Credence Barebone

Credence Barebone is a central character in the Fantastic Beasts film series. He is an exceptionally powerful American wizard who, due to the suppression of his magic from years of abuse, became an Obscurial (film). Initially appearing as the tormented adopted son of Mary Lou Barebone, the leader of an anti-witchcraft group, Credence's search for his true identity drives much of the conflict in the series. His immense power and vulnerability make him a primary target for manipulation by Gellert Grindelwald (film). Note: Credence Barebone is a character created for the film series and does not appear in the original seven Harry Potter novels.

Early Life (film) Credence was adopted by Mary Lou Barebone, the cruel leader of the New Salem Philanthropic Society (Second Salemers), a group dedicated to exposing and eradicating magic (film). He grew up in an environment of severe physical and emotional abuse, forced to hide his magical nature. This intense repression caused him to develop an Obscurus, a dark, parasitic manifestation of uncontrolled magic. Unlike most Obscurials who die before the age of ten, Credence survived into adulthood, making him uniquely powerful and dangerous (film). Events of 1926 (film) In New York City, Credence was secretly approached by Gellert Grindelwald, who was disguised as Percival Graves, the Director of Magical Security for MACUSA. Grindelwald manipulated Credence, promising to free him and teach him magic in exchange for help locating the Obscurial whom Grindelwald believed was one of Credence's younger adopted sisters (film). The constant abuse and manipulation eventually caused Credence to lose control, unleashing his Obscurus on the city and killing both Mary Lou Barebone and Senator Henry Shaw Jr. (film). After being confronted by Newt Scamander, Credence was seemingly destroyed by a squadron of MACUSA Aurors in a subway station. However, a tiny fragment of his Obscurus escaped unseen (film). Events of 1927 (film) Having survived, Credence traveled to Paris, joining the Circus Arcanus in a desperate search for his birth mother (film). There, he befriended Nagini, a Maledictus. He was relentlessly pursued by Gellert Grindelwald's followers and Auror Tina Goldstein. At a rally held by Grindelwald at the Père Lachaise Cemetery, Grindelwald successfully swayed Credence to his side by offering him an identity and a place of belonging (film). At Nurmengard Castle, Grindelwald presented Credence with a wand and revealed his supposed birth name: Aurelius Dumbledore, claiming he was the long-lost brother of Albus Dumbledore (film). Events of the 1930s (film) Now a loyal acolyte of Grindelwald, Credence's health began to fail due to the Obscurus consuming him from within (film). Grindelwald used him to carry out key missions, including the attempted assassination of Albus Dumbledore and the abduction of a newborn Qilin in China (film). During a confrontation with Albus, Credence learned the truth: he was not Albus's brother, but the illegitimate son of Aberforth Dumbledore (film). Realizing he had been used, a weakened Credence turned against Grindelwald during the Walk of the Qilin ceremony in Bhutan, helping to expose Grindelwald's deception. In the aftermath, he shared a brief, peaceful reunion with his father, Aberforth, before walking away with him, seemingly to live out his final moments (film).

Credence is described as tall and gaunt with pale skin and dark hair cut in a severe, short style (film). During his time with the Second Salemers, he wore ill-fitting, dark, and drab clothing that emphasized his oppressed state (film). After joining Grindelwald, his appearance became more refined (film). He is painfully shy, withdrawn, and emotionally scarred from years of abuse (film). His repressed state makes him awkward and non-communicative, but beneath the surface lies immense rage and pain that manifests through his Obscurus (film). His profound desire for identity, love, and belonging makes him extremely susceptible to manipulation by powerful figures like Gellert Grindelwald (film).

• Obscurial: Credence's most significant ability is being an Obscurial. He is arguably the most powerful Obscurial ever known, having survived into adulthood and learned to exert some conscious control over his Obscurus, a feat previously thought impossible (film). His Obscurus is a colossal, destructive force capable of leveling city blocks (film).
• Wand Magic: After being given a wand by Grindelwald, Credence demonstrated the ability to cast powerful, destructive spells with little to no formal training, such as blasting a hole through a mountainside (film). This suggests a high level of raw magical talent, likely inherited from his Dumbledore lineage (film).

• Wand: A wand of unknown wood, core, and length given to him by Gellert Grindelwald at Nurmengard Castle (film).
• Phoenix: A bird that came to Credence at Nurmengard Castle was identified by Grindelwald as a Phoenix, which is said to appear to members of the Dumbledore family in times of need. The phoenix, named Fawkes in later materials, remained his companion (film, Pottermore).

• Gellert Grindelwald: A deeply toxic and manipulative relationship. Grindelwald posed as a mentor and saviour, exploiting Credence's emotional needs to turn him into a living weapon against Albus Dumbledore (film).
• Aberforth Dumbledore: His biological father. They were separated at Credence's birth and only learned of their connection at the end of Credence's life. Their reunion was brief but poignant, with Aberforth showing his son acceptance (film).
• Albus Dumbledore: Initially a figure of opposition, Albus treated Credence with compassion and honesty, ultimately revealing the truth of his parentage and freeing him from Grindelwald's lies (film).
• Nagini: His closest friend and confidante at the Circus Arcanus. As fellow outcasts, they shared a strong bond, with Nagini trying to protect him from being exploited (film).
• Newt Scamander: Newt was one of the first wizards to show Credence genuine kindness, attempting to calm and help him rather than attack him during his rampage in New York (film).
• Mary Lou Barebone: His abusive adoptive mother, whose fanatical hatred of magic was the direct cause of the trauma that created his Obscurus (film).

• Credence: The name means “belief” or “acceptance that something is true.” This directly reflects his character arc, which is defined by his desperate search for a true identity and his willingness to believe whomever offers him one (film).
• Barebone: This surname suggests something stripped down to its essential parts, reflecting his impoverished, abused, and neglected upbringing (film).
• Aurelius: The name given to him by Grindelwald is a Roman name meaning “the golden one.” This likely refers to his value in Grindelwald's plans and his powerful magical bloodline (film).

• Credence Barebone is portrayed by actor Ezra Miller in the Fantastic Beasts film series (film).
• The character was created specifically for the films and has no basis in the original *Harry Potter* novels or their supplementary texts published prior to the first film's release.
• The revelation of his identity as Aurelius Dumbledore at the end of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was a significant and controversial plot twist among the fandom, as it appeared to contradict the previously established history of the Dumbledore family. This was later clarified in the third film, which revealed him to be Aberforth's son, not Albus's brother.