Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today we’re going to be discussing abandoned plot lines in the Harry Potter series.
When we reminisce about J.K.
Rowling and her incredible wizarding world, it's hard not to think about all the tweaks
and twists she's made to Harry Potter canon over the years.
From publishings on Pottermore/Wizardingworld to the Fantastic Beasts movies, all the way
to her active presence on Twitter, Rowling seems to have an unending desire to shake
things up.
But amidst all of these additions and alterations, there have also been mentions of things that
Rowling considered but later chose to discard.
From relatively minor to major, today we’ll be discussing the changes to the story that
didn’t make the cut- discarded treasures that were banished to the literary bin.
After the video, let me know what you think should have / should NOT have been included
down in the comment section below.
Anyway, let’s get in to it.
1.
Ron Weasley *almost* dying in the middle of the series
Kicking things off with a big one- the death of Ron.
In the very early stages of J.K.
Rowling's creative process, there were originally some discussions about the possibility of
Ron Weasley dying.
This prospect came from JK Rowling’s eagerness to delve into darker themes and potentially
offer a more dramatic and devastating twist to the narrative.
And devastating it would have been- as the loss of Ron would undoubtedly have caused
profound grief not only to Harry and Hermione but to fans worldwide.
It also would have had some serious ramifications.
Ron's absence would have completely altered the dynamics of the trio, leaving Harry and
Hermione to navigate their journeys without their loyal companion.
Furthermore, the loss of Ron's humor, warmth, and unwavering loyalty would have undoubtedly
left a palpable void in the series, changing the course of events and the relationships
between the characters.
However, fortunately for us, as the series progressed, Rowling recognized the vital role
Ron played within the story.
His humor, bravery, and unwavering support provided a much-needed balance to the darker
elements of the wizarding world.
Ultimately, she made the decision to spare Ron's life, allowing him to continue growing
alongside Harry and Hermione and contributing to the ultimate defeat of Voldemort.
‘Funnily enough, I planned from the start that none of [the trio] would die.
Then midway through, which I think is a reflection of the fact that I wasn’t in a very happy
place, I started thinking I might polish one of them off.
Out of sheer spite.
“There, now you definitely can’t have him anymore.”
But I think in my absolute heart of hearts, although I did seriously consider killing
Ron, [I wouldn’t have done it].’
2.
Arthur Weasley Dying
As if killing Fred and *nearly* Ron wasn’t enough, it turns out that Rowling had also
considered killing off the patriarch of the Weasley clan, Arthur.
J.K.
Rowling has been quite vocal in interviews about her impulses to ‘kill parents’ in
order to amplify the fear Lord Voldemort brought upon the wizarding world.
In the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series, "Order of the Phoenix," Arthur Weasley
became the target of that impulse.
In this book, Arthur experiences a harrowing and nearly fatal assault by Nagini, Lord Voldemort's
serpentine companion inside of the Department of Mysteries.
But fortunately Rowling couldn’t bear to lose arthur Arthur.
‘If there’s one character I couldn’t bear to part with, it’s Arthur Weasley,’
she told The Today Show back in 2007.
‘I think part of the reason for that is there were very few good fathers in the book.
In fact, you could make a very good case for Arthur Weasley being the only good father
in the whole series.’
Fortunately, Arthur ultimately recovered at St Mungo's Hospital, although it's worth noting
that a few Muggle stitches made no difference in his miraculous healing.
His survival was significant in maintaining the theme of hope and family within the story.
Rowling felt that killing Arthur would have been too tragic and would have had too much
of a negative impact on the overall tone of the story moving forward.
3.
Hermione's dad saving Harry instead of Hagrid
Although Hermione's parents, being Muggles, lead separate lives from Hermione and are
not extensively featured in the books, it turns out there was originally a possibility
for Hermione's father to have a more significant role in the narrative.
During Rowling’s planning phase for the Philosopher’s Stone, she considered a storyline
where the Granger and Potter families were acquainted.
In this alternate scenario, the Potters resided on an island, while the Grangers lived on
the mainland.
When an explosion occurred near the Potters' location, the Grangers would have rushed to
their aid.
Originally, it was Hermione's father who was envisioned as the one who rescued Harry and
brought him to the Dursleys.
However, Rowling ultimately assigned this pivotal role to Hagrid.
“The very, very earliest drafts of the first chapter of 'Philosopher's Stone' have the
Potters living on a remote island, Hermione's family living on the mainland, her father
spotting something that resembles an explosion out at sea and sailing out in a storm to find
their bodies in the ruins of their house.
I can't remember now why I thought this was a good idea, but I clearly recognised that
it wasn't fairly early on, because the Potters were re-located to Godric's Hollow for all
subsequent drafts.”
It certainly would have been interesting for the Granger clan to have had more significant
contributions to the story- particularly as they would have enlightened us with a muggle
perspective on the wizarding world that was a little more pro-magic.
4.
