======The Secrets of Dumbledore======
=====Introduction=====
//The Secrets of Dumbledore// is the third installment in the [[Fantastic Beasts]] film series, serving as a prequel to the main [[Harry Potter]] saga. The story centers on [[Albus Dumbledore]] tasking [[Newt Scamander]] and his allies with a mission to thwart the dark wizard [[Gellert Grindelwald]]'s escalating plans for global domination. As a film adaptation, its events and characters exist within the film canon and may differ from or expand upon the information presented in the original seven [[Harry Potter]] novels. All information in this entry is sourced from the film unless otherwise specified.
=====Synopsis=====
The narrative begins with [[Albus Dumbledore]], who is prevented from directly moving against [[Gellert Grindelwald]] due to their magical [[Blood Pact]]. Aware that Grindelwald has the power of [[Divination]] and can foresee any direct counter-move, Dumbledore devises a complex plan to confuse him. He assembles a team, which he refers to as the first army to stand against Grindelwald, consisting of [[Newt Scamander]], his brother [[Theseus Scamander]], [[Ilvermorny]] [[Charms]] professor [[Eulalie Hicks|Eulalie "Lally" Hicks]], French-Senegalese wizard [[Yusuf Kama]], Newt's [[Muggle]] friend [[Jacob Kowalski]], and Newt's assistant, [[Bunty Broadacre]].
The team's mission is to disrupt Grindelwald's plot to be illegitimately elected as the new Supreme Head of the [[International Confederation of Wizards]] (ICW). Grindelwald's plan hinges on using a captured [[Qilin]]—a rare magical creature capable of seeing a person's pure soul—to endorse him during the election in [[Bhutan]]. He kills one of the newborn twin Qilins and uses [[Necromancy]] to reanimate it, intending for the corrupted creature to bow to him.
Dumbledore's team, armed with identical suitcases to create confusion, travels to the [[German Ministry of Magic]] in Berlin to disrupt a dinner for the ICW candidates and to rescue Theseus, who has been captured. During these events, Grindelwald publicly frames his political opponent, Vicência Santos of Brazil, for an assassination attempt he orchestrated himself. He also tasks [[Credence Barebone]], his tormented follower, with assassinating Dumbledore.
The final confrontation takes place in [[Bhutan]] during the Walk of the [[Qilin]] ceremony. Thanks to Dumbledore's confusing plan, Newt successfully presents the surviving twin [[Qilin]] to the world. The creature first bows to Dumbledore, who declines leadership, and then to a shocked Vicência Santos, who is recognized as the worthy leader. Enraged, Grindelwald attempts to kill Credence, but Albus and [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] cast protective spells. The collision of these opposing spells finally breaks the [[Blood Pact]]. Freed from their magical bond, Dumbledore and Grindelwald engage in a brief but intense duel before Grindelwald disapparates. The film concludes with the wedding of [[Jacob Kowalski]] and [[Queenie Goldstein]] at Jacob's bakery, attended by Newt, [[Tina Goldstein]], and other members of the team.
=====Key Revelations and Plot Points=====
  * **[[Credence Barebone]]'s Parentage:** It is revealed that Credence is not Albus Dumbledore's long-lost brother, but the illegitimate son of [[Aberforth Dumbledore]]. His true name is Aurelius Dumbledore. This clarifies the cliffhanger from the previous film, //[[The Crimes of Grindelwald]]//.
  * **The [[Blood Pact]]:** The nature of the magical pact between Albus and Gellert is shown. It is a vial containing their intermingled [[blood]], which physically prevents them from harming or even thinking ill of one another. It is destroyed when their spells clash while protecting Credence, as they were not aimed at each other but at a common point with opposing intent.
  * **Dumbledore's Love for Grindelwald:** [[Albus Dumbledore]] explicitly states that he was in love with [[Gellert Grindelwald]], confirming the nature of their youthful relationship.
  * **The [[Qilin]]:** This film introduces the [[Qilin]], a gentle, dragon-like creature from Asian mythology revered for its ability to perceive inner goodness and purity, making it the ultimate arbiter of leadership in the wizarding world.
  * **The First Dumbledore's Army:** The team assembled by Dumbledore—a diverse group including a Magizoologist, an Auror, a professor, a French wizard, a Muggle, and an assistant—is referred to by Albus as "Dumbledore's Army," a clear precursor to the student organization [[Harry Potter]] would later form.
=====Continuity with the Harry Potter Novels=====
This film expands upon the backstory of the Dumbledore family and the conflict with Grindelwald, which was primarily detailed in //[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]// through the accounts of [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] and [[Rita Skeeter]]'s biography, //[[The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore]]//.
  * **Aurelius Dumbledore:** The existence of a son of [[Aberforth Dumbledore]] is a major addition to the Dumbledore family history and is not mentioned anywhere in the seven original novels. Aberforth's own account of his family history in the books focuses solely on his parents and his sister, [[Ariana Dumbledore]].
  * **The [[Blood Pact]]:** While Dumbledore tells [[Harry Potter]] in the novels that he was unable to move against Grindelwald for a time due to being "fond of him" and "ashamed," the [[Blood Pact]] provides a concrete, magical reason for his delay in confronting him.
  * **[[Hogwarts]] in the 1930s:** The film provides visual depictions of [[Hogwarts]], the [[Room of Requirement]], and the village of [[Hogsmeade]] during the 1930s. It also shows a meeting between Albus and Aberforth in the [[Hog's Head Inn]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * **Film Series:** [[Fantastic Beasts]]
  * **Release Date:** 15 April 2022 (United States) (film)
  * **Director:** David Yates (film)
  * **Screenplay by:** [[J.K. Rowling]] & Steve Kloves (film)
  * **Based on a screenplay by:** [[J.K. Rowling]] (film)
  * **Recasting:** The role of [[Gellert Grindelwald]] was portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen, who replaced Johnny Depp from the previous films. (film)