Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today we’re going to be DIVING in to some common misconceptions about the wizarding
world, uncovering aspects of the wizarding universe that even diehard fans sometimes
get wrong.
If you fancy yourself a Harry Potter expert, then sit back, relax and see if any of these
Harry Potter misconceptions apply to you.
Let’s get in to it.
Hogwarts Letters Arrive On 11th Birthdays: You might believe that receiving your Hogwarts
acceptance letter is magically synchronized to your 11th birthday—for a truly unforgettable
celebration!
However, facts reveal that Hogwarts sends letters to all students at the same time every
year, regardless of their birthdate.
This momentous occasion typically occurs a couple of weeks before the start of the new
term, giving all students—from wondrous wizards to marvelous muggle-borns—ample
time to prepare for their magical education.
Ravenclaw’s Symbol Is A Raven: It's easy to assume that Rowena Ravenclaw's house, with
its raven-like name, would adopt the raven as its symbol.
However, the emblem representing this esteemed house is actually the noble eagle, a bird
renowned for its keen intelligence and piercing vision.
The eagle perfectly embodies the house's core values of wit, wisdom, and the pursuit of
knowledge.
Ravenclaw Colours Aren't Silver And Blue: The beloved Harry Potter movies brought J.K.
Rowling's magical universe to life, but certain artistic liberties led to a few minor inconsistencies.
One such deviation is the portrayal of Ravenclaw house colors.
Instead of the evocative combination of bronze and blue described in the books, the films
present a silver and blue motif—though visually captivating, it doesn't capture the true essence
of Ravenclaw's values.
All Slytherins are Evil: Slytherin house is often misunderstood and, to an extent, vilified
due to the actions of infamous dark wizards hailing from its ranks.
However, we must remember the sage words of Albus Dumbledore, that it is our choices that
shape us, far more than our abilities or affiliations.
As illustrated by heroes like Severus Snape and Regulus Black, Slytherin is home to more
complexities and moral discrepancies than a blanket statement of "evil" can encompass.
A Phoenix Can Only Be Owned by a Dumbledore: Fawkes, the regal and loyal phoenix, is undoubtedly
linked with the great Albus Dumbledore, yet the concept of phoenixes being exclusive to
the Dumbledore lineage is false.
In the wider wizarding world, these fiery and mysterious creatures can form strong connections
with all sorts of individuals who appreciate and honor their majestic and magical traits.
Phoenixes are rare, but not singularly aligned.
For instance, the magical menagerie in Diagon Alley is known to occasionally stock these
magnificent fiery birds.
Invisibility Cloaks Are Unique to Harry: Harry’s Invisibility Cloak, one of the three fabled
Deathly Hallows, is undoubtedly special.
However, it should be noted that other invisibility cloaks do exist in the Wizarding World - they
just don't possess the same rare properties or history as Harry's.
Durmstrang & Beauxbatons Are Single-Gender Schools: While the movies illustrate Durmstrang
and Beauxbatons as single-gender schools, the novels clarify that each school comprises
a diverse array of magical talents, regardless of gender.
This misconception stems from visual limitations within the film adaptations,
: The Harry Potter films inaccurately depict that when using Polyjuice Potion, the voice
remains unchanged, save for the exceptional portrayal of Barty Crouch Jr.
In contrast, J.K.
Rowling's source material makes it clear that when an individual consumes Polyjuice Potion,
they adopt the target's appearance as well as their voice—making for a more comprehensive
and immersive transformation.
Hogwarts Is Located In England: Hogwarts Castle, the mighty educational fortress we all dream
of attending, is often associated with England, this, however, is not the case.
In reality this esteemed academy of witchcraft and wizardry resides in the rugged, breathtaking
region of the Scottish Highlands—a fitting location for the secrecy and grandeur that
the castle's legacy demands.
Only Good Wizards Can Cast a Patronus: Though evil wizards casting a Patronus is exceedingly
rare, it’s not impossible.
The ability to cast a Patronus, though strongly aligned with those who are morally ‘good’
does not entirely exclude those with a more evil temperament.
The best example of this is Dolores Umbridge who was able to conjure a cat Patronus, demonstrating
that light magic, in some instances, can be harnessed by people with dark hearts.
This highlights the strength of will and determination as instrumental factors in harnessing power.
