Harry Potter Theory: Recent Episodes
Harry Potter Theory
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory! This podcast features Harry Potter Theories, Fantastic Beasts Theories, Explanations, Top Lists, News, Character Backstories, Fan Fictions & More!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing the history of Gringotts Wizarding Bank, as well as the magical money that it uses to fuel the wizarding economy. Gringotts was first founded in the late 15th century during the year of 1474 by a goblin who went by the name—you guessed it—Gringott. Little is known about the goblin Gringott and his formative years, or even how old he was when he founded the bank that would become the safest place for valuables in the wizarding world. What we do know is that he is featured on his own Chocolate Frog Card, alongside the likes of famous witches and wizards, such as Albus Dumbledore and Merlin. In a small way, this signifies the incredible accomplishment Gringott achieved by creating the first-ever bank for magical society. The bank itself is located on the north side of the hidden locale, Diagon Alley, a street magically concealed from Muggles and only visited by those who are part of the wizarding world. Accessible via the wizarding pub, the Leaky Cauldron, which sits upon the Muggle road of Charing Cross Road, Gringotts is one of the most frequented magical establishments within Central London. This, of course, is due to the fact that Gringotts is the ONLY wizarding bank in Britain, meaning that any witch or wizard who wishes to keep their gold or other valuables safe inside a proper magical bank would need to travel to Britain and visit Gringotts to do so. Of course, this is rather unbelievable to us Muggles, who seem to have a bank on every other street corner, which is made clear by Harry’s reaction the first time Hagrid tells him of Gringotts’ existence… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today we’re discussing Aurors from Harry Potter, a group of elite and highly trained witches and wizards that work for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement inside the Ministry of Magic. Or if you’re in the US, for the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Comparable to say, the Secret Service in the Muggle World, Aurors are responsible for investigating and handling any and all crimes pertaining to dark wizards and dark magic. "Aurors are the Wizarding World's best defence against the practitioners of the Dark Arts. We're well-versed in offensive magic, because our very lives depend on it. It takes courage, wit, and guile. Not many have the stomach for it. Do you?" Aurors play a crucial role in maintaining peace and combating dark forces in the wizarding world- serving as an essential pillar of magical law enforcement. They stand as a symbol of courage, skill, and unwavering dedication. The origins of Aurors trace back to the tumultuous period of the 18th century when the wizarding world faced numerous threats and internal conflicts. This era, marked by dark wizard supremacy and oppression, laid the foundation for the formation of the Auror profession. As wizards and witches became increasingly concerned about the misuse of magic, an urgent need arose for skilled individuals who could safeguard the magical community and bring justice to wrongdoers. From quelling goblin rebellions, to investigating the illegal trade of magical creatures, the Aurors were the closest thing to a standing army that the Ministry would ever mobilize. But which Aurors were most powerful? Let's take a look. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing the many reasons why Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, famed Headmaster of Hogwarts and former Gryffindor student, may have been more well-suited to Slytherin House. As fans, soon after Harry Potter received his letter of acceptance and we were first introduced to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, we also learned about the magical institution’s four founding members and how they decided that the student population would always be divided into four houses, which would represent the characteristics and traits most valued by each of those founding members. As the majority of you watching this will already know, the four founding members of Hogwarts School were Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin, with the corresponding houses being named after each of their surnames. And while later instalments of the series eventually focused on students from the houses of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, the beginning of Harry Potter certainly had a lot more emphasis on Gryffindor and Slytherin. What’s more, there was a very obvious dichotomy presented between the two, with all of the protagonist characters—aka the “good guys”—being Gryffindors, and all of the antagonists—or “bad guys”—being Slytherins. From Harry to the compassionate and friendly Weasley family who helped him find Platform 9 and ¾, and the world-famous Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, everyone who was presented as good and heroic in the first few years of Harry’s time at Hogwarts was a current or former Gryffindor student. By contrast, each of the BADDIES that we met during Harry’s first few years were all Slytherins, including the bully Draco Malfoy, the cruel Professor Snape and, of course, the most evil wizard to have ever lived—Lord Voldemort. And who could forget what Hagrid told Harry before he entered his first year at Hogwarts: “There's not a single witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin. You-Know-Who was one.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing the history of Harry Potter’s only known surviving relatives—the Dursley family. The Dursleys are one of the most infamous Muggle families to exist within the Wizarding World. As his only living relatives at the time of Harry’s parents’ deaths, these were the people who—unfortunately— were given the responsibility of raising Harry from the time he was only a one-year-old child. But who are they, really? And how did they become such intolerable sods? In today’s video, I’ll be taking you through a deep dive into the backstories and lives of the entire Dursley family as we know them. Let’s get to it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing professor Horace Slughorn, and his famed ‘Slug Club’- a club which can best be described through the wise words of Albus Dumbledore: “Horace,” said Dumbledore, relieving Harry of the responsibility to say any of this, “likes his comfort. He also likes the company of the famous, the successful, and the powerful. He enjoys the feeling that he influences these people. He has never wanted to occupy the throne himself; he prefers the backseat — more room to spread out, you see. He used to handpick favorites at Hogwarts, sometimes for their ambition or their brains, sometimes for their charm or their talent, and he had an uncanny knack for choosing those who would go on to become outstanding in their various fields.” “Horace formed a kind of club of his favorites with himself at the center, making introductions, forging useful contacts between members, and always reaping some kind of benefit in return, whether a free box of his favorite crystallized pineapple or the chance to recommend the next junior member of the Goblin liaison Office.” Horace Slughorn’s ‘Slug Club’ was an out-of-hours dining and social club made up of his most well-liked and famous students. The club provided its members with unique opportunities, mentorship, and access to influential contacts, opening doors for their future successes. It’s origins date back to when he first began teaching at the school in 1931. You see, Slughorn had a keen eye to identify if someone would go on to achieve greatness in some capacity, and would take great pride in their accomplishments. While we are given some indication as to who is actually in this club in the books and films, we aren’t provided with a complete list. Names are mentioned, and in the film adaptation Slughorn’s ‘wall’ is shown, where he proudly displays the members of his club, but we want to know more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to embark on a journey to unveil a hidden trove of characters whose rich stories were left untold on the silver screen. Now, as avid readers, we all know that the movies could never capture every inked detail found within the beloved books. So today, we’re going to dive into the forgotten pages and reveal the diverse tapestry of characters that were included in the novels but omitted from the movies. Ranging from minor to major, today I want to introduce to you a comprehensive list of the characters who (for varying reasons) never made it to the big screen. I certainly hope that we will get a chance to see some of these characters in the upcoming Harry Potter TV Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the rather dark topic of WITCH HUNTS- diving deep in to how witch hunts and witch trials have shaped the course of the wizarding world’s (and our own) history. While the world of Harry Potter may be filled with wonder and awe, it is not immune to the shadows that lurk in the human heart. Just like in our own MUGGLE history, the wizarding world has faced its fair share of witch hunts and unjust persecution, where fear and prejudice have cast a sinister veil over the lives of magical beings. But before we get started on the fictional witch hunts that unfold within the pages of Harry Potter, I want to first take a look at the extensive history of witch hunts in our own world- a phenomenon spanning multiple centuries that claimed the lives of a staggering 35000 to 50000 victims. Once we’re done covering the real atrocities that occurred, we’ll segue in to the Wizarding World’s version of witch hunts and see how they differ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the history of the Marauders. For anyone unfamiliar with the group, the Marauders were made up of four school-aged wizards who attended Hogwarts in the 1970s. All four were Gryffindor students, who over the course of their first year at school became the closest of friends. Their names were James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. In this in-depth video, we'll explore the rich history and untold stories of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. From their daring adventures at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to their pivotal role in the First Wizarding War, we delve into the captivating narrative of the Marauders' era. Discover their formation, the creation of the Marauder's Map, and the impact of their friendship on the wizarding world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing why Professor Albus Dumbledore, arguably the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has ever seen, never assumed a much greater leadership role within the wizarding world as the British Minister for Magic. As far as legendary wizards go in the world of Harry Potter, Professor Albus Dumbledore certainly tops the list—especially when considering the number of legendary witches and wizards who have wielded their power for good and not evil. For starters, he is likely only one of a few wizards in all of history who was essential in the downfall of not one, but TWO dark and powerful wizards, both of whom were leading deadly wizarding conflicts. His first conquest of good over evil came when he defeated the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald on the 2nd of November in 1945. In doing so, Dumbledore not only stopped Grindelwald from continuing to gain power with the intention of subjugating Muggles around the world, he also effectively ended the global wizarding war that had erupted thanks to Grindelwald’s prejudiced views. Then, in the 1990s, Dumbledore was also responsible for identifying the weakness of Voldemort—namely his multiple Horcruxes—which eventually led to Harry Potter’s ability to defeat the Dark Lord. While not many witches or wizards can attest to attaining the same or similar achievements, Dumbledore defeated those dark wizards while also TEACHING, for Albus was an accomplished professor at Hogwarts for years before finally becoming one of the school’s most admired Headmasters. So, when taking all of Albus Dumbledore’s accolades into consideration, as well as his propensity for what is just and right, it seems rather odd that a wizard as powerful and good as Dumbledore, and who could clearly lead an organised establishment, was never the head of the magical governing body of Britain—the Ministry of Magic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the 5 captivating works of Beedle the Bard. Specifically, we’re going to be diving in to who Beedle was, what lessons his stories teach, what they’re about and how his stories have so effectively managed to stand the test of time. Within the realm of Harry Potter, Beedle the Bard is a renowned author whose stories have been cherished by generations of witches and wizards. His collection of magical fables, aptly titled "The Tales of Beedle the Bard," holds a special place in the hearts of fans worldwide. “‘You’ve never heard of The Tales of Beedle the Bard?’ Ron asked Hermione incredulously in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This just about sums up why the tales are so special. For centuries, the fables have been the staple of wizarding childhoods, the sound of bedtime stories. To children who grew up in wizarding families, ‘the Hopping Pot and the Fountain of Fair Fortune are as familiar’ to them ‘as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are to Muggle children’.” Beedle's tales provide us with delightful glimpses into the rich folklore of the wizarding world. As we explore his works, let us not only marvel at the magic and wonder encapsulated within these timeless stories but also reflect on the wisdom they impart. Each of these tales offer a wealth of knowledge and understanding, presenting us with valuable life lessons and thought-provoking dilemmas to contemplate. Without further ado, let’s dive in to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing house elves, an often-overlooked species of magical beings from within the wizarding world. Specifically, we’re going to be diving in to their origins- taking a look at where they came from and how they got to be in the position that they’re in today. House elves have been an integral part of wizarding society for centuries, serving as loyal companions and helpers to wizarding families. But what’s interesting is that we’re never actually fed much info on their history. Did house elves precede the existence of witches and wizards? When did house elves first come to be? What inspired JK Rowling to create them? Why do they SERVE? And just how did they evolve into such an essential aspect of the wizarding world? I also want to examine how House elves were used to symbolize deeper themes of social justice, equality, and the ethics of servitude. Hopefully, through our examination of their history, we'll uncover the powerful messages J.K. Rowling intended to convey through highlighting the mistreatment of an entire species marginalized in society. Without further ado, let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing every single subject taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I covered this topic a few years ago, but then it occurred to me that, with new publications on wizardingworld.com as well as new game content, the list probably needed updating (which it did!). This also gives me an opportunity to expand on existing subjects further. Before we get going see if you can comment all of the subjects down below (no cheating). Anyway, I won’t dawdle any longer, here are the 25 subjects of Hogwarts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re diving deep in to the life of Regulus Arcturus Black - also known as R.A.B., a character that may not be particularly well known by those who have only seen the films. You may recall him as the enigmatic character whose journey from loyalty to Lord Voldemort to becoming a courageous defector captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Today, I’ll be telling his compelling story- diving in to the biography of one of the wizarding world’s unsung heroes. But first, a brief introduction. In the realm of the Wizarding World, the name "Regulus Black" resonates with a sense of mystery and intrigue. Born into the noble House of Black, known for its complex history and unwavering belief in pure-blood supremacy, Regulus's destiny seemed predetermined. However, life often presents unexpected paths, and Regulus's journey would lead him down a road less traveled. Shrouded in the very darkness he sought to embrace, Regulus's story begins with a complex upbringing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing ALL of the hidden rooms, unknown chambers, and secret passageways within Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts Castle is known for the fact that its location is…well…UNKNOWN. Unplottable on a map and basically invisible to Muggles, the school and its surrounding grounds have quite the reputation for harbouring many magical secrets. This, of course, includes an absolutely INSANE number of hidden areas within the castle…In today’s video, I’ll be taking you through all the ones that we know about…starting with… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing the history and family tree of the Black family. You might not know this, but Sirius Black was more than just a powerful wizard who escaped the dungeons of Azkaban. By birthright, he was a member of one of the most powerful wizarding families in all of Britain. In fact, the Black family line can be traced back through the centuries, and was celebrated as one of the proudest pure-blood families in the world. And by the time Sirius was born, he was one of the few male heirs that remained. Which meant his passing, in the Death Chamber on the ninth level of the ministry of magic, marked the end of the Black Family line. But even that wasn’t really the end for them. Although the women of the family didn’t typically keep their last name after marriage, they married into dozens of other pure blood families throughout England. In some way, almost every Weasly, Potter, Lestrange, Lupin, and Malfoy could find a connection to the Blacks. Today, we’re going to take a look at the very first recorded ancestor in Sirius’s line, and trace the history of the Black family, from Sirius’s own namesake, to the final male heirs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing what happened to the Wizarding World AFTER the climactic defeat of Lord Voldemort in the Deathly Hallows. After a period of total chaos, a sudden silence fell over the Hogwarts grounds. The menacing lord of darkness, Voldemort, was finally defeated. Victory brought a fresh morning glimmer, marking an end to the fear and terror that the dark lord had spread across the wizarding world. But even though Voldemort’s reign was short lived, his time in power was more than long enough to spread a veil of darkness over the once-vibrant wizarding world. Lives were lost, institutions crumbled, and the inhabitants of the wizarding world were reminded of what darkness was capable of. And in times like this, the darkest of times, it would be wise for the wizarding population to follow the sage advice of Albus Dumbledore, the man that always reminded us to "turn on the light". Voldemort’s defeat was a glorious occasion for the good guys, but as the light of victory settled a new (and colossal task) dawned on the wizarding world- the reconstruction of a fractured world and the healing of a society bruised by Voldemort's regime. But if the Phoenix has taught us anything, it’s that it is after the fall from the flames that we rise again, stronger than ever. The ashes of defeat had fallen; now, it was time for the magical world to rise. I’ve done a video in the past discussing what happened to each and every character from the series in the post war era show video on screen, but today we’re going to be honing in on wizarding society as a whole. What happened to Hogwarts? The Ministry of Magic? Diagon Alley? Without further ado, let’s uncover the rebirth of wizarding society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing The Potter Family, Godric’s Hollow, Voldemort and October 31st 1981. Specifically, we’re going to be tackling the question of WHY James Potter didn’t act as his OWN secret keeper- instead entrusting the responsibility with known RAT Peter Pettigrew. Join me as we dive deep into the Fidelius Charm and the role of the Secret Keeper in the tragic events that led to the downfall of James and Lily Potter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing why Fred and George Weasley never noticed Peter Pettigrew—aka Scabbers the rat—on the magically revealing Marauder’s Map. I suppose to start with, we can address the question of: Why would they? Well, as we learn near the end of Harry Potter’s third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Marauder’s Map has the capability to reveal each and every person roaming the hallowed halls of the school, regardless of their form. It represents witches and wizards with a dot that has a corresponding name—which is ALWAYS their true identity, again regardless of any magic that may make them appear differently when confronted in person. And it is through the Map that Harry discovers a number of unsettling secrets that have to do with the night his parents were murdered—including the fact that Peter Pettigrew, his father’s mate who supposedly died that same night, is ALIVE. How does he discover this? He sees him on the Marauder’s Map. But I’m getting ahead of myself… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing the enigmatic gate of DEATH that is The VEIL. Now, if one were to venture through the corridors of the Ministry of Magic for long enough, they’d likely, eventually, find themselves standing before the enigmatic Veil - a haunting manifestation nestled within the Death Chamber of the Department of Mysteries. And when faced with such an enigmatic wizarding structure, it’s hard not to ask questions. What IS the Veil? Who created it? And how does the Veil connect to the wizarding world's understanding of life, death, and the beyond? Join me as we apparate through time and space, diving deep into the mysteries of the Veil and shedding light on its presence within Wizarding History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be going for a deep dive into how Lord Voldemort never figured out that Severus Snape was a double agent whose true loyalties lay with Albus Dumbledore and The Order of the Phoenix. As revealed at the very bitter end of the Harry Potter series, Professor Severus Snape was one of the most successful turn cloaks to have ever lived. Becoming a follower of Voldemort—and officially a Death Eater—shortly after leaving Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Severus was a wizard deeply entrenched in the world of Dark Magic from a rather young age. Before he became enamoured with the Dark Lord and his teachings, however, Severus’ first love was that of the Muggle-born witch Lily Evans. And so when Snape learned of a prophecy that inevitably sent Voldemort after the woman he loved, and set into motion a series of events that would result in her death, Severus chose to alter his allegiance and instead work for the very group of witches and wizards set on destroying Voldemort—while pretending to remain a faithful servant to the Dark Lord. But how is it that the wizard many believed to be one of the most POWERFUL to have ever lived never managed to figure out that Snape wasn’t truly on his side? Well, I believe that the answer to this question is actually a bit more complex than one might first think. To which end, I’ve put together a few ideas I’ve had on the subject, starting with… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing the Hogwarts Express and the UK national rail network. WIth a platform that’s invisible / inaccessible to muggles, and a rail line that heads to a magical school in the Scottish highlands, you probably won’t be surprised to hear me say that the railway trip out to Hogwarts is unusual to say the least. Trains play a pivotal part in Harry Potter, with platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express both playing a crucial role in Harry’s first trip AWAY from the Dursleys, and off in to the Wizarding World. But, have you ever wondered HOW this magical railway ride fits in to a preexisting national rail network? The UK National rail network to be specific. Does the Hogwarts express exist entirely independently from the rest of these trains? Or, does it share some of the same tracks? Does it transport some of the same passengers? Is the Hogwarts Express able to magically avoid collisions? What gives? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be diving in to FOURTY- that’s right, FOURTY, Harry Potter Plot twists. And when I say Plot Twists I am of course referring to unexpected turns in the story that surprised us. Moments that challenged the assumptions and expectations that had been built up throughout the narrative. And when it comes to the Harry Potter story we have to give credit where credit is due- there are a LOT of twists and turns. From relatively mild to MAJOR, each of these plot twists contributed to a compelling story that left us full of intrigue and suspense. Before we get started be sure to comment some of YOUR favourite plot twists down below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing the intersection of muggle and magical- taking a look at some ‘magical’ aspects of the Wizarding World that also happen to…Exist in our OWN world? From people to magical objects, join me as we unravel the magic that has existed around us all along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're covering the WEIRDEST theories out there- ranking them all the way up to the WEIRDEST theory of all. I’ve covered a few of these on the channel in the past, but there are also some new ones. These are going to be explained fairly succinctly, but if you want the FULL version of one of these theories, you can find it on the channel’s home page. Which weird Harry Potter theories do you guys know? Do you think you can guess them? Without further ado, let’s get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today I’ve got something..a little bit different for you. Rather than delve in to the spells and curses from the Harry Potter universe that most of us already know so well, I thought I’d cross the barrier in to a whole other world of magic- magic that’s been right in front of us for thousands of years. This video marks the first in a series where I’ll be highlighting magic from the REAL world- taking a closer look at spells, curses and enchantments from civilizations all around the globe. Starting today, join me as we embark on a captivating journey to the land of the Nile, where the ancient Egyptian civilization flourished with its enigmatic and mystical practices. Here, we’ll dive in to the fascinating world of ancient Egyptian magic, exploring the spells, curses, and rituals that played an integral role in the lives of these remarkable people. From the grand pyramids to the mysterious Sphinx, the ancient Egyptians were masters of harnessing the powers of the universe, intertwining their daily lives with the mystical forces that surrounded them. Through the use of sacred texts, intricate rituals, and powerful incantations, they sought to communicate with the gods, protect their people, and ensure their passage into the afterlife. Without further ado, let us embark on this enthralling expedition into the magical realm of ancient Egypt and uncover the mysteries that have captivated the world for millennia. I also happen to have quite an intriguing (and relatively unknown) piece of information about ancient Egyptian civilization within the Harry Potter universe- so keep an eye out for that as well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Hey everyone, Welcome to another instalment of Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing ten more of the darkest moments of the Harry Potter series that were left OUT of the films. DARK Moments that never made it on to the silver screen.
