Skip to content

MuggleNet

  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Site
    • Contact Us & FAQ
    • History
    • Meet the Team
    • MuggleNet Live!
    • Press
    • Publications
    • Special Projects
    • Volunteer with Us!
    • Year in Review
  • Podcasts
    • Alohomora!
    • Full Circle
    • LITHAPPENS
    • Potterversity
    • Promptly Potter
    • SpeakBeasty
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Quotes
    • Book Series
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Film Series
    • Hogwarts Library
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Coloring Books
    • Film Companions
    • Fantastic Beasts Film Quotes
    • Film Series
    • Little Things
    • Music
    • Video Games
  • The Quibbler
    • Owl Post
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • Into the Floo
    • Muggle Studies
    • The Pensieve Papers
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Book Trolley
    • Editorials
    • Event Reports
    • Exclusive Interviews
    • Features
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibitions
    • J.K. Rowling
    • MinaLima
    • Quadball
    • Studio Tours
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
    • Wizarding World Digital
  • Fans & Fun
    • Crazy Caption Contest
    • Fan Focus
    • Fandom
    • Fandom Sortings
    • Fandom Timeline
    • Fun Lists
    • Games and Trivia
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • Potter Weddings
    • #PotterItForward
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
    • Wizarding Wordle
  • Features

Becoming Albus Dumbledore: Kind to Bullies #MNBHP

by Nicole Rivera · June 12, 2015

Good evening, Amycus,” said Dumbledore calmly, as though welcoming the man to a tea party. “And you’ve brought Alecto too….Charming…”

The woman gave an angry little titer. “Think your little jokes’ll help you on your deathbed then?” she jeered.

“Jokes? No, No, these are manners,” replied Dumbledore.

HBP 

Amycus and Alecto, as we see in book seven, are right up there with Umbridge on the evil-o-meter. They were students of the very observant Dumbledore, so he probably knew this about them. Yet, despite his disagreements with how they live and treat others, he finds it within himself to be kind and courteous toward them. Dumbledore doesn’t let the meanness of others change him into a mean man.

Staying calm in the face of bullies is no easy feat, least of all for Gryffindors—who are known for their hot-headedness. So how did Dumbledore, a Gryffindor, learn to keep his manners in the face of bullies? Since Rowling hasn’t told us, I’m going to take a stab at it. Dumbledore seemed to be forever changed by the death of his sister. Her loss put a lot of things into perspective for him. One of them, I think, could have been that retaliation often leads to more hurt than good. Hurt to ourselves and to those we love. It is much easier to deal with the fallout of showing love in the face of evil, than in returning evil for evil.

CHALLENGE

Be more like Dumbledore, kind even to the nastiest of bullies, because at the end of the day the fallout of kindness is livable whereas the fallout of revenge may not be. (Note: Being kind does not mean being a doormat. Dumbledore was far from a man who was walked all over.)

Next Week: Becoming Albus Dumbledore: Old

 

Social:

  • Next story Top 15 Personal Favorite Behind-the-Scenes Trivia for All Eight Harry Potter Movies
  • Previous story Warner Bros. Studio Tour to Host “Sweets and Treats” Feature

MuggleNet Archive

Important Dates

July 2025

Sun, Jul 20

Jeff Rawle's birthday
Recurs yearly

Amos Diggory

Stephenie McMillan's birthday (Set decorator - RIP)
Recurs yearly

Set decorator – RIP

Mon, Jul 21

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book
Recurs yearly

2007

Tue, Jul 22

Rhys Ifans's birthday
Recurs yearly

Xenophilius Lovegood

Wed, Jul 23

Daniel Radcliffe's birthday
Recurs yearly

Harry Potter

Nicholas Hooper's birthday (Composer)
Recurs yearly

Composer

Thu, Jul 24

Letters from Hogwarts begin to arrive at number four, Privet Drive
Recurs yearly

1991

Fri, Jul 25

Cherrelle Skeete's birthday
Recurs yearly

Rose Granger-Weasley (CC – London)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One and Two: The Official Playscript of the Original West End Production
Recurs yearly

2017

MuggleNet podcasts are sponsored in part by Secretlab.

Thanks to its research-backed ergonomic design, including a proprietary 4-way adaptive lumbar support system, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Harry Potter Edition will comfortably support you even when you’re up to no good.

Did You Know

The Hogwarts grounds were mapped out during the writing of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The map includes instructions to get to Hogsmeade: “To reach the school by stagecoach, go right around lake to front entrance at North.”

Potter History

December 21, 2010 – The final scene of the Harry Potter film series is shot at Leavesden Film Studios.

Potter Quote

“I’m three years older than you were when you fought You-Know– Who over the Sorcerer’s Stone and it’s because of me Malfoy’s stuck back in Umbridge’s office with giant flying bogeys attacking him!”

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite.
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999–2025 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback


MuggleNet is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and Bookshop.org's affiliate program, affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and bookshop.org.