7 most misunderstood Harry Potter characters

5. Albus Dumbledore 

For most of the Harry Potter book and film series, Albus Dumbledore is treated as this almost god-like figure. He’s the only wizard that Voldemort ever feared. He took down Grindelwald, the greatest wizarding threat before Voldemore, single-handedly. For most of Harry’s time at Hogwarts, it seems that Dumbledore has it all figured out.

But while he is incredibly wise, witty, charismatic, and powerful, Dumbledore is not a flawless human. He’s just lived long enough to learn from his mistakes and the world around him. That isn’t totally clear until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Rita Skeeter writes Dumbledore’s biography, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore, revealing that Dumbledore was a flawed wizard who made some crucial mistakes and missteps on his way to becoming Hogwarts Headmaster and the most powerful wizard of his generation.

Most of the characters on this list are seen and misunderstood in a negative way. It’s the opposite for Dumbledore, who is generally viewed quite favorably. But is misunderstood he is treated as a person without a past incapable of causing damage and making mistakes just like everyone else.

This comes home for Harry when he finds out that Dumbledore has a brother, something he never knew despite how close he was with the headmaster. Aberforth Dumberlore lives just a short jaunt away from Hogwarts and owns the Hog’s Head pub in Hogsmeade.