Dumbledore’s Death
Harry Potter fans love digging deep into the Wizarding World and developing wild theories and uncovering “hidden” meanings in the works of J.K. Rowling. Often, the author herself will interact with fans on Twitter and dispute them if she doesn’t think they work. This one, however, got her full blessing, with Rowling naming it her favorite HP fan theory.
It goes that The Tale of the Three Brothers, the wizard fairy tale read by Hermione in The Deathly Hallows actually represents the story of that book/movie. The greedy eldest Peverell brother, who wishes for the Elder Wand, is a stand-in for Voldemort. The second brother is driven mad by the love of a woman he cannot have, much like Snape with his infatuation with Harry’s mother. Finally, the wisest, youngest brother, who asks for an invisibility cloak, is Harry himself.
What’s more, at the conclusion of the fairy tale, the youngest Peverell is said to meet Death at the end of his life and greet him “like an old friend.” Fans believe that Death represents Dumbledore’s role in DH, as Harry’s spiritual reunion with the deceased headmaster in a heavenly version of King’s Cross station resembles the meeting with Death.
It’s a smart, well-conceived theory, so it’s no surprise that Rowling herself gave it the thumbs-up.