Mirror Images: Exploring Character Parallels

Amongst the fan theories of Harry Potter come the realization of character parallels. Some may or may not have been confirmed by Ms Rowling, they can be very sound or completely crazy. The joy of fan theories is they can be completely outrageous, and yet someone may actually agree with you!

Today, though, I'm going to talk about a theory that has multiple versions, but this one is very sound one. Let's get theory digging!

Harry and Co are the Next Gen Marauders and Co

This fan theory has a bit of a parallel feel to it. I do remember reading several years ago that Ms Rowling had said there are intentional parallels between the two generations. These parallels are actually extremely important because it shows the growth and the differences of choosing your own path while growing up. The parallels between generations is super significant as to what can happen when you choose a different path. I actually would like to break down who was parallel to who; partly to break the theory down, but also so that you can understand better where the parallels run.

Now, there are multiple versions of this theory out there. Many hold the debate of who is Peter and who is James. However, the main theory I want to look at comes from a clickbait article I read one day. When I found this theory, it was so different from the others that I have seen but also makes a lot of sense. I will also be breaking down and including thoughts of other theories in the mix, but the main fan theory we will be looking at will blow your mind. Let's start with the Marauders themselves.

James Potter

Everyone immediately sees Harry as James; this is fully understandable considering that Harry is told very often that he looks so much like James. I've seen the proof of this in all the times I have seen this theory. However, what people miss is that parallels between people run deeper than physical traits and surface personalities. Everyone automatically places Harry as James, but there is much more to James (and Harry) than his looks. This argument is that Ginny is a better fit to James due to her popularity and confident nature. They make comparisons to the fact that James was comfortable as a Pureblood, but also didn't have a problem turning away from the more outlandish Pureblood beliefs; whereas Ginny never bat an eye when someone called her a Blood Traitor, and we all know she had no issues with throwing a mean Bat-Bogey or decking someone. If you were let into her inner circle of friends, it was an honour and she would defend you tooth and nail. This is very similar to how James was; very protective and your secrets were safe. This theory in this is completely sound, and I can't find myself disagreeing with it.

Sirius Black

There are multiple theories when it comes down to Sirius, but I have seen the role said to be carried by Hermione. I feel that there is a lot of differences in personalities that can debunk this theory, but the final part of why they see this is where I can believe it. Despite the difference in blood status to blur the politics line involved, the fact is that loved the Potters and Remus so dearly, not because no one loved him but because he CHOSE them, this is where I find similarities between Sirius and Hermione. As we know, Hermione was not very popular but from very early on there is an obvious foreshadow that she has chosen her people: Harry, Ron, and eventually Neville.

Now, I am not a person who says a fan theory is wrong; because fan theories are what you think, and I am a big believer in theories are not wrong but have their own unique spin. However just like fan theories come from holes poked in canon events, holes can be found in fan theories as well. Some of the biggest holes in "Hermione is Sirius" comes down to major points in their personalities: Hermione ad Sirius are complete opposites. While Sirius was very much a rule breaker and, from what we can gather, probably not as studious as he should have been, Hermione was very strict with abiding by the rules (of course, Harry and Ron convinced her to do a lot of rule breaking, but it was very reluctant) and was arguably the most studious of their year. However, some people could argue that being polar opposites made them more alike; while Sirius was willing to be controlled in on his joking at times, Hermione was (as noted) willing to let loose sometimes.

When it comes down to it, I have always seen Harry more like Sirius: they come from families who hate them, but they never let that stop them from loving those close to them deeply and being protective of them, despite what Severus would say Harry did have a penchant for breaking the rules (whether trouble found him or not), they were both quite reckless even though it was for completely different reasons. However, I feel that this theory comes from the more down-to-earth side of Hermione and Sirius and not just how they act in general. All-in-all, not a bad match.

Remus Lupin

Obviously, most people would immediately say Hermione, due to the fact that both her and Remus were the more book-ish of both friend groups; I fully back this theory as well. Remus and Hermione were both the quiet ones who studied a lot, both were Prefects, and both kept to themselves until they found their niche in a group of others. Not to mention if we want to go by physical features (depending on which Hermione you envision) they are very similar in appearance as well. However, recently I was forced to take a look at an interesting view on who is the younger generation's Remus and I can't say I disagree with it!

The theory is Remus Lupin is Luna. There are a lot of similarities that make this very sound: they were the lonely kids who were amazed at being taken under the wing of a more popular classmate, they're a little odd and "out of touch" but they also had a traumatic childhood experience. While Remus was attacked by Greyback and turned into a Werewolf, Luna watched her mother die, and being raised father who was thrust into being a single father to a young child while also grieving the loss of his wife. From what we can gather from the series is that Luna's mother was quite possibly Xeno's soul mate, so it's understandable that his grief would hit him extremely hard. Due to Luna's eccentric ways, she was an outcast by her own right, as Remus was more due to his appearance from being a Werewolf. Realistically, they have both seen their fair share of the cruel side of the Wizarding World. They point out that the only real difference between Remus and Luna is that while Luna accepted her oddness and made it a part of who she is, Remus could never accept that he was a monster by wizarding standards; therefore, he never saw himself with confidence the way that Luna did, despite constantly being picked on and made fun of.

