How unpopular are unpopular harry potter opinions? If you are a Potterhead you must have heard at least one unpopular Harry Potter opinion. But are they actually unpopular? I’ve decided to find out. I collected 13 of the ones I found most fun or controversial but if you know any other you think is more unpopular feel free to share it in the comment section down below. My sample size is not as big as I would have liked but I utilized both my Twitter and Instagram to make it more representative.
Note: from the get go I want to point out that Instagram polls have a bias: I can see who answered and what they answered, and that could potentially make people more inclined to follow the crowd. I’m not saying it happened, just that it’s a bias we need to be aware of.
Now, let’s get to it!
1. FRED AND GEORGE ARE OVERRATED
Final result:
It would seem Instagram Potterheads love the twins a tiny bit more than they do on Twitter. Collectively the percentage is 85% in favour of Fred and George, and 15% thinks they are overrated. That actually surprises me as I thought Fred and George were untouchable in people’s minds. However it certainly makes this statment an unpopular opinion.
My opinion:
I’m biased because I adore Fred and George. They seem to have collected a lot of the best traits amongst their siblings. Not only are they good in school (at least up until their OWLS exam) but they manage to balance being both serious and carefree. They love to get other people to laugh – although they don’t pass up an oportunity to amuse themselves either – and try to help when it really matters. They have a good portion of confidence in themselves and are incredibly protective of Ginny, the only girl of the 7, and even though they make fun of Percy for being very ambitious they, too, embrace that trait by opening up a shop and develop a large portion of the products which shows an impressive display of skills. On top of all that they are good Quidditch players. Is there anything those two cannot do? (I’m pretending Fred never died).
2. HERMIONE SHOULD HAVE ENDED UP WITH VIKTOR KRUM
Final result:
I assume this is Ron Weasley fans speaking, haha. Or perhaps they just like the story as it is which, of course, is totally fine. Collectively the percentage is 16% in favour of Hermione and Viktor while 84% thinks them teaming up is a no go. I think we can safely say this Hermione and Viktor coupling up is an unpopular opinion.
My opinion:
I actually fully support this match. I know Hermione was never in love with him but I feel that she would have been had she not been written towards Ron. Viktor adored her, that was always clear, and they could have hour long intellectual discussions. Not everyone sees that as a huge deal but as something who is the same way I can tell you that it is. Being intellectually well-matched spares you a lot of frustration and arguments. Viktor also doesn’t strike me as someone who would let Hermione walk all over him and I definitely think she needs a firm hand sometimes (not in that way!) All in all, I love Viktor. He is talentet and a great guy who clearly is able to think for himself. Although he is an introvert he also knows what he wants and is not afraid of pursuing it.
3. ALBUS DUMBLEDORE WASN’T ALL THAT GREAT
Final result:
Now, this is more interesting! More than half in the Twitter poll do not like Dumbledore. Collectively the percentage is 69,5% in favour of Dumbledore while 30,5% thinks he is not a good person. Even though 30,5% is a lot I still think we can safely say that this is an unpopular opinion, although not a rare one.
My opinion:
As someone who has many magical friends I’ve heard this opinion before. More than once, actually. It seems, however, that many people who don’t like Dumbledore are also people who tends to think with their emotions. These are also people who would most likely not be good leaders because a true leader must often make tough decisions and sacrifice some things for other horrors to end. That is the consequence of war. Plain and simple. Many of my friends who don’t like Dumbledore keep bringing up that he was willing to sacrifice Harry, raising him “like a pig for slaughter” as Snape puts it. What many tends to forget is that Dumbledore has a strong hunch that Harry is going to survive – or at least being given the choice to survive. And as we know his theories are often right. Of course he couldn’t tell Snape that because Snape was meant to give Harry his memories and Harry couldn’t know that surviving once again was a possibility. If he did it wouldn’t have worked and he would actually be dead. I also feel that it seems more cruel because we, as readers, have come to know and love Harry through 7 books. Not many think of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of people Voldemort slaugthered (for fun or otherwise). A great leader would sacrifice 1 person to save 1000 if given only those two options. And those were the two options Dumbledore had: Harry sacrificing himself and destroy the horcrux inside him, or let Voldemort keep murdering people. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to not be a leader. Just be grateful that others are willing to carry that burden so that you don’t have to.
