Harry Potter – CinemaFlux

In The Order of the Phoenix, the prim, proper and completely evil Professor Dolores Umbridge got herself captured and dragged off by a herd of Centaurs. But what happened to her after?!

Dolore Umbridge was a psychotic witch who revelled in the superiority of her fabricated magical background. Although of half-blood descent with a Squib for a brother, she pretended to be of pure-blood lineage and took it upon herself to look down on those she felt were “less than”.

While much of her prejudiced was reserved for other witches and wizards, she also harboured ill-will towards magical creatures who she believed to be subordinate to herself—like Centaurs.

So, despite the fact that the Centaurs who inhabited the Forbidden Forest mostly left the students and faculty of Hogwarts alone, Dolores found herself in an altercation with these creatures near the end of The Order of the Phoenix.

But what in Merlin’s Beard happened to her after they took her away? In this article, we’ll look into the events that led to Professor Umbridge entering the Forbidden Forest, being carried off by Centaurs, and what the herd might have done with her next.

How did Professor Umbridge end up in the Forbidden Forest?

At the time of Dolores’ abduction in The Order of the Phoenix, Professor Umbridge had in fact become Headmistress Umbridge. This was the result of members of the Ministry of Magic—like herself—working hard to defame Albus Dumbledore and discredit his assertions that Voldemort had risen again to power.

As the acting Headmistress, she was able to wield power over the student body in horrifying ways. For example, earlier in The Order of the Phoenix she forced Harry to write out “I must not tell lies”, with the letters magically carving themselves into his skin as he wrote out the statement, again and again.

Right before heading to the Forbidden Forest, she was once again threatening to torture Harry—this time with the Cruciatus Curse. In order to stop her, Hermione pretended that they had hidden away a secret weapon in the forest.

Of course, Dolores couldn’t resist the temptation of uncovering this secret weapon, and demanded that the students take her there.

How did Dolores Umbridge get captured by Centaurs?

Accompanying Harry and Hermione into the woods, the small group came upon a herd of Centaurs. Being an obnoxiously prejudiced witch, Umbridge unwisely insulted the herd, telling them that they were “creatures of near-human intelligence” and “’filthy half-breeds”.

The Centaurs got angry, grabbed her and carried her off…

“Over the plunging, many-coloured backs and heads of the centaurs Harry saw Umbridge being borne away through the trees by Bane, still screaming nonstop; her voice grew fainter and fainter until they could no longer hear it over the trampling of hooves surrounding them.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

What happened to her after her capture?

It’s unknown what exactly happened to Umbridge after she was taken by the Centaurs, before she was ultimately saved by Albus Dumbledore.

However, despite her rough capture, it’s unlikely that any physical distress or torture befell Umbridge, since she was altogether unharmed upon her release. She was probably just scared senseless in an effort by the Centaurs to prove that they did not exist simply to serve wizardkind.

This seems all the more likely based on what one of the Centaurs said to Hermione when she tried to reason with him after they’d taken Umbridge:

“We are an ancient people who will not stand wizard invasions and insults! We do not recognise your laws, we do not acknowledge your superiority.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

To put it simply, they were pissed off and trying to prove a point.

So, with that in mind, it’s likely that Umbridge was probably held captive, bound and not provided with food or comforts of any kind, but was then rescued pretty quickly by Dumbledore.

Keep Reading

All Posts

Poltergeists Explained

By Kara S. June 20, 2024 All Posts

Of all the mystical and magical apparitions that go, “BOO!” in the wizarding world of Harry Potter, none are quite so mischievous as the prank-loving spirits known as poltergeists.

For anyone who’s familiar with the Harry Potter series, you’ve likely heard the name Peeves. A rather mischievous poltergeist, he made his first introduction within the franchise shortly after Harry initially arrived at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Peeves then remained a rather un-silent presence throughout the rest of both the books and films, bobbing around obnoxiously in the background .

But what exactly was Peeves? A poltergeist, yes. But what is a poltergeist? For, this kind of apparition is much more than simply a ghost. Read on to find out!

Everything You Need to Know About Poltergeists

What is a poltergeist?

Poltergeists are defined as typically destructive, noisy apparitions who are often responsible for physical disturbances like throwing objects from one side of the room to the other.

How is a poltergeist different from a ghost?

