10 Fan Theories That Completely Change The Harry Potter Movies

5. Tom Riddle's Diary Was Meant For Harry

The big reveal at the end of The Chamber Of Secrets is that Lucius Malfoy was the one who put Tom Riddle's diary in with the rest of Ginny's schoolbooks (and he would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling kids). But is that really what he meant to do? Yeah, it would wreak havoc among the Muggleborns at Hogwarts and cast the Weasleys in a negative light, but as far as nefarious plans go, it's kind of weak. But if the plan is framed as an attempt to get to Harry Potter (and maybe not for the first time), it makes a lot more sense. When Harry first showed up at Hogwarts, all anyone knew was that he had somehow managed to defeat Lord Voldemort. It stands to reason that some people, possibly including Malfoy, might think that he must be a really powerful dark wizard to have achieved such a feat. That's why Lucius encourages Draco to befriend Harry, which he attempts when they first get to Hogwarts (of course, Harry is having none of that). But by his second year, it's clear to everyone that Harry's not a villain. So Lucius hatches a new plan. Getting Tom Riddle's diary into Harry's hands will accomplish one of two things: it will ruin his reputation in the wizarding world if he gets caught attacking Muggleborns, and more importantly, he will probably end up getting killed by the basilisk. Either way things go, it's a win.