4. VOLDEMORT HAS THE SADDEST BACKSTORY
Final result:
Collectively the percentage is 29,5% in favour of sad Voldy while 70,5% thinks someone else has got a more sad backstory. That means that this indeed is an unpopular opinion. It makes me wonder who people would pick instead.
My opinion:
I assume it means the fact that Tom was an orphan and had to grow up at an orphanage. If that’s the case I don’t agree. But if it includes Merope then I could possibly agree. Although the winner for saddest backstory is almost a tie between Neville and Merope – Neville because growing up with parents who have no idea who you are is the only thing worse than having actual dead parents, and Merope because she clearly had been grossly abused her entire life – I have to choose Merope. My heart bleeds for everything about her life and story, even Harry’s description of her as “the most defeated-looking person he had ever seen” is devastating! She had so little joy in her life and the tiny bit of joy she did have she had to create herself, only to fail and die at age 19.
5. SIRIUS BLACK IS OVERRATED
Final result:
Oo, another interesting result! Magical Twitter is not impressed by dear Sirius. Collectively the percentage is 62,5% who clearly thinks I have a death wish (haha) while 37,5% thinks he is overrated. With nearly 40% I don’t actually think I can declare this opinion unpopular. Sorry, all fans of Sirius Black.
My opinion:
YES! But I only say that because I don’t like him. Please excuse my bias. No doubt he has had a rough life but even through the small glimpses we get of who he was before Azkaban he didn’t seem all that charming. Ironically (since they hate each other) he makes the same mistake as Snape and thinks Harry is 100% James. Molly is right in Order of the Phoenix when she accuses Sirius of thinking of Harry as having James, his best friend, back. And Harry IS not James which Sirius comments on more than once (as far as I recall) in a tone of disappointment. The thing is that Sirius never mentally matured which we can probably fault his stay in Azkaban but still. Sirius is smart, but likeable? Not really. When he is at his best he is this cool uncle or brother, but at his worst he acts far more like a child than Harry ever does.
6. HARRY SHOULD HAVE DIED
Final result:
Twitter! What is wrong with you? Haha! To be honest I didn’t think so many magical Twitter peeps would jump this particular band wagon but here we are. Collectively the percentage is 23,5% who thinks Harry should have stayed dead *sob*, and 76,5% thinks he deserves to live. Verdict: unpopular opinion.
My opinion:
I think after all that he went through Harry deserves to live. However from a story-telling perspective Harry dying would have made it more interesting. I always found it rather lucky that Harry, Hermione and Ron all made it through. But it makes sense and if Harry would have died how everything works and intertwine with the horcruxes, Lily’s sacrifice, the Elderwand etc. would have had to be very different.
7. HUFFLEPUFF IS THE BEST OF THE FOUR HOUSES
Final result:
Do you feel the excitement? I wonder if I have more puff friends on my IG? Anyway, collectively the percentage is 50% who thinks Hufflepuff is da bomb! while 50% disagrees. No matter what it’s split 50/50 which means that I absolutely cannot declare this opinion unpopular. I’m genuinly surprised by this result!
My opinion:
Let’s break down the 4 houses.
➸ Slytherin: tradition, resouceful, cunning, ambitious, self-preservation and leadership,
➸ Gryffindor: bravery, courage, loyalty, nerve, chivalry, daring and adventurous.
➸ Ravenclaw: clever, wise, competitive, creative, original, witty and individualistic.
➸ Hufflepuff: loyalty, fair play, kind, inclusive, hard working, dedication and patience.
I feel that some may see Hufflepuff as better because they are either Hufflepuffs themselves, or because they value those traits more. And Hufflepuff do have a lot of very desirable traits. As Dumbledore says to Harry many people underestimate kindness. Being inclusive and probably having a high level of empathic ability they seem like someone you’d want as your best friend. The problem that Hufflepuffs have is that they most likely struggle with self-preservation and to stand up for themselves. They could learn a thing or two from the Slytherins. Putting yourself first is portrayed as bad in the books but a certain level of self-preservation is a good thing. It means that you take care of your mental health and won’t let people walk all over you. Another thing that I feel like Hufflepuffs and Slytherins would have in common is tradition. Again, traditions aren’t bad; it depends on the tradition. It might be due to their common room but Hufflepuffs reminds me of Hobbits. A gleeful bunch who throw great parties with lots of food and drinks, but who also value that the framework stays the same and that traditions are upheld, perhaps less inclined to try new things.
