Mermish, there is much about the powerful wizard you might have missed…

## He didn’t really see socks in the Mirror of Erised

After Dumbledore told Harry he saw himself with a nice pair of socks when looking into the Mirror of Erised, Harry later reflected that he might have been lying, but that it was a rather nosy thing to ask:

> It was only when he was back in bed that it struck Harry that Dumbledore might not have been quite truthful. But then, he thought, as he shoved Scabbers off his pillow, it had been quite a personal question. 
<br> *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* </br>

After it was revealed that Dumbledore was devastated by the accidental death of his sister during a fight with Grindelwald and his brother, Aberforth, it became clear that Dumbledore’s deepest desire, and regret, involved his family. J.K. Rowling confirmed this after the final novel, revealing that when Dumbledore looks into the mirror he sees his family ‘alive, whole and happy – Ariana, Percival and Kendra all returned to him, and Aberforth reconciled to him’. Excuse us while we ugly sob.

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## His name is a bit of a buzz word

Dumbledore is an eighteenth-century word for bumblebee, and J.K. Rowling said she liked imagining Albus wandering around the castle humming like a bee himself, which is frankly adorable. Speaking of J.K. Rowling’s musings on the headmaster, she also revealed on Twitter that Albus is her favourite character of the series (besides Harry, of course)! 

## His friendship with Grindelwald was complex 

One of the most famous revelations about Dumbledore after the books were published was that he was actually in love with Gellert Grindelwald. J.K. Rowling said: ‘Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was… Do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extent? But he met someone as brilliant as he was, and rather like Bellatrix he was very drawn to this brilliant person, and horribly, terribly let down by him.’

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## His death was foreshadowed in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

While enjoying Christmas dinner in the third book, Professor Trelawney freaked out because she believed that, should she join the table, it would mean 13 people would be seated and so the first person to stand would be the first to die. What she didn’t realise was that there were already 13 witches and wizards sat at the table, if you included Peter Pettigrew in Ron’s pocket… 

Dumbledore stood up to greet Trelawney, therefore making him the first of the 13 to get up from dinner. Sure, it could be a coincidence, or it could have been a nod about Dumbledore’s fate from J.K. Rowling. Clever!

## Dumbledore, at one point, possessed all three Deathly Hallows 

From Dumbledore’s letters to Grindelwald in *Deathly Hallows,* it is obvious that the headmaster of Hogwarts was obsessed with the idea of the Hallows in his youth. It seems fitting then that he should become the only character besides Harry to have owned all three at some point in his life. After winning the Elder Wand in his famous duel with Grindelwald, he came into possession of James Potter’s cloak after borrowing it to study, and kept it safe to give to Harry when he was old enough, meaning that it was in his possession for about a decade. He also came to own the Resurrection Stone, though it came with terrible consequences when he attempted to wield its power and fatally cursed himself.

> ‘Why,’ said Snape, without preamble, ‘why did you put on that ring? It carries a curse, surely you realised that. Why even touch it?’  
> Marvolo Gaunt’s ring lay on the desk before Dumbledore. It was cracked; the sword of Gryffindor lay beside it.  
> Dumbledore grimaced.  
> ‘I … was a fool. Sorely tempted …’  
> ‘Tempted by what?’  
> Dumbledore did not answer. 
<br> *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* </br>

## He can be rather detached

Although the Dumbledore we know and love is always there to help with a twinkle in his eye, J.K. Rowling has admitted that Albus can be a little, well, cold. Back in 2005, she said: ‘I see him as isolated, and a few people have said to me, rightly I think, that he is detached. My sister said to me in a moment of frustration – it was when Hagrid was shut up in his house after Rita Skeeter had published that he was a half-breed – and my sister said to me, “Why didn't Dumbledore go down earlier?”… I said he really had to let Hagrid stew for a while and see if he was going to come out of this on his own, because if he had come out on his own he really would have been better.’

