Okay, here I go… but fair warning: brace yourself for my completely unhinged narrative-theory brain. 😅
In reality, I have two theories, but if we focus on their similarities, my theory is that Karma is both Patroclus Karma (the one Bill knew) AND Gellert Grindelwald.
Here’s, in detail, the wild story my brain came up with:
It all begins one night, wild or boring as you prefer, in Gellert’s thirties, with some lady follower or admirer.
I’m not quite sure how wizarding contraception works, but it doesn’t seem particularly reliable. And honestly, would a wizard even have real control here? In Gellert’s case, I can perfectly imagine him scattering descendants here and there… without the slightest concern. I can almost hear him saying when facing the news: “Good, another witch/wizard added to our ranks, brimming with potential. We’re growing. Here, we've done our duty well for the cause, my friend. But, there is so much more to do; let’s get back to the fight.” 😅
Generations later, in Australia (a land of convicts and immigrants), Patroclus Karma is born, and shares many physical traits with his famous ancestor to those who know how to look. He becomes a curse-breaker and grows fascinated by the figure of Gellert, perhaps even developing similar psychological traits — yet he ages without ever achieving the life he dreamed of and being quite unsatisfied.
Meanwhile, Gellert rots in Nurmengard, doing… whatever he does there (I’d actually love to hear your thoughts about that…).
One day, however, he has a vision of a man who will come to him.
Patroclus Karma finds a professional pretext to visit Nurmengard (perhaps an official mission to break a curse put on something by Gellert years ago, whatever) but in truth, he wants to meet his ancestor.
Karma’s fascination with Gellert is immediate, of course… and Gellert sees something "interesting" in him.
That’s where my theory splits into two possible versions:
1. Gellert is dead.
They performed some sort of dark ritual: Gellert sacrificed himself, transferring a fragment of his soul to Karma.
The pact would allow the “receiver” to inherit the other’s soul and the “ideal body” he had when that blood (or more scientifically DNA) was first passed on — not exactly a Horcrux, more like a spell with some elements of time-turner and inspired by Dorian Gray (There is a touch of romantic origin here; I can easily picture two adolescents reading the novel together during a hot summer.) But, yes, it’s weird… And the flask? Perhaps a subtle reinforcement of the spell, a little blood booster to maintain the connection. 😅 Now that I wrote it, I realise that this theory is actually very dark … and it feels terribly shaky 😅😅😅
But to me, this theory seemed to explain:
- Karma’s age and physical changes (a Dorian-Gray-like pact tied to their blood connection that recreates Gellert’s ideal form in his thirties);
- His enigmatic line to Albus: “I thought you’d be much older!” (since he saw Gellert decrepit and expected Dumbledore to look the same 😅);
- His psychology and weak memories: their souls intertwined, memories overlapping, PK’s and GG’s blending together until neither can fully tell whose they are. Karma carries fragmented memories of his own past (such as his time with Bill) punctuated by flashes of Gellert’s memories (like when he sees Albus’s scar).
- And I am sure, he is a seer.
In other words, I see this character as a kind of Patroclus Karma altered and enhanced by Gellert himself. 😅
Theory 2. Gellert is not dead.
The title: “A Death at Nurmengard” does not explicitly say who is the dead: who says it is Gellert? Albus, who tries to not think about it ? It would be funny actually that he is trying so hard to escape a fact that never existed.
The dead man can’t be Karma — Dumbledore would have discovered that quickly — so it’s not a sustainable disguise.
The dead man is probably a guard. If Gellert had left Nurmengard, the article would likely read: “Gellert Grindelwald Escaped” (poor guard…). So a “Grindelwald” is still at Nurmengard. The question now is who is he really? The original Gellert? Or a new substitute, Patroclus Karma?
Perhaps the guard’s death served as part of their ritual, a collateral element. But, Karma might have been responsible for it. So, why is he not suspected? “Grindelwald” immediately taking the responsibility for it?
Anyway, Gellert will switch identity with Karma but would need to exploit blood-based magic to get back to his seductive appearance or something close to it. He would need to sip the “bloody Polyjuice” from time to time. The flask would protect against intruders who do not share the blood. (Though hasn’t Albus himself shared blood with Gellert? Is the spell now caduc since the Blood Pact was broken? Gellert would be once again so cross about it? He could go: “look what you’ve done again, it is all YOUR fault”😅)
This theory can still explain a lot I think. For the altered memories, it is just that GG and PK had a long discussion, sure, but at some point you have to stop taking precautions and just act with all the ressourceness and confidence you know that you have!
In short, I imagine a kind of new blood pact here, except that it has a drinking part 😅:
Either a blending inspiration from Dorian Gray and Horcruxes: a gift of beauty mixed with a pact of sharing soul. And so the soul of GG completely will overlap within PK? (Dark!)
Either the favourite polyjuice strategy of Gellert but with a touch of blood connection kind of time turner.
Everything feels crazy though! And really, after writing all that, I am thinking : "I don't have theory anymore ... I need another theory". And with it more clues 😁
But still, it’s such fun to imagine, to build on, and to let the theories evolve with the story… while impatiently waiting to be spoiled by the next chapter!
Comment on Achilles Heel
eidolonwarden on Chapter 5 Tue 14 Oct 2025 11:04AM UTC
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PhilosophyNerd on Chapter 5 Tue 14 Oct 2025 05:32PM UTC
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