Albus Dumbledore
Appears 3,411 times in the books
- Born:
- Summer 1881
- Died:
- June 1997
Defeated Grindelwald in 1945 and led Hogwarts through both wars with Voldemort. He became headmaster sometime after December 1956, not in the mid-1940s. He dies on the Astronomy Tower having already arranged Snape’s part in the end.
Appears in
On the timeline
- Late summer 1881
Albus Dumbledore is born
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is born into a family that will not stay peaceful. - c. 1899
Ariana dies, and Dumbledore breaks with Grindelwald
In their youth Albus and Gellert Grindelwald plan a new order. Ariana Dumbledore dies in the wreck of that summer, and Albus breaks with Grindelwald for decades. - 1938
Dumbledore fetches Tom, who is sorted into Slytherin
Dumbledore visits the orphanage and brings Tom to Hogwarts. The Hat places him in Slytherin. He already frightens the other children. - Date unknown
The ring is hidden at the Gaunt shack
The ring Horcrux is later returned to the ruined shack. When, exactly, is not said. - Mid to late 1940s
Borgin and Burkes, and the search for the diadem
Tom works in the Knockturn Alley shop, hunts founder relics, and will turn Ravenclaw’s diadem into a Horcrux after a murder abroad. He does not become headmaster of anything. - 1945
Dumbledore defeats Grindelwald
In 1945 Dumbledore wins the duel and the Elder Wand. It is the most famous thing he has done, and it is not the same event as becoming headmaster. - Mid to late 1950s
Dumbledore refuses the Defence post
Tom returns, already changed, and asks again to teach Defence. Dumbledore refuses. On that visit the diadem Horcrux is hidden in the Room of Requirement. - 1956-12
McGonagall begins teaching
In December 1956 Dumbledore, Head of Transfiguration under Headmaster Dippet, offers Minerva McGonagall a post. - After December 1956, before September 1971
Dumbledore becomes headmaster
Albus Dumbledore succeeds Armando Dippet. Minerva McGonagall will in time become Head of Transfiguration and deputy headmistress. - Early 1980
The prophecy, and Snape changes sides
Sybill Trelawney makes the prophecy at the Hog’s Head. Snape overhears part of it and tells Voldemort. When he realises it points at Lily, he goes to Dumbledore. - 1 November 1981
Harry is left at the Dursleys; Sirius is framed
Hagrid brings Harry to Privet Drive on Sirius’s motorcycle. Voldemort is bodiless in Albania. Pettigrew, as a rat, will find the Weasleys. Sirius is sent to Azkaban without a trial. - 1991–1992
First year: the Philosopher’s Stone
Quirrell shares his body with Voldemort. Harry becomes the youngest Seeker in a century. The Stone is destroyed with Quirrell. Voldemort flees again. - 1995-07
The Order of the Phoenix reforms
Headquarters is number twelve, Grimmauld Place. Sirius is still a fugitive inside his own mother’s house. - 1995-08-12
Harry’s hearing
He is cleared. Dumbledore and Amelia Bones are the reason the trial does not go the way Fudge wanted. - 1996-06-18
The Department of Mysteries; Sirius dies
A false vision draws Harry and five friends into the Department. The prophecy sphere breaks. Bellatrix kills Sirius. Dumbledore and Voldemort duel in the atrium. The Ministry can no longer deny the return. - Summer 1996
The ring, the vow, and a new Minister
Dumbledore puts on the ring and takes a fatal curse. He asks Snape to kill him when the time comes, rather than let Draco do it. Snape makes the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa. Fudge is out. Rufus Scrimgeour is in. Amelia Bones and Emmeline Vance are dead. - 1996-08
Slughorn comes back
Dumbledore and Harry recruit Horace Slughorn. Harry needs the memory Slughorn is ashamed of. - June 1997
The cave, the false locket, and Dumbledore’s death
Dumbledore and Harry take a locket from the cave. It is a fake, with a note from R.A.B. Death Eaters enter by Draco’s vanishing cabinet. Snape kills Dumbledore on the tower.