How I would have ended Harry Potter (possible spoilers)

[Hound of UIster]

They were enslaved by the wizards. It was mentioned as far back as Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.

“I think it depends on what they’re offered,” said Lupin. “And I’m not talking about gold; if they’re offered the freedoms we’ve been denying them for centuries they’re going to be tempted."

 

[Silvercrest]

I've always thought there was kind of a double standard against Slytherins. Yeah, they're cunning, sneaky, and ambitious. No one likes them for that reason. But they're also expected to be that way, to the point that there's a portion of the school reserved just for them. Doesn't that intentionally reinforce their behavior?

At the end of Book 1, Gryffindor receives points because several of its members have shown bravery, nobility, etc. These are qualities which Gryffindor embodies, and which are encouraged among its members. So how come Slytherin never receives points for being cunning, sneaky, or ambitious ... qualities that are encouraged among its members? Sounds like a double standard already.

 

[Gaith]

They were also enslaved like the elves. That issue got neatly swept under the rug like everything else. Ditto for the Four Houses uniting or the foreign magicals helping or all the creatures uniting against the Death Eaters and their wizard supremacy.

But we know that Lupin's son has a pretty girlfriend, and isn't that what really matters in the end?

 

[Hound of UIster]

They were also enslaved like the elves. That issue got neatly swept under the rug like everything else. Ditto for the Four Houses uniting or the foreign magicals helping or all the creatures uniting against the Death Eaters and their wizard supremacy.

But we know that Lupin's son has a pretty girlfriend, and isn't that what really matters in the end?

Actually I think thats her half-assed attempt to show how things had changed since the boy was a halfblood and the girl supposedly had Veela blood. As I said, it seems half-assed. On second thought it probably would have worked equally well if they had simply stuck Harry (the chosen one) with Hermione (one of the despised class). But I still maintain the optimum solution was if there was no barrier 20 years later.

 

[ColeMercury]

They were enslaved by the wizards. It was mentioned as far back as Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.

“I think it depends on what they’re offered,” said Lupin. “And I’m not talking about gold; if they’re offered the freedoms we’ve been denying them for centuries they’re going to be tempted."

So, you think slaves ran the wizards' bank? Try again.

That's not a reference to slavery: it means political freedoms, like the legal right to use a wand and so forth. It's more comparable to segregation, really.

Actually I think thats her half-assed attempt to show how things had changed since the boy was a halfblood and the girl supposedly had Veela blood.

Either that or it's, y'know, an attempt to reveal what became of Teddy Lupin and Bill & Fleur's daughter.

 

[Gaith]

They were also enslaved like the elves. That issue got neatly swept under the rug like everything else. Ditto for the Four Houses uniting or the foreign magicals helping or all the creatures uniting against the Death Eaters and their wizard supremacy.

But we know that Lupin's son has a pretty girlfriend, and isn't that what really matters in the end?

Actually I think thats her half-assed attempt to show how things had changed since the boy was a halfblood and the girl supposedly had Veela blood. As I said, it seems half-assed.

Or, not assed at all (MSNBC):

In fact, she says dead Professor Lupin's son Teddy is one of the main reasons she wanted to write the epilogue.

J.K. Rowling: To hear that Teddy Lupin -- Lupin's son is obviously okay. That he has an ongoing relationship with Harry and that he's-- he must be quite happy and he's got a very good-looking girlfriend because I think he's kissing in the epilogue his-- Bill and Fleur's eldest daughter.

Meredith Vieira: And why is that important?

J.K. Rowling: Because he's been orphaned. And I want-- I want to show that he's okay.

​

It is, of course, a scientific fact that no one with a "very good-looking girlfriend" is ever unhappy or in the least not "okay".

 

[Lookingglassman]

The devil comes out of hell and thanks them all for making witchcraft look cool thus ensuring thousands of humans will fall into his grasp, then he drags them all into hell.

The End

 

[Eduardo]

You know, I used to visit Fiction Alley and Fandom Wank for this kind of fun. Ah, good times.

 

[Hound of UIster]

So, you think slaves ran the wizards' bank? Try again.

Do you have any source that suggests or supports your opinion? Or is a "rolleyes", all you have?

 

[Anwar]

The prejudice against the Slytherins at the start of the series made some sense: They were only ten years after the first Wizarding War and nearly all the aggressors of that War were Slytherins including their leader. There were bound to be bad feelings and scars leftover from that.

Plus, most of the current generation of Slytherins were the children of Death Eaters.

The problem with the series is that Rowling never bothered giving us any sympathetic Slytherins who are cunning, ambitious and still good people. Because there's nothing inherently evil about being cunning or ambitious (especially when you're 10 years old).

SLughorn, Regulus, Head Master Black (And other Slytherin Head Masters), and Snape, all Slytherins

Slughorn, at best, is still an antihero who had some pureblood prejudice, refused to tell anyone for 60 years information that was key to putting an end to Voldemort once and for all out of pure cowardice and really only seems to pick his "Slug Club" out of those whom he thinks can benefit him in the future and NOT entirely out of real talent (though that sometimes comes to mind).

Regulus was a Death Eater, then he changed his mind and didn't do much to rectify anything aside from hold onto one Horcrux.

Headmaster Black, we never learn much about him.

Snape, jury is still out on whether he's good or just a selfish jackass who used his "I'm a double agent" thing to justify being a selfish jackass to himself.

 

[Sindatur]

Slughorn is probably the best example, because he embodies Slytherin Qualities. Devious, plotting, sneaky, self serving, talented in craft and salesmanship.

He was neither, overly principled, fighting the good fight, nor was he downright evil and actually hid from evil.