Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're discussing the portraits hanging within the hallowed halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. While I suppose the EXACT number of portraits lining the walls of this famous building is somewhat debatable - many subjects have more than one portrait and who knows what secret portraits may hang in closets long forgotten - there are around 60 portrait subjects that we DO know about. Over the course of a few videos, we'll cover each and every one of them, diving into who the witch or wizard was, why they have a portrait hanging up in Hogwarts, and anything else of note. Today, we'll kick things off alphabetically, which brings us to the portrait of a wizard who needs no introduction... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing an incredibly scandalous topic: Why Hermione should have been with Harry instead of Ron. For those of you who are primarily fans of the Harry Potter novels, or enjoy both the books and the movies, I imagine that this particular sentiment sparks outrage at the very mention of the idea. On the other hand, for all you movie loyalists out there, I'm fairly certain many of you are likely nodding your heads along in agreement. And it is for this EXACT reason that I'd like to further define today's topic – so that there is no confusion on the matter. That is, I only believe that Hermione should have been with Harry in the FILM adaptation of the Harry Potter series. Now, there are exactly three reasons for why I feel this way, and they ALL revolve around the liberties that were taken with Ron, Hermione, and Harry's characters when translating the books into films. For Harry, the films seem to have removed his wittier, more rebellious side, turning him into a hero with minimal flaws. In the case of Hermione and Ron, the writers simply seem to have taken away a lot of Ron's lines and important moments and given them to Hermione, degrading his character and enhancing hers. As I explain in the other videos, a large component of this may have been to simplify the source of information for the audience. That is, by giving Hermione all of the educational lines in the movies, viewers would clue in that when Hermione was talking, she was often explaining things about the Wizarding World. In my opinion, this was completely unnecessary, and really didn't make all that much sense. For example, while in the books, yes, Hermione was very intelligent when it came to book learning, it was Ron who was the source of information on how the Wizarding World worked. This made great sense, since Ron, a pureblood wizard born into a magical family, had lived in this world his entire life. Hermione, on the other hand, was a Muggle-born witch, who had no idea that the Wizarding World even existed until she received her letter of acceptance from Hogwarts. In any case, I digress...But that's just a little bit of backstory for you on some of the MAJOR differences between the book and film versions of these three main characters. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're discussing 5 famous Slytherin witches and wizards who went on to make history. Within the wizarding world, anyone referred to as simply a "Slytherin" is a current or former student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who was sorted into Slytherin House upon their arrival at the school.- The House of Slytherin is representative of one of the four founding members of Hogwarts, Salazar Slytherin, a powerful wizard who believed in magical blood purity and argued that only pureblood families should be offered enrollment at the school. As such, many people associate Slytherins with cruel, dark or simply prejudiced witches or wizards. Unfortunately, this view of Slytherins is further supported by the sheer number of graduates who went on to become entangled with Dark Magic. BUT, it's important to note that that's NOT ALWAYS the case. There are lots of *quote* good witches and wizards who have been former Slytherin students, some of which we'll touch on in today's video. So, with that in mind, let's take a look at five famous Slytherins who made history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the 4 founders of Hogwarts- Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff. Specifically, we're going to be tackling the question of WHY these 4 founders weren't immortalized in some way (besides the Hogwarts houses of course). The primary purpose of wizarding portraits in the Wizarding World is to preserve the memory of a person long after they have passed away. This ensures that their knowledge and wisdom can be passed down to future generations. But, unlike muggle portraits or photographs, which merely capture a still image, wizarding portraits can be animated to capture the essence of a person's personality. Often, portraits are enchanted to mimic the behaviour and mannerisms of the portrait's subject.- Hogwarts headmasters are an integral part of Hogwarts history, and so it makes sense that their portraits would be immortalized in this very special way. However, I would argue that the Hogwarts FOUNDERS are an even more important part of the school's history- so, the question remains: why didn't THEY get portraits? Why weren't THEY immortalized? I think the founders portraits would fit just perfectly at the entrance to each common room- or perhaps even in a row overlooking the great hall. It also occurred to me that the portraits of the founders could potentially aid in the sorting ceremony. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Harry's 'death' from Voldemort's Avada Kedavra in the Deathly Hallows. More specifically, we're going to be diving in and dissecting the nuances of HOW it happened, WHY it happened, and HOW Harry was able to come back to life. To set the scene – we're in the Forbidden Forest and Harry comes face-to-face with Voldemort once again. However, unlike previous confrontations – from his meeting with a fragmented Voldemort attached to Professor Quirrell, to their duel in the graveyard of Little Hangleton – this time Harry does not intend to defend himself or fight back. He's come to die. Fans of the book will remember the chapter as the aptly named "The Forest Again" and movie lovers will certainly know this scene as the one right after Harry sees his dead loved ones through the magic of the Resurrection Stone – one of the three fabled Deathly Hallows. Okay, so what happened? Well, it appears that Harry gets hit with Avada Kedavra- THE KILLING CURSE. It's well reinforced in Harry Potter that 'Avada Kedavra'- a terrible dark curse that is known to emit a blindingly intense green bolt of light, kills people. In fact, the only function of the spell is to kill. So, how is Harry able to come back from it?- Let's get in to it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're discussing Lord Voldemort and the horrifying guards of Azkaban- Dementors. Specifically, we're going to be taking a look at what would happen if Lord Voldemort himself were subjected to the Dementor's kiss. Let's get in to it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we''ll be addressing all of the rumours surrounding prospective Harry Potter TV Shows and future Harry Potter films. I've been seeing a lot of commotion online and in my own comment section lately discussing the future of the Harry Potter franchise and what may be next. Most likely, these conversations have been re-ignited by the success of the newly released Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy. Fans are now wanting additional Harry Potter content more than ever, which puts franchise owner Warner Bros in a good position. Harry Potter is arguably in the best state that we've seen since the original films came out- with previous Harry Potter game and film releases (Fantastic Beasts) succumbing to the incorrigible scrutiny of devote Harry Potter fans across the globe. Finally things seem good. Nature is healing. And with this recent success, I've been bombarded with article after article online boasting about the next big film and/or tv show that's going to fit in to the franchise. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Harry Potter and Hogwarts Legacy. Most importantly, however, we're going to be looking at where these two worlds diverge- tackling the question of whether or not Hogwarts Legacy should be considered a genuine part of Harry Potter canon. What IS Canon? But now many of you may be asking yourselves- what exactly is canon? And what prior content that's been published under the wizarding world label fits this description? In order to set the stage, I feel that this needs to be appropriately defined. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing Molly Weasley's defeat of Bellatrix Lestrange bearing NEW information in mind from the latest Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy. In the Deathly Hallows Molly Weasley, the sweet caring mother, stands up for her daughter and KILLS one of the most infamous Death Eaters in the Wizarding World - Bellatrix Lestrange. We'll be taking a look at HOW it happened and what spells may have enabled this nurturing mother to take down one of the most powerful dark witches in history. Let's dive in. In the Deathly Hallows Part 2 there's A LOT going on. Voldemort is regaining immense levels of power, Hogwarts is under siege from Death Eaters, and the characters we had grown to love over the years suddenly start dropping off like flies. But while The Battle of Hogwarts certainly had a healthy number of fatalities, not all of them were quite so sad. The deaths of characters like Remus Lupin, Severus Snape and Fred Weasley undoubtedly pulled on our heart strings, but we also got to witness the death of some less..favourable characters. One of the most significant being Bellatrix Lestrange. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we'll be discussing the history of the infamous wizarding dynasty - the Gaunts -a family that's recently been brought back to the spotlight by OMINIS Gaunt who is featured in Hogwarts Legacy. This prominent pureblood magical family is sometimes also referred to as the House of Gaunt. You may remember hearing the name here or there over the course of the Harry Potter series, but if you're having trouble putting your finger on why the name sounds so familiar, allow me to remind you. This once proud and powerful dynasty is the ancestral family of the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort.- Let's start from the beginning... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the history of the British Ministry of Magic. Of course, there are A LOT of things that took place there throughout the Harry Potter series. But today, we'll be focusing on what happened PRIOR to our dear boy Harry showing up on the wizarding scene.- Formed in 1707, the British Ministry of Magic is the main governing body of the magical community of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was created to preserve magical law within Great Britain and represent these countries to the larger Wizarding World. Its formation came as a direct result of the previously created Wizards' Council.- "Prior to 1707, the Wizards' Council was the longest serving (though not the only) body to govern the magical community in Britain. After the imposition of the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692, however, the wizarding community needed a more highly structured, organised and more complex governing structure than they had hitherto used, to support, regulate and communicate with a community in hiding. " This, of course, led to what is now known as the Ministry of Magic.- Let's continue... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're going to be discussing ANCIENT MAGIC- a phenomenon that has recently become popularized through the best-selling Harry Potter game: Hogwarts Legacy. "A magic this powerful can do great harm in the wrong hands. It must be wielded by a select few." But, what exactly IS ancient magic? How does it differ from REGULAR magic, WHERE does it pop up in the Harry Potter story, and what do we know of its history? All of these questions, and more, will be answered in today's video, so sit back, relax, and enjoy as we peel back the layers of the enigmatic phenomenon known as ANCIENT magic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're going to be discussing one of the most feared curses in the wizarding world- AVADA KEDAVRA- also known as the KILLING curse. Specifically, we're going to be taking a look at where it came from, who created it, why it's unforgivable, why it may be merciful, and what the very surprising function of this spell may have once been. Let's get in to it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're going to be discussing Hogwarts Legacy and DLC - which stands for 'downloadable content'. We're going to be tackling the important questions like: Is it happening? When is it happening? What type of DLC can we expect? The first thing that I want to address is a quote from Alan Tew - Lead Game Designer at Warner Bros Interactive- which has been circulating around the internet. In this quote, Alan discusses the future of the game and his thoughts on the current state of DLC. The quote was made at the IGN Fan Fest: "We've been really heads down bringing Hogwarts Legacy to life, so at the moment there are no current plans for DLC." Unfortunately the internet ran with this a little too quickly, as his statement invariably sparked the creation of thousands of videos and articles in which the respective authors so proudly titled their new piece of content 'No DLC for Hogwarts Legacy EVER'. ..But, there's much more to it than that. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we're going to be discussing Harry Potter Events in the Medieval Period. Do you know the tale of Godelot the Dark Wizard?-Or the history of early Quidditch?-How about the very first Triwizard Tournament?-If you take a moment, and look back at the history of the medieval wizarding world, you'll find the answer to all these questions, and more. So join me, as we trek back a few hundred years, and learn a thing or two about wizards and witches in the middle ages. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Have you ever wondered... How spells are created? Well, the answer is simpler than you might have guessed. It's all thanks to a handful of extremely cunning witches and wizards, who saw a problem in their life, and tried to create a magical solution. As we look through the historical records of the wizarding world, we find no shortage of famous wizards and witches who have left their mark on magic, and created spells that are still in use in modern times. Today, we're going to take a look at some of the most famous spells, and their creators, as we go over the history of magical inventors. Let's get in to it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the complete history of the Forbidden Forest, a common backdrop for important moments throughout the Harry Potter series for both Harry, his friends, AND his enemies. As many of you will remember, the Forbidden Forest is first introduced in The Philosopher's Stone as a scary, dark place where students are not allowed to enter, never mind roam about and explore. Of course, one very large caveat to this rule is if those same students ever find themselves in a bit of trouble. As much as it really makes absolutely NO sense what-so-ever, a punishment bestowed upon multiple students over the years, including Harry, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy in the first installment of the series, is to send them INTO the Forbidden Forest. This form of "detention" is meant to help Hagrid with random duties required in the upkeep of the portion of the Forest that resides on school property. As this was the detention they were given for merely being out of bed after hours, makes one wonder what the punishment would've been for actually going into the Forest...more time spent IN THE FOREST? Like I said...it really doesn't make any sense AT ALL. Anyway, I'd like to start off today's video with a brief summary of the Forbidden Forest as we know it through Harry Potter. Because, although there are many fantastical locations and magical places in which Harry and his friends visit throughout the novels and films alike, it may not be immediately apparent just how important the Forbidden Forest is to the series. Now, it's a very typical trope for an enchanted forest – whether filled with "light" magic or "dark" – to represent a way to achieve transformation for those who enter it. What I mean is that magical forests are often used as a literary device to be a catalyst of change for any number of fictional characters. They enter the forest as one version of themselves, and emerge forever transformed.- All this to say that I do, indeed, believe that there are quite a few transformations that take place within the Forbidden Forest, many of which I will get into later in the video. BUT, in my opinion, it's quite evident that the MAIN transformation that takes place in the series is at the very end of the seventh book (which, as many of you will know, is the eighth movie) and is directly related to the protagonist of the story: our dear boy, Harry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. I've got exciting news regarding the newly released (and exceedingly popular) Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy. Since the game came out players all over the world have been experiencing the wizarding world for themselves- embarking on their own adventures and paving the way for their own destiny. The game's amazing, but if I had just one criticism of Hogwarts Legacy, or rather, one thing I'd like to see ADDED- it's multiplayer functionality.