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Was Narcissa Malfoy EVIL?

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The wizarding world of Harry Potter is jam-packed with dark witches and wizards. But was Narcissa Malfoy one of them?

When you think of the Malfoys, you likely immediately conjure up an image of Draco Malfoy. The Slytherin student who attended Hogwarts alongside Harry Potter and plotted to kill Professor Albus Dumbledore at the request of Lord Voldemort. You may even turn your mind towards Lucius Malfoy, Draco’s power-hungry father.

However, you likely don’t think of Narcissa Malfoy. A much more secondary character, Narcissa wasn’t present in each and every instalment of the series. But when she did show up, she was pretty nasty.

And yet, some of her choices weren’t all that bad. In fact, it was Narcissa that lied to Voldemort about Harry being alive in the Forbidden Forest, which ultimately led to his triumph over the Dark Lord.

So, what do we really know about Narcissa Malfoy? Who was she? And was she EVIL? Read on to find out!

Everything We Know About Narcissa Malfoy

Who was Narcissa Malfoy?

Narcissa Malfoy was born Narcissa Black, making her a descendent of the proud wizarding family, the House of Black. She took the surname Malfoy when she married Lucius Malfoy. Together they had one son, Draco.

Was the House of Black evil?

Known for their pureblood supremacist views and radical prejudice towards Muggles and mix-blood witches and wizards, many members of the Black family certainly had a reputation for being—well, ya, evil.

Most notably would be Narcissa’s sister, Bellatrix Lestrange, loyal follower of Lord Voldemort and, without a doubt, the MOST evil witch of her time. In a word, Bellatrix was a psychopath.

In addition to Bellatrix, the family raised many other dark witches and wizards throughout the centuries. However, not all members of the House of Black were evil. Sirius Black and his cousin, Andromeda—Narcissa’s sister—were both very tolerant and good people.

Was Lucius Malfoy evil?

A wizard from another pureblood family that highly valued blood lines, Lucius was one of Voldemort’s most loyal Death Eaters. This in itself supports that he was likely evil.

He also did some wicked and terrible things throughout the series. Like trying to frame an 11-year-old Ginny Weasley for reopening the Chamber of Secrets. And beating his house elf, Dobby. Sweet, thoughtful Dobby!

So, yes, Lucius Malfoy was an evil monster.

Does any of this make Narcissa Malfoy evil?

Simply being an immediate relation to someone like Bellatrix Lestrange obviously doesn’t make you evil. Nor does marrying a dark wizard like Lucius. Of course, it doesn’t look good. But it also doesn’t mean that Narcissa was evil herself.

It’s unknown if Narcissa ever took the Dark Mark and became a Death Eater, making the question of whether she was a devoutly dark witch a little more difficult to answer. She was always there supporting Voldemort and his followers, but she never seemed to be the one taking on any missions for him.

And so, was Narcissa Malfoy evil?

Maybe not. Here’s why:

Her actions never seemed to be motivated by evil intent.

Everything Narcissa did was almost always motivated by love for her family, especially her son.

For example, when she called Harry “scum” and threatened to kill him, it was because she blamed him for her husband’s arrest, subsequent imprisonment, and failures. Obviously, this was not the most sane reaction. But at least we can account for why she would’ve said something like that.

Compare that to her sister, Bellatrix, who would say and do cruel and unusual things just because she enjoyed doing so. Again, Bellatrix was a real psychopath.

She chose love for her son over Voldemort.

There’s also the fact that Narcissa was willing to defy Voldemort to protect Draco—this is why she lies to the Dark Lord about Harry’s condition in the Forbidden Forest. She was also willing to share Voldemort’s secret plan to kill Dumbledore with Severus Snape in order to protect her son.

By contrast, most other Death Eaters would have done almost anything Voldemort told them to. Even if it meant putting their family members in danger.

Narcissa Malfoy wasn’t evil, she was just a bitch.

Narcissa was a prejudiced witch with narrow views of the world. BUT she was also a fiercely protective mother and wife.

In this way, her actions to protect her family don’t seem all that different from those of Molly Weasley or Lily Potter. Both of these women were also willing to go to insane lengths to protect their children. Like duel Bellatrix Lestrange or throw themelves in front of the Killing Curse. Narcissa simply expressed herself with a little—okay, a lot—less tolerance for others.

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Why Did Sirius Slash the Portrait of the Fat Lady?

