Gellert Grindelwald

Gellert Grindelwald
Biographical information
Born	c. 1883
Died	March, 1998 (aged 115) Nurmengard
Blood status	Pure-blood or Half-blood
Physical information
Gender	Male
Hair colour	Blond
Skin colour	Light
Family information
Family members	Bathilda Bagshot (great aunt) Bagshot (possibly)
Magical characteristics
Wand	15", Elder, Thestral tail hair core
Affiliation
Loyalty	Durmstrang (expelled) Gellert Grindelwald's army Nurmengard

"For the Greater Good."

— Gellert Grindelwald's slogan

Gellert Grindelwald (c. 1883-1998) was considered the most dangerous Dark Wizard of all time, except for Tom Riddle a.ka. Lord Voldemort. He was schooled at Durmstrang Institute and later took up a friendship with Albus Dumbledore when he lived in Godric's Hollow for a summer following his expulsion. The two made plans to find the Deathly Hallows and create a world in which Muggles would be subservient to wizards and witches. This partnership fell apart after the two were involved in a three-way duel with Aberforth Dumbledore that resulted in Ariana Dumbledore's death. Grindelwald left England and soon stole the Elder Wand and built an army, rising to power in continental Europe. During his reign of terror he murdered many wizards and muggles. In 1945, at the height of his power, his former friend Dumbledore confronted him due to the cries of the public and defeated him in what became a legendary duel. Grindelwald was subsequently imprisoned in his own prison Nurmengard for decades. He was slain there by Lord Voldemort in 1998 when Voldemort was in search of the Elder Wand, which Grindelwald refused to give him any information about.

Quick Answers

Who is the character Gellert Grindelwald in the Harry Potter series?

Gellert Grindelwald is a prominent character, known as one of the most dangerous Dark wizards of all time. His notoriety is only surpassed by the evil Lord Voldemort. Grindelwald was educated at Durmstrang Institute, but was expelled due to his dangerous tendencies. He is also known for his close relationship with Albus Dumbledore during his youth, with whom he planned to find the Deathly Hallows. Grindelwald also appears in the Fantastic Beasts film series, further expanding his role in the Wizarding World franchise. His character is described by J.K. Rowling as a sociopath.

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What is the relationship between Grindelwald and Dumbledore?

Gellert Grindelwald and Albus Dumbledore shared a complex relationship. They first met when Dumbledore was seventeen, introduced by Grindelwald's great aunt, Bathilda Bagshot. They quickly became friends, sharing common interests such as the quest for the Deathly Hallows and ideas about a wizard-led society. Their relationship eventually evolved beyond friendship, with Dumbledore falling in love with Grindelwald. This love blinded Dumbledore to Grindelwald's harmful anti-Muggle views and led them to make a blood pact, preventing them from fighting each other. However, Grindelwald revealed himself to be a Dark wizard, causing a rift between them. Despite this, Grindelwald still considered Dumbledore a friend to some extent.

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What role does Grindelwald play in the Fantastic Beasts series?

Gellert Grindelwald is a central character in the Fantastic Beasts series. He is a powerful dark wizard who seeks to lead a new Wizarding World order. His actions and beliefs form the main conflict in the series, particularly in 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'. His complex relationship with Albus Dumbledore also adds depth to the storyline.

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What happened to Grindelwald in the Harry Potter series?

Gellert Grindelwald had a fascinating journey. He was a powerful dark wizard who dreamed of a world where wizards ruled over Muggles. Grindelwald was obsessed with the Deathly Hallows and even embarked on an expedition to find them. His journey led him to Godric's Hollow, where he developed a romantic relationship with Albus Dumbledore. Together, they sought to use the Deathly Hallows to achieve their goal. However, Grindelwald was eventually defeated in a duel by Dumbledore and was imprisoned in Nurmengard. In the Deathly Hallows, Grindewald refused to tell Voldemort the location of the Elder Wand. When Voldemort was taunted by Grindelwald telling him to kill him if he wanted because he would not reveal it, he killed Grindelwald with the Killing Curse.

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How does the character of Grindelwald evolve from his younger years to his older years?

Gellert Grindelwald undergoes a significant transformation from his youth to his older years. As a young man, Grindelwald was described as having golden-blond hair and a 'merry, wild', and 'handsome' face. He had a triumphant trickery about him, which Harry Potter likened to the mischievous Weasley twins, Fred and George. Grindelwald was an extremely talented wizard and a natural born Seer, who had a vision of himself dominating the wizarding world. However, as he aged, his appearance and demeanor changed. His hair turned light blond and then grey, he grew a thin white moustache which he later lost, and his skin became somewhat wrinkled. Despite his aspirations and talents, Grindelwald's path diverged significantly from his youthful dreams, demonstrating the complexity and depth of his character.