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## Dumbledore is a huge part of J.K. Rowling’s favourite fan theory

When asked about her readers’ ideas, J.K. Rowling referred to the theory about the Peverell brothers, who, according to the legend, each received a Hallow for cheating death. The theory stands that Voldemort was the eldest brother, who was murdered after seeking power with the Elder Wand. Snape was the middle brother, who pined after a dead girl he once loved, and eventually died to join her; while Harry was considered to be the youngest brother, who greeted ‘Death as an old friend’. Since Dumbledore was the one waiting for Harry after the piece of Voldemort inside him was destroyed, one fan suggested that Dumbledore was Death in the tale. Referring to this concept after a fan asked her about her favourite theory, J.K. Rowling tweeted: ‘Dumbledore as death. It's a beautiful theory and it fits.’

The Albus Dumbledore Quiz

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Dumbledore uses the Deluminator outside the Dursley's house.

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Fascinating things, quizzes. So how well do you really know your Albus Dumble-lore?

Do you know your sherbet lemons from your Acid Pops? How about all of Dumbledore’s myriad middle names? What does ‘Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak’ actually mean? (Just kidding, nobody knows that.) 

Let’s see how much you know about one of the greatest wizards there ever was.  

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<script src="//dcc4iyjchzom0.cloudfront.net/widget/loader.js" async></script>

Hermione Granger Essentials

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour London announces its festive season and special Philosopher’s Stone screenings 

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Get into the Christmas spirit early as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London launch their much-loved Hogwarts in the Snow feature, more lavish dinners in the Great Hall and some special screenings of *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* for the 20th anniversary.

## Hogwarts in the Snow 

This snowy favourite has been enchanting visitors for years at the Studio Tour, and from 13th November 2021 to 16th January 2022, you can come to see Hogwarts dressed in all its festive glory. And it’s not just Hogwarts that has been covered in snow – new for 2021, the trees and woodland of the Forbidden Forest have also been blanketed in filmmaking snow, as well as Diagon Alley and Hagrid’s Hut! Expect festive wreathes, Christmas trees and a seasonal feast in the Great Hall too.

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## Dinner in the Great Hall 

From 13th – 15th December, a lavish feast awaits you in the Studio Tour’s Great Hall. Ticket-holders to this popular event are invited to get their glad rags on (or finest robes, perhaps?) and enjoy a two-course seated dinner, as if you were Hogwarts students yourself. A roam through the Studio Tour after hours then follows - with dessert and Butterbeer on offer too. After that, you’ll be invited to blow off some steam at a special Hogwarts Express disco. And once the night is over? Guests even get to take home their own wand as a souvenir. What a night!

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## Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone screenings

From Friday 19th to 22nd November, fans can gather at the Great Hall set to enjoy a Hogwarts-themed party and a screening of the film that started it all, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. These special evenings will allow you to roam the Studio Tour after-hours, enjoy some Honeydukes snacks and watch the film on a cosy house-themed beanbag. If you remember where you were when you first saw Hogwarts on the screen 20 years ago, this could be the perfect way to commemorate this huge milestone. 

Please note that a special Monday screening will be adapted for visitors on the autism spectrum and for those with other sensory needs.

***  

So, grab some tinsel and some fairy lights – Christmas truly feels like it has come early!

Learn more about [Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s official website.](https://www.wizardingworld.com/discover/experiences/warner-bros-studio-tour-london-the-making-of-harry-potter)

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Join us for 20 Years of Movie Magic as we celebrate the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’s 20th anniversary

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In November 2001, *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone*, based on J.K. Rowling’s original story, opened in cinemas across the world, introducing fans to the wizarding world on the big screen for the first time. Now, 20 years on, [we’ve selected 20 key moments](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harrypottermovie20) from Harry’s first adventure for fans to commemorate. 

So, between now and November, join us every week to celebrate a different iconic scene from the movie that started it all. We’re calling this time of celebration ’20 Years of Movie Magic’ - and we implore you to join us in these digital festivities. 

