Dumbledore’s Knowledge of Riddle’s Crimes During His Time at Hogwarts

Did Albus Dumbledore, the venerable and wise Headmaster of Hogwarts, know that Tom Marvolo Riddle, the future Lord Voldemort, opened the Chamber of Secrets and killed Myrtle Warren during his time at Hogwarts? The answer is unequivocally yes, as evidenced by his extensive knowledge of Hogwarts history and his involvement in handling the aftermath of the attacks. This article delves into the accurate portrayals of Dumbledore’s awareness and his actions during these critical events in the Harry Potter series.

Evidence of Dumbledore’s Knowledge

Throughout the series, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, provides several clues that indicate Dumbledore’s profound awareness of Riddle’s actions. One such clue can be found in the dialogue between Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Professor McGonagall stared at Dumbledore. ‘But Albus… surely… who…’

‘The question is not who’ said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin. ‘The question is how…’ – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter 10, Page 136

Here, we see that McGonagall is questioning the 'who' – the identity of the person responsible for the attacks. However, Dumbledore’s response emphasizes the 'how,' suggesting that he already knew who was responsible for the attacks. This supports the idea that Dumbledore was well-informed about the identity of the attacker.

Dumbledore's Watching of Tom Riddle

Albus Dumbledore had kept a close eye on Tom Riddle for most of his time at Hogwarts. When Riddle became Head Boy in the school year 1943, which is 50 years ago from the film setting, Dumbledore was already aware of his activities. According to the books, Dumbledore’s knowledge of Riddle’s crimes did not diminish even after Riddle had graduated in 1945.

After the Chamber of Secrets was opened for the second time, Headmaster Dippet initially expelled Hagrid. Dumbledore, however, informed Dippet of the true perpetrator and insisted that Hagrid be allowed to remain at Hogwarts to be trained as the gamekeeper under Professor Ogg. This move showed Dumbledore’s consistent vigilance and commitment to protecting the students and ensuring that the true culprit was identified and addressed.

‘Red Herring’ Evidence and Suspicions

Many readers, including some of the answer authors, mistakenly believed that Dumbledore thought Hagrid was the culprit. This misconception can be attributed to the so-called 'red herring' – false or misleading evidence – used in the book to mislead readers.

A red herring in the book is employed to suggest that Hagrid could have been responsible for the attack. However, Dumbledore’s strong protests against Hagrid’s expulsion strongly argue against this belief. Dumbledore’s continued surveillance of Riddle and his eventual rise to power further solidify the conclusion that Riddle, not Hagrid, was the actual perpetrator.

Another key piece of evidence is the fact that Riddle had access to the older Chamber of Secrets and the requisite knowledge to open it. His high position as Head Boy and his subsequent rise to power as a megalomaniacal anti-Muggleborn tyrant make it highly probable that he was the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets and killed Myrtle Warren in 1943.

It is important to note that the fifth book, The Goblet of Fire, further corroborates this theory. Voldemort’s actions, particularly the series of Heir of Slytherin tasks, strongly suggest his involvement in the events related to the Chamber of Secrets.

Conclusion

Albus Dumbledore was undoubtedly aware that Tom Riddle, later known as Lord Voldemort, opened the Chamber of Secrets and killed Myrtle Warren during his time at Hogwarts. His actions and the consistent information provided in the book support this conclusion. It is crucial for readers to re-examine the books and the dialogue between characters like Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore for accurate insights into Dumbledore’s knowledge and the true identity of the Chamber of Secrets' attacker.

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