Soccer Dad

The books have managed to entertain me so I have been pretty happy with them.

I have also noticed a subtle but definite change in the style of the books starting with #4 (and to a lesser degree in #3). I think this was not only because #4 was the first one written with a movie in mind, but also that it was the first one written after the series became so hugely popular and deeply analyzed, as it indeed still remains.

One side effect of this was that starting somewhat with book #3, and more definitely in #4, Rowling (or her editor) was much more careful that every nuance of the book should fit continuity and tie in to the eventual series conclusion. Whereas as you note, items and scenes in books 1-2 may have had different, less far-reaching meanings initially, and were only "ret-conned" after the fact to relate with later events. The diary is a good example. I would guess Mrs. Figg is another; was she really initially conceived as a Squib, or just an annoying baby sitter? Scabbers, Ron's pet, was clearly not planned as a hidden Animagus and Death Eater all along. I know there are other examples but those are the ones that spring to mind.

Elie, Why do you think Scabbers was not planned as a hidden animagus? I think he definitely was. I tend to group the Harry Potters into two groups - books 1-3 and books 4 and on. Perhaps it's because the first three books were written without any influence from having movies made (I can't remember if the first movie was already being planned by the fourth book. I think it was). I don't really know, but there is a certain significant difference in the style of the books. There is less action and more character development in books 1-3.

I think there are certain things that definitely WERE planned from the beginning. I'm not sure if horcruxes are one of them, but I'd believe either way.

I think Neville was always supposed to be more important, right from the start. I also think the whole Snape deal was planned since the beginning, as was Dumbledore's death. Harry's invisibility cloak, too, is probably going to have a lot of significance and that was clearly intended from the start. As was, by the way, Harry's talented flying ability. It's possible that might come into play in the final battle.

About Thestrals - I actually do believe that Rowling had already come up with the idea from the very beginning, when she mentioned the carriages that move on their own. The question is why this has never come up before. Clearly there were students who were able to see them the whole time. So why had no one said anything until the fifth book? Were thestrals in the magical beasts book that Rowling put out a few years ago? Because, the truth is, Hermione at least should have known what they were, her having read so much, and I'm sure thestrals were mentioned somewhere in Hogwarts: A History. So maybe Rowling just forgot about them, or maybe she hadn't fleshed out the idea well enough to include them earlier on.

I do agree that the books changed a bit once the movies came out, and I don't think they changed for the better. At the same time, I still think they are part of a wonderful world Rowling has created.

Elie, Why do you think Scabbers was not planned as a hidden animagus? I think he definitely was. I tend to group the Harry Potters into two groups - books 1-3 and books 4 and on. Perhaps it's because the first three books were written without any influence from having movies made (I can't remember if the first movie was already being planned by the fourth book. I think it was). I don't really know, but there is a certain significant difference in the style of the books. There is less action and more character development in books 1-3.

I think there are certain things that definitely WERE planned from the beginning. I'm not sure if horcruxes are one of them, but I'd believe either way.

I think Neville was always supposed to be more important, right from the start. I also think the whole Snape deal was planned since the beginning, as was Dumbledore's death. Harry's invisibility cloak, too, is probably going to have a lot of significance and that was clearly intended from the start. As was, by the way, Harry's talented flying ability. It's possible that might come into play in the final battle.

About Thestrals - I actually do believe that Rowling had already come up with the idea from the very beginning, when she mentioned the carriages that move on their own. The question is why this has never come up before. Clearly there were students who were able to see them the whole time. So why had no one said anything until the fifth book? Were thestrals in the magical beasts book that Rowling put out a few years ago? Because, the truth is, Hermione at least should have known what they were, her having read so much, and I'm sure thestrals were mentioned somewhere in Hogwarts: A History. So maybe Rowling just forgot about them, or maybe she hadn't fleshed out the idea well enough to include them earlier on.

I do agree that the books changed a bit once the movies came out, and I don't think they changed for the better. At the same time, I still think they are part of a wonderful world Rowling has created.

I'm going to disagree with you about the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling is on record as despising having to write quidditch matches. I think she has even gone so far as to say they are the death of her.