Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
In this video, we’re going to be discussing a topic within the greater Wizarding World
– that’s right, I’m excited to say that today’s video is another theory regarding
the recently released SECOND trailer for the upcoming film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets
of Dumbledore.
After a long wait – and a bit of a delay – the second Official Trailer for The Secrets
of Dumbledore was released last week, and there is just SO much to go over.
With that in mind, before we get started on today’s video, if you have yet to watch
the new trailer, let me stop you right there.
Go check it out now!
I would also encourage you to watch a few of my other videos that breakdown the new
trailer, to give you a bit more insight on what we may expect from the upcoming film,
including my Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer 2 BREAKDOWN, 5 THEORIES from the Secrets of
Dumbledore Trailer #2 and RARE Unseen Extra Footage from the Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer.
Okay, now that that’s taken care of, let’s move onto today’s topic: Could Credence’s
Phoenix Actually Be FAWKES?
For those of you who may not know – or have possibly forgotten – Fawkes is the phoenix
who was Albus Dumbledore’s most trusted animal companion, present throughout much
of the Harry Potter series.
He lived in the Headmaster’s office at Hogwarts and was often seen by Harry whenever he would
go speak with Dumbledore.
Of course, Harry also encountered Fawkes on several occasions in which this magical creature
was responsible for saving Harry’s life.
This was due to Harry’s unwavering loyalty to Dumbledore.
And as phoenixes are incredibly loyal animals themselves, Fawkes would come to Harry’s
aide, just as he would come to Dumbledore’s.
Fawkes was faithful to Dumbledore – Harry was faithful to Dumbledore – therefore,
Fawkes was faithful to Harry.
We first see this in action in The Chamber of Secrets when Fawkes rescues Harry from
Salazar Slytherin’s basilisk.
Not only does he attack the giant serpent in an effort to help save Harry, he also delivers
the very items that the boy needs in order to defeat the basilisk – the Sorting Hat,
which reveals The Sword of Gryffindor.
Once Harry uses the sword to kill the basilisk, Fawkes also provides him with Tom Riddle’s
old diary, so that Harry can destroy it with one of the snake’s fangs.
Fawkes then carries Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Professor Gilderoy Lockhart – the Defense
Against the Dark Arts teacher that year – out of the Chamber and heals Harry’s mortal
wound, inflicted by the basilisk, with his tears.
Later in the series, we see Fawkes come to Dumbledore and Harry’s aide many times more
– from healing Harry’s wounded leg after the dreadful events of the Triwizard Tournament,
to all the times he helped Albus escape certain death during duels at the Ministry of Magic.
All this to say that Fawkes was an incredibly faithful pet.
But what does any of that have to do with The Secrets of Dumbledore and the new trailer?
Well, as you may recall, in the second installment of the Fantastic Beasts films, a small bird
appears in front of Credence from amongst the wreckage after he loses the only lead
he had as to who his birth parents were.
As the movie progresses, the bird continues to be by Credence’s side.
It is a small, nondescript bird, and I’d wager that most of you didn’t really give
it much thought as you watched the film.
HOWEVER, by the end of The Crimes of Grindelwald, we witness Grindelwald giving Credence a great
speech in an effort to convince him that he’s made the right choice in siding with Gellert
and his acolytes.
At last, someone is offering an explanation as to who Credence is – and it has EVERYTHING
to do with the bird who has yet to leave his side since it found him:
“There is a legend in your family that a phoenix will come to any member who is in
dire need.
It is your birthright, my boy.
As is the name I now restore to you.
Aurelius.
Aurelius Dumbledore.”
Grindelwald gives this speech as the small creature bursts into flames, transforming
into the at-once-recognizable adult form of a PHOENIX.
And so, it’s no surprise, that this phoenix is present throughout a number of scenes in
the first and second trailers that have been released ahead of the latest film.
True, the phoenix only shows up once in the first trailer.
But it flies in and out of multiple scenes in the newest preview.
Most notably, we see the magical bird fly overhead of Credence in some dark and gloomy
location, and then again in the middle of a street, presumably right before Credence
comes face-to-face with his alleged brother, Albus Dumbledore.
