Like every Harry Potter [1]-obsessed fan, I've been anxiously waiting for the Fantastic Beasts 3: The Secrets of Dumbledore trailer [2] to drop. After playing it on repeat precisely 33 times since 13 Dec., I have so many questions, the main one being: why did Albus Dumbledore give Jacob Kowalski a wand?
As far as I remember (*checks countless wizard notes stored in my brain over the years*), Muggles and No-Maj aren't allowed to have wands or visit Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But Dumbledore does task Newt with giving Jacob a wand. You can see for yourself in the trailer below. The moment comes at 0:56 minutes into the trailer, when Newt Scamander [3] (Eddie Redmayne) tells Jacob (Dan Fogler), "Dumbledore asked that I give you something," as he pulls a wand out of his coat. So, um, what's up?
At the end of the trailer, at 2:22, Jacob is shown eating in the Great Hall with kids. They reach out to try to touch the wand, and Jacob shakes his head no, saying, "It's very dangerous; it's very powerful if it got in the wrong hands, you know? It could mess you up." A student asks, "Why did you get it?" Jacob simply responds, "I got it for Christmas."
So why would Dumbledore want a Muggle to have a wand? We've found some of the best theories below.
Does Dumbledore Want Everyone to Think Jacob is a Wizard in Fantastic Beasts 3?
In Fantastic Beasts 3, Dumbledore asks Newt, a Magizoologist, to lead a team of wizards, witches, and a Muggle baker on a dangerous mission to stop the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald [4] from seizing control of the wizarding world. Because of this, The Rowling Library theorises that Dumbledore gives Jacob the wand so everyone will think he's a wizard [5] throughout their quest.
"It is clear Dumbledore has a plan (or even more than one) in this movie and making Jacob look like a Wizard could be one of them," stated the theory. "That may also be the explanation for why he is eating at the Great Hall in Hogwarts. If Dumbledore wants to everyone believe he is a wizard, why wouldn't he be in Hogwarts behaving like everyone else?" After all, he's shown waving a wand around — so maybe he's trying to look like a real wizard?
The only problem is, how could a muggle be allowed inside Hogwarts when it's covered in a protective charm? The Rowling Library believes Jacob can bypass the charm since he was invited in, much like Moaning Myrtle's parents were invited to see her daughter's body when she died, which was revealed in Harry Potter [6] and the Chamber of Secrets.
Is Jacob a Squib in Fantastic Beasts?
Unlike Muggles, a Squib is a non-magical person born to wizard parents. Although they can't go to Hogwarts or learn how to do magic, they wouldn't be barred from Hogwarts (just like Argus Filch). The Rowling Library theorised that Jacob is a Squib [7], albeit unknowingly. He may have at least one wizard parent without knowing it.
Can Jacob Use a Wand Even Though He's a Muggle?
Can a muggle use a wand? According to CBR, Muggles actually can use a wand [8] — they just can't master it. According to The Tales of Beedle the Bard footnotes, "it has been suggested that Muggles could use a wand as a weapon, even if they could never master it. In the Harry Potter [9] universe, wands are an innately magical tool, capable of rebelling against their user or switching loyalties (such as the Elder Wand). A Muggle gaining one wouldn't just effectively have a stick in their hand but could produce an uncontrollable magical effect."
The footnotes go on to clarify that "muggles can't necessarily perform magic, but with a wand, they could cause some to manifest in an uncontrollable manner." That could also explain the magic it looked like Jacob was performing in the trailer.
Does Dumbledore Think Jacob's Wand Will Come in Handy in Fantastic Beasts 3?
Will Jacob's wand somehow save the day when it comes to Grindelwald? After all, Dumbledore has an uncanny ability to predict when things will help (like the Invisibility Cloak) without necessarily explaining it in advance. One Reddit theory says Dumbledore giving Jacob the wand reminds them [10] "of Dumbledore gifting the trio the snitch, the book, and the put-outer after his death. He knew they'd be useful even when they didn't." This would also explain the storm it looks like Jacob is generating from the wand in the trailer. Hmm, it definitely makes you wonder!
Did Dumbledore Give Jacob the Wand to Boost His Confidence in Fantastic Beasts 3?
Remember when Harry pretended to give Ron the Felix Felicis potion right before a Quidditch game in Harry Potter [11] and the Half-Blood Prince to prove that he just needed a little confidence to perform well? A Reddit theory suggests something similar [12] is happening with Dumbledore giving Jacob the wand. The theorist wrote, "judging by the last scene in the trailer with the kids, I'm guessing it's a fake. The kids seem impressed by it so it will probably be a replica of some famous wandmaker's craft, enough to intimidate anyone who comes at him but still basically just being a stick."
Does Jacob's Wand Have Special Significance in Fantastic Beasts 3?
Maybe the wand is powerful, so Dumbledore gave it to Jacob because he didn't trust it in the hands of anyone else. One Redditor theorised that it's like the Elder Wand [13] in a significant and or dangerous way, and "it was given to him because it's safe with a Muggle who can't use it."
There's no way of knowing which theory is correct (or if it's something else entirely!), but we'll find out once and for all when the movie premieres on 15 April, 2022.