Harry Potter

[blueray]

I think that is why she had Slughorn be a slytherin because he wasn't evil. Sure he had favorites but a lot of teachers do that, I got the impression other then not knowing other students names, he didn't mistreat anyone in his class unlike Snape. One thing that did bother me is in the 7th book, not a single slytherin stated to help fight for the school.

[anony mouse]

I think that is why she had Slughorn be a slytherin because he wasn't evil. Sure he had favorites but a lot of teachers do that, I got the impression other then not knowing other students names, he didn't mistreat anyone in his class unlike Snape. One thing that did bother me is in the 7th book, not a single slytherin stated to help fight for the school.

 

It wasn't really their choice. I read a tumblr post which really articulates my feelings on the matter better than I could. Basically, they were kicked out after Pansy Parkinson said they should turn Harry over to Voldemort. We have no idea who would have stayed and fought.

 

http://gehayi.tumblr.com/post/97170918011/the-battle-for-hogwarts-why-slytherin-house-is

[Sharpie66]

I've been reading a fantastic fanfic author who has done some great stories filling in the holes of the canon with both Slytherins (the author has devoted entire stories to Theodore Nott and his father, as well as some fun stuff with Blaise Zabini) as well as explaining how Harry, etc., became Aurors (Hogwarts offers make-up tests to everyone who attended school that last year as well as providing tutoring for those who missed that final year but wanted to take the tests). The author (Northumbrian--I've mentioned him upthread as well) has a lot of Dumbledore's Army (Harry, Ron, Neville, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, and Dennis Creavey, oh, and Lavendar Brown as well, after she goes through some major changes resulting from the Greyback attack at the Battle) ending up the Auror office because of the fact that their ranks were decimated by Voldemort. I can't remember if this came from Northumbrian or JKR, but he has half of the Aurors killed by Death Eaters in that year), so their training is accelerated but the standards aren't lowered excessively.

 

I've been reading so many of this author's stories that I get a bit mixed up with what JKR has stated as canon outside of the books and what Northumbrian has written!

Edited April 27, 2015 by Sharpie66

[scarynikki12]

The Hogwarts teachers also made a decree that students who were of age could stay behind, while the younger ones were required to leave for their own safety.  Hence the description of underage Colin Creevy sneaking back to the school to help fight.  Malfoy was always shown as being the leader of the Slytherins in his year or, at least, none of them challenged his authority.  So, it's very possible that there were many Slytherin students who wanted to fight against Voldemort but were underage.  Colin was the only example we have of an underage student returning to fight so we know that there were plenty Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs who left despite having a desire to pitch in.  We also know that Draco's future wife, Astoria, was underage at this time and we know that she turned her back on the pureblood supremacist ideals they were both raised with.  She didn't stay behind but I wouldn't be surprised if her eyes were already open as to what Voldemort, the Death Eaters, and the supremacists really meant for the Wizarding and Muggle worlds.  Maybe she realized this during that year of school, maybe before, but I think it's a safe bet. 

 

I can't remember if this came from Northumbrian or JKR, but he has half of the Aurors killed by Death Eaters in that year

 

 

It's probably Northumbrian, as I don't remember Rowling explicitly stating how many Aurors were targeted that year.  We know Dirk Cresswell escaped his escort to Azkaban* and was later murdered with Ted and that goblin but he's the only one we're told of.  I do think that's probably accurate even if a guess.  The Death Eaters would have had to take out the real threats in the Auror office and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. My own headcanon is that Umbridge and/or Fudge let Lucius Malfoy know that Amelia Bones gave Harry a fair trial, including showing his testimony respect, and that led to the timing of her murder.  I think she'd have been targeted no matter what due to her position, but Harry's trial tipped them off as to how much of a threat she was to their cause and they murdered her as soon as Voldemort's return was confirmed by the Ministry. 

