Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has spoken out about the Dumbledore is Death theory and has given it her stamp of approval!
—
Update (August 21): J.K. Rowling greatly approves of this theory! When asked on Twitter what her favorite theory is, she named this one:
@jk_rowling what's you favourite fan theory??✌️💚
— Abbie Louise (@AbbieLou24601) August 21, 2015
Dumbledore as death. It's a beautiful theory and it fits. https://t.co/QqTQm2QnI0
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 21, 2015
—
Original story (August 6): Yet another discussion about the series has been making its way around the internet, and it’s sent fans into another spiral.
This one concerns “The Tale of the Three Brothers” — the story penned by Beedle the Bard that came to light in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — and how it relates to the characters in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.
Since the release of the final Harry Potter book, fans have realized that the Three Brothers — Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus Peverell — are similar to Harry, Snape, and Voldemort. Like the brothers, the three characters in Harry Potter all came face to face with Death, who was personified in Beedle’s “Tale.”
So who is the personification of death in relation to Harry, Snape, and Voldemort?
Albus Dumbledore.
How does this all add up? Well…
- Antioch = Voldemort. Both are obsessed with power and wanted to conquer death. (Remember, Voldemort was the one in posession of the Elder Wand.)
- Cadmus = Snape. Both were in love with a woman who died too soon. Cadmus tried to revive her with the Resurrection Stone, but it didn’t work how he had hoped.
- Ignotus = Harry. Both were in possession of the Invisibility Cloak. Ignotus was the youngest brother whom, as BuzzFeed puts it, “Death sought for many years but could never find until the son walked willingly to him, greeted by Death ‘as an old friend.’ He ‘went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.'”
That’s all well and good, but how is Dumbledore Death?
Just like Death with Cadmus and Antioch, Dumbledore played a role in the deaths of Snape and Voldemort.
And like Ignotus, Harry “willingly” (remember, Harry was prepared to die) walked to Dumbledore on Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross and greeted Dumbledore. He greeted Death, his “old friend,” as is written in the Tale of the Three Brothers.
Thus, Dumbledore is Death.
@JK_Rowling, did you plan it this way? It’s just another reason why the Harry Potter series is so damn magical.
Here’s how Tumblr freaked out about it:
Bravo, Jo!