In terms of comparing poltergeists to ghosts, the two beings—at least in the wizarding world—differ in a number of ways. This includes:

Mortality status:Poltergeists are neither living nor dead, whereas ghosts are the spirits of people who have passed on.
Physical interactions: Ghosts are incorporeal, meaning they can’t touch you or move things about. Poltergeists, on the other hand, are able to throw objects and make quite the ruckus.
Reasons for being:It’s believed that many ghosts are unable to pass on into the afterlife due to unfinished business in the world of the living. Poltergeists are here just to make mischief.

Poltergeists in modern history

Outside of the wizarding world of Harry Potter, poltergeists are sometimes described as “ghosts” or simply supernatural beings.

In many tales of old—or even a certain 1980s horror film—poltergeists are not represented as having a physical manifestation of their being. This suggests that people who experience a poltergeist usually can’t see them—they can just hear them. Which makes sense, as the etymology of the word “poltergeist” can be traced to the German words “poltern”, which means “to make noise”, and “geist”, meaning “ghost” or “spirit”.

Poltergeists in Harry Potter

In terms of Harry Potter, however, a poltergeist is viewed as something a little different.

Not dead, but not alive

Described as neither dead nor alive, a poltergeist has never truly lived in the way a human or ghost has. Rather, poltergeists have been defined by wizardingworld.com as a “Non-Human Spiritous Apparition”, and are classified as such alongside other strange magical creatures like the Boggart.

The fact that poltergeists have never been alive indicates that they are amortal, meaning they have never lived nor died and are unable to die now.

It’s not entirely known whether or not they can feel pain, but they certainly are incapable of getting injured.

Ghostlike appearances

For the most part, they are typically ghostlike in appearance and behaviour. However, the varied descriptions and experiences with poltergeists reveal just how little is really known about these beings.

Long-term inhabitants

Poltergeists typically inhabit a location for a substantial period of time. Many believe it’s impossible to expel this type of spirit and often experience quite a lot of difficulty in controlling them.

It is said that Peeves has haunted Hogwarts castle for as long as anyone can remember. He is considered “the most notorious and troublesome poltergeist in British history”, according to wizardingworld.com.

Keep Reading

All Posts

Why Didn’t Voldemort Realize Harry Was a Horcrux?

By Kara S. June 14, 2024 All Posts

The Dark Lord was one of the most powerful wizards of all time, and the first to make multiple Horcruxes. So, how did he not realize that he’d made Harry into one?

Horcruxes are, of course, one of the darkest bits of magic known to the wider wizarding world. In fact, they are considered to be so dark and dangerous that teaching on the subject has been banned at Hogwarts for years, with even the Restricted Section of the Library barely acknowledging their existence.

What’s a Horcrux and How Is It Made?

From what we know, a Horcrux is made by murdering an innocent victim without regret. This horrendous act allows the killer to rip a piece of their soul from their body and place it into an inanimate object or living host.

The theory is that if the killer were to die themselves, the Horcrux would survive, rendering that person immortal.

The actual ritual of creating a Horcrux is rather unknown.

Top 3 Reasons Voldemort Didn’t Realize Harry Was a Horcrux

1. Voldemort Didn’t Perform a Ritual

There are many theories abounding on the internet as to what the ritual of creating a Horcrux involves. But, regardless of exactly what takes place, the fact remains that there is a ritual. This is likely one of the main reasons that Voldemort never realized Harry was a Horcrux, since he never intentionally performed one.

2. There Was a Lack of Intent

When Voldemort inadvertently made Harry into a Horcrux he was simply intending to murder him. He was definitely NOT trying to make a Horcrux.

So, without the intention of creating a Horcrux and in the absence of the required ritual, why would Voldemort even consider that Harry had been made into a one?

3. Voldemort Was Blinded by Rage

In addition to the reasons above, Voldemort was also so driven by rage towards Harry that he was likely blinded to the idea. The fact that a baby and his mother’s self-sacrifice were able to defeat him was probably more than he could handle. So, perhaps, he refused to think about it.

Plus, how much more enraged would he have been if he’d realized that, in an attempt to kill Harry, he’d accidentally stored a piece of himself inside of the boy.

If Voldemort Didn’t Mean to Make a Horcrux, How’d It Happen?

There are a few different possible answers here. One theory regarding the ritual of making a Horcrux is that the killer must give up a piece of their own mortal body. Since Voldemort’s Killing Curse bounced back at him after Lily Potter sacrificed her own life for her son’s, it’s possible that the Dark Lord did lose a body part—or several—upon impact of the curse.

After all, what remained of Voldemort was only a shadow version of himself. Which stands to reason that his body was destroyed—giving up not just a part of himself, but his entire self.