 

Going back to Dumbledore, I did like those moments where we saw his real reactions to specific people/events.  There's the well known flash of triumph at learning Voldemort used Harry's blood to rise again and his rage at the fake Moody, but I always love the anger that takes over when he tells Harry about Neville's parents and the grief when he speaks of Amelia Bones' murder.  He was always so in control of himself and whatever situation he was in that these flashes of emotion make him more human.

 

*Dawlish getting Confunded over and over is one of my favorite recurring bits.  Neville makes me laugh the most: "Dawlish is still in St. Mungo's and Gran's on the run" will never not be funny.  I do feel bad for the character but I still laugh.

[Spartan Girl]

Rereading OOP makes me realize that I'm still not over Sirius dying.  Him, Fred, and Hedwig were probably the deaths that hurt the most. 

 

So, is anybody else excited about the canon play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child JKR co-wrote, that's coming out next year?  I wonder what that will be about.  She's said over and over that it's not a prequel, but there will be some backstory about Harry's parents.  Hmmm...

[Jodithgrace]

I adore the HP books and have read and reread them several times. I even spent bucks to get them for my kindle, even though I have them all in hard cover. The thing is..I was already a grandmother when the books came out. I had heard about them for some time. I think the third or fourth one was out by the time I started them. But I almost didn't get through the first book. I thought it was too childish..all that nonsense with the letters, and the Dursley's over reactions. Then Harry got to Diagon Alley, and suddenly I think JKR found her voice and I was hooked. The thing that I loved was that book by book, as Harry got older, the books became more and more mature. By the end of Goblet of Fire, and the death of Cedrick, Harry is no longer a child, facing children's problems; he is a young man. The darker the books became, the more I liked them.

I had no problem with Ron and Hermione..I saw the way the wind blew even before the Winter ball, and I liked Harry and Ginny also. i know these aren't popular opinions, but I never saw any romance between Harry and Hermione, though i admit that JKR did have some missteps in her romance writing. I'm such a shipper, though, i happily filled in the gaps. 

[Miss Dee]

I don't think there was anything that hinted at H/H in the books, but I can certainly understand why people shipped them from the movies. The actors have wonderful chemistry. That said, it makes for great friendship chemistry too and I would have resented such a big change from the books.

[HoodlumSheep]

Yes, the movies dragged me into shipping H/H. It's also the movies that made me not like R/H or H/G very much either.

I could see how you could ship H/H in the books too though. They're very good friends, also it didn't help that other characters mentioned the idea of that pairing once or twice too. I just thought they seemed more compatible than R/H, but I'm very happy that they became sibling-in-laws in the end.

GoF was my second favorite book after Azkaban. They are a nice read back to back, and I also loved the darker turn that occurred in these two books too.

Edited July 20, 2015 by HoodlumSheep

[Avaleigh]

Yes, the movies dragged me into shipping H/H. It's also the movies that made me not like R/H or H/G very much either.

I could see how you could ship H/H in the books too though. They're very good friends, also it didn't help that other characters mentioned the idea of that pairing once or twice too. I just thought they seemed more compatible than R/H, but I'm very happy that they became sibling-in-laws in the end.

GoF was my second favorite book after Azkaban. They are a nice read back to back, and I also loved the darker turn that occurred in these two books too.

I thought that there was a lot of evidence for Harry/Hermione in the books and I think JKR admitted that it was there but she was committed to sticking to the original plan as opposed to where the writing ended up taking her naturally. Harry and Hermione kept ending up in situations where they would spend significant amounts of time alone and more could have been made of those situations but she of course ultimately chose to not go in that direction. In the first book IIRC (It's been a long time!) Harry and Hermione have to leave Ron to continue on towards the stone. In the third book Harry and Hermione have a separate adventure without Ron. In the fourth book it's Hermione who sticks by Harry through thick and thin and it's Hermione who is helping him try to make it through the tasks. (Ron gets there eventually but this is when people start to think that Hermione is Harry's girlfriend and it isn't just because of Rita Skeeter.) In the fifth book Harry and Hermione are thrown together because of Grawp among other things. In the sixth book Hermione is all upset over Lavender and we have various points where Harry and Hermione are together but Ron is with Lavender, or isn't a part of the slug club, isn't invited to that party (IIRC), and finally the last book where Ron leaves them and Harry and Hermione spend all of that time together without him. At least the movie threw a bone to the people who wondered why there wouldn't be some sort of moment for two good friends who are suddenly in a situations like that for weeks on end. 

