Part of the fun of the Fantastic Beasts series is that it has been able to confirm some fan theories audiences have developed in the years since the end of Harry Potter. An example is the confirmation in The Secrets of Dumbledore that Albus and Aberforth’s sister, Ariana, was an Obscurial.
Unfortunately, not every fan theory will ever be proven right or wrong, so audiences are forced to scour the books and movies for evidence to back them up. This can be done for even the most off-the-wall ideas. Fans on Reddit might not be able to prove their theories are canon, but they can still use the Harry Potter books and movies to back up that they just might be possible.
Snape Wasn’t Really In Love With Lily
Deathly Hallows revealed that Severus Snape had loved Harry’s mother and therefore wished to protect Harry. He did this up to the very end, despite the hate he felt for the boy who looked so much like James Potter.
However, Redditor Yxsterday-nxght has a “silly theory” that there was more to the story. “Snape wasn’t jealous of James,” they said, “he was in love with him.” They gave the evidence that Snape and Lily’s Patronuses were the same because they both complimented James’ stag. While this is too wild to be likely, Snape’s hatred for James in Harry Potter was highly complicated. An enemies-to-lovers story wouldn’t be out of character.
George Weasly Is Willy Wonka
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There has never been any connection between Harry Potter and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but Redditor Neigh102 noticed some similarities between Fred Weasly and Willy Wonka. “The chocolate factory really isn’t a big jump from the joke shop,” they said, explaining that they believe George might have taken his talents to the Muggle world.
Of course, Willy Wonka ran his famous contest several decades before Harry attended Hogwarts, but anything is possible with magic. Wonka does once say that he is deaf in one ear, and every item in his office is missing its other half, just like George is missing his twin. It’s possible that Rowling took some subtle inspirations.
The Resurrection Stone Is Just A Lure To Death
In Deathly Hallows, to the annoyance of Harry Potter fans, Hermione is adamant that the Resurrection Stone could not be real. Dumbledore himself says that no power can bring back the dead. But when Harry finally uses the Stone, he proves them wrong. Or does he?
“The Resurrection Stone doesn’t actually recall the dead,” Redditor Chlorinecrown said, “it just summons images of the holder’s dead loved one.” They go on to say that the purpose of this is to lure victims into death. If that is true, Dumbledore might have left it for Harry to make sacrificing himself easier.
Ron Is Actually A Talented Seer
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In Prisoner of Azkaban, the art of Divination is described as a rare gift. Even Professor Trelawney seemed to be a fraud, though audiences know she had at least two legitimate premonitions. Other than this, the class didn’t seem to serve anyone’s talents.
But fans have noticed that while Ron never took it seriously, he actually might have had a knack for the subject. “[Ron] is always accurately predicting things without anyone realizing it,” said Redditor KiraStrife. These may have been coincidences, but his prediction that Harry would be stabbed in the back by a friend and come out worse in a fight came true. So maybe it was more than just guesswork.
Hogwarts Teachers Are Cursed To Be Single
Harry and his friends never paid much attention to the love lives of their teachers, but Redditor Someday_wonderful noticed that none of the known teachers at Hogwarts had spouses, “not even Madam Pomfrey or Madam Pince.”
Die-hard Harry Potter fans know Professor McGonagall was once married, but the relationship ended in tragedy. She and her husband lived together in Hogsmeade Village, but when he was killed suddenly by a Venomous Tentacula sting, she moved alone into the castle and never remarried. Like the coming and going of DADA teachers, perhaps it was all the result of a curse.
Mad-Eye Moody Can See Death With His Eye
After years of fighting Dark wizards, Mad-Eye Moody developed a paranoia that he was adamant kept him and others alive. It might have seemed that surviving battle after battle would make him feel more secure, but those who knew him said his caution only became more extreme over the years.
Redditor Not-Lost-Wanderer wonders whether Moody is so scared because he can “see Death with his magical eye.” Since the whirling orb is the only known thing that can see through the Hallow Invisibility Cloak, it might make sense that it can also see its alleged maker when he comes lurking.
Voldemort Planned To Impersonate Harry
Goblet of Fire had one of the most complex plots of the Harry Potter series. Voldemort sent Barty Crouch Jr to Hogwarts in disguise, all to make sure that Harry got entered into the Triwizard Tournament and was the first to grab the Portkey Triwizard Cup. This seemed like a lot of work when Crouch could have kidnapped Harry any time during the school year.
Redditor Mitchsix guesses that Voldemort wanted to take Harry while he was in the maze for a specific reason: so he could return himself in Harry’s place. “He could keep making Polyjuice potion and inspire fear in the hearts of the Order by making them watch their Chosen One become a Dark Wizard,” they said. The only problem with this is that Polyjuice potion might require hair from a living head to work, but it is undoubtedly a terrifying idea.
Fred And George Gave Harry The Marauder’s Map To Protect Him
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When Fred and George gave Harry the Marauder’s Map, they stated that his need was greater than theirs. This was surprising considering all the mischief the twins would get up to, and there would never be a time that a map of that kind would not be helpful.
For this reason, Redditor OreoDrinker wonders if they might have been dishonest about their motivation. They think Fred and George gift Harry the map “so he can watch his back” against Sirius Black. Sure, they used Hogsmeade as an excuse, but they might not have wanted to admit they cared about his well-being and not just his mischief.
The Wizarding World Was All In Harry’s Head
The “Harry is dreaming” theory has been around since the first Harry Potter book was released, but Redditor Hambeesly found that Deathly Hallows contained a hint that might just support that this is precisely the case. In the King’s Cross Purgatory, Harry asks if his surroundings are real or all in his head. Dumbledore answers that they are in his head, but that doesn’t stop them from being real.
This Redditor claims that this line “adds to the theory” that Harry has imagined his journey as a way to cope with the abusive home he has been raised in after his parents’ deaths. Believing that he had magical powers and could defeat the “villain” that had taken his parents would certainly have been a comfort.
Dumbledore Repeatedly Traveled Through Time
Albus Dumbledore was so wise in Harry Potter that there were times when he seemed omniscient. He might have been a genius, but it seemed outrageous at times that he could guess something would happen long before all the puzzle pieces were put back together.
“A popular theory is that Dumbledore did some time traveling,” says Redditor Kelly06. This ranges from “Dumbledore is an old Ron Weasley” to the Headmaster repeatedly using a Time-Turner to do and redo events. This would explain why he was so quick to give Hermione permission to use hers and knew exactly how many turns were necessary.
