History of Ancient Magic - Harry Potter Explained

Welcome to Harry Potter Theory. Today, we’re going to be discussing ANCIENT MAGIC- a phenomenon that has recently become popularized through the best-selling Harry Potter game: Hogwarts Legacy.

"A magic this powerful can do great harm in the wrong hands. It must be wielded by a select few."

But, what exactly IS ancient magic? How does it differ from REGULAR magic, WHERE does it pop up in the Harry Potter story, and what do we know of its history?

All of these questions, and more, will be answered in today’s video, so sit back, relax, and enjoy as we peel back the layers of the enigmatic phenomenon known as ANCIENT magic.

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[HarryPotterTheory]

Thanks for watching all! Hope you learned something about ancient magic. Check out my last 3 videos as well!

[kaimagnus]

I've theorized that Ancient Magic is simply magic in its purest form. It's not a spell, it needs no incantation, it is simply manipulating the magical energy in the world directly and without altering its nature.

The uncontrolled natural magic young witches and wizards are prone to accidentally unleashing would be similar in nature. But The Ancient Magic is doing so with actual control and intent. I also theorize that Ancient Magic Echos, like seen in the game, would be concentrated spots where the energy has accumulated after powerful Ancient Magic has been used. And those few who are able to visibly perceive it being capable of harnessing the residual energy for themselves.

[JuggernautOmegas]

I have a theory that Dumbledore could see ancient magic. He could see through the invisibility cloak, which was no doubt infused with a mysterious ancient magic, and he explained to Harry while hunting for a horcrux, that magic leaves traces, while he examined the entryway into the chamber that supposedly held a horcrux. He saw magic in a way that no other wizard of that time could, besides Voldemort perhaps.

[ofthequietblade]

I missed the HP train as a teen, it totally flew past me (as did most YA/teen crazes), but now that I’ve been heavily addicted to Hogwarts Legacy, I’m trying to soak up as much HP lore as possible at age 33 😂

[ChaotiX]

The more this series dives into the nature of Magic in the wizarding world, the more the phrase "All magic is just science we dont yet understand" rings true

[purpledevilr]

I like how Ancient Magic is based on emotion, and in order to cast an unforgivable, you need to mean it.
It kind of bleeds together.

[MadamePianissima]

I want to point out that in the movies, that Molly uses a move on Bellatrix thats almost exactly like what the protagonist does as an Ancient Magic finisher. They both turn blue then explode into what looks like paper. And this fight was also when Molly was pissed because her daughter was threatened. The power of love. As well as in the plot, Ancient Magic is shown its capable of manipulating emotions and turning it into raw power.

[Chrispyful]

I think ancient magic is the kind of magic that existed before the invention of wands. Rituals, magic caused by emotional outbursts like the glass disappearing like in book one, Lily's sacrifice to protect Harry giving him lasting protection, etc.

[gamezx]

If you're looking for objects that were made from ancient magic, the deathly hallows would be prime candidates. It would explain why they seem to be on a level far above regular magical items

Added to that i'd probably also include the veil archway. That was said to have been super old and looks remarkably similar to magic portals created from ancient magic in the game

Plus i think maybe a pensieve too could be another possibility. They're said to be powerful and very rare, and if you've played the game you'll know they pop up quite a bit

[NM-okwb]

There's something I've been confused about since finishing the game. At one point, someone recounts the memory of Prof Rackham and his colleagues saving a hamlet and describes it as "four wizards using ancient magic to save a hamlet" or something along those lines. The writing suggests that even though Prof Rackham is the only one of the four who can see and freely manipulate ancient magic, the other three also "wielded" it too? Did anyone else catch this?

[Hoigwai]

If I had to pin down ancient magic it would be similar to a thing we have in the regular world when talking about ancient beliefs about magic. Ley lines. In HL we see that the magic accumulates seemingly naturally at many locations around the valley. One thing I do remember from my mythology class is that there are major and minor ley lines. Hogwarts would seem to be a nexus of major ley lines which is why the magic of its defenses is extremely strong and the propensity of ghosts is so high.

Some of the old lore about ley lines is that they are a combination of all magic of life and the magical energy of the planet. If you think about it, ley lines behave almost like gravity and pools into locations but the cycle of life and death is the source that keeps replenishing the magical energy. Ancient magic could also begin to accumulate in places that magic is used constantly or some kind of powerful single event happened. I think that those who can see the ley lines and ancient magic are just an even more rare version of magic user. It's like the other rare gifts, parselmouths, metamorphmagi, and the creatures and magic users that are born with legilimency.