Hogwarts Is The Only School of Magic: While Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
holds a special place in our magical hearts, it isn't the only magical school in existence!
Many other academies of magic can be found across the globe, each with its unique history,
practices, and cultures.
Prominent examples include Durmstrang, Uagadou, Beaxbatons, Castelobruxo, Koldovstoretz and
more.
Time-Turners Can Change The Past: Time-traveling is a tantalizing plot device sprinkled throughout
fiction, but in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Time-Turners don't behave as we might
expect.
Instead, these magical artifacts operate under Novikov's self-consistency principle, which
posits that changes made in the past will already have been taken into account historically.
The evidence: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban's finale, where Harry saves his
younger self from Dementors using a Patronus—despite not knowing that he had already done so.
Avada Kedavra Can't Be Blocked: The Killing Curse, Avada Kedavra, is arguably the most
infamous dark spell in the wizarding community—famously known for being unblockable.
However, we mustn't forget the extraordinary power of love, which safeguarded Harry from
this very curse!
When the magic of love—the strongest and most ancient bond that transcends mere incantations—teamed
up with the legendary Lily Potter's sacrifice, not even the deadliest dark curse could triumph.
No One Can Apparate or Disapparate in Hogwarts: Apparition and Disapparition within Hogwarts
is typically impossible due to powerful protective enchantments enveloping the castle.
Nonetheless, exceptions do exist: Albus Dumbledore, in his extraordinary magical expertise, managed
to lift these enchantments temporarily, allowing himself and Harry to Apparate during their
quest for the Horcrux in a seaside cave.
Muggles and Wizards are Entirely Separate: Though the International Statute of Wizarding
Secrecy actively endeavors to maintain a strict divide between the wizarding and Muggle worlds,
it would be an exaggeration to claim total isolation.
After all, Muggle-born witches and wizards carry the magic bloodline forward, and Muggle
authorities such as the British Prime Minister are aware of magic's existence.
Hence, while preserving their unique identities, these two realms occasionally coexist and
intersect.
Most Wizards Can Fly Without A Broom: The notion that most wizards can perform unsupported
flight is misleading.
In reality, only a handful—most notably, Voldemort and Severus Snape—demonstrate
this exceptional ability.
For most other witches and wizards, the trusty broomstick remains the preferred mode to take
to the skies.
Prophecies Don’t ALWAYS come true: While the prophecy concerning "The Boy Who Lived"
played a pivotal role in shaping the events of the Harry Potter series, it's crucial to
recognize that prophecies don't necessarily come true.
As Albus Dumbledore sagely emphasized, prophecies tend to be more complex than surface-level
interpretations would dictate, which is why it's unwise to consider them absolute, ironclad
determinants of destiny.
NOT Choosing YOURSELF as a Secret Keeper: The Fidelius Charm is a powerful spell that
conceals a secret within a designated "Secret Keeper's" soul, ensuring that only this individual
can disclose it.
Many fans have asserted that embedding the secret within the same person it protects
is IMPOSSIBLE.
However, canon would suggest otherwise.
For example: we know that Bill Weasley is the Secret-Keeper for Shell Cottage and Arthur
Weasley is the Secret-Keeper for the Burrow.
Assuming that these are their places of residence, this proves that a person who lives in the
house being protected can also be eligible to be its Secret-Keeper.
The only ambiguity here is that the Fidelius charm placed on Shell Cottage and the Burrow
was designed to protect the home itself.
In the case of say, the Potter family, this may not have worked as it was the family that
needed to be the subject of the charm and not necessarily the home.
Voldemort’s Soul was Split SEVEN times, not 8: Voldemort initially created six Horcruxes
by splitting his soul into various objects.
However, he inadvertently turned Harry into a Horcrux, and also retained a fragment of
his soul in his own body.
This technically means that Voldemort's soul was split into eight parts, not seven as believed
by some.
The number of times his soul was split and the total pieces of his soul are figures that
are often conflated.
James Potter was a Chaser, NOT a Seeker: Contrary to common fan perception and even some indications
in both the movies and the books, J.K.
Rowling has revealed that James Potter was actually a Chaser, and NOT a Seeker, on the
Hogwarts Quidditch team.
This may surprise fans, but ultimately, the author has final authority on her characters.
And that’s it for this video!
Were any of these news to you?
Be honest!
Let me know down in the comment section below.
Until next time
Remember
Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts
are open