If we also consider that Voldemort murdered Lily without remorse, the result very well could’ve been—and, in actual fact, WAS—the accidental making of a Horcrux.

Keep Reading

All Posts

Why Did Quirrell Join Voldemort?

By Kara S. June 13, 2024 All Posts

Quirinus Quirrell was no Death Eater, so why did this timid and rather innocent-looking professor join Voldemort and attempt to kill a young Harry Potter?

During the latter half of the 20th century, the Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA) teaching position at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was somewhat cursed. And, indeed, as Harry made his way through school, he had a new professor for this particular subject each and every year.

Harry met his first-ever DADA Professor, Quirinus Quirrell, in The Philosopher’s Stone during his initial journey to Diagon Alley. During this little expedition, Hagrid and Harry stopped in at the popular wizarding pub known as The Leaky Cauldron. It was here that a timid man introduced himself to Harry as Professor Quirrell.

Described as a wizard full of nerves, with an incredibly pronounced stammer, Quirrell did not appear to be someone who was out to harm children. Nor did he look like a wizard who had been recruited by the Dark Lord.

So, how exactly did Quirrell come to do Voldemort’s bidding? Read on to find out!

How Quirrell Came to Join Lord Voldemort

From what we know, Quirrell was quite a shy person throughout his entire life, including his time as a student at Hogwarts. It’s even believed that he was targeted and mistreated by his peers for his nervousness.

And so, as a young man, Quirrell set out to prove to those around him that he mattered. In this manner, he began a “Grand Tour” of the world.

A Grand Tour Focused on the Dark Arts

It’s rumoured that Quirrell’s tour of the world had a particular interest. A theoretical curiosity in how the Dark Arts worked. Evidently, he believed a pursuit of knowledge in this area would allow him to become an accomplished and more confident wizard.

During Quirrell’s travels, as he searched for answers about the Dark Arts, many people think that he was specifically looking to uncover what had become of Lord Voldemort. Apparently, he believed that this would really show those who doubted him that he could do extraordinary things.

In fact, according to wizardingworld.com:

“Quirrell set out deliberately to find whatever remained of the Dark wizard, partly out of curiosity, partly out of that unacknowledged desire for importance. At the very least, Quirrell fantasised that he could be the man who tracked Voldemort down, but at best, might learn skills from Voldemort that would ensure he was never laughed at again.”

A Complete Underestimation of Voldemort’s Remaining Power

Sadly for Quirrell, he greatly underestimated how powerful Voldemort would be, even in his shadow state. So, when Quirrell at last came upon what remained of the Dark Lord in the forests of Albania, the young professor was overtaken—and rather easily at that.

The rumour goes that Voldemort, in realizing that Quirrell would be returning to Hogwarts as a teacher, possessed Quirrell’s body.

Puppeted and Possessed by the Dark Lord

From there, Quirrell’s actions were largely determined by Voldemort, whose evil soul was much stronger than the feeble—albeit talented—mind of the Professor.

So, as it happens, Quirrell never actually “joined” Voldemort. Rather, the professor was subjugated by Voldemort against his will. And, in the end, Quirrell’s search for greatness resulted in his untimely death.

Keep Reading

All Posts

Why Can’t You Say Voldemort’s Name?

By Kara S. June 7, 2024 All Posts

The first time the evil wizard who murdered Harry’s family was introduced in the series, it was not as “Voldemort”—or even the “Dark Lord”—but as “You Know Who” and “He Who Must Not Be Named”.

In discovering that he was a wizard, Harry began to untangle the truth behind what had happened to his parents. They had not died in a car crash, as he aunt and uncle had told him. But, instead, had been murdered by one of the darkest wizards to have ever lived.

Voldemort.

But in the conversations that followed regarding this particular wizard, Harry quickly learned that no one referred to this most evil of wizards by his actual name.�

As one of—if not THE—darkest and most evil wizard of all time, being afraid of Voldemort made plenty of sense. The man was absolutely terrifying. Even before his appearance began to resemble that of a snake. He murdered A LOT of people—Muggles and magical folks alike. Sometimes he killed in his attempt to become immortal. Other times he took lives because he just seemed to enjoy it.

So, to be afraid of the Dark Lord was, of course, completely understandable. But why in Merlin’s beard were people so afraid of his NAME? Read on to find out.

Why Witches and Wizards Wouldn’t Say “Voldemort”

Reason #1: Historical superstition supported this practice

It’s possible that people were afraid to say Voldemort’s name because of certain European folklore. In stories of old, not just in Britain, there are many fairy tales and accounts of vengeful or evil spirits who are said to appear at the mention of their name.