 

When the movie highlighted Hermione grabbing Ron's hand after being startled at some point in PoA I remember it driving me nuts because in the book PoA it was Harry's arm that she grabbed when she saw that the Fat Lady's portrait had been savaged. There were little touches like that throughout the books but the movies would typically ignore them (understandably) because they knew that Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny were the end game. Or having Hermione blow up at Harry during GoF "I'm not an owl!" when Hermione seemed more frustrated with Ron than she was with Harry when it came to their argument. The movie made it seem like she had sided with Ron when she'd taken such pains to not take sides and to continue to be supportive of Harry. 

 

The big happy Weasley family part of it didn't really touch me it just annoyed me. I would have loved it if Ginny had married some Malfoy cousin of Draco's or any Slytherin just to have had something unexpected in that epilogue. Neville/Ginny could have been pretty sweet too. 

Edited July 22, 2015 by Avaleigh

[HoodlumSheep]

All the parts you mentioned in the books were also big parts as to why I shipped H/H. For some reason when I think of the H/H vs R/H situation I always have that one quote from Dumbledore echoing through my head. I think it was in the GoF trailer-or whatever one-??? (I can't remember if he said it the book too). It was about choosing between what was right and what was easy. H/H would probably equate to "easy" and R/H ="right" (how Hermione stayed loyal to Ron (and Harry to Ginny). That's how I've always viewed it (even though I still like H/H better).

I also liked Harry with Luna. So I guess I'm a multi-shipper. I loved all their moments together in the books, especially the 5th. one of my favorite moments in the OotP is probably near the end with Nick (that discussion about how some people choose to move on instead of being a ghost) and Luna immediately after.

I really love that discussion between harry and Nick. I wish it would have been in the movies.

[truthaboutluv]

I think JKR admitted that it was there but she was committed to sticking to the original plan as opposed to where the writing ended up taking her naturally.

 

 

This brings to mind a comment she made I believe after Order of the Phoenix came out, where she said while writing that one, she felt like some of the characters were starting to get away from her and she had to reign them back in. I think she said this was especially true of Hermione. I always thought that was interesting.

 

And it further stood out to me when I later found out that she once said Ron and Hermione's relationship reminded her of her first marriage, in that it was wild and explosive and at that time, being so young, she thought it was all so exciting and that's what love meant. Until of course it imploded barely two years later. And also interesting, is that she's said her current husband is a bit Harry-like and that Hermione was something of her self-insert in the books.

 

I never really shipped any pairing in the books but I definitely thought it was ridiculous that JK was determined to use an epilogue she wrote more than a decade earlier, when she first started writing the series. To me that just did not make sense because shipping preferences aside, so much had happened and changed in her life that it was bound to affect her writing in some way and I would imagine and hope that her writing had also gotten stronger over all those years. So the fact that rather than just guide the series to a natural conclusion, she was determined to throw in something she wrote more than ten years earlier, made no sense. But it was what it was. 

 

As I said, I never really shipped any pairing in the series but I definitely understood why some people shipped Harry and Hermione even with the glaring signs of Ron's jealousy over Krum and by that token his crush on  Hermione. And it's also why I understood why so many fans of the pairing were so outraged when JK did that interview with Mugglenet fansite I believe, after Half-Blood Prince came out, and the moderators interviewing her referred to them as delusional. I didn't blame JK as some did because to her credit she did politely say that she wouldn't use that word. However, what I disagreed with, was her adding, "I just thought I made it clear who the pairings were."

