Greg Palast, an investigative journalist, claims J.K. Rowling told him of a rather interesting alternate ending for her beloved Harry Potter series. He revealed this ending on his website (see link below).
Here are the highlights:
* The climactic showdown would have taken place in the Forbidden Forest when Harry makes the journey to face Voldemort.
* Rather than Harry's parents, Lupin, and Sirius walking him to his fate, Tom Riddle's parents appear as his protective, ghostly guides.
* Meanwhile, Voldemort found a way to, in essence, collect hundreds of Dementor's kisses within his wand. Once unleashed, the power of the kiss would forever freeze Harry in place; he would be a cold reminder of Harry's defeat and Voldemort's ultimate triumph.
* Voldemort becomes enraged when he sees the spirits of his parents and immediately sends his spell hurling towards a defenseless Harry.
* Voldemort's ghostly parents soar towards their son. He begins to grow younger and younger, until he becomes a little child once more.
* The curse struck Harry's scar; excruciating pain ensued before the curse turned back towards its sender. As the curse neared, Voldemort's parents placed their arms lovingly around their son. Now, forever more, there would be a monument to three souls: A young Tom Riddle, his protective father, and his loving mother.
Harry Potter, 2130:
* On his 150th birthday, Headmaster Potter knew he would soon fill the empty picture frame alongside Dumbledore and headmistresses McGonagall and Chang.
* Rather than growing old, Ginny transformed into a bird of paradise (and, yes, she can talk).
* After the Dementors escaped Voldemort's spell, the existence of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was erased from everyone's memory...except Albus Dumbledore's portrait-self and Harry Potter. No one even wondered about the little entombed family any longer.
* Before Harry attended his 150th birthday celebration, he decided to keep a watchful eye on his great, great grandson.
* Baby Tom was happily playing with a chocolate frog when he exploded in a fit of rage and crushed the candy frog. Harry watched, knowing the wizarding world would face dark times once more.
So, there you have it! Personally, I'm glad she went with the one we have. This one certainly held my attention and I can totally see Harry as a future headmaster of Hogwarts, but I'm not sure I can completely gel with the Riddle clan being this loving, happy family, given their backgrounds. Bird Ginny didn't quite feel right to me, either.
If this indeed was an alternate ending, what do y'all think?
You can read the full write up on Mr. Palast's site here: Harry Potter, Jo's Other Ending.
I'm definitely glad she went with the original ending. This one is just a little too convoluted and weird for me. Harry killing Voldemort and ending up happily married to Ginny with 3 kids is far more appropriate.
ReplyDeleteSide note: The movie was so amazing! I loved it!
It blows. And we already did the whole ghostly parents protection thing in a previous book.
ReplyDeleteThe entire supposed 'alternate ending' doesn't feel right to me. Period. Though I do agree with you that Harry can be headmaster :-)
ReplyDeleteCandice: Yeah, the Riddle family reunion thing just seems off. I love the ending we have so much--I'm all for the happily ever after thing. lol
ReplyDeleteDrake: Oh, you're right! It was the Goblet of Fire, I believe. The only part that I can see is Harry as headmaster--that wasn't a stretch for me.
chocolateangel: It is different, that's for sure.
:) I really do like the idea of Harry as headmaster.
Not knowing much about Harry Potter I am suggesting he set his destiny higher than headmaster.........maybe master of the universe!
ReplyDeleteCarole: lol-Well, if anyone can do it, Harry can. :)
ReplyDeleteI skipped all the way down to here because I have not seen it yet.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad she went with the original ending. I don't think I would have been satisfied with this weird ending. I think the beauty of the original ending was that, after so much suffering and fear Harry experienced with Voldemort, he finally has a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteI don't like it at all. It doesn't really match up with the story of Tom Riddle's mother.
ReplyDeleteGinny a bird?? weird.
Agree with everyone that the ending she went with was the right ending. I think I would have been annoyed with the other ending because, honestly, it just feels a little silly to me!
ReplyDeleteOT: :) I don't think it will spoil anything for you if you decide to read it.
ReplyDeleteAnna: Exactly. Harry finally got the family he never had.
Alittlesprite: That's what bugged me the most--the Riddle family background doesn't support this ending. And Bird Ginny was...different.
Jess: Agree. The ending we have is perfect.
A better alternate ending would have been Harry and Ginny dying (sorry, I love a tragic ending), and Hermione and Draco getting together. Ron could be left in the cold. He can't be trusted to stick it out.
ReplyDeleteAnd Harry never would have had an evil relative. Never. His greatness would have lived on and would have been remembered from generation to generation, even if the rest of the wizarding world forgot. Her alternate ending is silly.
Chanel: Oh, not Hermione and Draco!!! No! LOL I couldn't handle it if Harry and/or Ginny wouldn't have made it. But, I do get where you're coming from with tragic endings.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Harry was pure goodness. I'm really, really glad she didn't go with this ending. :)