Deleted Scenes
Heyy guys!
An unusual update today, whilst I'm working on the final 2 chapters of the story. As with every story, there are occasionally some scenes/ideas/characters that get cut from the final book for a number of reason, whether it's because they don't fit the narrative, they feel too much like filler, or the writer changes his mind. I decided that some of you might like to see these scenes/ideas, especially the contents of the vial of memories that Ginny gave Harry on his birthday; I get asked about that a lot, especially since I took down the website. Please bear in mind that some of these were written years ago, and since they were never included in the story, they might seem a bit rough and ready.
I also thought that this weird update would be a good opportunity to answer some FAQ's, because my forum is very quiet, and some of my reviewers are guests, so I can't PM you directly with answers to all of your questions. If you aren't interested in reading the FAQ's and just want to skip straight to the story, simply scroll to the next line:
FAQ's
Will Gabrielle teach the new DA?
So jut to get this one well and truly cleared up, because I do get asked it a fair bit, despite my attempts to make the answer obvious. Gabrielle is not going to teach the Defense Association. I know that I do make her appear overpowered when she's on a broomstick (But that is due to having been contracted to a professional team since she was 11) but she is not nearly capable enough to teach any part of the DA. In my series, (although the scene where Gabrielle takes tests at Hogwarts was lost when MS Word crashed on my Mac) Gabrielle is slightly ahead of her classmates in Charms and Transfiguration, she's arguably the best flyer in the school (rivaled only by Ginny, Regina, and Harry), but is terrible at Potions, Herbology, and Astronomy. She is also a few steps behind her classmates at DADA.
Who will teach the new DA?
Another question I get asked a lot. Obviously I won't tell you! I will tell you however that I did change my mind about this; originally, I'd planned for Draco Malfoy to teach the new DA, but I decided late on that I wouldn't write this as I'd already done the 'Malfoy-becomes-teacher' story line with Narcissa. While Draco would probably be a popular character, I think a lot of people would've groaned when he was appointed teacher.
How many stories will you write?
Originally, I had planned to write three. A lot of people suggested to me that I simply continue After the Battle of Hogwarts long after Harry and Ginny graduate, but I think that graduation is a good end point. The Tournament of Champions is a darker story, and I think that it needs its own spotlight. I also think it's good to split the stories up because the Hogwarts portion of the story no longer belongs to Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron, so starting a new year with a new story is something of a symbolic handover to Regina, Marcus, and Gabrielle, while the original characters will have to find their feet in the real Wizard World! I think the Tournament of Champions will be my last story on Fanfiction, but I will always leave the door open for a third installment.
What do you mean by the Gold and Silver Trio's?
I think I've only mentioned this a couple times in my Author's notes, but to clarify; the Golden Trio consists of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The Silver Trio is Ginny, Neville, and Luna. Originally I'd said that neither of these trio's would teach the new DA, now I'm undecided ;) If I were to add a 'Bronze Trio' to the story it would of course be Regina, Marcus, and Gabrielle.
Is your story 'Book-Canon' or 'Movie-Canon'?
It's neither really. The best part about writing on Fanfiction is that I can cherry-pick the best bits from the movies and the books and use them to fit my story. For instance, my portrayal of Ginny is based on 'Book Ginny' as she's affectionately known, whereas my portrayal of Harry is more akin to Daniel Radcliffe than either Movie or Book Harry. Aside from switching between book and movie canon, a funny thing you might also notice in my stories is that I often switch between British-English and American-English. I'm from Scotland, so I type using British-English, but my computer and MS Word both auto-correct using American-English. It's a funny nuance in my writing that only a couple of people pick up.
So, Gabrielle and Marcus are a couple?
No. I was a lot younger when I wrote the chapter in which they share a kiss, and I seriously cringe at it now. Please remember that I started this story in late 2014 (I had written to Chapter 20 before I actually published on FF) and there will be many chapters which seem immature, poorly-written, or out of character. Once I finish the story, I will re-visit the chapter and edit that scene. From now on they will be portrayed as friends, who have a little crush.
If you could pick one Weasley's Wizard Wheezes product, what would it be?
Someone asked me this through a PM, and while I've answered them, I think it's a cool question and I wanted to share it with you guys, because I did ask you once! It's a more tough question than I first thought when I asked you guys! I would really love a set of their Extendable Ears! I'm also a big fan of their fireworks.
How do you come up with your story ideas, and how do you deal with negative feedback?
My story ideas come from a lot of different places. Obviously from the 7 books and 8 films, and also from reading other books, and watching other movies and TV shows etc... You can also take inspiration from reading other fanfictions (although don't ever steal someone else's ideas!). Really it just comes down to using your imagination, and having fun with it. I'd recommend trying to plan out a story though, as it makes the flow of your story feel more natural.
As for negative feedback, I've been relatively lucky to not have too many negative reviews on this story, but on some of my other work (see Under the Black Flag) I've gotten some really horrible feedback, as well as trolling, some of which I actually had to report. It does hurt your feelings when you get a bad review, and it can definitely be difficult to move past, but you've just got to put it out of your mind. If someone has left constructive criticism, then try and see what you can learn from it, but if it's just a nasty review then ignore it. Remember, you are writing your story for you, and for the people who are enjoying it.
What Hogwarts House are you in?
Slytherin. On Pottermore, and every other manner of quiz and test that I've taken, I've been sorted into Slytherin. It was meant to be. My Ilvermorny House is Horned Serpent.
What did you think of The Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts?
I read the script for The Cursed Child, and honestly I wasn't impressed. It didn't seem like J.K had written very much of it, and honestly it felt like a bad fanfiction. As for Fantastic Beasts, I was pleasantly surprised. It's actually quite a good movie, and I'd really like to see more of Wizarding America!
If you could give your characters theme music, what would you pick and why?
I was asked this question on a forum once, and I found it really funny, because it isn't something I would usually think about, but nevertheless, here is the list.
Harry - 7 Years, Lukas Graham - Listen to the lyrics, it fits him so much.
Ginny - Demons, Imagine Dragons - Because despite the fact that the battle is won, Ginny still has some inner Demons that she's battling.
Ron - Roar, Katy Perry - Because he's finally brought himself out of Harry's shadow, and people are going to see how brilliant he is. (Also, Gryffindor Pride!)
Hermione - Titanium, Sia - This girl got tortured by Bellatrix and came away from the experience relatively unscathed. Respect.
Gabrielle - Applause, Lady Gaga - Because she lives for the Applause!
Regina -What the Hell, Avril Lavigne - I think this song really describes her attitude toward life.
Yeah, a bit of a strange question to finish off, but I had fun figuring it out. Let me know what you guys think?
So that was just a few FAQ's that I hope have given you guys some more answers. Of course, if there's anything you'd like to know that you don't already then don't hesitate to send me a PM or a leave a question in a review! Now, enjoy the deleted scenes!
Ginny's Memories
It was around eleven in the morning when Harry made his way to McGonagall's office. Again she had granted him permission to use the pensieve. He was going to look at the memories Ginny had given him. He found the office empty, so walked over to the ornate cabinet the contained the pensieve. He uncapped the vial and poured the silvery liquid into the bowl. Dipping his face in, he felt the familiar sensation of falling through empty space, before landing on solid ground.
Harry was in the Burrow. He could tell easily, but it looked different. Newer. The realisation dawned on Harry that this was one of the few times he had been in Ginny's room. It was different to though, posters of the Holyhead Harpies didn't yet adorn the walls. He was in the Burrow, years ago, before Ginny started school.
Harry saw a young Ginny, maybe four or five years old, tucked into bed. Mr. Weasley was sitting by her side kissing her goodnight; when he turned to leave, Ginny demanded a story. "All right then," Mr. Weasley sighed, "which story would you like me to tell you?"
"The one about Harry Potter!"
"Again?" Ginny pouted and crossed her arms. Harry found it funny, she still pouted nowadays. "Ok. This is the story of the Boy Who Lived: a long time ago, the year before you were born in fact, a boy named Harry Potter was born." Harry felt awkward sitting listening to his own story. Ginny had told him that her dad used to tell her stories about him, and many other children were told the same stories, but it still felt strange to Harry.
"Harry was just like any other baby, his mum was a talented witch and his dad a talented wizard. Unfortunately, a bad wizard was after them, so they had to go into hiding. They lived in a small village called Godric's Hollow. For a while they were safe, but eventually the bad wizard found them." Harry wiped tears from his eyes. Ginny hid her face in the covers. "The evil wizard broke into Harry's house and attacked the Potters. James and Lily, they were Harry's mum and dad, never made it out. But something extraordinary happened in Godric's Hollow that night."
"This is my favourite part!" An excited Ginny had pulled her face from the covers and clapped her hands.
"Then let me finish," Mr. Weasley chuckled and patted Ginny's head, "the bad wizard tried to attack Harry, but he couldn't do it. Harry stopped him. Only a year old, and Harry stopped one of the most powerful Dark Wizard's in history!"
"Yay!" Ginny roared and punched the air.
"Quiet down, your mother will be up here in a minute!" Mr. Weasley put a finger to his lips. "It didn't all end well for Harry you know. He's going to grow up without his mum and dad you know." Ginny had a sad look on her face.
"Why don't you get him to come and live here?"
Mr. Weasley laughed. "Professor Dumbledore saved him, and sent him to live with his family. Nobody knows where he is except the people protecting him. Besides, I have enough children already!" Ginny giggled before turning serious again.
"What's going to happen to Harry dad?"
"Well, he'll probably go to Hogwarts and become a wizard. A good one too."
"So, I might see him one day?" Ginny's eyes had gone wide.