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Biography

Early Life

Gellert Grindelwald was born around 1883 somewhere in Europe . He was educated at the wizarding school of Durmstrang Institute, and as a student he proved himself to be as equally talented as Albus Dumbledore, but unlike him, he didn't use his brilliance to win awards and prizes. Instead, he was devoted to experimenting with Dark magic. However, his experiments became so twisted that he was expelled. He was particularly interested in the Deathly Hallows, to the point of basing his mark on the Hallows' symbol, and engraving it on the walls of Durmstrang prior to his departure. His research led him to Godric's Hollow, England, where Ignotus Peverell, said to be the rightful keeper of Death's Cloak of Invisibility, had been laid to rest. There, he stayed with his great-aunt, Bathilda Bagshot.

Friendship

It was in Godric's Hollow that Grindelwald met and befriended Albus Dumbledore, a young wizard as talented and brilliant as he. The two teenage boys became united by their ambitions for glory, "a new world order" in which wizards would rule over Muggles, and their shared passion for the Deathly Hallows. While plotting they came up with what would be Grindelwald's slogan, "For the Greater Good." The two became extremely close, even to the point of romantic attraction on Dumbledore's part. At some point Grindelwald became aware of his friend's attraction to him, and used this to his advantage, manipulating the other boy into aiding him in his plans. However it seems likely that he had at least cared for Dumbledore, as he later gave his life attempting to protect Dumbledore's tomb from desecration by Lord Voldemort.

"He didn't like that. Grindelwald didn't like that at all. He got angry. He told me what a stupid little boy I was, trying to stand in the way of him and my brilliant brother . . . Didn't I understand, my poor sister wouldn't have to be hidden once they'd changed the world, and led the wizards out of hiding, and taught the Muggles their place? And there was an argument . . . and I pulled my wand, and he pulled out his..."

— Aberforth Dumbledore to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley

Aberforth Dumbledore became aware of the pair's research, and opposed them. He attempted to persuade them against their plans for the sake of taking care of his damaged sister, setting Grindelwald on the defensive. He inflicted the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth, which resulted in a three-way duel in which Ariana Dumbledore, Albus and Aberforth's younger sister who had difficulty controlling her magic, was killed. The two Dumbledores were devastated. Albus ended his friendship with Grindelwald, who fled the country, not wanting to be associated with the death.

Rise to Dark Power

"In a list of Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time, he'd miss out on the top spot only because You-Know-Who arrived, a generation later, to steal his crown."

— a line from The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore about Grindelwald

Working on his own from that point forward, Grindelwald delved into his research of the Deathly Hallows, and uncovered the location of the Elder Wand. Rumours had been circulating that the renowned wandsmith Gregorovitch had the wand and was trying to duplicate its properties. Grindelwald broke into the workshop and stole the wand from him, as is evidenced by Lord Voldemort using Legilimency to investigate Gregorovitch's mind decades later; he saw a memory of Grindelwald leaping merrily out of a window with his prize. This same image haunted Harry Potter as he was working on finding the identity of the youth..

Over the years, Grindelwald raised an army and began a reign of terror that spread through several European countries. He never tried to become powerful in Britain because he feared Albus Dumbledore, who was "a shade more skilfull" than him. During his reign of terror, Grindelwald murdered many people, including Viktor Krum's grandfather. He also built a prison to hold his opponents that was called Nurmengard. Throughout all this, he continued to claim that everything he was doing was being done "for the greater good."

"...while I busied myself with the training of young wizards, Grindelwald was raising an army. They say he feared me, and perhaps he did, but less, I think, than I feared him... It was the truth I feared. You see, I never knew which of us, in that last, horrific fight, had actually cast the curse that killed my sister... I think he knew it, I think he knew what frightened me. I delayed meeting him until finally, it would have been too shameful to resist any longer. People were dying and he seemed unstoppable, and I had to do what I could."

— Albus Dumbledore

Fall from Power and imprisonment

He was finally confronted, due to the cries of the public, by his old friend Albus Dumbledore, who bested him in a duel. Eye-witnesses have stated that it was the greatest duel ever fought between wizards. Dumbledore then became the master of the Elder Wand. Grindelwald was sent back to his homeland and put in the top most cell of Nurmengard.