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Sirius Black was Harry Potter’s godfather, James Potter’s best mate, loyal member of the Order of the Phoenix, and all-around good wizard. So, why in the name of Merlin’s beard did he slash the portrait of the Fat Lady in The Prisoner of Azkaban?

The wizard Sirius Black first showed up in the wizarding world of Harry Potter in the third instalment of the series, The Prisoner of Azkaban. And while later in the novel Sirius was able to prove that he was actually a courageous and loyal wizard who had been framed for crimes he didn’t commit, the initial depiction of him was that of a wanted fugitive.

But if Sirius was actually a good wizard, and not a feral murderer, why did he act so violently early on in The Prisoner of Azkaban? In particular, why did he slash the portrait of the Fat Lady that guarded Gryffindor Tower?

Read on for answers to these questions and more!

Everything We Know About Sirius Black in The Prisoner of Azkaban

Who was Sirius Black?

Sirius Black was a British wizard who attended Hogwarts at the same time as Harry Potter’s father, James. He was sorted into Gryffindor, which was an anomaly for a member of the Black family. Almost every other witch or wizard from the House of Black has been sorted into Slytherin.

But Sirius did not subscribe to his family’s prejudice beliefs. Instead, he was a loyal wizard who loved his friends, regardless of their blood status. He even learned the difficult magical skill of becoming an Animagus—a wizard who could transform into an animal counterpart—in order to support his werewolf friend, Remus Lupin.

Yet, in 1981, Sirius was sentenced to life-imprisonment in the wizarding prison of Azkaban.

Why was Sirius sent to Azkaban?

Before Sirius was convicted of his crimes, James and Lily Potter had asked him to be their Secret Keeper in an effort to hide from Lord Voldemort. Believing he would be too obvious a choice, Sirius suggested the Potters choose another friend, Peter Pettigrew, instead. They did. Peter then betrayed the Potters.

Sirius was wrongfully accused of Pettigrew’s crimes and was convicted for the betrayal of James and Lily, as well as the murders of Peter and a group of Muggle bystanders.

How did Sirius escape from Azkaban?

After spending an entire decade in Azkaban, Sirius was able to escape in his Animagus form as a dog. This is because Sirius was an unregistered Animagus. This meant that the Ministry of Magic and the Dementors who guard Azkaban were unaware that Sirius had this ability.

As a dog, he was able to slip by the Dementors undetected.

But why did he slash the Gryffindor portrait?

When Sirius slashed the Fat Lady’s portrait, this act appeared to be proof that he was a dark wizard guilty of his accused crimes. To most people, it looked like he was trying to hunt down Harry and kill him—just like he’d supposedly killed Peter and others.

But as it turns out, Sirius was actually looking for Pettigrew—not Harry. He knew that Peter hadn’t died and that he’d been hiding in HIS Animagus form as a rat for a decade. Peter’s betrayal of their friends, and of himself, had him understandably enraged.

He had also been held prisoner in Azkaban surrounded by soul-sucking Dementors for the last ten years. So, he likely wasn’t in the best frame of mind.

Believing Peter to be hiding inside Gryffindor Tower, Sirius went to look for him. As a former Gryffindor, he knew that the entrance to the tower was behind the Fat Lady. But not being a current student, he wouldn’t have had the password. And the Fat Lady wouldn’t have let him in without it.

Feeling frustrated, somewhat feral, and thoroughly angry, Sirius probably just lost it on the Fat Lady, slashing her portrait and forcing his way inside.

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Major Issues with the Time-Turner in Harry Potter

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Plot holes aplenty! Although Harry Potter is filled with many truly delightful mystical objects, the Time-Turner is simply not one of them.

While the wizarding world of Harry Potter is a work of fiction, the majority of magical artifacts and instruments found within it can be explained by a certain logic. Of course, they’re not meant to truly exist according to Muggle science and what not. Yet, they all seem to follow their own set of rules.

Well, most of them do.

The Time-Turner device is one particular magical object that has created a lot more questions over the years than it has answers. And just when you thought you had it all sorted out, an article would drop on wizardingworld.com that would completely destroy your previous theory.

Which is why, in this article, we’ll be discussing the magical instrument known as the Time-Turner, and the problems associated with such a device. Read on to learn more!

5 Questions About the Time-Turner: ANSWERED

1. What is the Time-Turner?

The Time-Turner shows up for the first time in the third instalment of the Harry Potter series: The Prisoner of Azkaban. It is described as a small hour-glass that can be worn around a witch or wizard’s neck. Throughout the majority of third book, Hermione Granger wears one of these devices.

