Harry Potter Theory

Latest Episodes:

The TRAGEDY of Frank & Alice Longbottom - Harry Potter Explained Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. Today we’re going to be discussing Frank and Alice Longbottom, otherwise known as the parents of Neville Longbottom. Specifically, we’ll be taking a closer look at their history—who they were, what they were like—and then shifting to what happened to them at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange and the other Death Eaters.

This is another one of those topics that the movies barely touch on, so if you haven’t read the books, there should be a lot of information for you here.

Topics Discussed:

The tragic history of Frank and Alice Longbottom
What happened to Neville Longbottom’s parents
Why Bellatrix Lestrange tortured the Longbottoms
Why the Death Eaters targeted Frank and Alice Longbottom
Frank and Alice Longbottom’s careers as Aurors
The Longbottoms during the First Wizarding War
Frank and Alice Longbottom in the original Order of the Phoenix
Voldemort’s disappearance after attacking Harry Potter
Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr.
The torture of Frank and Alice Longbottom
The Cruciatus Curse and its effects
Why the Longbottoms were tortured into insanity
What information the Death Eaters wanted from the Longbottoms
The trial of Bellatrix Lestrange and the other Death Eaters
Frank and Alice Longbottom at St Mungo’s Hospital
Neville Longbottom’s childhood and family history
Augusta Longbottom raising Neville
Neville visiting his parents at St Mungo’s
Alice Longbottom giving Neville sweet wrappers
How Neville’s parents shaped his personality and character
Neville Longbottom’s development throughout Harry Potter
Neville’s connection to the prophecy
Neville Longbottom and Harry Potter’s parallel childhoods
Harry Potter book details left out of the movies
Harry Potter lore, character history and Wizarding War explained

Questions Answered:

What happened to Neville Longbottom’s parents?
Why was Neville So BAD at Magic?
Why were Frank and Alice Longbottom tortured?
Why did Bellatrix Lestrange torture Neville’s parents?
Who tortured Frank and Alice Longbottom?
Were Neville’s parents killed?
Why did Neville’s parents go insane?
What did the Death Eaters want from Frank and Alice Longbottom?
Did Frank and Alice know where Voldemort was?
Why did Bellatrix believe the Longbottoms had information about Voldemort?
Were Frank and Alice Longbottom Aurors?
How powerful were Neville Longbottom’s parents?
Were Frank and Alice members of the Order of the Phoenix?
When were Neville’s parents tortured?
What happened after Voldemort disappeared in 1981?
Who was arrested for torturing the Longbottoms?
Why was Barty Crouch Jr. involved in the Longbottom torture?
What happened to Bellatrix Lestrange after the attack?
Where did Neville’s parents live after being tortured?
Could Frank and Alice Longbottom ever recover?
Why did Neville live with his grandmother?
Why did Neville hide what happened to his parents?
Why does Alice Longbottom give Neville sweet wrappers?
Did Neville’s classmates know what happened to his parents?
How did Neville’s parents affect his childhood?
Was Neville Longbottom also connected to Voldemort’s prophecy?
How was Neville’s childhood similar to Harry Potter’s?
Why is the Longbottom story much darker in the Harry Potter books?
What happened to Frank and Alice Longbottom after the Harry Potter series?

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Why Didn't Harry Give GOLD to the Weasleys? - Harry Potter Explained Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Now, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Harry was rich- filthy rich. I mean, maybe he wasn’t Malfoy rich or Lestrange rich, but he certainly had enough money- money which he was able to expertly preserve throughout the course of the films by having everything bought for him. Seriously, Harry didn’t have to buy anything. Hedwig? Hagrid. Nimbus 2000? McGonagall. Firebolt? Sirius.

But RON was the poor one.

