Dumbledore was perhaps the most mysterious character in the Harry Potter series. He started out as a quirky, odd wizard who quickly was revealed to be one of the most powerful wizards of all time. But his past was always quite the mystery, leaving readers wondering about him even long after the original series was complete. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them provided a little more insight but even so, there are still a lot of questions for readers and movie viewers alike.
A book could be filled with what we still don't know about this man.
Why He Fell For Grindelwald
We don't choose who we love — that much is clear. Still, it seems odd that Dumbledore would have ever gotten in deep enough with Grindelwald to fall for him.
Dumbledore has always had an uncomfortable relationship with his desire for power, but in his later years, he exercised a lot of control. It's almost as if he was a completely different person when running around with Grindelwald and since even the latest movies are set after their falling out, it's still hard to imagine.
Why He Kept Turning Down Minister For Magic
Many people wanted Dumbledore to be Minister for Magic, but he refused them all — again, citing his uncomfortable need for power and how he was afraid he'd power trip in such a position. With the level of self-control he managed to exercise in later years, it's hard to imagine why he wouldn't just take the position and try — especially as the Wizarding World would have been in a much better place, as became clear when Voldemort returned. He could have saved the world a whole lot of hassle.
Why He Didn't Just Let Harry Stay At Hogwarts
Dumbledore made Harry stay at the Dursleys during the summer because blood magic protected him from Voldemort's wrath, but clearly Dumbledore thought he was safe at Hogwarts too — why not just let him stay there most of the year?
Students aren't usually allowed during the summer, but surely an exception could have been made for this poor, abused, neglected boy who was in severe danger from the darkest wizard to ever exist?
Why He Didn't Intercept The Prophecy
The prophecy meant that Harry had to face Voldemort, and Dumbledore claimed to agonize. So why not intercept?
It seems like prophecies aren't destined to become true. Dumbledore tells Harry himself it's self-fulfilling since Voldemort heard it and chose to go after him — and that not every prophecy plays out like the seer said. But then, why wouldn't he even attempt to change things for Harry?
How He Knew Ron Would Leave Harry & Hermione
In his will, Dumbledore gifts Ron a deluminator, which turns out to be his guide back to Harry and Hermione. He surmises that Dumbledore knew he would leave them, but how? It makes sense that he thought they would be on the run during a horcrux hunt, and that Ron would go with Harry, but how was he so aware of the events that would play out?
Why He Was So... Odd
As the series goes on, Dumbledore becomes much more serious. When we first meet him, though, he's quirky in a way that's reminiscent of Luna Lovegood. Is that his real personality, when he's unhindered by the pain of what happened to his sister and what he's currently planning for Harry? Or was it just a mask to make people underestimate him and give him an advantage?
Why He Let Snape Get Away With Abusing Students
Dumbledore adamantly trusted Snape and in many ways, he was right to.
But why let him get away with abusing the students?
Snape bullied Harry, Neville, Hermione, and a whole host of other students. Even though it was necessary to keep him around, it surely wasn't necessary to let him get away with everything. Snape needed disciplinary action as a teacher, ASAP.
Why He Didn't Trust His Gut More With Riddle
Dumbledore has his suspicions about Riddle, and certainly knew what he was becoming by the time he refused him a job. So why didn't he put his foot down sooner and try to foil his plans, leaving him to grow into an awful dark wizard? It seems that he should have taken some preventative action when it comes to the Horcruxes...
Why He Didn't Tell Harry Everything Sooner
Dumbledore claims he didn't tell Harry everything because he cares so much about him — but surely he could see that it would be beneficial to speak to him and communicate more? He's blinded by love, but Dumbledore is one of the smartest men alive and it's hard to believe he can find it so easy to overlook the logic and truth in a situation.
Why He Kept Everything So Secret In His Personal Life
Dumbledore's personal life being kept secret is understandable to an extent. He's ashamed of what happened to his sister, and ashamed of his past failures and mistakes. But did he expect it to never get out? Many people knew him in his past, and his own brother works within walking distance of Hogwarts. It seems naive to think he could keep everything to himself forever.