Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing the many reasons why Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, famed headmaster of Hogwarts and former Gryffindor student, may have been more well-suited to Slytherin House.
The Founders and the Houses
As fans, soon after Harry Potter received his letter of acceptance and we were first introduced to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we also learned about the magical institution’s four founding members and how they decided that the student population would always be divided into four houses, which would represent the characteristics and traits most valued by each of those four founding members.
The four founding members of Hogwarts School are:
- Godric Gryffindor
- Helga Hufflepuff
- Rowena Ravenclaw
- Salazar Slytherin
These houses were named after each of their surnames.
Gryffindor vs. Slytherin
In the early installments of the series, there was a very obvious dichotomy presented between Gryffindor and Slytherin:
- Gryffindor: Represented by protagonists and the “good guys” like Harry Potter, the Weasley family, and Albus Dumbledore.
- Slytherin: Represented by antagonists and the “bad guys” like Draco Malfoy, Professor Snape, and Lord Voldemort.
From Harry to the compassionate and friendly Weasley family who helped him find platform nine and three-quarters, and the world-famous headmaster Albus Dumbledore, everyone who was presented as good and heroic in the first few years of Harry’s time at Hogwarts was a current or former Gryffindor student.
By contrast, each of the “baddies” that we met during Harry’s first few years were all Slytherins, including the bully Draco Malfoy, the cruel professor Snape, and of course, the most evil wizard to have ever lived, Lord Voldemort.
The Evolution of Perspective
As the series continued, adjustments were made to rectify this initial black-and-white world:
- Merlin was revealed to have been a Slytherin.
- Slytherins were not solely defined by prejudice or evil intentions.
This suggests that Professor Albus Dumbledore, initially presented as a mentor and hero to Harry, was most likely made to be a Gryffindor simply because it aligned with the universe’s limited perspective of good vs. evil at the time.
Dumbledore’s Slytherin Traits
Dumbledore displayed many traits associated with Slytherin House:
- Ambition: In his youth, Dumbledore planned to travel the world, believing himself to be an incredibly brilliant and gifted young wizard.
- Resourcefulness: Despite being confined to the position of Hogwarts headmaster, Dumbledore used who and what he had access to in order to accomplish many plans.
- Cunningness: Dumbledore was a meticulous planner, and his actions were often cold, calculating, and resourceful.
Dumbledore’s Ambition
After Dumbledore’s death in Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts, we learn about a side of the headmaster that had previously been kept secret. He was once terribly ambitious and even arrogant.
For example:
- Ambition: He planned to travel the world, showing a hunger for greatness and power.
- Responsibility: He resented his responsibility as his sister’s guardian, feeling as though his talents were being wasted.
Dumbledore’s Resourcefulness
Dumbledore was also very resourceful:
- Meticulous Planning: His six-year mentorship of Harry was revealed to have been motivated by Dumbledore’s desire to set Harry up to sacrifice himself and defeat Voldemort.
- Using His Impending Death: Dumbledore arranged for Professor Snape to kill him, thereby saving Draco Malfoy and solidifying Snape’s position with the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore’s Cunningness
Dumbledore’s cunningness was a masterclass:
- Manipulation: He manipulated Harry and others around him, often pulling puppet strings behind the scenes.
- Example: He hired Gilderoy Lockhart, knowing he was a fraud, to reveal his true nature to the wizarding world.
Slytherin Dumbledore: What If?
Now, let’s explore what if Dumbledore was in Slytherin:
- Core Values: Dumbledore’s core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were deeply ingrained within him, independent of his house affiliation.
- House Stereotypes and Individuality: While house affiliations in Hogwarts carry certain stereotypes, they do not define an individual’s entire character. Dumbledore would have retained his own complexity and individuality.
- Influence of Dumbledore’s Mentorship: The impact of Dumbledore’s guidance and mentorship always extended beyond his own house. His mentorship empowered Harry to challenge evil, foster house unity, and be a driving force in the war against Voldemort.
Conclusion
While Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin would have added an interesting layer to his character, it is likely that he would have remained fundamentally the same Dumbledore we know.
Quotes by Dumbledore
Here are a few of Dumbledore’s quotes that reflect his beliefs:
- “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”
- “While we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one.”
- “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”
Final Thoughts
Dumbledore would have made a great addition to Slytherin, but it’s crucial to remember that his core values and strong character would have remained unchanged.
Whether he was in Gryffindor or Slytherin, Dumbledore’s actions and decisions would have been driven by his commitment to protecting the innocent, preserving freedom, and upholding justice.
Do you agree? How do you think a Slytherin Dumbledore would have impacted the wizarding world? Leave a comment down below.
Until next time, remember, the world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters, we’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on.
