The Wizarding World Has A Very Dark Side
It's easy to fantasize about living in the Harry Potter universe when the first thing you think about is exciting spells, enchanted castles, fascinating creatures, and more, but the truth is, that world seems pretty grim. There are a lot of problems in this Wizarding World, and the closer you examine things, the worse it gets. Here are just 20 pretty messed up things about this universe.
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1. Hogwarts Regularly Places Children In Mortal Danger
If Hogwarts is supposed to be the safest place in the Wizarding World, why are its students constantly in mortal danger? Year after year, Harry and his crew are placed in seriously concerning situations where their lives are on the line. Giant three-headed dogs, basilisks, and Dementors are just a few safety issues we'd definitely bring up.
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2. The Dursleys Abuse Harry For Years
Some might say it's about "building character," but we find it hard to overlook the fact that the Dursleys kept Harry in a cupboard, gave him no affection, and treated him like an unwanted burden. Not to mention, he receives punishments like being withheld food and having Dudley constantly bully him. Sounds pretty messed up to us.
3. House-Elf Enslavement Is Widely Accepted
One look at Dobby's previous position with the Malfoys is enough to see that the whole house-elf situation in Harry Potter is concerning. Many wizarding families force house-elves to work without pay, personal freedom, or basic respect. With so many other problems like "You-Know-Who" coming back, it's an issue that is too often overlooked.
4. Azkaban Uses Psychological Torture
Dementors are creepy alright, but when you really think about what they're doing to wizarding criminals locked up in Azakban, it's even more unsettling. Their ability to torture and completely drain away all happiness feels like psychological punishment that's a step too far. Especially when you consider someone like Sirius Black was wrongfully held captive there.
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5. The Ministry Allows Dementors To Perform Executions
Speaking of Dementors, their powers don't just stop there. Able to completely remove a person's soul while they're still alive is shockingly horrifying, and even worse considering the Ministry allows it. Sure, they might be criminals, but there should still be a limit to their consequences, no?
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6. Hogwarts Has No Qualified Counselor
Hogwarts seems like a magical place, but we see time and time again, students experiencing bullying, grief, and more. With so much going on, it only feels right that the school should have some sort of therapist or trained counselor right? Surely they have the budget given how many traumatic events have taken place there.
7. Love Potions Are Sold As Amusing Products
The Weasley twins might be casually selling love potions at their joke shop in Diagon Alley, but something about that seems a bit off, doesn't it? Given that these supposedly "novelty" items can completely change someone's emotions without warning (as experienced by Ron), they should be taken a lot more seriously.
8. Memory Charms Can Erase A Person’s Identity
At first, it might seem cool that witches and wizards can alter or completely remove someone's memories with a single spell, but when you really think about it, you'll see that it's truly horrifying. After all, Gilderoy Lockhart made a (fake) career by stealing other people's accomplishments, and no one knew until he revealed it himself.
9. The Triwizard Tournament Endangers Teenagers
The Triwizard Tournament includes dragons, underwater captivity, and a maze filled with magical threats. It honestly doesn't even sound like something adults should be competing in! Yet here at Hogwarts, students have the opportunity to compete for eternal glory. Doesn't sound like something that should be allowed, especially when previous contestants didn't always make it out alive.
Karen Roe from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, UK on Wikimedia
10. Children Are Sorted According To Personality
At just 11 years old, Hogwarts students are placed into houses based off of their personality, completely shaping their future friends, reputation, and opportunities. They're a little young to make decisions so important! It's not talked about enough how dividing students this way also encourages rivalry and reinforces damaging assumptions, especially if you're a Slytherin.
11. The Justice System Barely Investigates Crimes
We've seen it time and time again; what does the Ministry of Magic really do? It seems like they're constantly arresting suspects without much careful conduct or thorough investigations! For one, innocent Sirius was imprisoned without a proper hearing, and we can't forget Hagrid was sent to Azkaban without any clear evidence.
12. Dangerous Sports Are Treated As Normal Entertainment
Quiddiitch looks and sounds incredibly cool and magical, which helps people overlook the fact that it's awfully dangerous too. Don't forget that at Hogwarts, all the players are young students! From broken bones to serious falls, there are a plethora of serious risks no one seems to take into account.
13. Hogwarts Employs Teachers With Questionable Behavior
How many times have we had a bad feeling about a new Hogwarts teacher before we even got to know them? Definitely one too many times is what we'll say. From Gilderoy Lockhart to Professor Quirrell and more, the Defense Against the Dark Arts class has a bad reptuation for a reason.
14. Werewolves Face Open Discrimination
Thanks to the introduction of Remus Lupin, a highly talented teacher and loyal friend, we get to learn about the terrible discrimination that werewolves face in the Wizarding World. People with lycanthropy struggle to find employment, are commonly treated as dangerous regardless of their behavior, and are typically forced to isolate from others. It's safe to say the Harry Potter universe hasn't done much to help these poor souls.
15. Blood Status Prejudice Shapes Society
The Malfoy family makes it painfully obvious just how much prejudice and discrimination exists in the Wizarding World. This magical society is built off a hierarchy, with pure-blood families at the top because of their non-sensical beliefs. It's this kind of thinking that allows Voldemort to return!
16. Prisoners Can Be Transformed Into Objects
Just how far can magic really go? With human transfiguration allowing people to be turned into animals or inanimate objects, even without consent, it begs the question of what's off limits in this universe. Just think about when Professor Moody, who is actually Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise, transforms Draco Malfoy into a ferret as punishment.
17. Hogwarts Punishments Can Be Extremely Dangerous
Speaking of punishments, Hogwarts definitely has a different idea of whats "acceptable." You wouldn't catch a normal school sending first-year students into a Forbidden Forest at night while a dangerous creature is roaming the woods! But in this magical world, apparently it's an appropriate response if you've been caught out of bed.
18. The Government Controls The News
Is there really free speech in the Harry Potter universe? After witnessing the way the Ministry pressured the Daily Prophet to completely discredit Harry and Dumbledore's warning about Voldemort's return, it makes us think there might not be. They essentially used the paper to protect their own reputation!
19. Goblins Are Denied Equal Rights
Even though goblins operate the Wizarding World's most notable bank, they still don't hold the right to carry wands. We don't get to learn a whole lot about these fascinating creatures, but our guess is these disagreements and rules aren't being discussed fairly.
20. Children Fight The Adults’ War
The fantasy and hero elements in this iconic franchise are what makes it so special, yet at the heart of it all, we can't help but wonder why Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the students are taking on responsibilities that should clearly go to trained adults. From investigating crimes to resisting corruption, these kids have definitely gone through more than they should've.
