The Horcrux Fan Theory That Changes Everything In Harry Potter

The "Harry Potter" franchise, both the books penned by J.K. Rowling and the Warner Bros. film series, focuses on a group of young wizards and witches who battle against an evil wizard named Voldemort. Maintaining a top spot within the zeitgeist for more than 20 years, this franchise is no stranger to significant — dare we say, mind-blowing — fan theories. After all, it's set in a world of magic that's told from the perspective of juvenile magic-users who do not yet comprehend how complex and far-reaching this ancient practice can be. Given the vastness of the world and lore of the "Harry Potter" books and movies, there is plenty left to the imaginations of fans, which means theorizing in an effort to fill in the gaps of their understanding is a popular pastime.

One such piece of fascinating "Harry Potter" lore is Horcruxes. The antagonist, Voldemort, uses them to hide pieces of his soul, effectively making him immortal while they remain intact. In both the books and the films, it's said that Horcruxes can be made when one commits murder, as such a horrific act splits the very soul. However, the exact method used to contain that piece of soul is left vague, and Rowling has failed to share specifics in interviews, although she did come close in a 2007 interview with "Harry Potter" fan site The Leaky Cauldron.

However, there's a big, twisted fan theory centering around Horcruxes and how they're made that would change everything in the "Harry Potter" world.

Over on the r/FanTheories subreddit, a 2015 post from u/sirlionel13 put forth the theory that Horcruxes in "Harry Potter" are actually made via the consumption of blood or flesh of one's victim. This would make Voldemort a cannibal on top of all the other horrific descriptors one could call him. 

"Cannibalism has, throughout history, been associated with gaining strength, power, or health from the dead," the Redditor argues. "Whether it be to gain the strength of a defeated enemy, share the metaphysical power of a deceased member of the community, or a simple medicinal practice to rid the body of ailments, humans have had the idea that eating other humans could aid them in some way."

Funnily enough, Voldemort's followers in the books and movies are called Death Eaters. Is it a coincidental name or a sign that something more sinister is going on? It's difficult to say. Not everyone in this Reddit thread believes the theory holds water, however. U/pillowbird pointed out that both Myrtle and Tom Riddle Sr.'s bodies were left intact, despite their connection to Voldemort's various Horcruxes. However, perhaps there's some other magical way to commit cannibalism without leaving behind traces? Again, it's impossible to say for certain. 

Either way, this is a fun little theory that adds a potentially dark twist to the "Harry Potter" lore. If it were ever proven to be true, it would completely change how fans understand the physical toll of Voldemort's mission in the books and films, as well as the effect of destroying such objects on Harry's psyche.