Dumbledore's Family, Who are they, what is their significance Options

[timeturner]

Here is another interesting quote from the Mugglenet/TLC interview of JK. I haven't seen or heard much talk about this (Dumbledore's family). Theories anyone?

ES: Dumbledore is unrivaled in his knowledge of magic –

JKR: Mmhm.

ES: Where did he learn it all?

JKR: I see him primarily as someone who would be self-taught. However, he in his time had access to superb teachers at Hogwarts, so he was educated in the same way that everyone else is educated. Dumbledore's family would be a profitable line of inquiry, more profitable than sweet wrappers.

MA: His family?

JKR: Family, yes.

MA: Should we talk about that a little more?

JKR: No. But you can! [Laughter.]

[timeturner]

I have a wild theory - a "Luke I am Your Father" sort of theory.

What if Grindelwald and Dumbledore are related. Grindelwald was defeated in 1945...he could be Dumbledore's Dad. It could be why Dumbledore feels such a connection to Harry. (Dumbledore's persistent goodness aside) They were both forced to defeat a dark wizard who had a connection to them.

And there's Dumbledore's brother Aberforth, who I think will pop up in the plot of book seven. Maybe he can shed light on Grindelwald.

Or perhaps Dumbledore is a descendent of a Hogwarts Founder...but I have no idea where that possibility leads...and nothing to support the idea...

[McGonagall's Cat]

Dumbledore's never been a kid in any of the things we've seen so far, so I haven't put enough thought into his family.

I did wonder how he could be so educated and capable while Aberforth is illiterate and scuzzy. There must be some reason they are so divergent.

*wanders off mulling over ideas TimeTurner jiggled out of corners of my mind*

[McGonagall's Cat]

Musing on Dumbledore


1. The Stone was destroyed in the first book and Dumbledore tells Harry that Flamel and Perenelle have time to set their affairs in order.

2. Dumbledore, fairly obviously, knows he's on the way out in Book 6.

3. JKR told us that his age is approximately 150 years in the early part of Harry's school career.
( http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timelines/timeline_dumbledore.html )

4. All through the Black Family Tree, the ages are more in line with average human lives.

5. While I am entirely convinced Dumbledore is going to Phoenix in book 7 (though not sure how physical this might be), he still had an unusally long life.

6. Was he taking the Elixer - or is it his own magic? Is he (related to) Flamel?

7. What does this say about Aberforth?

[zymurgy]

Personally, I think that Aberforth is just Dumbledore in Timeturner mode. After all, you ever seen the two of them together? And they look very alike, and Dumbeldore always knows what the other's up to, even though he's so conveniantly placed as far away so we don't want to see him more often than we do? So, naturally, he went to die prepared with an Aberforth to come out of a broom cupboard...

This theory just popped into my head reading what you wrote... I do believe I am now officially insane.

[timeturner]

Personally, I think that Aberforth is just Dumbledore in Timeturner mode. After all, you ever seen the two of them together?

I actually like that theory. Does this mean I'm insane too?

I found a quote about age. I remembered reading it before. What is the deal with the part in ( )

Taken from Quick Quotes

Question: How old is old in the wizarding world, and how old are Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall?
J.K. Rowling responds: Dumbledore is a hundred and fifty, and Professor McGonagall is a sprightly seventy. Wizards have a much longer life expectancy than Muggles. (Harry hasn't found out about that yet.)

Same interview-

Question: Harry Potter for grownups again! Is Voldemort the last remaining ancestor of Slytherin, or the last remaining descendent of Slytherin?
J.K. Rowling responds: Ah, you spotted the deliberate error. Yes, it should read "descendent." That's been changed in subsequent editions. (Keep hold of the "ancestor" one, maybe it'll be valuable one day!)

And what does that mean?

[McGonagall's Cat]

I'm beginning to wonder if Dumbldore is related to Tom Riddle.

Just off the top of my head -

From all the shenanigans in OotP, there is some sort of connection. Dumbledore spends a lot of time avoiding Harry so that TDL won't find out how to work Harry through their connection, but even so, there are serious sparks that fly a couple times.

He insists on calling TDL by his given name, Tom. While he explains that away as a teacher's habit, it could be more.

Both are mentioned several times as having long fingers.

And there is the comment about Dumbldore's family from the interview at the top of this page.

Since JKR has said TDL is the last of the Slytherin line, that means Dumbldore could be related to the Riddles somehow.

[agrippa]

Question: Harry Potter for grownups again! Is Voldemort the last remaining ancestor of Slytherin, or the last remaining descendent of Slytherin?
J.K. Rowling responds: Ah, you spotted the deliberate error. Yes, it should read "descendent." That's been changed in subsequent editions. (Keep hold of the "ancestor" one, maybe it'll be valuable one day!)

And what does that mean?

Um, I think she just meant that "ancestor" was a misprint and editions of the book with that misprint might someday be valuable.

[hermia123]

I'm beginning to wonder if Dumbldore is related to Tom Riddle.

Just off the top of my head -

From all the shenanigans in OotP, there is some sort of connection.  Dumbledore spends a lot of time avoiding Harry so that TDL won't find out how to work Harry through their connection, but even so, there are serious sparks that fly a couple times.

He insists on calling TDL by his given name, Tom.  While he explains that away as a teacher's habit, it could be more.

Both are mentioned several times as having long fingers.

And there is the comment about Dumbldore's family from the interview at the top of this page.

Since JKR has said TDL is the last of the Slytherin line, that means Dumbldore could be related to the Riddles somehow.

I don't think he is. Dumbledore just calls him Tom, like he called Harry, Harry. Long fingers are common in people!

But he could be, there is every chance that he could be!

So what I am saying is that, I don't think they are but it could be at a stretch!

This post has been edited by hermia123: Mar 15 2006, 08:57 PM

[lupinsmyman]

I'm beginning to wonder if Dumbldore is related to Tom Riddle

If so very very very distantly. We don't really know whether the Dumbledore's were pureblood or half-blood, (or even Mr. Blood) who they married, or anything...

Could brilliance be genetic?

[Amaranth]

I'm intrigued by JKR's silence on the staff's spouses, which makes me wonder if maybe Dumbledore was married once, maybe even had a family. After all the dangerous situations he seems to get involved in, perhaps his family have had to distance themselves from him for their own safety.

Or maybe I just want more redheads in the film.