Why not Actually Re-Write? Just for fun.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 180246

In a recent discussion someone accused someone else of rewriting
the books. I think the subject in question was whether Slytherin
parents or students returned to the castle to defend Hogwarts.
And perhaps there was some truth to the accusation. 

So, what if we speculatively rewrite the books, in fact, why
don't we all do it right now?

I'm proposing that we each re-write some small aspect or
scene in the books the way we think it should have gone, or
at least could have gone.

But before we do, let's all remember that we can all look 
back on our own lives and see 'scenes' we would like to 
re-write. I do this all the time.

Now I'm not necessarily proposing that we do this in an
especially mean or hyper-critical way; but more just to
show how things could have gone differently if people 
inside and outside the books had made better choices.

For example-

When Dumbledore is defending Harry at his hearing in Order
of the Phoenix, I think he overlooked one very critical
aspect that strongly defends Harry.

That aspect is that Dudley, the muggle exposed to magic,
is already magically aware. He is not a witch or a wizard
but he is well aware that the wizarding world exist, and
has indeed even met a few wizards and even witnessed some
basic magic. This can't be a breech of the Statue of Secrecy
because, to Dudley, it is not a secret. 

Of the charges against Harry, breaking the Statue of 
Secrecy was THE MOST important, it was by far the greatest
of the crimes Harry is accused of. That is probably the
equivalent in the magic world of a capital crime; the 
crime of all crimes. Establishing that the 'secret' was not
breeched lessen the charges against Harry very substantially. 

Now, we just have the common and minor offense of underage
magic which I'm very sure happens all the time. Once the
'muggle' aspect of this is removed, it is hardly a crime
worth noting. 

Now Dumbledore can add the presence of Dementors and the
testimony of Mrs. Figg, and Harry's minor to insignificant
offense actually looks heroic. 

Turns out they didn't need my defense, but it would have
still been a good one. 

Another example, when Harry comes to his first detention 
with Umbridge, I think he should have calmly said, it doesn't
matter if I'm right or wrong. I don't have to prove anything.
All I have to do is wait, and time will prove the truth 
or lie of it.

Pretty hard for Umbridge to argue with or take offense at 
that, and Harry, in a sense, says, when the future becomes
history, we will know the truth, until then all I have to
do is wait. I don't need to defend myself at all.

Or when Slughorn come charging back into the battle, if one
sentence would have been amended to say '...and Slytherins
too'. 

So, this is the kind of re-write I'm talking about. Just
for fun. If people had made what are good choice in hindsight,
the first time around, the course of events would have been
hopefully better but certainly different.


Anyone feel like playing?

Steve/bboyminn