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JK Rowling was left stranded after killing off a fan-favorite character who had to die after the Harry Potter author changed her original plan to wipe out a Weasley


JK Rowling was left stranded after killing off a fan-favorite character who had to die after the Harry Potter author changed her original plan to wipe out a Weasley

While fans explore the magical world of Harry Pottercreated by JK Rowling with patience and perfection, people often forget the complexity and personal sacrifices that went into creating this phenomenal work of art. One such heartbreaking aspect of her writing process was deciding which beloved characters would meet their end and who would survive the chapter.

jk rowling bbc
JK Rowling in an interview with the BBC

This particular emotional turmoil of JK Rowling’s is evident in the decisions surrounding Arthur Weasley and Remus Lupin. What many fans don’t know is that Arthur’s survival after Nagini’s attack came at the cost of Lupin’s life, leaving Rowling to wrestle with the heavy burden of her narrative choices.

JK Rowling almost killed the Weasley patriarch

While the Harry Potter Although the franchise is loved by millions, it is not only a land of magic and wonder, but also one of great loss and sacrifice. Potterheads were quick to recognize this aspect of the novels, as with each installment of JK Rowling’s epic saga, the emotional stakes began to grow. As fans and readers began to lose their favorite characters, it became a pattern that left an emotional impact not only on Potterheads, but even on the author.

As the series progressed, JK Rowling apparently admitted that letting a character die had become crucial to her. Even as a children’s author, Rowling became a ruthless killer, taking the lives of Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore, Fred Weasley, Severus Snape, and even poor little Hedwig. But while the death of each character was deeply personal to her, the author suffered the most over Arthur Weasley.

Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley in a still from the Harry Potter series
Mark Williams as Arthur Weasley in a still from the Harry Potter Franchise | Image: Warner Bros.

Yes, you read that right, JK Rowling had originally planned to kill the Weasley patriarch after he was brutally attacked by Nagini while guarding the Department of Mysteries, in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. On the one hand, this dramatic sequence underlines the grim reality of the wizarding world under the rule of Lord Voldemort, but it also highlights Rowling’s key decisions in shaping the narrative.

Arthur Weasley survived Nagini's attack | Image: Warner Bros.
Arthur Weasley survived Nagini’s attack | Image: Warner Bros.

According to JK Rowling’s interview with NBC Newsthe author thought about how she had originally planned to kill Arthur Weasley. But eventually “couldn’t separate myself from“The beloved father of seven children,there were very few good fathers in the book“ Therefore, the character even recovered after Arthur’s horrific encounter with Nagini at St. Mungo’s, much to the relief of his family and fans.

Arthur Weasley’s survival led to Remus Lupin’s tragic end

After initially planning to kill off Arthur Weasley, underscoring the widespread risks faced by characters in the wizarding world, JK Rowling changed her mind and spared the Weasley patriarch, resulting in the death of another beloved father figure. As the story progressed, Rowling had to find another character who could bear the burden of the significant change in her storyline, and hence this decision resulted in the sad death of Remus Lupin.

JK Rowling had to let Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks die | Image: Warner Bros.
JK Rowling had to let Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks die | Image: Warner Bros.

In a tragic twist of fate, JK Rowling had to trade Arthur Weasley’s survival for the life of Harry Potter’s mentor and close friend Remus Lupin. Deeply loved for his bravery, kindness and complexity, Lupin’s death, while reinforcing themes of sacrifice and loss, was a source of considerable anguish for Rowling. In several interviews, Rowling revealed how much this decision weighed on her emotionally.

So much so that the author even tweeted how much she was pained by the fate of Teddy Lupin, Remus’ young son, after killing both Moony and his wife Nymphadora Tonks during the Battle of Hogwarts. Although this decision to kill Lupin was a consequence of her unwillingness to sacrifice Arthur Weasley, the author grappled with the ramifications of her narrative choices.

Harry Potter Movies are currently available to watch on Max.

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