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(#1) How Dumbledore Actually Figured Out Nagini Was a Horcrux
In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore tells Harry Nagini is a horcrux due to the amount of influence Voldemort exerts over her. However, this is kind of flimsy logic when you consider Dumbledore knew Tom Riddle could talk to snakes and make them do his bidding from a very young age.
Instead, Redditor /u/acerthorn suggests that Dumbledore actually figured out Nagini was a horcrux based on what Harry told him about the night he saw the snake attack Arthur Weasley. Harry saw the events unfold from Nagini's perspective. This could only be possible if a piece of Voldemort's soul was in both Harry and Nagini, but of course, explaining that to Harry would mean he would have to know he's a horcrux, which would take away the chance of him figuring it out when the time is right.
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(#2) Newt Scamander Is One of Dumbledore's Spies
Redditor /u/Obversa believes that Newt went to New York for more reasons than just releasing Frank back into the wild. Newt was sent to the States by Dumbledore to learn more about Obscuri.
We know from the original series that Dumbledore's sister had become an Obscurus. Newt is just another chess piece in Dumbledore's game to stay one step ahead of his enemies.
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(#3) Dumbledore Didn't Actually See Socks in the Mirror of Erised
In Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, we're introduced to the Mirror of Erised, which shows you with your greatest fantasy. Harry sees his parents while Dumbledore mentions that he sees himself holding a pair of socks.
Redditor /u/HobGoblinHat presents the theory that Dumbledore was lying when he said he saw socks. In Fantastic Beasts and the Crimes of Grindelwald, Dumbledore sees Grindelwald in the mirror. He's wrapped in guilt about what happened between the two, and if anything, it would make sense for Dumbledore to see his sister, right? The theory suggests that Dumbledore only wants to see himself holding socks because it will mean he's finally a happier version of himself.
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(#4) Dumbledore's Unique Fighting Style Allowed Him to Beat the Elder Wand
Redditor /u/Lewd_Lawliet suggests that the only way Dumbledore could have defeated Grindelwald, who possessed the Elder Wand, was to incorporate a new fighting technique into his repertoire. When you look at Dumbledore's fights throughout the series, he doesn't just fling his wand around like other wizards do. Instead, he uses the environment around him to his advantage.
At the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore uses water and bricks to fling at his opponents. This could be why Voldemort does the same thing when Dumbledore and the Dark Lord fight one another at the ministry. He knew this would be the only way to kill a wizard using such a unique spell technique.
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(#5) Dumbledore Invented the Time Turner
As a young man, Dumbledore was considered brilliant, and he would create unique magical devices and spells. Redditor /u/Obversa suggests that one of these magical devices could have been the time turner.
The time turner Hermione uses has a cryptic poem imprinted on it, which certainly seems like something Dumbledore would do. It also seems like the only way Hermione could use a time turner, one of the most regulated objects by the Ministry, would be if Dumbledore intervened in some way. He has a fascination with time, and while Grindelwald could see into the future. However, the only way you can really control time is if you go backwards, not forwards.
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(#6) Dumbledore Is Death
The theory that Dumbledore is actually death is an old one, but Redditor /u/bibliophile398 succinctly summarizes it. Voldemort sought nothing but power, which is why he wanted the Elder Wand, which proves to be his undoing. Snape pined after someone who was death, which is precisely what the brother in the tale of the deathly hallows does.
Harry owns the invisibility cloak, and when the time comes, he greets death like an old friend. And who does he meet at King's Cross Station? Dumbledore.
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(#7) Dumbledore Was Supposed to Be a Slytherin
Redditor /u/NealKenneth posits that Dumbledore was supposed to be sorted into Slytherin. After all, his father went to Azkaban for attacking three muggles, and Dumbledore was not particularly known for his bravery as a young man.
It's possible he wanted to get away from the bad reputation of his family and the Slytherin name by going into Gryffindor. He asked to be put into that house.
