Wizarding Games: What if

[theaeblackthorn.livejournal.com]

What if...


Details: What if one slight decision at any point in the Harry Potter books had been different? What if Dean Thomas' father had told Dean's mother why he left the family to protect them? What if Ariana was standing one foot to the right had never been killed? What if Ariana had decided to stay indoors instead of going outside and meeting those Muggles in the first place? What if Kreacher had gone crazy and killed the baby Regulus meaning Sirius was the only child of the Blacks?

Have a think and a debate/disscussion about how small/big a change could have changed something ridic big/not at all. Uh. Be creative! try to find something different or interesting to change, you can use the ones above if you must.

Steps:
1. Pick a thing from HP to change
2. Explain how you think this would have changed the way the story unfolded, and if it'd change the outcome at all. Maybe the differences in the world once the story was over? (min 100 words)
3. Discuss/debate with other people about yours and theirs. Do you think it wouldn't have made the changes they think it would? Explain why. Do you agree and see some other changes that would have occurred, let them know :) (min 30 words and you can't just wholeheartedlyagree and gush at them)


Rules:

1. Don't pick the same one as someone else. If someone has already picked something then reply to their comment discussing/debating
2. Don't cause drama. Prove you can all civilly debate and discuss stuff.
3. Take heed of the word limits (100 words for first comment, 30 words for additional replies with a point that add to the discussion/debate)
4. Try not to make it a silly thing e.g. Harry ate some toast one morning instead of cereal and therefore the world ended.

Points: 10pts for your 100 word comment, 2pts per 30 word comment with a point. 30pts cap. 10pts for any crystal ball if you earn over 15pts. Dont' forget to register your bonus items in this post.
Deadline: 26th November 5pm UTC Converter
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First comment
<b>Thing you're changing:</b> <b>How do you think this would have affected the outcome of the books?</b> min 100words for this section



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Comments

[anbyrobanby.livejournal.com]

Thing you're changing: Harry never freed Dobby
How do you think this would have affected the outcome of the books? During Chamber of Secrets, Hermione never actually met Dobby. So she only found out about him through Harry. If Harry never freed him, would she have had any particular measure to which she could hold other elves against captivity? Probably not; her only experience of a freed elf by that point was Winky, who became an alcoholic wreck. She would have really loathed Crouch's way of dismissing her but her attitude would not be wrought with the same convictions.

What's equally curious is that even though Dobby was under the ownership of the Malfoys, he was clearly loyal to Harry! Meanwhile, Sirius Black-- Harry's godfather and owner of Grimmauld Place wherein the Order set up camp-- was the master of a different elf, Kreacher, who was obviously loyal to the remaining free members of the legitimate black line: the Malfoys! Imagine how THAT would have screwed with everyone's heads! Go on, I dare you.


rob/gryffindor/4

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Somehow I don't know that Hermione would have been stopped by the notion that elves don't like being free. I don't remember much of CoS' details, but I feel like Hermione was spurred on by just finding out that the elves were basically enslaved by wizarding society.

Evy//Ravenclaw//9

[anbyrobanby.livejournal.com]

I think what happened with Hermione in GoF was that she realised she'd be eating slave labour food for 4 years and nobody had bothered telling her. I guess that's where her ethics came from. However, whether or not she was affected by Dobby's tale is something worth considering. As for CoS she spent most of the book brewing potions or in the Hospital Wing, so shrug.

I always think Hermione is more motivated by her heart than people give her credit for, and without a personal story like the one Dobby received, I don't know if she would have gone as far as she did. I think she would have been angry, made a fuss, but the drive and catalyst would have come from Dobby's original thing.... and besides, even if she did, she would have likely gotten the hint when the elves refused to clean Gryffindor tower when she kntted stuff for them. Only Dobby was taking anything, after all.

Rob/Gryff/7?

[slumber.livejournal.com]

LOL I don't even remember when SPEW happened. :\

While I agree that Hermione is a bit more emotional than people may think (ie, letting panic overcome senses with Devil's Snare), I feel like she is still one of the most rationale, objective people in the series. JKR uses her a lot to point out when the good guys do questionable things (even though Luna Lovegood is probably her blind spot) and I don't think it's influenced as much by personal stories. If it was, then why did she not try to leave Winky alone? Her cause was for all house elves, not just her friend.

Evy//Ravenclaw//10

[capeofstorm.livejournal.com]

While Hermione wouldn't have Dobby to 'measure' other elves against, I still think she would have started campaigning for elvish rights. Only, after seeing the state Winky was in, she would probably concentrate more on education and mental care for those elves who had been freed.

Lena/Gryffindor/7