Harry Potter Theory

Running a Harry Potter channel, I get to see a LOT of opinions. And I mean A LOT. Which means that at any given moment, I’ve got a pretty good idea of where the fandom sits on a particular issue. For example: The Cursed Child is FAIRLY universally hated among Harry Potter purists, enjoyable to casuals, and probably the best thing they’ve ever seen to people unfamiliar with the story altogether. OF COURSE there’s nuance here, as I for example can appreciate the Cursed Child as a separate entity, but basically my point is this: I’ve got a fairly clear understanding of the landscape. And in a time when (let’s be honest) fan expectations for the Harry Potter TV Show are a little glim, it looks we’ve been delivered a great equalizer- something that will appease pretty much anyone that’s been keeping up with the show’s progress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peter Pettigrew is remembered..Almost exclusively as a coward and a traitor. A man who betrayed his closest friends, sold out an innocent family, and aligned himself with Voldemort purely out of fear. And after Voldemort’s first downfall, he faked his own death, framed a childhood friend for his crimes, and spent over a decade hiding in the shadows—quite literally—rather than face the consequences of his choices. And yet… Peter Pettigrew was sorted into Gryffindor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Did you know, sir? Then?..." "Did I know that I had just met the most dangerous Dark wizard of all-time? No." These were the words exchanged by Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore after taking a glance in to the Pensieve and observing Dumbledore’s first encounter with a young Tom Riddle. And it’s these words that clarify WHY Dumbledore saved Tom, invited him to Hogwarts, and gave him a magical education. Because you see, Dumbledore, despite a few signs here and there, could never have known that this young troubled boy would go on to cause so much death and destruction. I mean, how could he? But the exchange does make me wonder: what would have happened IF Dumbledore HAD known what young Tom Riddle’s TRUE capabilities were? What if he knew just how many lives he’d claim, and how much destruction he’d cause? Would things have been different? Would he have attended Hogwarts? Just how different would the magical world have been had Dumbledore obtained that singular (albeit, MASSIVE) piece of information. Today we’re going to be answering all of that and more as we discuss a scenario in which Dumbledore WAS aware of Voldemort’s true capabilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“How come you’re not in Ravenclaw?” he demanded, staring at Hermione with something close to wonder. “With brains like yours?” Ravenclaw student Terry Boot asks Hermione this directly in Order of the Phoenix, during the DA’s first meeting in the Hog’s Head. And, unsurprisingly, Terry Boot is not the only person to have ever thought about this. In fact, since the Harry Potter books first came out, one of the most pervasive questions surrounding the series is WHY Hermione Granger, one of Hogwarts’ smartest students, WASN’T sorted into its most studious house. Today we’re going to be tackling a question that has long divided fans- Was Hermione Granger truly a Gryffindor— or was she actually meant for Ravenclaw? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if I told you that there was a witch from Harry Potter lore that, despite possessing levels of power similar to the founders of Hogwarts..No one really talks about. This witch, known more commonly for her title as a ‘sorceress’ was known for her extraordinary magical abilities—so much so that her name became legend, even beyond the wizarding world. Her mastery over spells and enchantments rivaled that of the most powerful sorcerers in history, yet for some reason, she remains overlooked in most discussions of magic. But who was this witch? And why has her legacy faded into obscurity? Today we’ll be discussing all of that and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if Muggles KNEW about magic? About witches, wizards, wands, spells and flying broomsticks. And what would they say if they knew that some of these magical folk could teleport across the country in seconds… erase memories with a flick of the wrist… and kill without leaving a trace? Today we’ll be answering a question that the foundation of the Wizarding World was built to avoid: What would happen if the muggles found out about magic? Let’s dive in to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’ve got a bit of an interesting one. Earlier this year, I made two separate videos—one ranking the most powerful wizards, and the other ranking the most powerful witches. In those videos, I covered ten of each. And today, just over 10 months later, we’re going to pitting them against each other and taking a closer look at what the top 20 most powerful looks like..When both groups are ranked together. Before you watch, make sure to comment YOUR top 20 down below, then check back at the end to see how your list differed from mine. It took some editing trickery to mesh this all together, so forgive me if anything’s a little off. Anyway, let’s dive in to it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If we go strictly by canon, then the only elves that we’re ever made privy to in the Harry Potter universe are house-elves—beings bound to magical servitude, owned by wizarding families, and expected to obey without question. But in one of my previous videos—The History of House-Elves—I introduced the idea that house-elves are likely not a natural, original species at all, but rather the end result of something that happened to elves long ago. I think that there was a time when elves were not bound to masters… A time when they existed independently, outside of wizarding households. And while the books never confirm this outright, the broader context of the Wizarding World makes the idea surprisingly reasonable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This video is one part of a multi-part series. We left part 1 at the conclusion of the battle of the astronomy tower. Except, in this version of events... things went very differently. Dumbledore, alive and well, survived the battle because he never succumbed to temptation and put on the Gaunt Ring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dumbledore’s death was one of the most heartbreaking moments in the entire series, a turning point that shattered the illusion of safety Harry had always relied on. But not only that, it represented a distinct shift in innocence in the series- a moment that made it clear that no one, not even the greatest wizard alive, was beyond Voldemort’s reach. It also left things looking pretty bleak for the good guys, with Death Eaters taking over Hogwarts, Voldemort’s power growing, and Harry running out of options. And while Dumbledore’s death doesn’t actually happen until the Half-Blood Prince, what many fans may not realize is that it was hinted at as early as Prisoner of Azkaban. Today we’re talking about the Death of Albus Dumbledore—and what might have happened if he’d survived the night atop the Astronomy Tower. This one’s going to be a dooz See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voldemort Would Have Won If He Did This One Thing... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past I made a wand documentary that covered all of the wand materials- woods, cores, the lot. I even discussed wand FLEXIBILITY and SIZE, and how those things can be indicative of the type of wizard wielding the wand. But what I strangely never touched on…Was wand CREATION. Or rather, construction. How are wands actually..Made? And what makes this question increasingly interesting is just how few wandmakers there are in the Wizarding World. Sure, it’s possible that we only see a handful of wandmakers in the series, but among the ones we do encounter, it almost feels as though they hold a kind of monopoly. And if they’re truly skilled enough to command that level of dominance, then it only makes me even more curious about what exactly it is they’re doing behind the scenes. Today we’ll be discussing the enigmatic process of WAND making, and (hopefully) unpacking what it is that makes wandmakers like Ollivander so special. Let’s dive in to it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s that time again. NEWS. Sorry for the voice, I’m sick. There’s been lots going on in the Wizarding World as of late, and that’s an exciting prospect because for a little while the Harry Potter buzz seemed to have died off a bit. Did it die? Absolutely not. But am I excited that there’s some new LIFE being injected into it across a number of different areas? Absolutely. From stage plays to Audible releases and new HBO updates, today we’re breaking down five pieces of Harry Potter news that should get you more excited than ever for what’s here—and what’s still coming. Let’s dive into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another instalment of Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the most well known characters who show up in the Harry Potter series, but whose Hogwarts houses are never identified. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably remember Sirius Black’s death in Order of the Phoenix—a tragic moment amidst the Battle of the Department of Mysteries that seemed to instantly shift the entire tone of the story. But according to J.K. Rowling’s original draft, that wasn’t how Sirius was meant to die at all... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. When a young witch or wizard has no understanding of magic, they rely entirely on the way that it’s taught to them. They copy sounds. They mimic gestures, and they perform rituals they barely understand.  At Hogwarts, students mostly imitate what their professors demonstrate, and long before that, in magical homes, young witches and wizards often pick up bits of magic just by watching their parents. And by doing these things, they learn the shape of magic, but not the rules beneath it. They don’t know why a wand must move a certain way, or why emotion matters just as much as language. They’re taught how to do magic, but it’s rarely explained why it works. But here’s the thing about magic: it’s wildly unpredictable. It isn’t patient with mistakes, and it certainly doesn’t forgive misunderstandings.  Which means that sometimes, when the spell isn’t quite right- it doesn’t just NOT WORK- it actively pushes back. And when magic pushes back, there are consequences. Of course, not every spell fits this criteria. Some spells will just fizzle out or do nothing at all. But the focus of today’s video will be on the spells that DO push back- sometimes with DIRE..Even HORRIFIC consequences. Let’s dive into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Many..In fact, most corners of the Harry Potter fandom are wholesome, creative, and endlessly imaginative… …but there’s one corner — a slightly strange, often bewildering corner — that sometimes even longtime fans tiptoe around. It’s a world where canon, logic, ethics and timelines are seemingly out the window. A world where a simple pairing can ignite hundred-page debates and some truly unhinged works of fanfiction. And at the very center of this storm lies one pairing so infamous, so controversial, so chronically discussed that even mentioning it makes longtime fans flinch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Voldemort dies in the films, he disintegrates into thousands of pieces and blows away in the wind. And when he dies in the books, his body falls with a mundane finality—revealing something far more fitting. In the end, there is nothing grand or mythic about his death at all. He simply… dies.  But in the end, neither depiction of his death answers the real question. His body might fall or crumble, but that tells us nothing about what truly became of him. Not the man, not the flesh… but the part he tried hardest to protect. The part he mutilated in his quest for immortality. His soul. Today we’re going to be unpacking this further and taking a closer look at what may have happened to the most mutilated soul in wizarding history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know Voldemort pursued one of the Deathly Hallows — the Elder Wand — said to be the most powerful wand in all of existence. And the reasons for that seem fairly self-explanatory. Voldemort craved power, and the wand would have been the perfect tool he needed for domination, supremacy, control. And from the moment he became aware of the wand’s existence, his pursuit was relentless. To Voldemort, it was the weapon that would finally secure his victory, the final piece needed to end the boy who lived. But what’s interesting is that he stopped there. The Elder Wand was just one of the three Deathly Hallows — a triad of objects that, when united, were said to make their possessor the Master of Death. And if Voldemort feared death more than anyone who ever lived… If he built his entire life around conquering mortality… Then why didn’t he go after the other Hallows? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey everyone, welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since the Harry Potter film saga came to an end.   And now, for the first time in ages, we’ve got a show on the horizon- set to debut sometime in 2027. But since the announcement of the show last year, we’ve been through an absolute whirlwind of new information. And that whirlwind doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. From casting updates to production rumors, every tiny development surrounding the show seems to set the fandom alight with speculation.  And one particular report that came out last week seems to suggest that the show will have something never before seen in a Harry Potter production See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices