Mike Windle/Universal Studios/NBC via Getty Images / Reddit
Most of us started reading the Harry Potter series when we were younger and more naive than we are now. There are plenty of things in the books that we maybe didn't quite catch the first time around.
These devoted Harry Potter fans got together to share some of those moments that still leave them a bit baffled and some fan theories that might fix them.
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1. Well Someone Seriously Misjudged The Tone Of The Story
When I was a kid reading the Chamber of Secrets, I had a theory about what was going to happen in the third book that now makes me laugh a lot, so I thought I'd share!
I thought that because Hagrid was expelled in his 3rd year at Hogwarts, and because his name was cleared about opening the Chamber of Secrets in Harry's 2nd year, he was going to continue his third year of education, as an adult student in the 3rd year with Harry and friends lol it wasn't that far-fetched at the time! I thought they were going to fast track him to getting his wand back officially Billy Madison style.
When Hagrid became a teacher in the 3rd year I was so confused... He wasn't allowed to use a wand, but they allowed him to be a teacher? It didn't make a lot of sense! But obviously it worked out in the end haha
That's all I've got, just something funny for you all to think about and maybe come up with some fun or funny ideas of where the plot could have gone from that point.
Mischief Managed.
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2. Oh, Game Animals, Not Game Pieces. Our Bad.
Confession: When I was a kid I didnt really understand what a gamekeeper actually was, and I just assumed that Hagrids sole job was to look after the Quidditch balls.
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3. Was Rowling Trying To Tell Us Malfoy Was A Werewolf And We All Missed It?
I believe that year six Draco was made a werewolf by Greyback and that's why he looked so sick (displaying all the same outward appearances that were used to describe Lupins ailing health) not due to stress. The book was never clear he had the Dark Mark, Harry just assumed, and Hermione was the one that kept insisting they never saw anything and it was dangerous for Harry to assume something like that. I think Draco was threatening the shop keeper with a bit scar on his arm, because the name -of all Death Eaters- he used to intimidate the man was Greyback, notoriously sent out by the Dark Lord to bite people -particularly the children of people- who stand against or fail the Dark Lord. Lucius had failed the Dark Lord in year five in trying to get the prophecy, and I think Draco was punished for it. The DL then assigned Draco that impossible task to try and win back his familys honor. I think he worked in the room of requirement, and on the night of the full moon, when he required it, it was a safe place for him to transform.
On page 321 of the Half Blood Prince, Harrys observation of Draco is interesting. (emphasis bold)
Harry stared at Malfoy. It was not the sucking-up that intrigued him; he had watched Malfoy do that to Snape for a long time. It was the fact that Malfoy did, after all, look a little ill. This was the first time he had seen Malfoy close up for ages; he now saw that Malfoy had dark shadows under his eyes and a distinctly grayish tinge to his skin.Compare this to the description of Remus Lupin in Prisoner of Azkaban on page 185. (again, emphasis bold)Professor Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes…
This, as well as the lengthy explanation Lupin gave at Christmas to Harry about how Greyback punished the children of people he felt insulted or angered by, by biting them…and Narcissas rant about how the Dark Lord is punishing Draco for Lucius mistake and such lead me to great suspicion.Could Draco Malfoy be a Werewolf?
Thats just what I love to think in my head.
Nothing upsets a pureblood family pride more than their only son being a tainted wolf.
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4. We Need This.
Imagine McGonagall giving Hagrid another chance after the war. Imagine his eyes welling up with tears when he gets to exchange his umbrella for a wand. Imagine him sitting eagerly among a class of scared first years.
And he gets his letter from an owl.
And Harry takes him shopping for school in Diagon Alley to return the favor!
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5. Can We Get A GPS Location On Hagrid?
Between Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban, Hagrid's hut seems to change location from really near to the castle to a bit distanced, requiring a longer walk. I know the reason for this is because of a director change, but I was wondering if there were any more plot driven or factual reasons for the change.
When I was reading the books, I was under the impression that his hut was quite a ways away from the castle, along with the Dark Forest (essentially, like PoA forward portrays it). However, watching Sorcerer's Stone an innumerable number of times as a kid has the image of Harry, Hermione, and Ron walking under the cloak to a Hagrid's hut that's just a couple tenths of a mile away from the castle burned into my brain.
Canonically speaking, which is more accurate?
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6. Siriusly Solo
I wonder if Sirius got sent to Azkaban a virgin. He was really young , and there was literally never any mention of anyone he was involved with.
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7. Those Hashtags Are Vicious
How did Harry not realize the handwriting in the Half-Blood Prince's potion book was the same handwriting he had spent five years reading off of a black board?