Topics Discussed:

Harry Potter’s wealth and the Potter family fortune
Why Harry Potter was so rich
Why Harry never gave the Weasleys money
Why Harry didn’t buy Ron a new wand
Ron Weasley’s insecurity about money
The Weasley family’s financial struggles
Arthur and Molly Weasley’s attitude toward money
Why the Weasleys refused financial help
Harry Potter’s Gringotts vault and inheritance
How Harry’s parents became wealthy
Fleamont Potter and the Potter family fortune
Linfred of Stinchcombe and the Potter family history
Harry buying Ron Omnioculars at the Quidditch World Cup
Ron attempting to repay Harry with Leprechaun gold
Harry giving Fred and George his Triwizard Tournament winnings
How Harry helped start Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
Hogwarts financial assistance for students
Harry and Ron’s friendship
Harry Potter book details left out of the movies
Harry Potter lore, theories and character analysis

**Questions Answered:**

Why didn’t Harry give the Weasleys money?
Why didn’t Harry buy Ron a new wand?
Why didn’t Harry financially help Ron Weasley?
Would Ron have accepted money from Harry?
Why were the Weasleys so poor?
Was Arthur Weasley actually poor?
Why didn’t Molly Weasley work?
Why didn’t the Weasleys use Hogwarts financial aid?
How rich was Harry Potter?
Where did Harry Potter’s money come from?
How did the Potter family become rich?
Was Harry richer than Draco Malfoy?
Did Harry ever spend money on Ron?
Why did Ron dislike Harry paying for things?
What happened with the Omnioculars and Leprechaun gold?
Why did Harry give Fred and George 1,000 Galleons?
Did Harry invest in Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes?
Why did Fred and George initially refuse Harry’s money?
Was Harry’s Gringotts fortune unlimited?
Why was Harry uncomfortable about being wealthy?
Did Harry understand how much money he actually had?
Why was Ron so sensitive about being poor?
Did Harry ever help the Weasley family financially?
What happened to Harry Potter’s inheritance?

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HBO Is Doing WHAT With Lucius Malfoy?! (+Arthur Weasley, Moaning Myrtle Cast for Season 2) Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Well guys, looks like we’ve got some more Harry Potter news.

As of yesterday we were 100 days from Christmas and perhaps more importantly: 100 days from the release of HBO’s new Harry Potter series. I still don’t know if it’s actually christmas DAY that it’s coming out or just NEAR christmas, but if it’s the latter it’s certainly EXCITING but also probably slightly inconvenient.

Anyway, with the clock counting down, the updates are continuing to roll in. I’ve got two major bits of news to get into today—one a little more scandalous, and one a bit more straightforward. Starting with the latter, we’ve got some brand-new casting announcements.

Topics Covered In This Video:

New Harry Potter HBO casting announcements for Season 2
Rafe Spall cast as Arthur Weasley
Molly Hewitt-Richards cast as Moaning Myrtle
Jasper Ambrose cast as Colin Creevey
How the new castings compare to the Harry Potter books
What the HBO series could do differently with Arthur Weasley, Moaning Myrtle and Colin Creevey
Johnny Flynn’s comments about playing Lucius Malfoy
Johnny Flynn’s idea that Lucius Malfoy may have been bullied as a child
Whether HBO is giving Lucius Malfoy a new backstory
How Flynn’s interpretation compares to Jason Isaacs’ Lucius Malfoy
What we know about Lucius Malfoy’s childhood and Hogwarts years
The Malfoy family’s wealth, blood status and influence
Lucius Malfoy and Arthur Weasley’s rivalry
How HBO could expand the Malfoy family in the new Harry Potter series

Questions Answered:

Who has been cast as Arthur Weasley in the Harry Potter HBO series?
Who is playing Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter Season 2?
Who is playing Colin Creevey in Harry Potter Season 2?
Is Rafe Spall the new Arthur Weasley?
Is HBO changing Lucius Malfoy’s character?
Is Lucius Malfoy getting a new backstory in the HBO series?
What did Johnny Flynn say about Lucius Malfoy?
Was Lucius Malfoy bullied at Hogwarts?
Is Lucius Malfoy’s bullying backstory canon?
How will Johnny Flynn’s Lucius Malfoy differ from Jason Isaacs?
What was Lucius Malfoy like when he was younger?
Why does Lucius Malfoy hate Arthur Weasley?
How accurate are the new Harry Potter HBO castings?
What new characters have been cast for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets?

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Why Did Dumbledore Ignore Harry in Order of the Phoenix? - Harry Potter Explained Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

For most of Harry’s first four years at Hogwarts, Dumbledore is distant without ever really feeling absent. And while he isn’t necessarily always directly accessible, he does basically always appear when Harry needs him. However, as we know, all of that changes rather dramatically in Order of the Phoenix.

But where on earth did Dumbledore go? And why did he abandon Harry for an entire school year?

