the basic history of Albus Dumbledore and Gellert Grindelwald explained based on the info we know so far: a thread

SO we learn a lot about their relationship in 'The Deathly Hallows'

it's explained that they met because Albus' father Percival was arrested for the m*rder of a few muggles that went after Albus' younger sister Ariana for using magic, and Kendra (Albus' mother) relocated the family to Godric's Hollow.

In many theories, people feel that Ariana (like Credence) developed an obscurial- a parasite that grows due to the suppression of magic. Aberforth said that she had rages, and one of those rages ended up costing Kendra, their mother, her life.

While in godric's hollow, after the death of his mother, Albus- who was now the head of his family- met Gellert Grindelwald, who was recently expelled from Durmstrang, and was living/ visiting with his aunt- Bathilda Bagshot- the two became close.

During this time, the blood pact was most likely made, making it impossible for the two of them to duel.

the two would write letters to one another, discussing their plans of, essentially- domination over the muggle world- 'for the greater good.' It turns out, that the two were after the deathly hallows (Victor Krum said the mark of the hallows was 'Grindelwald's sign.')

sometime after this, Albus came to his senses- most likely due to what happened the night Ariana died. Grindelwald tortured Aberforth and Ariana, and made Albus watch.

Aberforth thought Albus felt no remorse about what had happened, however, that wasn't the case. The vision he had when drinking the poison in the cave in 'Half Blood Prince' was the same exact scene described by Aberforth, however, it was from Albus' perspective.

After that, Albus put himself into his work. Ignoring what Grindelwald was doing, and trying to forget that he couldn't do anything about it

Even the ministry came knocking on his door, asking to help, but he wouldn't. He kept saying that he couldn't. (sorry for the choppy clip it's the best i could do)

Albus sent Newt Scamander to New York, under the guise that he would have to return the thunderbird (that he had also tipped newt off about) to Arizona. He knew Newt- who had met an obscurial before (a girl from Sudan)- could possibly help credence (another obscurial)

(in a way, i feel like this was Albus trying to make up for him not understanding what was happening to his sister, and him trying to not feel so guilty about her death. he felt that if he could save Credence, he could make it up to himself)

At some point after Newt's Niffler steals the blood pact and Newt returns it to Dumbledore, it was destroyed somehow. (info not yet revealed by films)

The Duel between Grindelwald and Dumbledore took place in 1945, where Albus defeated Gellert, took the Elder Wand as his own, and locked Gellert in Nurmengard- which was Gellert's HQ basically until it was turned into a prison.

When Voldemort was on his quest for the elder wand to defeat Harry Potter, his search lead him to Nurmengard and to Gellert Grindelwald, who was now old and frail. However, Grindelwald wouldn't give Voldemort any information.

Gellert Grindelwald died protecting his friend and his old lover. That was his last act. Voldemort then killed him. Love, in a way, prevailed again, even for a short time.

right well, that's the end of this thread so far. If anyone has anything to add, any questions, theories, etc. feel free to leave them below!