Now, the very fact that a phoenix has come to Credence’s side in a time of need suggests
that he truly is a descendent of the Dumbledore family.
However, the final trailer scene that the bird shows up in brings up several troubling
questions – at least to me.
The scene I’m referring to is when we see the phoenix fly in front of – not Credence
– but Albus.
And this visual is paired with a warning from Dumbledore, as we hear the words, “Things
are not quite what they appear.”
So, what could this mean exactly?
Well, as you may have guessed from the title of this video, my foremost theory on this
is that the phoenix is in fact FAWKES.
Could it be that, despite coming to Credence when he was in need of guidance during the
second film, that he changes his allegiances to offer Albus protection?
Or perhaps, rather than changing loyalties, he simply expands his guardianship to include
another member of the Dumbledore family?
In my opinion, this theory would only work if Dumbledore is set to duel Grindelwald in
this scene – not Credence.
Of course, the way the scene is set up, I think we’re meant to believe that Albus
is only dueling Credence.
But it’s possible that the phoenix shows up to help Albus in a separate fight – aside
from the one in which he’s clearly having with Credence out in the streets.
In any case, if this phoenix is indeed FAWKES, that would mean that Credence is one of three
things: NOT a Dumbledore and therefore the bird’s true loyalty lies with Albus, a Dumbledore
who proves himself unworthy of a phoenix’s protection, OR a wizard who dies, leaving
Albus as the only Dumbledore which Fawkes has pledged his allegiance to.
Now, if none of that turns out to be true, here is one other theory that has crossed
my mind.
What if the phoenix is an illusion or spell that Grindelwald has cast in order to convince
Credence that he is a descendant of the Dumbledore family?
To me, this would be the most likely explanation if it turns out that Credence is not a Dumbledore
after all, but simply Credence Barebone.
After all, there are many who remain skeptical that Credence is in fact a Dumbledore.
In any case, if the phoenix is not a phoenix at all, it would make sense that Grindelwald
chose a creature whose existence is founded on fire – aside from the whole Dumbledore
connection, of course.
That is, phoenix birds are said to be immortal, and will go through life cycles which end
in bursts of flame, only to be reborn in the ashes.
This event is called a Burning Day – in fact, Harry first met Fawkes on one of his
Burning Days, and was quite taken aback by the scene in front of him, before Dumbledore
explained to him what had happened and how it was all very natural for a phoenix.
But I digress…the fact is, phoenix birds are involved in fire magic of a sort.
And, as we’ve seen throughout The Fantastic Beasts, Grindelwald seems to be a fan of elemental
fire magic.
Most obviously, you’ll recall his ring of Protego Diabolica – one of, if not THE most
powerful fire spell in the Wizarding World.
Grindelwald casts this spell at the end of The Crimes of Grindelwald, using it to invite
wizards to join his cause.
Those who dared to cross the flames with ill-intent or a lack of loyalty, were instantly vaporized
by the powerful dark ring of fire.
Now, in the trailer for The Secrets of Dumbledore, we see Albus and Gellert sitting in what looks
to be an abandoned restaurant, as Grindelwald threatens to burn down the world, and the
whole scene erupts into flames.
I think the argument for the phoenix being a trick is further supported by the fact that
in that final scene of The Crimes of Grindelwald, in which Gellert presents the phoenix to Credence
as a piece of evidence to his history, the phoenix bursts into flames to become a mature
version of the bird.
I may be incorrect, but from my understanding the phoenix only catches fire on a Burning
Day, when it is being reborn – not when it is maturing into a full-fledged phoenix.
So, for this particular bird to erupt into flames, right at that exact moment when Grindelwald
wants to convince Credence that he’s a Dumbledore, seems a bit too convenient to me.
Anyways, that brings us to the end of another video!
What do you think?
Could Credence’s phoenix be Albus’ beloved and faithful FAWKES?
Or is it just another one of Grindelwald’s elaborate illusions?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
And, as always, if you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like it and subscribe to
the channel!
Until next time…
“Memory is everything.”
– Albus Dumbledore