Five Story Lines I Wish Were Included in Full in the Films
Previously, I’ve looked at my favorite and least favorite book-to-movie adaptations, and now I’m looking at the story lines I missed most from the movies.
SPEW
‘S-P-E-W!’ said Hermione hotly. ‘I was going to put Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status — but it wouldn’t fit. So that’s the heading of our manifesto.’
She brandished the sheaf of parchment at them.
‘I’ve been researching it thoroughly in the library. Elf enslavement goes back centuries. I can’t believe no one’s done anything about it before now.'” (GoF 224)
The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare, or SPEW, was cut from the films. This omission meant that there was a whole character arc of Hermione’s that we didn’t get to see on-screen. Unfortunately, this also meant that the scenes where Dobby wore all of Hermione’s knitted items were also missed. This is a great aspect of Hermione’s character that I would have loved to see explored fully on-screen.
Tom Riddle’s History
‘Wow, scary thought, the boy You-Know-Who,’ said Ron quietly, as they took their places around one of the gnarled Snargaluff stumps that formed this term’s project, and began pulling on their protective gloves. ‘But I still don’t get why Dumbledore’s showing you all this. I mean, it’s really interesting and everything, but what’s the point?’
‘Dunno,’ said Harry, inserting a gum shield. ‘But he says it’s all important and it’ll help me survive.’
‘I think it’s fascinating,’ said Hermione earnestly. ‘It makes absolute sense to know as much about Voldemort as possible. How else will you find out his weaknesses?’” (HBP 279-80)
In the books, we got a detailed background for Tom, including his parentage and his life in the orphanage. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we skimmed over the details and didn’t fully get to see Tom Riddle’s backstory, which meant that much of Voldemort’s connections to the various Horcruxes were omitted. Given how important this was in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I think this extra detail would have been incredibly beneficial to the plotline as a whole.
Rita Skeeter
‘Oh not electronic bugs,’ said Hermione. ‘No, you see… Rita Skeeter’ — Hermione’s voice trembled with quiet triumph — ‘is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn —’
Hermione pulled a small sealed glass jar out of her bag.
‘— into a beetle.’” (GoF 727)
Rita’s journalistic endeavors were another thing that was severely condensed. In the books, she was privy to plenty of confidential information that she shouldn’t have been, which became material that appeared in the Daily Prophet. Rita’s treatment of Harry and Hermione led to Hermione’s mission to figure out how she was getting this knowledge. While not the biggest plot point in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, this was a fantastic Hermione moment that would have been great to see. Plus, after all of Rita’s scheming, it was nice to see her get her comeuppance.
Prefects
‘There’s been a mistake,’ said Fred, snatching the letter out of Ron’s grasp and holding it up to the light as though checking for a watermark. ‘No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect….’” (OotP 161)
Ron was often delegated to the comedic sidekick in favor of heroic Harry and brainy Hermione. Ron being chosen as a Gryffindor prefect instead of Harry, who was the expected choice, would have been nice to see. It would have been really good to see Ron getting some of the recognition he deserves.
Lupin and Tonks’s Full Story
‘You see!’ said a strained voice. Tonks was glaring at Lupin. ‘She still wants to marry him, even though he’s been bitten! She doesn’t care!’
‘It’s different,’ said Lupin, barely moving his lips and looking suddenly tense. ‘Bill will not be a full werewolf. The cases are completely —’
‘But I don’t care either, I don’t care!’ said Tonks, seizing the front of Lupin’s robes and shaking them. ‘I’ve told you a million times….’” (HBP 623-4)
There were glimpses of their relationship in the last of the films, but not their full relationship development or even Teddy Lupin. It would have been fascinating to see how Lupin lived in the wizarding world as a werewolf. Plus, his life was full of loss and pain, and the brief moments of joy he found with Tonks would have been refreshing to watch.
What do you think of my list? Are there any other story lines you would include? Let us know in the comments!