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(#8) Dumbledore Can Understand Parseltongue
J.K. Rowling has stated in interviews that Dumbledore can understand Parseltongue because he's a brilliant man who speaks many languages. However, we know from the series that Parseltongue isn't so much learned as it is an inherited gift.
Redditor /u/Obversa maintains a theory that Dumbledore is a long-lost descendant of Salazar Slytherin. The timeline from his ancestry we know from the books adds up, so it's possible Dumbledore merely hid this fact so as to not raise concern.
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(#9) The Duel Between Dumbledore and Grindelwald Took Place in Japan in 1945
We know the climactic battle between Dumbledore and Grindelwald occurred in 1945. Redditor /u/pedanticnotpicky suggests that what if this duel between two of the most powerful wizards in history took place in Japan.
It's possible the colossal amount of energy generated between the two was so massive, it wiped out entire cities. The only way for the muggle world to accept such destruction would be if it was the result of atomic bombs.
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(#10) Dumbledore Is a Time Traveler
Dumbledore makes a lot of questionable decisions, and for the most part, those decisions always seem to pay off later. Redditor /u/Kittenclysm offers the theory that Dumbledore frequently uses time travel as a way to see which decisions lead to the most favorable outcome.
It's possible Dumbledore began experimenting with time travel to save his sister, but no matter what he did, his sister always died one way or the other. He then made it his personal quest to defeat Voldemort, and he would travel back in time to decide which course of action to take. He's seen every conceivable outcome, so he knows exactly just what to do to ensure Voldemort is defeated.
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(#11) Dumbledore Set James and Lily Up to Die
As we see throughout the series, Dumbledore is good at spreading lies and getting other people to do his bidding. Redditor /u/HandSack135 posits that in order to take down Voldemort for good, Dumbledore made a Hail Mary pass, setting up James and Lily Potter to die so that Harry may fulfill the prophecy and destroy the Dark Lord for good.
Snape asks for Dumbledore to warn the Potters of the danger they're in. Through his powers of legilimency and occlumency, Dumbledore makes sure Peter Pettigrew betrays the Potters, setting up the entire series.
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(#12) Dumbledore Is the Giant Squid
Redditor /u/catamountgal offers up this theory that Dumbledore is actually the giant squid residing in the lake on Hogwarts grounds. It's possible Dumbledore is an unregistered animagus who goes for swims in the lake.
We know he speaks mermish, and if he's the squid, then he would want to communicate with the other inhabitants. It's also worth noting that the giant squid does not interfere with the Triwizard Tournament in Goblet of Fire.
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(#14) Dumbledore Left Harry With the Dursleys to Turn Him Into an Obscurus
Why did Dumbledore leave Harry with the Dursleys, who actively hate magic and his parents? Redditor /u/fairefaerie suggests that Dumbledore's initial plan to defeat Voldemort when he came back was to turn Harry into an Obscurus.
We saw how destructive an Obscurus could be in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Dumbledore's sister was one. He's seen this power up close, so he wants to fill Harry with so much hate and anger that he transforms into an Obscurus that could be directed toward Voldemort.
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(#15) Dumbledore Has a Horcrux
Years ago, the YouTube channel "SuperCarlinBrothers" posted a fan theory that Dumbledore created a horcrux. This horcrux could have likely either been Fawkes the phoenix or the Elder Wand.
J.K. Rowling actually debunked this theory, saying that it was too dark. Still, it's fun to theorize how much Dumbledore flirted with dark magic.
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(#16) Ron Is Dumbledore
This is another old theory that's pretty much debunked but is fascinating nonetheless. Redditor /u/ykickamoocow111 brought it up again years ago, and the theory is basically that Ron grew up to be Dumbledore and traveled back in time to give Harry sage guidance to defeat Voldemort.
If Dumbledore didn't travel back in time to see what would happen, then it's possible that he was actually Ron, who saw everything happen in real time. To close the time loop, he traveled back in time to be Dumbledore and give Harry everything he needs to be the hero he was destined to be.
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