Time, rerecords & horcruxes, Karma is coming SOON - A Master Thesis
I never looked very deeply into the horcrux reference here (because JK Rowling SUCKS). But I started thinking about the order in which the Harry Potter horcruxes were destroyed, and was curious if that order would line up with her rerecording chronology in any way.
I am happy to report back... that it DOES. 💥🤯💥
Here are a few things you will see referenced in this theory:
The Harry Potter chronological narrative
Rhetorical symbolism behind each horcrux
How each horcrux was formed and destroyed
The order of Taylor’s re-recordings so far
The prologues from each TV - what did Taylor say when presenting each re-record?
Promotional merch from each TV - what objects did Taylor use to market each re-record?
Key visuals from TV music videos and the Midnights MV series - what imagery did Taylor use to visualize her re-recording quest?
Table of Contents👇
00 - Setting the stage...
01 - Tom Riddle's Diary = Fearless
02 - Gaunt's Ring + Deathly Hallows = Red
03 - The Locket = Speak Now
04 - Hufflepuff’s Cup = 1989
05 - Rowena’s Lost Diadem = Karma?
06 - Harry Potter = Taylor Swift (Death of The Brand)
07 - Nagini = Reputation
08 - Conclusion: Karma, Reputation, then Debut
Theory Overview - TLDR (kinda)
Tap the header links in the Table of contents or below to read the full chapters. There are too many details and visuals to summarize in one post!
00 - Setting the stage...
In the Harry Potter series, we are led to believe that there are SIX horcruxes that must be destroyed before Voldemort can be defeated. Except there aren't six Horcruxes.
A late stage plot-twist reveals that there has been a secret seventh Horcrux along the journey with us this whole time... a corrupted shard of Voldemort that lives within Harry himself.
Read the full setup →
01 - Tom Riddle's Diary = Fearless
Recapturing and visualizing adolescent experiences, with a particular focus on high school… yeah. This just feels right.
A young and ambitious wizard, who was able to craft an immersive, one-sided experience with a stranger that FEELS like a genuine conversation between two people.
Harry is sucked into a visual landscape of memories while remaining completely unaware of the true identity and intentions of the author.
ALL of that feels very true to the OG Fearless era - a lot of assumptions were made by the fans. For better or worse, this era really cemented her reputation as a diaristic songwriter.
Read the full chapter 01 →
02 - Gaunt's Ring + Deathly Hallows = Red
"There is nothing Dark about the Hallows - at least, not in that crude sense. One simply uses the symbol to reveal oneself to other believers, in the hope that they might help with the Quest." — Xenophilius Lovegood explaining the symbolism behind the Deathly Hallows
What’s something we all know about Taylor? She uses symbols to reveal herself to gaylors.
The Red prologue references a phone that RINGS, and themes of tortured by the ghosts of the past - Gaunts Ring contained the resurrection stone, which haunted him with the memory of his lost love.
Read the full chapter 02 →
03 - The Locket = Speak Now
Themes of overcoming fear, confronting cowardice, going out to do something scary on your own.
These themes parallel what I see in Harry, Hermione, and Ron’s journey with the locket. The locket brought out much self doubt, unspoken truths, and regrets in all of them.
The process of destroying it felt endless, like they were frozen in time. During the quest to destroy it, they begin to fight a dragon in a vault. Except once learn the dragon was also a victim, so they help it, and together they escape the vault.
Strong visual parallels from the Bejeweled MV and ICSY
Read the full chapter 03 →
04 - Hufflepuff’s Cup = 1989
Betrayal of values: Hufflepuff's Cup being transformed into a Horcrux symbolizes the corruption of loyalty and hard work, as it takes a cherished object associated with the Hufflepuff house, known for its values of dedication and fairness, and twists it into an instrument of evil by Voldemort, representing how even the most positive traits can be perverted when used for malicious purposes.
The 1989 era was marked by loyalty, friendship, etc. And it ended in betrayal. From the prologue: It turns out that the cocktail of naïveté, hunger for adventure and freedom can lead to some nasty hangovers, metaphorically speaking.
How did Harry and his friends break into Bellatrix’ vault? By Hermione spelling herself to look just like Bellatrix. Like a twin.
