The Harry Potter universe is known for its fantastic mysteries. Reading those books was like traveling down an endless dungeon, with new twists and shadows around every corner. However, most of those mysteries were answered at the end of Deathly Hallows. Or were they?
Despite the many questions that J.K. Rowling did answer at the end of her series, there were still a few mysteries that never got resolved. Some might be small things only die-hard fan notice, while others are major puzzles that could be considered plot holes. Still, they all contribute to the lore of Harry Potter.
Updated on December 14th, 2022, by David Caballero: As talk of a new installment in the Harry Potter series grows stronger, fans might feel in the mood to revisit the magical and life-changing series. Re-reading the books is just as incredible as the first time, but fans might notice some questions that never received a proper answer. And although more information about the Wizarding World comes out every day, these mysteries seem doomed to go unanswered forever.
Where Does Magic Come From?
Perhaps the biggest mystery of them all is the origin of the magic that permeates the Potter universe. The books never bother to explain the history of magic. They occasionally mention a famous legendary wizard and sometimes name-drop a significant historical figure; however, they never go into detail about the origins of magic.
In fact, no character seems interested in discovering more about the birth of their power, not even Hermione. It's a shame because the origin of magic is arguably a far more intriguing and compelling story than yet another wizarding war against another evil wizard. Now that the Fantastic Beasts franchise is dead, perhaps a future Potter spin-off can focus on solving this question.
Why Is Professor McGonagall In Fantastic Beasts?
However, the dates don't add up. In Order of the Phoenix, McGonagall says she's been teaching at Hogwarts for 39 years, meaning she started working at the school in 1956, nearly thirty years after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald. Seems like Jo messes up pretty badly on this one.
What's The Wizarding World Stance On Monarchy?
The Harry Potter series is a pretty straightforward reflection of modern Britain. It has a Minister of Magic, a thinly-veiled reference to the Prime Minister, and Hogwarts is an adaptation of many boarding British schools. However, there's no mention of what the Wizarding World thinks of the monarchy, nor is there an equivalent of the Royal Family in the series.
If the Minister of Magic introduces himself to the PM, shouldn't he do the same with the senior of the Royal Family? At least the Queen should know about the existence of magic. So why doesn't she? And why does the series ignore such a crucial part of British culture?
How Does The Deluminator Work?
Ron is a misunderstood character. The movies ruined his character by turning him into comic relief, but the books do a fine job portraying him as an insecure young man struggling to find himself. Ron receives the Deluminator from Dumbledore, presumably because Dumbledore understood Ron's jealousy and insecurity.
However, the Deluminator's nature is vague and overly convenient. There's never any explanation of how it works or its purpose. It's unclear if it only works with Ron or can help others. In short, it feels more like a plot device than a genuinely clever magical tool.
Why Do The Other Magical Schools Never Get Mentioned?
For such an impressive story, the worldbuilding in Harry Potter feels surprisingly limited and small-scale. Rowling goes into detail about the UK but never bothers to mention how magic operates in other parts of the world. Beauxbattons and Durmstrang arrive in the fourth book, but they never feel like true institutions on par with Hogwarts.
Why are the other wizarding schools never mentioned? Why is there only one school for South America and one for Africa? Is magic more powerful in Europe? The wizarding world is supposed to be vast and inclusive, yet the books never show these qualities.
Why On Earth Didn't Dumbledore Take Better Care Of Harry?
Dumbledore's decision to send Harry with the Dursleys is understandable. As cruel as it may have seemed, the heaster did it to keep Harry safe from Voldemort. The Boy Who Lived had to reside somewhere where his mother's blood still lived. But why on earth didn't he ensure the Dursleys were nicer to Harry?
Dumbledore didn't have to hide his magic from the family; they knew who he was, and Petunia was clearly afraid of him. Had Dumbledore threatened to check on Harry now and then, it should have frightened them enough to be kinder, especially as they wouldn't want the neighbors to see Dumbledore show up on their doorstep.
What Was The Backstory Between Dumbledore And Fawkes
Fawkes the phoenix became an essential part of the Harry Potter series in ways few people could have guessed when he was first introduced. Not only was he Dumbeldore's beloved pet, but he saved Harry's life, delivered warnings, and his tail feathers were even used in the twin cores of Harry and Voldemort's wands.
Yet Dumbledore and Fawkes' history is never explored or even hinted at in the books. Fawkes may be a pet, but he's important, as most named animals in the series are. It seems strange that he was one of the only ones who never had a backstory.
Why Weren't James And Lily Each Other's Secret Keepers?
The Fidelius Charm kickstarted the events of the entire series. Voldemort was hunting James and Lily, so Dumbledore suggested they use a Fidelius Charm to keep them safe. They would choose a Secret Keeper, and if that person didn't reveal the Potter's location, Voldemort would never find them.
Obviously, Peter becomes the Secret Keeper and betrays them, but why didn't James and Lily serve as each other's Secret Keepers instead? Wouldn't that have been the safest option?
Snape's Favoritism Of Draco Malfoy Doesn't Make Any Sense
Severus Snape is not a fan of Harry Potter. He has a strong distaste for the Boy Who Lived due to his similarities to his father. The massive reveal about Snape's love for Lily and his fight to keep Harry alive was a game-changer, but the professor's dislike for Harry never changed.
In Snape's eyes, Harry is as arrogant and cocky as his dad was, even though that is really not true at all. But why would he play favorites with Draco, who shares many of the traits Snape claimed to hate in James than Harry ever had? Draco was the loathsome and arrogant prat, not Harry.
What Did Magical Children Do Until They Turned 11?
Young witches and wizards receive their letters to Hogwarts upon their eleventh birthday, and then their magical journeys truly begin. But what do those kids do before they turn 11? Harry went to a muggle public school, which makes sense since the Dursleys wanted to squash the magic out of him.
Most Muggle-born kids probably have a normal upbringing at a Muggle school, too. But what about pure-bred families? Did the Weasley children go to a muggle school? Did they just sit around all day for years until their Hogwarts letter arrived?