If you haven’t watched Part 1 of this series, go and check it out afterwards: Top 10 Darkest Moments LEFT OUT of the Films.
Now, onto today’s picks for darkest moments that never made it from page to screen… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the founding of ILVERMORNY school- North America’s answer to Hogwarts. I’ll be kicking things off by discussing the story of its founder, Isolt Sayre, then segueing into the FOUNDING of the school. Following that, I’ll be breaking down the minutiae of EVERYTHING that we know about Ilvermorny- from it’s own unique house system, to the school’s grounds, to it’s curriculum and MORE. Without further ado, I present to you the tale of Isolt Sayre and Ilvermorny school. Isolt Sayre was an Irish witch born sometime around the year 1603 who spent most of her early childhood in the valley of Coomloughra, County Kerry. Isolt came from two pure-blood wizarding families, the Sayres and the Gaunts. Her father was William Sayre, and her mother was Rionach Gaunt who came from the house of Gaunt. You may recognize the name Gaunt, and that’s because it’s the same family that Voldemort comes from - descendants of Salazar Slytherin himself. Isolt had an idyllic childhood. Her family lived in the beautiful countryside, everyone was happy and healthy, and her parents had a good relationship with their muggle neighbours. It has been expressed that Rionach and William would help their Muggle neighbours with magical cures for humans and livestock whenever possible. However, this idyllic life didn’t last forever, as when she was five years old both of her parents died during an attack on the family home. Isolt was ‘rescued’ from the fire by her mother’s estranged sister, Gormlaith Gaunt, and Isolt was taken to the neighbouring valley of Coomcallee, or ‘Hag’s Glen’, where she was raised from then on. However, as Isolt grew older she came to the realization that her aunt wasn’t her saviour, she was in fact the murderer of her parents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be discussing five of the DARKEST Harry Potter theories out there- diving into the mysterious and shadowy corners of the Wizarding World. Prepare to have your mind blown and your perception of Hogwarts forever changed. These chilling speculations will send shivers down your spine and may even make you question everything you thought you knew about Harry's magical universe. So, grab your wands, and let's embark on this spine-tingling journey together! Let’s get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be ranking MY favourite Harry Potter movies from BEST to WORST. I think one point of distinction that needs to be made right away here is that these are NOT reflective of my BOOK rankings. Over the course of a decade, the beloved book series was adapted into eight spellbinding films, captivating audiences worldwide and bringing the Wizarding World to life on the big screen. However, In the process of adapting the complex and intricate world of the books into a more visually-driven medium, many aspects of the books were omitted. Because the films are a ‘less complete’ package, and because of filmmakers' decisions to prioritize certain scenes over others, they make for quite a different experience- each possessing their own unique charms and quirks. The best way to describe the films would be a ‘diluted’ version of the books. HOWEVER, with that said, I’m still a HUGE fan of the Harry Potter films (yes all of them), and I have many positive comments about the way that each film was constructed. As we dive into this cinematic realm, we'll explore the highs and lows of each movie, taking into account the storytelling, visual effects, and the ways in which they either stayed true to or deviated from the original source material. I’ll try my best to rationalize WHY I ranked them the way that I did, but forgive me if in some instances I’m unable to articulate myself properly and limited to explaining things with just a ‘feeling’. I know that a LOT of you are going to deviate from my choices here, so before we get started be sure to comment YOUR best to worst in the comment section down below. Let’s dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the Wizarding Afterlife- taking a closer look at what exactly happens to witches and wizards when they die. The line between the living and the dead is unquestionably a blurry one in Harry Potter. This is reinforced by the prevalence of beings that skirt these two planes of existence- Ghosts and Dementors are some of the first that come to mind. And with these blurred lines, the topic of death (which is also a key thematic element in Harry Potter) becomes even more alluring. In fact, one of the main messages of the Harry Potter books is that death is NOT absolute. It’s also reinforced that it’s not anything we should be worrying about. We’re continually reminded that death is simply a part of LIFE, and that rather than obsessing over it we should instead shift our focus on seeking love and friendship- enjoying the time that we do have. Voldemort infamously tried to evade death - which is why his name is aptly derived from the french ‘vol-de-mort’ meaning ‘flight of death’. But the lesson the books teach surrounding the inevitability of death is one that never quite resonated with our immortality-obsessed antagonist. Rather than embrace life at it’s own pace, Voldemort devised all sorts of plans to achieve the ever-elusive goal of immortality. On a side note- there are actually FIVE methods of achieving immortality in Harry Potter. If you’re curious about them, check out my video ‘all 5 methods of immortality in Harry Potter’. So life and death have blurred lines- but what exactly does that mean? What happens to a witch or wizard when they die? Why do some become ghosts? Is there an AFTERLIFE? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing ten of the most controversial opinions about the Harry Potter series. These, of course, are opinions in which fans have long since battled over since the release of the novels, throughout the making of the films, and now more than ten years later. And since I love a good debate, let’s get to it… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be comparing book with film. Specifically, we’re going to be taking a look at the deaths of 15 Harry Potter characters and HOW these deaths were portrayed differently on the silver screen. We’ll also be diving in to the implications for portraying these deaths differently. When adapting a beloved book series to the big screen, filmmakers face the daunting task of translating the rich, intricate world of the source material into a visual medium, and Harry Potter is no exception. With its complex characters, intricate plotlines, and magical elements, capturing the essence of the books while keeping the films engaging and accessible for a wide audience is a challenge. The portrayals of character deaths, which often carry deep emotional weight and thematic significance, are not excluded from these challenges. Today we’ll explore notable differences between the deaths of characters in the Harry Potter books and their film adaptations, discussing the impact of these changes on the story and the characters involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing whether or not the late, great—and highly revered—Albus Dumbledore ever created his own HORCRUX—before his untimely death. Knowing that creating a Horcrux is a bit of EXTREMELY Dark Magic that we’ve previously only ever heard about Lord Voldemort practising (and I suppose Herpo the Foul), how did a theory surrounding the incredibly well-respected Albus Dumbledore and Horcruxes even come to be? ...Let's dive in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing WHY The Sorting Hat selects MUGGLE-BORN and HALF-BLOOD students for Slytherin House in the modern era. If Salazar Slytherin was such an advocate for Pure-blood supremacy, how is it that, many centuries later, his own Hogwarts house allows half-bloods? Specifically, we’re going to be tackling this question in relation to The Sorting Hat as the hat is ultimately responsible for student placement. The Sorting Hat, a magical artifact at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has the essential task of assigning new students to one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. Each house was founded by one of the four original founders of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw and Salazar Slytherin. ...Let's dive in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Where did the Death Eaters come from? What name did they operate under originally? How did their hierarchy work? And where did the Dark Mark come from? For answers to these questions and more check out today's video of Harry Potter Theory.
Today we’re going to be discussing the history of Voldemort’s faithful servants - the Death Eaters. Specifically- we’ll be looking at their founder, how they formed, what name they ORIGINALLY operated under, how you can become a death eater, why some members WEREN’T pure-bloods, their role in both wizarding wars, and what happened to the Death Eaters AFTER the second wizarding war had ended.
Let’s get in to it.
It all started with a young orphan boy by the name of Tom Riddle who began attending Hogwarts School in 1938. Though on the outside Riddle appeared to be a normal young man, deep down he had an unimaginable number of demons- demons that haunted him every single day of his life. Why? Well, Tom didn’t exactly have a normal chi*ldhood- he was abandoned by his witch mother Merope Gaunt at the steps of Wool’s Orphanage right at the time of his birth.
Because Tom Riddle Jr never had a mother or father figure- he also never had any concept of love, or family. Like many powerful, evil, and enigmatic figures of history - Riddle had a rough start to his life- and this paved the way for the dark path that he was destined to follow. But, when Riddle eventually began to act on his dark nature, and began pursuing dark endeavours- he wasn’t alone, and he was able to bring many other dark witches and wizards along for the ride.
Queue the FIRST iteration of the Death Eaters...
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the probability of whether or not Santa’s elves have any relation to the House Elves that appear throughout Harry Potter. As I’m sure you can appreciate, this is a somewhat complicated topic. First of all, there’s an absurd amount of elven lore that has existed over the centuries. Of course, the elves that are rumoured to reside in the North Pole with jolly ol’ Saint Nick are just one of many because, of course, elves are a common component of just about any fantastical realm created by novelists. One really doesn’t have to think very hard or for very long to come up with a list of books and movies that include this magical species. Lord of the Rings, The Witcher…these are just a couple of the most popular and commonly known series and universes that include an elven people.
So, why compare the House Elves of Harry Potter with Santa Claus’ elves? Well, in my opinion, there are just one too many similarities between these two sets of elves to ignore. If we are ready to accept that both these creatures exist within the same universe – which I assume we are, since Christmas is acknowledged by the characters of Harry Potter throughout the books and the films, and in a world where magical beings clearly exist, it’d be rather ridiculous to rule out that Santa also exists – so, IF we are ready to accept that both sets of elves exist in the same universe, then it’s only logical to assume that they are related, however distantly.
Let’s start with the obvious. Since, we’re not simply comparing these two elven populations in the video – we’re actually looking to uncover whether or not they are indeed related, linked, or what have you – that means that we must first establish how Santa, the North Pole, and his elves would fit into the Harry Potter universe and Wizarding World as a whole.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing none other than popular Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory. More specifically- however, we’re going to be discussing his untimely death at the hands of Wormtail aka Peter Pettigrew during the penultimate moments of the Goblet of Fire. This video will NOT consider the events of the Cursed Child.
Now, whether you’re a film-goer or a book-reader, the untimely death of Cedric Diggory was no doubt impactful. It happened during the third challenge of the triwizard tournament- just after Harry and Cedric simultaneously clutched the triwizard cup. Unbeknown to them, however, the triwizard cup was actually a portkey- a portkey that sent them to straight to Wormtail, Voldemort, and the Little Hangleton Graveyard. It was here that Cedric lived out his final moments- ultimately reaching his fate at the hands of Peter Pettigrew and his killing curse. This is outlined in chapter 32 of the Goblet of Fire- Flesh, Blood and Bone.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. While there are likely many WIZARDS that come to mind when you think of Harry Potter and EVIL – Gellert Grindelwald and Lord Voldemort to name a few – the title of most evil WITCH may not be quite so obvious. So, in this video, we’re going to be discussing why I believe that the most evil witch in the Harry Potter universe is...
Now, I know what you may be thinking. WHO in Merlin’s Beard is Gormlaith Gaunt?! Wouldn’t Bellatrix Lestrange be the obvious choice for most evil witch? How could a witch who many may not have even heard of deserve the title of the MOST evil witch? Could she possibly be MORE evil than Bellatrix, the literal mistress of Evil Reincarnate? (More on that in just a second.)
Well, of course, Bellatrix was a truly evil b– er, witch. She performed some incredibly cruel and heinous acts of magic – and non-magic, for that matter – in the name of being one of Lord Voldemort’s Death Eaters. In fact, the rumour is that Bellatrix was so devout to Voldemort and the Dark Arts that she actually fell IN LOVE and was intimate with the Dark Lord himself, producing a daughter named Delphi – taking the vows of a Death Eater quite above and beyond, if you ask me…But anyway, in addition to her ABSOLUTE loyalty to Voldemort, Bellatrix was also involved in some of the most disturbing acts of Dark Magic described throughout Harry Potter. For example, she took part in the torture of Aurors, Frank and Alice Longbottom, an act which drove them both mad and permanently landed them in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for the remainder of their lives. She also committed many a murder, including that of beloved House Elf, Dobby, her own cousin, Sirius Black, and her niece, Nymphadora Tonks – and she did all this in the name of pure-blood supremacy and the Dark Lord’s vision of the wizarding world. So, yes, of course, it’s true – Bellatrix Lestrange was a monstrously evil witch.
But, hundreds of years before there was Bellatrix Lestrange, there was an Irish witch by the name of Gormlaith Gaunt, whose acts of unspeakable evil rival Ms. Lestrange’s to the point in which I must admit that, in my opinion, she was indeed the more evil of the two.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the Wizarding Afterlife- taking a closer look at what exactly happens to witches and wizards when they die.
The line between the living and the dead is unquestionably a blurry one in Harry Potter. This is reinforced by the prevalence of beings that skirt these two planes of existence- Ghosts and Dementors are some of the first that come to mind.
And with these blurred lines, the topic of death (which is also a key thematic element in Harry Potter) becomes even more alluring.
In fact, one of the main messages of the Harry Potter books is that death is NOT absolute. It’s also reinforced that it’s not anything we should be worrying about.
We’re continually reminded that death is simply a part of LIFE, and that rather than obsessing over it we should instead shift our focus on seeking love and friendship- enjoying the time that we do have.
Voldemort infamously tried to evade death - which is why his name is aptly derived from the french ‘vol-de-mort’ meaning ‘flight of death’.
But the lesson the books teach surrounding the inevitability of death is one that never quite resonated with our immortality-obsessed antagonist. Rather than embrace life at it’s own pace, Voldemort devised all sorts of plans to achieve the ever-elusive goal of immortality.
On a side note- there are actually FIVE methods of achieving immortality in Harry Potter. If you’re curious about them, check out my video ‘all 5 methods of immortality in Harry Potter’.
So life and death have blurred lines- but what exactly does that mean? What happens to a witch or wizard when they die? Why do some become ghosts? Is there an AFTERLIFE?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing wizarding economics- specifically, why and how a MAGICAL world would still have impoverished people. With the advent of magical capabilities, how can there possibly be witches and wizards living derelict lifestyles? At the very least, shouldn’t every witch / wizard be able to source clean clothes?
In Harry Potter, there are many passages alluding to the lack of economic stability in certain wizarding families- with a particular focus on the Weasley’s.
From their house to their to their hand-me-down robes, it’s certainly no secret that the Weasley’s were financially stretched. Draco Malfoy even makes a comment towards Ron where he suggests that the Weasley family name is synonymous with this sort of thing.
“Think my name's funny, do you? Well, no need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down-robe? You must be a Weasley.”
And when Harry first witnesses the Weasley Family vault, he’s at a loss for words:
“Harry enjoyed the breakneck journey down to the Weasleys’ vault, but felt dreadful, far worse than he had in Knockturn Alley, when it was opened. There was a very small pile of silver Sickles inside, and just one gold Galleon. Mrs.Weasley felt right into the corners before sweeping the whole lot into her bag.”
But the Weasleys weren’t the only characters in the Harry Potter story that were lacking in funds. In fact, in my opinion one of the most EXTREME examples of poverty in Harry Potter is Remus Lupin. It’s reinforced over and over and over that his clothes are tatty and that he looked sickly.
The first time that we’re introduced to Lupin’s character, he’s described as follows:
“The stranger was wearing an extremely shabby set of wizard’s robes that had been darned in several places. He looked ill and exhausted. Though quite young, his light brown hair was flecked with gray. [...]
“It’s on his case,” she replied, pointing at the luggage rack over the man’s head, where there was a small, battered case held together with a large quantity of neatly knotted string. The name Professor R. J. Lupin was stamped across one corner in peeling letters.”
Then, again at the sorting ceremony:
“Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.”
When Harry encounters Lupin for the second time, after their arrival at Hogwarts, the passage even suggests that Lupin had eaten properly for the first time in a while:
“Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher’s desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals.”
Was Lupin SO POOR that he couldn’t afford FOOD? How can this be a reality in Wizarding Society?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing RELIGION and Christmas in Harry Potter . We’ll also be more broadly addressing the topic of religion in Wizarding Society- including it’s prevalence, diversification and whether or not witches and wizards celebrate GOD-like figures.
- peeling back the layers to uncover if Christmas means the same thing in the MAGICAL world as it does in the MUGGLE world.
We’re going to start with Christmas then segue in to religion.
Let’s get in to it.
Christmas time at Hogwarts meant that it was time for Hagrid and the other professors to outfit the Great Hall with Christmas decorations. Twelve large decorated fir trees, mistletoe, and holly were among the decorations that Hagrid and the other professors helped put in the Great Hall for the Christmas holidays.
On the surface, Christmas in Harry Potter appears to be celebrated very much the same way that it’s celebrated in Muggle Society- with eggnog, carols, lights, trees, presents and Christmas feasts.
"Harry had never in all his life had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table…”
In fact, the emphasis placed on Christmas traditions in Harry Potter is so significant that the franchise (in some ways) has transcended the page- becoming immortalized in the real world as a story that’s become synonymous with Christmas itself. As soon as the snowy-season hits, it’s inevitably time to hunker down in some blankets and throw on Harry Potter.
But besides all of the warm jumpers, gingerbread houses and Christmas pudding- what is the ACTUAL significance of Christmas in Harry Potter? Is Christmas in Harry Potter driven by religion, or is it a secular holiday?
First I’m going to take a look at what Christmas means to witches and wizards, then I’m going to dive in to the role of religion in the wizarding world as a whole.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it’s student population, how students are selected for the school, and how muggleborns are told that they’re magical!
Since the tenth century, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (located in the Scottish Highlands) has been the PREMIER destination for you*ng witches and wizards to learn magic. At least, in THAT part of the world.
And since the school was founded, it’s been filled year after year with new batches of promising youn*g witches and wizards. Over the centuries the school has produced copious amounts of talented witch and wizard alumni.
“The finest school of witchcraft and wizardry in the world”
But my question is- how are these students chosen to attend this famous wizarding institution? How do they find out that they’ve been chosen? We know they get an acceptance letter- but who decides that THEIR NAME gets put on that letter? And how does this process differ for muggle-borns- youn*g witches and wizards with no prior knowledge of the vast wizarding world?
Let's dive in!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the 10 LARGEST magical creatures- the behemoths of the wizarding world. This list was particularly difficult to make as the exact specifications of each creature (height, weight etc) are not easy to come by. Suffice to say, the honourable mentions list following the main list is pretty long as well.
I don’t think you’ll be able to guess all 10, but leave a comment down below before you start and see if you’re right at the end.
Anyway, I won’t dawdle, here are the 10 most ENORMOUS magical creatures from both Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing notorious werewolf Fenrir Greyback- digging in to his past and uncovering some things that you may have never known.
