J.K. Rowling speaks about Hagrid carrying dead Harry, why Lupin had to die, more • Hypable

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J.K. Rowling speaks about Hagrid carrying dead Harry, why Lupin had to die, more

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by Andrew Sims
@Sims

Posted on 8:37 pm,
November 1, 2011

Entertainment Weekly nabbed an early copy of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 DVD/Blu-ray and watched the one on one conversation between J.K. Rowling and Dan Radcliffe.

From this interview we already know that Rowling revealed she originally planned on killing Ron, and now we’re getting other juicy tidbits!

From EW’s report:

Rowling reveals that from the start, she always knew that the final chapters of the last novel would include these beats: That Harry would walk willingly to his death; that he would be joined by the spirits of his parents and other loved ones during that death march; and that Hagrid would carry Harry’s (apparently) lifeless body out of The Forbidden Forest. Rowling tell Radcliffe that the image of Hagrid cradling “dead” Harry — a bookend moment to the beginning of the series, when Hagrid brought infant Harry to the Dursleys – stuck with her the entire time she wrote the books and she never let it go. If she had, Rowling says Hagrid would have been a “natural” target for elimination. “That image kept him safe,” she says.

Rowling also reveals that in her original “sketch” (her word) of the series climax, one of the most beloved characters in the Potter canon survived: Remus Lupin — tragic werewolf, former Defense Against The Dark Arts professor, and husband to the metamorphmagus and auror, Nymphadora Tonks. (Gotta love the wordplay and names.) The seventh book tells us that before their deaths during the Battle of Hogwarts, Lupin and Tonks had a child. On the DVD, Rowling shares with Radcliffe that when she created Lupin’s character, she planned for him to survive the events of the finale. While the author has said as much in other interviews, here, she elaborates, explaining that she changed her mind when she realized that her last Harry Potter story was really about war, and that “one of the most horrifying things about war is how it leaves children fatherless and motherless.” The most powerful way she could dramatize that idea, she says, was to kill a set of parents that were dear to readers. “I had no intention of killing [Lupin],” says Rowling. “But then it dawned on me he had to die.”

We’re so glad to see that Rowling really went into some great book discussion! It’s been a while since we’ve gotten interesting analysis from her.

Deathly Hallows – Part 2 will be released on DVD/Blu-ray later this month.

View the latest stories about Harry Potter

http://twitter.com/Zonkos Joke Shop

it’s been a while because I assumed she was saving it for the encyclopaedia… alas! no.
Anonymous

Curse you Rowling and your sense of the realities of war! *shakes fist* I really wanted them both to survive. Lupin was one of my favorite characters in the series and what he had with Tonks was so sweet.

http://twitter.com/tarthurs09 Tylor Arthurs

I agree, Lupin and Tonks are definitely two of my favorite characters, but something about their deaths made the story come full-circle kind of, or at least Lupin’s death. And I thought it appropriate that all the Murauders are dead.

Luna_9101

i agree, it made it very full-circle especially that teddy lupin is now orphaned but has a godfather… sounds like someone?

7Starrchasers

no…NO this is UNACCEPTABLE….he was meant to LIVE?!…i..can’t.

Bernardotriana

I like the fact he died! it made the story and movie sadder !

7Starrchasers

Yes I felt that too..but knowing now that he was SUPPOSED to live…that just…it makes me mad/sad/frustrated!

Bernardotriana

I agree ! I widh they showed his death ! I think in the 2012 version coming out in November they are going tot make an extended edition for all the Harry Potter films! so they might include Fred,lupin,tonks death scene !

Shantelle

*tear* I miss Lupin!
Anonymous

Awwwwww……this justs make that kick in the gut I felt ehn Lupin died twice as painful

Why, Jo, why? You’re writing a series about a boy wizard. Was reality really that important?
http://twitter.com/when_she_smiles lindsay

At least she saved hagrid.
Bernardotriana

Im happy lupin and tonks died it gave the movie a even darker tone !
A Very Potter Fan

Harry Potter: Unicorns, werewolves, people coming back from the dead, flying cars, flying broomsticks, curses and charms, goblins, giants, mermaids, moving portraits, etc, and the REALITY of war she just HAD to include. Uhh, I sense a disturbance in the theme here……

David

Fantastical elements have little to no impact without tangible relatable stakes. The reason all of the unicorns, werewolves, people coming back from the dead (never technically happened in the series) flying cars, flying broomsticks, curses and charms, goblins, giants, mermaids, and moving portraits are so entertaining in book and film is because she added in very real scenarios that put everything in jeopardy.