Death

"Kill me, then. Voldemort, I welcome death! But my death will not bring you what you seek… There is so much you do not understand…"

— Grindelwald to Voldemort shortly before his death

Fifty-three years after his defeat, Grindelwald was slain in his prison cell by Lord Voldemort, who was searching for the Elder Wand for himself. It was only during the confrontation in the jail cell that Voldemort learned it was Albus Dumbledore who had claimed the wand long ago. Grindelwald showed no fear during this confrontation, taunting Voldemort by name and laughing at his desire for the wand. Voldemort ended his life with the Killing Curse in the spring of 1998.

Physical appearance

As a young man, Grindelwald had golden blond hair and a "merry, wild" face. Harry Potter thought he had "a Fred and George-ish air of triumphant trickery about him". He was considered to be handsome.

Personality and traits

Harry Potter: "Grindelwald tried to stop Voldemort going after the wand. He lied, you know, pretended he had never had it."

Albus Dumbledore: "They say he showed remorse in later years, alone in his cell at Nurmengard. I hope that is true. I would like to think that he did feel the horror and shame of what he had done. Perhaps that lie to Voldemort was his attempt to make amends . . . to prevent Voldemort from taking the Hallow . . ."

Harry Potter: ". . .or maybe from breaking into your tomb?"

— Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore discussing Grindelwald after his death

Grindelwald was a charming and brilliant young wizard, but even as a teenager he was fascinated by the Dark Arts and dangerously powerful and ambitious. He was highly intelligent, magically talented, and ruthless, with a vicious temper; for example, when Aberforth Dumbledore challenged his plans and tried to convince his older brother to abandon them, Grindelwald "lost control" and used the Cruciatus Curse on Aberforth. Grindelwald was considered the most powerful Dark Wizard in history, aside from Lord Voldemort.

Grindelwald was a narcissist, being very self-absorbed and thinking almost no one was his equal. He gifted his friendship only to those who had something to offer him in return, such as Albus Dumbledore. He also showed himself to be highly manipulative, such as when he willfully exploited his friend's affection for him in order to gain Dumbledore's cooperation with his plans.

Grindelwald apparently did not know fear, or at least did not show it. Even face-to-face with the only Dark Wizard to ever be considered more dangerous than himself, wandless and helpless, Grindelwald was openly defiant and even mocking, goading Voldemort into killing him. He claimed during this moment that, unlike the Dark Lord, he had no fear of death.

It is unknown if Grindelwald ever felt remorse for all he had done, but it is implied and speculated that he did. He does seem to have shown some scruples, as he felt the need to justify his atrocities by claiming that they were "for the greater good", and seemed to genuinely care about Albus Dumbledore, though he did not ever return Dumbledore's romantic feelings. He valued their friendship when they were young and respected Dumbledore's abilities; like Voldemort, he seemed to be afraid of no one except Dumbledore. Part of his motivation for refusing to give Voldemort any information about the Elder Wand may have been a desire to prevent Dumbledore's tomb from being desecrated, or even out of pure remorse for his own crimes.

Magical abilities and skills

"In a list of Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time, he'd miss out on the top spot only because You-Know-Who arrived, a generation later, to steal his crown."

— a line from The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore about Grindelwald

Grindelwald was brilliantly talented while a student and later as an adult. His skills in magic are comparable with Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort .

Dark Arts Mastery: Grindelwald had a talent and passion for the Dark Arts from a young age. In his school days he experimented Dark Arts on his friends at Durmstrang. His experiments in Dark Arts were almost lethal, even in his youth. As an adult, he nearly perfected almost every aspect of Dark magic which led him on top of the list The Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time , long before Lord Voldemort appeared.

Master Duellist: Grindelwald was a master duellist, able to fight with Albus Dumbledore when he was at the height of his power; their duel has entered history as the greatest duel between two wizards ever fought. He defeated and killed many powerful witches and wizards in duels during his reign of terror in Europe .

Occlumency: Grindelwald was obviously a highly skilled Occlumens, able to hide his ideas from Albus Dumbledore and able to protect the location of the Elder Wand from Lord Voldemort, who was the most skilled Legilimens ever. Aside from Grindelwald, Severus Snape was the only known Occlumens able to protect his mind from Voldemort's access.

Inferius Creation: Grindelwald was the first Dark Wizard who managed to create an army of Inferi .

Invisibility: Albus Dumbledore said that Grindelwald could make himself invisible without the use of an Invisibility cloak, to achieve such a state, Grindelwald used an extremely powerful Disillusionment Charm.

