Albus Dumbledore was one of the most powerful wizards in history. He remains one of the most complex and mysterious characters in the Harry Potter series, always with an ace up his sleeve. He was a mentor to Harry, but he never revealed the true extent of his plans until the very end. Many of his character traits are most often associated with Slytherin, making many wonder if the Sorting Hat may have placed him in the wrong house.
When Harry attended Hogwarts, it became pretty evident that Dumbledore tended to favor the Gryffindor house over the others, which isn't all too surprising since he was a Gryffindor himself when he was a student. However, after learning more about him, his backstory, and his ultimate plan, one can’t help but notice all the Slytherin traits exhibited by the wizard, arguably more than Gryffindor ones. Many Harry Potter fans believe that Dumbledore would have been a better fit for Slytherin, so why was he sorted into Gryffindor?
Albus Dumbledore’s Slytherin Traits
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Albus Dumbledore |
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Played by |
Richard Harris (Philosopher's stone - Chamber of Secrets), Michael Gambon (Prisoner of Azkaban - Deathly Hallows: Part 2), Jude Law (Fantastic Beasts series), Toby Regbo (teenage version) |
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Hogwarts House |
Gryffindor |
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Blood status |
Half-blood |
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Patronus |
Phoenix |
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First appearance (books) |
Philosopher's Stone |
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First appearance (movies) |
Philosopher's Stone |
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Last appearance (books) |
Half-blood Prince (last appearance), Deathly Hallows (appears in flashbacks and visions) |
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Last appearance (movies) |
Half-blood Prince (last appearance), Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (appears in visions) |
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First line (books) |
"Fancy seeing you here, Professor McGonagall." |
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First line (movies) |
"I should have known that you would be here, Professor McGonagall." |
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Last line (books) |
"Severus... Please..." (Last line), "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" (Spoken in Harry's head) |
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Last line (movies) |
"Severus... Please..." (Last line), "Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean it's not real?" (Spoken in Harry's head) |
Throughout his life, Albus Dumbledore presented many qualities associated with the Slytherin house, many of which became his signature character traits. Known for his strategic mind and ability to craft elaborate plans years in advance, his intelligence, cunning, and resourcefulness are evident from the start. His proficiency in magic, particularly in dueling and his mastery of the Elder Wand, showcase a level of determination and self-assurance in his own abilities commonly exhibited in Slytherin wizards.
I was gifted, I was brilliant. I wanted to escape. I wanted to shine. I wanted glory. Do not misunderstand me, I loved them. I loved my parents, I loved my brother and my sister, but I was selfish, Harry, more selfish than you, who are a remarkably selfless person, could possibly imagine.
One of the main Slytherin traits that define Albus Dumbledore, specially during his youth, is his immense ambition. This wasn’t revealed, at least to Harry, until after Dumbledore’s death. Harry learns that, when he graduated from Hogwarts, Dumbledore planned to travel the world, as he believed himself to be an incredibly brilliant and gifted young wizard, which shows that he was also rather arrogant, another trait commonly associated with the Slytherin house. Instead, however, he was forced to return home to take care of his sister Ariana following their mother’s sudden death.
So that, when my mother died, and I was left the responsibility of a damaged sister and a wayward brother, I returned to my village in anger and bitterness. Trapped and wasted, I thought! And then, of course, he came.
Back home, feeling like his potential was being wasted, he met the infamous Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, and the two quickly developed a strong bond, rooted in their shared ambition and hunger for greatness and power. The partners made plans to find the Deathly Hallows and use them to take over the wizarding world and subjugate Muggles “For the Greater Good,” a phrase Albus used as justification. Their plans were cut short after Ariana was killed during a three-way duel, which caused Grindelwald to flee the country and made Albus reflect about who he really was.
It was the thing, above all, that drew us together. Two clever, arrogant boys with a shared obsession.
Eventually, Dumbledore moved on from that harmful ideology and tamed his temptations, but it can be argued that traits like ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness still describe him better than bravery, daring, and chivalry. While he did possess the latter traits as well, his pursuit of power was his main driving force during his youth. When he grew older, being manipulative was one of his most representative attributes, and his meticulous plans became crucial for the development of the story.
Other key Slytherin traits Dumbledore possessed:
- He was an excellent leader and knew how to influence people.
- He was a quick thinker and always had an ace up his sleeve.
- He was very loyal and trusting of those he cared about.
- He was great at reading others and could tell when something was off about them.
- He was incredibly calculating, determined, and persistent.
- He was extremely confident and self-assured about his own magical abilities.
Dumbledore used everything he encountered to his advantage, even his own impending death from touching Marvolo Gaunt’s cursed ring, arranging for Snape to kill him in order to earn Voldemort’s trust. His mentorship of Harry was also motivated by his desire for Harry to ultimately sacrifice himself and defeat the Dark Lord. All these traits and actions would have made Dumbledore a perfect fit for Slytherin.
Why Was Dumbledore Sorted Into Gryffindor?
What sets Dumbledore apart from other wizards is his acknowledgment of his own flaws and his self-control. Throughout his later life, he actively removed himself from positions of great power to suppress his ambitions and his desire for greatness, but he continued to fear what he would do if given the power. One key example of this is shown in Deathly Hallows, where Dumbledore explained to Harry that he turned down the opportunity to become Minister of Magic on several occasions because he didn’t trust himself with that much power.
I had learned that I was not to be trusted with power. [...] I had proven, as a very young man, that power was my weakness and my temptation. [...] I was safer at Hogwarts. I think I was a good teacher.
When thinking about Dumbledore being sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin, the Sorting Hat's decision may appear controversial at first glance. But in the end, it likely comes to the same reason Harry was sorted into Gryffindor: choice. Dumbledore was an extremely complex wizard whose personality would have fit any of the four Hogwarts houses. He exhibited a Ravenclaw’s typical knowledge and wit, a Hufflepuff’s kindness and loyalty, a Gryffindor’s bravery and boldness, and a Slytherin’s ambition and resourcefulness. He wisely told Harry that choices are what define a person, and Dumbledore’s choices are a perfect fit for Gryffindor.
It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Dumbledore shows how noble he is by choosing to resist his temptations and suppress his desire for greatness and power. He put value in other things, such as bravery, justice, and honor. While he aspired to greatness and world domination at one point, he spent his remaining decades redeeming himself and choosing to move away from that path, instead helping others, and even sacrificing his own life to further his wish to achieve peace in the wizarding world. It is more than likely that the Sorting Hat knew this, and placing Dumbledore in Gryffindor shows what he truly valued most.
As I have already proven to you, I make mistakes like the next man. In fact, being — forgive me — rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger.
After considering the bigger picture, he is indeed a great addition to the house. While Dumbledore didn’t always make the right choices, his motivations were rooted in good, and it is safe to say that he was not a bad person. But, as the never-ending Harry Potter discourse has stated countless times, not all Slytherins are evil, and Dumbledore still showcased many traits and actions that would have also made him a perfect fit for Slytherin.
Harry Potter
- Created by
- J.K. Rowling
- First Film
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- Latest Film
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two
- Cast
- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane
- Reunion Date
- January 1, 2022
- Where to watch
- HBO Max
When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.
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