 

As I said once, it was clear only if you just assumed JK would go for the most obvious and cliche and predictable tropes. Yes Ron and Hermione were at least friends and Ron's over the top reaction to Krum made it clear how he felt about Hermione so you could argue that was obvious, but JK was delusional if she thought she did anything to make it clear that Harry and Ginny were destined for some great love. The only thing "obvious" about Harry and Ginny was that she had a crush, she was the only girl of the Weasley's kids and so Harry marrying her would make him family and a Weasley. That was it. So yeah if you assumed she would be very predictable and cliche in her writing of the relationships, it was obvious. As I said before, she clearly settled on cliche tropes - the bickering couple, the mousy girl with the crush who blossoms into some starlet etc. 

 

The thing is, I think she was so focused on her cliches with those two pairings, that she inadvertently wrote Harry and Hermione with this incredible bond without even trying to. I don't know if I'm explaining myself clearly but I think in JK's mind, it was like this - Ron and Hermione are destined to be together and they will have the cute, bickering couple trope. So book after book will have them going back and forth over something or another and then they will both act like jealous idiots when the other starts dating someone else because it's fiery and passionate. Harry and Ginny will be the fairy tale romance where the hero does not realize that what he's looking for is right in front of him. And in true fairy tale fashion, their interactions will be brief and superficial to keep her hidden until the hero's eyes are opened to her perfection. 

 

Harry and Hermione though are just best friends, period. They're best friends who support, love, respect and understand each other but they're just friends. So they can go off alone on adventures and it's fine because there will be no tension because they're just friends. Harry can't have any kind of emotional connection and bonding with Ginny for example because she's "the girl" in his hero's journey. The one he rescued and saved and is meant for him but not allowed on his journeys that he has to take on alone. Well except of course with Hermione and Ron but again, that doesn't count because Hermione is just the friend, nothing more. 

 

The thing is, for some readers, the way JK wrote the friendship and emotional connection between Harry and Hermione appealed to them far more than the cliches. Some readers came away feeling that they didn't want to see the two bickering people together or see the hero end up with some girl he'd had at best two or three superficial conversations with the whole series. They wanted the journey of a relationship not just the big, cliche moments. Because I felt like that was another thing with JK's writing of those relationships - it was all about the big moments rather than real journey, Harry and Ginny more so than Ron and Hermione. Again, for whatever faults Ron and Hermione had, you could always argue that they were friends, it was the trio together a lot and so they conceivably had a real bond. 

 

Harry and Ginny was the really problematic relationship. Ginny was for most of the series, removed not just from Harry but the trio and their adventures and journeys. I always remember in the beginning of Order of the Phoenix when Harry gets to the DA headquarters and he wants to talk to Ron and Hermione but Ginny's standing there and he awkwardly looks away from her until Ron rudely tells her to go away. And Harry felt the same at the end when Ginny, Luna and Neville wanted to come along with him, Ron and Hermione to the Ministry of Magic. Harry on many levels did not like opening up to anyone and he only really seemed comfortable having Ron and Hermione directly in his world. 

 

And so for most of the series Ginny was really like a passing part of Harry's life and then suddenly he decides he's attracted to her and all JK does with that is have Harry whine about this monster in his chest for a good chunk of pages. Then he and Ginny have some big movie moment kiss in front of everyone and we're told they head out to talk or whatever but readers get none of that and next page they're together. And the summary of them being together is Harry just mentioning about some happy sunlit days and references to a lot of making out, then the next thing they were so busy they weren't seeing each other a lot, then Dumbledore dies and the relationship is over. And then Deathly Hallows has them kiss once because Harry's 17 and again I guess it was supposed to be some moment, then they barely speak to each other until Harry goes off with Ron and Hermione for most of the book. And then the epilogue comes and they're married with kids. That was that whole relationship. 

 

I definitely think that without meaning to, JK actually created a pretty amazing relationship with Harry and Hermione. But it's almost like she did so specifically because she wasn't trying to write them as romantic. In other words it's like when she goes for the romance and consciously tries to write it, is when she fails because she in this case any way, settled too much on the cliches. I absolutely understand about the many times she separated them from even Ron - another instance and that one always baffled me was at the end of Order of the Phoenix when the group separated and Ron ran off with Ginny and Luna and Harry and Hermione were with Neville. I guess I can believe Ron wanting to protect Ginny but why not have Hermione go off with them instead of Luna. 

