Dumbledore's Breathtaking Bias: Unveiling Gryffindor's Special Treatment for Harry Potter

Highlights

Gryffindor receives excessive attention in the Harry Potter movies, while Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw are sidelined and portrayed as weaker.

Dumbledore's consistent favoritism towards Gryffindor, disregarding misconduct and permitting rule violations without repercussions, may appear biased. However, this favoritism is rooted in Dumbledore's awareness of Harry's pivotal role in fulfilling the prophecy and his responsibility to ready him for his forthcoming destiny.

The Harry Potter franchise portrays the wizarding world, which consists of four distinct houses, each symbolizing different characteristics. Gryffindor, representing courage and bravery, is heavily featured as the main house throughout the movies. It is worth noting that the main protagonists of the franchise are all members of Gryffindor House. This overrepresentation of Gryffindor is evident, while Slytherin, although receiving significant attention, is often portrayed as antagonistic. In contrast, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, the other two houses, are frequently marginalized and depicted as relatively weaker compared to Gryffindor and Slytherin.

Among the various headmasters of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the movies primarily focus on Dumbledore. Dumbledore, who himself was a student at Hogwarts and a member of Gryffindor House, clearly favors Gryffindor over the other houses throughout the films. However, the reason behind this favoritism, particularly regarding Harry, remains a question.

Every time Dumbledore Favored Gryffindor

Dumbledore's consistent awarding of free points to Gryffindor has gained meme status, but it is not the only time the Headmaster has shown favoritism. Throughout the films, there are numerous instances where Dumbledore turned a blind eye to misbehavior from Gryffindor and let it go unpunished.

During their time at Hogwarts, the Marauders – Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black, and James Potter – were notorious troublemakers. Even as the Headmaster, Dumbledore allowed Sirius Black and James Potter to repeatedly break rules without facing any consequences. One such incident involved them endangering Lupin's life by sending Snape to him while he was in his werewolf form, yet they were never held accountable for their actions.

After joining the school, Dumbledore consistently encouraged Harry, Ron, and Hermione to break numerous rules, and always turned a blind eye to their transgressions. Multiple incidents occurred where the trio violated regulations, such as Harry's use of the forbidden Sectumsempra spell against Draco Malfoy, yet they remained unpunished. Hermione, too, engaged in rule-breaking by pilfering from Snape's locker for the creation of polyjuice potions. Additionally, Ron boldly stole his parents' enchanted car, which he proceeded to fly to Hogwarts, and miraculously evaded punishment despite numerous eyewitness accounts from muggles.

Notorious troublemakers Fred and George Weasley continuously instigated mayhem throughout Hogwarts. While their pranks were entertaining, the severity of their actions should have led to expulsion, yet they somehow managed to escape any significant repercussions. The twins went so far as to sell potentially dangerous products, even during the illustrious Triwizard Tournament featured in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. Surprisingly, Dumbledore never exhibited any efforts to discipline them for their behavior.

Was Dumbledore Unfair To Other Houses?

Moreover, Dumbledore exhibited instances of disregarding rules and making exceptions exclusively for Harry in the movies. Initially, he bestowed upon Harry the opportunity to join the Quidditch team, despite his young age, thereby exposing him to life-threatening situations. Subsequently, he further defied regulations by permitting Harry's participation in the perilous Triwizard Tournament, despite his underage status. Notably, the dangers associated with the Triwizard Tournament surpassed even those encountered in Quidditch.

Despite the negative portrayal of Slytherins in the Harry Potter movies, they showcased their determination to compete for the House Cup in the first movie, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. The House Cup, an esteemed award, is granted to one of the four houses based on the points earned by students for their accomplishments and behaviors.

At the conclusion of the first movie, Slytherin seemed to be leading in the race for the House Cup. However, in a captivating twist, Dumbledore made a last-minute decision to grant extra points to Gryffindor. Astoundingly, the professor bestowed a total of 160 points upon Gryffindor House. Harry, Hermione, and Ron each received 50 points for their remarkable contributions: battling Voldemort, aiding Harry and Ron in the Chamber of Secrets, and engaging in an exceptional game of chess, respectively.

With the additional points, Gryffindor and Slytherin were now neck and neck. However, Dumbledore then awarded Neville Longbottom an extra 10 points for his courage in standing up to his friends. This propelled Gryffindor into the lead, ultimately securing their victory in the House Cup.

Did Dumbledore Favor Gryffindor Because of Harry's Membership?

Although Gryffindor can justify receiving the score for preventing the return of the Dark Lord, it was evident that Slytherin had clearly won the House Cup. The Slytherin theme had already adorned The Great Hall, with celebrations in full swing. Many believed that Dumbledore's last-minute decision to deny Slytherin the house cup was unjust.

Contrary to initial appearances, Dumbledore's apparent favoritism towards Gryffindor and Harry is driven by a fascinating underlying reason. Gryffindors are notorious for their audacity, making rule-breaking a natural inclination for them. Considering that Harry often bent the rules for the greater good, his courageous defiance to save lives proves truly remarkable. It comes as no surprise, then, that Dumbledore refrained from administering punishment.

If Harry hadn't broken the rules to search for the Chamber of Secrets in his first year, Ginny Weasley would have died and he wouldn't have been able to save her. Additionally, in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, if Harry hadn't used the Time-Turner to save Buckbeak, Sirius Black would never have been proven innocent. If he hadn't cast the Patronus Charm, he would have received the Dementors' kiss.

Furthermore, Dumbledore was aware of the prophecy concerning Harry, the Boy Who Lived. According to the prophecy, Harry and Voldemort's fates are linked. They are described as equals, and one must perish for the other to survive. With this knowledge, Dumbledore supported and guided Harry from the start, treating him differently from other students and even pushing him out of his comfort zone. The professor understood the challenging path that awaited Harry and ensured his preparedness.

Although Dumbledore's favoritism towards Gryffindor is evident in the Harry Potter movies, his actions ultimately become comprehensible. Despite their questionable nature, there is no denying that they were driven by the pursuit of the greater good.