Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today we’re diving deep in the lore and unearthing 10 lesser-known Harry Potter theories
that you *likely* haven’t heard of before.
These are the sorts of theories that’ll make you think.."Huh, I never thought of that!"
and might even hold the power to change the way you see the wizarding world.
Anyway, let’s get to it.
The Secret Behind Magical Portraits
In the Wizarding World, Magical portraits serve as a way of immortalizing deceased witches
and wizards long after they have passed away.
This ensures that their knowledge and wisdom can be passed down to future generations.
And while many wizarding portraits are simply still images, much like muggle portraits,
a great number of them are enchanted and brought to life (via enchanted paint)- allowing the
portrait to emulate the behaviour and mannerisms of the portrait’s subject.
However, like anything there are LEVELS to how advanced these portraits can be, with
Headmasters portraits being the most technical.
Conventional wisdom suggests that Headmasters portraits are painted WELL before their deaths,
kept away in hidden locations where only their living counterparts are able to interact with
them.
Following the portraits initial creation, the subjects would then visit their paintings
as often as possible, imparting memories and wisdom onto them – basically, teaching the
paintings how to be them.
Through this process, they are able to become very good representations of these witches
and wizards.
But I don’t know if I’m entirely convinced.
Some of these portraits (like Dumbledore’s and Snape’s) seem far too ALIVE and capable,
which leads me to question the process.
Rowling has stated that the type of portrait typically corresponds to the power and abilities
of the witch or wizard who is featured in the painting.
This suggests that the more powerful a witch or wizard was in life, the more life-like
their portrait stands to be.
At least as far as Headmasters portraits are concerned, I think it’s entirely possible
that a tiny sliver of the subjects soul is (willingly) implanted in to the portrait,
allowing the portrait to exhibit such lifelike behaviour.
If you’re already on your deathbed, why not preserve a little piece of yourself to
bestow wisdom upon the generations to come?
It’s entirely possible that splitting the soul (even in such an infinitesimal way) would
entirely contradict what some of these main characters stand for, but it’s a fun thought.
Hogwarts is Sentient
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a magical place full of enchantment and
mystery that was created by its 4 founding members- Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin,
Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw.
While each of the founding members was responsible for bringing something to the table during
the creation of the school, the founder most responsible for its architecture was probably
Rowena Ravenclaw, as she was influential in the creation of the castle as well as the
schools ever-changing floor plan.
Hogwarts is undoubtedly spectacular to look at- an unquestionable architectural marvel,
but it DOES seem like there’s an underlying element of mystery to the castle- wouldn’t
you agree?
The theory I’ve got for you suggests that the castle itself is actually a sentient being,
capable of understanding and reacting to the emotions and events happening within its walls.
This would explain the ever-changing staircases, the hidden passages, and the seemingly endless
array of secret rooms.
The Founders were able to turn a regular hat in to a sentient being (the sorting hat) in
order to perpetuate their belief systems, so I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t have
extended this sort of magic to the very walls of the castle.
A step further..What if the Hogwarts founders inserted their own consciousness in to the
schools walls?
Thestrals are Science Experiments
Thestrals are a mysterous breed of winged horse with skeletal and reptilian features
- resembling a sort of..Evil Pegasus.
The following excerpt from the Order of the Phoenix depicts Harry’s initial reaction
to Thestrals:
"If he had had to give them a name, he supposed he would have called them horses, though there
was something reptilian about them, too.
They were completely fleshless, their black coats clinging to their skeletons, of which
every bone was visible.
Their heads were dragonish, and their pupil-less eyes white and staring.
Wings sprouted from each wither — vast, black leathery wings that looked as though
they ought to belong to giant bats.
Standing still and quiet in the gathering gloom, the creatures looked eerie and sinister."
The ministry of magic considers Thestrals to be dangerous, and they have a bad rap as
‘omens of misfortune’ because they are only visible to those who have seen death.
The theory I’ve got for you today suggests that Thestrals are NOT naturally occurring
creatures sprouted from nature, but are in fact the result of dark arts experiments by
evil wizards.
In the Wizarding World there IS such a thing as a regular winged horse, and so the theory
posits that Thestrals were once ordinary winged horses that became exposed to dark magic.
Though not even remotely as ‘evil’, perhaps Thestrals are to Winged Horses as Dementors
are to Witches and Wizards.
