# I had a horrible thought about Harry Potter **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965 "2004-06-12T13:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/121 "2004-06-17T05:16:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Hello, invisibility cloak! Put on the cloak, follow someone from each house and lo and behold you find out where all the dormitories are located and probably some other interesting things. How do we know James had the invisibility cloak while at Hogwarts? We don’t know if it was passed down to him or if he recieved it later in his career. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/122 "2004-06-17T06:25:51Z")
As Rowling says on her site, thinking that maybe Harry and Voldemort are related come from watching too much Star Wars. So quit it already!!! ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/123 "2004-06-17T06:51:49Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > Rowling has said that Riddle is not Harry’s father. That doesn’t discount that he could be related somehow on his mother’s side. Maybe cousins? Riddle’s father and one of Lily’s parents? Possibly (probably) mother if I am right which would account for the different last names. The same idea could be put forward for the Longbottoms though. I don’t think there is any more reason to think Harry is related instead of Neville. But…I guess the whole “family blood” protecting Harry (Hence staying with Petunia) could explain why Harry couldn’t be killed by Voldemort, that is if they share the same blood. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/124 "2004-06-17T07:22:07Z")
Exactly nocturnal 🙂 I could totally be wrong though and I wouldn’t care. The thought just popped in my head when I was thinking on this thread while bored… ---
**Author:** ![Marlitharn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Marlitharn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlitharn)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/125 "2004-06-17T07:59:46Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > How do we know James had the invisibility cloak while at Hogwarts? We don’t know if it was passed down to him or if he recieved it later in his career. In Book 3 in the Shrieking Shack, Lupin tells Harry that he would still show up on the map even if he was wearing his father’s Invisibility Cloak. When Harry asks him how he knew about the cloak, Lupin says, “The number of times I saw your father disappear under that cloak…” Also, at the end of Book 1, when Dumbledore confesses that he was the one who sent Harry the cloak for Christmas, he mentions that James used it mostly to raid the kitchens at night when he was a student. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/126 "2004-06-17T11:09:35Z")
Even if these two main characters were somehow related, what would be the point? To have a Star Wars moment? An Oedipus moment? Just doesn’t seem to be Rowling’s style, especially given how much scorn she’s heaped on the star wars idea that Voldemort might be Harry’s real father, or Lily a Death Eater “HOW DARE YOU!” were, I believe, her exact words in response to those ideas. 🙂 As has been established, all “pure” lines of wizard descent are pretty much all related in some way. So it’s certainly possible that Voldemort is distantly related to Harry via Voldemort’s mother’s side and Harry’s father’s side. But what would be the point? Ron would be distantly related to Voldemort too. So would Draco. So would Sirius. What is the point of such connections when they would be so common? I don’t think it is particular family relations that made Voldemort pick Harry. It really was what Dumbledore said in Book 5: Harry was a half-blood, like Voldemort himself. There’s something very important in THAT, I bet. ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/127 "2004-06-17T11:16:36Z")
Does anyone think that Rowling will tell us the reasoning behind how witches and wizards started out and why there entire lives are hidden away from Muggles? It almost seems like there are only a handful of places for wizards and witches to go. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/128 "2004-06-17T15:05:28Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t think any of the Weaselys or Hermione will die. The Weasely family is just too strong, happy, and loving to insert a death into the family. Well, this is true of my family as well, but over time our death rate hovers at about 100%. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/129 "2004-06-17T15:33:45Z")
> [@Shoshana](#): > > Well, this is true of my family as well, but over time our death rate hovers at about 100%. “About” 100%? Who’s the immortal one? ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/130 "2004-06-17T16:03:43Z")
> [@nocturnal\_tick](#): > > Does anyone think that Rowling will tell us the reasoning behind how witches and wizards started out and why there entire lives are hidden away from Muggles? > > It almost seems like there are only a handful of places for wizards and witches to go. From [World Book Day Online Chat](http://www.wizardnews.com/story.20040304.html): > [@](#): > > Calliope: Are the Muggle and Magical worlds ever going to be rejoined? > > JK Rowling replies: No, the breach was final, although as book six shows, the Muggles are noticing more and more odd happenings now that Voldemort’s back. Rowling’s phrasing of the answer suggests there was something that tore the two worlds apart, and I hope she touches on that in one of the upcoming books. I don’t think it’s going to be information vital to the plot, but it it would still be nice to know. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/131 "2004-06-17T16:49:20Z")