 

Also, the mentions of other people wondering about Harry and Hermione's relationship also didn't make much sense to me. I figured that it was perhaps JK's way of saying to the readers "see they're just friends, nothing is happening there" through Harry's continued denials but I didn't get why she felt the need to have this brought up by three different people. Rita Skeeter and her gossip was just ridiculous so that could just be hand waved but what was the point of having Krum threatened by Harry, even though Hermione was just as close to Ron. And Krum's suspicions seemed to be because according to him, Hermione talked about Harry all the time. Then it comes up in the next book again with Cho who is bothered by how much time Harry spends with Hermione and how often he mentions her. Again, while I think JK put these things in so the reader could read Harry again definitively deny any interest in Hermione, it also just highlighted how connected Harry and Hermione often were. 

 

eta: Btw, I haven't seen this mentioned often but anyone else feel like there were hints to a possible Ron and Luna pairing, particularly in OOTP or at the least that Luna had a crush on Ron? I always thought her constantly calling him Ronald was cute and she always seemed fascinated by him, creepily so at times because that was Luna.

Edited July 23, 2015 by truthaboutluv

[wingster55]

I think Harry was just as connected to Ron as he was to Hermione honestly. As for characters thinking things about H-H..well that's life. If a guy and a girl are alone at any time people think things. (/eloquent sentence)

[Athena]

I think Harry was just as connected to Ron as he was to Hermione honestly. As for characters thinking things about H-H..well that's life. If a guy and a girl are alone at any time people think things. (/eloquent sentence)

 

I was one of the readers who always considered Harry and Hermione as just friends. I wasn't surprised by the ship when I encountered it in fandom. I am not a big shipper, but I did follow a few. As with any fandom, the shipping wars were intense. The "delusional" remark is the least of what I witnessed back when the books were still being released.

 

I always saw Harry and Hermione as completely platonic. Finding romance in fiction is subjective. I think they loved each other, but it never made to think they would be it. I honestly don't think they are even that compatible. I could see why some would since you can ship based on a lot of things. As someone who didn't have brothers, I can see how Harry and Hermione would see each other as close, sibling-like friends.

 

This isn't to say that I love Ron/Hermione or Harry/Ginny. I don't mind them. I just loved the characters individually and the happy ending worked for me on that level.

[truthaboutluv]

I think Harry was just as connected to Ron as he was to Hermione honestly. As for characters thinking things about H-H..well that's life. If a guy and a girl are alone at any time people think things. (/eloquent sentence)

 

For the record, I never questioned Harry's connection to Ron. As I've said before, in my opinion, the true loves of Harry life was Ron and Hermione and that was never more obvious in my opinion than the end of the war when they were the two people he immediately sought (I don't care who he married and had badly named kids with).

 

And as for people always thinking a guy and a girl alone could be a couple, I agree but my point, was one, we know Hermione spent just as much time with Ron as she did Harry because the trio was often a unit. But more than that, my point was I didn't understand why JK felt the need to have it come up on three different occasions. As I said, on one level I figured maybe it was an in-book message to the shippers, specifically the H/Hr shippers that it wasn't happening.

 

But at the same time, in doing that, all she was doing was making it appear that for whatever reason, three different people had cause to think there was something between those two. As I noted, I know it was not her goal to make them romantic - well obviously, as we saw who she put each character with. My larger point was that I don't think she was particularly adept at writing romance, especially when she relied on such overused cliches and because she wasn't great at it, she may have inadvertently made the two characters who were supposed to be just friends and nothing more, seem more compelling as a pairing than the actual pairings. Because she wasn't even trying. Of course YMMV and I know many didn't see it that way.