The treasure in the vault duplicates and burns those who attempt to steal it. Hermione duplicates Bellatrix to sneak into the vault. The hufflepuff cup horcrux is steeped in symbolism surrounding duplicity, doubleness. Both in deceit and literal double/ false twin objects. Does this parallel the lost sister album, Karma?
Read the full chapter 04 →
05 - Rowena’s Lost Diadem = Karma?
Since we do not have a Karma prologue, I will analyze the next best thing: the prologue of Karma’s hypothetical sister album, 1989.
A closer look at the end of the Bejeweled MV, and the exile pocketwatch...
Symbolism of eagles and color theory
The story of the lost diadem revolves around secrets and confession of regret/guilt. “I stole the diadem... My mother, they say, never admitted that the diadem was gone, but pretended that she had it still. She concealed her loss, my dreadful betrayal, even from the other founders of Hogwarts.”
Helena was evasive, as she didn't appear to like telling others about her past, not even that she was Rowena Ravenclaw's daughter. She was remorseful of what she had done, but also extremely angry at the defilement of the artifact and her mother's legacy, [thats a real fucking legacy to leave] referring to the corrupted diadem as an abomination.
Etymology - "Helena" is a Latinate form of Helen, derived from Greek ‘ελενη (eleni) which means "torch" or "corposant" (source of light). [its time to step into the daylight Taylor]
It is only once Helena chooses to tell the TRUTH, to bring her deepest shame to life, that Harry can go on to destroy the other 2 horcruxes.
Read the full chapter 05 →
06 - Harry Potter = Taylor Swift (Death of The Brand)
What if I told you Voldemort could represent forced closeting/homophobia?
What if in the same way Voldemort accidentally attached a piece of his corrupted soul to Harry as a child, Taylor had a part of her that was homophobic, who wanted to closet, who wanted to hide?
What if that part of her has to die, before she can fight the larger issues of closeting and homophobia in the music industry
What if the death of her Reputation or the reclaiming of Karma leads to the sacrifice of the version of Taylor that most people know and love - the heteronormative legacy, “chosen one” Taylor?
What would the death of Taylor Swift look like? Does it mean her legacy is dead, and reborn with the re-release of debut after all is said and done?
Read the full chapter 06 →
07 - Nagini = Reputation
The final Horcrux created by Voldemort was a vicious snake, reinforcing his connection to Salazar Slytherin. [Taylor’s last rerecord?]
Once Voldemort realized his other Horcruxes had been compromised, Nagini was encased in a protective magical sphere and ordered to stay close. (I swear I've seen this visual in a MV) Is that why Taylor WONT F-ING RELEASE IT?? lol
While everyone believes Harry to be dead, Neville steps in. Neville is in many ways, a mirror image to Harry. He was born on the same day, his parents were also rebels, and he was functionally orphaned for the same prophecy - it could have been about him OR Harry.
But Harry was chosen, and Neville remained eclipsed in his shadow. It is only once Harry the chosen one is gone, that Neville finds the courage within himself to step into the light and fight.
In the chaos of that moment, Harry reveals himself to be alive, reborn. And then he vanquishes the dark lord once and for all.
Final Battle for Taylor’s Masters: What if the death of Brand Taylor, who partially wanted to remain in the closet forever [lost fearless leader anyone?], allows for Taylor’s shadow self to step in and “finish the job” with Reputation.
Read the full chapter 07 →
08 - Conclusion: Karma, Reputation, then Debut
Harry was a great wizard, with many unique talents. The part of him that was Voldemorts ate him alive, but it also afforded him skills and advantages that other wizards lacked.
Taylor is a great musician, with many unique talents. The part of herself that seeks to stay in the closet ate her alive, but it also afforded her skills and advantages that other musicians lacked.
Anti-Hero Music Video - Secretly resurrected after being killed, while everyone is still fighting each other.
Read the full chapter 08 →
Final Conclusion:
Karma blows up the legacy began by Debut, Reputation addresses that death, and Debut is reborn from the ashes.
Obligatory side note - I hate JKR. She's the worst. I refuse to credit her in any way. This is an effort to reclaim what I once loved as a queer kid, and make it GAYER.