Theodore Nott being a rival bully to Draco Malfoy
Theodore Nott, a Slytherin student, DID make it in to the Harry Potter books.
HOWEVER, his role did change quite substantially.
As it turns out, Nott was originally conceived as a potential rival to Draco Malfoy.
However, this plotline was ultimately abandoned, likely to allow Draco to remain the main antagonist
from Slytherin and maintain consistency with his character development.
Evidently Theodore did NOTT remain a bully.
Essentially, the two would have acted as Slytherin Rivals, with Nott being the more clever of
the two boys.
“…We rarely see Draco talking to anybody he considers a real equal, and he is forced
to see Theodore as such because Theodore is just as pure-blooded as he is, and somewhat
cleverer,” Rowling said.
“Together these two Death Eaters’ sons discuss Dumbledore’s regime at Hogwarts
and Harry Potter, with all sorts of stories that the Death Eaters tell about how this
baby boy survived the Dark Lord’s attack."
During the creation of the Harry Potter series J.K.
Rowling even developed a subplot for the pair.
In this subplot, Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy were depicted engaging in conversation in
the garden of Malfoy Manor.
So fond was Rowling of this scene that she attempted to incorporate it twice in the series:
firstly in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and then again in Harry Potter and
the Goblet of Fire.
However, this particular subplot did not make its way into the published books.
5.
Hermione’s Sister
In the early stages of writing, J.K.
Rowling considered giving Hermione a younger sister- a character that we only know as ‘Miss
Granger’.
However, this plotline was abandoned, and Hermione remained an only child throughout
the series.
The reasons for this change are not explicitly stated, but it is possible that Rowling felt
the introduction of a sibling could unnecessarily complicate Hermione's character arc and the
dynamics within the trio.
“I always planned that Hermione would have a younger sister but she's never made an appearance
and somehow it feels like it might be too late now.”
Hermione’s younger sister was apparently due to arrive at Hogwarts sometime around
the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
But by the time the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, was released,
Rowling believed it was too late.
I do wonder, though, if Hermione and her sister would have recreated the plight of Lily and
Petunia Evans.
6.
The Last Words
As many of you will already know, the closing words of the Harry Potter books were ‘All
was well”- a statement that has satisfied some and caused fury in others.
Though relevant, I’ve always felt as though this rather basic collection of words left
a lot to be desired in an otherwise superb collection of books.
HOWEVER, it turn out that JK Rowling once considered closing out the books with something
else..
Initially, J.K.
Rowling considered closing out the series with the word "scar" instead of "all was well."
The word "scar" of course holds great symbolism throughout the Harry Potter series, as the
lightning-shaped scar on Harry Potter's forehead serves as a constant reminder of his connection
to the Dark Lord Voldemort and the traumatic events he has experienced.
Choosing to end the series with the word "scar" would have emphasized the lingering effects
of Harry's past and the lasting presence of darkness in the wizarding world.
By opting for "all was well" instead, J.K.
Rowling conveyed a different tone and message.
The phrase implies a sense of resolution, indicating that the struggles and conflicts
of the story have been overcome, and a state of peace and harmony has been achieved.
It provides closure for readers by reassuring them that the characters they have grown to
love are living in a world where they can finally find solace.
Unfortunately, we don’t have any more info about the potential build up to the word ‘scar’
or what that would have looked like.
7.
Dudley Dursley’s Wizard Son
In an interview, J.K.
Rowling once mentioned that she contemplated giving Dudley Dursley, Harry's awful cousin,
a son that would turn out to be a wizard.
Throughout the first books, Dudley displays spoiled, self-centered, and cruel behavior.
He, along with his parents, treat Harry with disdain and bully him excessively.
However, as the series progresses, there is a gradual shift in Dudley's attitude towards
Harry, culminating in a deleted scene where he finally extends an olive branch.
In this moment of redemption, Dudley extends his hand to Harry and finally acknowledges
his worth, carefully admitting “I don’t think you’re a waste of space”.
And that was the first time we really saw the good side of Dudley Dursley.
Evidently, Rowling had initially planned to take this Dudley Redemption arc even further
by giving him a magical child of his own.
In this alternate subplot, Dudley’s magical son would have been seen in the epilogue (along
with Harry’s) at King’s Cross Station- being sent off on his own magical journey
to Hogwarts.
However, this idea was later scrapped as Rowling refused to believe that any wizarding genes
could survive being mixed with Vernon’s DNA.
By giving Dudley a magical child, Rowling would have offered an opportunity for Dudley
to confront and challenge his negative beliefs and biases against the wizarding world.
After the books ended Rowling did eventually reveal that Dudley went on to have a family
of his own, raising two muggle children.
"Harry and Dudley would still see each other enough to be on Christmas-card terms, but
they would visit more out of a sense of duty and sit in silence so that their children
could see their cousins."
8.
The Sorting Hat
The Sorting Hat, a legendary artifact of Hogwarts created by the 4 founders, holds the power
to determine which House a new student belongs to.