Topics Covered In This Video:

Why Dumbledore avoided Harry in Order of the Phoenix
Why Dumbledore barely spoke to Harry during his fifth year
Why Dumbledore refused to look Harry in the eye
Why Dumbledore became distant after Voldemort returned
Why Harry thought Dumbledore was angry with him
How Harry and Voldemort’s mental connection became stronger
How Voldemort was able to see into and influence Harry’s mind
Why Dumbledore feared Voldemort could use Harry against him
How Harry experienced Arthur Weasley’s attack through Nagini
Why Dumbledore was worried Voldemort could possess Harry
How Legilimency influenced Dumbledore’s behaviour toward Harry
Why Dumbledore arranged Occlumency lessons with Snape
Why Harry’s Occlumency lessons ultimately failed
How Voldemort used Harry’s visions to manipulate him
Why Harry believed the false vision of Sirius being tortured
How Voldemort lured Harry to the Department of Mysteries
Why Dumbledore’s plan to protect Harry ultimately backfired
How Dumbledore’s absence made Harry easier for Voldemort to manipulate
Why Dumbledore was removed from Hogwarts
How Cornelius Fudge and the Ministry turned against Dumbledore
How Dolores Umbridge took control of Hogwarts
Why Dumbledore kept the prophecy from Harry
Why Dumbledore admitted that he cared about Harry too much
Dumbledore’s biggest mistakes in Order of the Phoenix explained
Why Voldemort was eventually able to possess Harry
How Harry’s love for Sirius forced Voldemort out of his mind

Questions Answered:

Why did Dumbledore avoid Harry in Order of the Phoenix?
Why didn’t Dumbledore talk to Harry during his fifth year?
Why wouldn’t Dumbledore look Harry in the eye?
Was Dumbledore angry with Harry in Order of the Phoenix?
Why did Dumbledore suddenly become so distant from Harry?
What was Dumbledore afraid Voldemort would do to Harry?
Could Voldemort see through Harry’s mind?
Could Voldemort use Harry to spy on Dumbledore?
Why did Harry see Arthur Weasley being attacked?
Why did Dumbledore make Harry learn Occlumency?
Why did Snape teach Harry Occlumency instead of Dumbledore?
Why did Harry fail at Occlumency?
How did Voldemort trick Harry into going to the Department of Mysteries?
Why did Harry believe Sirius was being tortured?
Why didn’t Dumbledore warn Harry that Voldemort could send false visions?
Why was Dumbledore forced to leave Hogwarts?
Why did the Ministry turn against Dumbledore?
Why did Dumbledore keep the prophecy secret from Harry?
What did Dumbledore mean when he said “I cared about you too much”?
Did Dumbledore admit he made a mistake with Harry?
Could Voldemort possess Harry?
Why was Voldemort unable to stay inside Harry’s mind?
Was Dumbledore right to distance himself from Harry?
What was Dumbledore’s biggest mistake in Order of the Phoenix?

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Why Voldemort’s Horcruxes Didn’t ACTUALLY Make Him Immortal - Harry Potter Theory Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Imagine for a second that Voldemort won...Harry dies, the Ministry falls, nobody destroys Voldemort’s Horcruxes and he basically gets exactly what he wanted. He becomes immortal.

Or…does he? Because here’s the thing: while Horcruxes are repeatedly described as a means of achieving immortality, there’s one surprisingly important question the books don’t answer, and that’s what happens when Voldemort gets OLD?

Topics Covered In This Video:

Would Voldemort still die of old age even with Horcruxes
What Horcruxes actually do in Harry Potter canon
The difference between being killed and dying naturally
Why destroying the body is not the same as dying of old age
How old Voldemort was during the First and Second Wizarding Wars
Whether wizards age more slowly than Muggles
Dumbledore, Grindelwald, Nicolas Flamel, and magical lifespan
Why Flamel needed the Philosopher’s Stone if Horcruxes already existed
Why Voldemort feared death more than anyone in the Wizarding World
Why Voldemort made Horcruxes instead of seeking the Philosopher’s Stone
Why Voldemort didn’t make more than seven Horcruxes
Why seven was the number he chose
Whether making more Horcruxes would have made him safer
How splitting the soul damaged Voldemort’s body and mind
Why his appearance became less human over time
Whether a Horcrux stops aging, illness, or physical decay
What happens to Voldemort if his body dies of old age but a Horcrux remains
Why he came back as a spectral parasite after Godric’s Hollow
Why Horcruxes tether the soul but do not create a healthy living body
Whether Voldemort could have lived for centuries in one body
Why he still needed Wormtail, the ritual, and a new body
Harry Potter immortality theory explained
Lord Voldemort Horcrux theory explained

