She’s probably heard them all a thousand and one times already.
But it turns out that there is one Harry Potter fan theory in particular that J.K. Rowling has a soft spot for – and it’s fairly dark.
Amid all of the witchcraft, wizardry and mystery, there’s one longstanding argument about Hogwarts’ former headmaster, Albus Dumbledore,
And it’s J.K. Rowling’s favourite one.
A few summers ago, a fan asked the author which was her favourite Harry Potter fan theory. She replied:
“Dumbledore as death. It’s a beautiful theory, and it fits.”
Dumbledore as death. It's a beautiful theory and it fits. https://t.co/QqTQm2QnI0
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 21, 2015
The theory stems from the story of the Tale of Three Brothers, which is referenced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – and it’s been debated for years and years now.
The story follows three brothers who come across a river that is too dangerous to cross. So, using magic, they summon a bridge to cross the river – but that causes a hooded figure of Death to appear.
Death is fuming that they tried to trick him, so he decides to try and do the same to them. He offers them each a ‘prize’: one brother asks for the Elder Wand, a wand worthy of someone who conquered Death;the second asks for a resurrection stone, so he can recall loved ones from Death; the third asks for the invisibility cloak, to try and hide from Death.
The first two brothers die, but the third lives on and passes on the invisibility cloak to his son – before he treats “death as an old friend”.
The way that the theory goes, fans believe that Voldemort is the first “brother” while Snape is the second – which would make Harry the third and Dumbledore would be Death.
Which makes a lot of sense since he is the one that passed on the invisibility cloak from James to Harry – and, after Harry ‘dies’ in the final book and film, Dumbledore calls him an “old friend” when they see each other at the train station.