#BecauseHarry'sAnIdiotThat'sWhy
#ForTheMainCharacterOfSuchAGoodBookSeries
#HeReallyIsAnIdiot
#OohWhat'sThisLongSkinnyBroomstickShapedPackage?
#OHITSABROOMSTICKNOWAY
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8. That Grey Area.
The world isn't split into good people and death eaters.
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9. That Grey Area, Part Deux
I do adore the characters that most would consider good (Hermione, Luna); but the morally grey/controversial characters are definitely my favorites. Characters like Snape, Sirius, Draco and Dumbledore I wouldn't consider to be completely good, but I definitely don't consider any of them bad either. They're flawed and complicated, and I just feel for them so much. Most of these characters get quite a bit of hate from the fandom but I don't even care, I love them.
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10. Ron's Learning Disability
When Ron, frustrated with studying for NEWTs and with Hermiones anxious sixth-year nagging, explains to her what reading is like for him, Hermiones breath catches. Ron, youre dyslexic, she says, softly, and instantly regrets every snide comment shes ever made towards his study habits.
Soon, by asking around, Hermione amasses a list of spells for Ron to try - some stilling the page, some changing the font of books for easy reading, some going after Rons temporal lobe directly.
These help, a little, but not as much as knowing theres a word for why reading is so hard for him. That its normal, that hes not stupid, and that Hermione suddenly helps instead of criticizes, looks for solutions rather than complains, praises instead of gloats.
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11. We totally ship #Harric
"You know the Prefects bathroom on the fifth floor? It's not a bad place for a bath." Can you just imagine if there were people passing by and they heard Cedric saying that to Harry? They'd probably be thinking that they would go to that restroom and make loooooove and then when Cedric died it made sense why Harry was like on top of him and bawling. Because his boyfriend died! OMG That Hogwart's student probably thought they were Sherlock figuring all this sh*t out. I bet all the students shipped them. I bet they called them Harric; the starcrossed champions from Hogwart's.
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12. No Love For Luna
I actually didn't like Luna. While she spent a lot of time criticizing Hermione for being closed minded, she herself completely rejected the idea of scientific process, or the idea of rationality behind evidence based acceptance. Calling someone closed minded for utilizing critical thinking skills is closed minded, and frankly dangerous. Look at how that horn in her house almost got the trio killed because her and her father both refused to see reason. That's not cute, it's ridiculous.
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13. American Re-Writes
Since they changed Philosopher's Stone to Sorcerer's Stone for America, I decided to change the rest since us Americans are too dumb to understand the word philosopher:
Harry Potter and the Whisper Snake Place
Harry Potter and That Mean Jail Man
Harry Potter and The Hot Cup
Harry Potter and The Bird Club
Harry Potter and The Guy With Only Some Blood
Harry Potter and Death
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14. Okay But How Did This Elder Wand Thing Work?
I honestly got really confused at the end about whose wand was which and whose was the elder wand and why that was important. Still confused after watching the movies. Help please.
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15. Early Intervention Could Have Avoided Voldemort
I think that Tom Riddle could have been saved. However, it would have taken early intervention during his developmental years to help him overcome what appears to be a sociopathic nature. I work with kids who don't see people as people all the time and with direct intervention they become decent adults. It wasn't on Dumbledore, Dippet or even Slughorn, although they all could have helped. His loss of humanity was at the feet of the orphanage.
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16. Can's Unsee This Now.
For years I thought Moaning Myrtle was played by Daniel Radcliffe in a wig.
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17. And This Bonus Headcannon From Rowling Herself:
I said to Arthur, my American editor - we had an interesting conversation during the editing of seven - the moment when Harry takes Draco's wand. Arthur said 'God. That's the moment when the ownership of the Elder want is actually transferred?" And I said "That's right."
He said: "Shouldn't that be a bit more dramatic?"
And I said: "No. Not at all. The reverse."
I think it really puts the elaborate, grandiose plans of Dumbledore and Voldemort in their place. That actually the history of the wizarding world hinged on two teenaged boys wrestling with each other. They weren't even using magic. It became an ugly little corner tussle for the possession of wands. And I really liked that - that very human moment, as opposed to these two wizards who were twitching strings and manipulating and implanting information and husbanding information and guarding information, you know? Ultimately it just came down to that, a little scuffle and fistfight in the corner and pulling a wand away. It says a lot about the world at large, I think; about conflict in the world and the difference one individual can make. Always the difference one individual can make.
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Experiencing death is a fascinating and frightening idea.
Who doesn't want to know what is waiting for us on the other side?
But so many of us want to know and then come back and live a little longer.
It would be so great to be sure there is something else.
But the whole dying part is not that great, so we'll have to rely on other people's accounts.