One popular tale that you’ve likely heard of is that of Bloody Mary. As the legend goes, this spirit will appear if a person repeats her name over and over again in front of a mirror.

And so, it’s rather likely that it was in this tradition that witches and wizards were wary about saying Voldemort’s name out loud. Perhaps they believed him to be so powerful that if they were to say his name, he would be conjured right before their very eyes.

Reason #2: He eventually put a Taboo curse on his name

Later in the Harry Potterseries, the wizarding world began to embrace the use of Voldemort’s name again. This gave rise to witches and wizards taking the power back that the Dark Lord had once held over them. And as Voldemort began his second rise to power, he became aware this.

He clearly did not appreciate it.

In response, the Dark Lord gave people a REAL reason to be afraid of saying his name out loud, putting a Taboo Curse on “Voldemort”. This enabled his army of Death Eaters to locate any witch or wizard who uttered the name “Voldemort” aloud.

So, in conclusion, it would appear that a combination of superstition and real danger seem to be what contributed to the wizarding world being so afraid of saying the Dark Lord’s name!

Keep Reading

All Posts

Have Wizards Been to Space?

By Kara S. June 6, 2024 All Posts

Considering magical society’s teachings in astronomy, it’s entirely possible that the wizarding world also has an interest in visiting space. Of course, whether or not they have, is an entirely different question.

Aside from a brief explanation that witches and wizards are able to fly a broom into low orbit around the Earth, there was only ever one mention of witches or wizards travelling to space in Harry Potter.

This instance was referenced in an edition of The Quibbler, the wizarding tabloid run by Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna’s father. As Harry flipped through this particular issue, he briefly read about “an interview with a wizard who claimed to have flown to the moon on a Cleansweep Six and brought back a bag of moon frogs to prove it”.

Although quite the story, it seems rather unlikely to be true. Read on to find out why.

Reasons a Wizard Would be Unable to Fly to the Moon on a Broom

1. It was reported in The Quibbler

The mere fact that this claim was reported by The Quibbler, also known as The Wizarding World’s Alternative Voice, makes it rather unlikely that the interview had any truth to it. For better or for worse, The Quibbler’sreputation had very little credibility—it was known to run stories built around conspiracy theories and imaginary creatures.

2. The numbers don’t check out

Then there’s the idea that a wizard could’ve flown all the way to the moon on a Cleansweep Six. This is, quite frankly, rather unbelievable.

Forget about the fact that a Cleansweep Six wasn’t the best of broomsticks available on the market, it wasn’t even the latest version of that make and model!

Not that any of that would have made a difference.

The moon is 384,400 kilometres from Earth. According to Quality Quidditch Supplies, the Firebolt broomstick—which is a much faster broomstick than the Cleansweep—is capable of reaching a speed of approximately 240 kilometres per hour. So, assuming the Cleansweep can reach maybe 225 kilometres per hour, it would take over 1,700 hours to reach the moon by broomstick.

That’s more than 71 days.

A rather impossible length of journey to make only by broomstick—in space.

3. The wizard didn’t have access to oxygen

Then there’s the question of air.

The wizard wouldn’t have been able to wear a Muggle astronaut suit, since the current space suit, the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, only allows for astronauts to spacewalk outside of a space shuttle for up to 7 hours.

Perhaps he used magic then?

Well, the only magical spell we know of that can help a witch or wizard breathe in an atmosphere without oxygen is the Bubble-Head Charm. While we do not have any solid evidence to suggest how long this charm can last, we know from The Goblet of Fire, that it can work for at least an hour.

But an hour is a far cry from 71 days. You’d be better off in the Muggle space suit.

Will Wizardkind Ever Go to Space?

While it doesn’t seem likely that witches or wizards have been to space yet, it does seem possible for them to make it there in the future. Especially, if the wizarding world was willing to combine magic with Muggle inventions!

Keep Reading

All Posts

Was Narcissa Malfoy EVIL?

By Kara S. May 28, 2024 All Posts

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.

Keep Reading

All Posts

Why Did Sirius Slash the Portrait of the Fat Lady?

By Kara S. May 27, 2024 All Posts

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.

Keep Reading

All Posts

Major Issues with the Time-Turner in Harry Potter

By Kara S. May 22, 2024 All Posts

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 Potterseries: 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!

Keep Reading

All Posts

How Did Harry Resist the Imperius Curse?

By Kara S. May 22, 2024 All Posts

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 Potterseries, 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!

Keep Reading