12 Harry Potter Theories Better Than What We Got

1. Harry Accidentally Poisoned The Dursleys Against Him

This is one of the most interesting theories that was ever adopted by a good deal of the Potter fandom and the subject of one of the most frustrating Word Of God affirmations from JK Rowling.

So, after years of speculation on why the Dursleys were such awful people, Rowling took to Pottemore in 2015 to confirm the real reason was that when Vernon and James Potter met for the first time, they clashed horribly because Vernon, fundamentally, was not a good person. He tried to patronise James and cast aspersions on him and wizarding kind as perpetually on unemployment benefit and when James revealed the secret of his wealth in Gringotts, Vernon believed he was being mocked and stormed out of the restaurant.

It sort of fits what we know of Vernon, but it's nowhere near as good as the theory that the Dursleys were not bad people until they were poisoned through proximity with Harry because he was a Horcrux. You can see why Rowling would want to preserve the idea that some people were just bad, but Petunia was Harry's blood and so was Dudley and they're somewhat thrown under the bus in a world where some of the most evil or misguided wizards get a chance of redemption.

It would have been so much better if the influence of the locket Horcrux on Ron was extrapolated to explain the Dursleys' relationship with Harry, but instead we have to just accept they were neglectful, stubborn monsters who refused to forgive the perceived sins of a father of the orphaned child entrusted to them. All over a meal that went wrong. It's stupid.

Which other Harry Potter theories interest you? Share yours below in the comments thread.