The tabloids are reporting that Karlie Kloss is invited to the TNT wedding. (TMZ, deux moi, and page 6) Nobody has denied it yet. 🤷♀️
Karlie posted chess on her Instagram again today. All the pieces are present in this set (no missing pawns.) She also has a book on how to play in the shot, which is odd given that she's played for years.
Flashback to Dorothy and her missing pawn...
The red and white pieces, in the context of timing, remind me of the "I bet you think about me" MV.
I saw somebody on reddit mentioned that the top of the cake in IBYTAM looks almost like a clock, and that when the groom falls, he points at 5pm (so many fives right now with the Toy Story promo)
I think it's interesting that the chess set in Alice Through The Looking Glass is a red and white set, in the novel Alice must travel through the narrative as a pawn in order to eventually become the White Queen, equal to the Red Queen.
Mastermind?
"Born to be the pawn in every lovers game"
Taylor stepped through the looking glass during the Eras tour.
In Midnights, she saw her Showgirl/ED self looking at her Poet self, then smashed a mirror to pieces in TTPD, only to wind up on a red phone staring down a multitude of mirrors in Showgirl.
Remember the upside down red phone from Midnights Mayhem with Me?
Was Midnights Taylor calling up Showgirl? Are the phones upside down because they're on the other side of the mirror?
Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss have officially buried the hatchet ... because Taylor wants Karlie at her wedding.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that hours earlier Karlie posted a castle and a chess board. This is all part of the fucking story until they take the castle for themselves.
Dandelions symbolisms: new beginnings, hope, resilience, transformation and hope, they carry dreams and wishes. Also they can grow anywhere, and they start as a bright yellow color flower and transforms into the head of seeds. In literature they represent innocence, childhood memories and the passage of time. Also curious the dandelions are used in LGBTQA+ terms and symbolism like "Dandelion Transgender" and there is a sapphic song by Ruth B.
And dandelions are the flower for Sagittarius.
Now tulips are also associate with new beginnings and spring 🌼, rebirth, perfect and deep love. And they are the flower for the zodiac sign of Leo 🦁, like born in August, the August muse or just folklore related.
So, Karlie’s chess set pic today found the “missing” pawn and then we get leaked that the alleged beef is over and Taylor wants her at the wedding? Interesting times.
Below is the post and caption from June 2, 2014 that 🏟️ mentioned. Taylor's roommate in 2014 was Karlie Kloss (see below).
We received several June 2nd, mentions from 🏟️. Today is June 2nd, and suddenly Karlie Kloss - Taylor's roommate from 2014 - is surfacing in the wedding narrative drops and positive associations with Taylor.
Karlie posted this back on Halloween 2023 dressed as Dorothy with the pawn ♟️ missing. Today she posted another chess set with no pawn ♟️ missing. Didn’t you get 🏟️ messages pointing to June 2? That’s today.
🤔 We have received several messages from 🏟️ about June 2nd.
🎃 You didn’t think I’d forget to stop by on Halloween, did you? The entirety of the story I came to tell is within my previous 12 messages, but I suppose one more tale couldn’t hurt. Imagine this. The tornado begins with the smallest shift in the wind. The fashion line begins with a single stitch. The message in a bottle begins with a single letter scrawled desperately on parchment. The field of weeds begins with the smallest seed blown over the fence or sown in defense. The homestretch begins with what looks identical to all the steps taken before. But it is not as it has been before. And it is not what it ever will be again. No. The moment is new and sovereign and special. Pregnant with possibility. The glass overflowing all at once after a maddeningly constant drip, drip, drip. Just like that shift in the wind, just like that stitch, just like that parchment and just like that seed, I am not yet what I one day will be. And also, I am. Because I will one day be it. So on this night of All Hallows Eve, as the veil between this life and the next is thinner than ever, I whisper to you: The finish line is closer than it may appear. Transformation is imminent. Hold on to your blind faith a moment longer, now. And remember that reputation is illusion, expectation the magician. I hope you get more treats than tricks this year in your orange, pumpkin shaped pails. You are all truly dear to me. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. And also…hello! 🎃
x
My Boy is the only kid I know who can turn a Sand pit, a snow day, or a beach trip into a masterpiece. consistency is a talent, but don’t forget when 5 and 1 become a domestic dAy of rights, spoken like a prophEcy. REmember Kids spelling is fun
