'Harry Potter' Plot Holes: Inconsistencies and Contradictions

Accio, plot holes! Harry Potter is so universally loved, fans often skip over some of the franchises faults.

Originally a book series written by J.K. Rowling, the movies starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, James and Oliver Phelps, Tom Felton and more, and were a big part of a lot of people’s childhoods.

Following a young boy named Harry, who not only discovers that he’s a wizard, but a very famous one that’s attached to a foreboding prophecy. With seven books and eight movies, the franchise is full of magic, fantastical creatures and childhood wonder.

However, we can’t help but notice some of the franchise’s plot holes — both in the books and the movies. While J.K. Rowling has attempted to explain some of the plots inconsistencies, there are still instances of confusion that left us as stumped as the confundus spell.

With the upcoming Harry Potter TV series under production at HBO, we thought we’d make a list of some plot holes that we hope the creators will keep in mind for the next generation’s Harry Potter.

Daniel, who played Harry Potter in the original movies, told ComicBook that whatever the upcoming series ends up being, it should be a complete fresh start for the franchise.

“My understanding is that they’re trying to very much start fresh and I’m sure whoever is making them will want to make their own mark on it and probably not want to have to figure out how to get old Harry to cameo in this somewhere,” he said of possibly appearing the show. “I’m definitely not seeking it out in any way. But I do wish them, obviously, all the luck in the world and I’m very excited to have that torch passed. But I don’t think it needs me to physically pass it.”

HBO is hoping the show will cover all seven books matched with the same amount of seasons, making it easier to delve into all of the book details that were missed in the movies. Maybe they can fill up some plot holes while they’re at it, too? Scroll through our gallery below to uncover the biggest plot holes from Harry Potter:

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How did Hagrid fly out of the island?

In Sorceror’s Stone, Hagrid rescues Harry from an isolated island the young wizards’ aunt and uncle escape to to avoid Harry’s invitations to Hogwarts.

Hagrid can’t use magic, therefore an apparition spell wouldn’t have worked for him here. While he tells Harry that he flew in, he later reveals that brooms cannot handle his weight. Plus, Harry didn’t see Sirius’ bike that Hagrid often uses on the island. So, how the heck did he get there?

If broken wands are dangerous, why was Ron allowed to use his?

In Chamber of Secrets, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart attempts to hit Harry and Ron with a confudus spell, but as he recently broke his wand the magic repels back to him.

Since broken wands are obviously a danger to its users, it’s weird that Hogwarts allows Ron, who also breaks his wand in Chamber of Secrets, to use his throughout the school year.

Why can’t the ministry properly tell who performs magic?

The Trace was a charm allowing the Ministry of Magic to know of magic cast by wizards and witches who were under seventeen outside of Hogwarts — so, why is Harry constantly getting in trouble for it?

For instance, in the beginning of Chamber of Secrets, Dobby casts magic at the Dursleys, which sends warning signs to the ministry. Not only that, but the spell also doesn’t seem to send alarms whatsoever at times — like when Harry and his friends perform magic at the ministry’s offices in Order of the Phoenix.

That being said, the Trace doesn’t seem to be a very effective spell.

How did Fred and George not notice Peter Pettigrew on the Marauder’s Map?

My personal favorite Harry Potter plot hole is the Marauder’s Map. In Prisoner of Azkaban, Fred and George Weasley gift Harry the map that shows every person on Hogwarts grounds at all times. However, a person must say “I solemnly swear that I’m up to no good” in order to use it.

The implications of that, though, are kind of a plot hole in itself. For one, how the heck did Fred and George even figure that out when they first acquired the map?

Also, we later find out that Ron’s pet rat Scabbers ends up being Peter Pettigrew in his Animagus form. Wouldn’t Fred and George have noticed that their younger brother was sleeping next to a man named Peter Pettigrew while browsing the map?

Why couldn’t Harry originally see thestrals?

In Order of the Phoenix, Harry suddenly starts to see thestrals, magical beings that are only shown to those who have witnessed death. It’s explained that since he watched Cedric Diggory die the year prior, he can now see the creepy creatures.

However, since Harry watched his parents die in front of him when he was baby, wouldn’t he have been able to see them beforehand?
J.K. Rowling actually tried to explain the plot hole by stating that death had to “sink in” for someone to see the creatures, but many fans felt it was a pretty big oversight.