Harry Potter fan theories have played a vital role in keeping the intensity of the series high. Harry Potter has been making its path smoother with the help of fans who almost dedicated their life to this series. This series has continued its journey with an elegance that no other book series has ever succeeded in doing. The Harry Potter book series started its journey in 1997 by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it was published the following year by Scholastic Corporation with a slight change of the name. This series has given fans a new way of enhancing their imagination. We can make our world more magical with this series’s help and make our boring life a little bit more interesting.
Harry Potter fans have found many incredible theories about the series, and the franchise also got interested in creating more options for the fans. Leaving some gaps in between the plots and raising some questions about the characters, even making some questionable moves by the characters to allow the fans to find new theories about them is another way of interacting with the series, which is introduced by the franchise.
The Purpose of Fan Theories in the Harry Potter Fandom
The fan theories of Harry Potter have always been a way of communication between the fans. These theories kept the magic alive and the fans’ burning desire fresh towards the series.
Extend the World:
Fan theories help the world of magic to grow even outside of the book by imagining what may occur in the story in the near future. These fan theories made the story more rich and interesting. The character analysis has become more interesting and more mysterious. Each character becomes important to us as we intend to find new clues or theories from each of them.
Connect With Other Fans:
Fan theories help fans to connect with each other who share the same interests. People tend to make friends with those who share the same interests as them. When a fan shares their theories on various platforms, other fans who also agree on that particular theory give the other fans a cheer. As a result, they not only share new theories and make friends but also appreciate each other’s work. I also found my Potterhead buddy in this process, and honestly, I am thankful to Harry Potter’s story for giving me this amazing buddy.
Explore Different Interpretations:
Harry Potter fan theories give different and new interpretations where we find new information about our familiar characters. Once we learn about them we can not unseen it again. Fans explore each book’s episodes or film scenes to find new theories that can add more spice to the series. As an example, a theory says that Dumbledore may not or may be more manipulative than he seems to be. To be honest, I sometimes think that he also faked his death and somehow survived, even though it seemed so realistic. But who knows what surprise this magical world holds for us in the future.
A Selection of the Most Intriguing Fan Theories
There are countless fan theories, but the most popular ones are frequently heard everywhere. Among these, theories like “Dumbledore is Death,” Crookshanks’ mysterious origins, Harry being an accidental Horcrux, and Neville Longbottom’s potential as the Chosen One stand out as the most interesting and accepted ones.
Dumbledore is Death:
In “The Tale of the Three Brothers” from the Tales of Beedle the Bard-three unnamed brothers come face to face with the personification of death. At that time, the real intentions of the brothers are revealed to death. The first one lusts for power, the second one wants to bring back death, and the third one, who turns out to be brave, accepts death in the end. Voldemort, Snape, and Harry represent these three brothers in this theory. Voldemort is the first brother who longs for ultimate power, Snape is the second brother who is driven by desire and emotion to only recapture his lost love, and lastly, Harry is the third brother ready to face death. You can say he accepted death as “an old friend” in that case. Here comes the role of Dumbledore as death. He is the only one who has prioritized Harry and gave him all three items of the Deathly Hallows. First, he is the one who gave Harry the invisibility cloak on Christmas Eve. Second, he is the one who also helped Harry get the resurrection stone. Dumbledor has planned his own death to save Draco, pretending that Draco had killed him. At that time, Draco owned the elder wand, which was in Dumbledore’s possession. Later, in a duel with Harry, Draco loses, and the elder wand ends up in Harry’s hand. This shows how Dumbledore represents death, and this draws a connection between one wizarding world myth and another one.
Crookshanks’ mysterious origins:
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hermione Granger decided To have a cat named Crookshanks. This cat’s main goal throughout the story is to eat Ron’s rat, Scabbers, who was Peter Pettigrew in his Animagus form. Fans think Crookshank does not hate Scabbers just because it was a rat, but the cat once belonged to Lily Potter. For that reason, it can be seen that the rat was Pettigrew, the man who betrayed Lily. However, it was not confirmed by JK. Rowling but to think it like this seems so cool.
Harry being an accidental Horcrux:
Harry being an accidental Horcrux was just a fan prediction in the beginning, but later, Rowling confirmed that it happened accidentally when Voldemort was about to kill him as a child. This explains how Harry was able to speak Parseltongue, his mental connection with Voldemort, and his scar pain whenever he was near Voldemort. This also describes why Harry needed to die in order to destroy Voldemort’s soul inside him.
It’s All in Harry’s Head:
There’s another popular fan theory that all of this magical and wizarding world is just the imagination of the 11-year-old boy Harry Potter. The torture of the Dursley’s had a toll on little Harry, and he created an imaginary world inside his head to escape from reality. Durshley’s treatment of Harry is so harsh that Harry finds solace by imagining a fantasy world where he is a wizard and the hero of a magical world. Though I hope this does not turn out to be true. Because if it does, then our escaping world will also collapse, and I can’t imagine that poor Harry might be that traumatized by his aunt’s family.
Neville Longbottom’s Potential as the Chosen One:
The prophecy made by Professor Trelawney suggests that the Chosen One could have been either Harry or Neville, as both were born at the end of July to parents who defied Voldemort three times. Voldemort’s decision to target Harry made him the Chosen One, but some fans predict that in an alternative world, Neville can be the Chosen One. Neville also proves these facts through his eventual heroism, particularly his destruction of Nagini and his leadership during Voldemort’s reign at Hogwarts. This theory challenges readers to consider how choices, not just fate, define a hero.
These fan theories demonstrate the richness of the Harry Potter series, encouraging readers to look beyond the surface of the story and explore deeper meanings. Whether interpreting Dumbledore as Death, pondering Crookshanks’ past, unraveling Harry’s connection to Voldemort, or envisioning Neville as the Chosen One, these theories showcase the creativity and passion of the fandom. They keep the magic alive, offering endless opportunities for discussion and discovery.
Harry Potter fans have made the most intriguing theories about the series, and these creative activities of the fans gave the Harry Potter story longevity. These fan theories keep the magical spark alive and showcase the imaginative ways readers engage with the series, uncovering hidden layers and possibilities within the story. These theories spark debates, inspire fan fiction, and deepen connections to the wizarding world, ensuring it remains relevant across generations. By reinterpreting beloved characters and events, fans not only honor J.K. Rowling’s work also contributes to its enduring legacy, proving that the magic truly lives on.