2. Why does Hermione have a Time-Turner?

As the plot of The Prisoner of Azkaban unfolds, we learn that Hermione has been using the device to travel back in time in order to accomplish a what-should-be-impossible course load. Simply put, she uses time travel to attend multiple classes at the same time. Certainly not what I would’ve used it for—but hey!

3. What issue(s) does the Time-Turner present?

The introduction of the Time-Turner brought up many questions—and potential plot holes.

Of course, the greatest issue presented by the existence of a Time-Turner is the idea that the characters in the series could simply go back in time to “fix” their mistakes or save those who had died.

This led to questions like, “Well, then, why doesn’t Dumbledore, The Order of the Phoenix, or Harry and his friends do that with each threat that comes up in the series?” And even more importantly, questions like, “Why can’t they go back and save Harry’s parents and/or defeat Voldemort?”

4. How were these issues with the Time-Turner resolved?

As it turns out, these issues also became apparent to J.K. Rowling. This is presumably why she shared the following with fans on wizardingworld.com:

“I went far too light-heartedly into the subject of time travel in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. While I do not regret it (Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favourite books in the series), it opened up a vast number of problems for me, because after all, if wizards could go back and undo problems, where were my future plots?

I solved the problem to my own satisfaction in stages. Firstly, I had Dumbledore and Hermione emphasise how dangerous it would be to be seen in the past, to remind the reader that there might be unforeseen and dangerous consequences as well as solutions in time travel. Secondly, I had Hermione give back the only Time-Turner ever to enter Hogwarts. Thirdly, I smashed all remaining Time-Turners during the battle in the Department of Mysteries, removing the possibility of reliving even short periods in the future.”

wizardingworld.com

Rowling also retroactively created restrictions around the use of time travel through the wizardingworld.com’s case of Eloise Mintumble.

According to the site, Eloise was a witch who, in 1899, travelled back to 1402 and became trapped in the past for five days. This case uncovered that a body undergoes dramatic ageing associated with the amount of time travelled, sharing: 

“Now we understand that her body had aged five centuries in its return to the present and, irreparably damaged, she died in St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries shortly after we managed to retrieve her.” 

wizardingworld.com

The article goes on to say that the Department of Mysteries has stated that the longest amount of time that a traveller can safely go back is about five hours.

5. Did this resolve the issues with the Time-Turner?

Somewhat. Unfortunately, the reason for limiting how far back one can travel actually seems to present a small problem when considering Hermione’s use of the Time-Turner.

For, if one ages the amount of time they travel backwards, wouldn’t that mean that each time Hermione went back an hour or two, she would age those extra hours? This wouldn’t be too noticeable at first. But surely, with how frequently she was using it, she may have been looking a bit older by the end of The Prisoner of Azkaban…

In any case, other than this small stipulation, the other problems with the Time-Turner appear to have been reasonably well addressed.

What do yo think? Does the way the Time-Turner work bother you? Or are there any other magical objects that you think are problematic? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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How Did Harry Resist the Imperius Curse?

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As one of the three most evil spells ever invented, the Imperius Curse is dark magic at its most powerful. And yet, a fourth-year wizarding student was able to resist it. How?

Throughout the Harry Potter series, the Boy Who Lived performed many magical feats. From being the youngest Quidditch Seeker at Hogwarts in over 100 years to defeating Lord Voldemort time and time again, Harry was able to accomplish many things most witches and wizards had formerly thought impossible.

Among those achievement was his ability to resist one of the darkest curses known to the wizarding world: the Imperius Curse. But how did he do it?

In this article, we’ll take a look at what the Imperius Curse is, when Harry came up against, and how he was ultimately able to resist it. Read on to learn more!

5 Questions About Harry Potter and the Imperius Curse

1. What is the Imperius Curse?

The Imperius Curse is one of three Unforgivable Curses, which also includes the Cruciatus Curse and the Killing Curse. With the incantation of “Imperio”, this curse allows the witch or wizard casting the spell to control the actions of another person.

Alongside the other two Unforgivable Curses, the Imperius Curse was quite popular for many hundreds of years within the wizarding world, until its eventual ban in the 18th century. With the development of the official governing body, The British Ministry of Magic, these three curses were dubbed “Unforgivable” and made illegal in the year 1717.

2. When was Harry introduced to the Imperius Curse?

Harry and his fellow classmates learned about the Unforgivable Curses during one of their fourth-year Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons.

