Harry Potter Theory

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're going to be discussing Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, and trying to unravel one of his dirtiest darkest secrets. 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.- Let's dive in... 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. Today we're discussing Magical LAW. That's right, just like the muggle society, witches and wizards are confined to behaving within the framework of law and order. We saw a little bit of this in the films- like when Harry had a disciplinary hearing before the Wizengamot. In this instance, Harry had performed underage magic (a Patronus Charm) in order to ward off Dementors attacking him and his cousin Dudley. "Disciplinary hearing of the twelfth of August, into offences committed under the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery and the International Statute of Secrecy by Harry James Potter, resident at number four, Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey." Fortunately for Harry, Dumbledore stepped in and protected him- which resulted in Harry walking away with no charges. However, underage magic is just ONE 'law' in a wizarding society that actually has a lot more laws than you may have thought. Today we're going to be uncovering them- at least, all of the ones we have information on. I should also add that I won't be conflating 'Law' in the sense of legislation with 'Law' in the sense of a set of principles or scientific axioms. I.e. the 'Law' for underage magic is a piece of legislation prohibiting the use of underage magic and GAMP'S LAW is a set of scientific principles.- Let's dive in. 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

Today we're discussing the deaths of some of the late and great actors that took part in the Harry Potter Series. In 2022 we lost a couple of the Harry Potter greats, including Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid) and Leslie Phillips (The Sorting Hat), and I thought that with the closing of the year we could honour the rest of the names- big and small- that we've lost over the decades- from Dumbledore all the way to the driver of the Knight Bus- Ernie Prang. Let's dive in. 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

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... 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. 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.- 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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

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. 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. 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? 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. 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! 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. 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'. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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... 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, 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. 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. 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? - 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. 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... 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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? 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. 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. 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. 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? 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

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: 1. Magical Feats 2. Dueling 3. 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. 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