Today, we’re looking at the scene where Harry is delivered his Hogwarts letter at Privet Drive (well, he got several, actually!) which you can read all about in our new [20 Years of Movie Magic hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harrypottermovie20) alongside our usual collection of quizzes, craft videos, puzzles and features. You’ll also be able to watch a new video where graphic design duo MinaLima explain how they created that iconic Hogwarts letter prop. And that’s only the start.

Every week, a new moment will unlock so you can unpack a different key scene with us in different ways. Perhaps your personal favourite moment will feature soon if you stay tuned? And if you’re old enough, our social channels also have some cute magical delights to have some fun with – including an interactive Platform Nine and Three-Quarters Instagram filter coming soon.

Next week, things really heat up as we get ready to honour Back to Hogwarts day on 1st September. This is a date that Harry Potter fans have a special affinity with of course – as this is the day Harry boards the Hogwarts Express at 11 o’ clock and prepares to start his new magical life. This year, we’re once again inviting fans all over the world to join us for that all-important countdown before the Hogwarts Express sets off – and we’re doing it with a livestream that you’ll be able to tune into wherever you are. 

Hosted by celebrity DJ and self-proclaimed superfan Yinka Bokinni, this interactive celebration will be available on our Wizarding World YouTube channel from 10.30am BST on 1st September. Yinka will guide fans through an interactive celebration of 20 years of fandom and share breaking news and features that Harry Potter fans will not want to miss – and Tom Felton, our very own Draco Malfoy, will be making an extra-special appearance. 

You can also expect an emotional montage or two! After all, this fandom now spans over two decades and we know so many of you have so many personal memories connected to the Wizarding World.

As you can see, this 20th anniversary is indeed set to be a big one, with upcoming events such as a  Harry Potter Quiz Show also on the way to you soon. And here on WizardingWorld.com, we’ll have digital treats for you every Wednesday that will come in all shapes and forms. Expect guest contributions from Wizarding World friends, new videos, quizzes, puzzles and articles. After all, we all love to stretch out any special occasion as long as possible, right? 

Join us over at the [20 Years of Movie Magic hub](https://www.wizardingworld.com/harrypottermovie20) to get started! And we won’t blame you if you start staring at your fireplace awaiting your Hogwarts letter. You never know. 

As the first Harry Potter film reaches a pivotal milestone – we want to celebrate 20 Years of Movie Magic with you. 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s Dark Arts feature to return in September 

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From 24th September to 7th November, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London will be an eerie affair, with their famous Dark Arts feature returning. At the Great Hall set, fans can expect to find a glorious scene of 100 floating pumpkins – all handcrafted by the film series’ Head Propmaker Pierre Bohanna and his team. Elsewhere in the Studio Tour, an ominous Dark Mark will be projected throughout your visit. Visitors will be able to pick up a Studio Tour passport and try and hunt down Lord Voldemort’s sign. 


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As darkness looms throughout the Studio Tour, visitors can learn a defensive spell sequence from the famous battle scene, put together by Wand Choreographer from *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* to *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2*, Paul Harris, to guide their way in a live duel with Death Eaters.

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The Studio Tour will also be welcoming the return of their popular Hogwarts After Dark events – commencing 6th, 7th and 8th of October for guests over 18. Guests attending these special evenings will be presented with dry ice cocktails and canapés before a swanky two-course dinner amongst popular interior sets including the Potions classroom and Dumbledore’s Office – and then it’s down to the Forbidden Forest for dessert! Certainly not your traditional dinner party experience. And don’t get too comfortable – for Death Eaters will be roaming around throughout the Studio Tour during your visit too!  

So, feeling in the spooky spirit yet? We certainly are. 

Learn more about Warner Bros. Studio Tour London’s upcoming events at [their official website.](https://www.wbstudiotour.co.uk/whats-on/dark-arts/)