Believe it or not, once upon a time, Fenrir Greyback was just a regular wizard. He didn’t have sharp teeth, long yellow nails, whiskers, or hair sprouting from every part of his body. He also didn’t transform in to a horrible, dangerous magical creature when a full moon filled the sky.
There is speculation out there pertaining to whether or not Greyback was ever a wizard at all. But as it happens, Rowling has confirmed that ONLY wizards are able to transform in to werewolves after being bitten by one, and that muggles simply die. This (if it wasn’t clear already) confirms the fact that Greyback was indeed a wizard.
In fact, though information on him is sparse, the available evidence would suggest that Greyback was perhaps even once a student at Hogwarts just like Harry, Ron and Hermione. This fact would explain his magical skills, his connections within the Death Eaters, and his hatred of ‘normal wizards’.
But on one fateful day, presumably after his wizarding education had finished, wizard Greyback (who likely was already of dubious morality) had an encounter with a werewolf where he was bitten.
At this moment Fenrir was infected with Lycanthropy by the un-named werewolf, a magical affliction that transforms witches and wizards in to werewolves. One who is infected with Lycanthropy is henceforth known as a ‘Lycanthrope’.
There are two ways to become a Lycanthrope, but regardless of HOW it is contracted, it is still considered to be a curse (for which there is no cure) that will completely alter the victims existence.
The first (and most common) way to contract Lycanthropy is through being bitten by a werewolf, though in some circumstances the bite can/will kill you. You must also be bitten by a werewolf in their wolfish form at the time of the full moon- ensuring that the werewolf’s saliva mingles with the victim’s blo*od.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be covering the WEIRDEST theories- ranking them all the way up to the WEIRDEST theory of all. I’ve covered a few of these on the channel in the past, but there are also some new ones. These are going to be explained fairly succinctly, but if you want the FULL version of one of these theories, you can find it on the channel’s home page. Which weird Harry Potter theories do you guys know? Do you think you can guess them?
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing the future of the Harry Potter franchise- specifically, what direction Warner Bros will take if they decide to further pursue a potential Harry Potter show. I’m also going to be discussing the FUTURE of Fantastic Beasts.
Over the last couple of years we’ve been teased SEVERAL times about the potential for a Harry Potter reboot- whether in the form of a TV show or movie. Most recently was 3 weeks ago, when Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav emphasized the importance and significance of the Harry Potter IP belonging to them..
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Albus Dumbledore and the discovery he made in his youth that made him famous. I am of course talking about his discovery of the 12 uses of Dragon’s Blood- an alchemical feat worthy of a place in the history books.
Today, when we think of Dumbledore’s achievements, the accomplishment that stands out most was his 1945 defeat of dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, as he effectively saved the wizarding world from a perilous fate. After 1945, there wasn’t a wizarding household in the world that didn’t know his name.
However, what many don’t realize is that Dumbledore is also quite famous from his OTHER achievements in the wizarding world.
Dumbledore lived a long time, 115 years to be exact, and during his formative years he was able to achieve a LOT, beginning to impress other witches and wizards as early as the year 1893.
“In a matter of months, Albus’s own fame had begun to eclipse that of his father. By the end of his first year, he would never again be known as the son of a Muggle-hater, but as nothing more or less than the most brilliant student ever seen at the school.”
And for the remainder of Dumbledore’s studies, with his negative associations now a thing of the past, Dumbledore continued to excel- achieving every award and accolade imaginable.
After the death of his sister, he decided to take a trip to France where he visited his old friend Nicolas Flamel. Flamel was a famed alchemist, and it was in France that Dumbledore studied the ancient art and science of alchemy under his tutelage. After an unknown period of time, Dumbledore returned back to Britain- and it just so happened that in this time period Dumbledore became infatuated with the study of dragon’s blood- specifically it’s uses- a relatively uncharted subject in wizarding culture. Dragon blood was the blood of any of the many species of dragon, and it had 12 uses - all of which Dumbledore ‘discovered’ and subsequently published, earning him widespread recognition. Dumbledore was now world famous.
But despite this discovery catapulting Dumbledore to stardom, there are still a lot of UNKNOWNS when it comes to Dumbledore’s discovery- at least, from our perspective. While the uses of Dragon’s Blood were published in all sorts of alchemical manuscripts, we- the muggle readers- have never been enlightened as to what these 12 uses are. Today, I want to dig in and see what I can find on this subject.
First things first- what IS Dragon’s blood?
Dragon’s blood, as you might have expected, was blood extracted from any species of dragon- a dark red glutinous substance. The blood of a dragon was particularly powerful- but also adaptable- which is why it was eventually discovered to have so much practical application in the wizarding world. It’s worth noting, however, that Dragon’s weren’t the only magical creature with POWERFUL blood.
One sip of unicorn blood could keep witches and wizards alive even when they were an inch from death, but it did come with a big price tag- a condemnation to a cursed existence- a half-life.
Drinking the blood of a Re'em, a type of rare giant horse, granted the drinker immense strength for a short period of time.
And the blood of a Qilin, a mythical creature that was part-dragon and part-horse, had the ability to show people visions.
It’s clear that the blood of certain magical creatures has extremely powerful capabilities, but oddly enough the first two uses of Dragon’s blood that I want to discuss in this video seem fairly mundane by comparison.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing Hogwarts, Platform 9 ¾ and Muggleborns. Specifically, we’re going to be taking a look at HOW a muggle-born student of Hogwarts (that is, one with TWO muggle parents) would know how to navigate King’s Cross Station and get on to Platform 9 ¾.
WIth a platform that’s invisible, and a rail line that heads to a magical school in the Scottish highlands, I think it’s safe to say that getting to Hogwarts is a bit of an unusual experience, particularly if you are embarking on such a journey for the first time.
The platform can be accessed by walking straight through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10- BUT, this can be confusing if you’re A. a muggle or B. it’s your first time.
In the Harry Potter story, Harry successfully makes it on to the platform because of the Weasleys- who he luckily just so happens to meet. Before he runs in to them, he’s completely lost.
Today we're discussing WHO is more powerful, Voldemort or Dumbledore?
Voldemort and Dumbledore are the yin and yang of wizards, each extremely powerful and a strong representative of the classic relationship between good and evil. Each one acting as a symbol for the invariable struggle between light and darkness. We know how Harry Potter ends, we know that Voldemort is unsuccessful in securing a shrowd of darkness over the world, but that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have been the most powerful wizard of all time, and the fact that light prevailed doesn’t mean that Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard. We’ve got to look deeper.
Many assume that because Voldemort ultimately lost, and because Dumbledore is ‘good’, that Dumbledore is the more powerful figure. However, this is not a sound argument, whether you’re good or evil has nothing to do with your inherent power. From an extremely young age, Tom Riddle showcased intensely powerful innate magical abilities, he was a magical prodigy if you will. As he grew older, and he began to harness his abilities, Riddle became unimaginably powerful, performing feats of magic that people thought previously impossible. And he knew it too, proclaiming to Harry in The Heir of Slytherin that he was ‘The greatest sorcerer in the world’, to which Harry retorts ‘Dumbledore is the greatest sorcerer in the world’, reminding Riddle of Dumbledore and subsequently angering him. In my view, this anger showed insecurity in Riddle. Harry’s statement reminding him of Dumbledore’s power forced him to consider his own magical ability in relation to Dumbledore’s. I think that he A. knows that Dumbledore is more powerful, and became angry because he resents it, or B. is just completely unsure of whether or not Dumbledore is more powerful, and fears it as a possibility.
While Voldemort showed extreme magical prowess from a young age, he was not alone. Dumbledore’s magical abilities consistently turned heads at Hogwarts as well, particularly his skills surrounding charms and transfiguration. He also did exceptionally well on his N.E.W.T.S and Griselda Marchbanks, a professor working for the Wizarding Examinations Authority, remarked that Albus was able to do things with a wand that she had never seen before. Not only that, but Dumbledore befriended Grindelwald at a very young age, and I believe that this had a profound impact on Dumbledore’s skill. The two spent lots of time together practicing magic, and Grindelwald was known to have come from a powerful magical bloodline, his great aunt Bathilda Bagshot publishing ‘a history of magic’, a magic book used to teach students at Hogwarts. Dumbledore, who always outshone everyone magically, was challenged by another for the first time, and I believe that this resulted in even greater power for the both of them.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing WHAT IF Gellert Grindelwald had been the winner of his infamous duel with Albus Dumbledore.
As many of you will know, in 1945, Albus Dumbledore at long last challenged the dark wizard Grindelwald, defeating him in a duel, which ended Grindelwald’s reign of terror over the Wizarding community and put a stop to his frightful rise to power. This duel, of course, came decades after the two men had formed an intense bond in their youth. In fact, according to Dumbledore’s own admission, Albus was in fact in love with Gellert as a young man. Their relationship was initially built upon a foundation of shared hatred towards Muggle-kind, and they dreamed of a world in which witches and wizards would conquer the non-magical world and make them into a subservient people.
Fortunately, for the greater magical community at large, Albus Dumbledore’s reverie of this dystopian version of the world was obliterated when his younger sister, Ariana, was killed in a misguided argument between himself, Gellert, and Aberforth, Albus’ younger brother, turned fatal. After this tragic incident, the two young wizards parted ways, as their ideologies began to diverge drastically.
Many years later, Gellert began his infamous rise to power in pursuit of making the world he’d once envisioned alongside Dumbledore a reality. It’s at this point in their shared history, that we discovered that Grindelwald and Albus had made an unbreakable vow with one another never to oppose the other. This was done at a time when they both believed they wanted the same thing: domination over the human race. Unfortunately, this vow prevented Dumbledore from putting a stop to all the evil things Grindelwald did for decades.
BUT, as I mentioned at the start of this video, there eventually came a time in which Albus was able to overcome the vow, challenge Grindelwald, and ultimately defeat and imprison him. The question I raise with you now is: What would have happened if Albus Dumbledore had NOT won this fight? What would the Wizarding World have looked like if the winner had, in fact, been Gellert Grindelwald instead?
Indeed, there are a many number of questions that this alteration to the past brings about. First, and foremost, to any great fan of Harry Potter anyways, the question that comes to mind is: What would’ve happened to the great and powerful Albus Dumbledore?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing plot holes- big AND small- from the Chamber of Secrets book.
The 2nd book from the Harry Potter series is filled with fun little inconsistencies that fill its pages.
From the strange fate of the Basilisk, to the bizarre behavior of the Professors, the Chamber of Secrets has no shortage of potential plot holes that we can chat about in the comments below.
So, today, we’re going to dive headfirst into that old book, and take a look at some of my favorite plot holes, big and small, that I’ve often thought about over the years.
Let's get in to it!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the COMPLETE history of Hogwarts and the lives of all 4 founders- Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw.
In this video, I’ve left no stone unturned in the discussion of Hogwarts’ tumultuous history, and I’ve included everything I could possibly find on the school’s 4 founders.
By the end of this video, you’re going to be an expert.
I’m going to kick off things by discussing HOW the school was founded, then begin diving in to the rich histories of each founder.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
Hogwarts was founded at some point during the tenth century. It was built hidden off somewhere in the Scottish highlands (the exact location is never actually revealed)- and this was because the tenth century was a time of hardship for witches and wizards. During this time, every day, witches and wizards were being persecuted by muggles-who were intensely hostile when it came to witnessing sources of magic. In order to further protect the staff, students, and school itself- additional precautions were made in the form of charms - helping to further conceal the school from muggle trespassers. If a muggle were to just happen to stumble upon the school grounds- they would only see ruins, and signs warning them to stay away.
Hogwarts was founded when four 10th century witches and wizards got together, and decided that they had, in the sorting hat’s own words: ‘the selfsame yearning, to make the world’s best magic school’. These founders were Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin and Helga Hufflepuff. Thus, Hogwarts was born. The name Hogwarts actually came from founder Rowena Ravenclaw, who had a dream where a ‘warty’ hog lead her to a cliff by a lake - it’s also been speculated that this is how they chose the location for the school as well. After its establishment, like with any institution, a crest was formed for Hogwarts. Emblazoned upon the school crest are the words ‘Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus’ - which roughly translates to ‘Never tickle a sleeping dragon’.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing a notoriously difficult spell to cast- the Patronus Charm. Specifically, we’ll be addressing all KNOWN Patronuses assigned to Harry Potter characters, and exploring what those Patronus animals mean.
It was the Prisoner of Azkaban that first introduced the idea of Patronuses- spirit guardians produced via the complicated spell Expecto Patronum. Expecto Patronum is typically used to ward off dementors and in Fantastic Beasts we are informed that the patronus is also used to ward off Lethifolds. In most circumstances the patronus charm will generally appear as white vapour. However, in some instances, when the witch or wizard is talented enough, expecto patronum will produce a silvery-white animal shape which is known as a corporeal Patronus.
The Patronus represents hope, happiness, survival and purity, which is why it’s so offensive to Dementors, and can also be used as a communications device- a notable example of this being when Snape used his patronus to guide harry to the sword of gryffindor in the forest of dean.
If you asked any member of the faculty at Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, they’d quickly tell you it’s one of the most difficult spells that a wizard or witch could cast.
Even though Harry managed to master it when he was only 13 years old, many other wizards didn’t. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon for adult wizards and witches to fail to produce even a formless Patronus, as shameful as the thought might be.
So today, I thought we’d take a look at the historical records, and track down every single Patronus and their caster from the wizarding world, from the massive Wooly Mammoth that Hedley Fleetwood conjured, to the boar of Ernie Macmillan.
Bear in mind that NOT EVERYONE we know has been able to cast a Patronus successfully, so you won’t necessarily see all of your favourite characters on the list.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Dumbledore, Voldemort, and the Elder Wand. More specifically- we’re going to be discussing a popular fan theory which suggests that Dumbledore was never the TRUE owner of the elder wand.
The Elder wand was the first hallow created, made by Death himself, and it was said to be the most powerful wand that ever existed. The Elder Wand is made of elder wood, and it’s core is the tail hair of a Thestral. It’s 15” long and has carvings down its length that resemble clusters of elderberries. With the elder wand, witches and wizards have historically been able to produce intensely powerful magic that others could only dream of. Some magic is actually altogether impossible without the Elder Wand- including things like mending other wands.
We see this powerful artefact pass hands on numerous occasions throughout the Harry Potter story- and its ‘ownership’ is of utmost importance to the plot. After all, it’s the ownership of the Elder Wand that eventually allows Harry to defeat Voldemort- firing his own killing curse right back at him. But before Harry became it’s owner in his final showdown with Voldemort at the end of the Deathly Hallows- who were the true owners?
Conventionally it is believed that Dumbledore was the owner, followed by Draco who disarmed Dumbledore, followed by Harry who disarmed Draco. But one popular fan theory suggests that Dumbledore was never the true owner at all. So where does that leave us?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing HOGWARTS and the 4 animal mascots that represent the Hogwarts house system. At Hogwarts there are 4 houses- Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff- houses created by the original 4 founders of Hogwarts- Godric, Salazar, Rowena and Helga.
Why 4 houses? Well, put as simply as possible, there were 4 founders and each founder wanted to teach the students in their OWN way. Dividing the students accordingly seemed like the best course of action.
Each of the 4 houses created by the school’s founders can be represented in a number of different ways.
The first and most obvious identifier of a Hogwarts house is the use of their signature colours.
Slytherin can be identified by green and silver, Hufflepuff by yellow and black, Ravenclaw by blue and bronze (blue and silver in the movies) and Gryffindor by red and gold. These colours can be found plastered all over the common rooms and uniforms of the respective houses.
But that’s not the only way to identify a Hogwarts house.
The cornerstones of the Hogwarts house system, and perhaps the most iconic symbols associated with each house are the house MASCOTS.
For Gryffindor, this mascot was a lion.
For Slytherin, a serpent.
For Hufflepuff, a badger.
And for Ravenclaw, an eagle (or RAVEN in the films).
But what do these creatures have to do with anything? What connection do they have to the founders?
And how did these seemingly mundane creatures (at least, looking at it from the perspective of a MAGICAL world) get chosen as representatives for these houses? I’ve got nothing against lions, serpents, badgers or eagles- but in a world filled with things like DRAGONS, ACROMANTULAS, THESTRALS and NUNDUS- these creatures seem…less impressive.
I’m going to start with WHY these creatures were chosen, and then move on to why MAGICAL creatures weren’t chosen.
Hey everyone, welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re diving in to the history of AURORS. How do you stop a Dark Wizard? Especially when you don’t have the likes of Harry Potter and his friends to help you out.
Well, for much of wizarding history, the defense of the magical world fell to a small handful of powerful ministry workers tasked with one simple goal: the enforcement of wizarding laws.
Those responsible were known as Aurors… or dark wizard hunters…, and even though you’ve probably heard about them plenty of times, you’ve likely never heard their full history.
And that’s the tale we’ll tell today.
Welcome back to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing a segment from the Deathly Hallows involving Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. More specifically, we’ll be addressing the moment that Draco Malfoy FAILS to identify Harry Potter in the presence of his father and fellow Death Eaters.
What I want to explore is..WHY? Did Draco simply FAIL to recognize Harry? Was it an act of self-preservation? Or, was this Draco’s chance at some form of redemption?
It all begins on chapter 23 of the Deathly Hallows - Malfoy Manor - where there is some confusion around Harry’s identity.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing 10 things you might have missed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
The Half-Blood Prince introduced us to a whole new side to Voldemort that we had rarely seen before: Tom Riddle’s past.
Thanks to Dumbledore’s memories, and Professor Slughorn’s recollection, we were granted a glimpse into Voldemort’s early years as a wizard… and how he eventually learned the secrets of creating Horcruxes.
Throughout the film, though, you might have missed some of the smaller details that make the wizarding world so rich. So today, let’s take a deep dive, and check out 10 of the smaller bits from the Half Blood Prince that might have snuck by you.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re covering every time that Severus Snape SAVED Harry Potter.
While, of course, it is true that Snape had little love for “The Boy Who Lived”, the fact remains that he had A LOT of love for Harry’s deceased mum, Lily Potter. As anyone who has read or watched the final movie of the Harry Potter series will know, the whole reason Severus abandoned his allegiance to the Dark Lord in favour of being a double agent for Albus Dumbledore and The Order of the Phoenix was indeed his feelings for Lily – a devotion that seemed to only deepen with her murder, committed by Voldemort himself.
In any case, in the wake of Lily’s death, the only part of her that lived on was, of course, her son, Harry. Unfortunately, for Harry and Snape both, the boy was also a constant reminder to Severus that Lily had chosen a life and partner who wasn’t him. That partner was, of course, James Potter, who had been a peer of both Severus and Lily at Hogwarts, and who had spent years tormenting Snape.
So, what does this leave us with? We know that Snape likely felt incredibly torn over his feelings for the young Harry Potter when he finally arrived at Hogwarts, 11 years after his beloved Lily had been murdered alongside her husband – whom he loathed – at the hands of his former master, who he had betrayed in an attempt to save Lily, only to have her die and Voldemort disappear.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing the magical school: Beauxbatons- FRENCH Hogwarts. If I asked you about Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, I bet I could guess what you’d say.
It’s one of the three largest wizarding schools in all of Europe.
And it also happens to be one of the snobbiest.
Am I right?