Peter Pettigrew

Now, this is going to be an interesting choice; but only because of the other theories out there that I have seen. Some will say that Luna or Neville will be a good fit for this, and I support both sides. Partly because they aren't in the forward four, but also because they could have handled being picked on and overshadowed by their friends much differently. Luna and Neville are the two that I, personally, theorize in one of two characters of the older generation. I'll tell you the other one later.

Recently, I have seen Ron earmarked as Peter. Now, I will agree that there are some VERY sound arguments. So, let's take a look at them. Ron is the youngest boy and is followed by an always wanted little girl. He has five brothers of whom he's gotten constant hand-me-downs from, and nothing new; he even had Charlie's old wand until his broke in 2nd year. Quite similar to how Peter was in the constant shadows of his friends, Ron always felt as though he had to prove himself because he stood in his brother's shadows. Becoming Harry Potter's best friend only made that shadow bigger.

However, unlike Peter, he was able to overcome his jealousy in the end and found his own self-worth. Some may feel that it was before he did lasting damage but, as someone who has personally been abandoned by someone I was in love with, I feel the damage was done the second he left. (To debate about this, don't forget to join our community and check out the member forums, as there are many different views on Ron leaving them.) Regardless of my personal feelings on that, though, there is a point that he overcame his jealousy as he was the one who ignored Voldemort's mocking over his jealousy of Harry and fear of not being loved by Hermione and stabbed the Horcrux. This is one of the differences I was talking about earlier, in showing what could have happened if Peter had taken a different path and became-for lack of better phrasing-a stronger person instead of turning tail and running when he was offered a more powerful solution; the price being to turn his back on those people who accepted him despite his lack of self-confidence.

Lily Evans

I love this next part of the theory because it's so different but also so perfect! As I said earlier, many people associate Harry with James which then they automatically link Ginny to Lily because they end up together so you would think that the James and Lily of both generations wind up together. However, just like people lump Harry with James because they look similar doesn't mean that should be the same reason why we lump Ginny and Lily together because they both have red hair ad fiery personalities. I firmly believe that if Ginny had been in Lily's position with Severus, that Ginny would have forgiven him but only after giving him a good couple hexings. That being said, the connection between these next two makes a lot of sense, and I fully believe that it has nothing to do with Ginny's connection to James.

This specific theory links Lily to her beloved son, Harry. They make the point that while Severus only sees James in him, many others will see a lot of Lily. I won't lie that it has been a while since I read the books (at least the ones that I would need to find the info I'm looking for) and I don't recall anything being said in the movies, but I can't honestly see at the very least Remus not seeing Lilly more than James in Harry. From the little descriptions we get about her, it is noted that despite her fiery temper she is still a sweet and down-to-earth person. They're both extremely intelligent, but they don't call attention to it. Some might argue against this on Harry's side, but you have to remember that he wasn't allowed to be smarter than Dudley which means it was easier for him to hide ay intelligence he had; but he scored very well on his OWLs, and I can't imagine that he wouldn't have done well on his NEWTs as well. As for Harry's temper, a lot of people will argue that he was literally a living Horcrux which is true, but I don't honestly think we can chalk his ENTIRE attitude and personality up to living with a thing that is nothing but negativity! There are also arguments about that's why the Dursleys were the way that they were too, but then I would honestly expect everyone to act like that around him, and they don't. However, they both have a fierce protectiveness of those they care about; Lily defended Severus up until the end of their friendship, and Harry literally sacrificed himself for everyone.

These are all just a few more reasons that had Severus seen past his anger at James and the fact that Harry was almost a carbon-copy of him, he would have come to realize that his once best friend's spirit still lived on.

Severus Snape

Obviously, by process of elimination, you can figure out that Severus has been left for Neville. I mentioned earlier that I could see Neville being one of two people and Severus is, in fact, one of the two people; so, I definitely agree with this. The other person I could have seen was Luna for quite similar reasons why I could see Neville. I truly feel as though Severus and Peter were very similar characters, which is why Luna and Neville could be considered for either one. Let's take a look at the reasoning for choosing Neville, specifically.

Severus and Neville both find themselves in similar situations: the Halfblood son from a long line of Purebloods, the Princes, and the almost-Squib son of the Longbottoms. In their own way, they both have huge familial expectations to live up to. Due to this, they both spend the first few years of their school years as almost complete outsiders. While Severus may have had Lily, they wound up in separate houses, whereas Neville really didn't have anyone and just had to flounder on his own. Then comes fifth year where they both flourish and find their positions solidified in groups (not necessarily friendship) unexpectedly. Neville found himself beside Harry, coming into his own and finding his inner Gryffindor; Severus finding himself in the beginning stages of following the Dark Lord and submerging himself in the Dark Arts.

My theory that Luna could also be Severus comes from her also being an outcast due to her "oddities" and not finding her place right away, either. She, like Severus, was also picked on a lot and had very few friends. While he had been picked on for his clothes being ragged while in a house of some of the wealthiest families and having an abusive homelife, no one understood Luna and what she saw; also, not realizing the traumatic event that she, herself, had also been through which gave her a rough homelife as well.

Obviously, there are other theories as to who represents who and the combinations are interesting. While this might have gotten a bit dark in some places, this is a fairly light theory that each person has their own merits for who. Until next time, keep theorizing those fantastic theories!