Aurelius Dumbledore

Aurelius Dumbledore, known for most of his life as Credence Barebone, is a powerful American half-blood wizard and an Obscurial. (film) His existence and identity are central to the global conflict orchestrated by Gellert Grindelwald in the early 20th century. (film) Initially manipulated by Grindelwald into serving as a living weapon, Aurelius's journey is defined by his desperate search for his true identity, which is ultimately revealed to be the illegitimate son of Aberforth Dumbledore. (film) NOTE: Aurelius Dumbledore is a character created for the Fantastic Beasts film series. He does not appear, nor is he mentioned, in the seven original Harry Potter novels.

Born Aurelius Dumbledore, he was sent to America as an infant and adopted by Mary Lou Barebone, the fanatical anti-witchcraft leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society. (film) Renamed Credence Barebone, he grew up in an abusive environment where his magical abilities were brutally suppressed. This suppression led to the development of a parasitic Obscurus within him, making him an Obscurial. (film) Due to the extreme power of his magic, he managed to survive past the typical young age at which other Obscurials perish. (film)

In 1926, Credence was secretly manipulated by Percival Graves, who was in fact Gellert Grindelwald in disguise. Grindelwald preyed on Credence's loneliness and desperation, promising to free him and teach him magic in exchange for help locating the Obscurial causing destruction in New York City, unaware that Credence himself was the host. (film) After being betrayed and cast aside by Grindelwald, Credence's Obscurus was unleashed, killing Mary Lou Barebone and Senator Henry Shaw Jr. (film) He was seemingly destroyed by Aurors from the Magical Congress of the United States of America, but a tiny fragment of his Obscurus survived and escaped. (film)

Having reformed his physical body, Credence fled to Paris, France, seeking his birth mother. He joined the Circus Arcanus where he befriended Nagini, a Maledictus. (film) He was hunted by both Grindelwald's acolytes and Ministry of Magic Aurors like Theseus Scamander and Leta Lestrange. (film) At a rally held by Grindelwald in the Lestrange Mausoleum, Grindelwald revealed Credence's supposed true name as “Aurelius Dumbledore” and presented him with a wand, convincing him that Albus Dumbledore was his enemy. Aurelius, desiring a name and family above all else, chose to join Grindelwald. (film)

Aurelius took up residence in Nurmengard Castle, Grindelwald's base of operations. (film) A phoenix came to him, which Grindelwald claimed was proof of his Dumbledore heritage, as a phoenix is said to come to any Dumbledore in need. (film) During this time, his health visibly deteriorated as the Obscurus continued to consume his life force. He was sent by Grindelwald to assassinate Albus Dumbledore in Berlin, leading to a magical duel where Albus easily defended himself while trying to reason with his unknown relative. (film)

The truth of Aurelius's parentage was revealed by Albus Dumbledore: he was not Albus's brother, but the son of Aberforth Dumbledore, conceived from a brief and tragic affair in Godric's Hollow around 1899. (film) During the Walk of the Qilin ceremony in Bhutan, a dying Aurelius turned against Grindelwald, exposing his fraudulent use of the enchanted Qilin. (film) He reunited with his father, Aberforth, who took him home. Weakened beyond recovery by his Obscurus, Aurelius shared a final moment with his father before seemingly passing away in his arms. (film)

As Credence Barebone, he was gaunt and pale, with dark hair in a severe bowl cut. He typically wore ill-fitting, drab clothing and maintained a hunched, submissive posture, reflecting years of abuse. (film) After joining Grindelwald, his appearance became slightly more defined, but he remained sickly and pale, with his inner turmoil etched on his face. (film) Credence was initially shy, emotionally fragile, and desperate for affection and belonging, making him highly susceptible to manipulation. (film) After discovering his supposed identity, he was filled with anger and resentment toward the family he believed had abandoned him. (film) Ultimately, he possessed a core of goodness, choosing to defy Grindelwald once he learned the truth. (film)

• Obscurial: Aurelius was an exceptionally powerful Obscurial, arguably one of the most powerful ever known. His ability to survive with an Obscurus into adulthood was nearly unprecedented. His Obscurus was a vast, destructive force capable of leveling city blocks and shattering stone with ease. (film)
• Wand Magic: After receiving a wand from Grindelwald, Aurelius demonstrated immense raw magical power, though it was largely uncontrolled. He was able to cast a powerful blast of energy that sheared off the side of a mountain. (film)
• Dueling: He engaged in a duel with Albus Dumbledore, though he was significantly outmatched by his uncle's defensive skill. His magical exchange with his father, Aberforth, was more of a sorrowful communication through their wands than a true duel. (film)

• Wand: A wand of unknown wood, core, and length, given to him by Gellert Grindelwald at the Lestrange Mausoleum in 1927. (film)
• Adoption Certificate: A document from the New York Society for the Preservation of Barebone Children that confirmed his adoption by Mary Lou Barebone. (film)

• Aberforth Dumbledore: His biological father. Aberforth loved Aurelius's mother and was heartbroken by their separation. He finally met and acknowledged his son in 1932, showing him deep regret and love in Aurelius's final moments. (film)
• Albus Dumbledore: His uncle. Aurelius was initially manipulated by Grindelwald into believing Albus was his cruel, estranged brother. Albus treated him with compassion and was instrumental in revealing the truth of his parentage, helping Aurelius find peace. (film)
• Gellert Grindelwald: A manipulative and exploitative father figure. Grindelwald saw Aurelius not as a person but as the perfect weapon to use against Albus Dumbledore, due to the blood pact that prevented them from fighting each other directly. (film)
• Nagini: His closest friend and confidante at the Circus Arcanus. As a fellow outcast, she understood his pain and tried to prevent him from succumbing to Grindelwald's dark influence. (film)
• Mary Lou Barebone: His abusive adoptive mother. Her cruel treatment was the direct cause of the formation of his Obscurus. He unintentionally killed her when his powers were unleashed. (film)

• Aurelius: A Latin name meaning “the golden one.” This may be a reference to his great value to Grindelwald as a weapon, or to the golden phoenix that came to him. (Pottermore)
• Credence: An English word meaning “belief in or acceptance of something as true.” This directly reflects his character's central motivation: a desperate search for a truth to believe in regarding his identity.
• Barebone: A literal English term meaning “emaciated” or “reduced to its most essential parts.” This describes his neglected physical and emotional state under the care of Mary Lou Barebone.

• Aurelius Dumbledore is a major character in the Fantastic Beasts film series, portrayed by actor Ezra Miller. The character does not exist in the original seven *Harry Potter* novels and was created specifically for the films. (film)
• The revelation of a fourth Dumbledore sibling in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald generated significant discussion and controversy among fans, as it appeared to contradict the family history provided by Aberforth Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, particularly regarding the timeline of Kendra Dumbledore's death. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• The subsequent film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, retconned this by clarifying that Aurelius was Aberforth's son, not Albus's brother, thereby resolving most of the perceived timeline inconsistencies. (film)