After all, who could forget Fleur Delacour’s cruel words during the Hogwarts Yule Ball. Even though she was attending the event as a guest, she wasted no time comparing the festivities to the ones her famous French school held… and Fleur wasn’t kind in her comparison. From the decorations, to the presence of friendly ghosts, Fleur was hard pressed to find anything she liked.
But Beauxbatons was more than just a school for the high and haughty.
Its students were among the most accomplished wizards and witches in the entire wizarding world. And when it came to fighting against dark wizards and witches, Hogwarts alumni could find no better allies than the graduates of Beauxbatons. Especially when compared to Durmstrang, the place where far darker wizards and witches seemed to graduate.
So today, we’re going to take a step back, and dive into the depths of history, as we take a look at how Beauxbatons came to be… and why it rivals Hogwarts as one of the greatest wizarding schools in the world.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing the 10 most powerful wizarding ABILITIES. In a world full of magic there’s certainly no shortage of spells, and with some wizards and witches possessing the ability to create them, that list is only growing.
But with such a vast list of abilities, spanning a seemingly infinite number of functionalities, which are the most powerful?
I’d also like to just clarify that we’re not strictly discussing battle scenarios here. ‘Power’ can be defined in a lot of ways, and it doesn’t always have to be discussed under the context of fighting or duelling.
The abilities featured on this list may allow an individual to escape the ‘mundane’- at least, from a muggle-centric viewpoint. Most will also possess some sort of utilitarian component- bearing a means of achieving something that is otherwise unachievable or cumbersome.
These abilities can all be achieved WITHOUT the use of additional magical equipment, other than a wand of course.
Without further ado- here are my 10 most POWERFUL wizarding abilities...
Hey everyone, Coming to you with more sad news today. When I woke up this morning, I was bombarded with messages that Leslie Phillips, who famously voiced the Sorting Hat in the Harry Potter films, has passed away at the age of 98.
Phillips, who was pushing a century, died peacefully in his sleep after a long battle with illness.
Though Phillips will be known to most of you as the voice behind Godric Gryffindor’s hat, Phillips had a long and illustrious career well before the Harry Potter Films, featuring in over 200 movies, TV series and radio shows collectively.
He was also very well known for his role in the ‘Carry On’ franchise in the late 50s.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing the Triwizard tournament and its RICH History. The Triwizard Tournament was one of the deadliest competitions in the entire wizarding world.
With a death toll that rivals the professional dueling arenas in Eastern Europe, the Triwizard Tournament was actually pretty barbaric. It’s baffling why Hogwarts, and its fellow schools, kept it going for so many centuries.
But what made it so dangerous? And how did it get started in the first place?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing some breaking news regarding the future of Harry Potter.
I made a video just a few days ago discussing the future of Fantastic Beasts- and whether or not we’d end up with a fourth and fifth installment (as originally planned).
But while the future of Fantastic Beasts is still very much uncertain, exciting news lies elsewhere, as the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery recently revealed that he wants to make MORE Harry Potter films. You heard me, HARRY POTTER.
During a Q3 investor’s meeting this week CEO David Zaslav opened up about his ambitions to have the company working on further productions in the wizarding world…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing DEATH in Harry Potter. More specifically, we're going to be discussing all 5 methods of EVADING death and achieving IMMORTALITY.
Death is a central theme to the Harry Potter books- playing a vital role in both Harry’s life and experiences at Hogwarts. Near the very beginning of the FIRST book, right from the get-go, we’re given information pertaining to the deaths of Harry’s parents, and given a glimpse in to what sort of an impact it had on him and his life.
But it wasn’t just Harry that dealt with death- in fact, the primary antagonist had a unique relationship to death as well, with Voldemort constantly pushing for a way of achieving immortality. Voldemort’s obsession with living forever, and the value he placed in the world of the living, is repeated over and over throughout the books and films. To him, there is nothing worse than dying.
'There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!' snarled Voldemort.
'You are quite wrong,' said Dumbledore
One of the main messages of the Harry Potter books is that death is not absolute- nor is it something that we should be worrying about. It’s continually reinforced that death is simply a part of LIFE, and that instead our focus should be on seeking love and friendship- enjoying the time that we do have.
But for some, like Voldemort, that message will never resonate, which is why all sorts of methods of achieving immortality have been concocted in the wizarding world.
Today, we’re going to be uncovering all 5 of these methods.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing what would’ve happened if Draco Malfoy had been sorted into Gryffindor House instead of Slytherin.
For this particular hypothetical scenario, I must admit that the first question I found myself asking was: If sorted into Gryffindor, would Draco have been more of a Peter Pettigrew or a Sirius Black? That is to say, would he have played the part of a Gryffindor, only to betray his loyalties later and serve Voldemort in secret as Pettigrew did. OR, coming from a pure-blood family infamously known for their ties to the Dark Lord and Dark Arts, would he have openly and with pure intentions shirked his family’s affiliations and ideologies in favour of the “greater good” and doing “what was right,” similarly to Sirius Black. Personally, I believe it would’ve been the former. Sorry to any Draco fans out there but I just can’t see young Malfoy outright abandoning his anti-muggle sentiments and pure-blooded favouritism with the drop of a hat – Sorting Hat that is (sorry, couldn’t help myself!).
That said, I think his time at Hogwarts wouldn’t have been nearly as pleasant for him had he been sorted into Gryffindor. I think, eventually, he would’ve found his footing and been just as confident in his beliefs as he was pre-Sorting-Ceremony. But, at first, filled with shock and horror at NOT having been placed in Slytherin – as his entire family had been before him – his arrogance and self-confidence would’ve been at least a little bit shaken. Because, as you may recall, he was SO certain he would be sorted into Slytherin. In fact, well in advance of the Sorting Ceremony, he went so far as to boast to Harry that he would MOST DEFINITELY be placed in Slytherin, saying, “Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I’ll be in Slytherin, all our family have been…” So, can you imagine how completely shattering it would’ve been for a young Draco to have been placed in the rival house of Gryffindor? His certainty in his future, his sense of self, his very identity – which had been infuriatingly boastful before – would’ve been put into question. Not to mention what his mother and father would say about this absolutely “TERRIBLE” news!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing…Fantastic Beasts…4?
With Secrets of Dumbledore’s release half a year ago, Harry Potter fans have been left with a distinct craving for more, and today I'm going to be discussing what's next.
Now, let me just start off by saying that we waited a LONG time for the last film. In fact, 4 years separated the third installment- the Secrets of Dumbledore, from the second- the Crimes of Grindelwald, and SIX YEARS separated the latest release from the first- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
With a 6 year timeline for just 3 films, things have certainly been slow going- especially if we consider that these films are furthering one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.
And I think the question we need to be asking now is- where does that leave us?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going breaking down Wizarding World CURSES and taking a look at a collection of spells more sinister than any other in Harry Potter. This least will feature 10 of the WORST, CRUELLEST, most INTENSE dark curses in the wizarding world, and putting them in order. I’m going to be going in to WHAT they are and WHY I placed them where I did. Some of these curses make the unforgivable curses look like child's play, so you're in for a treat.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Two of Harry's most powerful members of his team throughout this entire fight against Voldemort were undoubtedly Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. But what if one of them turned…
What if one of them betrayed Harry Potter, and aligned themselves with the Death Eaters.
Today, we’re going to answer that question, and more, when we take a look at an alternate future, as we ask…
What if Hermione was a Death Eater?
What sort of CHAOS would have ensued if Hermione switched sides and joined Voldemort's Death Eaters?
Let's get in to it!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Voldemort’s faithful pet (and Horcrux) Nagini. More specifically, we'll be addressing why the seemingly kind-hearted woman turned pure EVIL.
Alright, so, most of you will know Nagini from the original Harry Potter novels and films. She was an enormous snake and an unquestionably loyal servant of Lord Voldemort, who he often kept close at hand to help him carry out his dirty work…you know, eating the odd witch or wizard, attacking Members of the Order of the Phoenix, and the likes of that. Of course, as we find out in the final installment of the series, Nagini is also one of Voldemort’s seven Horcruxes – which is likely another reason he kept her nearby at all times. (That was why according to Albus Dumbledore, at least.)
Anyway, being that Voldemort, born Tom Marvolo Riddle, was a descendant of Salazar Slytherin, he possessed the ability to speak parseltongue – an extremely rare language that, put plainly, meant that he could talk to snakes. His ability to communicate with Nagini further shows why they would’ve had a close bond, and perhaps explains Voldemort’s reasoning behind making Nagini a Horcrux in the first place. Here was a creature that he could speak to but who couldn’t betray his confidence in the way a human could. But wouldn’t it be a bit dicey to LITERALLY put your life in the hands – err, scales – of a snake? Well, here’s where Nagini’s backstory gets interesting: she actually used to be a woman.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing Azkaban Prison. This will include discussions surrounding the island that it’s on, when the prison was introduced, who created the prison itself, and WHERE the island actually IS.
Considered by many to be reminiscent of the DEPTHS of HELL- Azkaban Prison would be the last place that a witch or wizard in the Harry Potter universe would want to end up.
In fact, the name ‘Azkaban’ even backs up this horrific reputation- a sinister name that was created through combining ‘Alcatraz’ a famous Muggle island prison, and ‘Abaddon’ - the Hebrew word for ‘place of destruction’ OR ‘depths of hell’.
But where did this terrible place come from? Was the island that housed Azkaban prison always a magnet for dark magic? Before the fortress was built, what was the island like?
The truth is, before the dark wizard known as Ekrizdis ever set foot on the island, Azkaban was an island just like any other.
When we think of the significant Dark Wizards in Wizarding history, Ekrizdis isn’t necessarily the most well-known, but after this video- he might just be the FIRST Dark wizard that comes to mind. You see, Ekrizdis was a practitioner of the worst kinds of dark arts imaginable. Very little is known about Ekrizdis, other than the fact that he was alive during the 15th century, and that he was evil-pure evil. No one even knows his nationality.
But what we do know is that Ekrizdis was the first dark wizard..or maybe even the first PERSON to ever step foot on the island that would later support Azkaban’s dark fortress.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Plot Holes in the Prisoner of Azkaban. The Prisoner of Azkaban was one of my favorite films in the Harry Potter series, and it hasn’t lost any ounce of its sheen in the 18 years since it debuted.
But, even though I love the movie, there were plenty of plot holes and inconsistencies that popped up on the silver screen.
So today, we’re going to take a look at some of the most interesting ones, and find out why they stand out. Whether it's to do with Pettigrew, the Marauders Map, Sirius Black or even Dumbledore- I've got them covered!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Ron Weasley and all of the problems associated with his wand. A wizard’s wand is his most important tool. It’s the conduit of his power, and for most, the only way they'll ever be able to conjure spells.
So, if wands were so important, why did the Weasley family decide to give Ron a hand-me-down wand that never really served him well?
In fact, Ron’s earliest wand was so bad, that many of his instructors at Hogwarts could never shake their first impression of the boy: that he was a subpar wizard.
So, why didn’t Ron have his own wand? Why was he given Charlie’s? And why did it take him so long to get a new one?
We’ll answer these questions, and more, in today’s video.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be unpacking one of the more mysterious aspects of Harry Potter- the department of mysteries. Honing in further, we’re going to be taking a look at the peculiar workers of this department- Ministry employees known as The Unspeakables. We’ll also be looking at, later in the video, all of the rooms / chambers that reside inside the Department of Mysteries.
The ministry of magic is the primary form of government in the magical world - at least in the UK. Like a muggle government, the ministry’s responsibilities are vast, as they are the primary body that attempts to sustain law and order in the magical world. Like any system of government, in an effort to cover as much ground as possible, the primary governmental body is systematically divided to focus on different sectors of the wizarding world.
These ‘sectors’ or ‘departments’ cover the more common areas like the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and the Department of Magical Transportation, but there are also OTHER departments reserved for less..obvious pursuits. Queue level 9 and the Department of Mysteries.
The department of mysteries is responsible for studying the mysteries of the wizarding world, mysteries associated with love, space, thought, time, death, and other things. Basically anything that is unknown. Anything pertaining to this department is highly confidential, and those who work in this department are referred to as ‘unspeakables’. The divisions of this department are broken up by area of study, and includes the following: The brain room, the hall of prophecy, the death chamber, the love chamber, the space chamber and the time room. These rooms are accessed via the ‘room of doors’ - a large circular room where everything is black.
What’s particularly curious or dare I say..Mysterious about the Department of Mysteries is that it actually preceded the existence of the Ministry itself. The Ministry was established in 1707 and the Department of Mysteries had activity as early as 1672. The name checks out.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be answering the age old question: Harry Potter versus Hermione Granger…WHO is more powerful?
I’m sure you’ve thought about that matchup a time or two.
But did you ever decide who was the greater practitioner of magic?
On one side, you have the boy who lived… the boy who would eventually kill the greatest Dark Wizard of all time.
And on the other…
You have the smartest Witch of her generation. And someone so tenacious, that she saved Harry’s life through sheer studying, and willpower, time and time again.
Today, we’re going to compare the two, and see who really was the better witch or wizard between them.
Let's dive in!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing Rubeus Hagrid- played by the late and great Robbie Coltrane.
For those unaware, Robbie Coltrane, who famously played Rubeus Hagrid, tragically passed recently at the age of 72. Coltrane, who had been fighting poor health for the last couple of years, finally died in hospital near his home in Scotland.
The last time Coltrane appeared on-camera was this year during the 20th Harry Potter Anniversary Special - Return to Hogwarts, and it was here that he reassured fans that though HE may not be around forever, Hagrid isn’t going anywhere- forever cemented in film and in the hearts of millions upon millions of Hagrid fans worldwide.
A few different videos were requested on the loveable half-giant, ranging from ‘10 Best things about Hagrid’ to ‘Things we don’t know about Hagrid’, but I decided to land on the latter so that I can uncover some aspects of Hagrid’s character that casual fans may not have ever known.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. What do you know about Diagon Alley? Because it’s far more than just a shopping center for Britain’s wizards and witches. Diagon Alley’s history stretches back hundreds of years, and survived countless Goblin rebellions, wars with dark wizards, and even witch hunts.
Today, we’re going to take a look at Diagon Alley’s secret history, and find out how it came to be.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. More specifically, we’re going to be addressing why it is that Remus Lupin never even seemed to bat an eyelid at Sirius’s conviction.
Yes, he was upset about everything that happened, but as far as Sirius’s innocence is concerned, you would have thought that Remus- one of his best friends, would have tried harder to uncover the truth.
Remus Lupin and Sirius Black met at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1970s- 1971 to be exact, and it was here that they also formed friendships with James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. Before the sorting ceremony even happened, the 4 boys hit it off, and when they were eventually sorted in to the same house, Gryffindor, they knew that they were destined to be friends. Though the boys got on with many of their other classmates, this particular group of 4 boys had a truly special bond, and they eventually came up with a name for their group - they were ‘The Marauders’. They were all huge troublemakers- hellbent on breaking rules and causing mischief, and it was their common interests that helped to foster the deep friendships that these 4 boys would form.
Their group existed for the duration of the time that they spent at Hogwarts, and after graduating they even all went on to join The Order of the Phoenix - a secret society founded by Dumbledore that opposed Lord Voldemort.
The friendship that the 4 boys shared ran deep, really deep, so who would have thought that it would all fall to pieces 3 years after their graduation.
In 1981 Peter Pettigrew defected from the Order of the Phoenix and joined the Death Eaters. Shortly thereafter, he revealed the location of the Potter Cottage to Voldemort- effectively signing the Potter family’s death warrants.
Sirius Black, after discovering what Peter had done, went out to find Pettigrew and seek justice- but it was here that Sirius would condemn himself to Azkaban. Knowing that Sirius might come for him, Peter was able to effectively frame Sirius for the murder of 12 muggles, as well as himself.
From this day onward, Sirius’s name and reputation was tarnished. Not only did people think he was a crazed wizard who had murdered 12 muggles, but they also thought he exposed the Potter’s.
And that should be expected, because most of these people didn’t know Sirius personally. But in a world where everyone is against you, you should always be able to turn to your lifelong friends for support.
But for Sirius, the only remaining Marauder kicking around, Remus Lupin, wanted nothing to do with him.
Why?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the Dursley’s- Vernon, Petunia and Dudley- Harry Potter’s awful adoptive family. More specifically, we’re going to be breaking down 3 thought-provoking Harry Potter fan theories that pertain to the members of this dysfunctional family.
The Dursleys were always massively critical of Harry- they didn’t like anything that was out of the ordinary- and all of a sudden Petunia was faced with raising her magical young nephew. Almost immediately they were hard on him, and showed clear and obvious favouritism toward their actual son- Dudley. They forced Harry to live in a cupboard under the stairs, tried to prevent him from attending HOGWARTS, and had always hid Harry’s past from him.
But some of these theories will force us to look past all of this.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing HOW Severus Snape KNEW the location of Harry and Hermione in the Forest of Dean.
In the Deathly Hallows, Harry and the trio are out hunting Horcruxes. However, things aren’t going particularly well, and that’s because they are without the fabled Sword of Gryffindor- a weapon they can use to destroy these evil items.
Queue Severus Snape. After a considerable amount of time had passed, and the trio had managed to traverse miles upon miles of forest, Severus Snape decides it’s time to drop off the Sword of Gryffindor, which was in his possession.
Dumbledore instructs Snape to give Harry the real sword. However, he also explains to Snape that Harry mustn’t know that it was him who presented him with the sword. This is because Voldemort could potentially use legilimency on Harry, and figure out Snape’s true allegiance. So, instead of just giving Harry the sword, he puts it in a frozen lake in the forest of dean. He then uses his corporeal Patronus to guide Harry to the sword.
“Good. Very good!” cried the portrait of Dumbledore behind the headmaster’s chair. “Now, Severus, the sword! Do not forget that it must be taken under conditions of need and valor — and he must not know that you give it! If Voldemort should read Harry’s mind and see you acting for him —”
At this point, Harry, a worthy Gryffindor, is reunited with the relic of his Hogwarts house, and things start to get a little bit easier.
But my question is this- how on EARTH did Snape find Harry and Hermione in the Forest of Dean?
Who was more powerful: Sirius Black or Dolores Umbridge? Welcome back to Harry Potter Theory.
For those of us who think this question has an obvious answer, we might blindly claim Sirius as the mightier wizard.
But others, who consider this question carefully, know that it’s not as simple as black and white. Sirius Black was one of the greatest duelists in the entire Order of the Phoenix. But Dolores Umbridge was a cunning strategist, and in her own way, was able to defeat even Albus Dumbledore.
So today, we’re going to take a look at these two prominent members of the wizarding world, and figure out who was more powerful.
HOW WE’LL DO IT
Now, whenever you compare wizards and witches to see who is more powerful, there are a few different ways to go about it. We can just stack up their list of dueling opponents, and see which one had defeated the most powerful wizard or witch… but that doesn’t quite capture a full picture. On the other side of the debate, we could just rifle through Sirius Black’s and Dolores Umbridge’s proficiency with spells and potions, but that too doesn’t quite seem like enough either.
To really get to the answer, we’re going to take a holistic approach. We’ll break down these two opponents in three different categories:
- Magical Feats
- Dueling
- Intangibles
After taking a look at each of these, we should be able to get to the bottom of this matter, and figure out who really was the more powerful magic-user between them.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing the darker side of the wizarding world- diving DEEP in to the subject of Horcruxes, and discussing a historical figure who created a Horcrux LONG before Voldemort ever did.
JK Rowling once revealed that, over the course of history, many witches and wizards tried to create a horcrux, in spite of a severe lack of instruction from evil textbooks.