Redditor AlaskaStiletto wanted to hear from everyone who has returned to life, so they asked:
"Redditors who have 'died' and come back to life, what did you see?"
Sensations
Happy Good Vibes GIF by Major League SoccerGiphy"My dad's heart stopped when he had a heart attack and he had to be brought back to life. He kept the paper copy of the heart monitor which shows he flatlined. He said he felt an overwhelming sensation of peace, like nothing he had felt before."
PeachesnPain
Recovery
"I had surgical complications in 2010 that caused a great deal of blood loss. As a result, I had extremely low blood pressure and could barely stay awake. I remember feeling like I was surrounded by loved ones who had passed. They were in a circle around me and I knew they were there to guide me onwards. I told them I was not ready to go because my kids needed me and I came back."
"My nurse later said she was afraid she’d find me dead every time she came into the room."
"It took months, and blood transfusions, but I recovered."
good_golly99
Take Me Back
"Overwhelming peace and happiness. A bright airy and floating feeling. I live a very stressful life. Imagine finding out the person you have had a crush on reveals they have the same feelings for you and then you win the lotto later that day - that was the feeling I had."
"I never feared death afterward and am relieved when I hear of people dying after suffering from an illness."
rayrayrayray
Free
The Light Minnie GIF by (G)I-DLEGiphy"I had a heart surgery with near-death experience, for me at least (well the possibility that those effects are caused by morphine is also there) I just saw black and nothing else but it was warm and I had such inner peace, its weird as I sometimes still think about it and wish this feeling of being so light and free again."
TooReDTooHigh
This is why I hate surgery.
You just never know.
Shocked
Giphy"More of a near-death experience. I was electrocuted. I felt like I was in a deep hole looking straight up in the sky. My life flashed before me. Felt sad for my family, but I had a deep sense of peace."
Admirable_Buyer6528
The SOB
"Nursing in the ICU, we’ve had people try to die on us many times during the years, some successfully. One guy stood out to me. His heart stopped. We called a code, are working on him, and suddenly he comes to. We hadn’t vented him yet, so he was able to talk, and he started screaming, 'Don’t let them take me, don’t let them take me, they are coming,' he was scared and yelling."
"Then he yelled a little more, as we tried to calm him down, he screamed, 'No, No,' and gestured towards the end of the bed, and died again. We didn’t get him back. It was seriously creepy. We called his son to tell him the news, and the son said basically, 'Good, he was an SOB.'”
1-cupcake-at-a-time
Colors
"My sister died and said it was extremely peaceful. She said it was very loud like a train station and lots of talking and she was stuck in this area that was like a curtain with lots of beautiful colors (colors that you don’t see in real life according to her) a man told her 'He was sorry, but she had to go back as it wasn’t her time.'"
Hannah_LL7
"I had a really similar experience except I was in an endless garden with flowers that were colors I had never seen before. It was quiet and peaceful and a woman in a dress looked at me, shook her head, and just said 'Not yet.' As I was coming back, it was extremely loud, like everyone in the world was trying to talk all at once. It was all very disorienting but it changed my perspective on life!"
huntokarrr
The Fog
"I was in a gray fog with a girl who looked a lot like a young version of my grandmother (who was still alive) but dressed like a pioneer in the 1800s she didn't say anything but kept pulling me towards an opening in the wall. I kept refusing to go because I was so tired."
"I finally got tired of her nagging and went and that's when I came to. I had bled out during a c-section and my heart could not beat without blood. They had to deliver the baby and sew up the bleeders. refill me with blood before they could restart my heart so, like, at least 12 minutes gone."
Fluffy-Hotel-5184
Through the Walls
"My spouse was dead for a couple of minutes one miserable night. She maintains that she saw nothing, but only heard people talking about her like through a wall. The only thing she remembers for absolute certain was begging an ER nurse that she didn't want to die."
"She's quite alive and well today."
Hot-Refrigerator6583
Well let's all be happy to be alive.
It seems to be all we have.
Trying to lose weight is a struggle understood by many people regardless of size.
The goal of reaching a healthy weight may seem unattainable, but with diet and exercise, it can pay off through persistence and discipline.
Seeing the pounds gradually drop off can also be a great motivator and incentivize people to stay the course.
Those who've achieved their respective weight goals shared their experiences when Redditor apprenti8455 asked:
"People who lost a lot of weight, what surprises you the most now?"
Redditors didn't see these coming.
Shiver Me Timbers
"I’m always cold now!"
– Telrom_1
"I had a coworker lose over 130 pounds five or six years ago. I’ve never seen him without a jacket on since."