Professor Mad-Eye Moody—who was actually Barty Crouch Junior in disguise—claimed that Professor Dumbledore had asked him to instruct the class on this topic by performing them for the class. Whether this was true or not, perform the curses he did.

While he chose to demonstrate the Cruciatus Curse and Killing Curse on a spider, he actually performed the Imperius Curse on the students. This was Harry’s first introduction to experiencing the spell.

3. What happened when Professor Moody used the Imperius Curse on Harry?

While at first Harry was susceptible to the effects of the Imperius Curse, by the end of the hour-long lesson, he was able to resist it. This is actually quite astonishing, as many witches and wizards of much greater experience and skill are unable to do so. At the time, Harry was only 14 years old!

4. Was Harry always able to resist the Imperius Curse?

From what we know, yes, he was! For example, near the end of the The Goblet of Fire, Harry once again demonstrated his ability to resist the effects of the Imperius Curse. In this instance, it was the Dark Lord himself who cast the spell—one of the best dark wizards of all time.

5. How exactly did Harry resist the Imperius Curse?

There actually may be a couple explanations as to why Harry was able to resist this particular spell. For starters, the Imperius Curse wasn’t the first Unforgivable Curse that he experienced—and resisted.

As an infant, he was the first known wizard not to die from the Killing Curse. So, since he had already evaded one of the Unforgivable Curses—the most deadly of the three—perhaps he was somewhat conditioned and less susceptible to the effects of the other two. Then again, Harry wasn’t able to resist the Cruciatus Curse, so there’s no concrete proof that this theory holds up.

Rather more likely is the simple fact that Harry was a somewhat rebellious young wizard with a distrust in authority. This can be linked back to his upbringing with his abusive extended family—the Dursleys. He was also incredibly strong willed, a characteristic shown throughout the series in how he would stand up for what he believed to be right, fought for his friends, and took on dangers far beyond his skill level. Combined, these characteristics are likely what allowed him to resist the Imperius Curse, a spell meant to bend the will of others and have them blindly submit to the wishes of the caster.

What are your thoughts? Share why you think Harry was able to resist the Imperius Curse in the comments below!

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Did Snape PLAN for Harry to Find His Potions Textbook?

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Professor Snape HATED Harry Potter. But his feelings for Harry’s mum often motivated him to protect the boy. Is this why Snape’s Potions textbook ended up with Harry in his sixth year at school? Or was it just a happy accident?

From the moment Harry stepped onto the the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it was no secret that Professor Severus Snape hated him.

Much later on, however, Snape shared with Harry that he had kept other feelings hidden. He was—and always had been—in love with Harry’s deceased mum, Lily.

So, despite truly hating Harry, is it possible that Snape planned for him to find his textbook in an effort to protect him? In this article, we take a look at why—or why not—this may have been the case.

Why Snape May Have Left His Textbook for Harry

Alright. So, let’s say that Snape did in fact leave his textbook for Harry to find in an effort to help him. Why would he have done this? To protect him, yes. But what would he have been trying to accomplish?

Because if the past was any indication, it certainly wasn’t to help Harry get better marks in Potions…

Reason: To Assist Dumbledore in Getting the Truth Out of Slughorn

Throughout the series, Dumbledore constantly seemed to be working an angle. So, maybe Professor Dumbledore simply asked Snape to give Harry his old text in an effort to execute yet another plan.

And which plan would that be, exactly? The one to entrench Harry into Horace Slughorn’s inner circle of “pet” students, of course! You know, so that he could uncover the truth about what the Professor had told Tom Riddle about Horcruxes decades before.

Think about how much effort Dumbledore put into convincing the former Hogwarts’ Potions Master to return to his old position. Dumbledore knew how much Slughorn loved teaching impressive students. So, he went out of his way to pick up THE Harry Potter before going to offer him the teaching position. He basically dangled The Boy Who Lived like a carrot in front of the old wizard. And it worked.

Once Slughorn agreed to come back to Hogwarts, Dumbledore then wanted to give Harry every advantage of succeeding in getting the truth about Tom Riddle out of him. And knowing how masterful a potions student Severus Snape was in his youth, perhaps Dumbledore requested that Severus leave his old textbook in a place that Harry could find.

Considering the great lengths and sacrifices that Severus later made at the request of Dumbledore—such as killing him—leaving his old textbook for Harry to find really doesn’t seem like that big of an ask, does it?

