How James Potter Got the Invisibility Cloak - Harry Potter Explained

Hey everyone,

Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In today’s video, we’re going to be discussing James Potter, the Potter family ancestry and one of the Deathly Hallows. More specifically- we’re going to be discussing ONE hallow in particular- the invisibility cloak.

Now, the invisibility cloak, if you were previously unaware- is a powerful magical artefact that once belonged to Ignotus Peverell- the youngest brother from the ‘tale of three brothers’- a story outlining the origin of each Hallow.

The plot surrounds the three wizard brothers and their ability to cheat death for a short period of time. After conquering death, a personification of death, under the guise of congratulating them, awards them with 3 gifts: The elder wand, the resurrection stone, and the invisibility cloak. Long story short, each brother chose one of the gifts that death had presented them. Ignotus (the youngest) chose the invisibility cloak, Cadmus (the middle brother) chose the resurrection stone, and Antioch (the eldest) chose the elder wand.

The youngest brother was certainly the wisest of the bunch:

“And then Death asked the third and youngest brother what he would like. The youngest brother was the humblest and also the wisest of the brothers, and he did not trust Death. So he asked for something that would enable him to go forth from that place without being followed by Death. And death, most unwillingly, handed over his own Cloak of Invisibility.”

All 3 of these objects are massively instrumental in the Harry Potter story- and while the elder wand is a huge plot driver, the invisibility cloak definitely ended up being the most useful hallow for Harry- which is interesting, because it was handed down to him by his father. After James’s death, it was kept safe until Harry was old enough to appreciate it. Dumbledore anonymously gifted the cloak to Harry in the Philosopher’s Stone.

So...The cloak was handed down from James Potter to Harry- but how did James get ahold of it?

Watch the video for the answer!

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[hunterkiller]

I kinda wished the Resurrection Stone was a special type of Philosopher's Stone, not Nicholas Flamel's one. It ties up the books nicely.

The Hallow's Philosopher's Stone on the Gaunt Ring is unique because it brings back echoes of dead wizards as well, making the user give up on life despite giving off alchemical properies and production of elixir of life. That's also why the Gaunts were so decadent despite being gifted in magic.

Voldermort has to cast it aside as it makes death feel so peaceful and tempts him from becoming immortal.

Furthermore, Voldermort may have also used its elixir of life to resurrect his body in the events of rhe Goblet of Fire. Perhaps the during the duel between Harry and Voldermort in the graveyard, he was wearing the Gaunt Ring, which produced the echoes when Harry accidentally triggered the Philosopher's Stone to bring back voices of the victims of Voldermort's wand.

[michaelmontgomery]

Amazing how when James gave the cloak to Dumbledore, death found him a few days later...

[ivanestrada]

So the Cloak of Invisibility is the true and more ancient relic of Death since the Elder Wand and the Resurrection Stone were newly creations made on the spot while the Cloak is a piece taken from the ancient Cloak of Death which make it essentially a true part of Death.

[footballeditz]

The 2 dislikes are from the other two brothers, who chose the wrong things

[Lupinemancer]

James possessing the Invisibility Cloak might also explain how the Marauders, were able to commit some of the deeds they did. Assuming he had it at the time.

[jameswest]

Excellent as always, I never get tired of hearing the story of the Three Brothers, it gives us insight that Harry was indeed chosen by blood and by destiny.

[mrsdixon]

Shame he didn't have it when Voldy came Lily could of used it to escape with Harry

[lunalovegood]

Fun fact: Harry and Voldemort are relatives so when Voldemort tried to kill Harry he was just being mean bigger cousin

[asimgiri]

It's amazing that everything has a legit back story in HP Universe. Every minute details are soo thought out. Jo is just an amazing writer

[briandolan]

With so many things happening in the Harry Potter series it's very easy to forget some details, like Harry and Voldemort being distant cousins

[jonathanrodriguez]

I have a theory. I think that the story of the 3 brothers was a curse on the family line. For every family member of the original brothers, as long as they had the cloak, they would avoid death. Not avoid it as in becoming immortal but of avoiding a sooner death. So as long as the family had the cloak, they would be protected from death; so when the parents pass the cloak down, they are no longer protected as strongly by the presence of the cloak. Also, if the cloak is not within the possession of the family, they will die as seen by James and Lily. Because James had lent Dumbledore the cloak, they were exposed to death, and soon after, it followed them and it would've gotten Harry if it weren't for Lily's love.

[NOLASkaGuitarist]

One of the biggest plot holes or I guess tragedies of the story (depending on how you look at it) occurs when you ask the question "Wouldn't Dumbledore or James have known how useful the cloak might have been/essential to hiding the Potters? Why wouldn't they take no chances when it was known by everyone that they were marked for death?". I mean, It's supposed to protect one from even death himself, which is why Ignotus survived to old age.

[aducksfoot]

I think everyone’s forgetting one thing, there is another invis cloak. Moody has one. It says in order of the Phoenix that he lost his when podmore got arrested

[ruhaanaggarwal]

Because he inherited it from his dad. His dad inherited it because Hardwin Potter married Iolanthe Peverell

[magicpyroninja]

I think Dumbledore giving the cloak to harry proves his character.
He could have had all three if he wanted

[earlwalker]

I am sure all real fans of HP, know the reason!!!

[moonlightfenrir]

3:22 based on what Ron says is it safe to assume that there are other objects similar to the invisibility cloak? Were there any attempts at recreating the original invisibility cloak?

[robertvantine]

If you drop the invisibility cloak on the floor. how do you find it again?

[Sirindol]

This channel anwears all of my questions i had for last 20 years. Thank you!

[gerardlanphear]

My greatest question surrounding this cloak is its imperviousness to curses and spells. In the movies Harry sneaks into Malfoy's train car to spy on him. Malfoy senses his presence and casts a curse his way which causes Harry to pass out, missing the de-boarding of the train. I don't remember how this scene went down in the books. Luna then found Harry and woke him up. This seems inconsistent with the premise of the story of the cloak.