Other very ‘real’ themes she included to support her fantastic world include (but are not limited to) friendship, alienation, growing up, loss, good vs. evil, prejudice, love, fear, morality, and mortality.
Carilyn

Not sure if you meant this as a joke, or if you truly believe there is a contradiction. If you do, then I will say I disagree. Fantasy has often been a way to illustrate reality through a different perspective. After all, Harry Potter also includes realities about racism (mudbloods, half-bloods, pure-bloods, those like Hagrid and Lupin who are part magical creature), death, grief, and generally growing up. The fantasy element often helps to approach these real-life issues in a clearer way than if the story was completely true-to-life.

http://stephunee.tumblr.com/ Stephanie

At least she didn’t decide to kill off the Weasley parents instead of Lupin & Tonks. :/ Of the two sets of parents, the Weasleys definitely would have had a much stronger and more heartbreaking impact but I guess even Rowling knew that was too much.
Anonymous

Didn’t Jo say at one point that it had to be either Arthur or Lupin, and she couldn’t bring herself to ruin the one functional family in the story, so she killed Lupin? I feel like I remember something about a trade-off there.

Mandi

I definitely remember reading that too. It kind of made me angry. I liked Arthur, but I LOVED Lupin, so if I was to make the choice, it would have been different. I guess she had her reasons, though…
Bernardotriana

Yes J.K said that she WAS going to kill arthur in harry potter 5 when the Naigini was attacking him… but she didnt because she wasnt capable to take arthur from the Weasleys

Alyssa

Lupin and Tonks are my favorite adult characters… I understand the realities of war, but this still made me tear up.

Bernardotriana

It was heartbreaking when I saw them on the floor… dead. :/

PotterheadedHungerGamingGleek

Great to hear more from her, cannot wait to watch the interview on the DVD. I will try not to dwell on the fact that Lupin very nearly lived. Just thinking about how he and Tonks died just after Teddy was born makes me tear up. :(
nodaybut2day7

This is why i love Jo, she has no issues killing off characters because she realizes if she writes a book about a war, no one is safe! People die in heroic and unnecessary ways… I’m not saying i was happy to see Lupin go but I love the purpose behind the death…
Akacj18

Lupin & Tonks dying was the only part of the books that i teared up over (i know, i must be a soulless dementor or something). the reveal was simple and shocking and i think i put my hand over my GAPING mouth and re-read the line/paragraph a few times over in denial that it said what i thought it said.

i thought their deaths really rounded out quite a few ongoing themes:
1) people die in war and children lose their parents - parallel to how harry became an orphan.
2) similarly, Lupin was one of Harry’s (many) father figures who ultimately eats it (james, dumbledore, sirius).
3) it seemed sadly fitting to me that all the Marauders die in the end. sort of beautifully tragic. the only physically tangible evidence of their lives and their friendship that remains is the Marauders Map.

just as an aside, sometimes i wonder how Jo kept all these distant plot intentions straight (i.e. her reason for keeping hagrid alive). obviously she must have had notes to refer back to, but across so many books, with so many interwoven plots lines, characters, themes to worry about over 10+ years of writing and editing and dealing with the pressure of the phenomenon… she’s just brilliant in my opinion.

so =( for tonks and lupin, but =) for jo’s brilliance.

Kam

The Marauders (Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs) died in reverse order. I wonder if JK intended that. Whether Lupin died in the battle or not, he would still have been the last.
Agree with everything you said.

Bernardotriana

Wow never thought of that !

Water Bender/ Wizard

All the Marauders died!!! Nooo!!!! Except for the Stupid, Short, Mousy Hair, One Finger missing, Idiot. Lupin and Tonks are one of THE BEST character’s at all time!!! So Sad! :’( :’(

Lucia

Pettigrew did die in the book, just not in the movies, which was rediculously stupid *sigh*

Water Bender/ Wizard

Yes i know that he died! I read the books.

