Harry Potter-related fan theories are scattered everywhere on social media platforms. Though on Harry Potter fan theories, Reddit has an unquestionable dominance. These theories made the series more intriguing and interesting to the fans. Reddit is a platform where fans can ask questions or discuss their thoughts about the series with others. Harry Potter has many theories that can change the whole perspective of the main series. These theories can be dark and sinister and have some twists that can portray some of our favorite characters as villains. Theories such as “ The behaviors of the Dursleys were under the influence of Horcrux’s,” “ Dementors are actually manifestations of dead souls that are trapped,” and last but very much shocking and mind-blowing theory is “Hogwarts is Purgatory, and Harry was already dead.” These theories came from the fans and were discussed on Reddit. These theories are very popular among fans, and they are so debatable that one might get confused with the new information. The writer J.K. Rowling has not denied or even confirmed these theories to be false so it makes the theories more mysterious just as the magical world.
The Dursleys Were Under a Horcrux’s Influence
Dursley, the uncle and aunt of Harry Potter who nourished Harry from childhood. Even though they were not very much interested in keeping Harry with them they were forced to keep Harry. But was their behavior being too aggressive at little Harry really justified? Harry’s aunt and uncle seem to be a little peculiar but their behavior while having Harry in front of them raises the doubts that this aggression is caused by the effect of Harry being a Horcrux. Harry’s presence makes them more aggressive and cruel which leads to the inhuman behavior towards Harry. Harry was sometimes upset by how much different his uncle and aunt behaved around him. There is much-supporting evidence about it in the books. Let me bring them to you all.
Supporting Evidence from the Books:
1. Ron and Hermione’s Reactions to the Locket Horcrux (DH, Ch. 15-19)
- When wearing Slytherin’s locket, Ron becomes irritable and paranoid, leading him to abandon Harry and Hermione. This shows how Horcruxes radiate negative energy, affecting even strong-willed individuals. We know how much attached the trio is but the locket forced them to be separated from each other. Wearing the locket all the time makes him feel anger and negativity, which results in him leaving Hermione and Harry in the woods.
- Similarly, Harry feels its effects, particularly when he struggles to control his anger. When Harry became angry, Hermione was wise enough to realize that the locket was behind all their aggression and odd behaviors.
2. The Dursleys’ Extreme Hatred Toward Harry (All Books)
- While the Dursleys disliked magic, their treatment of Harry went beyond mere prejudice. They forced him to live in a cupboard, barely fed him, and emotionally and physically mistreated him. Their behavior was excessive even for people who disliked something unfamiliar. He wasn’t allowed to have a good dress or haircut. He was not allowed to get a good education at the school where Dudley was studying. This shows their inhuman behavior towards Harry was unexplainable.
- Given that Horcruxes amplify negative emotions, it’s possible that Harry’s presence heightened their worst tendencies.
3. Merope Gaunt’s Abuse and the Effects of Dark Magic (HBP, Ch. 10-13)
- Merope, the mother of Voldemort, was abused by her family, who were obsessed over blood purity. This parallels how Harry was treated by the Dursleys, suggesting an ongoing theme of dark magic corrupting people’s behavior. Dark magic can middle one’s mind and make them more aggressive and rude to others without any particular reason.
4. Dumbledore’s Hint About Voldemort’s Influence (OotP, Ch. 37)
- Dumbledore tells Harry that he has a connection to Voldemort through the scar and his ability to feel Voldemort’s emotions. Since the scar is part of the Horcrux, this could imply that people around Harry subconsciously sensed that dark connection and they behave strangely without their knowing. Harry’s connection makes him an object of dark magic, which leads people around him to behave much more cruelly than normal.
The Dementors Are Manifestations of Dead Souls
The Dementors are one of the most feared creatures of the magical world. They are creatures that feed on people’s happiness and suck out life and make them numb almost as a person. These creatures leave a permanent scar on the people who have been attacked by them. Wherever these creatures pass by, they leave the place as dry and black and white without any color or laughter. While they are officially described as soulless, wraith-like beings that feed on human despair, one fan theory suggests that Dementors are actually manifestations of dead souls—specifically, lost and tormented spirits that never found peace.
Supporting Evidence from the Books:
1. Their Connection to the Soul
- Dementors are infamous for their “Kiss,” which removes a person’s soul entirely, leaving them as a husk (PoA, Ch. 12). If Dementors can consume and remove souls, could it be because they themselves are composed of fragmented or lost ones? Is it the reason they feed on others’ happiness or despair?
- The fact that a soul cannot be restored once taken suggests a deeper connection between Dementors and the realm of the dead.
2. Dementors and the Afterlife
- J.K. Rowling has mentioned that souls exist beyond the veil of death (OotP, Ch. 35). This could imply that Dementors, rather than being mere magical creatures, are entities tied.