Whichever house people see as the best is a matter of opinion and personal values. All I can say is that when you break down all of the house traits you can clearly see equally as many good and “bad” tendencies in each of the houses.
8. HARRY SHOULD NOT HAVE BECOME AN AUROR
Final result:
It seems a lot of Potter peeps actually agree. Collectively the percentage is 54,5% in favour of Harry finding another profession while 45,5% thinks he should stay on the path that he chose. Since it’s pretty evenly split I cannot declare this an unpopular opinion.
My opinion:
Despite Harry’s personal wishes I always wanted him to become a professional Quidditch player. He clearly had a knack for it, and then it doesn’t seem like a good idea for a person with PTSD to become an Auror. He was also a great teacher but I think he would have become bored after a few years. Quidditch would have satisfied his thirst for that adrenalin and excitement solving school mysteries gave him. I obviously cannot fault him for following his dreams but personally I don’t think being an Auror was everything he dreamed it would be.
9. THE DANCE SCENE BETWEEN HARRY AND HERMIONE IN FILM 7 WAS A GOOD ADDITION
Final result:
Well this is a surprise! Collectively the percentage is 56% in favour of the added moment while 44% thinks it never should have been. Unpopular opinion debunked!
My opinion:
Well I love it, but I accept that it is one of those things that you either love or hate and there’s no inbetween. I personally think that the music hits the tone of the film and situation really well. It is both uplifting yet melancholic which pretty much describes Harry and Hermione’s mood and mind set. A brief moment of something good in the intense darkness. It’s the kind of moment where I find myself smiling while he turns her awkwardly around and immediately after starts crying due to the reality of their situation, how hopeless it all seems. It’s one of the moments where it seems most real to me; where I feel that I can relate.
10. THE CURSED CHILD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CANON
Final result:
I must admit I was a bit nervous about this one. Collectively the percentage is 61% in favour of Cursed Child not being considered canon while 39% thinks it should. I think it’s safe to say that this is an unpopular opinion.
My opinion:
Absolutely not! First of all it’s so clearly not written by J. K. Rowling. Her voice is no-where to be found and it contradicts established book canon so heavily that I’m surprised some fans accept it. In addition none of the characters are themselves and they often do things that we hardcore fans know they’d never do or say. To me it’s the most obvious intentional money-grabber and although the play might look amazing the plot is lazy and the writers clearly think Harry Potter fans are stupid. The Cursed Child is insulting. Furhermore, Prisoner of Azkaban got time-travel right. The writers of the Cursed Child seems less bothered by actual science which annoys the heck out of me.
I firmly believe that The Cursed Child is made solely to cash in. They advertise the screenplay as the 8th story, which it’s clearly not to anyone who have any analytical skills, to make people want to buy it without hesitation. The play is divided into two halfs, both ridicously expensive, favouring people who have money and leave less fortunate Potter fans in the dirt. They come out with new merchandise as if the tickets are not expensive enough. In general Warner Bros. have made it clear that the only fans that matter are wealthy ones which I honestly find detestable, but nothing has been so obvious a money-grabber as The Cursed Child. Sorry for the rant but I feel very passionate about fandom corporations dividing people into those who have money and those who don’t. The Harry Potter fandom has everything to do with the heart and soul of the story and Warner Bros. seems adamant to destroy that.
I never wanted to read Harry Potter fan-fiction but here we are, and I’m sure there is better fan-fiction out there.
11. DOBBY IS ANNOYING
Final result:
Again, Twitter, what’s the deal? Collectively the percentage is 71,5% in favour of Dobby being an absolute sweetheart while 28,5% thinks he is annoying as heck. So yea, this is indeed an unpopular opinion.
My opinion:
Honestly, yes he is – in book 2. Dobby is super annoying in Chamber of Secrets but from there he has quite the story arc. He goes from slavery and abuse to being free, traveling the world, working in Hogwarts’ kitchens and being paid. Dealing with the other House-Elfs all by himself, being an outsider, until finally finding himself back at his old Master’s house saving not 1, not 2, but 7 people’s lives! (According to my maths and memory). Not many people dare go up against Bellatrix Lestrange but Dobby did and we must applaud him for it.
