Manipulative!Dumbledore
| Tropes and genres | |
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| Related tropes/genres | Evil!Dumbledore |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
Manipulative!Dumbledore is a trope that engenders strong negative feelings in many Harry Potter fans. Fics in this genre are written off by many readers for character-bashing elements. Even so, Manipulative!Dumbledore is a pervasive AU in the HP fanfiction community. Fics in this genre run the gamut from Evil!Dumbledore to a (sometimes well-meaning) Dumbledore obstructing the main character's plans. The protagonist in these fics is usually Harry. Running themes in this category are Dumbledore's obsession with the prophecy, his knowledge of the scar Horcrux and his intention to have Harry Potter raised ignorant and downtrodden, a gullible 'sacrificial lamb'.
Even in canon, Dumbledore is manipulative. Although beloved by many as a wise and noble character, he is very complex and contradictory. After all, sorrowfully or not, he does orchestrate Harry's death. This trope takes his manipulations further. Occasionally, they're taken to absurd limits, where Dumbledore is so ancient and powerful that he's undefeatable without the intervention of a deus ex machina.
Yet this trope maintains popularity. One possible reason is that just as many readers crave a more intelligent, cunning hero (Judging by the plethora of fics in the Smart!Harry, Slytherin!Harry and Dark!Harry fanfiction categories), they also desire a more complicated villain. Much has been said about Voldemort being a cackling, generic EVIL. Manipulative!Dumbledore fics, when done well, can be compelling. As a magically and politically powerful character that believes he's acting towards the 'greater good' of society, he can prove a formidable obstacle to characters with different interests.
FanWorks
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Meta
Notable Fanfics
- Harry Crow by RobSt
- The Well Groomed Mind series by Lady Khali
- Partially Kissed Hero by Perfect Lionheart
- Faery Heroes by Silently Watches
- Harry Potter and the Four Heirs by Sinyk
- Angry, Overpowered Harry Potter by TomHRichardson
- In This World and the Next by RobSt
- The Snorkackic Trio by TomHRichardson