The Life and Lies Of Albus Dumbledore

Forward by: Betty Braithwaite

It is to be noted, that Albus Dumbledore—venerable Headmaster of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry as well as the former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot—has lived a reclusive life and as such, there remains an aura that surrounds him like a veiled cloak of mystery and intrigue. His more notable exploits are widely known, but the motivations behind those accomplishments were purely speculative. Until now.

In his formative years, Albus Dumbledore lived with his family in Mould-on-the-Would until his father, Percival—was sent to Azkaban for the murder of muggles, and his mother Kendra moved Albus, his younger brother Aberforth and his youngest sister Ariana to Godric's Hollow.

It was here, the venerable wizard met Gellert Grindelwald, great-nephew of the noted magical historian Bathilda Bagshot. It was also here that the true nature of whom Albus Dumbledore truly was and is, would become born.

Gellert Grindelwald, as we all know from history, was a dark wizard. A zealot who attended Durmstrang and was subsequently expelled at the age of sixteen for his penchant for twisted and dark experiments. Undeterred, he branched out and eventually joined forces with Dumbledore, their ideologies as youths bent on "World Domination" and "Wizarding Supremacy," all for the Greater Good. Correspondence between the two wizards was of a decidedly 'intimate' nature and can be seen starting on page 394.

But this was not the most scandalous of truths...no...

Dumbledore was given charge over his sister, Ariana...who's own magical gifts being somewhat suspect caused the altercation with Muggles when the girl was young, and this was the impetus for their Father's imprisonment. Being the eldest son, the care for his baby sister fell to the young Albus, but he resented this responsibility and lamented often to his good friend, Gellert—wishing to be able to join the Dark wizard on his more than questionable escapades.

All that changed one fateful night in Godric's Hollow when a duel broke out between Albus, Gellert and Albus younger brother Aberforth. It was never discovered who cast the killing curse that took young Ariana's life, but Grindelwald left Godric's Hollow never to return.

In the years to come, Albus Dumbledore made a name for himself as a Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts. His goal was to shape the minds of those he taught and use them to do his bidding.

Newt Scamander, noted Magical Magizoologist was once such pawn, used to free Albus Dumbledore from a blood pact that he'd made with the erstwhile Grindelwald which eventually lead to the now famous duel between the two wizards.

As the years passed, Albus Dumbledore has led those around him to believe that he is the guardian of the light, but those who have seen his power grow within the British Magical Community, have often wondered just what of the former Albus Dumbledore's motivations remain to this day. Many good witches and wizards have flocked to his banner, all under the guise of the 'Greater Good.' Many of those have died as well.

This book will separate truth from rumor and give insight into the complex mind of one of the most powerful wizards of our time.

The larger question remains...just whom is Albus Dumbledore really?

For all those questions and more, Rita Skeeter does a superlative job separating truth from fiction...read on!

The Headmaster slammed down the book in anger! How in the world had Rita Skeeter known where to dig up his skeletons? There were very few people left alive that knew of that time in his life...three really, and one of those was in prison.

So who had talked?

Albus wasn't a stupid wizard, far from it but...this?

He had not foreseen this!

He had spent many years seeking out power, with Gellert and without. He was Master of the Elder Wand, and unbeknownst to those at the Ministry when Tom was vanquished—the Resurrection Stone had survived Miss Prewett's power.

Being a Hallow it could not be destroyed.

He knew where the cloak was, and had hoped that with the death of the Potter lad—he'd be able to procure all three of the most important magical artifacts the world had ever known.

The one goal both he and Gellert had shared.

The Deathly Hallows.

The goal that he'd never given up on.

Apparently however, there was more to the Hallows than even he'd known.

The Hallows would only give him the key, but he'd realized in 1979–he'd need to get access to McKinnon Manor to open the door—and for over fifteen years, since he'd discovered the truth...he'd desperately tried to find a way to access the elusive McKinnon Manor.

Oh yes, he'd overheard Sybil spout the Prophecy of the Prewett Heiress.

He'd realized there was so much more to the Hallows on that fateful day.

It had been fortuitous that he'd found himself to be in Scrivenshafts that early June afternoon—after the Order meeting at the Three Broomsticks. He'd seen Marlene McKinnon and Fabian Prewett walk into the store together, leaving behind the Potter's and Sirius Black and hadn't thought much about it, as he was in the back of the store to grab some supplies. He was talking quietly with the owner, when he'd heard the bell on the door chime again, and then spied Sybil Trelawny move into the shop. He was to meet her the following afternoon for a teaching position, and had his reservations about her suitably for the position of Divination Professor...but all that changed when he'd heard the words that had come from her mouth.

He'd wandlessly stunned and then obliviated Scrivenshaft, whilst making himself invisible to the two people in the shop, who were staring at the witch like they'd seen a ghost.

It wasn't even a month later that the McKinnon family had gone into hiding.

And the following afternoon, Sybil had given another Prophecy...this one about a child born as the seventh month dies.

One who would have the power to vanquish the Dark Lord.

He'd simply had no choice but to hire the barmy witch after that—and offered her some measure of protection for her unknowing assistance.

Fortunately through some careful plotting on his part, that he'd finally played the chess board to his advantage. Then he'd discovered that the Prewett babe hadn't died after all, and like the Master manipulator he'd always been?

He'd readjusted and recalculated.

For every plan, he'd had a backup to it.

It had been that way during his time fighting Gellert and Tom...all to get to his final goal.

Albus thought all he'd have to do was sit patiently and wait for the right time to move his final Queen into play...and then this ridiculous book happened!

Fortunately, it had not ruined his plans...but had put a severe dent into them.

Sighing heavily, Albus had to wonder just how he was going to downplay some of the more outlandish claims within the book. Bringing a libel suit now would cause more scrutiny than he wished to deal with, and frankly...he could simply hope that his reputation as being the purveyor of light and vanquisher of Dark Wizards would generate some good will. Those who knew or highly suspected the truth were all either dead, in prison or obliviated.

No...bringing more attention to himself was never a good thing.

He'd act the doddering, eclectic, old fool and let the masses think what they will.

If everything went to plan, in a few short months he'd finally have his final goal within reach.

He just had to hope no more unforeseen circumstances would make themselves known, thereby hindering his plans.

He was running out of time.