12. HERMIONE SHOULD HAVE ENDED UP WTH DRACO MALFOY
Final result:
I wasn’t sure because I have been in the proximity of a lot of vocal Dramione fans. This restores my faith in the magical community. Collectively the percentage is 13% in favour of Dramione while 87% thinks they would be an absolutely awful couple (let’s be honest, Hermione can do better!). Unpopular opinion indeed!
My opinion:
I’m not sure where that fan-fiction match came from. If people see sexual tension between Hermione and Draco I think it says more about them than anything else. There is no sexual tension; only bullying, prejudice and belittlement. Draco is not a good man, he is not a “bad boy” that can be fixed, or misunderstood. Is he evil? No, but he definitely isn’t good.
13. VOLDEMORT IS WORSE THAN UMBRIDGE
Final result:
*Sigh* okay, here we go. Collectively the percentage is 43,5% in favour of Voldy being the big bad while 56,5% thinks he is nothing compared to Umbridge… yeah. I fuse to declare this opinion unpopular because if people has just a smitch of sense, and put facts over feelings, they would agree with it. My blog, my rules.
My opinion:
This last one is my own unpopular opinion that shouldn’t actually be unpopular. For 3 years I have been trying to convince people of why Voldy, of course, is worse. One wouldn’t think I had to but here we are. This is the best example I have of the divide between people who think with their emotions and people who don’t. I’m not trying to belittle people who think with their emotions but it makes them form illogical conclusions that have no evidential backing (like saying that an unpleasant teacher is worse than a phychopathic mass-murderer).
Here are the facts:
- Everything evil in the magical world has its origin in Voldemort. He is the main source.
- He has killed hundreds, if not thousands, of people (for fun, personal gain or otherwise).
- He is a threat to the pillars of society and the very foundation on which everything is built.
- People fear his name so much that even when he’s been gone for 11 years(!) people still won’t utter the word AND they literally have a physical reaction when they hear it.
- He has a Death Eater cult (read: founder of a terrorist group), many whom are almost as bad as him but have been enabled by him and is now a threat due to him, and him alone.
People saying that Voldemort as an evil character is less realistic than Umbridge haven’t looked around on the world we live in right now. As you read my words certain world leaders are tortuing people and are just as evil as Voldemort is. You might not see them on a day to day basis, and they might carry out these artrocities in another country and use fancier language but that doesn’t make them less dangerous or real; on the contrary. You may never hear the screams of their many victims but they exist. They are the ones who will gladly destroy everything you and I hold dear. I’m not trying to scare you but to open your eyes to reality. What is a hated teacher giving one a rough time in detention compared to tortured people’s suffering? How can one say that Umbridge’s quil is worse than the Cruciatis Curse? Or that having a teacher ruin the fun experinece of school compared to people being murdered in the streets? You might not think about it but it is this kind of thinking of “oh he’s not that bad because he is no direct threat to me right now” that enables dangours leaders and destroys countries and lives en masse.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations: you’re awesome! Despite my last rant I did have a lot of fun writing this blog post – and you all seemed generally engaged with the polls as well so I deem it a success no matter what. We even got to debunk some unpopular opinions! Only 8 of the 13 are actually legit unpopular which is super interesting. The number of participants could have been larger but a bit over 100 people have answered polls on Twitter and Instagram combined so it could have been worse.
Thank you for reading along, and don’t forget to dump other unpopular opinions you have, or heard of, in the comment section down below. Stay safe.
Cheers!
Let’s connect!
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Which unpopular opinion do you know that is not listed above?
Who, in your opinion, has the saddest backstory?
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I love Harry Potter. 🙂
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I’m a huge Potterhead and this post brought a smile to my face! I’ve heard of my fair share of unpopular opinions regarding Harry Potter, and I’m always curious to see what others think. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you, glad to hear it 🙂
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1 2 7 10 and 12 have some fighting words going on there! Haha I definitely hate Umbridge more than Voldemort but that may just because Voldemort is incredibly stupid and honestly realistically shouldn’t have made it as far as he did, but neither should of Harry, but then we wouldn’t have a story now would we
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