【Short film Archives】

The Short film Archivestitle may be about someone else, but the full trailer shows that The Crimes of Grindelwaldis all about Albus Dumbledore. The younger version of Harry Potter's mentor (played by Jude Law) has a lot of power and baggage in the Fantastic Beastssequel, and he's the key to the events of this movie – and the future of the wizarding world.

The Hogwarts hero

The Crimes of Grindelwaldcatches up with The Young Dumble as a Hogwarts professor, teaching not Transfiguration, his erstwhile subject in the books, but Defense Against the Dark Arts. Defense is the most well-known Hogwarts subject, especially for moviegoers less familiar with J.K. Rowling's books who Warner Bros. wants to rope in.

As a Defense teacher, Dumbledore most directly parallels Remus Lupin (played by David Thewlis), who teaches Harry and his friends the Riddikuluscharm to expel a boggart (a golem that takes the form of one's greatest fear).

Once again we see Dumbledore guiding a promising young wizard – Newt, before Harry – sending him on a dangerous mission with minimal training and information, but firm belief in the abilities of his chosen fighter.

Grindelwald

According to the Harry Potter books, Dumbledore and Grindelwald became close friends as teens one summer when Grindelwald visited his Aunt Bathilda in Dumbledore's village. Per J.K. Rowling's post-series reveal that Dumbledore is gay, we came to understand that this was not only a romantic relationship but the great love of Dumbledore's life.

One of the most shocking moments in the Crimes of Grindelwald trailer is Dumbledore seeing Grindelwald in the Mirror of Erised – a device that reveals one's deepest desire. This is telling, especially because of the voiceover; we have to conclude that Dumbledore has some conflict of interest that prevents him from taking the necessary action against Grindelwald.

That's compelling, but what it neglects to address (as did Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2) is that the Grindelwald relationship and Grindelwald himself played a crucial role in the death of Dumbledore's sister – something over which Dumbledore felt guilty for the rest of his life.

Ariana's death is supposed to be a turning point in the Dumbeldore/Grindelwald relationship – you probably don't want to date someone after they possibly murder your sister – which makes it extremely puzzling that Dumbledore sees Grindelwald in the mirror. Does he see a chance to defeat him? A link to the Deathly Hallows? Or does he still feel something, deep down, for the man who might have killed his sister?

After Ariana's death, Grindelwald fled England, and he and Dumbledore would not meet again until their fateful duel in 1945 which ends in Grindelwald's defeat.

Those clues from Harry Potter

Two elements of the Crimes of Grindelwaldtrailer speak volumes to Harry Potter fans familiar with Dumbledore's story. First there's the introduction of Nicholas Flamel, Dumbledore's friend and colleague and creator of the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone.

That ties directly with the other Easter egg: The Elder Wand, grasped ostensibly by Grindelwald's hand. Dumbledore and Grindelwald sought the Elder Wand as one of three elements that make the possessor Master of Death a.k.a. immortal.

Needless to say, we have a lot of questions as we await The Struggles of DumbledoreThe Crimes of Grindelwald, due in theaters Nov. 16.