It scans the thoughts, traits, and talents of the wearer, delving into their very essence.
With this insight, the Sorting Hat uses its wisdom to assign the student to Gryffindor,
Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.The four Houses of Hogwarts represent a tapestry of
diverse virtues, nurturing distinct qualities within their members.
And in many ways, the Sorting Hat has transcended the page, with nearly every diehard Harry
Potter fan proudly professing their Hogwarts house to anyone who will listen.
But what if I told you that The Sorting Hat nearly…Didn’t exist.
Though Rowling was sure that she wanted students sorted into four different houses with their
own unique qualities, the Sorting Hat had a couple lackluster early incarnations.
Originally, Rowling wanted the Sorting Hat to be a machine that "did all kinds of magical
things before reaching a decision."
Rowling herself admitted that this idea was "too easy."
Next, she toyed with the idea of students being sorted by the ghosts of the four founders.
The ghosts would exist inside statues that came alive in the entrance hall, picking children
for their houses one-by-one.
Following that, Rowling grappled with a few more basic ideas including drawing straws,
being picked by a team captain, and pulling names from a hat.
The final idea is what stuck, but instead of putting names in a hat, the hat ITSELF
ended up with the responsibility of choosing the students fate.
9.
Florean Fortescue
The Florean Fortescue we know was the owner of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour,
located in Diagon Alley.
Although his character did not play a significant role in the books, he did interact with Harry
in "Prisoner of Azkaban," where he revealed his extensive knowledge about medieval wizards.
Unfortunately in the summer of 1996 Fortescue was abducted and later murdered by Lord Voldemort.
Because Fortescue plays such a minor role, he’s not particularly memorable or useful.
But as it turns out, he was the subject of a ghost plot that never made it in to the
final story- one which would have placed great importance on his character.
“Florean Fortescue, owner of an ice-cream parlour in Diagon Alley, is the subject of
a ghost plot (a narrative that never made it into the final books).
Harry meets him in *Prisoner of Azkaban*.
Later, Harry discovers that an ex-headmaster of Hogwarts was called Dexter Fortescue.”
“Florean is a descendant of Dexter, and I originally planned Florean to be the conduit
for clues that I needed to give Harry during his quest for the Hallows, which is why I
established an acquaintance fairly early on.
At this stage, I imagined the historically-minded Florean might have a smattering of information
on matters as diverse as the Elder Wand and the diadem of Ravenclaw, the information having
been passed down in the Fortescue family from their ancient ancestor.
As I worked my way nearer to the point where such information would become necessary, I
caused Florean to be kidnapped, intending him to be found or rescued by Harry and his
friends.
The problem was that when I came to write the key parts of Deathly Hallows I decided
that Phineas Nigellus Black was a much more satisfactory means of conveying clues.
Florean’s information on the diadem also felt redundant, as I could give the reader
everything he or she needed by interviewing the Grey Lady.
All in all, I seemed to have had him kidnapped and killed for no reason.
He is not the first wizard whom Voldemort murdered because he knew too much (or too
little), but he is the only one I feel guilty about, because it was all my fault.”
If Fortescue had indeed given the trio clues about the Elder Wand, he would have been one
of the single most important leads in the trio's quest to destroy Voldemort.
10.
Helga Hufflepuff’s..Cauldron?
Helga Hufflepuff's Cup was a magical item created by Hogwarts Founder Helga Hufflepuff
herself.
It was a small golden cup with two finely-wrought handles, featuring a badger, the emblem of
Hufflepuff House, engraved on its side, adorned with several precious jewels.
In the series the cup played a significant role as one of the Horcruxes created by the
Dark Lord Voldemort.
After Voldemort stole the cup from the Lestrange Vault in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, it became
one of the objects sought after by Harry, Hermione, and Ron in their quest to destroy
the Horcruxes.
In the end it was destroyed by Hermione who used a basilisk fang.
But one interesting tidbit about this Horcrux was that it was originally intended to be
a CAULDRON and not a cup.
Cauldrons are quite typical in folklore about witches and wizards, and reasonably prominent
throughout the Harry Potter books.
Capitalizing on this, Rowling's original thought was to make Helga Hufflepuff's Horcrux a cauldron.
However, Rowling later decided that a cauldron was just too clunky to be an effective Horcrux.
"I did consider making Helga Hufflepuff's hallow a cauldron, but there was something
slightly comical and incongruous about having such a large and heavy Horcrux; I wanted the
objects Harry had to find to be smaller and more portable."
And that concludes the list!
These scrapped plot lines from the Harry Potter story offer fascinating insights into the
creative process of J.K.
Rowling and the narrative decisions that shaped the beloved series.
And while some of these plot lines seem intriguing, we do have to try and remember that they were
ultimately discarded in favor of a more streamlined and cohesive storyline.
Which abandoned plot lines did you like most?
Do you have any to add?
Please leave a comment down below.
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Until next time
Remember
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live