The Forbidden Forest plays host to some of the major plot points in the seven books and eight movies that make up the Harry Potter saga. From introducing the idea that Voldemort has a body again in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to being the place of Harry's "death" in the second Deathly Hallows movie, the story simply wouldn't be the same without it.
Still, the Forbidden Forest remains shrouded in mystery, but not for the reasons one may expect. A lot of things about these woods just don't make sense, even after all these years. Some fans wonder why the forest exists in the first place, while others wonder what kind of school needs terrifying magical forest in the first place. Here are ten such things about the Forbidden Forest that don't make sense.
10 The Forest Is Used For Detention
Students at Hogwarts are not supposed to wander into the forest. As Dumbledore says, it's forbidden to do so; it's in the forest's very name. Yet, when Harry and company receive detention in The Sorcerer's Stone, they are sent there (at night no less). Granted, they have Hagrid with them but that isn't much comfort.
Apparently, the forest is only forbidden most of the time, and an exception to the rule is whenever the school's staff has a difficult and dangerous job that needs doing they couldn't be bothered with. A dangerous job that, for some reason, is thrust onto any available minors who must then go into a deadly forest known for killing people.
9 Hagrid Leaves Children Alone In The Forest
Hagrid claims that the forest won't harm him because he knows the creatures and beings that live there. Apparently, only his half brother Grawp will injure him when he does into the forest. Even if this is true, it makes no sense that Hagrid would then have the students split up during detention.
If students are only guaranteed safety while he is around, then no students should be wandering around the forest without Hagrid. Rules don't seem to apply once characters venture into the trees.
8 Harry Goes Back In The Forest Without A Plan
To save Hagrid in The Chamber of Secrets, Ron and Harry return to the Forbidden Forest, alone, to "follow the spiders." Of course, Harry is the hero, but it makes very little sense that he would just willingly enter the forest again - especially given his quick but dangerous encounter with a resurrected Voldemort in The Sorcerer's Stone. Not only that, but he goes in with Ron but with no plan.
Try as it might, the Forbidden Forest is obviously not giving off an aura of danger the way its name might imply. Not a great look for the forest or for the boys.
7 The Forest Is A Part of the School... For Some Reason
The Forbidden Forest is a recognized part of the Hogwarts School grounds. Why? It's obviously dangerous, and it's supposed to be off limits. Yet, instead of cutting it off, the forest remains connected to the school.
Granted, Hogwarts isn't exactly the safest school in fiction but a nefarious forest is another matter. Wouldn't separating it and making a trip into its depths punishable by school regulations keep a greater number of students away from it?
6 The Forest Isn't Used For Classes
It the forest is going to remain a part of the school grounds, why isn't it used more often for classes? One would assume that that as a part of campus grounds, the forest would be used in the education of the students. Maybe a lesson in the Dark Arts taught in the forest could give the kids some practical lessons.
The fact that the forest isn't used more by the faculty that have to live next to it doesn't make much sense, especially since children are seen going in and out of its shadows. A guided lesson or even a tour in it might actually make it less dangerous and more useful.
5 There Are No Safeguards Around The Forest
If the Forbidden Forest is to remain a part of the Hogwarts grounds and remain forbidden for safety reasons, it would make more sense for their to be a wall or magical barrier to keep students away. Dumbledore can warn everyone as much as he wants at opening feasts (more on that later), but that will do little good if a student is particularly determined.
In comparison, the door in front of Fluffy and the Sorcerer's Stone was locked, plus the actual path to the fabled stone was filled with traps and challenges. There's no such precaution blocking entrance to the the Forbidden Forest, which is arguably more unpredictable and dangerous.
4 Dumbledore Basically Dares Students To Go In The Forest
It doesn't make much sense that Dumbledore warns the student body against entering the forest every year. Truth be told, he seems like he's encouraging them (especially those in Gryffindor) to take their chances in it, daring them to check out the dangerous but totally radical woods. It's almost like he's mocking them for being scared of it!
If the forest is so dangerous, then it would make much more sense for the school staff to give specific warnings rather than a general "Be careful" message that sounds more like a triple dog dare.
3 Students Don't Explore The Forest More Often
Again, like the fact the Forbidden Forest isn't used in more classes, it makes little sense that it isn't explored more often. Harry and Ron only venture forth when Hagrid insists. Hermione goes along with Harry and Umbridge once, but that was just to get the latter out of the way. For whatever reason, there's not a lot of casual exploring of the forbidden, but very accessible, forest.
The only time the forest is brought up in a Harry Potter story is when something ominous or important is happening and nothing else. Being right next door to a school full of magically capable teenagers, it doesn't make sense that more students don't venture into the wilds at their back door if even just for dangerous fun.
2 Hagrid Explored The Forest As A Kid
As Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, it makes sense that Hagrid should know the ins and outs across all of the grounds, Forbidden Forest included. However, Hagrid obviously knew his way around the forest even as a student; that's how he knew to let Aragog go in the forest before he himself was expelled.
If the forest is so dangerous and so forbidden, it doesn't make sense that Hagrid should have spent so much time there as a child.
1 The Centaurs Technically Own The Forest
The centaurs that reside in the Forbidden Forest are very independent and very resentful of the fact that their home is "owned" by someone else, meaning Hogwarts.
If the forest is actually, well, forbidden and Hogwarts doesn't even use it for official functions, it doesn't make sense that the forest doesn't just belong to the centaurs rather than the school in general.
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