If Harry Potter Had Read His Own Book Series: A Rewritten Narrative
Imagine a world where Harry Potter, the wizard we all know and love, knew the plot of his own adventures in advance. What changes would he make to ensure a more peaceful, less tragic outcome?
Harry Potter: If He Knew His Own Stories
Harry, forearmed with the knowledge of his own story, would have approached each book with a different mindset. Here’s a speculative look at how the series might have unfolded.
Book 1: Philosopher's Stone
Returning to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry would have made some critical changes. In the first lesson, he would have given Snape the correct answers and confidently told him, Not everyone in this family is a cold, unfeeling scoundrel! If Snape didn't get the message, Harry would have moved on.
Harry also would have informed Dumbledore about the spellbinding book Lucius Malfoy put in Ginny's cauldron. He would have confiscated it and given it to Dumbledore to analyze, knowing it would be possessed without knowing it was a horcrux yet. Wisely, he would have avoided getting Aunt Marge into trouble and refrained from stashing poisoned sweets under the dog's bed.
Book 2: Chamber of Secrets
In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry would have approached the situation differently. He would have fabricated a reason to confiscate the possessed textbook from Lucius Malfoy. Then, he would have passed it on to Dumbledore to examine. This way, Harry would have avoided the Horcrux complication having yet to be introduced.
Book 3: Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban would have seen Harry in a more mature light. He would have avoided inadvertently blowing up Aunt Marge. Instead, he might have told Ron that the rat under his bed was Peter Pettigrew and that Lupin needed to take his potion seriously. With Sirius’ help, Harry’s life would have been less tumultuous, and he could have moved in with Sirius at the start.
Book 4: Goblet of Fire
In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry would have taken proactive measures. He could have warned Dumbledore about Barty Crouch Jr’s plans and the Death Eaters’ threat at the World Cup. This way, Dumbledore could have alerted the Ministry and kept Umbridge at bay.
Harry would also have advised Ron to ask out Hermione before it was too late and helped Cho with her feelings for Cedric. He would have avoided participating in the Triwizard Tournament and focused on studying for his O.W.L. exams.
Book 5: Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix would have seen Harry use his foreknowledge to benefit him and the Order. He could have informed the Order that destroying the prophecy was the best course of action. Additionally, Harry could have accompanied Dumbledore for Dumbledore to break the prophecy.
Harry would have also explained to Hagrid the strategy for dealing with the giants and reasoned with Sirius to be kinder to Kreacher. Though Sirius was ultimately betrayed, this earlier intervention might have prevented Kreacher from selling him out to the Death Eaters.
Book 6: Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince would have been significantly different. With his knowledge of the Horcruxes’ locations, Harry would have taken a more strategic approach. He could have followed Bill to Gringotts to retrieve the Horcruxes, avoiding the complexities of the plot.
Harry would have received instructions from a knowledgeable Dumbledore on how to destroy the Horcruxes and learned about the Deathly Hallows. His journey would have been less dramatic, with Harry and Dumbledore working together to transfer the wand in a way that fooled Voldemort. The search for the remaining Horcruxes would have been more efficient, with Harry and Lupin working in unison.
Book 7: Deathly Hallows
The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, would have been a race against time. Harry would have taken the stage to thwart Voldemort by stealing the Horcruxes, retrieving the diadem, finding more basilisk fangs, and destroying the cup and diadem without the lengthy chase.
With the Horcruxes destroyed, Harry could have faced Voldemort more directly, making the final sacrifice and completing the task alone. This version of the series would have seen a more serene conclusion, free from the tragic deaths that marked the original.
By knowing the outcomes and making strategic choices, Harry would have created a narrative that resembles both the original and a more hopeful retelling, preserving the magic and the tragedy of the original story while mitigating the darkest elements.