[wingster55]

I think it was also (and primarily so) to have Harry experience being tabloid fodder. He never really experienced it until then. 

[Katherine]

I've been a diehard Harry Potter fan since I was 10, and surprisingly, the romantic relationships were always the part that interested me least. I guess I was kind of rooting for Ron and Hermione, but I wasn't overly invested in them. As for Harry/Hermione, while I can definitely understand why some people ship them, part of me always really appreciated that they remained just friends. I found it refreshing. Ginny/Harry is the relationship I had the biggest problem with. I'm actually glad JKR didn't spend more time on them because I felt like Harry's friendship with Ron and Hermione was far more important, but at the same time, it did make it difficult to get invested in them. Their relationship felt forced (and, as has already been mentioned, very rushed).

When I was reading the books the first time around, I mostly stayed away from online fandom. It's only recently that I've started following HP blogs on tumblr. One of the biggest surprises for me is how big the Sirius/Lupin fandom is. Sirius is my absolute favorite character (to the point where I will never get over his death). I can see why people ship him with Lupin and it definitely would have been compelling if JKR had gone that route, but for me, Sirius' (possible) romantic relationships were the least interesting part of his character. His story was always about his friendships (mostly his friendship with James).

I find it interesting that many fans consider Snape to be the most tragic character of the series. Obviously a lot of the characters experienced serious tragedy, but for some reason, it's Sirius' story that really gets to me. No matter what his flaws, he got a pretty raw deal. I also felt like JKR's writing for him in OotP was a little unfair. He was clearly depressed (understandably so) and the only character who really sympathized with him was Harry. Everyone else just kept pointing out how reckless he was. I mean, he definitely wasn't being a great godfather to Harry, but you would think people might be a little more sympathetic to someone who spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, and therefore never had a chance to grow up. Anyway, it's interesting to see fans' varying reactions to different characters, and which stories really strike a chord with them.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Katherine

[truthaboutluv]

And not just any prison either. The wizarding prison was guarded by the dementors which basically kept a person in a permanent state of misery all the time, because it took all their happy thoughts away. So imagine twelve years of living where you are constantly reminded of the darkest parts of your life (and for Sirius that was some really crappy stuff with his awful family he hated and who hated him) everyday. I think the most tragic part of Sirius' story was that he died with him never having his name cleared. Harry and company knew the truth but the rest of the wizarding world still believed at the time of his death that he had betrayed James and Lily and killed Pettigrew.

[Katherine]

And not just any prison either. The wizarding prison was guarded by the dementors which basically kept a person in a permanent state of misery all the time, because it took all their happy thoughts away. So imagine twelve years of living where you are constantly reminded of the darkest parts of your life (and for Sirius that was some really crappy stuff with his awful family he hated and who hated him) everyday. I think the most tragic part of Sirius' story was that he died with him never having his name cleared. Harry and company knew the truth but the rest of the wizarding world still believed at the time of his death that he had betrayed James and Lily and killed Pettigrew.

I completely agree! It's sad that one of the most loyal characters of the series died with everyone thinking he betrayed his best friend.

I keep hoping we'll get Sirius' complete backstory on Pottermore. I was always interested in the dynamic with his family. I think one of the reasons I found him more compelling than Snape was that he chose to actively fight against death eaters, even though he was raised in a family that believed in their cause, and even though he was protected by his pureblood status. Snape, on the other hand, loved the dark arts and seemed to fully support Voldemort, up until the point that it meant someone HE cared about could die. I loved Snape's character and his backstory, but I really never saw him as a hero or even as a decent person. In contrast to this, while Sirius was definitely a bully and was flawed in many ways, at least he recognized that Voldemort was wrong and spent his life fighting the death eaters.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Katherine

[Spartan Girl]

While on the subject of Sirius, I really resented how Hermione implied that Sirius got what he deserved for daring to be so mean to Kreacher.

