Top 10 Harry Potter Fan Theories We Want to Be True
#10: Hagrid Got Aragog From Newt
Rubeus Hagrid is an ardent lover of magical creatures – the more dangerous the better! This fascination began at a very young age, when the large lad was given an acromantula egg which hatched into the giant spider Aragog. According to said spider, an unnamed traveler gave Hagrid this egg. However, fans have speculated that this traveler was none other than Newt Scamander, noted author of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” and Hogwarts alumnus. Not only would this be a cool connection between the different eras of the Wizarding World story so far, but also between two of the greatest proponents of magical beasts.
#9: Wizard-Muggle War
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There’s plenty of resentment from both the magical and non-magical communities for one another to go around, from wizard supremacists to witch burnings. But some fans theorize that open warfare between wizardkind and Muggles may have occurred at some point in the past. While wizards have always been a minority, there are those who believe they once had larger numbers and that their secrecy and lack of technological development is the result of their widespread desire to avoid contact with Muggles after a huge conflict. The Wizarding World has regularly altered Muggles’ memories, so erasing an entire war isn’t unfeasible.
#8: Crookshanks Belonged to Lily
Hermione’s cat Crookshanks displays unusual intelligence in the books. It makes friends with Sirius Black and manages to sniff out Peter Pettigrew, who’s disguised as Ron’s rat Scabbers. In the final book, Harry reads a letter written by his mother, which claims that she had a cat. This, combined with Crookshanks’ connection to the two Marauders, has led some to believe that the feline recognized both and that he was once Lily Potter’s cat. While it’s likely that Crookshanks’ sleuthing skills are due to being part magical cat, it would be a fun connection for Harry to have with his mother, besides his famous green eyes.
#7: Neville Wasn’t Bad at Magic, He Was Using the Wrong Wand
Neville Longbottom is something of the class dunce, at least at first. He’s not particularly good in school, except for Herbology. But Neville does become a better wizard and a more confident one as the series goes on. Some fans have theorized that this is because he eventually got a new wand after his first was destroyed. His first wand used to belong to his father. While magic can be done with a wand you haven’t chosen (or which hasn’t chosen you), a personalized wand is usually best, which is why some fans believe Neville’s poor performance can be partially attributed to having the wrong wand.
#6: The Sorting Hat Can See the Future
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When they first arrive at Hogwarts, all the students are instructed to don the Sorting Hat, a talking piece of headwear that sorts them into one of the four houses. Conventional wisdom is that they’re placed in the houses of the traits they most exhibit or value. However, given how many issues there are with a hat’s opinion determining your future at age 11 based on a few seconds on your head, some fans have another theory. What if the Sorting Hat sorts students into houses not based on what their traits are when they’re sorted, but on who they are in the future? What if the Sorting Hat is merely an instrument of destiny?
#5: George Is Willy Wonka
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Now this is a crazy crossover! According to this theory, George Weasley, the surviving Weasley twin, goes back in time and changes his name to Willy Wonka. Through the assistance of a race of probably magical workers, Wonka creates almost certainly magical candy for the world’s children. Both characters share a love of pranks and whimsical products. The theory would certainly see George fulfill his and his late brother’s dream to the utmost extreme. Although, if it were true, hopefully George is more Wilder Wonka than Depp Wonka, if only because it’d be weird if he had the same face as Grindelwald.
#4: The Dursleys Hated Harry Because of the Horcrux
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The Dursley family are positively terrible to Harry growing up. While not physically abusive, they’re certainly neglectful and they heavily favor their son Dudley over him. Their hatred of magic is definitely a major reason for their treatment of him. However, some fans think it may have something to do with the fragment of Voldemort’s soul living in Harry. Short contact with one Horcrux made someone as steadfast as Ron Weasley turn nasty and run out on his friends. Years of being around Harry, the theory goes, helped turn the Dursleys into the nasty people they are. Still, it all falls apart when you realize how much time Harry has spent around his friends. If it were the Horcrux, he wouldn’t have any friends at Hogwarts.
#3: Harry Is Immortal
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Life and death are major motifs in the “Harry Potter” franchise, particularly around Harry and Voldemort. The Dark Lord seeks to live forever. But what if his young foe accomplished what he tried so hard for, by accident! The prophecy about these two states that “neither can live while the other survives.” The usually accepted interpretation of this is that one must kill the other in order to live. But, some fans suggest that with Voldemort dead, Harry can no longer be killed at all! The Boy Who Lived indeed!
#2: The First Book’s Finale Foreshadowed Parts of the Whole Series
The franchise has lots of foreshadowing, but some Tumblr users have suggested that the end of the first book specifically is a roadmap for the series. When Harry and company enter the chambers protecting the Philosopher’s Stone, they encounter a dangerous plant. In the next book, they run into the Whomping Willow. The next trial in “Philosopher’s Stone” sees them using brooms - and in “Azkaban” Harry has a particularly dangerous Quidditch Match. The chess pieces look like gravestones, just like when Harry duels Voldemort in book 4. A troll is in the next chamber, and in book 5 they meet Hagrid’s half-giant brother. The penultimate chamber has a potions challenge from Snape, and the penultimate book features Snape’s connection to a potions book. And lastly, there’s the confrontation with Voldemort. Crazy, right? Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: Malfoy the Werewolf Was the Young Slytherin Stressed, or Suffering From Lycanthropy? Avada Kedavra/Abra Kadabra Muggles May Have Remembered This Heinous Spell with Some Different Sounds Dumbledore Is Death His Appearance in Limbo & the Three Brothers Story Have Fans Drawing the Comparison Ron Is a Time-Traveling Dumbledore Ridiculous? Yes. Interesting? Also Yes
#1: Why None of Us Got Our Hogwarts Letters
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Many “Harry Potter” fans have imagined how amazing it would be to receive a letter from Hogwarts, learn that magic is real, and have our childhood dreams come true. One theory posits that there’s a very good reason why children of this generation never got our letters – Voldemort. The theory goes that when You-Know-Who took power, he destroyed the records of all potential young British Muggle-born witches and wizards at the Ministry of Magic. So anyone born before 1997 or ’98 wouldn’t have gotten their letter, because the Ministry wouldn’t have known to send it. Sadly, those of us born in other countries will have to formulate our own theories.
