# I had a horrible thought about Harry Potter **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2004, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965 "2004-06-12T13:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/21 "2004-06-13T03:21:20Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > There’s one aspect of the whole series that keeps cropping up and standing out against what otherwise looks like a black-and-white, good-versus-bad sort of opposition: **Snape**. The ominous potions professor is neither one of the good guys nor an ally of Lord V. > > In book five, Rowling looks like she might be extending this sense of characters not having to be all-bad or all-good to Ms. Dursley. > > And of course many times there have been characters who appeared to be bad guys but turned out to be good guys or vice versa. > > What if Voldemort himself develops into a more three-dimensional character rather than just being evil incarnate? We already know that despite his “thing” about pure blood and allegiance to Slytherin’s legacy, he himself had a muggle dad, yes? We don’t know why Riddle (Voldemort) went bad, nor do we know how, if at all, Snape was personally involved in the turn of events that led to Voldemort’s going bad, rising to power, and then killing Harry’s folks. The ultimate triumph of good over evil could take the form of _reaching_ Voldemort and causing him to reject what he himself has built. Or whatever underlying issue led him to seek dominion could be reopened and alliances reformed along different lines, with really complex ethical and political issues for Harry to address as an older and more powerful wizard. Oh you mean: Snape turns out to be the _really_ evil one. Voldemort turns out to be Harry’s real father. Harry tries to reedeem Violdemort because he senses the good in him. But Snape and Voldemort try to turn Harry to the dark side of magic. When Harry refuses, Snape tries to kill him, but Voldemort saves Harry’s life, and kills Snape, but is mortally wounded in the process. Seriously though, my prediction is: Gilderoy Lockhart will return, this time as a genuine hero instead of a phony. He saves Harry’s life ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/22 "2004-06-13T03:43:23Z")
It seems really unlikely that Harry will die at the end of the series. For one, that would be a real downer, and unnecessarily so, for a coming-of-age series. The books are about Harry’s passage to adulthood, not into death. Also, Rowling has said she’s considering writing an 8th book about Harry as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/23 "2004-06-13T04:04:43Z")
Very interesting link that **Apos** gave. Supposedly, we’ll find out what happened to Sirius’ bike. I’m wondering if we’ll see the enchanted Ford Anglia again. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/24 "2004-06-13T05:08:31Z")
I very much doubt that Voldemort will be anything but evil. He doesn’t understand love. He enjoys murder and torture immensely. He’s as twisted as a villian gets. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/25 "2004-06-13T06:34:51Z")
Jo says: 1. Voldemort is not Harry’s father. 2. No prequels about Lily and James are planned. ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/26 "2004-06-13T07:12:11Z")
Does anyone else think that the entire Wizarding society is in for a bit of a shake-up? I’ve noticed a couple of references to Goblin rebellions, and in the latest book there’s a conversation to the effect that the Goblins might side with Voldemort, if only for the political franchise that he’d offer, which under the current administration, they’d been denied. My take for the end is Dumblemores death. Don’t know why, but I’m convinced that by the end of the series, he will have died to save Harry’s life, causing Harry much angst, but ultimately giving him the courage to face down Voldemort, despite the knowlege that he might die. Otherwise I’d love her to end the books right before the final battle, just for the sheer, frustrating rar!-ness of it ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/27 "2004-06-13T15:07:57Z")
I was thinking, will JK bring back Sirius, because he did not die by any physical or magical means he simply entered the life after death, is it possible for him to return? ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/28 "2004-06-13T15:58:16Z")
The “Revelation about Lily” has me nervous. She’s my favourite Book-Mom of all time, and if JK besmirches her… GRRRR! On second thought, maybe it’s that she was originally in love with Snape, but he rejects her out of bitterness, thinking that she is just pitying him, and James is her second choice. But I don’t see how that would fit an arc and I’m just talking out of my butt anyway. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/29 "2004-06-13T16:16:51Z")
**kung fu lola** , that’s very close to what I imagined, just perhaps… …add some intrigue/betrayal by James. Now that I think about it, I don’t know why I have such a negative image of him, but in my opinion the possibility that he “stole” Snape’s love and made him the character he is today would fit into the story. As far as a Lily-Snape relationship is concerned, there is still the not-so-scientific anagram clue… ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/30 "2004-06-13T16:46:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Personally, I fear the return of the time-turner, enabling Harry to kill Voldemort before Voldemort murders his parents. This couldn’t happen. Because if Harry had gone back in time to prevent Voldemort from killing his parents, then the present (ie, when Voldemort did kill the Potters) would never happen and James and Lilly would be alive today. The present must take into account any who have travelled back in time. I think Harry would reject going back simply because he wouldn’t want to change EVERYTHING. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/31 "2004-06-13T17:13:09Z")
I’ve always seen Harry and Draco Malfoy somehow becoming friends and allies (or perhaps lovers- now that’d be a shocker for the religious right to kvetch about). I think Snape’s boggart will be his father (who may or may not be Voldemort). I also wonder if the Dementors will somehow save the day in Book 6 ort 7, or if Dumbledore’s brother (who has been mentioned several times but never in detail) will come into play ala Mycroft Holmes. I think it’s almost a foregone conclusion that at some point in the last two books, Dumbledore is toast and the Weasley twins will become major heroes. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/32 "2004-06-13T17:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > My take for the end is Dumblemores death. If the author is to remain true to the mythic tradition, either Dumbledore or Harry _must_ die. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/33 "2004-06-13T19:23:04Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > This couldn’t happen. Because if Harry had gone back in time to prevent Voldemort from killing his parents, then the present (ie, when Voldemort did kill the Potters) would never happen and James and Lilly would be alive today. The present must take into account any who have travelled back in time. I think Harry would reject going back simply because he wouldn’t want to change EVERYTHING. On the contrary, I think Harry is quite stupid enough to envision AND try to act on such a “solution.” But in my paradoxical story arc, his solution takes place [spoiler]after he kills Voldemort. See, the battle also ends in the deaths of every Gryffindor at Hogwarts, plus every member of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry decides that he must prevent the entire sorry mess from ever transpiring, so he steals a Jumbo-sized Time-Turner and heads for Hangleton, _circa_ 1926, intending to warn Mr. Marvolo’s daughter not to date any Muggles named Riddle. Unfortunately, when he gets there, she’s already married to Tom Riddle _pere_. He presses on, however, trying to warn her to not reproduce. He spends considerable time alone with her in these efforts, develops a caring relationship, and one thing leads to another, if you catch my drift. Tom Riddle catches them _in flagrante delicto_ one fine afternoon, and in the finest W. Somerset Maughm tradition, gives Harry a shotgun blast between the eyes, and turns his bride out into the street. Thus we learn that _Harry_, not Tom Riddle, is actually Voldemort’s father.[/spoiler] Yes, I DO feel rather dumb putting such a preposterous hypothesis in a spoiler box; why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/34 "2004-06-13T20:00:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Yes, I DO feel rather dumb putting such a preposterous hypothesis in a spoiler box; why do you ask? While preposterous, that would be hugely entertaining. Please write fanfiction. ---
**Author:** ![nocturnal\_tick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@nocturnal\_tick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nocturnal_tick)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/35 "2004-06-13T20:08:44Z")
I too hope that Sirius returns, I mean what a lame way to die. He fell through the curtained door. Oh, well can’t he just walk back through. No. No he can’t. Well why don’t you put up a warning sign, or a frelling wall to STOP PEOPLE FALLING IN AND DYING!! Also: Could Lily have been a Slytherin? I bet that’s her big secret. And as for Harry having his mother’s eyes, does that mean that Lily’s last charm changed his eyes. Maybe a splinter from her shattered wand lodged itself in Harry’s eye and now he can destroy Voldemort with laser sight. Yup that’s stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/36 "2004-06-13T20:22:21Z")
The curtain Sirius fell though was strongly implied to be a doorway from life into death, and was used for executions back before the Wizard prison was built. ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/37 "2004-06-13T20:27:08Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Rowling wouldn’t do that. > > Would she? I doubt it. It would be such a lame ending. Some of the endings suggested by posters are quite funny though. ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/38 "2004-06-13T21:48:35Z")
> [@Shoshana](#): > > If the author is to remain true to the mythic tradition, either Dumbledore or Harry _must_ die. I agree. There was a point during OotP where I really thought JKR might have Harry and Voldemort kill each other in a final battle, but I take the prophecy to mean it’s an either/or outcome, and I don’t imagine the author leaving Voldemort alive after killing Harry. I expect Lupin to get picked off during book 6, so that Harry will have no further contact with a close friend of his father’s. Dumbledore almost certainly dies very near the end of book 7. Snape? I don’t imagine he’ll make it alive all the way to the end, but I’m guessing he gets closer than Lupin does. Ah, Harry Potter deadpool … such fun! ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/39 "2004-06-13T22:05:56Z")
I’m still waiting for Dumbledore to die. How can Harry ever really grow up if this DeusEx Machina is always around? I don’t think Lupin or Snape will die though. Someone had better mess up the LeStrange real good though. Mrs. Lestrange is even more sickening in some ways than Voldemort himself. ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965/40 "2004-06-13T22:21:45Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > I’m still waiting for Dumbledore to die. How can Harry ever really grow up if this DeusEx Machina is always around? Exactly. Harry will become Dumbledore’s successor. With Voldemort and Dumbledore gone by Book 7, Harry will be the most powerful wizard in the world and he’ll only be seventeen. I still think Neville might be the one to destroy Voldemort. I haven’t read Book 5 in a year, so I need some clarification here: the prophecy says that either Neville or Harry will be the one to bring about Voldemort’s downfall, right? Everyone just assumes it’ll be Harry because Voldemort went to the Potters and not the Longbottoms. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-had-a-horrible-thought-about-harry-potter/249965.md?page=3)