The following interaction between Snape and Harry supports the idea that Severus knew Harry had his old textbook:

“This is your copy of Advanced Potion-Making, is it, Potter?”
“Yes,” said Harry, still breathing hard.
“You’re quite sure of that, are you, Potter?”
“Yes,” said Harry, with a touch more defiance.
“This is the copy of Advanced Potion-Making that you purchased from Flourish and Blotts?”
“Yes,” said Harry firmly.

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

With even a quick glance at the textbook, Snape most certainly would have recognized his old textbook and all of its annotations. So, if he wasn’t in on it, why wouldn’t he have punished Harry for cheating? After all, he loved punishing Harry for much less!

Why Harry Finding the Textbook May Have Been an Accident

Now, on the other hand, the idea that Snape did not purposefully leave his textbook for Harry can also be explained quite simply.

Reason: Slughorn Was a Bit Absentminded

In terms of the textbook, remember that Professor Slughorn distractedly rummaged through a random cupboard to grab Harry and Ron old copies of the Potions text.

Perhaps, Slughorn, who was taking over the position from Snape, had simply been moving his stuff into the classroom and came across some previously used textbooks. Without really looking at them, he then offered the texts to students like Harry who were without a book at the beginning of term.

But when Snape was the Potions Master, these textbooks were probably kept under lock and key. So, if Snape had still been the Professor in that classroom, it’s rather unlikely that these books would have been available for student use. And Harry never would have ended up with Severus’ old textbook.

What do you think? Did Snape leave the textbook for Harry on purpose? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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What Did Voldemort Do for 10 YEARS After His FIRST Defeat?

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Over a decade passed between the end of Voldemort’s first rise to power and the beginning of his second reign of terror. Here’s everything the Dark Lord did during those many years in between.

As a young wizard, Tom Riddle did many dark and horrifying things—many of which are well documented. Then, as Voldemort, his actions became absolutely infamous within the wizarding world. Everyone knew his name—and feared speaking it aloud.

But after the Dark Lord disappeared in 1981, and before he officially returned in 1995, there is much mystery surrounding where he was and what he was doing.

Keep reading to find out what exactly happened to Voldemort in the decade that took place between his fall in the early ’80s and his triumphant return in the mid-90s.

A Timeline of Voldemort’s “Missing” Decade

Lord Voldemort from 1981 to 1989

After he disappeared on the night of October 31, 1981, in the wake of his failed attempt to murder a baby Harry Potter, not much is known about where he was or what he did. But what we do know is that Voldemort developed a close bond and relationship with Nagini, the serpent Maledictus.

Since Nagini was living in the forests of Albania during that time, it’s believed that there too resided the Dark Lord throughout the majority of the ’80s. Here he remained for years without a body, only able to survive due to the multiple Horcruxes that he had created during the 1970s.

Existing as neither a living creature nor a ghost, it’s rumoured that Voldemort would experiment on the local animals, trying to inhabit their bodies. Sadly, these hosts were unable to survive the experience of being possessed by the Dark Lord for very long and would quickly die.

Some believe, however, that since Nagini had the mind of a witch, she was able to withstand Voldemort’s presence within her body. This may actually account for the pair’s incredible bond.

Perhaps, the two were able to communicate with one another whenever Voldemort possessed her body—a theory made even more plausible by the fact that he could speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes.

The Dark Lord from 1990 to 1995

In 1990, a tragically optimistic Professor Quirrell came to the forests of Albania in search of first-hand experience with the Dark Arts.

The rumour goes that he was trying to find out what had happened to Voldemort, which he did. Sadly, this discovery is what eventually led to the Professor’s demise.

Upon finding Voldemort’s shadowy form in the jungle, Quirrell was quickly possessed by the Dark Lord. Voldemort then forced Quirrell to bring him back to the UK.

Right before Harry’s first year at Hogwarts in 1991, Voldemort had Quirrell attempt to steal the Philosopher’s Stone from Gringotts—but he failed. Quirrell was then defeated by Harry at Hogwarts later that school year.

Over the next few years, Voldemort committed more murders, including Bertha Jorkins, and began to rally his most trusted Death Eaters behind him. His murder of Bertha Jorkins enabled him to create another Horcrux of Nagini.

Voldemort then finally regained his body and officially began his second rise to power in 1995, at the end of the rigged Triwizard Tournament.

Did I miss any important milestones that took place between Voldemort’s two ascents to power? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

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How Did Wormtail Stay Transfigured for YEARS?

