Theophilus Harlow

Theophilus Harlow was a 12th-century dark wizard known for being the first documented individual to possess an Invisibility Cloak. A boastful and unpleasant character, he mistakenly believed his own cloak was the fabled Deathly Hallow belonging to Ignotus Peverell. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the difference between true magical artifacts of immense power and their lesser imitations, as detailed in Albus Dumbledore's notes in The Tales of Beedle the Bard.

All known information about Theophilus Harlow comes from Albus Dumbledore's notes accompanying The Tale of the Three Brothers in the book The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Harlow lived during the 12th century and gained a reputation as a “nasty piece of work” (The Tales of Beedle the Bard). He came into possession of an Invisibility Cloak and, through either arrogance or ignorance, loudly proclaimed it to be the original cloak from the Peverell legend. This boast attracted the attention of his numerous enemies. According to legend, Harlow was ambushed and killed in Godric's Hollow by the descendants of Ignotus Peverell, who sought to reclaim their family's heirloom. However, Albus Dumbledore dismissed this story as a fabrication intended to enhance the Peverell family's mystique. Dumbledore theorized that Harlow's cloak was not the true Deathly Hallow but a common travelling cloak enchanted with a powerful Disillusionment Charm or a Bedazzling Hex. Such cloaks, unlike the true one, lose their effectiveness over time. It is far more likely that Harlow was killed by one of his many enemies after his cloak's magic failed, rather than by any Peverell descendant.

No description of Theophilus Harlow's physical appearance exists. Based on Albus Dumbledore's commentary, Harlow was an unpleasant, arrogant, and foolish wizard. He was described as a “nasty piece of work,” indicating a cruel or malevolent nature consistent with a practitioner of the Dark Arts. His decision to boast about owning a legendary magical artifact, whether he truly believed it or not, highlights his lack of wisdom and likely contributed directly to his demise.

• Dark Arts: As a known dark wizard, Harlow was presumably skilled in various forms of dark magic.
• Magical Knowledge: His inability to distinguish a standard, albeit well-made, Invisibility Cloak from the true Deathly Hallow suggests that his knowledge of legendary magical artifacts was limited, or that his judgment was clouded by his own arrogance.

• Invisibility Cloak: Harlow owned an Invisibility Cloak that he believed to be the one created by Death. Albus Dumbledore was certain it was a mundane cloak cleverly enchanted with a Disillusionment Charm or Bedazzling Hex, which would have worn out with age and use, unlike the true Peverell cloak.

Harlow was said to have had many enemies, which is unsurprising given his reputation as a dark wizard. He has no known friends or family. His only notable, albeit posthumous and likely false, connection is to the Peverell Family, whose descendants were rumored to have killed him.

• Theophilus: A name of Greek origin (Θεόφιλος), meaning “friend of God” or “loved by God.” This is highly ironic for a dark wizard.
• Harlow: An Old English surname derived from a place name, possibly meaning “rock hill” or “army/host hill.” There is a town named Harlow in Essex, England.

Theophilus Harlow is not mentioned in the original seven Harry Potter novels. His entire existence in the canon is confined to the supplementary book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, published for charity in 2008. His story is used by Albus Dumbledore to illustrate the proliferation of fake Deathly Hallows throughout wizarding history and to highlight the unique, unfading power of the true Invisibility Cloak.