Anonymous

Well really, if you read the books, Peter did die in the end. His silver metallic hand from Voldemort backfired him so he strangled himself. Unfortunatley the writers and directors didn’t see the need to put this in as I do… Really all the Maraurders did die, but I like to believe that they’re happy again, in a world where Peter never betrayed them, Sirius never went to Azkaban, Remus never was bitten, and James had never died. :)

Water Bender/ Wizard

I read the books and i know peter peter did die and all that. I said Nooo! Except for him! I did’t care if he died

GirlWhoCriedWhenSiriusDied

I’m sorry it wasn’t really clear with your post. It sounded as it you were saying EXCEPT for Peter, while really you meant you were sad about everyone else EXCEPT Peter, so I thought you meant it the first way ;)

Anonymous

The books wouldn’t be as good if that sense of true danger and realism was absent. We truly feel for those characters because they, their world and their struggles are so real. I admire Jo for the courage to do what must be done story wise! It’s hard for readers, but it’s part of it.
GinnyWeasley002

He was supposed to LIVE?!?!? This is horrible! Now I’m even more depressed!

There were only two parts I cried (that I can remember) Fred’s death, and the death of Lupin and Tonks.

I get why she had to kill them, well, I understand Tonks and Lupin, but it’s so depressing!

RIP Tonks and Lupin! I love y’all!
Caroline

OK, lesson learned for Jo; go with your instincts. By over-thinking and trying to be ‘real’ in a fantasy book, she upset a ton of fans.

http://twitter.com/tarthurs09 Tylor Arthurs

So you’re saying she should’ve gone the Twilight route and kept everybody safe and alive?

Raffc

true…..

http://twitter.com/vonchambers Devon Chambers

See! yes … this is the interesting material that I crave. It is much, much more interesting than Pottermore “create a potion.” gimmicks. The insight and new info is fantastic! GIVE MORE OF THIS!
http://twitter.com/chittycoopcoop Courtney Cooper

Lupin’s death was sad, yes, but my most intense reaction was still to Dumbledore’s death. I was depressed for like 3 days after finishing that book. It really meant a lot to me for some reason and I doubt I’ll ever have an equal reaction about a book ever again. Thank God. I couldn’t handle it! LOL
alterations

ummm… sorry, but she already told us all this.
http://twitter.com/ravenclaw48 Wil T.

All of these new things from Jo just makes me cry. Not just because the thought of Ron dying or the reminder of Lupin but the thought that there’s not going to be another and that’s what really gets me crying D’:
Writergirl1442

I always thought Lupin and Tonks’ deaths were meant to connect Teddy with Harry in some way.

Bernardotriana

agreed!

Ironic Lettuce

War shmar, I still don’t see why she had to break my heart like that. How could she!!! Remus is pretty much my very first book crush and she had to go and kill him! The fact that Teddy wound up in the same situation as Harry (more or less) brought the series full circle and just broke my heart into a million tiny pieces… :’(
Anon8

Annnnnd this is why I let this beautiful woman create my childhood.

Bernardotriana

me too !

Force Wizard

I’m loving all of this new information from J.K. Rowling. I wish Remus could still be alive but his and Tonks’ deaths make a good parallel to Harry’s situation except Harry will get to care for Teddy unlike Sirius and Remus being able to care for Harry. I’m glad Hagrid was spared though. I was freaking out the first time I read that he got mobbed by the spiders and was carried off.
girluvstacos

I can understand why Jo did this. Though, of course I was devastated. As he is and all ways will be my favorite character. I can’t say how weird to read this and stop to think about what it was about. It was a big shock as it probably was for Remus and Marauder fans. (and which I’m both so the double sadness) Though having all the Marauders die was defiantly something interesting (not in the bad way). I think its nice to see that she wanted Hagrid to live through till the very end.
Bernardotriana

I think J.k Rowling thought everything out so well !!!
Bernardotriana

Out of subject…

I feel guilty for hating Snape …
Raffc

i wonder who she killed instead of hagrid…
Alohomora

I agree he had to die. But oh, Lupin! None of the Marauders survived … :(
http://twitter.com/xhpfanatic Grace Chen

“Gotta love the wordplay and names.”
wait…what wordplay?
http://about.me/dshana Shana Debusschere

Why is this hot on hypable right now?
Why yes I do love cheese

When Lupin and Tonks died that’s when my full out sobbing started, I had to put the book down. Lupin was always my favorite charater, there was just something so sweet about the way that he cared for Harry. I thought their bond was beautiful, that’s probably a big reason why PoA is my favorite book.