Questions Answered:

Would Voldemort still die of old age with Horcruxes?
Can Horcruxes stop you from dying of old age?
Do Horcruxes make a wizard truly immortal?
What do Horcruxes actually protect Voldemort from?
If Voldemort’s body died of old age, would he stay dead?
Could Voldemort have lived to 200, 230, or 500 years old?
How old was Voldemort when he died?
Do wizards in Harry Potter die of old age?
Why did Nicolas Flamel still need the Philosopher’s Stone?
Why didn’t Voldemort steal or recreate the Philosopher’s Stone?
Why didn’t Voldemort make more Horcruxes?
Why did Voldemort stop at seven Horcruxes?
Would eight or nine Horcruxes have made him impossible to kill?
Why is seven the most powerfully magical number?
Did making Horcruxes shorten Voldemort’s life instead of extending it?
Why did Voldemort’s body become weaker and more snake-like?
Can a Horcrux prevent aging, disease, or natural death?
What is the difference between immortality and being unable to stay dead?
Why was Voldemort so afraid of death if he already had Horcruxes?
Could Voldemort have survived forever if no one found the Horcruxes?
Was Voldemort ever actually immortal?

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THIS CAN’T BE TRUE.. The Harry Potter Website Says DUMBLEDORE Created the Philosopher’s Stone?! Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

I just found a MASSIVE mistake on the official Harry Potter website...Aaand I'm pretty sure it breaks canon.

Topics Covered In This Video:

What is the Philosopher’s Stone in Harry Potter?
What does the Philosopher’s Stone do?
Who created the Philosopher’s Stone?
Who was Nicolas Flamel in Harry Potter?
What is the official Harry Potter website page for the Philosopher’s Stone?
Why the official Harry Potter website lists Albus Dumbledore as an owner/maker
Nicolas Flamel and Dumbledore’s connection in Harry Potter
What *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* says about the Stone
Did Dumbledore help create the Philosopher’s Stone?
Harry Potter website lore vs book canon
Does this official website detail retcon the Philosopher’s Stone?
How this creates a possible Harry Potter plot hole

Questions Answered:

What is the Philosopher’s Stone?
What are the powers of the Philosopher’s Stone?
Who created the Philosopher’s Stone in Harry Potter?
Who was Nicolas Flamel?
Did Nicolas Flamel make the Philosopher’s Stone alone?
Why is Dumbledore listed with Flamel as a maker of the Stone?
Does the official Harry Potter website say Dumbledore created the Philosopher’s Stone?
Is that anywhere in the Harry Potter books?
Did Dumbledore help Flamel make the Elixir of Life?
Does the official Harry Potter website break canon?
Is Wizarding World website text official Harry Potter canon?
Is this a retcon or a mistake?
How do you reconcile the website with the original books?

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Why Didn’t Dumbledore Destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes Himself? - Harry Potter Theory Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

In Harry Potter, the fate of the Wizarding World essentially rests on the destruction of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. With his Horcruxes intact, Voldemort is essentially tethered to the mortal realm no matter WHAT the outcome- which obviously makes ending his tyrannical regime a tall order.

But instead of the most powerful wizard of all time leading the charge, the task is left to a 17 year old.

Why?

Topics Covered In This Video:

Why Dumbledore didn’t personally hunt down every Horcrux
Why Dumbledore chose Harry to continue the Horcrux mission
How much Dumbledore actually knew about Voldemort’s Horcruxes
Why Dumbledore spent years researching Voldemort’s past instead of immediately searching for Horcruxes
How Dumbledore discovered the truth about Voldemort’s Horcruxes
Why Slughorn’s memory was so important to Dumbledore’s plan
Why Dumbledore needed Harry to recover Slughorn’s true memory
How Dumbledore identified which objects Voldemort may have turned into Horcruxes
Why Dumbledore only destroyed one Horcrux himself
How the Gaunt family ring cursed Dumbledore
Why destroying Marvolo Gaunt’s ring changed Dumbledore’s Horcrux strategy
Why Dumbledore knew he had limited time left to live
Why Dumbledore took Harry to retrieve Slytherin’s locket
Why Dumbledore used Harry as his successor in the Horcrux hunt
Why Dumbledore didn’t tell Harry everything about his plan
How Dumbledore prepared Harry to find the remaining Horcruxes after his death
Why Dumbledore focused on teaching Harry how Voldemort thought
Why understanding Voldemort’s personality was more important than simply knowing where to search
Why Dumbledore couldn’t openly hunt Horcruxes without risking Voldemort discovering what he knew
Whether Dumbledore could have destroyed all of Voldemort’s Horcruxes himself
Dumbledore’s complete Horcrux strategy explained