Granted, she wasn't wrong about the treatment of house elves, but sometimes I wanted to ask her if she was lonely up on her pedestal. I wonder if she would have been so quick to defend Kreacher if he'd sold out HER parents to the Death Eaters.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Spartan Girl

[Katherine]

Good point! Yes, Sirius' treatment of Kreacher was wrong. But Hermione, Mrs. Weasley, and Dumbledore all pointing out Sirius' flaws throughout OotP seemed like a bit much to me. I really liked Harry's attachment to Sirius. No matter how flawed Sirius was, I totally bought Harry seeing him as a father figure and being completely crushed by his death. It's mentioned throughout the books that Sirius wasn't a great godfather--I think Harry himself even refers to Sirius as having been a reckless godparent--but, considering Sirius spent almost his entire adult life isolated in prison, IMO he did a pretty decent job. Sure he had his issues, but Harry was always his priority, and in the end he laid down his life to protect Harry.

Edited July 26, 2015 by Katherine

[kathyk24]

I loved Sirius he was my favorite character after Harry. He won me over by wanting Harry to live with him despite not seeing Harry since he was a baby. Sirius was nice considering most of the Black family were bigots. I hated Dumbledore for not doing more to clear Sirius when he knew he didn't kill Peter Pettigrew.

[JustaPerson]

http://www.buzzfeed.com/andyneuenschwander/these-adorable-harry-potter-comics-imagine-james-and-lily-as#.xeDMPE91Lq

[Spartan Girl]

LOVE the new Potter family history and the new Pottermore site.  Bless you JKR

[Katherine]

Still holding out hope for background info on Sirius and his family!

[ApathyMonger]

Details on the Cursed Child: http://deadline.com/2015/10/harry-potter-and-the-cursed-child-play-details-two-part-sequel-albus-west-end-2016-1201591782/

 

 

The stage story will start 19 years after Harry and the gang left Hogwarts. He’s now an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children. While he grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. (Refresher: At the end of Deathly Hallows, Albus Severus asks his dad, “What if I am put in Slytherin?”) As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

[Spartan Girl]

OMG this sounds AWESOME. When is this coming out?! I want, I want!!!

[benteen]

Sounds like Rowling's back to doing what she does best...making Harry's life miserably.  She positively revels in it.

 

If you liked Harry Potter as an unhappy child, you'll love him as a disgruntled adult!

Edited October 23, 2015 by benteen

[dcalley]

OMG this sounds AWESOME. When is this coming out?! I want, I want!!!

It's a play and only in London (for now; the demand that it be more accessible will be huge).

[Spartan Girl]

Sounds like Rowling's back to doing what she does best...making Harry's life miserably.  She positively revels in it.

 

If you liked Harry Potter as an unhappy child, you'll love him as a disgruntled adult!

I didn't interpret it that way at all. People can be happy and still go through everyday annoyances and problems. Harry's discomfort with fame was never going to go away completely.

[truthaboutluv]

Has J.K. been reading the comments that some thought Harry's ending was too Disney fairytale for all the shit he went through, so now we're getting Harry still struggling with his past? Okay then. As a person who likes to pretend the awful epilogue never happened, I'm sort of meh on this sequel of sorts. And as someone else noted on another board, with a name that stupid, of course that poor kid is cursed. 

[benteen]

I had no issue with the epilogue at all.  Considering Rowling practically reveled in Harry's misery, I was glad he got a happy ending.

[Jazzy24]

I love the Harry Potter books always will but Harry's story ended for me in the last chapter of DH not the epilogue.

But I wish JKR would write about other things in the HP universe like why can't she write about how Hogwarts came to be and the four finders they seem like an interesting bunch.

[ApathyMonger]

But I wish JKR would write about other things in the HP universe like why can't she write about how Hogwarts came to be and the four finders they seem like an interesting bunch.

 

She's also writing the Fantastic Beasts movies, and she has occasional short pieces on Pottermore.

[blueray]

I love the Harry Potter books always will but Harry's story ended for me in the last chapter of DH not the epilogue.

But I wish JKR would write about other things in the HP universe like why can't she write about how Hogwarts came to be and the four finders they seem like an interesting bunch.

