Funny Hats
Leaky Cauldron had this story posted today about what the "other" title JKR was considering was and what chapter it was that had her "howling" in despair. The answers were given at a London book signing. The other title was Harry Potter and The Elder Wand. And the chapter that caused her such grief was chatper 34 - The Forest Again.
If I'm remembering correctly, The Forest Again is the chapter with the art of Hagrid holding Harry's (apparant) life-less body. This chapter caused me my own share of tears. Though it was the next one, Kings Cross that really just devestated me. Not the talk with Dumbledore (which, coincidentally, I said there would be a YouSeeTimmy moment with Dumbledore and there was) so much but McGonagal screaming "No!" and the other teachers running forward and just the overall sense of anguish when everyone thought Harry was dead. That made me just so sad.
But I'm wondering ... maybe after writing The Forest Again ... I'll have to go back and read it ... but maybe she wasn't sure Harry would come back? I don't know ... I've maintained from the beginning I didn't think she could destroy any of the Trio. Anyway ... just me with a funny hat on I guess.
The Today show interview (as Meryl points out HERE) says JKR is going to write Hogwarts, A History or at least something like it. I'd bet $20 right now that HaH is the title. It will be a delicious read, when it comes out in 5 years. :)
In the interview JKR also says that it was Mr. Weasley who got a reprieve, and he was scheduled to die in Book 5. Make sense. The snake would have killed him in that version I guess, instead of Harry being able to save the day. It would have been a completely different book though, and it would have changed Harry and Ron's relationship immensely. Both of them lose a father? I think that could have potentially changed a lot.
She also goes into more detail about why Chapter 34 was the hardest to write.
Which I guess makes sense ... they leave out that Lupin was there too. Anyway.
If I'm remembering correctly, The Forest Again is the chapter with the art of Hagrid holding Harry's (apparant) life-less body. This chapter caused me my own share of tears. Though it was the next one, Kings Cross that really just devestated me. Not the talk with Dumbledore (which, coincidentally, I said there would be a YouSeeTimmy moment with Dumbledore and there was) so much but McGonagal screaming "No!" and the other teachers running forward and just the overall sense of anguish when everyone thought Harry was dead. That made me just so sad.
But I'm wondering ... maybe after writing The Forest Again ... I'll have to go back and read it ... but maybe she wasn't sure Harry would come back? I don't know ... I've maintained from the beginning I didn't think she could destroy any of the Trio. Anyway ... just me with a funny hat on I guess.
The Today show interview (as Meryl points out HERE) says JKR is going to write Hogwarts, A History or at least something like it. I'd bet $20 right now that HaH is the title. It will be a delicious read, when it comes out in 5 years. :)
In the interview JKR also says that it was Mr. Weasley who got a reprieve, and he was scheduled to die in Book 5. Make sense. The snake would have killed him in that version I guess, instead of Harry being able to save the day. It would have been a completely different book though, and it would have changed Harry and Ron's relationship immensely. Both of them lose a father? I think that could have potentially changed a lot.
She also goes into more detail about why Chapter 34 was the hardest to write.
But nothing in the entire process of the series was more difficult than
writing the scene when Harry, accompanied by his lost loved ones — including his
parents, James and Lily, and his godfather, Sirius — walks into the forest with
the intent of sacrificing his life in the name of defeating Voldemort, Rowling
said, adding it is her favorite passage in all seven books.
“I didn't cry as I was writing [that chapter], but when I finished writing,
I had an enormous explosion of emotion and I cried and cried and cried,” Rowling
said.
Which I guess makes sense ... they leave out that Lupin was there too. Anyway.
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