The centaurs of Harry Potter subtly revealed Harry’s fate in Philosopher’s Stone, proving Harry had always been destined to die at Voldemort’s hand.
Summary
- The centaurs in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone hinted at Harry’s eventual death, and this foreshadowing was not included in the movie adaptation.
- The centaurs believed that Voldemort was supposed to kill Harry in the Forbidden Forest, and his death was necessary for Voldemort’s downfall.
- The centaurs only chose to fight against Voldemort after Harry’s death, showing their understanding of destiny and their role in defeating the Dark Lord.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows‘ twist ending was ten years in the making, with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone containing a significant hint at Harry’s eventual fate. This came down to a single book scene in which Harry first met the centaurs of the Forbidden Forest. The strange creatures were adamant that they should not interfere with the wizarding world, preferring to keep their sights on the stars and the future they quietly revealed. However, Firenze the centaur was determined to help Harry, and in doing so, he subtly told the Boy Who Lived how he would eventually die in Harry Potter.
Much of this didn’t make it into the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie. The film’s scene with Firenze was short and sweet, with the centaur only warning Harry that the cloaked figure he had encountered was none other than Lord Voldemort. There was no mention of the other centaurs or their anger over Firenze’s decision to save Harry, which meant that not only did this impactful moment of foreshadowing for the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows never make it to the screen, but the rest of the centaur’s story was also cut from the later Harry Potter movies.
RELATED: Harry Potter Cast – Where Are They Now?
Firenze The Centaur Hinted He Knew Harry Potter’s Fate In Philosopher’s Stone
When Firenze rescued Harry from Voldemort in the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone book, he placed him on his back and set out to look for Hagrid. On the way, the duo came across the other centaurs, who were angry to learn that Firenze had saved Harry’s life, stating, “We are sworn not to set ourselves against the heavens. Have we not read what is to come in the movements of the planets?” This implied that Harry was supposed to die at Voldemort’s hand, an idea reinforced when Firenze said, “The planets have been read wrongly before now, even by centaurs. I hope this is one of those times.”
The fact that the centaurs seemed to believe that Voldemort was supposed to kill Harry in the Forbidden Forest was alarming enough on its own, but since this is precisely what happened years later in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it seems that they were correct. Of course, Firenze hoped that they weren’t and might have even hoped that by saving young Harry, he had prevented this from happening. However, it would later become clear that Harry dying in the Forbidden Forest was a necessary part of the Dark Lord’s downfall—and the events of the Deathly Hallows book imply that the centaurs realized this as well.
The Centaurs Only Chose To Fight Voldemort After Harry Potter’s Death
Going into Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore tasked Hagrid with getting various magical creatures on their side in the war against Voldemort. This included the centaurs, who vehemently refused to get involved. This isn’t surprising considering their stance on the wizarding world, as well as their adherence to neutrality. However, this all changed after Harry’s death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in another scene cut from the movie.
As Hagrid carried Harry’s body out of the Forbidden Forest, he saw the centaurs watching the procession of Death Eaters. He cursed at them angrily, asking whether they still believed it had been right to stand by and do nothing now that Harry Potter was dead. Though the centaurs said nothing, they later mounted an attack on the Death Eaters at the castle, reigniting the battle. This further supports the idea that the centaurs knew Harry and Voldemort’s fates all along. They may not have understood that Harry Potter would survive the Killing Curse yet again in Deathly Hallows, but they certainly recognized that they couldn’t interfere with destiny if they wanted Voldemort to lose.
The Harry Potter Movies Cut Firenze’s Full Story (But The Reboot Can Make It Right)
Firenze’s important moment of foreshadowing wasn’t the only thing the Harry Potter movies cut regarding his role. Though the character only appeared in the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone movie, he was a relatively constant presence in the books. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Firenze had stood against his fellow centaurs in their refusal to get involved in the war, so he was subsequently exiled. To keep him protected, Dumbledore brought him to the castle and employed him as Trelawney’s replacement. Then, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, both teachers shared the Divination position.
Trelawney was extremely unhappy with this in Half-Blood Prince, but Dumbledore was in a tough position since he couldn’t afford to let either teacher leave Hogwarts. Voldemort knew that Trelawney was the one who gave the Chosen One prophecy, so she would be in danger anywhere else. Dumbledore told Harry that Firenze had nowhere to go since his people had forced him to leave, but in truth, he likely kept Firenze at Hogwarts since he, too, had too much knowledge of Harry’s destiny to sacrifice himself to Voldemort—surely the centaur had told Dumbledore everything.
When realizing this, it’s clear that Firenze’s role in Harry Potter was far from random. He subtly revealed what Dumbledore knew and added several more layers to the headmaster’s meticulous planning. Unfortunately, these were the sort of nuances that the Harry Potter movies simply didn’t have time for. Hopefully, this is something the upcoming HBO’s Harry Potter reboot can fix. Perhaps the series can even draw a little more attention to this subtle foreshadowing, especially since most audiences will already know Harry’s twist ending. It would add yet another layer of intrigue to Harry Potter‘s story.
Categories: Trending
Source: SCHOOL EMC