Genius-level intellect: Grindelwald was said to be extremely intelligent, talented and brilliant as Albus Dumbledore .

Master Manipulator: Grindelwald was able to manipulate Albus Dumbledore, who was even then an extremely powerful and smart wizard, into aiding him in his plans, using Dumbledore`s attraction to him to his advantage.

Relationships

Albus Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore

"Did I know, in my heart of hearts, what Gellert Grindelwald was? I think I did, but I closed my eyes."

— Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter, about his friendship with Gellert Grindelwald

Albus Dumbledore first met Grindelwald when he was seventeen. They were introduced by Grindelwald's great aunt, Bathilda Bagshot. They got along almost instantly, according to Bagshot. They were ultimately united by their desire to have the Deathly Hallows. Although Dumbledore had romantic feelings towards Grindelwald, Gellert did not share this affection. Instead, he exploited his friend's infatuation in order to keep Albus on his side and maintained their friendship primarily because he saw Albus as his equal in power and intellect. They were very close for two months, making plans to find the Deathly Hallows and lead a wizarding revolution, and Albus neglected his younger siblings, Aberforth and Ariana, as a result. When Aberforth confronted the pair over this, Grindelwald lost his temper and attacked Aberforth. Albus rushed forward to defend his brother, and during the duel Ariana was killed. Grindelwald fled, his friendship with Albus over.

Over the next few decades, Grindelwald gained power in Europe, and Dumbledore refused to face him out of fear that Grindelwald knew who had really killed Ariana. Eventually, however, Dumbledore could no longer stand idly by as his old friend terrorized Europe. In 1945, Grindelwald combatted Dumbledore for a second time in a legendary duel, said by eyewitnesses to be the greatest duel ever fought between wizards. Dumbledore won in the end, and took possession of the Elder Wand and imprisoned Grindelwald in his own prison Nurmengard.

Many years later, in 1998, Grindelwald refused to give any information to Lord Voldemort about the Elder Wand despite the fact that he was imprisoned, wandless and face-to-face with the only Dark Wizard ever considered more powerful than himself. This seems to indicate that Grindelwald no longer held with the views of those who practiced the Dark Arts. It was speculated by Harry Potter that Grindelwald had given his life to prevent Voldemort from desecrating Dumbledore's tomb, perhaps indicating that Grindelwald retained some respect and affection for his old friend.

Etymology

• Gellert is the Hungarian version of Gerard, which comes from the Germanic ger, "spear", and hard, "brave, hardy". Saint Gellert was an Italian-born missionary and martyr who worked in Hungary.
• Grindel is old German for "bolt," and is also similar to the mythic monster Grendel who was defeated by Beowulf. Wald is German for "forest". Grindelwald is also the name of a ski resort in Switzerland.
• It is of interesting but purely speculative note that the name Gellert is very close to the name Gelert, the name of a legendary dog of cultural, but little historical, significance to Northern Wales. According to local mythology, Gelert was the most faithful companion of Prince Llewelyn, mistaken for the assailant of the prince's infant heir. His "grave" is a site in Beddgelert (literally Gelert's Grave), Gwynedd, and the legend is popular in the area.

Behind the scenes

• The date of Grindelwald's duel with Dumbledore incidentally coincided with the downfall of Nazi Germany. What's more, the prison Nurmengard coincidentally shares a similar name to the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, where war criminal trials of former Nazis were held. Grindelwald never gained power in Britain for he feared Dumbledore. Coincidentally Britain was one of the few countries in Europe not Axis-controlled.There are, in fact, many parallels between Grindelwald and Hitler, from ideologies to timelines and locations.
• It was revealed by J. K. Rowling during a tour in 2007 that Albus Dumbledore was homosexual, and harboured romantic feelings for Grindelwald. Although she did not intially comment on Grindelwald's sexuality, Rowling later clarified that although Grindelwald was aware of Dumbledore's feelings, he merely used them to manipulate the other boy and did not reciprocate the attraction.
• It has been confirmed that Jamie Campbell Bower will play Grindelwald in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. He has stated that he believes his character to be gay, and has referred to Toby Regbo, who portrays the teenage Dumbledore, as his "onscreen lover".

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance) (Mentioned on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film) (Mentioned on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (Mentioned on a Famous Wizard Card)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Appears in vision(s))
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)

See also

• Gellert Grindelwald's army
• Grindelwald's mark
• Deathly Hallows