"...wizards would have been looking for ways to do exactly what Voldemort did for years. And some of the ways they would have tried would’ve killed them. So, I imagine it- well, they’re huge parallels- splitting the atom would be a very good parallel in our world. . . . I do imagine that other people are going to have tried. I think it would be naive not to think that people have been trying for a long time, and thought they succeeded and hadn’t, or else maimed themselves or killed themselves in the attempt. It’s such a dangerous thing to do."
What this quote tells me is that maybe, just maybe, there’s a wizard out there that was able to produce a horcrux before ANYONE else- they just never made it in to the history books. After all, if the idea of producing a horcrux is self-preservation, why would you want to boast about it and bring it to everyone’s attention?
I happen to have one very good guess for WHO this wizard might be, the ORIGINAL Horcrux creator.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Tom Riddle, Horcruxes, Lord Voldemort and the properties of Dark Magic. More specifically- we’re going to be discussing the ravaging effects that Horcruxes had on Tom Riddle- both on his appearance and on his soul. What truly prompted him to become ‘Voldemort’? And, what happened to his nose? How did he go from possessing human-features to snake-like features and, eventually, no recognizable features at all?
In the Half-Blood Prince, Harry gasps at what becomes of the once handsome ‘Tom Riddle’- entirely unsure of what he has become:
“Harry let out a hastily stifled gasp. Voldemort had entered the room. His features were not those Harry had seen emerge from the great stone cauldron almost two years ago: They were not as snake-like, the eyes were not yet scarlet, the face not yet masklike, and yet he was no longer handsome Tom Riddle. It was as though his features had been burned and blurred; they were waxy and oddly distorted, and the whites of the eyes now had a permanently bloody look, though the pupils were not yet the slits that Harry knew they would become. He was wearing a long black cloak, and his face was as pale as the snow glistening on his shoulders.”
Let’s dive in to the destruction of Voldemort.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Albus Dumbledore, and trying to unravel one of his dirtiest darkest secrets- how he got his scar of the London Underground.
As early as the Philosopher’s Stone (in the first chapter, no less), we hear Dumbledore mention a certain scar in a conversation with McGonagall. But it’s not the scar that you probably thought of, Harry’s scar of legend, it’s actually one of Dumbledore’s OWN scars.
If the first place your mind went to was emotional scars then that would make perfect sense, as Dumbledore, who lived quite the tumultuous life, would be riddled with them.
But in this instance we’re talking about a real bonafide scar.
The following is Dumbledore’s response to McGonagall’s query about whether or not he could remove Harry’s scar:
“Even if I could, I wouldn’t. Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground."
For those unaware, the London Underground is a public transport network of underground railways in London, also called The Tube. In this case, Dumbledore is referring to the Tube Map, which is a map used by travellers on the underground. However, it’s not simply an overlay of the railway lines onto a map of London; it’s a simplified version of lines to make it easier to follow.
Some may have interpreted this little quip as some sort of joke, but as it happens, JK Rowling has since confirmed that this scar on Dumbledore’s left knee was very much real. The problem, however, is that she has never revealed HOW he got it, even avoiding the answer at a public Q&A 7 years after the first book’s release.
“How did Dumbledore get his scar of the London Underground?”
“You may find out one day. I am very fond of that scar.”
And now, 25 years after the release of the first book, this question, like so many others, remains UNANSWERED.
Today, we’re going to be diving in and figuring out the cause of Dumbledore’s famous scar.
Welcome to Harry to Potter Theory. Lord Voldemort and Gellert Grindelwald are the two most powerful dark wizards of modern history. And their lives were eerily similar. Both of them shared a common foe: Albus Dumbledore.
And both of them shamelessly butchered their fellow wizards and witches in pursuit of power.
But when you look at the pair of dark wizards, you might be surprised to find out that there’s quite a bit that separates them.
From their individual manifestos, to their actual magical powers, Voldemort and Grindelwald couldn’t have been more different. Today, we’re going to shed some light on those differences, and find out what divided these two wizards.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. To honour the new RINGS OF POWER show, we're going to be discussing Harry Potter in relation to Lord of the Rings. Specifically, we'll be discussing which in-universe magic is MORE POWERFUL.
In addition to identifying the key differences for what constitutes ‘magic’ in both worlds- I’m going to try to ATTEMPT to identify which world of magic is more powerful. For years, decades, we’ve known about both of these universes- and we’ve accepted them both for what they are- but what I want to do today is put them head to head- and answer the question once and for all: Who’s more powerful? Harry Potter wizards or Lord of the Rings wizards?
The first thing that I want to say is that both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are behemoths in media- they’ve each cultivated some of the biggest followings, and have established their own unique devoted fanbases around both books AND films. While they are certainly rivals in the space- they definitely share a mutual audience- and though they are both in the realm of fantasy- they’re more than different enough to harmoniously co-exist.
One thing is for certain, though, and that’s the fact that Lord of the Rings has been around for longer- much longer. In fact, Tolkien published the first installment of Lord of the Rings- the Fellowship of the Ring in 1954. The next two books were published in the 15 months that followed. The fellowship of the ring MOVIE however, took a blasphemous 47 years to come out as it wasn’t released until 2001. Coincidentally, 2001 was also the year that the first Harry Potter film came out - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which had only been published in book form 4 years earlier.
2001 was a GREAT year for cinema- two of the most popular novels had suddenly come to the big screen- and all at once! I went to go see both films in theatres when they came out- though, I was only 9 years old, and I’ll outwardly state that I have a preference for Harry Potter- hence the Harry Potter Youtube channel. I was enthralled by the different worlds of magic placed before me- each approaching the concept of a fantasy world in their own unique way. The first Harry Potter was quite innocent and child-like, as the characters were still young and the story had yet to develop. However, they certainly nailed the sense of ‘magic’ that they were going for, as the Hogwarts boat scene brings forth a level of nostalgia unparalleled to this day. The darker tone that the films developed as they progressed fit the story perfectly- and eased us in to the darker sider of magic.
Similarly, the first Lord of the Rings GRACED our screens with what can only be described as a grandiose cinematic experience- giving us a different ‘flavour’ of magical world. But- aside from the different music, scenery and overall ‘aesthetic’- how does ‘magic’ differ from franchise to franchise? To identify these differences, we need to look at the origins of magic in each franchise.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Draco Malfoy’s lackeys Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle and whether or not they're DEATH EATERS.
We first see these two goons pop-up right near the beginning of the Harry Potter story, standing there, dim-witted as ever, behind their gang leader Draco. While many friendships blossomed within the walls of Hogwarts, particularly in the first few years, It seems as though both Crabbe and Goyle were friends with Draco before their Hogwarts days- a fact that I’m sure can be attributed to their ties in the pure-blooded wizard community.
Crabbe and Goyle, proud Slytherins, certainly made the lives of many Hogwarts students miserable during their time at the school. With Draco at the helm of their gang, they even made a special point of making it their absolute priority to bully the famous trio- Harry, Ron and Hermione.
And in their later years, just a year or two shy from Hogwarts graduation, they took things a step further, transcending the title of traditional bully and instead becoming what could only be aptly described as full-blown criminals.
But one thing I’ve also wondered is whether or not Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were teenage Death Eaters, just like their leader Draco Malfoy was. Were they rotten to the core like so many other dark wizards in the wizarding world? Or, was there salvation for these two boys?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing PLOT HOLES from the Harry Potter Movies. Specifically, we'll be looking at the Chamber of Secrets.
Why did Harry lie to Hedwig?
And what mysterious horcrux SHOULD HAVE been destroyed?
We’ll answer those questions, and more, when we take a look at some big, and small, plot holes from the Chamber of Secrets Harry Potter film.
Today on Harry Potter Theory we'll be discussing 10 little known facts about the WEASLEY FAMILY. The Weasleys were always massively kind to Harry Potter, and they always had a plate for him on their dinner table. We get to know them quite well in the series, but we don't learn EVERYTHING. Today we're going to be diving deeper and uncovering 10 extra tidbits about Harry Potter's most beloved Wizarding family.
Don’t let their modest home fool you, because the Weasleys are one of the oldest, and proudest, wizarding families in Britain.
And through all the centuries of their existence, the honest bunch of do-gooders have racked up quite a number of interesting feats and facts.
Today, we’re going to take a few moments to look at some of the most shocking ones.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Albus Dumbledore and his cursed hand. More specifically, we’re going to be breaking down Dumbledore’s death, the curse itself and one scenario in which MAYBE, just MAYBE- Dumbledore could have saved himself.
Let’s get in to it.
Months before Dumbledore’s tragic demise, Dumbledore himself had decided to track down one of Voldemort’s horcruxes: a small ring crowned with a strange, dark stone. And what made this particular Horcrux unique is that this stone was in fact one of the fabled Deathly Hallows - the Resurrection Stone to be precise.
The history of the stone dates back some time, with its origin story suggesting that it had been given to the middle Peverell brother, Cadmus Peverell, by Death himself.
"Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead."
As mentioned above, this stone had the power to summon spirits back from the dead. But when Voldemort stole his uncle Morfin’s ring years and years prior, he had no idea that it contained such a powerful relic. To him it was just a family heirloom, and, more importantly, an item that he could taint with dark magic, an item that he could turn into a HORCRUX.
But when Albus first found the stone and noticed it’s distinct markings, he immediately realized that it was one of the three Deathly Hallows. Knowing the true power of the stone, Dumbledore’s curiosity got the better of him, and he ended up placing the ring on his finger, securing his fate.
My question is this: if Dumbledore’s curse had been effectively confined to a single hand- why not just...Get RID of said hand?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. The Headmasters of Hogwarts were some of the most interesting wizards and witches in the world.
Some were expert potioneers, some were lightning fast duelists, and some… even… were experts on dark magic.
Who were they? And what did they contribute to the Hogwarts legacy?
Today, we're going to be DIVING in and uncovering the 28 headmasters / headmistresses that have graced Hogwarts over its lengthy history.
Today we're RANKING the most POWERFUL Pure-Bloods in Harry Potter. At this stage I’ve RANKED the most powerful Slytherins, Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, Aurors, Death Eaters, Dumbledore’s Army members, Order of the Phoenix members and more. But what I haven’t done yet is rank the most powerful PURE BLOOD wizards in the wizarding world.
Blood status is one of the most controversial aspects of the wizarding world- a concept in which wizarding families can be distinguished by the level of magically-endowed family members. Generally speaking, people are slotted in to one of the following categories: Pure-blood, half-blood or muggle.
We’re introduced to quite a few characters in the Harry Potter story that come from these pure blood lines, and they certainly aren’t afraid to remind us of it..Malfoys.... However what we must remember is that at the end of the day, PURE BLOOD status doesn’t mean ANYTHING. The most powerful PURE BLOODS are NOT the most powerful wizards- in fact, a top 10 list for the most powerful wizards would only include a couple of the people in this list. The majority of powerful witches and wizards in the wizarding world are actually HALF-BLOODS.
Before we get started I want to mention a couple of things. First of all,I’m going to OMIT the Hogwarts founders and the Peverells as they’re sort of OP. Second of all, I’m going to TRY MY BEST to only include one person from each wizarding family, as otherwise the list could get quite overcrowded with one surname. Thirdly, I want you to pause the video and COMMENT your top 10 list down below before you dive in.
Anyway, without further ado- here is my TOP 10 list of the most powerful PURE BLOOD wizards in the wizarding world. If I miss or forget a name that is deserving of a spot, please forgive me.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing the upcoming Harry Potter game: Hogwarts Legacy.
Just recently we were (finally) given a definitive release date for the game, February 10 2023, and it seems like since this announcement was made Portkey Games have been rolling out update after update. We were in the dark for so long, and now there’s SO MUCH to cover.
I haven’t been covering the game much so far, but rest assured, I will be covering it moving forward. Today I’m going to be discussing 25 new details released about the game.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the CAST members of Harry Potter. Specifically, we’ll be addressing what the Harry Potter cast FULL of superstars is doing NOW (2022).
When we think of the Harry Potter films, it’s hard to believe that the most recent installment came out over a decade ago, with the Deathly Hallows Pt 2 hitting the silver screen in 2011. But if that doesn’t sound like a long time ago, then it MAY surprise you to hear that the first installment, the Philosopher’s Stone, came out a decade before THAT in 2001.
But while it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen the original cast in action, they did give us 10 years of great movies, which I’ll be forever grateful for.
Today I’m going to be exploring what your favourite characters (50 of them for that matter) are up to in a post-Harry Potter world. What have they achieved in their acting careers / personal lives during these past 11 years?
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing a few new Harry Potter plot holes, looking specifically at The Philosopher’s Stone. Before we begin untangling the debut novel of our beloved HP series, however, I just want to highlight that this video is one in a series of Plot Hole videos that I’ve done. So, if you haven’t done so yet, be sure to watch my previous thoughts on Harry Potter plot holes in:
10 HUGE Harry Potter Plot Holes (RANKED) - Harry Potter Explained 10 HUGE Harry Potter Plot Holes Part 2 (RANKED) - Harry Potter Explained
Both of those videos focus on overall plot holes from various installments throughout the entire series. But today, of course, we’ll focus entirely on The Philosopher’s Stone. Let’s get to it!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing 10 things you missed in the Deathly Hallows part ONE. By the time the Deathly Hallows rolled into theaters, the general public was already well versed in the lore of the Harry Potter world. But even the most knowledgeable Potterheads were liable to miss some of the smallest details in the film. With nuanced decisions from filmmakers, as well as small callbacks to previous Potter books, there is plenty to unearth in the Deathly Hallows - Part 1, and more than enough things you might have missed.
Today, we’ll take a look at this penultimate movie in the Harry Potter series, and cover all the little things that might have passed you by.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Harry’s ‘death’ at the hands of Voldemort in the Deathly Hallows. More specifically, we’re going to be diving in and dissecting the nuances of HOW it happened, WHY it happened, and HOW Harry was able to come back to life.
To set the scene – we’re in the Forbidden Forest and Harry comes face-to-face with Voldemort once again. However, unlike previous confrontations – from his meeting with a fragmented Voldemort attached to Professor Quirrell, to their duel in the graveyard of Little Hangleton – this time Harry does not intend to defend himself or fight back. He’s come to die. Fans of the book will remember the chapter as the aptly named “The Forest Again” and movie lovers will certainly know this scene as the one right after Harry sees his dead loved ones through the magic of the Resurrection Stone – one of the three fabled Deathly Hallows.
Voldemort and his followers are waiting for Harry to turn himself over – a deal Voldemort has proposed in exchange for the safety of the other wizards who have been fighting alongside Harry in The Battle of Hogwarts.
Today we're discussing the 10 most HATED characters in Harry Potter. Who TOPS the list? Umbridge? Malfoy? Pettigrew? Comment YOUR list below!
Now, let me preface this list by saying that not all of these people are evil- in fact, some of them aren’t evil at all. We must remember that being evil isn’t the only prerequisite for being hated- some of these characters are just outright ANNOYING and OBNOXIOUS. Some of them made it on to the list for evil acts, and some of them made it on the list for simply popping their head up where they shouldn’t have. I’ll also mention that I don’t really DISLIKE any of these characters, they all make the Harry Potter story more interesting, and for that I’m thankful for their existence. What kind of successful story is full of neutral characters with neutral opinions? Doesn’t sound interesting to me. I’ve tried to balance my own opinions with the opinions of the internet, so hopefully I’ve struck a reasonable balance there. My OWN top 10 list (based purely off of my own opinions) might look a little bit different.
Anyway- I’m about to dive in, but before we get started I want to ask YOU guys to pause the video and comment YOUR top 10 (or even top 5) most hated Harry Potter characters down below.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing 10 things you might have missed in the Half-Blood Prince MOVIE.
The Half-Blood Prince introduced us to a whole new side to Voldemort that we had rarely seen before: Tom Riddle’s past.
Thanks to Dumbledore’s memories, and Professor Slughorn’s recollection, we were granted a glimpse into Voldemort’s early years as a wizard… and how he eventually learned the secrets of creating Horcruxes.
Throughout the film, though, you might have missed some of the smaller details that make the wizarding world so rich. So today, let’s take a deep dive, and check out 10 of the smaller bits from the Half Blood Prince that might have snuck by you.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing 10 crazy details you probably missed from the Deathly Hallows book. I’ve already done a video on this for the FILM version, so if you haven’t seen that, then go and have a look afterwards.
The Deathly Hallows is perhaps the darkest entry in the entire Harry Potter series. Filled with war and death, the book follows the final moments of Harry Potter’s quest to destroy the horcruxes that Voldemort hid around Britain.
With so much lore, and so many intertwining stories, it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller interesting facts and tidbits that fill its pages.
So today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the final chapter of Harry Potter’s life at Hogwarts, and rediscover some of the things you might have missed.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, starting with the Deathly Hallows Part 2, we're going to be discussing the things that you’ve probably never noticed in the Harry Potter films. As the culmination of a decade of lore, this movie is filled with interesting lore and trivia, and it’ll be a blast to look through every scene with you.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going discussing 10 THINGS you probably missed while you were watching the Philosopher’s Stone FILM. I’m also going to be doing a separate video highlighting 10 things you probably missed in the BOOK, but today, let’s focus on the films.
Hunting for Easter Eggs and interesting tidbits within the Harry Potter films is one of my favorite past times. There’s just something so special about looking through the halls of Hogwarts, and discovering something you’ve never realized before.
So today, I thought we’d spend some time doing just that.
This time, we’ll take a look at the very first Harry Potter Film… the Philosopher’s Stone… and see what interesting feats and facts we can find.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Harry and Voldemort’s final showdown in the Deathly Hallows part 2; the day that Lord Voldemort’s tyrannical regime finally came to an end. We’re also going to be discussing why every time Harry and Voldemort meet and engage in combat (which happens a fair bit), they resort to using the same spells over and over again- with Voldemort using Avada Kedavra and Harry using Expelliarmus.
We see this in their graveyard duel in the Goblet of Fire, and we also see this in their final fated duel at the Battle of Hogwarts.
My question is this: WHY is it that Harry Potter resorts to Expelliarmus for (seemingly) every circumstance? With the wizarding world at stake, wouldn’t it make sense for Harry to use something like the killing curse? Why would he rely so heavily on a glorified disarming charm? Wouldn’t Harry want to guarantee surety of Voldemort’s demise?
Yes Expelliarmus ended up working for Harry, largely- actually, EXCLUSIVELY due to extraneous circumstances- but I can’t help but wonder why Harry would opt for a common duelling spell.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Severus Snape, Voldemort, and Horcruxes. More specifically- we’re going to be discussing whether or not Snape was aware of the fact that Voldemort had created horcruxes- Voldemort’s key to immortality. Voldemort’s creation of Horcruxes- which are arguably one of the darkest and most twisted forms of magic- started off with just a misguided young boy, unsure of his place in the world. Tom Riddle was an orphan, abandoned by his mother at Wool’s Orphanage before he ever got a chance to know her. His existence was a tragedy- and the only reason that he was ever birthed at all was because his mother had used a love potion on his father. When the effects of the love potion wore off, Tom Riddle Sr immediately left Merope, and this meant that Tom Riddle started off his life with nothing but abandonment.
