There will be shocks in store for those who believe Dumbledore to have led a

blameless life. What were the biggest surprises she uncovered, I ask?

"Now, come off it. Betty, I'm not giving away all the highlights before

anybody's bought the book!" laughs Skeeter. "But I can promise that anybody

who still thinks Dumbledore was white as his beard is in for a rude awakening!

Let's just say that nobody hearing him rage against You-Know-Who would have

dreamed that he dabbled in the Dark Arts himself in his youth! And for a wizard

who spent his later years pleading for tolerance, he wasn't exactly broad-minded

when he was younger! Yes, Albus Dumbledore had an extremely murky past, not

to mention that very fishy family, which he worked so hard to keep hushed up."

I ask whether Skeeter is referring to Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, whose

Conviction by the Wizengamot for misuse of magic caused a minor scandal fifteen

Years ago.

"Oh, Aberforth is just the tip of the dung heap,” laughs Skeeter. "No, no, I'm

Talking about much worse than a brother with a fondness for fiddling about with

goats, worse even than the Muggle-maiming father – Dumbledore couldn't keep

either of them quiet anyway, they were both charged by the Wizengamot. No, it's

The mother and the sister that intrigued me, and a little digging uncovered a

positive nest of nastiness – but, as I say, you'll have to wait for chapters nine to

twelve for full details. All I can say now is, it's no wonder Dumbledore never

talked about how his nose got broken."

Family skeletons notwithstanding, does Skeeter deny the brilliance that led to

Dumbledore's many magical discoveries?

"He had brains," she concedes, "although many now question whether he

Could really take full credit for all of his supposed achievements. As I reveal in

Chapter sixteen, Ivor Dillonsby claims he had already discovered eight uses of

dragon's blood when Dumbledore 'borrowed' his papers."

But the importance of some of Dumbledore's achievements cannot, I venture,

be denied. What of his famous defeat of Grindelwald?

"Oh, now, I'm glad you mentioned Grindelwald," says Skeeter with such a

tantalizing smile. "I'm afraid those who go dewy-eyed over Dumbledore's

spectacular victory must brace themselves for a bombshell – or perhaps a

Dungbomb. Very dirty business indeed. All I'll say is, don't be so sure that there

really was a spectacular duel of legend. After they've read my book, people may

Be forced to conclude that Grindelwald simply conjured a white handkerchief

from the end of his wand and came quietly!"

Skeeter refuses to give any more away on this intriguing subject, so we turn

Instead to the relationship that will undoubtedly fascinate her readers more than

Any other.

"Oh yes," says Skeeter, nodding briskly, "I devote an entire chapter to the

whole Potter-Dumbledore relationship. It's been called unhealthy, even sinister.

Again, your readers will have to buy my book for the whole story, but there is no

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 776