> [@Shoshana](#): > > Well, this is true of my family as well, but over time our death rate hovers at about 100%. But in the real world all sorts of horrible things happen to happy people. I guess my point was that having a tragedy of that nature happen to the Weaselys doesn’t really fit in the world of novels. Killing any of the Weaselys wouldn’t really serve any real purpose in advancing the plot. Harry’s had enough death and loss in his life, and he’ll surely have more; but the next ones should really matter (Dumbledore or Snape or Hagrid, for example). Unless it were Ron, if any of the Weaselys died, Harry would be less affected by it than Ron would. (George RR Martin can get away with killing important and loved characters, but his books run on a different theme and a tougher, harsher world altogether.) ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/132 "2004-06-17T20:37:27Z")
> [@DeadlyAccurate](#): > > Unless it were Ron, if any of the Weaselys died, Harry would be less affected by it than Ron would. On the contrary, without his parents and now Sirius the Weasleys are the closest thing to family. In fact they always have been. On numerous occasions it has been mentioned in the story about how Harry felt a bond between himself and the family, or how Weasley would treat him like he was her child. I predict that Harry will become closer within the family and a death on their part would not only be as devastating to Harry as Ron but would provide an emotional element to the storyline. I find it quite plausible one of the Weasleys will be killed off. I just don’t want it to happen…Percy maybe but that’s it. Have any of you wondered why the Weasley’s never adopted Harry? I know he must stay with Aunt and Uncle for his protection but surely that storyline could have been scrapped for an “At Home with the Weasleys” kind of background. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/133 "2004-06-17T20:43:54Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > “About” 100%? Who’s the immortal one? I wonder if Shoshona’s name is MacLeod… ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/134 "2004-06-17T20:56:18Z")
> [@nocturnal\_tick](#): > > Have any of you wondered why the Weasley’s never adopted Harry? Not that there is anything wrong with it from a biological standpoint, but that would have made the Ginny storyline a little more problematic. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/135 "2004-06-17T22:22:50Z")
> [@](#): > > “About” 100%? Who’s the immortal one? The answer is ultimately “No one–it’s a statistical artifact” but so far the answer is “me.” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/136 "2004-06-17T22:36:17Z")
LISA SIMPSON: “What happens at the end of the last Harry Potter book?” ROWLING: " :rolleyes: He grows up and marries _you._ Is that what you wanted to hear?" LISA SIMPSON [sighing contentedly]: “Yes.” ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/137 "2004-06-17T22:51:25Z")
> [@kellner](#): > > Not that there is anything wrong with it from a biological standpoint, but that would have made the Ginny storyline a little more problematic. 😃 Oh Ginny doesn’t fancy Harry any more, it’s all Neville now. I know that there was the crush earlier on to develop from but it is a stretch compared to how the whole Harry/Hermione/Ron love triangle has been developing. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/138 "2004-06-17T23:35:31Z")
> [@nocturnal\_tick](#): > > Oh Ginny doesn’t fancy Harry any more, it’s all Neville now. I know, I was mostly referring to the earlier years. Perhaps there will be a little temporary confusion, but I would be surprised if we see a serious triangle. A Harry-Hermione relationship just doesn’t seem convincing. However we need a girl for Harry soon - only two volumes to go and choosing an extra in volume 7 has no style. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/139 "2004-06-18T15:30:32Z")
Here’s my lame, half-assed take on it 😃 Harry’s gonna zap Valdemort. After that’s all over, Hermione is going to dump Ron for Harry. She’ll seduce Harry and right in the middle of her rocking his world, Ron will walk in and zap Harry into a toad. Or not… ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/140 "2004-06-18T18:33:22Z")
> [@clothahump](#): > > Harry’s gonna zap Valdemort. After that’s all over, Hermione is going to dump Ron for Harry. She’ll seduce Harry and right in the middle of her rocking his world, Ron will walk in and zap Harry into a toad. And what would be the title of the book: **Harry Potter and the Sexual Frustration**?? 😃😛 > [@kellner](#): > > A Harry-Hermione relationship just doesn’t seem convincing. I think that if Harry is going to have any type of decent romantic relationship it would have to be with Hermione. It might only be short but in reality she is the closest person to him. I reckon in Book 6 they may start out as a couple, Ron will get the greens but Hermione will break it off when she realises who she really loves. Then in Book 7 they’ll get it together (Ron and Herm) which will either be at the end and be all happy endings or somewhere in the middle and something will happen to seperate them, like one of them dying or something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965.md?page=8)