5 Popular Harry Potter Plot Holes & Fan Theories Explaining Them

Summer is slowly approaching, and it is starting to smell like magic, making us want to pull out our worn-out J.K. Rowling books. To be fair, there seems to be no bad time to start rereading Harry Potter novels and rewatching the iconic movie series, which fans of the Wizarding World have done numerous times.

With each rereading and rewatching, we find new details and even some plot holes. But are they really discrepancies, or just quirks that need a touch of imagination to smooth out? Let's try to find out.

Here are five popular Harry Potter plot holes and fan headcanons to explain them.

Man in Bed

How could Fred and George, after years of using the Marauder's Map, not notice that their brothers (first Percy and then Ron) were going to bed every night with someone named Peter Pettigrew?

Fan theory: The map was made and enchanted by the Marauders, and Peter a.k.a. Wormtail a.k.a. Scabbers was one of them. So the creators probably made sure that no teacher or other random user could see them on the map. And Harry can see Pettigrew because he has James' DNA.

Another simpler explanation is that Fred and George were just too busy with their own mischief to worry about what their boring brothers were doing.

Thestral Mystery

How could Hermione not know about Thestrals pulling the Hogwarts carriages? In Order of the Phoenix, she thinks Harry is crazy when he sees the creatures for the first time. But didn't she memorize Hogwarts: A History by heart?

Fan theory: Thestrals may be a recent addition to the Hogwarts grounds. Hagrid once mentions that he was the one who started breeding the invisible beings. So it's possible that there's no mention of Thestrals in the books about Hogwarts.

Time-Turner Questions

Hermione is a minor student. How could McGonagall and the authorities trust her with such a dangerous magical artifact as a Time-Turner? And if it exists in the Wizarding World, why didn't the magic community use it in the time of need when Voldemort came to power?

Fan theory: Well, Hermione is a very responsible and promising student. Besides, Dumbledore might have known that she would end up saving two lives with the help of a Time-Turner. This trickster had a lot of secrets up his sleeve.

As for the second point, the Battle of the Department of Mysteries destroyed all the Time-Turners in the Time Room. The devices still existed in other countries, but using them during the war would risk some falling into the hands of Death Eaters.

Wizard Economy

Wizards and witches have magical everyday items like expanding tents and bottomless bags. How come some are rich and some are poor?

Fan theory: We know that magical abilities are not equal. For example, not everyone can do the Patronus Charm. So some families can earn money by performing magic they are good at. Also, we have never seen wizards who are too poor. Ron has to wear second-hand clothes, but in fact, the Weasleys are doing quite well, considering seven children.

Calendar Troubles

In the J.K. Rowling universe, September 1st always seems to be a Sunday. We often see Hogwarts students returning to school, having a feast, and waking up the next morning to their brand-new Monday schedules.

Harry Potter calendars in general are not very reliable. For example, the story of Philosopher's Stone begins on Tuesday, November 1, 1981. In reality, it was a Sunday.

Fan theory: These calendar discrepancies seem to have no explanation. Looks like we found the real plot hole in Harry Potter. But is it really that important?