I wish she would too, except I would want her to write about James, Lily, Lupin, etc's time at Hogwarts. Much more interesting in my opinion.

[jennifer6973]

What would interest me is a companion book with the adults that goes along with the book series.  To see and read reactions of Harry Potter and his antics.  (I'm sure the school tried to contact the Dursleys about his antics)

[SmithW6079]

Not sure if this is a spoiler or not:

 

JK Rowling reveals why Harry names his son after Snape

 

These little dribs and drabs of stuff JK Rowling puts out to "clarify" certain things in the books just make me sad for her. Either commit to writing again in the Potterverse or put it aside, but these little "tidbits" just come across as pathetic attempts to remain relevant. 

[Spartan Girl]

I don't see it that way at all. I think JKR just likes hearing from her fans and through Twiiter just wants to answer any questions they still have. There's nothing wrong with that.

[GreekGeek]

Not sure if this is a spoiler or not:

 

JK Rowling reveals why Harry names his son after Snape

 

These little dribs and drabs of stuff JK Rowling puts out to "clarify" certain things in the books just make me sad for her. Either commit to writing again in the Potterverse or put it aside, but these little "tidbits" just come across as pathetic attempts to remain relevant. 

This is a revelation? I thought it was obvious after Harry found out the truth about Snape.

[neverforgottenadam]

Has anyone here, heard the theory about what happened to Dolores Umbridge when she was taken from Centaurs?? I recently heard about it, on tumblr and it is pretty disturbing.

[ApathyMonger]

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Annouces Its Leads, Casts a Black Actress as Hermione

 

 

 

Ever since J.K. Rowling announced it would be an official Harry Potter sequel, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has been one of London's most anticipated theater events of 2016. Now, the play, which returns to the characters at the heart of J.K. Rowling's series of novels at their middle age, will provide yet another perspective on the book series, with the role of Hermione portrayed for the first time by a black woman. According to the Daily Mail and the play's official Twitter account, the Potter sequel will star Jamie Parker as Harry Potter, Paul Thornley as Ron Weasley, and Noma Dumezweni as Hermione Granger.

[kathyk24]

I don't have a problem with Harry being haunted by his past I'd be shocked if he wasn't. His family abused him and every father figure he had died. Having children probably brought up emotions he had to hide as a teen.

[GaT]

JK Rowling's 'eighth Harry Potter story' will be published this summer

[Spartan Girl]

YESSSSSSSS!!!

[cherrypj]

Unfortunately, it's just a script from the play of the same name. It doesn't appear to be an actual book.

[Spartan Girl]

Unfortunately, it's just a script from the play of the same name. It doesn't appear to be an actual book.

 

Doesn't matter to me.  There's no telling if that play will reach America.  This way, fans won't have to wait or pay to go to Britain to see it.

Edited February 11, 2016 by Spartan Girl

[joanne3482]

This is a revelation? I thought it was obvious after Harry found out the truth about Snape.

Since I hate so much the truth about Snape, I hope it is a good reason he named the kid Albus Severus. To my mind, Snape never redeemed himself. His obsessive love of Lily didn't make me like him more. 

[kathyk24]

Amazon has The Cursed  Child available for preorder in hardcover and kindle editions.

[NutMeg]

I'm not preordering anything until I hear if it's worth it :)

[GaT]

I'm not preordering anything until I hear if it's worth it :)

I've stopped pre ordering anything. I wait until it comes out & Barnes & Noble sends me a 20% off coupon, then I buy it.

[Steph619]

Since I hate so much the truth about Snape, I hope it is a good reason he named the kid Albus Severus. To my mind, Snape never redeemed himself. His obsessive love of Lily didn't make me like him more.

I couldn't agree more with you. Unpopular opinion here, but I've never liked Snape before or after we find out that he was in love with Lily. Yes, James was a bully and Snape had reason enough to hate him, but that didn't mean he had to place all that hate on Harry as well. He never cared for Harry and treated him like crap.