After years at the orphanage, Dumbledore eventually discovered the young Riddle- and brought him to the world’s finest magical school. While a student at Hogwarts, Riddle was very impressive, and he expressed an unparalleled ability to learn. He constantly asked questions, and he didn’t want to leave any stone unturned when it came to the wizarding world. There is one particular branch of magic, however, that captivated Riddle, and it’s a form of magic that he certainly should have never discovered. That magic involved Horcruxes- objects in which dark witches or wizards have imbued part of their soul. The ultimate purpose of creating a horcrux is to achieve immortality. However, the truly sinister component of creating a horcrux is that in order to produce one, you must MURDER someone. As he grew older, and as he learned more about Horcruxes, he began to create them for himself- and eventually, he had many- being one of only two known wizards to have created them.
At one point in time Severus Snape was a full-fledged death eater and devoted servant of the dark lord. Disgusted with the actions of the quote on quote ‘good guys’, and fuelled by the torment that he had endured for much of his upbringing, Snape turned to the dark side and became one of Voldemort’s right hand men. In fact, it was Snape himself that overheard Sybil Trelawney discussing the fabled prophecy- and Snape too, who relayed the message to Voldemort. The two were close- Snape trusted Voldemort and Voldemort trusted Snape, but that all changed when Lily Evans’ life was in danger. Given that Snape was in Voldemort’s inner-circle for so many years, and that he had formed such a close bond with him- I always wondered, was Snape AWARE of Voldemort’s horcruxes? And if not- why wasn’t he? Snape was a bonafide magical genius- and he knew more about magic than almost every other wizard in the wizarding world- having gone down the rabbit hole of both sides of the wizarding spectrum- good and bad. Not only that, but he was a master legilimens- a master of THE MIND. He knew exactly how to read people, how to analyze their behaviours and patterns- how could he have missed powerful dark magic at play?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing wizarding prisons. Everyone knows Azkaban, but do you know the other 7? A few months back I broke down all of the known SCHOOLS in the international wizarding community, and today, similar to that, I’m going to be pivoting to international prisons.
Let’s dive in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Harry Potter, Dumbledore’s Phoenix- Fawkes, wandlore, and Lord Voldemort. More specifically, we’re going to be addressing a couple of things.
- WHY Fawkes’ Phoenix Feather CHOSE Voldemort &
- WHY Fawkes’ Phoenix Feather Chose Harry. We know that Fawkes’ supplied the tail feather for both Harry AND Voldemort’s wands, and I’ve got a sinister theory for why.
Harry first picks up his wand in Ollivander’s wand shop right near the beginning of the Philosopher’s Stone while accumulating supplies for Hogwarts.
“A wand is the object through which a witch or wizard channels his or her magic. It is made from wood and has a magical substance at its core. Wands made by Ollivander have cores of phoenix feather, unicorn hair or dragon heartstring, and are of varying woods, lengths and flexibilities.”
As shown above, wands come in a variety of shapes, colours, sizes, flexibilities and materials. The main parameters that differentiate each wand are as follows: length, wood type, and lastly- core type. Each element is just as important as the last, and these numbered criteria are part of the reason why each witch/wizards wand is so UNIQUE. In fact, there are a considerable number of permutations.
So, how is that that Voldemort and Harry ended up with the same wand core? What are the chances that these two wizards, whose fates would intertwine, ended up with phoenix feathers from the SAME phoenix.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Hogwarts Potions Professor, and later Headmaster Severus Snape, and his most powerful spells and abilities. Now, one thing that I want to mention right out of the gate is that Snape is one of the most powerful wizards in the wizarding world- and what was most impressive about him is that he wasn’t even that old when he died. Snape died at the tender age of 38, and though he wasn’t quite at the level of Voldemort or Dumbledore, he was getting there- and had he been around for a few decades longer, I think that Snape may just have had a shot at being the most powerful wizard ever.
Unfortunately, we’ll never know, and though I’m sure he had the potential to achieve insurmountable levels of power, realistically he did ultimately fall short of besting the likes of Voldemort and Dumbledore. With all of that being said, however, Snape was still amazing, and I feel like sometimes he’s a little underrated. Throughout the series, time and time again Snape showcases spells and abilities that are difficult to conjure and often unique. He’s also a well-rounded wizard because he was never afraid of venturing in to experimentation with the dark arts- he knows the good spells, and the more sinister spells- he knows it all.
Snape is a testament to what can be achieved if you’re really dedicated to something. As a student, Snape always had his head in the books, continually learning and progressing. He was focused, and he didn’t let temporary satisfaction get in the way of achieving more- learning more. Though he had a segue down a dark path, the result of bullying and the loss of his friendship with Lily, Snape only used his hatred for the Marauders as fuel- it gave him the drive and the motivation to be more, to do more.
And today, we’re going to be diving in and looking at Snapes 5 most powerful spells and abilities.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing wands, wand shops, and wand makers. More specifically- we’re going to be discussing every known wandmaker in Harry Potter. There isn’t a TON of information out there on this topic, so the level of information is going to vary from wandmaker to wandmaker, but I hope you enjoy what I’ve put together.
Considered to be a ‘complex and mysterious branch of magic’- wand-making refers to a ‘wandmaker’ using wand cores and woods to construct wands for witches and wizards.
More broadly, wandmakers can be categorized as anyone who constructs a wand. However, in wizarding society, wandmakers are traditionally witches or wizards that construct and SELL wands.
In large part due to the fact that the Ollivander family were so instrumental in revolutionizing the wand-making process, and in part due to the fact that Hogwarts students obtain wands from Ollivanders, many of us have been hard wired to believe that Ollivander’s is the ONLY option when it comes to wand shops. But in truth, there are in fact MANY other wandmakers out there in the vast wizarding world, some of which I’ll introduce you to on today’s list.
Today, we’re going to be examining ALL wandmakers- that is, any witch or wizard that has constructed a wand- whether that be to sell, use themselves, or otherwise.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Wormtail AKA Peter Pettigrew. Wormtail gets a bad wrap, and has arguably the worst reputation of the entire franchise, with perhaps the exception of Umbridge. No one, not even Wormtail’s allies, held him in a very high regard, and one of the reasons that people looked down on him was that they saw him as submissive and weak. Voldemort and the death eaters disrespected him, never truly giving him the time of day. Wormtail was instrumental in Voldemort’s resurgence, so it’s a testament to Voldemort’s sinister nature, and Wormtail’s submissive nature, that he could disrespect him so openly. At one point, wormtail was sent to Snape’s house to ‘assist’ him, but Snape ended up treating him like his servant, a supreme gesture of disrespect:
Severus Snape: "I was under the impression that the Dark Lord sent you here to assist me." Peter Pettigrew: "To assist you, yes, but not to serve you drinks and...to clean your house!"
Wormtail was a british pure-blood wizard born in 1959 or 1960, he had pale skin, unhealthy hair that was constantly falling out, and blue eyes. He was a snivelling excuse for a man whose loyalties only lay where there was power, and he did not value friendship or love in the way that most do. Despite serving both sides of the battle at one point or another, neither respected him, and those that Wormtail betrayed hated him because he was, morally, an awful awful person. And while I agree with the sentiment that Wormtail was a despicable person morally, I am not of the impression that he was an untalented wizard. In my opinion, Wormtail is one of the most underrated characters in the franchise, power wise, as if we break everything down - we can see that he was actually able to achieve quite a lot magically.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Severus Snape, Gellert Grindelwald, Spell Creation, the Qilin, and the latest Fantastic Beasts film: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
Okay- the title has probably confused you to no end. But, to be fair, it probably should- because the topic today’s video is centered around is all over the place. The focus of today’s video is a scene from the Secrets of the Dumbledore that contradicts Harry Potter canon as we know it. Well, at least that’s what it looks like.
This video idea was actually sent to me by one of my Instagram followers, so a big shout out to wills.hep on IG for bringing it to my attention. Go follow me on IG at HPTHEORY if you aren’t following already.
This video IS going to contain spoilers for the Secrets of Dumbledore so if you haven’t seen it yet then come back later!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Voldemort’s reign in the second wizarding war, Hogwarts, Hogwarts FIRST YEAR STUDENTS, and wands.
Let’s dive in to it.
Voldemort’s regime during the second wizarding war really flipped the wizarding world on its axis. Where once there was peace, now there was heartbreak, separation and destruction. He had successfully taken over the ministry of magic, torn apart Diagon Alley, and EVEN managed to breach the walls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry- the world’s foremost magic school.
The school, which had previously been overseen by powerful wizard (and good guy, maybe?) Albus Dumbledore, was no longer under his protection after his untimely death. Dumbledore’s vacancy left a big hole in Hogwarts, and without his protection, it didn’t take long for Voldemort and the Death Eaters to waltz right in.
But the Death Eaters taking over Hogwarts certainly didn’t mean that classes would stop. Oh no. Class was still very much in session, just with a very…different set of rules and approach.
With a double-agent Snape taking the Headmaster helm, most of the school staff remained in their usual postings. However, a Death Eater takeover did of course mean that a few new faces were introduced to the faculty, like Alecto and Amycus Carrow- a pure blood brother/sister combo that took over Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts (respectively).
Ok Silas, we get it, class was still in session. What’s your point?
Well, school in session meant that new faces were still popping up at Hogwarts. That’s right, just like Harry Potter in his first year- new, bright young witches and wizards were walking through the doors of Hogwarts for the very first time.
But, can you even begin to imagine how much different this experience would have been for these NEW first years? Harry was met with wonder, magic and excitement. These new first years must have been met with darkness, terror and uncertainty- entirely unsure of where the school stood admist Voldemort’s wizarding world takeover.
Why were students even sent?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Dumbledore and 9 AWFUL things he did in the name of ‘the greater good’.
Albus Dumbledore was the greatest Wizard of the 20th century… but he was also, strangely, one of the most reckless.
In fact, if you took a look at a full list of the headmaster’s decisions, you’d find yourself shaking your head quite a lot, wondering how someone so smart, could simultaneously be so awful.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some of these choices. We’ll break down why exactly Dumbledore thought he was in the right… and why his decisions ended up being so awful.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing life in the Harry Potter universe AFTER the Battle of Hogwarts and Deathly Hallows...A time AFTER Voldemort's defeat.
Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley’s marriage produced three children.
Unlike their parents, most of the Potter children lived a peaceful, quiet life.
But surprisingly… one of them… an ugly duckling sorted into Slytherin… nearly resurrected Lord Voldemort and destroyed the wizarding world as we know it.
So… Who exactly were Harry’s children? And what legacy did they leave behind?
Join us, as we answer these questions, and more…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing some popular fan theories pertaining to Severus Snape. I’m going to discuss 5 theories in total, some good and some bad. I’ve got 5 more ready for a part 2!
Let’s get started.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing WIZARDING WEALTH. It’s a hot topic- people want to talk about. Why is Harry so RICH? Why do the Lestrange's have a vault full of gold? Who is the RICHEST family? These are all questions I’ve answered in the past. However, what I’ve never properly answered is how the Malfoy family were able to amass THEIR wealth.
The wizarding world has an economy just like our own with mediums of exchange and a system of finance. And they also of course have their own wizarding money- coming in many different forms including galleons, sickles and knuts. Galleons are the largest form of currency, equivalent to about 17 sickles or 493 knuts.
According to the FORBES fictional 15 - which takes speculation to the next level when it ranks the net worth of all different sorts of fictional characters, Lucius Malfoy is worth an astonishing 1.3 billion USD or 943,542 pounds. If we convert that in to muggle currency, that gives us a figure of approximately 188,708,000 galleons- not bad Lucius. Astonishingly, the Malfoys are NOT the richest family in the wizarding world, but they’re certainly up there- probably top 3.
When we think of the Malfoy family lineage- certain words come to most people’s minds- but these words scarcely hold a positive connotation. Usually when someone says ‘Malfoy’- you might think ‘bigot’ or ‘prejudiced’- but that’s a reputation that was earned through centuries of intolerance. In fact, the name Malfoy comes from Old French and literally means ‘bad faith’. These are characteristics almost ingrained in their bloodline, and it wasn’t until really, Draco, that this intolerance began to waiver somewhat. Historically, they are a wealthy family of morally crooked witches and wizards, that will whimper when caught red handed, and gloat when in a position of power. So, how did this family acquire their IMMENSE level of wealth? Well, I’m about to air their dirty dark secret- they’re rich EXCLUSIVELY because of muggles.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Which of Hogwarts’ founders lived the most tragic life? You might be tempted to answer with Salazar Slytherin… But if we take a second look at the four co-founders, we’ll find that Rowena Ravenclaw, might have suffered the greatest tragedy of all.
What was it? And why was it so awful?
Join us, and find out, as we take a look at the life and times of Rowena Ravenclaw.
Rowena Ravenclaw, just like her other co-founders of Hogwarts, represented a unique part of the British landscape.
While Godric Gryffindor was from a small town in the West Country of England… Helga Hufflepuff lived in a rural, hill-covered county in Wales,... and Salazar Slytherin was reported to have been born in Ireland… Helga represented Scotland and called the highlands her home.
All four of them were born in the 10th century, some decades before they founded Hogwarts sometime around 990 AD.
In the years leading to the formation of the school, Rowena had already become renowned as one of the most skilled witches of her era. Her mastery of charms, which she would later use to create her famous diadem, made her quite a formidable magic user.
Her thirst for knowledge pushed her to study magic at a pace nearly no other wizard or witch could compete with.
But it wasn’t just her tenacity that made her a powerful witch...
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Voldemort, the wizarding war, and the magical community in the REST of the world.
Voldemort was, perhaps, the most powerful dark wizard in the history of the wizarding world…
He possessed an almost unbound mastery of magic. In one on one combat, he was able to effortlessly slice an opponent’s throat without uttering a word, and when his own mortality was put to test, he could evade death time and time again.
So… if Voldemort was such a menace, why didn’t other heroic wizards and witches from the international wizarding community volunteer to help fight against him?
During that final, terrifying year of the Second Wizarding war, why didn’t any other countries try to help?
Where were the powerful sorcerers from Mahoutokoro in Japan? Or the masters of wandless magic from Uagadou in Uganda?
There were at least eleven wizarding schools in the world at the time, and dozens of magical governments… and each one decided to leave the defense of Britain to a teenager named Harry Potter, and his terrified… and traumatized… classmates.
Why didn’t anyone else help?
Well, today, we’re going to try to answer these questions, and more…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing a few new Harry Potter plot holes. But for this video – rather than me theorizing these plot holes myself, I’m going to be covering my favourite ones that you – Harry Potter Theory fans – have come up with!
As you may know, I’ve previously released a video on the topic of 10 HUGE Harry Potter Plot Holes (RANKED). At the end of the video, I requested, as I do in all my videos, for you to share your thoughts in the comments below. Some of you made excellent points on the plot holes I’d covered, offering additional details on a few and even possible explanations for others. Many of you, however, shared your own plot hole theories. And Merlin’s Beard, might I just say, there were far too many great ideas put forth for them to go unacknowledged. So, in this video, I’ve compiled my favourite top 10 of YOUR plot hole theories.
Without further ado, let’s let the magic unravel…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Harry Potter, Voldemort, and the special connection these two characters share.
On one fateful late October evening (October 31st to be specific) in the year 1981, Lord Voldemort, at the height of his power, travelled to Godric’s Hollow and the home of the Potter’s. It was on this night that the course of history changed, as Voldemort had travelled there with one goal in mind: kill the boy.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing Potioneers. Now, Potion making was no easy feat.
It required years of studying, and dedication to the craft. Becoming an expert potioneer was a rare achievement, and unlike spellcraft, only a handful of potion makers are famous enough to earn spots within history texts at Hogwarts.
While some became potion makers for money, others devoted their lives to the craft out of pure love. Today, we’re going to take a look at both types of potioneers, and see what type of impact they left on the wizarding world.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing spells. Specifically, the VISUAL aspects of spells.. Now, there are all sorts of spells and all kinds of different incantations, but one thing is for certain, the colour of a spell always attracts a lot of attention. Voldemort’s avada kedavra- just wouldn’t be the same without that sinister looking jet of green light emanating from his wand, and nor would Harry’s bright red expelliarmus.
But, what I want to discuss today is- what do these different spell colours actually mean? Are they simply arbitrary? Or are we able to derive some sort of a relationship between the colour of the spell and the type of spell itself. What is the underlying meaning behind these spell colours?
I think that the most obvious and sort of go-to answer to this relatively unaddressed question is something like: green spells are inherently dark in nature, red spells are inherently powerful in nature, and white spells are inherently pure, good, and passive in nature, to name a few.
And I agree with those sentiments, for the most part. However, I believe that there is much more to it than that, and I want to peel back the layers and uncover what it is that makes spells these colours. Let’s start by looking at a couple of common spell colours.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the Hogwarts Express and the UK national rail network. WIth a platform that’s invisible / inaccessible to muggles, and a rail line that heads to a magical school in the Scottish highlands, you probably won’t be surprised to hear me say that the railway trip out to Hogwarts is unusual to say the least. Trains play a pivotal part in Harry Potter, with platform 9 ¾ and the Hogwarts Express both playing a crucial role in Harry’s first trip AWAY from the Dursleys, and off in to the Wizarding World.
But, have you ever wondered HOW this magical railway ride fits in to a preexisting national rail network? The UK National rail network to be specific. Does the Hogwarts express exist entirely independently from the rest of these trains? Or, does it share some of the same tracks? Does it transport some of the same passengers? Is the Hogwarts Express able to magically avoid collisions? What gives?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing why Hermione Granger should have been with Harry Potter instead of Ron Weasley.
For those of you who are primarily fans of the Harry Potter novels, or enjoy both the books and the movies, I imagine that this particular sentiment sparks outrage at the very mention of the idea. On the other hand, for all you movie loyalists out there, I’m fairly certain many of you are likely nodding your heads along in agreement. And it is for this EXACT reason that I’d like to further define today’s topic – so that there is no confusion on the matter. That is, I only believe that Hermione should have been with Harry in the FILM adaptation of the Harry Potter series. Now, there are exactly three reasons for why I feel this way, and they ALL revolve around the liberties that were taken with Ron, Hermione, and Harry’s characters when translating the books into films.
Let's get into it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Albus Dumbledore, the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort & the vicious curse with which Dumbledore was afflicted.
Albus Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard of his era.
And the sudden, tragic news of his death sent shockwaves throughout Britain.
But while many mourned, others rejoiced.
With Dumbledore out of the picture, Voldemort and his Death Eaters had removed the single, largest obstacle in their rise to power.
And even though Severus Snape might have cast the final spell that killed the much beloved headmaster of Hogwarts, it was Lord Voldemort’s curse that truly murdered him.
So you might be curious… what exactly did Voldemort do to Marvolo Gaunt’s ring, in order to have such a lethal effect?
We’ll uncover that mystery, and more, in today’s video.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, Death Eaters, and Horcruxes. Let’s kick things off with a brief intro on Horcruxes:
“A Horcrux is created when a wizard takes an object and binds a piece of their soul to it. The purpose is immortality, with the logic going that as long as a piece of your soul survives within the object, then you can never truly die. It’s magic so Dark, so heinous, that it was kept a secret from most of the wizarding world. Yet despite many trying, there are only two known wizards to have discovered how to perform it: an Ancient Greek Dark wizard called Herpo the Foul, who created one Horcrux; and Voldemort, who mastered the spell and created seven. “
But, what I’ve always wondered is, why didn’t the death eaters follow in Voldemort’s footsteps and create horcruxes themselves? Surely Voldemort would have entrusted someone like Bellatrix with the knowledge of how to create one, wouldn’t he?
