Harry Potter Theory

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.

22 Des 20229min

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.

20 Des 202210min

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.

18 Des 20228min

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.

16 Des 202211min

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.

14 Des 202221min

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.

13 Des 20228min

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.

11 Des 202213min

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.

9 Des 202218min