Dark Twins: When Albus Met Gellert…
Oct 07, 2008
Uncategorized
One of the first times we hear the name Albus Dumbledore, it is alongside that of Gellert Grindelwald’s, on a Chocolate Frog Card. It’s funny to me now to go back and read Scorcerer’s Stone and know that Jo is giving us such a major clue on a piece of candy. Who knew that that relationship was not just a contention between two powerful and famous wizards, but that of former bosom buddies, who spent two fateful months making big plans in Godric’s Hollow?
The attraction between Albus and Gellert is an easy enough one to understand. Given the resentment Albus had towards his family and the fact that Gellert was every bit as brilliant, the attraction, even to a point of friendship, is pretty inevitable. As Jo said, Gellert was Albus’ dark twin, a reflection of his potential greatness. I think Albus might have been attracted to the possibility of power that Gellert presented. Many years later, he told Harry that power was his weakness and that he had shown he couldn’t handle it. This was his first lesson in that. When presented with big ideas involving “the greater good’ Albus fell in line with Gellert’s plan, though he spent the remainder of his days fighting against such ideals. Harry’s shock at his former headmaster’s lapse in morality is justifiable. What could have made a man who became a champion for Muggle rights sing such a different tune? Love. And it makes sense. The power of different kinds of love is a theme of Jo’s. Slughorn comments that the Amortentia potion is the most dangerous and powerful in the room. Merope, Snape, and even Tonks are tortured for long periods of time over their unrequited loves.
The information on Gellert’s feelings is incomplete, but I think it’s safe to assume that, since he was nearly as dark a wizard as Voldemort, he probably lusted mainly for power. And since Jo has said that Albus was “made a fool” by love and that he was “terribly let down” by Gellert, I’m led to believe that Gellert’s interest in Albus was for his mind and skill, the things he could use in his bid to seize control of the Wizarding World. He put on a front, and both Albus and Bathilda were fooled. We know that he showed some remorse during his days at Nurmengard and it is indeed possible that Albus was part of that as well.
To say Albus was deeply affected by how his relationship with Gellert had gone awry would be an understatement. He spent his entire life being haunted by what his foolishness had cost him. He saw his family, together again, in the Mirror of Erised. His boggart was Ariana’s lifeless body. The potion in the cave tortured him with visions from the night his sister died. And he longed for the Resurrection Stone most out of all the Hallows. Much like Snape, he was a troubled man, set upon a path for redemption, some way to honor those who had died for his mistakes. Even years and years after Ariana was killed, Albus delayed meeting him in 1945, despite the rising death toll. This must have been mostly out of fear of knowing who really killed his sister, but there might also have been a deep shame that he felt in remembering the boy he’d fallen in love with and seeing the reality of the man he’d become. Sounds like first love to me.
The best thing about most pairings that are never quite spelled out in the books is the fan response. More popular than Teddy/Victoire, more canon than Rose/Scorpius, Albus/Gellert has birthed a group of tried and true Grindeldorians and Dumblewalds. Fan sites tout phrases like “1899, Summer of Love” and describe the relationship as “Professor X/Magneto” for the next generation. Indeed. There is a wide collection of fan art and I thought I’d share some of it with you guys, since I found so many amazing and imaginative pieces. [Artist’s names in brackets]. Here you go:
Gellert charming Albus. [snoshoo]
Striking a pose. [monstarling/railiens]
Two months of insanity. [karaii]
Reading over Gellert’s shoulder. [artist unknown]
The sign of the Deathly Hallows. [kellward]
Adoring fan. [PseudoNonchalance]
Well, that’s it for me, till next time.
-Jon