Dumbledore once described Tom Riddles school gang as “a mixture of the weak seeking protection, the ambitious seeking glory, and the thuggish seeking a leader who could show them more refined cruelty”. It was these same students that are considered to be the forerunners to what-would-become the Deatheaters that we see later on in the books and films. Deatheaters are pure-blood radical supremacists that cast unforgivable curses without remorse, and torture muggles, half-bloods, and blood-traitors alike. Death eaters murder people willy nilly, so it’s not unreasonable to expect that they would be willing to MURDER to achieve immortality. Furthermore, the death eaters were hellbent on maintaining pure magical bloodlines in the wizarding community, and one very effective way of doing that would be to remain immortal AS a pure-blood. So, is it just that the Death Eaters were left in the dark by voldemort-unaware of what it was that he had achieved- or was it that the creation of a horcrux was just too imposing. After all, horcrux creation was even too dark to be properly mentioned in a book ABOUT the dark arts.
The following quote from Voldemort suggests that at least some of the death eaters knew SOMETHING about what he had done...
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Hogwarts’ loveable gamekeeper Hagrid. What do we really know about Rubeus Hagrid? The towering half-giant seemed to be a simple, content groundskeeper. But when we look back over the years, Hagrid’s life was filled with tragedy and all sorts of challenges. What happened to him? And how did he overcome everything?
That’s what we’ll answer today…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing Harry Potter Events in the Medieval Period. Do you know the tale of Godelot the Dark Wizard? Or the history of early Quidditch? How about the very first Triwizard Tournament? If you take a moment, and look back at the history of the medieval wizarding world, you’ll find the answer to all these questions, and more. So join me, as we trek back a few hundred years, and learn a thing or two about wizards and witches in the middle ages.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing WHAT IF Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter’s volatile cousin, had turned out to be a wizard too?
Now, although the mere idea of this what if scenario might have you immediately spewing profanities my way, you must admit that the chance that Dudley might have possessed some magical talent is not all that far-fetched of an idea. Why is that you may ask? Well, to start with, it’s common knowledge that plenty of witches and wizards are born into Muggle families in which no other known relatives possess the ability to perform magic. Which, of course, brings us to my second point: this is the exact situation Lily Evans, Harry’s mum, found herself in. As you likely well know, Lily’s family was comprised entirely of Muggles, including her sister, Petunia, Dudley’s mum. And although in adulthood, Petunia showed nothing but disdain for her sister’s magical talents, even going so far as to call her a freak, we know from flashbacks of the girls’ childhood that Petunia actually rather envied Lily’s abilities and had wished to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry herself. In fact, as a child, she even sent a letter requesting admission to Professor Dumbledore. Sadly – yet very understandably – Petunia was gently let down by Dumbledore who could not allow admission of a Muggle to the school. Unfortunately, this only seemed to spurn her jealousy of Lily into blatant hatred and resentment. But alas…I digress…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing WHY witches and wizards in attendance at the Quidditch World Cup RAN AWAY from the invading Death Eaters- rather than stay and fight. Why weren’t the death eaters STOPPED? Yes, some did stay and fight, but of the vast numbers that attended, only an infinitesimal number stayed. What I wonder is, why?
The International Quidditch World Cup was THE premier Quidditch contest- hosted every four years since it’s very first contest in the year 1473. The Quidditch World Cup allowed Quidditch players from all over the globe to find glory for their respective countries- as it represented the pinnacle of Quidditch competition. For this reason, it was exceedingly popular, with witches and wizards travelling from all over the globe to support their nation’s quidditch team. The result? More than a few boatloads of witches and wizards. We’re first introduced to this spectacular event in the Goblet of Fire.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing how Slytherin's GIGANTIC Basilisk survived inside of the teeny tiny Chamber of Secrets for 1000+ years.
Hogwarts is big, but not THAT big, and the Chamber (though extraordinary) doesn’t seem nearly big enough to accommodate a 50 foot long serpent.
We’re first introduced to the Basilisk - which was the horrific creation of Hogwarts founder Salazar Slytherin, in the Chamber of Secrets.
Basilisks are enormous serpentine creatures, the existence of which can be attributed to their original twisted creator, a dark wizard by the name of Herpo the Foul. A common misconception is that SLYTHERIN created the first basilisk, where in reality he merely created his own- the same one that resides within Hogwarts’ secret chamber.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Tell me, if you lived in the wizarding world, what type of job would you want? Some of you might have thought about this question a time or two already. Perhaps you want to be an auror at the Ministry of Magic? Or a professor, at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
You might think those are great choices, but they’re actually a bit limited.
There are hundreds of jobs to choose from in the wizarding world, and today, we’re going to take a look at a handful of some of the most interesting ones: from Troll Trainer to Magical Creature Breeder, and more.
Let's get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the CREATION of the Marauder’s Map. The Marauders’ Map was one of the most important tools that Harry Potter used to fight against Voldemort’s forces.
It helped him discover Peter Pettigrew’s true identity, Barty Crouch Jr. 's lies, and kept him one step ahead of Professor Snape.
But have you ever wondered how the map was created? And how it was directly related to Potter’s father, James?
Today, we’re going to answer those questions, and more, as we look at the history of the Marauder’s Map.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Hogwarts Legacy content, as over the past few months we’ve been given snippet after snippet of what’s come to in the upcoming game. The planned release date for the game is December 2022, but with how many times it’s been postponed so far it’s really hard to say.
If you aren’t privy to Hogwarts Legacy, it’s a new open-world role-playing Harry Potter themed game, where we (the player) embark on a journey in to the wizarding world. We’re put in the drivers seat, and we can effectively interact with the wizarding world however we want. The game takes place in the late 1800s, over 100+ years before Harry ever steps foot through the doors of Hogwarts, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to come across familiar faces, places and the focus of this video- CREATURES.
Today I’m going to be discussing 15 CONFIRMED creatures that will appear in some way in the new Hogwarts Legacy game. Let’s dive in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're looking at casting decisions made for the Harry Potter films. Now, I thought that the casting in Harry Potter was great- across pretty much all of the films, for pretty much all of the roles. There wasn’t a single role where I felt that that the actor themself took away from the character- however there were of course some instances in which the film portrayal of the character didn’t exactly fit with the book. I.e Bonnie Wright with Ginnie. And while I think that the Harry Potter films did a fantastic job overall, I can’t quite say the same for the Fantastic Beasts films, at least the ones we’ve had so far- they weren’t bad, but definitely not as good as Harry Potter.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing Harry Potter characters (from the books) that were that LEFT OUT of the movies.
I feel like you can’t really criticize the Harry Potter films THAT much.
Unless the filmmakers decided to convert the films into a tv series, and devote 20 hours to each book, there isn’t really anything they could do to make these amazing movies any better.
It’s never an easy feat to translate novels to the silver screen, but somehow, Harry Potter successfully pulled it off.
But… in the process, the filmmakers were forced to shave a few of our favorite characters from the final scripts.
And even though they had their reasons for doing so, I can’t help but feel that something is missing without these incredible wizards and witches. So, today, we’re going to take a look at some of the characters who failed to make the jump to the big screen, and what they added to the Harry Potter mythos.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're tackling The Harry Potter films VS the Harry Potter books. Now- I was first exposed to the books, they were the first thing that I knew of Harry Potter- and I think that the general consensus among Harry Potter fans is that the books are superior- mainly because they have so much more detail- they’re the original story. The films, on the other hand, took some liberties- some characters looked and even acted differently, plot points were omitted, and overall- they were just much more condensed. But, what did you expect? 6 hour long movies? I LOVE the Harry Potter films- I think they’re great, and while the books did a lot of things better, and are-in my opinion-superior, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that the FILMS did better than the books. In today’s video, I’m going to be touching on 20 things that I FEEL the films did better than the books. For the die hard book fans, try to watch this one with an open mind. This is going to be a mix of longer and shorter points, ranging from single lines/moments that were included/excluded- all the way to major shifts in the way that the films turned out. Without further ado, let’s get started...
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Wormtail, Voldemort, The Potters, and the fabled Prophecy. More specifically, we're going to be addressing one very big question: WHAT IF Wormtail NEVER betrayed the Potters?
When Peter Pettigrew first came to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it is said that the Sorting Hat took an entire five minutes before deciding to place him in Gryffindor. As we are to understand it, the Hat was wavering between Gryffindor and Slytherin, showing very early on that Pettigrew had inclinations towards the characteristics most seen in students of the green and silver House. That later became obvious after Sirius Black revealed Peter to be a traitor and Death Eater who had framed him for Pettigrew’s crimes, faked his own death, and lived as a rat for 12 years, Peter was actually quite clever, ambitious, and resourceful – the main characteristics of a Slytherin pupil. In any case, having been sorted into Gryffindor, he very obviously lacked the qualities of his fellow House mates – he was not particularly brave or courageous, and being that he was somewhat of an underdog himself, he never stood up for the “little guy.”
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the Hogwarts house system- specifically, Ravenclaw house. Now, as we all know, the four houses of Hogwarts can be identified by very unique, defining characteristics- characteristics that allow these houses to stand out from the others. Hufflepuffs are known for their loyalty and hard-work, Gryffindors for their bravery, Slytherins for their cunning, and Ravenclaws for their knowledge and wisdom. Of course- I am talking in generalizations here- but if the sorting hat is anything to go by- it’s reasonably fair to summarize the houses based on the traits it preaches. The sorting hat DOES sort students in to houses, after all.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing the Death Eaters, specifically, what happened to them AFTER the second wizarding war and the Battle of Hogwarts.
Killing Voldemort didn’t solve every problem that Harry Potter and his wizarding friends faced.
Because there were still plenty of Death Eaters alive and well. And nobody knows what exactly came of them…
Today, we’re going to take a look at a handful of the most dangerous Death Eaters from the Battle of Hogwarts, and try our best to figure out where they ended up.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're discussing the major differences between the book and film versions of..Harry Potter! Yes, that’s right, today, I’ll be going over the biggest variations between Harry as depicted in the novels versus the movies.
Right, so, as you may have seen over the last few weeks, I’ve released a couple other videos addressing the book-to-film differences of other Harry Potter characters. Specifically, I’ve shared my thoughts on the largest discrepancies between the novel and movie depictions of both Hermione and Ron. And if you have yet to watch them, I encourage you to check them out and share your thoughts with me in the comments! You can find both of these videos right here on the Harry Potter Theory channel.
Anyway, for those of you who have already watched the last couple videos on Hermione and Ron, you may have seen in the comments that there were quite a few requests for me to evaluate the major differences between Harry, the Chosen One himself! So, without further ado, let’s dig in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing Harry Potter actor replacements. As a series that spanned an entire decade, it’s no surprise that Warner Bros found itself forced to recast actors and actresses. You might have noticed some of these, but others, probably passed you by.
Today, we’re going to take a look at all the recastings, big and small, and see what changed between the films.
Let’s dive in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're looking at the biggest differences between Book and Movie Ron Weasley. Ah, Ron Weasley. If you know him best from his character depiction in the Harry Potter book series, then the Ronald Weasley that you know and love is the courageous, quick-witted, and loyal best mate of Harry Potter. He’s also the youngest son, and sixth child of Molly and Arthur Weasley. And while some of that remains true for Ron’s character in the films, the majority of what’s consistent between the books and the movies is – rather surface level. I mean, yes, Ron is one of Harry’s bestest buds in the movies. And, yes, he remains the sixth son born to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. But, other than these superficial details, there are many more character-defining qualities that were either changed substantially for the films, or omitted completely. In this video, I’ll be focusing on four of these major differences between book and film Ron.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing Goblins & the Goblin Rebellion- lore from both Harry Potter AND Hogwarts Legacy.
It probably wouldn’t surprise you to know that the wizarding community didn't treat Goblins with the utmost respect at all times.
Pure bloods outright hated them.
But even the most progressive members of the wizarding world felt a general mistrust for the tiny, monstrous humanoid-creatures.
And all of those negative interactions built up over the years, burdening wizard-goblin relations, until the Goblins rebelled.
In fact, If we open up our history books, and look back at the records of Goblins in the wizarding world, we’ll find a series of great rebellions centered around one common theme: to be treated with equal respect.
What were these rebellions? And what type of impact did they have on the wizarding community? That’s what we’ll discuss today.
First, let’s go over a bit of Goblin-wizard history.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing some popular fan theories pertaining to Hermione Granger. I’m going to discuss 5 theories in total, starting with the worst and working towards the best. I’ll be kicking things off with a completely TERRIBLE theory and progressively working my way towards what I feel is the best one. If you enjoy this type of video, let me know by liking the video and leaving a comment. I’ve got 5 more Hermione theories ready to go, and I can also do it for other characters.
Anyway, Let’s get started...
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Voldemort and how Horcruxes are made.
For any witch or wizard, making a Horcrux is considered to be the worst kind of magic. In fact, it is a brand of dark arts that is thought to be so evil and revolting that it is intentionally never discussed and information on how to create one is very limited. For this reason, many witches and wizards don’t even know what creating a Horcrux involves. And as it turns out, neither do we! But here’s what we do know…
The very first known Horcrux was made in Ancient Greece by a wizard named Herpo the Foul, and thousands of years later, Voldemort became only the second known creator of a Horcrux. Made from magic that is so terrible in nature that even dark wizards are horrified by what it entails, Horcruxes are creations that are unimaginable to the vast majority of the Wizarding World. So, when Voldemort made seven, it was a demonstration of just how incredibly evil he was.
To make a Horcrux, a damaged piece of one’s soul must be removed from the creator’s body and put into an inanimate object or living host, making the creator immortal. In order to do this, the witch or wizard who wishes to split their soul needs to commit the ultimate act of violence and evil: murder. And not just any murder, they have to deliberately kill someone without regret or remorse. Acting in self-defence or retaliating in protection of someone else will not result in the ability to create a Horcrux. It must be done with the utmost evil intent, resulting in a metaphysical damaging of the murderer’s soul. It’s important to note that this fragmentation of the soul would occur after a murder of this sort, regardless of whether or not the witch or wizard intended to create a Horcrux. It’s just that one who wishes to make a Horcrux then uses the damaging of their soul to their advantage. In any case, after they have killed their victim, the witch or wizard uses a powerful incantation to remove this damaged part of their soul from their body, placing it in a vessel outside of themselves, and then performing an UNKNOWN ritual to bound the fragmented soul to its new container.
So, what exactly happens during this disturbing ceremony?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Voldemort & Dumbledore's duel inside of the ministry atrium. This duel happened in the order of the phoenix, and it’s arguably the most impressive looking duel on-screen that we’ve seen to date. It was a duel of epic proportions- good against evil, light against dark- and it totally overshadowed all of the boring stalemates that Harry had with Voldemort. However, one thing that is completely worth mentioning is that their duel was represented very differently from book to film. The film adaptation certainly took some liberties with the contents of the book, and, rather than staying true to the picture that the book had initially painted for us, it mixed things up-most likely for increased cinematic and dramatic effect. But, in doing so, they actually portrayed the characters in a very different light than we had expected- and it was honestly quite inconsistent with what we had initially read in the books.
If you only saw the film- you might be wondering: Why couldn’t Voldemort end Dumbledore right then and there?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing Sybill Trelawney and her role as a seer. Depending on how you look at it, Sybill Patricia Trelawney is one of the finest seers of her age. And she’s actually the one who correctly prophesied the fate that both Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort would share.
But even though she correctly divined the destiny of the Chosen One, Trelawney seems to get a bad rap.
And it only takes one quick glance at her to see why. With frizzled hair… an ancient, dust covered purse… and glasses as thick as coke bottles… Professor Trelawney doesn’t really give the impression that she’s able to see much of anything… let alone the future.
But you might be surprised to know that this humble divination professor from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry correctly foresaw dozens of predictions and prophecies. And today, we’re going to take a look at the majority of them.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing 5 popular (& shocking) Harry Potter theories. The assortment I’ve collected for you today is comprised of a few popular fan theories circulating the internet, as well as a few theories of my own. Let’s jump right in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing, for the sixth time, the events that transpired in the Harry Potter universe AFTER the books and films ended. I have now made 5 separate videos on this topic to date, parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5- which each cover 10 separate characters and what they got up to post Deathly Hallows. Between those 5 videos I’ve managed to cover..
Voldemort Neville Hermione Ron Harry George Luna Hagrid Draco The Dursleys Umbridge Fudge Lockhart Flitwick Filch Ollivander Kingsley Shacklebolt Pomona Sprout Arthur / Molly Weasley Percy Weasley Aberforth Dumbledore Fleur Seamus Finnigan McGonagall Narcissa / Lucius Cormac Mclaggen Grawp Rita Skeeter Slughorn Dean Thomas Charlie weasley Sybil trelawney Firenze Oliver wood Madame maxime Bill weasley Pansy parkinson Aunt marge Patil twins Ginny weasley Newt Scamander Cho Chang Andromeda Tonks Moaning Myrtle Xenophilius Lovegood Katie Bell Bane Winky Poppy Pomfrey & Mundungus Fletcher
…And I’m not stopping! Today, I’m going to be continuing that trend and giving you part SIX of..WHAT HAPPENED to these 10 characters AFTER the war? I’ll link parts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in the PINNED comment. I’ve got just enough characters left for a part 7 as well, so keep an eye out for that in the near future.
Without further ado, let’s dive in to the lives of 10 characters POST war, and POST Deathly Hallows.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing three major differences between the book and film versions of Hermione Granger.
Of course, if you know even a little about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, you know – or have at least heard of – the name Hermione Granger. One of Harry’s two best friends, Hermione is the highly intelligent Muggle-born witch who has a reputation for her love of books and academia.
After being sorted into Gryffindor alongside Harry and Ron Weasley, the three develop a close friendship that only grows stronger as their years together at Hogwarts go on. Throughout the series, Hermione spends plenty of time at the Weasley home, along with Harry, and is present during most of Harry’s epic adventures. And, while all of this may be true in both the Harry Potter novels and films, there are actually many major differences when it comes to this main character’s traits.
Naturally, slight differences between a character’s physical appearance and personality are to be expected when translating a story from the page to the screen. It can be a difficult task indeed to adapt the dynamic characteristics of multiple beloved characters, especially, when you’re dealing with a lengthy manuscript. For example, what can be expanded on in 800 to 900 pages of a novel, is incredibly difficult to cram into the confines of a two-hour movie version. And to that end, I’ve often encouraged fans of Harry Potter to, at least to some extent, view the novels and the films as two separate entities. Yes, of course, they are both set in the same Wizarding World universe. And, yes, the main characters from the books are present and accounted for in all of the movies. But, if you want the two stories to be the exact same representations of each other, you will be sadly disappointed. And the depiction of individual characters is no different. HOWEVER, certain liberties taken with the character of Miss Hermione Granger do bother me quite a bit – no matter how I look at it.
So, with that in mind, let’s dig into some of the key differences in Hermione’s character portrayal between the novels and the films.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the Fantastic Beasts films. Specifically- the performance of Grindelwald by actor's Johnny Depp and Mads Mikkelsen.