Dementors and Their Connections to Real-World Mythology:
It can be said that Demonters are creatures that were created by real-life mythologies. We can find many similarities among some of the mythical creatures of our real life to this dark creature which also proves it to be a lost soul that was trapped in the magical world. Many cultures have legends of spectral beings that drain life, happiness, or souls, much like Dementors do in the wizarding world.
1. The Grim Reaper (Western Folklore)
The Dementors share characteristics with the Grim Reaper, a hooded, shadowy figure representing death. These both creatures are feared the most as they both are connected with the afterlife. Just as the Grim Reapers “collect” souls, the Dementors suck out souls with their “the Dementor’s kiss.”
2. The Wraiths and Ringwraiths (Norse & Tolkien Mythology)
In Norse mythology, Draugr are undead beings that haunt the living, draining their energy. Similarly, Tolkien’s Ringwraiths (Nazgûl) in The Lord of the Rings resemble Dementors—faceless, cloaked figures that spread terror and despair wherever they go.
3. The Lamashtu (Mesopotamian Mythology)
In ancient Mesopotamian myths, Lamashtu was a terrifying demon that fed on human suffering, especially targeting children. Like Dementors, she was associated with darkness, illness, and a lingering sense of doom.
4. The Banshee (Irish Folklore)
Although banshees are more often seen as omens of death rather than soul-suckers, their eerie wailing and ghostly appearances echo the presence of Dementors, who bring an overwhelming sense of despair and cold. As an example, we see in the Prisoner of Azkaban when the train of Hogwarts was under the attack of Dementors, the atmosphere suddenly turned into a gloomy and dark theme, and the windows of the train were freezing cold.
5. The Gaki (Japanese Folklore)
In Japanese mythology, Gaki or “hungry ghosts” are spirits cursed to roam the world, feeding on human suffering. Like Dementors, they are insatiable and thrive on despair, unable to satisfy their endless hunger.
Hogwarts Is Purgatory, and Harry Was Already Dead
This theory changes all the expectations and theories of Harry Potter. According to this idea, Harry died as a baby when Voldemort attacked him, and his time at Hogwarts represents a liminal state—an in-between realm where he must come to terms with his past life, understand his soul’s purpose, and prepare for the afterlife. Let’s discuss more broadly about this theory and some of the logic around this theory.
1. Dumbledore as a Guiding Figure:
In the book, whenever Harry needed guidance or was in danger, Dumbledore was always there to give him some words of wisdom. This can represent Dumbledore as a guardian angel or guardian spirit who guides Harry from this state. His omniscient presence and deep understanding of death (especially in Deathly Hallows, when he meets Harry in a white, dreamlike King’s Cross Station) reinforce the idea that he exists beyond life itself.
2. The Lack of Normalcy in Hogwarts:
Unlike a typical boarding school, Hogwarts has some strange rules, such as time functions differently (Time-Turners), mythical creatures roam the grounds, and death doesn’t always mean the end (ghosts and portraits retain personalities). If Hogwarts were a form of Purgatory, these elements would symbolize the soul’s unfinished business and the trials one must face before moving on. Harry was just leading a life he was supposed to live in the real world with the real elements.
3. Voldemort as a Symbol of Harry’s Own Struggle:
Rather than being an external enemy, Voldemort could represent the darkness Harry must overcome within himself before he can pass on. He is, after all, literally a part of Harry (via the Horcrux connection), and only by accepting death (willingly sacrificing himself in Deathly Hallows) can Harry finally defeat Voldemort and find peace. This can be a representation of humans fighting against their own dark fantasy and killing their evil entities and being revived again as a new person who is pure and divine.
4. The Final Choice: Moving On or Returning:
When Harry meets Dumbledore in the mystical King’s Cross Station after Voldemort “killed” him, he is given a choice: move on or return. If Hogwarts were a form of Purgatory, this moment could signify Harry finally reaching the end of his journey, where he must decide whether to accept death or continue existing in a liminal state. Where we saw he chose to live this life and continue his journey in this supposedly Purgatory.
These theories are the most popular theories that were discussed over and over on Reddit and never became old. These theories give the Harry Potter series a new complexity, fans can define the known series in a different light. Readers can see new events from a different angle and find them interesting, making the series an interesting phenomenon. They turn simple plot points into deep philosophical or symbolic ideas, showing how much thought and detail went into J.K. Rowling’s world. Whether or not these theories were intended, they keep the magic alive by encouraging discussion, interpretation, and endless curiosity. And Harry Potter fan theories Reddit has been playing a huge publicity stunt for the Harry Potter series towards the new fans and making them more connected with the series.