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Peter Pettigrew—former Marauder and friend, turned traitorous Death Eater—managed to STAY transfigured for many years without changing back to his human form. But how was he able to do this for as long as he did?

Peter Pettigrew, known by those closest to him as Wormtail, attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1970s at the same time as Harry Potter’s father, James.

As both Peter and James were in Gryffindor House together, the pair—alongside Sirius Black and Remus Lupin—became inseparable friends. The four housemates even came up with a name for their little gang: The Marauders.

But after years of friendship, Wormtail betrayed James and his wife Lily, and framed Sirius for his crimes. He then went into hiding as a RAT for the next decade.

How did Wormtail manage this? Keep reading to find out!

The 12-Year Transfiguration of Wormtail: EXPLAINED

How did Peter Pettigrew transfigure himself into a rat?

Peter “Wormtail” Pettigrew didn’t actually TRANSFIGURE himself into a rodent. Instead, he was what the wizarding world calls an Animagus.

You see, in addition to all the mischief the Marauders got up to during their time at Hogwarts, they also worked diligently to support Remus Lupin with his condition as a werewolf. They did this by becoming Animagi, wizards who are able to transition back and forth between their human form and the form of a specific animal.

Aside from Remus, whose monthly transformations into a werewolf were outside of his control, the Marauders gained the ability to transition into the following animals:

  • James Potter – A stag the friends called Prongs.
  • Sirius Black – A dog the friends called Padfoot.
  • Peter Pettigrew – A rat the friends called Wormtail.

Why did Wormtail transform into a rat and disappear?

When Peter betrayed the secret location of the Potter family to Lord Voldemort in 1981, it led to James and Lily’s deaths. A bereaved Sirius then went to confront Wormtail, as Black was the first—and only—person to discover the truth about what Peter had done.

To avoid blame and imprisonment, Wormtail faked his own death and framed Black for his murder. Peter did this by cutting off his thumb, turning into his Animagus form and simply disappearing.

How did Peter Pettigrew get away with murder?

Peter was able to get away with blaming Sirius for his death and other crimes because no one—except the Marauders—knew he could turn into a rat. That and he left his severed thumb at the scene with a devastated and disoriented Sirius.

Since Animagi are legally required to register with the Ministry of Magic, and the Marauders never did, Peter was essentially untraceable. No one knew that Peter could transform into a rat except for James, who died, Sirius, who was charged as a criminal, and Remus, who was still keeping his status as a werewolf quiet.

So, no one thought to look for Peter as a rat. Not to mention that everyone thought he was dead.

How did he stay in his rat form for so many years?

Peter was able to live exclusively as a rat for over a decade because there aren’t any restrictions on how long one can remain in their Animagus form. In fact, even if a witch or wizard decided to live out the rest of their life as their animal self, their life expectancy would still be human.

Basically, it’s not harmful at all for an Animagus to stay in their animal form for as long as they want!

Do you have any thoughts on Wormtail’s decade as a rat? Share them in the comments below!

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Why Didn’t Dumbledore Tell Harry About Basilisk Fangs?

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Dumbledore didn’t share his knowledge about Basilisk fangs with Harry before he died. And yet, this information could’ve made things much easier for Harry, Ron and Hermione as they attempted to knock off Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

There are many things that Professor Albus Dumbledore did throughout Harry’s time at Hogwarts that people don’t really understand.

From his mysterious absences from Hogwarts when students needed him most to hiring a few really questionable professors, Dumbledore made some pretty terrible choices over the years. And yet, most of the worst decisions that he ever made all seemed to revolve around Harry.

While this article won’t focus on Dumbledore’s bigger Harry-related blunders—like, say, “raising him like a pig for slaughter” and never telling him—we will be taking a look at why he kept an important secret from him. Namely, how Basilisk fangs could have helped him in his mission to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes.

Read on to find out more!

What Is a Basilisk?

A Basilisk is essentially a giant, deadly snake. Sometimes referred to as the King of Serpents, this enormous reptilian creature was first bred by the Dark Wizard, Herpo the Foul.

Most Basilisks have the ability to live up to 900 years old, although it’s said that Salazar Slytherin’s Basilisk, which guarded the Chamber of Secrets, was closer to 1,000 years in age.

These creatures were green in colour with impenetrable scales and could grow up to 15 metres in length. As they were basically giant snakes, witches and wizards who knew Parseltongue could communicate with them.

In addition to being enormous, Basilisks had the ability to kill people with their stare, and petrify those who came into their peripheral vision. They also had rows of incredibly sharp, poisonous fangs, which were good for more than just eating its victims.

