Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In today’s video, we’re going
to be doing something a little bit different. Now, Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry
has quite a fine reputation among the wizarding community. It’s produced some of the most
impressive witches and wizards (good and bad)- and for centuries it has served the wizarding
world. But how has Hogwarts served for such a long time? Why, that can be credited to
the school’s backbone- it’s professors.
Without the professors of the wizarding world, young witches and wizards would be entirely
left to their own devices. There would be a lot less order, far more stressed out parents,
and a lot more homeschooling. Hogwarts gives students a place to be themselves, interact
with other children, and truly tune in to their magical abilities. HOWEVER, with all
of that said- professors aren’t perfect. They’re people just like the rest of us,
and they make mistakes in their personal AND professional lives. On that note, today’s
video will discuss 5 mistakes made by 5 different Hogwarts professors in Harry Potter. The list
will range from trivial mistakes, to BIG no-no’s. Without further ado- let’s get started.
1.Quirinus Quirrell
Before the school year started in the Philosopher’s Stone, Quirinus Quirrell- who taught Defence
Against the Dark Arts to Harry in first year- went jetsetting off in to the world. However,
what no one knew (at least for most of the school year) was that Quirrell was possessed
by Voldemort.
Quirinus Quirrell was an english half-blood wizard born sometime in the 1960s. When he
was of age he began attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, at which point
he was sorted in to Ravenclaw house. It wasn’t very long after he himself had graduated that
he was able to secure a job as muggle studies professor at Hogwarts.
In the year 1990, Quirrell took a year-long sabbatical. He told his peers that the sabbatical
was an opportunity for him to gain ‘first-hand’ experience in the field- where in reality
his objective was to find Lord Voldemort- exceedingly curious about what had happened
to the dark lord who tyrannized the wizarding world for years on end. Quirrell always wanted
to be noticed and acknowledged, and he felt that, if he was the one to track down Lord
Voldemort- then he could finally earn the attention that he longed for. However, after
finally tracking Voldemort down Quirrell was completely taken advantage of by Voldemort.
Quirrells biggest mistake here was finding Voldemort in the first place- foolishly thinking
that he would be a match for him.
Voldemort puts it nicely:
"A wizard – young, foolish and gullible – wandered across my path in the forest
I had made my home. Oh, he seemed the very chance I had been dreaming of”
2. Slughorn
Horace Slughorn is a British wizard with a long history at Hogwarts school. He taught
for many years- serving as head of slytherin house, as well as potions master. Slughorn
left Hogwarts for 15 years (for reasons I’ll get to in a minute)- but did eventually return
where he picked up where he left off and began teaching potions again. However- the reason
that Slughorn left Hogwarts in the first place directly relates to his BIG mistake- telling
Tom Riddle about horcruxes. In the HBP, when Dumbledore is showing Harry Slughorn’s memories-
an interaction between Slughorn and a young Tom Riddle is revealed. At first they only
had ‘part’ of the memory- an incomplete tampered version, but later the truth comes
out:
“I was in the library the other night, in the Restricted Section, and I read something
rather odd about a bit of rare magic. It's called, as I understand it... a….”
“I beg your pardon?”
“A Horcrux. I came across the term while reading and I didn't fully understand it.”
“I'm not sure what you were reading, Tom, but this is very dark stuff. Very dark indeed.”
“Which is why I came to you.” “A Horcrux is an object in which a person
has concealed part of their soul.”
Slughorn’s mistake in this scene is about as BIG of a mistake as one could make- as
he effectively (though inadvertently) set Tom on his path of creating his most dangerous
weapon- horcruxes.
3. Dumbledore
This big mistake pertains to Albus Dumbledore- powerful wizard, Hogwarts professor, and most
notably- Hogwarts headmaster. Dumbledore is often painted as this all-knowing, omniscient
type- but as it turns out, he too makes mistakes, just like the rest of us, and HIS big mistake
occurred in the 1994 school year.
When the school year began, like with any other year, all of the students gathered to
the great hall at the beginning of term. This was an opportunity for Dumbledore and any
professors to address the student body at the beginning of the year- announcing anything
pertaining to the upcoming school year. And it was 1994 that, once again, a new Defence
Against the Dark Arts teacher took over- famed death eater captor Alastor ‘Mad Eye’ Moody.
Moody was a good guy- a famous dark wizard captor- but there was something ‘off’
about this Moody that no one seemed to really notice.
​'May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher,' said Dumbledore brightly,
into the silence. 'Professor Moody’.
But here’s the thing- it wasn’t actually Moody. Before term started, Moody was captured
by Barty Crouch Jr, a british pure-blood wizard and Death Eater. Crouch Jr trapped Moody in
his own magical trunk and then impersonated him (via Polyjuice potion) for nearly an entire
term - successfully teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts (in questionable fashion). But
how did the ever-wise and all-knowing Dumbledore MISS this? How could he let a Death Eater
imposter infiltrate the school? In effect, Dumbledore’s biggest mistake was simply
NOT noticing- and it’s a hard one to let slide particularly as Dumbledore was meant
to be a good friend of Moody.
4. Snape
Severus Snape was a half-blood wizard who taught multiple subjects at Hogwarts. He started
off as Potions Master, where he taught for 15 years, then assumed the professor for defence
against the dark arts role in 1996. He would also later become headmaster of the school,
before his untimely death. Snape was certainly a peculiar fellow- and one of the prominent
‘grey’ characters in the series. He was also extremely calculated and intelligent,
tricking Voldemort as a ‘double agent’ for a considerable amount of time. So what
mistake, you might be wondering now, did Severus Snape make? Well- it all relates to the fabled
‘prophecy’.
This is the same prophecy that prompted Voldemort to travel to the Potter residence in an attempt
to kill Harry. But, what prompted Voldemort’s actions? Why, Snape of course. You see, while
Trelawney relayed the prophecy to Dumbledore in the Hog’s Head Inn, Snape was there as
well- and he heard ‘nearly’ the whole thing. Snape, a death eater at the time, then
immediately relayed this information to Voldemort- inadvertently resulting in the death of his
love interest, Lily Potter. I’d say this was a pretty big mistake on Snape’s part.
5. Hagrid
Hagrid, aka Rubeus Hagrid is a half-giant half-wizard that attended Hogwarts in his
younger years- though he did not graduate due to events pertaining to Tom Riddle and
the Chamber of Secrets. However, after being kicked out of the school he did assume the
role of keeper of keys and grounds (working under someone else at first)-and he also eventually
ended up teaching, becoming professor for the care of magical creatures. So, what mistake
did the loveable half-giant make?
Well- this one’s going to sound considerably less impactful than the others- but in essence,
Hagrid’s main mistakes surround carelessness with students and magical creatures. In his
very first lesson, there was an incident involving Draco Malfoy and a hippogriff that ended up
turning in to a total mess. Hagrid also bred Blast-Ended Skrewts, and openly exposed students
to them-which is certainly questionable given how dangerous they are. Hagrid is a great
man- but sometimes his judgement was questionable.
And that’s it for this video! Honourable mentions go out to Lockhart (for letting cornish
pixies loose), and Lupin for forgetting to take his Wolfsbane potion.
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Until next time
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live