Questions Answered:

Why didn’t Dumbledore destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes himself?
Why did Dumbledore leave the Horcrux hunt to Harry?
How many Horcruxes did Dumbledore know about?
When did Dumbledore discover Voldemort had made Horcruxes?
Why did Dumbledore need Slughorn’s memory?
Why didn’t Dumbledore start hunting Horcruxes earlier?
Why did Dumbledore destroy the Gaunt ring himself?
How did the Gaunt ring curse Dumbledore?
Did Dumbledore know he was going to die?
Why did Dumbledore take Harry to the cave?
Why didn’t Dumbledore tell Harry where every Horcrux was?
Why did Dumbledore teach Harry about Voldemort’s childhood and past?
Could Dumbledore have found the remaining Horcruxes on his own?
Was Harry always intended to finish Dumbledore’s mission?
Why was Harry uniquely suited to defeating Voldemort?
Did Dumbledore intentionally prepare Harry to continue the Horcrux hunt after his death?
What was Dumbledore’s real plan for destroying Voldemort’s Horcruxes?

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HBO Harry Potter FINALLY CASTS VOLDEMORT (+2 Other MAJOR Roles) Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

In case you thought Harry Potter announcements were over for the week....You were wrong.

TOPICS COVERED / QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

Who is playing Tom Riddle in the HBO Harry Potter series?
Who is Billy Barratt, the new Tom Riddle actor?
Has HBO cast young Voldemort for Harry Potter Season 2?
How will Billy Barratt compare to Christian Coulson as Tom Riddle?
Who played Tom Riddle in the original Harry Potter films?
Why was Christian Coulson replaced as Tom Riddle?
Why did Frank Dillane play Tom Riddle in *Half-Blood Prince*?
Who played young Voldemort before Ralph Fiennes?
Who played 11-year-old Tom Riddle in *Half-Blood Prince*?
Will HBO use the same Tom Riddle actor in later seasons?
How important is Tom Riddle in *Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*?
Will the HBO Harry Potter series show more of Voldemort’s backstory?
Who is playing Dobby in the HBO Harry Potter series?
Who is Lenny Rush, the new Dobby actor?
Who voiced Dobby in the original Harry Potter films?
Who is playing Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter Season 2?
Why has Ginny Weasley been recast for the HBO series?
Who is Bonnie Hill, the new Ginny Weasley actress?
Which major characters have been cast for Harry Potter Season 2?
What are the latest Harry Potter HBO casting announcements?
What do the new Tom Riddle, Dobby and Ginny castings mean for *Chamber of Secrets*?
When will Tom Riddle first appear in the HBO Harry Potter series?

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Harry Potter HBO Trailer: Does It Really Show James, Lily AND Voldemort? Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Breaking down more mysteries from HBO's new Harry Potter trailer.

QUESTIONS ANSWERED:

Who are the two mysterious wizards in the new Harry Potter HBO trailer?
Are the two figures actually James and Lily Potter?
Could the mysterious pair instead be witches and wizards celebrating Voldemort’s downfall?
Does the trailer show Voldemort approaching the Potter cottage in Godric’s Hollow?
Is the hooded figure actually Lord Voldemort?
Could the hooded figure instead be Professor Quirrell?
Is HBO expanding the night James and Lily Potter were killed?
Will the series show more of the wizarding world celebrating Voldemort’s disappearance?
What does Dumbledore mean when he says he can’t protect them, only prepare them?
Is Dumbledore talking specifically about Harry?
Is HBO introducing Dumbledore’s larger plan earlier than the films did?
What do these mysterious trailer scenes reveal about how HBO is expanding Philosopher’s Stone?