Neville Longbottom’s Clumsiness
Neville is well-known for his clumsiness and forgetfulness, and this aspect of Neville’s
character is reinforced again and again for a large portion of the series.
Some of it can be explained by his wand.
You see, for most of his life Neville’s wand isn’t NEVILLE’S at all.
It actually originally belonged to his father, Frank Longbottom.
We know that the wand chooses the wizard, so having a wand handed down to you is a surefire
way of stunting your magical abilities.
But..That doesn’t explain everything.
Neville was clumsy beyond just performing spells.
The theory I’m about to introduce suggests that Neville's grandmother, Augusta, is to
blame.
After Neville’s parents were tortured to insanity, he was sent to live with his grandmother,
Augusta.
Augusta was the mother of Neville’s father, Frank Longbottom, and longed for Neville to
grow up to be just like his father.
However, Neville’s early ineptitude led to her being quite disappointed in her grandson.
The theory that I want to introduce today suggests that during Neville’s youth, Augusta
may have cast a Confundus Charm on the young boy.
There are a few angles..
The first is that Augusta did this entirely by accident.
Though she was a talented witch in her own right, Augusta was no spring chicken, so it’s
possible that she simply cast the spell on Neville (by accident) while trying to achieve
some sort of other result.
The next is that Augusta INTENTIONALLY cast the spell on Neville in order to protect him
from potential Death Eater attacks.
The rationale here behing that IF Neville appeared less capable, then he would be less
of a target.
Augusta had gone through the traumatizing process of witnessing her capable, brave and
impressive son tortured to insanity- leaving behind an empty shell.
It’s entirely possible that Augusta, clinging on to hope that Neville would turn out like
Frank, sheltered the boy in order to protect him.
If true, this would explain Neville's sudden surge of competence and bravery in the later
books, as the charm's effects may have started to wear off.
The Mirror of Erised reveals even more than meets the eye
The Mirror of Erised is a magical mirror that shows us the ‘deepest, most desperate desires’
of our hearts.
This is reflected in the mirror’s name, no pun intended, as ‘Erised’ flipped around
reads as ‘desire’.
The mirror itself was made sometime before the end of the nineteenth century, and is
located in the room of requirement in Hogwarts.
Engraved on the mirror are the words ‘Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi, which,
backwards, reads as ‘I show not your face but your hearts desire’.
And while conventional wisdom suggests that what’s shown in the mirror is a very much
intangible reflection of one’s desires, the theory I’ve got for you today really
takes it a step further.
This theory suggests that the mirror is actually a portal to an alternate reality, where the
viewer's desires have come true.
This would explain the mirror's ability to show such vivid and realistic images, as well
as its potential to become addictive and dangerous to those who gaze into it for too long.
We’ve seen other enigmatic gateways in the Harry Potter universe, such as the veil, so
the idea that this magical artifact crosses interdimensional boundaries is not entirely
out of the question.
If true, this would add a new dimension to the Mirror of Erised and its role in the series,
transforming it from a mere reflection of desire to a gateway to another world.
The Philosopher's Stone is a Horcrux
Nicolas Flamel was a French scribe born in the year 1330 that is said to be responsible
for the creation of the fabled alchemical creation: the Philosoper’s Stone.
He is a real life historical figure that was adapted by JK Rowling:
Over the course of his life Flamel had 2 great (big understatement there) achievements in
the realm of alchemy.
The first was his creation of the Philosopher’s Stone, an object with the ability to turn
base metals in to gold.
The second (and the one we’re going to discuss in-depth) was his creation of the ‘elixir
of life’ - a potion made from the Philosopher’s Stone that granted the drinker immortality.
Because of Flamel’s elixir of life, he ended up being one of the longest living wizards
in history.
However, fearing that the stone would one day fall in to the wrong hands, Flamel and
Dumbledore devised a plan to destroy it.
The stone’s destruction, however, came at a great price- Flamel’s life.
The theory I’ve got for you today posits that Flamel’s Philosopher’s Stone was
an object not unlike Voldemort’s Horcruxes- an anchor to the mortal realm.
Just like Voldemort stowed pieces of his soul in to physical objects, Flamel’s Stone contained
fragments of his soul that tethered him to life.
Did the Philosopher’s Stone really keep Flamel alive because of a supposed ‘elixir
of life’?
Or was Flamel just a fraud that relied on the Stone’s existence to remain in the land
of the living?
