The Most Confounding ‘Harry Potter’ Change That Still Baffles Fans 20 Years Later
Fans of the Harry Potter franchise are well-acquainted with the Polyjuice potion, introduced in the series’ second instalment. This magical brew allows the drinker to transform into another person, using complex brewing methods and the DNA of the individual they wish to imitate. While its bitter taste is noted, the potion has proven useful throughout the series for gathering intelligence and disguising identities.
However, when adapting the books into films, particularly in ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’, a minor yet significant detail was altered concerning the Polyjuice potion’s magical rules. This change may not harm the narrative in isolation but has led to confusion in subsequent films, especially over two decades later.
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In ‘Chamber of Secrets’, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) drink the potion created by Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) to question Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). They transform into Malfoy’s friends, Crabbe (Jamie Waylett) and Goyle (Josh Herdman), but their voices remain unchanged, which contrasts with the book where their voices also shift.
This inconsistency raises questions in ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’, where Barty Crouch Jr. (David Tennant) uses the Polyjuice potion to impersonate Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody (Brendan Gleeson). Unlike Harry and Ron, Crouch’s voice changes to match his disguise, creating a narrative discrepancy. The same screenwriter, Steven Kloves, penned both films, leading to speculation about why the rules changed.
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While retaining the boys’ original voices in ‘Chamber of Secrets’ may have eased production, the inconsistency ultimately raises questions about the potion’s application across the series. Despite the occasional plot hole, the Polyjuice potion continues to deliver memorable moments, allowing fans to enjoy the magic, albeit with a touch of confusion.
–Farheen Ali