Now, when the Fantastic Beasts films first hit theatres, in spite of our awareness of Grindelwald’s presence, we were all (at first) under the impression that the main antagonist was going to be Percival Graves, played by Colin Farrell. However, towards the end of the film it is revealed that Percival Graves was actually Gellert Grindelwald, played by Johnny Depp, in disguise. With that said, we only witness Depp’s Grindelwald for a very brief period in this film. After the first film had ended and Grindelwald’s true identity had been revealed, Depp ended up reprising his role as Grindelwald in 2018s Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. In this film, we got much more of a look in to Depp’s portrayal of the famous dark wizard, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be diving in to a segment from the autobiography of JK Rowling, published over a decade ago on her old website, where she discusses the struggles she faced in life as she wrote the first Harry Potter novel. Among many other things, we find out how she chose the name ‘Potter’, who the Chamber of Secrets was dedicated to, how the book nearly failed completion, and how the book was eventually published. Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing MONSTERS. Now, in the past I’ve made several videos discussing various magical creatures- and I almost always refer to these ‘creatures’ as well, creatures or beasts. But today, we’re going to be discussing a very different type of ‘beast’- we’re going to be discussing the MONSTERS of the wizarding world- that is, beasts so horrifying that they warrant their own terminology.
But, we’re not just going to be discussing any old monsters, we’re going to be tackling and listing off all of the known monsters found within the MONSTER BOOK of Monsters.
If you aren’t familiar with the Monster Book of Monsters, well, allow me to jog your memory. The book properly comes to our attention quite early on in the story, when Hagrid supplies Harry with the book for his 13th birthday. He gives Harry the book because it’s a requirement for his third year at Hogwarts. More specifically- it’s a required textbook for the Care of Magical Creatures class.
The book was written by a wizard named Edwardus Lima sometime before 1932, and serves as a tome for magizoologists (however few there may be).
Known for it’s..volatile nature, the book is exceedingly difficult to open, primarily due to the fact that it’ll try to bite the readers fingers off.
"How do we open our books?" Malfoy repeated. He took out his copy of The Monster Book of Monsters, which he had bound shut with a length of rope. Other people took theirs out too; some, like Harry, had belted their books shut; others had crammed them inside tight bags or clamped them together with binder clips.
"Hasn'--hasn' anyone bin able ter open their books?" said Hagrid, looking crestfallen.
The class all shook their heads.
"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," said Hagrid, as though this was the most obvious thing in the world. "Look--"
So, provided that the book itself is a kind of monster, I can’t help but wonder what lies within. Are these monsters as bad the book would suggest?
Let’s dive in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re looking at how headmasters portraits at Hogwarts work. Specifically, we’ll be taking a look at how exactly these paintings are able to give advice since the people portrayed in them are dead, and whether or not a subject’s abilities while alive impacts how intelligent their portrait is in death.
First off, it’s important to note before we get going on the actual portraits, that these paintings are entirely different from the magical photographs that appear throughout the Harry Potter series. As you’ve likely noticed in the novels and films, unlike the Hogwarts portraits, photographs in the wizarding world can be of witches and wizards who are either dead or alive – it does not matter. They are also unable to speak to the living. They simply move in a sort of loop, waving or smiling at the person who took the picture, as we see Harry’s parents do in the few pictures of them that he finds. So, while, yes, Wizarding World photographs are technically enchanted, they’re not nearly as interactive as the painted portraits you’ll find at Hogwarts and other important establishments. Here’s why…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the history and family tree of the Black family.
You might not know this, but Sirius Black was more than just a powerful wizard who escaped the dungeons of Azkaban.
By birthright, he was a member of one of the most powerful wizarding families in all of Britain. In fact, the Black family line can be traced back through the centuries, and was celebrated as one of the proudest pure-blood families in the world.
And by the time Sirius was born, he was one of the few male heirs that remained. Which meant his passing, in the Death Chamber on the ninth level of the ministry of magic, marked the end of the Black Family line.
But even that wasn’t really the end for them. Although the women of the family didn’t typically keep their last name after marriage, they married into dozens of other pure blood families throughout England. In some way, almost every Weasly, Potter, Lestrange, Lupin, and Malfoy could find a connection to the Blacks.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the very first recorded ancestor in Sirius’s line, and trace the history of the Black family, from Sirius’s own namesake, to the final male heirs.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're looking at muggle/wizard affairs throughout history, starting as far back as 382 BC.
When we crack open our history books, and take a look at famous events and conflicts between muggles and the wizarding world, you might be surprised at what you find.
Before the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, which was established in the year 1692, wizards weren’t exactly unknown.
Although, even at that time, many considered the concept of witches and wizards outlandish… There were plenty of people who had firsthand experience with members of the wizarding world.
In fact, in different corners of the world, at varying times, entire countries were swept into anti-magic crazes that threatened to destroy almost every magic-using man, woman, and child in their community.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some of these events, and their long-lasting legacy, as we discuss the history of muggle and wizard affairs.
If you think of the modern world, then the fact that Muggles and the wizards don’t intermingle is a foregone conclusion. After all, the ministry of magic had worked tirelessly, for centuries, in order to keep their constituents a secret.
But when we look back in time, to the earliest records, we find a very different landscape.
In the official history of the wizarding world, the earliest date documented is 382 B.C. That’s the year that a Roman ancestor of Garrick Ollivander, the wandmaker from Diagon Alley in Great Britain, created their first branch in ancient Rome.
There’s more than a 1,000 year gap between that date, and the next listed event in official wizarding records. So, if we were to try and guess what happened, and how the wizarding world might have interacted with muggles of that time, we’ll have to rely on our detective skills.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're discussing James Potter, Draco Malfoy and 5 things that made them the same. Also, and more importantly, we'll discuss who was the bigger bully.
Now, please. Hold your gasps. I know this may sound more than a little odd. But if we really dig into it, these two characters have far too much in common to ignore.
So, let’s get started, shall we?
The first somewhat important similarity between these two wizards is their ancestral backgrounds. Yes, as you may know – or have guessed – both James Potter and Draco Malfoy came from pure-blood wizarding families. Although, technically, if you go far enough back, I guess you could argue that the Potter family occasionally married a Muggle or two – and anyone who knows anything about the world of Harry Potter, knows that the Malfoys strongly opposed mixing their blood line with poorer wizarding families, never mind MUGGLES. However, you simply cannot argue with the fact that both the Potters and the Malfoys were strong, powerful wizarding families, in their own right. After all, James Potter was the descendent of IGNOTUS PEVERELL – the first known owner of the fabled Invisibility Cloak from the tale of the Deathly Hallows.
Right, so both James Potter and Draco Malfoy were from “serious” wizarding families. One arguably “weak” similarity. You may be thinking, “if that’s all you’ve got, this is a joke!” But, oh, there is so much more…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing the TOP 10 most POWERFUL magical Beings of the wizarding world.
‘Being’ is one of the three classifications used by the British Ministry of Magic to distinguish the different magical creatures that inhabit the wizarding world (the others being Beast and Spirit).
The term ‘Beings’, at least for the most part, refers to the HUMANOID (or at least, seemingly humanoid) lives of the wizarding world.
And when I say humanoid, I mean possessing typical ‘human’ characteristics- i.e 1 head, a standard number of appendages, 2 eyes etc. Although, I suppose you could argue that possession of these traits being innately ‘humanoid’ stems from a relatively human-centric point of view. There are also a few exceptions to this which you’ll see down below.
Anyway, with that distinction made, I do want to point out that there are still quite a few ‘humanoid’ creatures in the wizarding world beyond just conventional ‘human’ witches and wizards, which is why I think that this will make for a fun list.
This list will be ranked from least to most powerful and I’ll stick to CANON to support my rationale.
Anyway, let’s dive in.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing the Sorting Hat and a very special ability it possesses that you may not know about...
Hey everyone, welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to ONCE AGAIN (this is the FIFTH time I’m saying that now) be discussing the events that transpired in the Harry Potter universe AFTER the books and films ended. I have now made 4 separate videos on this topic to date, parts 1, 2, 3 and 4- which each cover 10 separate characters and what they got up to post Deathly Hallows. Between those 4 videos I’ve managed to cover..
Voldemort Neville Hermione Ron Harry George Luna Hagrid Draco The Dursleys Umbridge Fudge Lockhart Flitwick Filch Ollivander Kingsley Shacklebolt Pomona Sprout Arthur / Molly Weasley Percy Weasley Aberforth Dumbledore Fleur Seamus Finnigan McGonagall Narcissa / Lucius Cormac Mclaggen Grawp Rita Skeeter Slughorn Dean Thomas Charlie weasley Sybil trelawney Firenze Oliver wood Madame maxime Bill weasley Pansy parkinson Aunt marge Patil twins & Ginny weasley
Today, I’m going to be continuing that trend and giving you part FIVE (and don’t worry, there will be a part 6) of..WHAT HAPPENED to these 10 characters AFTER the war? I’ll link parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the PINNED comment.
Without further ado, let’s dive in to the lives of 10 characters POST war, and POST Deathly Hallows.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the bloodlines of the wizarding world. More specifically- we’re going to be honing in on and discussing Muggleborns- also known as ‘Mudbloods’ to the darker, more sinister side of the wizarding world.
Now before we dive too far in to this topic, let me first establish that blood status is one of the most controversial aspects of the wizarding world- a concept in which wizarding families can be distinguished by the level of magically-endowed family members. Generally speaking, people are slotted in to one of the following categories: Pure-blood, half-blood, or muggle- with the special term ‘muggle-born’ referring to a witch or wizard with two non-magical parents.
The existence of such a system, however, brings nothing to the wizarding world but hatred.
In fact, one of the main focuses of Voldemort’s regime was establishing power over the worlds of half-bloods and muggles. Voldemort felt that those with pure-blood lines deserved to be in power, and he also grew increasingly concerned that pure-blood numbers would dwindle while the number of muggleborns climbed- effectively extinguishing ‘pure’ blood from the wizarding world.
And, as it turns out, Voldemort was very right to have that ‘fear’- as statistics show that the number of muggle-borns climbs year over year.
With that said- let me get to the ‘meat’ of today’s video, which is a list of ALL KNOWN muggle-borns (that is, witches or wizards born to muggle parents) that we know of in the wizarding world. I’m going to start with the more obvious ones and make my way toward the LESS obvious ones that you may not know about. How many do YOU know of? Comment down below before we get started.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing a few more thoughts I’ve had on the latest Fantastic Beasts film- the Secrets of Dumbledore. If you’ve seen it, you know much was uncovered in the way of Credence’s Barebone’s true identity – and if you haven’t seen it, BE WARNED, there are spoilers ahead!
While it’s true, we learn much of who Credence really is in The Secrets of Dumbledore, some of these answers have led to, well, more questions.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Hogwarts and the topic of PUNISHMENT. How are bad students PUNISHED?
If you don’t know already, corporal punishment is an old system of punishment that was actually surprisingly common in the school system- that is, until it was banned in 1986 (in the UK at least). Other countries went on to ban it at different points in time, and I think that it may actually still be allowed in some places.It’s also worth mentioning that corporal punishment also exists outside of the school system, however the school system will be the focal point of this video.
Corporal punishment involves inflicting physical pain upon someone- and in a school setting it would be administered when students failed to pay attention, or gave professors flak. Though not restricted to these methods, common methods of inflicting pain would involve spanking or paddling- both of which are completely unacceptable.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing elves and why, despite being so powerful, they choose to serve witches and wizards.
As you may recall, elves – and the concept of house-elves – are introduced in The Chamber of Secrets when Harry meets Dobby, the resident house-elf of Draco Malfoy’s family and the family’s home, Malfoy Manor. Through this introduction, we discover that the upper class of the Wizarding World all seem to “own” house-elves – elves who are magically bound to serve their masters and work in servitude for well-to-do wizarding families without compensation. Their tasks range from cleaning to cooking and running errands – all without question. The only way that they can be freed from their magical ensl*avement is if their master gives them a piece of clothing. Of course, this sounds quite miserable. And, so, it was unsurprising when we learn that Dobby longs to be free from his indentured servitude to the cruel Malfoy family, who mistreat him and underestimate his abilities and intelligence. This of course, inevitably leads to Harry helping Dobby secure his freedom, tricking Lucius Malfoy into tossing an old sock to the elf.
However, despite Dobby being the first house-elf we are introduced to, we come to learn that he is actually quite an anomaly when compared to the majority of the elves that we come across throughout the remainder of the series – from Dobby’s friend, Winky, who Harry meets at the Quidditch World Cup when he mistakes her for Dobby, to Kreacher, the miserable house-elf of the Black family, who is inevitably left to Harry after Sirius Black’s death.
Welcome Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re 5 pros and 5 cons of Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore. The film just came out in North America a few days ago, and by this point it’s come out in theatres across MOST of the world- so I thought it’d be a good time to release a list of my pros and cons- limiting myself to just 5 of each. If you want a full-scale review AND breakdown, I’ve done that as well- I’ll leave a link down in the pinned comment.
I’ll be alternating PROS with CONS as to not overly hype up or bog down the experience.
Let’s get in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Here's my HONEST Review for Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore. This film has been a LONG time coming, almost 4 YEARS to be exact, as Crimes of Grindelwald, the last film, was released in November of 2018. But that isn’t even when we were first introduced to this story and these characters, as the VERY first film came out in November of 2016. NEARLY 6 YEARS AGO. We’ve been waiting a LONG time for this story to continue. I digress.
Today- I’m going to be giving you my HONEST review of the film. Including but not limited to.. What I expected out of it, what there is to come, what was good, and what was bad. This review WILL contain SPOILERS, and I’d hate to ruin it for anyone, so if you are NOT okay with that then come back to this video once you’ve seen it. BUT, if you have seen it, then stick around, and afterwards- be sure to leave a comment with what YOU thought of it down below. I’ll give a score at the end.
Let's dive in.
Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing Harry Potter- the boy-who-lived, and a rather disturbing instance in which he’s able to effectively use CRUCIO- one of the unforgivable curses.
Now- we’re taught quite early on that the Unforgivable Curses are to hard to use, largely due to the fact that they are ‘horrible’ spells that require GENUINE intent for them to work properly. In this case, we’re discussing Crucio OR the Cruciatus Curse- which is arguably the hardest one to wield without proper intent. Crucio is most often used by dark witches and wizards and a known proponent of Crucio is Bellatrix Lestrange, who used it to trture Alice and Frank Longbottom. When cast, crucio inflicts excruciating pain on the victim - pain so excruciating that it is considered to be torturous. Casting Crucio is said to require a wand and incantation, and its effects are said to vary depending on the casters desires and emotions. To produce the excruciating pain implied by the name, the caster must despise the victim and enjoy causing pain. Harry Potter, after crucio was cast on him, described it as feeling like ‘his head was being split open’ while ‘having his bones set on fire’.
But Harry hasn’t just been on the receiving end of Crucio. Evidently, our boy wonder has actually attempted to use Crucio on numerous occasions, which is awfully surprising considering Harry is well…good..and this spell T*ORTURES people.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing the top 15 most powerful wizarding artifacts to have ever existed, and we’ll be going through each one by order of least to MOST powerful.
You’ll notice that common magical objects like portkeys and wands – well, MOST wands – are absent from the list below. That’s because this list focuses on the most powerful ARTIFACTS. That is to say, rare and historically significant items that wield great power, rather than those which are common and owned by many.
Let’s get started…
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the fabled prophecy, and what is arguably the most important date in Harry Potter lore as a whole- and that is the day that Lord Voldemort travelled to Godric’s Hollow to murder the Potters. Most of you probably know why Voldemort travelled there on that fateful night- to kill baby Harry- but what some of you might not entirely understand is why it HAD to be done. Why did he HAVE to kill the Potters? Wasn’t he the all powerful dark lord with legions of followers? What immediate threat did this family pose to him? The answer to this question lies inside of the famous ‘prophecy’. ‘The prophecy’ of course refers to the prediction foretold by Sybil Trellawny in Hogsmeade pub in the year 1980. We know Sybill as the professor of divination at Hogwarts, and we know that she has a track record of successful predictions- predicting at the end of the 93-94 school year that Pettigrew would escape, and that Voldemort would return. However, she was not always so successful, and in 1980 found herself in the Hogsmeade pub with Dumbledore, interviewing for her post as professor. While her poor reputation preceded her, Dumbledore gave her a chance because she was the great grand-daughter of famous seer, Cassandra Trelawney. During her interview, a disappointed and unimpressed Dumbledore began to lose interest, when suddenly Sybill entered in to a trance. In her trance-like state, Sybill spoke of the famous prophecy that we all know, explaining that Voldemort would be defeated. It spoke of a boy, that would be born at the end of July, that possessed the power to defeat the dark lord himself. What Dumbledore and Sybill did not know, however, was that Snape (who was then a death eater), was eavesdropping at the door. This simple fact immediately placed Sybill in great danger from Voldemort- and in an effort to protect her, Dumbledore hired her for the position at Hogwarts.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're ONCE AGAIN (this is the fourth time I’m saying that now) be discussing the events that transpired in the Harry Potter universe AFTER the books and films ended. I have made 3 separate videos on this topic to date, parts 1, 2 and 3- which each cover 10 separate characters and what they got up to post Deathly Hallows. Between those 3 videos I’ve managed to cover..
Voldemort Neville Hermione Ron Harry George Luna Hagrid Draco The Dursleys Umbridge Fudge Lockhart Flitwick Filch Ollivander Kingsley Shacklebolt Pomona Sprout Arthur / Molly Weasley Percy Weasley Aberforth Dumbledore Fleur Seamus Finnigan McGonagall Narcissa / Lucius Cormac Mclaggen Grawp Rita Skeeter Slughorn & Dean Thomas
Today, I’m going to be continuing that trend and giving you part FOUR of..WHAT HAPPENED to these 10 characters AFTER the war? I’ll link parts 1, 2 and 3 in the PINNED comment.
Let's dive in to it.
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re discussing the darker side of the wizarding world- the history of the dark arts. Just like any other line of magic, the spells and charms that the wizarding community feared most… the dark arts… has a long, complex history.
But, unfortunately for modern historians, much of it has remained shrouded in secrecy.
If it weren’t for a few ancient Dark Wizards, like the sorcerer named Godelot who wrote the resource book Magick Moste Evile, we would know very little of the methods dark wizards employed in their crafts.
But thanks to their texts, and the resurgence in dark magic that Tom Riddle brought about towards the end of the 20th century, we’re able to chart a course from the earliest days of dark magic, to the modern era....
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing the most prominent mentors in Harry Potter’s life in order of most influential and greatest importance. Got any guesses on who makes this list? I’m sure you do!
Let's get to it!
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Newt Scamander, Magical (Fantastic) Beasts, and his trusty suitcase. More specifically- we’re going to be diving in to one very big question: HOW Does Newt Scamander’s Suitcase work? And just HOW BIG are the environments within it? Let’s jump in.
Now- just last week I was rewatching Fantastic Beasts 1 and 2, prepping myself and making sure that I was on top of all of of the details of the prequel films in advance of the release of the THIRD installment- coming April 15- Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The films- which I’ve seen just a few times at this point (a stark difference between the number of times I’ve seen the Harry Potter films, probably hundreds there) were more or less just as I had remembered, however- there was one lingering question in the back of my mind: just HOW on earth does NEWt Scamander’s suitcase work? And, more importantly, just HOW many magical creatures are housed within it? Which creatures can be found inside?
Welcome to Harry Potter Theory, in today’s video we’re going to be discussing Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. More specifically- we're going to be discussing Harry's encounter with Dementors on the Hogwarts Express and the shocking truth behind what Harry hears during these attacks. I’m also going to be discussing a theory for WHY Dementors seem to be so drawn to Harry. Are his numerous run-ins with dementors the result of sheer dumb misfortune? Or were they drawn to him for another, more sinister reason?