Like so many other things there could be levels to this rare gift, having a slight sense of how magic and ancient magic flows and moves could explain how Dumbledore could feel dark and regular magic without using a spell. Lilly could tap into the magic in a moment of crisis to give Harry sacrificial protection but otherwise be unaware of it and unable to see it. In HL we see that those who not only see it but shape it and use it are extremely scarce and that the gift slows their development and why they have their magical emergence later than others.

[SkrillDisc]

My theory is that Ancient Magic is the foundation for all magic. It’s instinctual, even primal. Before wands, sceptres and the like magic users wielded magic through emotion and instinct. Then witches and wizards honed their abilities through magically imbued tools, which caused this primal magic to recede. I believe it exists in all magic users (humans, goblins, elves etc). Their bodies were the conduits for this magic and now there are secondary conduits like wands. Some are more connected to this ancient magic probably due to their lineage.

[calixmeus]

Ancient magic is very esoteric as seen in the love protection of Harry's mother. It's seen in the many tropes and themes that humans all share such as redemption and self sacrifice. These are also seen in most ancient fables such as Sleeping Beauty where she is delivered from evil by the warrior prince.

[ariahaneul]

I love your content, it helps me to understand the series (books/movies) more deeply. I like the idea of ancient magic, I feel it's no different from cultural traditions that get passed from generation to generation, like music or food. You honour your ancestors by eating a lovingly prepared meal, and in the HP universe, you do the same by using and passing on a spell that took great effort to create.

[carlborneke]

Ancient Magic feels a lot like the Force from Star Wars. It is a part of the natural world, connects the world of the living and the dead, it can only wielded by a select few, it exists independently of a witch or wizard, it is almost alive in a way, and it is heavily linked to emotions and intuition.

I also feel like it is extremely difficult to bend it to your will because it is technically beyond you and if you want to utilize it you have to work with the flow instead of against it.

[mspionage]

I'd like to believe that Dumbledore stumbled upon and spoke to Rakham's painting in his younger years. Those two talking would be a fangasm.

[rasdan]

If love is a form of ancient magic, then hear my theories/headcanons:
Children are born with the innate ability to use Ancient Magic. In hogwarts legacy, invoking Ancient magic may reveal or hide objects (as if they're in paralel universe). The spontaneous magic cast by children who has no control of their magic, is most likely some form of magic chat is tied to their emotions. Remember when angry harry causes the mirror Dudley leans on disappear? Only for it to reappear? Thus, ancient magic born from rage/anger.

Ancient Magic is the ability to harness flow of magic OUTSIDE the self, manipulating nature, time, emotions, existence. The basic form of everything.
While normal magic uses inherent magic from oneself (thus the existence of Obscurus in Fantastic Beasts). As witches/wizards grew up relying on their "core self" magic, they somehow forgot how to use Ancient Magic.

Let's see my other headcanons about some Ancient Magic attacks in the game:
Ancient Magic Throw where the protagonist throws objects to the enemy, what's the difference with other object-manipulating spells (accio, depulso, wingardium leviosa, levioso)?
Ancient magic throw manipulates the very atoms of the object, that's why you see no magical effect when the object is thrown.
While spells like wingardium leviosa conjures an invisible hand that lifts the object. That's why you see some "windy flow effect" around the object.

Ancient Magic that kills/deals damage to enemies from the inside, what's the difference with Avada Kedavra?
Ancient magic that deals damage, simply forces cells inside the body to disintegrate, causing major damage at best (on high level enemies and trolls), and fatal at worst (insta kills most enemies).
Avada Kedavra, in my headcanon, is doing a tug of war on someone else' soul, killing them instantly.

Ancient Magic that (SPOILERS) takes away pain and emotions from others, what's the difference with Imperio?
Ancient Magic that takes away pain, literally takes away emotions in it's visible form. But it can be stored in a goblin made container. But when you take all of it, the person became an empty shell (as seen in San Bakar's pensieve.
Imperio? It surpress the emotion/the ego of the self, while instilling the emotion/ego of the enemy above that layer. Which is why it can be resisted, because the original is still there.

This also relates to why Harry has his blood infused with Lily's love to protect against Killing Curse.
While the final Boss, Ranrok is protected by ancient magic that prevents Avada Kedavra to instakill.

[plin]

Wandlore is likely another branch of ancient magic

[Qyuri]

This could be another example of ancient magic in Harry Potter. The way ancient magic looks in game feels like this is how Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix Lestrange.

[Huskytabby]

Video idea for you to do:

What additional effects do spells have that are not seen in the movies? For instance, what else can the patronus charm do besides ward off dementors?