J.K. Rowling is not someone who shies away from killing characters in the Harry Potter franchise. Starting from his parents to deaths that crushed the souls of fans, such as Fred Weasley, Sirius Black, and even Severus Snape. The very act of a character dying plays a narrative role as well as an impactful one on both the audiences and the characters within the story.
Many times, authors find themselves regretting or relishing the characters that die by their hands. Out of the many that met their end by Voldemort’s wand, there is only one whom Rowling wishes she could have done justice to.
Not only was this character killed off brutally and unjustly, but his role was replaced in such a way that barely anyone would ever remember him.
J.K. Rowling Had Different Plans that Changed Last Minute
J.K. Rowling had a lot of Harry Potter’s plot jotted down in her mind as and when she went on with the story. Even if some characters, however minor they may be, were introduced early on; their roles would ultimately have changed over time. While writing on Wizarding World, the author unveiled how it was never her intention to give Phineas Nigellus Black the role of guiding Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the Horcruxes.
“I originally planned Florean to be the conduit for clues that I needed to give Harry during his quest for the Hallows, which is why I established an acquaintance fairly early on. At this stage, I imagined the historically-minded Florean might have a smattering of information on matters as diverse as the Elder Wand and the diadem of Ravenclaw, the information having been passed down in the Fortescue family from their august ancestor.”
Florean Fortescue, the owner of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley was first introduced in the books during Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. There Harry forms a bond with the history buff and even gets some help from him to complete his homework.
Rowling’s initial idea included Fortescue playing a key role in the final book by becoming the person who gives the golden trio hints regarding the whereabouts of the seven Horcruxes. However, things did not go as planned.
J.K. Rowling Regretted Her Decision
J.K. Rowling revealed in The Wizarding World that while she wanted Florean Fortescue to play the role, there were other characters who were much better suited for the part. Phineas Nigellus Black is one of those people. So instead of just getting Fortescue kidnapped by Voldemort and then reuniting with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, she changed his ending.
“I seemed to have had him kidnapped and killed for no reason. He is not the first wizard whom Voldemort murdered because he knew too much (or too little), but he is the only one I feel guilty about, because it was all my fault.”
The author killed him off during the events of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He Who Shall Not be Named has always been infamous for his merciless behavior. So to see him kill another innocent soul was not out of character. Yet she never meant to kill him through Voldemort’s wand.
Rowling, however, felt that this was one death that was completely on her and no one else’s actions. She held accountability for his death and regretted it with a broken heart.
