1 thing per Harry Potter movie that could have been different
Each of us around the world became Harry, Hermione, Ron, or the hundreds of other characters big and small when Harry Potter released 20 years ago.
In the past 20 years, fans have wished important elements from the books were retained in the films, and that parts of the original story were different altogether. Here is one thing from each of the films that we wish were different:
1. THE SORCERER’S STONE
In the book, there are 6 obstacles that the trio needs to overcome to retrieve the Sorcerer’s Stone. However, the film only shows 5 of them and leaves out the potions puzzle, the 5th obstacle. We did get to see the three-headed dog, the devil’s snare, the flying keys, the giant wizard’s chess, and also the mirror of Erised, but the potions puzzle would have taken the nerds off the edge.
2. THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
Well, this one difference would have effectively ended the whole plotline for the second book and the movie, so I’m not sure everyone will agree.
In the second instalment, Ginny Weasley is turned into the Heir of Slytherin, who has it out for the mudbloods at Hogwarts. Ginny is enchanted by a magical diary that belonged to Tom Marvolo Riddle, AKA Voldemort, which Lucius Malfoy slipped into her cauldron at the Diagon Alley. Now, Ginny actually forgot the diary at home when the family started out for Hogwarts. The Weasleys turned around once because the twins forgot something at home and started driving again. It was then that Ginny shrieked that she also forgot something at home and begged her parents to turn around for the second time.
If it were my parents, they wouldn’t have turned around the first time itself. And if the Weasleys had not stopped for some diary, the entire Chamber of Secrets wouldn’t have happened.
3. PRISONER OF AZKABAN
This major plot hole, as some describe it, would have changed the course of Harry Potter like we know it. The argument is sort of logical. The time-travelling device was introduced in the third instalment of the series. Some wondered why it wasn’t used to travel back to the time when Voldemort killed Harry's parents.
The time-travelling device in the Harry Potter universe has its own set of rules, which are vague and murky. Maybe it could have been used to stop Voldemort’s advances, or maybe because of the limitations it could have at least been used to gain some valuable information on the Dark Lord. But neither of these things was done. And the time-travelling device remained just an ornament in the storyline than having any major significance.
4. THE GOBLET OF FIRE
Oh how we wish Cedric Diggory wasn’t killed off in this one! But then we got Robert Pattinson as the immortal Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, so that’s fine. Diggory is not our concern. Hermione’s transformation at the Yule Ball is.
Hermione is supposed to be a plain-looking girl with protruding teeth, and at the Yule Ball, she uses magic to transform into a beautiful version of herself. But Emma Watson is anything but plain-looking and her transformation at the ball was just smacking some lip gloss and tying up her hair, which personally, I believe, did not come out too well. Also, we wish there were more scenes of Hermione and Viktor Krum.
5. THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
The scenes from the Department of Mysteries were introduced in the Order of the Phoenix. With the name itself containing the word ‘mysteries’, one would think the place will hold some significance in the later plotline, like harbouring some clues or Horcruxes. But none of that happened and the place just ended up being a background for a fight scene. A little depth would have been appreciated.
6. THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Voldemort’s origin story is introduced in the Half-Blood Prince. The book gets into details of how his parents had an impact on him. Voldemort’s mother, who fell in love with a muggle, used the love potion to make him feel the same way. Since Voldemort was born out of magic and not love, the audience get to know why he doesn’t feel for other people. But the films don’t tell the story of his parents and leaves his origin unfinished.
7. THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1
Fans are split over who should have ended up with Hermione; even writer JK Rowling herself. Would Harry have been a better partner for Hermione instead of Ron? Or would it have been better if Hermione had found someone else entirely? Well, I for one ship Hermione with – (insert drumroll) – Draco Malfoy (Emma Watson would have approved, totally). There are one too many fanfictions on this.
8. THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 2
Death of characters throughout the Harry Potter series was heart-wrenching and required to further the plot. But I don’t agree that Fred Weasley’s death was necessary. JK Rowling could have just let the twins be and taken someone else, who would have driven home the emotional and intense feeling of the final battle, like Hagrid.
What do you wish was different in the Harry Potter series?