While fans deeply adore the magical world of Harry Potter, created with patience and perfection by J.K. Rowling, people often forget the complexity and the personal sacrifices made in crafting the phenomenal piece of art. One such heart-wrenching aspect of her writing process was deciding which beloved characters would face their end, and who would survive the chapter.
This particular emotional turmoil of J.K. Rowling is evident in the choices 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, one that left Rowling grappling with the heavy burden of her narrative choices.
J.K. Rowling Had Almost Killed Off the Weasley Patriarch
While the Harry Potter franchise is beloved by millions, it is not just a land of magic and wonder but also one of profound loss and sacrifice. Potterheads quickly realized this aspect of the novels as with each installment of J.K. Rowling’s epic saga, the emotional stakes began to grow. As fans and readers began losing their favorite characters, it became a pattern that left an emotional impact on not just Potterheads, but even on the author.
Apparently, as the series developed, J.K. Rowling admitted how it became crucial for her to kill off a character. Even as a children’s author, Rowling became a ruthless killer, taking away the likes of Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore, Fred Weasley, Severus Snape, and even poor little Hedwig. But while each character’s death was profoundly personal for her, the author suffered the most when it came to Arthur Weasley.
Yes, you read it right, J.K. Rowling had initially planned on killing off 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. This dramatic sequence, while underscoring the grim reality of the wizarding world under Lord Voldemort’s reign, also highlighted the pivotal choices made by Rowling in shaping the narrative.
According to J.K. Rowling’s interview with NBC News, the author reflected on how she had initially planned to kill Arthur Weasley. But eventually, she “couldn’t bear to part with” the beloved father of seven, given that “there were very few good fathers in the book”. Therefore, even after Arthur’s harrowing encounter with Nagini, the character recovered 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 Arthur Weasley, thereby underscoring the widespread risks faced by characters in the wizarding world, J.K. Rowling changed her mind, sparing the Weasley patriarch led to the death of another beloved father figure. As the story progressed, Rowling had to find another character to bear the weight of the significant shift in her plot. Therefore, this decision led to the sorrowful death of Remus Lupin.
In a tragic twist of fate, J.K. Rowling had to trade Arthur Weasley’s survival for the life of Harry Potter’s mentor and close friend Remus Lupin. Being a character deeply loved for his bravery, kindness, and complexity, Lupin’s death, while reinforcing the themes of sacrifice and loss, became a source of significant anguish for Rowling. In various interviews, Rowling revealed the emotional toll this decision took on her.
So much so, that the author even tweeted about the pain she felt for the fate of Teddy Lupin, Remus’s infant son, after she killed both Moony and his wife Nymphadora Tonks during the Battle of Hogwarts. Although this decision to kill Lupin came as a consequence of her reluctance to sacrifice Arthur Weasley, the author grappled with the implications of her narrative choices.
Harry Potter films are currently available to watch on Max.
