The wizarding world of Harry Potter has continued to entertain and delight since its conception in 1997. And it's not hard to see why; J.K Rowling's tale of magic, muggles and everything in between is unlike any tale of sorcery we've ever seen before, what with its well developed protagonists and coterie of eclectic supporting characters. And 20 years on, fans are still dong quizzes to see what Hogwarts house they would be sorted into, and they're even coming up with theories to explain some of the murkier aspects of the tale.
Certainly, J.K Rowling has caused some controversy after confirming a rather disturbing fan theory about everybody's favourite Hogwarts professor, Dumbledore.
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In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a story is told to our three heroes called, The Tale of Three Brothers.
In the story, three wizarding brothers encounter a river which is far too dangerous to cross. Using their wands they create a bridge which causes the hooded figure of death to appear, enraged over the fact that the brothers managed to "cheat" him. Death, being the conniving spectre that he is, however, pretends to be impressed by the actions of the brothers and offers them each a prize of their choice.
The first brother asks for a wand which is "more powerful than any other", and is given the Elder Wand. The second brother is gifted with the resurrection stone, after he asks for the power to bring the dead back to life. The third brother, however, had figured out that death had an ulterior motive by this point and so asked for an invisibility cloak so that he could live his life without being followed by death.
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Eventually, death comes for the brothers. The first brother is murdered over the Elder Wand, and the second ends up committing suicide after the woman he resurrects returns differently.
On the other hand, using the invisibility cloak enables the third brother to live a long life, before handing down it down to his son and greeting "death as an old friend".
A popular fan theory that has gained traction in recent years have suggested that the brothers represent some of the major characters in J.K Rowling's novel. It alleges that the first brother represents Voldemort due to his lust for power. The second brother is representative of Severus Snape because of his enduring love for Lily Potter. And finally, the last brother is believed to be Harry Potter, as he is described as a "humble man who simply wants to live a long happy life free from the fear of death".
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If you're willing to accept all this, then fans believe that there is only one person who can be "death" - and that is none other than Professor Dumbledore.
Now, hear me out. In the first book, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone, Dumbledore gifts Harry with an invisibility cloak, which is said to have been passed down by his father. And in Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, Harry is shot with the killing curse, before entering King's Cross Station and greeting Dumbledore as an "old friend".
And J.K Rowling apparently buys into it too. When asked what her favourite fan theory was on Twitter, she replied "Dumbledore as death. It's a beautiful theory and it fits."
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Don't worry, our minds are blown too.
