New Harry Potter Fan Theory Sweeps the Potterverse

Recently, a new Harry Potter fan theory took center stage in online discussion. We take a look at what this speculation means for the series.

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The Harry Potter series may be over, but that hasn’t stopped fans from concocting new theories to explain some of the goings-on in the Potterverse. One recent theory has taken the internet by storm. Reddit user WippitGuud shared their insights as to what, exactly, happened when Harry sacrificed himself during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Rather than remain satisfied with Dumbledore’s claim that Lily’s love saved Harry from certain death, WippitGuud dissects that explanation and comes up with another. Essentially, this fan’s thought process goes something like this:

Harry did indeed die by Voldemort’s hand in Deathly Hallows. He was then resurrected after his little meet-and-greet with Dumbledore at Purgatory 9¾.
If, as Dumbledore states, Harry had been saved by his mother’s love as he was as an infant, theoretically the curse would have rebounded upon Voldemort again. However, it did not. Instead, Voldemort’s Killing Curse was successful: It left him alive, and Harry (supposedly) dead for good.
In order to destroy the soul of a Horcrux, you must destroy the container. As such, Harry would have had to die in order to kill the Horcrux within him.
The reason Harry didn’t stay dead was because he had united the Deathly Hallows. Thusly, he became Master of the Hallows, and Master of Death.

The theory goes on to state that Dumbledore knew this about Harry but, as per ush, kept the secret to himself, presumably to save Harry from a damning fate. After all, “Master of Death” is a heavy title to carry, especially when you’re already “The Boy Who Lived” and “The Chosen One.” Keeping Harry in the dark certainly isn’t out of the norm for Dumbledore–what with the greater good, and all.

Image via Warner Brothers Pictures

This perspective on Harry’s resurrection is the talk of the online fandom. It’s an interesting take to be sure, but I have to admit… I thought most of us already assumed this about Harry? Perhaps not in the specifics as WippitGuud has outlined them, but it was rather obvious that Harry mastered the Hallows. The Invisibility Cloak was his, the Resurrection Stone had been passed on to him, and he lays claim to the Elder Wand.

But more than that, Harry’s attitude towards death is truly what makes him the master of it. He doesn’t misuse his power over the Hallows. The Cloak is rightfully his, he chooses not to keep the Elder Wand, and he only uses the Stone in his time of need–when he himself is ready to die, and therefore must draw strength from those who have died to save him. He does not attempt to bring Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus back to life. Rather, he calls upon them to guide him to his own death.

Therein lies the real kicker. Like the youngest brother from “The Tale of the Three Brothers,” Harry greets Death readily. He accepts that he must die and he no longer hides from it. Just as the fairytale says, Harry “greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.”

Although not stated explicitly in the final book, it seems apparent that, yes, Harry thwarted Death in his mastery of it. This is hinted at, too, when Harry and Hermione visit Lily and James’ gravestone, which reads, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” The Potter family in its entirety was prepared for death and, as such, their protection lingered over their loved ones. In Harry’s case, his sacrifice was the final step in becoming the Master of the Hallows.

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So while this fan theory is certainly fascinating in all its layers, I can’t hop on the bandwagon that claims this is brand-spanking-new information. All the pieces to the puzzle were laid out in front of us. The picture they created was more or less clear from the outset.

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