We've learned a lot about what kind of man Dumbledore was growing up with a sister who was ill and a brother who didn't care much for him. But we didn't learn about who he really was. We know he had his bad moments, but that's about it. Do you think he ever had a moment where he stopped and really thought about what he wanted to do with his life before everything happened? And do you think his decision changed after the sad event happened.

What are your thoughts on Dumbledore's childhood?

His childhood was spent by himself, with himself. I think thats why he turned out to be gay. His childhood was sad, and for that we mourn in hope that Dumbledore is happy where he is now.

Do you think that's why he excelled so much in school? Being alone like that allows you plenty of time to learn new things. It's no wonder he became so powerful and admired.

well maybe not..i dont think any body could learn like that because they'll be sooo depresed*having experienced it myself at one point of time*to while away his depression i think he must have tried new things and excelled in everything!

Im thinkin that he both had alot of time to study but I also think that he was just naturally book smart

I'm not really sure how his relationship with his family was but I think it is most likely that when he was very young he and his brother had an excelent relationship but as Ariana was attacked, their father attacked the muggle boys and later went to the jail for it, and when their mother died they began to split apart with each strike. And when Ariana died and Aberforth cracked I don't think they really picked it up entill much later. I think that they probably started talking about 3-5 years before Snapes interview.

I think that he had so much pressure on him to succeed, to make something of himself, he was never allowed to just be himself. His family knew what he was capable of and he had to be successful.

With him having such ability, I don't think it was ever an option him not using his talent and knowledge. However, with his sister becoming ill, and then becoming her main carer, I can see him having the teenage rebellious stage, where he puts his needs before that of his responsibilties and this is where he can just be him and test his boundaries. But he saw the disaterous results and that stayed with him. That influenced the rest of his life, his knowing that love is so dear, but being unable to give his heart romantically to someone else as he took his other responsibilities (the welfare of the school and his students) to an extreme.

He was so brilliant, so I think his childhood was kind of thrust upon him, much like Harry's was thrust upon him because of his parents. This might of been one of the reasons why Harry and Dumbledore had such a great bond. They had the idea of a childhood being set out for them simply because of who they were. In Harry's case it was because of his parents; in Dumbledore's, his brilliance.

It's hard to say what Albus was like when he was a young child. We've only heard account from two three sources on this, so it's hard to put it all together.

I think he was always a very bright young man. He was a great thinker, and stayed that way until the day he died. He obviously had a great love for his family, even his brother.
It seems to me that Aberforth was jealous of him, partly because he was so clever, but also maybe that he was clearly destined for greater things, even from a young age.
I wouldn't go as far as to say that Albus was arrogant, but I think he knew just how clever he was. We know from his friendship with Grindelwald that he had some pretty ambitious ideas, ignorant as they may have been. He was, after all, a teenager. And despite Harry's opinion otherwise, teenagers often think they know a lot more, or understand more than they actually do (but then so do many adults).

However we cannot get away from the fact that he was underlyingly a good person. He loved his family. I believe that Aberforth's opinion that his brother couldn't wait to be away fom his "responsibility" was untrue. I think we all know it was his guilt that drove him away and nothing else.

I don't believe that his childhood or anything that happened to him 'caused' him to become gay. You're either gay or you're not. It's who you are. It's not something that 'happens' to you. I honestly don't really believe his orientation has any leaning on his personality or his decisions, although I'm sure he felt very lonely at times.

As a small child I see a bright, friendly boy who was always quick on the up-take and eager to learn new things. I see him as playful and even cheeky. That twinkle in his eye comes from somewhere.

I think he was the type of child who kept to himself most of the time. He probably spent many hours studying and reading alone, and he wanted it that way. Even though he had some dark times, he found a way to make them work for him and to grow from the experience.

I think he would have been the type of kid who found kids his own age uninteresting. He seems to be older than his years even from when he was young, so I think he would have been awkward at school, but well liked by the people he did get to know and who took the time to get to know him.

I also think that he would have felt somewhat frustrated by the events that went on around him. He had all those aspirations but had to put his own life on hold. He freely admitted himself that he was young and selfish. But I think we all feel that way sometimes when things don't work out the way we want them too...

I agree, because he was very intelligent.

I think he would have been the kind of kid that really looked at the world around him.

He just wanted to make the world a better place, but then he realised his view was not exactly right.

You all make great points.

It makes you wonder what his life would have been like if the bad things hadn't happened you know? Growing up with his parents alive and well, having Arianna by his side, watching as she grew into a beautiful witch going to Hogwarts etc...

Well since the events in our lives are what determines who you are now, I would say he would be completely different and he might not have achieved eveything he did achive. Because he had it bad, he had to find a way to make up for it. To show he could do something, be someone

I think that the reason he had hated muggles and wanted to purify the wizarding race was because of what had happened to Ariana. If that hadn't happened, he would have been someone totally different. Then Ariana died, and his belief changed. That incident was what made him who he was.