This theory of course paints Flamel in a bit of a morally dubious light, but it’s interesting
to think about.
Harry’s Class Size
Did you ever think that, for the greatest wizarding school in the world, Harry’s class
sizes seemed..a little small?
For the number of wizards across the globe, it seems unlikely that one of the pillars
of wizarding education would boast such a small number of aspiring young witches and
wizards.
Well, I may have an explanation.
This theory suggests that because so many witches and wizards were killed during the
First Wizarding War, the significant hit to the wizard population resulted in far fewer
students.
Harry's year, along with the surrounding years, would have been the children and grandchildren
of those who perished or were otherwise affected by the war.
The decrease in population would naturally result in fewer students being born during
that time, leading to smaller class sizes at Hogwarts.
It's a grim thought, but it makes sense when you consider the devastating impact that Voldemort
and the Death Eaters had on the wizarding world.
The Deathly Hallows and Rule of 3
Harry Potter is known for its rule of 7s
In the Wizarding World, the number 7 is considered to be the most powerful magical number.
As such, there are many ‘7’s on display for us in the Harry Potter story.
7 times that Voldemort split his soul/ 7 Weasley children
& 7 galleons for Harry’s first wand
But I think that another overlooked number in the series is 3.
This theory discusses the notion that the 3 Deathly Hallows – the Elder Wand, the
Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak – represent the trio of Harry, Hermione,
and Ron, respectively.
Harry is the true master of the Elder Wand, Hermione is the brains who could metaphorically
bring back the dead with her knowledge, and Ron is often overshadowed by his friends,
much like someone wearing the Invisibility Cloak.
At least this is true for the FILM version of his character.
This theory connects the beloved trio and the legendary Hallows!
The Goblet of Fire’s Secret
The Goblet of Fire is the magical artifact used to select champions for the Triwizard
Tournament.
The Goblet was first used in 1294 when it was introduced for the very first tournament
on record.
What’s interesting about the Goblet, however, is that its creation is shrouded in mystery,
leaving many to wonder about its true nature and origins.
The theory I’ve got for you today suggests that the Goblet of Fire, much like the Sorting
Hat, is in fact a sentient magical artifact - capable of making decisions and judgments
based on the intentions and desires of those who submit their names.
This would explain the goblet's ability to assess the worthiness of each applicant and
select the most worthy champions, as it would possess a deep understanding of each individual's
character and potential.
This may also explain its susceptibility to magical tampering, as this would allow it
to be influenced by the intentions of anyone who cast a spell on the Goblet.
If the Goblet of Fire is indeed sentient, the only question that remains is..WHO created
it?
Fire, Water, Air and Earth
This theory posits that the four houses of Hogwarts are linked with the 4 classical elements.
Gryffindor, the brave and daring, represents fire.
This passionate and fierce element is known for its power and intensity, much like the
courageous students of Gryffindor.
Fire symbolizes the burning desire to stand up for what is right and the unwavering determination
to face challenges head-on, characteristics that are deeply ingrained in the spirit of
Gryffindor house.
Ravenclaw, the wise and intellectual, symbolizes air.
This element is associated with the mind, knowledge, and communication, perfectly reflecting
the values of Ravenclaw students.
Air represents the boundless curiosity and thirst for knowledge that drives the pursuit
of wisdom and understanding, qualities that are highly respected and nurtured within the
Ravenclaw house.
Hufflepuff, the loyal and hardworking, embodies earth.
As the most grounded and stable of the four elements, earth symbolizes the unwavering
loyalty, steadfastness, and dedication that are hallmarks of Hufflepuff house.
Earth represents the nurturing and supportive nature of Hufflepuffs, who are known for their
strong sense of community and commitment to fairness and equality.
And finally, Slytherin, the cunning and ambitious, signifies water.
This element is often associated with depth, adaptability, and the ability to navigate
the complexities of life.
Water represents the resourcefulness and ambition that drive Slytherin students to achieve their
goals, often with a level of subtlety and cunning that is unmatched.
The fluidity and adaptability of water reflect the Slytherin house's ability to navigate
through challenges, always seeking the most advantageous path.
And that’s it for this video!
What do you think of these theories?
Which did you like?
Which didn’t you like?
Please leave a comment down below with your thoughts and be sure to include any Harry
Potter theories of your own.
Until next time
Remember
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live