Dumbledore’s Secret About Basilisk Fangs

The secret Dumbledore knew but kept from Harry? The venon in Basilisk fangs have the ability to destroy Horcruxes.

Why did Dumbledore keep this secret from Harry?

The answer to this question is likely two-fold:

  1. Dumbledore gave Harry an alternative weapon to destroy Horcruxes
  2. He didn’t want to risk Voldemort finding out that Harry knew about the Horcruxes

1. Dumbledore gave Harry an alternative weapon

Since he left Godric Gryffindor’s sword to Harry upon his death, Dumbledore likely felt that this was enough of a weapon to help him and his friends take down the remaining Horcruxes.

It’s worth mentioning that the Sword of Gryffindor was only able to destroy Horcruxes since it had absorbed venom from the Basilisk in the The Chamber of Secrets when Harry killed the beast with the sword. But, in any case, Dumbledore knew that it would enable Harry to destroy additional Horcruxes.

2. He didn’t want to risk Voldemort finding out the plan

The second part of this close-held secret is that Dumbledore didn’t want to reveal his plan to defeat Voldemort, in case the information got into the wrong hands.

This is supported by the fact that he never explained to Harry what he was meant to do with the Sword of Gryffindor, imbued with Basilisk blood. If he had, the Minister for Magic—who delivered and observed the opening of the items left for Harry by the deceased Headmaster—would’ve become privy to the plan. While maybe not the most dangerous wizard to learn about Harry’s quest to destroy Horcruxes, this information very easily could have then gotten back to Voldemort.

As it were, Voldemort didn’t realize until much later that Harry, Ron and Hermione knew about his Horcruxes and were hunting them down.

And so, the former Headmaster likely assumed that Harry would be able to determine that the Sword was significant to defeating Voldemort in some way. After all, it was a rather eccentric gift to give a student. Never mind that the Sword didn’t even belong to Dumbledore and was not his to give away…

Should Dumbledore have risked telling Harry about the Basilisk fangs and their ability to destroy Horcruxes? Or was he justified in keeping it a secret? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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The Most Powerful Bloodline in Harry Potter: Dumbledore’s Relation to Merlin

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Albus Dumbledore was one of the most celebrated wizards of his time. But, in addition to his many accolades, was he also a descendent of the great and powerful Merlin?

Other than being the most prominent and well-loved Headmaster to ever grace the hallowed halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore was also one of the most powerful and respected wizards of his time.

Considering his success, intelligence and abilities, it’s not hard to image that he could be related to other, equally as brilliant wizards from centuries long ago. Someone like the 6th-century’s Merlin, the wizard who is most famous for his adventures and involvement with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

But with hundreds and hundreds of years between these two prolific wizards, is it even POSSIBLE for them to be related? Let’s take a look.

3 Facts Supporting that Dumbledore Is Related to Merlin

FACT #1: It’s possible through Albus Dumbledore’s ancestry

Born in the summer of 1881 in the wizarding village of Mould-on-the-Wold, Albus was the eldest child of Percival and Kendra Dumbledore.

Considering the rumours about Kendra Dumbledore being a Muggle-born, it is quite unlikely that she was a descendent of the wizard Merlin. This means, that Albus was not related to Merlin on his maternal side.

Albus’ father, Percival, on the other hand, came from an English pureblood or half-blood wizarding family, meaning that it is possible for HIS family lineage to be connected to Merlin.

FACT #2: Wizarding world Merlin is not the same as Arthurian Merlin

Much of the Arthurian Legends about Merlin do not align with the Merlin as described in the wizarding world of Harry Potter.

This means that everything we know about the Merlin of Camelot cannot be broadly applied to the wizarding world’s version of Merlin. Why? Because they are clearly two different people.

The is best proven by the fact that the two Merlins existed centuries years apart, within their respective narrative worlds.

Arthurian Merlin lived around the 500s

According to the legends and texts, the Merlin known within the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table lived within the early 6th century.

Wizarding world Merlin lived around the 1,000s

The Merlin of the wizarding world, however, lived much later—likely around the 1,000s. This is supported by the fact that Merlin was a well-known Slytherin pupil at Hogwarts—an institution which didn’t exist until the 10th century.

And, as he would’ve been only 11 when he first began his studies there, he clearly hadn’t been alive before Hogwarts’ founding in the 900s.