- Many single player games throughout history have been extremely successful, so it's not as though this will make or break the game, HOWEVER- fortunately for us, it looks like less than a week after the game's release a MULTIPLAYER mod has already begun development. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re discussing how Hogwarts Legacy may have just given us an entirely new perspective on the death of beloved Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Hogwarts Legacy takes place in the late 1800s- supposedly 1890- which means that during the course of the game Dumbledore is just a mere 9 years old. However, the thing that Hogwarts legacy exposes has nothing to do with Dumbledore in that timeline, but rather, it emphasizes an aspect of the lore that impacts Dumbledore many many years later. The wizarding world in the 1800s was still the wizarding world, and the rules of this world are very much the same as the rules in the Harry Potter time period.  First we’ll discuss his death, then we’ll segue in to how Hogwarts Legacy changes it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. With the recent release of Hogwarts Legacy, people are learning more than ever about the wizarding world. Today, we'll be taking a look at ALL of the KNOWN languages of magical beasts and creatures within the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, from A to Z.-The list is surprisingly long and stretches far beyond the confines of just 'Parselmouth'. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we'll be taking a look at some of the lesser well-known mysteries surrounding the castle and grounds of Hogwarts School. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing wands. More specifically- we're going to be discussing wands in the context of their necessity- how come some wizards use a wand while others seemingly don't have the need for a wand at all? And lastly, and more importantly, why don't witches and wizards use MULTIPLE wands? There's source information in the original books which suggests that using multiple wands is plausible- so, why isn't anyone doing it? Let's dive in. Now, we know that in the wizarding world it is commonplace for young witches and wizards to visit Ollivander's and receive their first wand. An instrument with which they are able to begin HONING and channeling their magical abilities. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're going to be discussing HOGWARTS LEGACY- the much anticipated Harry Potter game that's hitting shelves in just over a week. Specifically, we're going to be taking a look at all major heroes, professors and villains from the game, describing who they are, what we know about them, and (for my own curiosity) how they might fit into the existing Harry Potter canon. Let's get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today we're discussing the 5 RICHEST Wizarding families in the ENTIRE Wizarding World. The concepts of money and status make appearances all over the place in the Harry Potter story- starting right at the beginning. In the very first book we get Draco boasting about his family's wealth, we get the impression that perhaps Ron and the Weasley's aren't doing quite so well, and to top it all off- we get to see Harry's absolutely ridiculous stack of gold inside vault 687 at Gringotts.- Gringotts Wizarding Bank was the sole financial institution for the wizarding community in Great Britain and was run by goblins. It was established in 1474 by a goblin named Gringott and its headquarters was located in the North Side of Diagon Alley, London. The bank served as a storage facility for wizarding money and valuables, and provided an easy way for wizards and witches to exchange Muggle currency for wizarding money. This is demonstrated by Hermione Granger's parents when they traded Muggle money for wizarding money to pay for her school supplies.- Now, provided that Gringotts handles the cashflow of nearly every witch and wizard in the magical world- there must be some SERIOUSLY immense vaults full of gold kicking about.- In the world of Harry Potter, there are many wealthy wizarding families, but only a select few can claim the title of the richest. Today, we'll be exploring the top 5 richest wizarding families and delving into their immense wealth, their ancestral homes, and their powerful magical legacies. So buckle up and get ready to be transported into the world of wizarding wealth and luxury. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we're going to be discussing something very different from the channel's normal content, and that is the controversial topic of Hermione Granger's ethnicity. Hermione Jean Granger was a Muggle-Born witch born on September 19th 1979. While not boarding at Hogwarts school, she resided at 8 Heathgate, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Granger- a pair of lovely Muggle dentists.- Hermione had bright brown eyes, lots of bushy brown hair (once described as a 'long mane of brown hair') and, as a child, sported particularly large front teeth.- While not in her Hogwarts robes she was known to dress quite casually, and she is famous for her rather 'bossy' voice that turns quite shrill in moments of anger. But perhaps the most notable characteristics of Hermione Granger are that she is extremely intelligent and very hard working. These are facts. However, the one thing about her character that's always been left a little more ambiguous is her ethnicity. This subject has garnered a considerable amount of attention in more recent years and is a topic of contention among Harry Potter fans.- So, what is Hermione Granger's ethnicity? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.