Featured image credit: Warner Bros.
We all love a good fan theory. It's kind of like when you're in an English class in school and the teacher says that the fact the main character in the book you're reading is wearing red socks means they're a Labour supporter. The writer most likely didn't intend for you to make that assumption, but it makes them look smarter so they're probably flattered.
However, when it comes to the absolute genius of J.K. Rowling - you can't help but wonder whether or not she did mean for us to find a deeper meaning. She created a whole world out of fucking nothing, to be fair.
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Now this is a fan theory that did the rounds a while back, but it's so good that I'm glad it's back.
In The Philosopher's Stone, Snape asks Harry: "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Sounds like a load of bollocks to me.
But I'm not as clever as Tumblr user, tomhiddles. They reckon that the real meaning behind his words were down to the following: "According to Victorian Flower Language, asphodel is a type of lily meaning, 'My regrets follow you to the grave' and wormwood means 'absence' and also typically symbolised bitter sorrow.
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"If you combined that, it meant, 'I bitterly regret Lily's death'."
Snape was very clever. And that would fit in with the story. But is J.K. really THAT arsed about one sentence in her book?
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That's for you to decide.
Words by Mel Ramsay
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Harry Potter, fan theory