There’s also the fact that the Order of Merlin, a designation awarded “for acts of outstanding bravery or distinction in magic”, was created in the 1400s. This would’ve been almost a century after Camelot’s Merlin lived.

It seems a lot more likely that the Order of Merlin was created in homage to a more recent wizarding figure—Merlin, the Slytherin.

FACT #3: There are no coincidences in Harry Potter

With the previous two facts, you can see that it is indeed possible for Dumbledore and Merlin to be related within the context of the wizarding world. And, with all the coincidences that surround these two wizards, it actually seems probable.

For example, the Order of Merlin designation mentioned earlier, was awarded to Dumbledore for defeating the Dark Wizard, Grindelwald. And, not just the Order of Merlin—but the much rarer Order of Merlin, First Class.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that every recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class was related to Merlin himself. But, it certainly seems quite coincidental that the highest achievement within the wizarding world, which was bestowed upon Dumbledore, was also an honour created in recognition of Merlin himself.

There’s also the interesting coincidence of Albus’ father’s name, Percival. Percival just so happens to be the name of one of the knights of the Round Table in Arthurian Legend.

Fact or Coincidence?

While there is very little evidence to support that Albus Dumbledore was a descendant of Merlin, there are so many coincidences, that it seems like a strong possibility.

After all, the wizarding world of Harry Potter offers very few true coincidences. Rather, it seems more likely that each of these examples are little clues meant to indicate a connection between the two wizards. One that goes beyond their magical accomplishments and reputations.

What about you? Do you think Dumbledore is related to Merlin? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Is Butterbeer…ALCOHOLIC?

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How much alcohol—if any, at all—is in this magical drink served to witches and wizards, young and old, in the Harry Potter series?

I’ll start off today’s topic by acknowledging that the Butterbeer served at Universal’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter does NOT have any alcohol in it.

Whether you order it hot, cold, or frozen (all of which you can do, by the way), it will be completely devoid of any alcohol. Presumably, this is so that children of all ages who are visiting the park can participate in the enjoyment of this famous magical drink.

As for the books, we’re first introduced to the idea of this delicious-sounding beverage in The Prisoner of Azkaban, when Harry Potter and his friends first venture to the wizarding village of Hogsmeade.

For the purposes of this article, it’s the latter Butterbeer, the one depicted within the novels and films, that we’ll be focusing on. Read on to learn more!

Your Every Question About Butterbeer: ANSWERED

What is Butterbeer?

Butterbeer is a common drink in the wizarding world that’s “a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch” but in beverage form.

Where do you get Butterbeer from?

From what we know, Butterbeer is served in various bar-like establishment within the wizarding world, such as:

  • The Three Broomsticks
  • Hog’s Head
  • The Leaky Cauldron

How is Butterbeer served?

Typically, Butterbeer is served in foaming hot mugs or in cold bottles.

How much does Butterbeer cost?

At the Hog’s Head, customers pay two silver Sickles for a Butterbeer, which is about £0.60. It’s unclear whether this is the standard rate for the drink, or just the Hog’s Head price.

It’s also up for debate whether or not the price differs depending on if you order the drink hot or cold.

Does Butterbeer have ALCOHOL in it?

It’s widely believed that Butterbeer is alcoholic—but only slightly, since witches and wizards of all ages consume the beverage. This includes students visiting Hogsmeade from Hogwarts, who—throughout the Harry Potter series—often buy the drink while in town.

Although the alcohol content of Butterbeer is never explicitly stated, we’re certainly led to believe that there’s some sort of substance in it. For example, in The Half-blood Prince, there’s a quote that suggests that witches and wizards may experience affects from drinking it…

“Harry supposed he would just have to wait to see what happened under the influence of Butterbeer in Slughorn’s dimly lit room on the night of the party.”

Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince

Another piece of evidence supporting that there’s possibly alcohol in Butterbeer is the following interaction between Harry and Dobby in The Goblet of Fire:

“Winky is getting through six bottles a day now,” Dobby whispered to Harry.
“Well, it’s not strong, that stuff,” Harry said.
But Dobby shook his head. “‘Tis strong for a house-elf, sir,” he said.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

So, clearly, there’s something in Butterbeer. That said, it’s possible that whatever it is is not alcohol at all—but something else entirely.

It could be that Butterbeer is made with a substance that’s more magical in SPIRIT than alcohol. (See what I did there?) What exactly that may be is anyone’s guess!

If Butterbeer IS indeed alcoholic, I’d wager it’s in the realm of non-alcoholic beer at 0.5% or so. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comment below!

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