Welcome back to episode 5 of the series. We have covered Harry, James, Lily, Snape, Tonks, Remus, McGonagall and Umbridge so far! Today we are looking at The Dumbledores. But, as usual:

If you were an animagus like Professor McGonagall, what animal would you hope you became and why?

Me personally, I LOVE rhinos. That was my first answer. However, it did feel a little impractical when I thought about it. It would probably be a simple dog like Sirius as they’re certainly entertaining personalities, agile, strong and uncomplex.

Albus and Aberforth Dumbledore – PHOENIX and GOAT

Albus Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of his time and Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. His brother Aberforth runs a pub and does illegal charms to goats, but this will be delved into later! It couldn’t be plainer that these two brothers are vastly different, yet their patronuses show more than the eye realizes.

Albus Dumbledore, due to his past successes, is an extremely able and powerful wizard, so a Phoenix is rather fitting to cast as his patronus. That being said, Professor Dumbledore actually has one as his pet.

A Phoenix is an extremely powerful creature, being around 60 inches tall (approximately the size of a swan) and is usually a red and gold color. They can carry immensely heavy loads and their tears have a healing factor. They are highly intelligent and are immortal, being reborn from their ashes when they are too old.

Fawkes the Phoenix, had been by Dumbledore’s side for at least 59 years, joining Dumbledore in 1938. Naturally being around Fawkes for so long, it seems only logical for him to have a certain affinity with him, leading to his Patronus being a Phoenix.

Dumbledore only ever cast his Patronus for us once, which was in “The Goblet of Fire.” After there had been an attack on Viktor Krum and disappearance of Bartemius Crouch, he had cast the Patronus to send a message to Hagrid. It was never actually confirmed that his Patronus was even a Phoenix in the “The Goblet of Fire” but with the following quote, it’s abundantly obvious:

“A ghostly bird that flew off in the direction of Hagrid’s house.”

Harry actually confirms it’s a Phoenix in “The Deathly Hallows” when talking about who cast the Doe that guided him to the sword of Gryffindor.

Dumbledore also named the secret organization – “The Order of the Phoenix.” Again, evidence of a connection between Dumbledore and Fawkes. He also created the method of communication between the order members. He taught each member to cast a Patronus that was able to carry messages, extremely efficient and hard to intercept. Although this is speculated and not fully confirmed.

The first bit of evidence of a Patronus sending a message was in the same instance Krum was attacked. The “Ghostly Bird” had a message for Hagrid to inform him of the situation. This is of Dumbledore’s own creation and nobody had used this method of communication before.

Aberforth Dumbledore’s Patronus is a Goat.

There is a lot of controversies involving Aberforth and goats as he was prosecuted for using an “inappropriate charm” on them (take from that what you will). Aberforth uses his Patronus in two important circumstances. One was in the film and one in the book.

In the film, there is a scene where a few students line up ready to fight oncoming Dementors. Aberforth moves forward and casts his Patronus and drives away more than two hundred Dementors with a single charm. This shows how insanely powerful of a wizard he really is, which is overlooked as Albus overshadows him.

In the book, Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparated to Hogsmeade and set off a Caterwauling charm. Harry must urgently cast a Patronus and sends his stag to repel some Dementors. Aberforth sends them into his premises and lies to the Death Eaters:

“So what?” he was bellowing into one of the hooded faces. “So what? You send Dementors down my street, I’ll send a Patronus back at ‘em! I’m not having ‘em near me, I’ve told you that, I’m not having it!” “That wasn’t your Patronus!” said a Death Eater. “That was a stag, it was Potter’s!” “Stag!” roared the barman (Aberforth), and he pulled out a wand. “Stag! You idiot – expecto patronum!”

This is a crucial part of the story, if Aberforth hadn’t saved the trio, they wouldn’t have advanced to Hogwarts, meaning the demise of Voldemort.

So there we have it. Another episode down and still more to come. I want to leave you with this question and this time it’s a personal one! Who was your favorite character and why?!

Article by Jamie Yeomans