Is Dumbledore’s Sister an Obscurial? Unraveling the Mysteries of the Wizarding World
In the vast and intricate universe of Harry Potter, many mysteries remain unsolved, leaving fans and analysts alike pondering the possibilities. One such intriguing question is whether Dumbledore's sister, Ariana, was an Obscurial—a phenomenon involving the uncontrollable manifestation of magic due to trauma and repressed emotions. This theory is supported by strong textual evidence and parallels drawn from the lives and experiences of characters within the Harry Potter series.
Defining the Obscurial
.getKeyword(0) is an entity that embodies an unstable, uncontrollable dark force that erupts and then vanishes. The concept is introduced in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, where it is described as a result of young wizards and witches trying to suppress their magic out of fear of persecution from Muggles. This suppression leads to the development of an Obscurus—a form of the backlash that occurs when magic is repressed due to trauma.
Verity Pomphrey, an expert in Obscurials, mentions in a lecture that they have existed since before wizards went underground and were being hunted by Muggles. This historical context is crucial to understanding the background against which Obscurials develop.
Connecting Harry Potter to the Obscurial Concept
The key to linking the Obscurials of Fantastic Beasts with the events in the Harry Potter books lies in the character of Grindelwald. In the Fantastic Beasts series, Grindelwald shows an interest in controlling the uncontrollable magic of Obscurials, especially in Ariana Dumbledore. This connection emphasizes the importance of the line between repressed and unleashed magic and the dire consequences of either.
Textual Evidence from Harry Potter
Several textual clues from the Harry Potter series support the theory that Ariana Dumbledore was indeed an Obscurial.
Point 1: Repressed Magic due to Mental Trauma
The trauma experienced by Ariana stems from a tragic event when Muggle children attacked her because of her magical abilities. Her apprehension and fear regarding her magic led to a repressive dynamic that eventually escalated into a manifestation of dark and uncontrollable energy, aligning with the characteristics of an Obscurial.
Point 2: Uncontrollable Magical Outbursts
Statements from Aberforth Dumbledore and descriptions from the Deathly Hallows reveal that Ariana experienced powerful, uncontrolled magic during stressful, frightened, or agitated states. This is evident when Aberforth describes her final, fatal "rage," where she could not control her magic, leading to the unfortunate death of her mother. Many other instances in the text align with the known behavior of Obscurials, indicating a clear similarity in patterns.
Further Evidence from Deathly Hallows
Harry himself describes Ariana's mental state and the consequences of her repressed magic. The excerpt, 'It destroyed her what they did: She was never right again. She wouldn’t use magic but she couldn’t get rid of it; it turned inward and drove her mad; it exploded out of her when she couldn’t control it and at times she was strange and dangerous.', underscores the cyclical nature of her struggle with magic, consistent with the dynamics of an Obscurial.
Conclusion
Given the textual evidence and the thematic connections between Harry Potter and the Fantastic Beasts series, the hypothesis that Ariana Dumbledore was an Obscurial is not only plausible but strongly supported. Her repressed magical power, leading to an uncontrolled explosion of magic during times of stress or heightened emotion, reflects the defining traits of an Obscurial. This theory provides an additional layer of depth and complexity to our understanding of the Harry Potter universe, enriching the narrative and offering fans a new perspective on a beloved character.