– r7ndom
"140 lbs lost here starting just before COVID, I feel like that little old lady that's always cold, damn this top comment was on point lmao."
– mr_remy
Drawing Concern
"I lost 100 pounds over a year and a half but since I’m old(70’s) it seems few people comment on it because (I think) they think I’m wasting away from some terminal illness."
– dee-fondy
"Congrats on the weight loss! It’s honestly a real accomplishment 🙂"
"Working in oncology, I can never comment on someone’s weight loss unless I specifically know it was on purpose, regardless of their age. I think it kind of ruffles feathers at times, but like I don’t want to congratulate someone for having cancer or something. It’s a weird place to be in."
– LizardofDeath
Unleashing Insults
"I remember when I lost the first big chunk of weight (around 50 lbs) it was like it gave some people license to talk sh*t about the 'old' me. Old coworkers, friends, made a lot of not just negative, but harsh comments about what I used to look like. One person I met after the big loss saw a picture of me prior and said, 'Wow, we wouldn’t even be friends!'”
"It wasn’t extremely common, but I was a little alarmed by some of the attention. My weight has been up and down since then, but every time I gain a little it gets me a little down thinking about those things people said."
– alanamablamaspama
Not Everything Goes After Losing Weight
"The loose skin is a bit unexpected."
– KeltarCentauri
"I haven’t experienced it myself, but surgery to remove skin takes a long time to recover. Longer than bariatric surgery and usually isn’t covered by insurance unless you have both."
– KatMagic1977
"It definitely does take a long time to recover. My Dad dropped a little over 200 pounds a few years back and decided to go through with skin removal surgery to deal with the excess. His procedure was extensive, as in he had skin taken from just about every part of his body excluding his head, and he went through hell for weeks in recovery, and he was bedridden for a lot of it."
– Jaew96
These Redditors shared their pleasantly surprising experiences.
Shopping
"I can buy clothes in any store I want."
– WaySavvyD
"When I lost weight I was dying to go find cute, smaller clothes and I really struggled. As someone who had always been restricted to one or two stores that catered to plus-sized clothing, a full mall of shops with items in my size was daunting. Too many options and not enough knowledge of brands that were good vs cheap. I usually went home pretty frustrated."
– ganache98012
No More Symptoms
"Lost about 80 pounds in the past year and a half, biggest thing that I’ve noticed that I haven’t seen mentioned on here yet is my acid reflux and heartburn are basically gone. I used to be popping tums every couple hours and now they just sit in the medicine cabinet collecting dust."
– colleennicole93
Expanding Capabilities
"I'm all for not judging people by their appearance and I recognise that there are unhealthy, unachievable beauty standards, but one thing that is undeniable is that I can just do stuff now. Just stamina and flexibility alone are worth it, appearance is tertiary at best."
– Ramblonius
People Change Their Tune
"How much nicer people are to you."
"My feet weren't 'wide' they were 'fat.'"
– LiZZygsu
"Have to agree. Lost 220 lbs, people make eye contact and hold open doors and stuff"
"And on the foot thing, I also lost a full shoe size numerically and also wear regular width now 😅"
– awholedamngarden
It's gonna take some getting used to.
Bones Everywhere
"Having bones. Collarbones, wrist bones, knee bones, hip bones, ribs. I have so many bones sticking out everywhere and it’s weird as hell."
– Princess-Pancake-97
"I noticed the shadow of my ribs the other day and it threw me, there’s a whole skeleton in here."
– bekastrange
Knee Pillow
"Right?! And they’re so … pointy! Now I get why people sleep with pillows between their legs - the knee bones laying on top of each other (side sleeper here) is weird and jarring."
– snic2030
"I lost only 40 pounds within the last year or so. I’m struggling to relate to most of these comments as I feel like I just 'slimmed down' rather than dropped a ton. But wow, the pillow between the knees at night. YES! I can relate to this. I think a lot of my weight was in my thighs. I never needed to do this up until recently."
– Strongbad23
More Mobility
"I’ve lost 100 lbs since 2020. It’s a collection of little things that surprise me. For at least 10 years I couldn’t put on socks, or tie my shoes. I couldn’t bend over and pick something up. I couldn’t climb a ladder to fix something. Simple things like that I can do now that fascinate me."
"Edit: Some additional little things are sitting in a chair with arms, sitting in a booth in a restaurant, being able to shop in a normal store AND not needing to buy the biggest size there, being able to easily wipe my butt, and looking down and being able to see my penis."
– dma1965
People making significant changes, whether for mental or physical health, can surely find a newfound perspective on life.
But they can also discover different issues they never saw coming.
That being said, overcoming any challenge in life is laudable, especially if it leads to gaining confidence and ditching insecurities.