Albus Dumbledore's portrait

The portrait of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, hung at Hogwarts

"And a new portrait had joined the ranks of the dead headmasters and headmistresses of Hogwarts: Dumbledore was slumbering in a golden frame over the desk, his halfmoon spectacle perched upon his crooked nose, looking peaceful and untroubled."

— The first appearance of Dumbledore's portrait after his death

This portrait of Albus Dumbledore was an enchanted painting that hangs in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It had retained some of Dumbledore's mannerisms and was capable of answering questions and giving advice.

History

Following his appointment as Headmaster of Hogwarts, a portrait of Albus Dumbledore was painted and placed in a cupboard, to which its once living counterpart would visit on a regular basis in order to teach it to talk and behave like himself, as well as impart memories and other useful information that he believed his prospective successor might benefit from having access to. Following his untimely demise, the portrait was found hanging behind the chair of the Headmaster's desk, with its occupant peacefully asleep. It was not a completely accurate copy of Dumbledore, however, only what Hogwarts knew of him over the years before being further enhanced by whatever pieces of knowledge and wisdom its living counterpart shared with it.

1997–1998 school year

"Now, Severus, the sword! Do not forget that it must be taken under conditions of need and valour – and he must not know that you give it! If Voldemort should read Harry’s mind and see you acting for him –"

— Dumbledore's portrait advising Snape

Dumbledore asleep in his portrait

During Severus Snape's tenure as Headmaster, the portrait helped and advised the formerly and presumed now again Death Eater, appointed Headmaster, in aiding Harry Potter and his friends destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. This included, but was not limited to telling Snape that he must give Godric Gryffindor's Sword, which was at the time concealed in a cavity behind the portrait, to Harry, though he did not tell him why.

After the death of the Dark Lord and the defeat and scattering of his forces, Harry Potter and his friends made their way to the Headmaster's office, and received tumultuous applause from the other Headmasters. Here, Harry had a brief discussion with the portrait about his plans for the Elder Wand, and his decision to leave the Resurrection Stone lost, which Dumbledore's portrait approved of.

As Severus Snape's portrait was later hung, it can be assumed that Dumbledore's portrait was later moved down the line to make way for Snape's portrait to hang behind the desk.

2008–2009 school year

Albus Dumbledore: "How unfortunate. I do enjoy his company. But it appears I have three replacements... none of which is the Headmistress. I do hope Minerva has not been sacked."

Daniel Page: "No, sir. Professor McGonagall was busy, and we thought it best to, um, not bother her. We'll be going now."

Albus Dumbledore: "But you just got here. Surely, you didn't sneak into the Headmistress's office just so you could scamper off."

Ivy Warrington: "We came to use the Pensieve, sir. I have a memory I need to see... one I seem to have forgotten."

Albus Dumbledore: "Ah, I see. In that case, you might want to check the cupboard against the far wall."

— Albus Dumbledore and the students

The portrait of Dumbledore had a good time with Gossamer, who came to the Headmistress's office to extract the password for three students, Daniel Page, Ivy Warrington and their friend. Gossamer then left and told the three the password, and the students entered the office. Dumbledore noticed them, and due to Headmistress McGonagall's absence, he jokingly remarked that he hoped Minerva had not been sacked. When he learnt the students' intention of using the Pensieve to look at a memory, he pointed them to the cupboard against the far wall where the Pensieve was stored, but also alerted them to a Boggart living there.

2010–2011 school year

Unidentified Muggle-born Hogwarts student: "Ministry trouble."

Albus Dumbledore: "Good for you!"

Ivy Warrington: "Excuse me? How is that good?"

Albus Dumbledore: "Well, it's been my experience that a rebuke from the Ministry most likely means you're doing something right."

— Albus Dumbledore and the students

The portrait of Dumbledore also communed briefly with the same students at the start of the 2010–2011 school year, when they came to the Headmistress's office to cooperate with the investigation of the Nocturnal Order of Tricks and Magical Exhibitions by Linderina Crane. He praised them after having learned about their trouble with the Ministry, and explained to the confused students that he believed their receiving rebuke from the Ministry could only mean they were doing something right.

2020–2021 school year

After his son, Albus Potter, got injured due to using a prototype Time-Turner to save Cedric Diggory, Harry visited the portrait of Dumbledore. He gave Harry advice of trying to see his son the way he is rather than make him be something he cannot be and later departed.

Harry approached him again after hearing Albus and Scorpius Malfoy, the son of Draco Malfoy, are kidnapped by Delphini, the daughter of Lord Voldemort, where he asked Harry what he was doing and answered Harry's questions. Feeling like he was left "cleaning after the messes" Dumbledore left after he died, Harry asked him to leave. In response, Dumbledore tried to justify his actions. He stated that he wanted to fight Voldemort on his behalf but he "felt like he loved Harry too much to not realise that he should had trusted Harry more". He later gave Harry advice and left his portrait once more.

Dumbledore's reputation was so significant that even years after his death, the only reason Albus and Scorpius avoided contacting him for help when they found themselves stuck in 1981 was because they were concerned that even the knowledge of their existence would taint Dumbledore's future plans, as it was agreed that he had always known enough to know what to do or not to do and awareness of details such as Harry's future son might impact his plans.

Behind the scenes

By Jim Kay

• It was revealed in Harry Potter: Magic Awakened that Dumbledore's portrait in the Headmistress's office had other frames elsewhere in the castle that it could visit, one of which was in the History of Magic Classroom.
• The virtual tour of the Headmaster's office in Disc 2 of the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets reveals two portraits of Dumbledore (as portrayed by Richard Harris) hanging in the office, one hanging on the wall among the other portraits, and another in the sitting room behind the desk. As Dumbledore was still alive at the time of the events of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, this contradicts author J. K. Rowling's statement that the portraits in the Headmaster's office only depict deceased individuals. However, it can be assumed that neither of these portraits of Dumbledore are the "official" portrait, which was added after Dumbledore's death, and that they are in the office purely as decorations (perhaps as a way of symbolising Dumbledore's occupation of the office).

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Illustrated Edition (Non-canonical appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• Harry Potter: A History of Magic (book)