"Maybe, but don't badger him with questions if you do. He won't remember anything from that night. Now, time to go to sleep." Mr. Weasley kissed Ginny on the cheek and turned to walk away.
"I'm going to marry him one day." Mr. Weasley let out a chuckle.
"Okay then, I'll tell mum. She'll want to start planning your wedding right away." Harry couldn't help but laugh. Here they were years later, about to move in together. Marriage definitely wasn't on the cards yet, but Ginny had been certain about Harry for a long time.
Gabrielle's Charms Assessment
Quick note*: this a quick rewrite, as the original scene was lost when Word crashed on my computer.
Gabrielle stood in an empty classroom opposite the diminutive Professor Flitwick. It was her first proper day at Hogwarts as a student, and during each class her Professor's had pulled her out of the classroom to give her a quick assessment and compare her skill level to the Hogwarts students. For the most part, her assessments had gone okay, at least she thought so. Professor McGonagall had remarked that she was very adept at the difficult art of Transfiguration, and her History of Magic teacher, a ghost named Professor Binns, seemed to barely acknowledge her presence at all, but did give her a high score on the test questions he'd asked her. She hadn't done so well in Herbology, but it wasn't a subject she had much love for in the fist place. Her potions assessment, with her Head of House no less, had gone dreadfully though. She'd been given ten minutes to produce a simple Wideye Potion, which a First Year should have little difficulty with, but instead of succeeding, or at least managing a half decent potion, she'd over-heated the mixture and instead of producing a watery, light green potion, the bottom of her cauldron was full of a dark blue sludge. Professor Slughorn had reassured her that they would work on her ability and bring her up to speed, and from there, she had been asked to pick her subjects for Third Year. So, starting next year, Gabrielle would add Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures to her studies, and had signed up for a few extra-curricular activities too, as well as signing up for the DA.
"Alright dear," Professor Flitwick spoke, snapping her out of her thoughts, "We'll start with some simple charms, to see what kind of level you reached at Beauxbatons. Now don't be worried if you can't manage some of the more tricky charms, you're not under any pressure. Now, could you start by levitating this Quill for me?" The Professor held out a Quill in the palm of his hand. Gabrielle performed Wingardium Leviosa, and easily lifted the feather into the air. Whilst most of her assessments had caused her to have a few nerves, Charms was her best subject by far, and having read through her textbook the night before, she was feeling fairly confident for this test. "Very good, you've clearly got the knack for charms my dear. Can you light the tip of your wand for me?" No sooner than he had spoken the words, Gabrielle had lit the tip of her wand up with a bright, white ball of light. The remainder of her short test went very well, with Gabrielle knocking the Professor's Wand straight out of his hand with one of her best ever Expelliarmus charms, creating a small fire with Incendio, using Reparo to fix a broken chair leg, and even showing off her best charm, Depulso, upon which the Professor began jumping up and down excitedly, proclaiming that the didn't teach the banishing charm to students until their fourth year.
Other Information Cut from the Story
So, here's just a few snippets of ideas that never made it into the story, but aren't worth a whole section.
The new model of the Firebolt is called the Firebolt Hurricane. Nimbus have redesigned the Nimbus 2001 to sell alongside the much more expensive Nimbus 2500, and the new broom looks similar to the 2500, but isn't nearly as fast or agile.
Harry was set to receive an Order of Merlin First Class, but declined the award due to survivors guilt.
Originally, my idea was to have the school find out about the Tournament of Champions from McGonagall, but now they will find out at the opening feast.
While I never specified it, because I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to do it the proper justice, and I didn't want to upset people, but the reason Ginny was suffering from nightmares is down, in part, to PTSD.
I'd originally wanted more scenes in Diagon Alley, but I've moved them to the next story.
The Blurb for The Tournament of Champions
A final treat for you guys (SPOILER ALERT!) I though that as a reward for reading on this far you guys could read the blurb for my next story! Obviously because I have put the spoiler alert in there, there are a couple minor spoilers in the blurb, so if you don't want to read them, then just skip to the end.
Official Blurb
HARRY POTTER HAS VANISHED. In what appears to be the latest in a string of attacks by a group known as the WIZARDS UNITED LIBERATION FRONT, the boy wizard's disappearance marks the start of troubled times for the Wizarding World. With the Ministry of Magic too busy dealing with persistent attacks to go searching for him, Ginny Weasley all but abandons her career to search for her lost love, leading to an unlikely alliance with a former enemy.
Meanwhile, Gabrielle Delacour, looks forward to her first year as a Hogwarts student. But things quickly take a turn for the worse, as Gabrielle and her friends are told to prepare for an incredibly dangerous tournament. As the competition begins to heat up, a masked figure appears from the sky, attacking Hogwarts Students on a regular basis. Can the new DA figure out the identity of this mysterious attacker before it's too late? Or will the students be too busy fighting amongst themselves?
Thank you guys so much for taking the time out to read some of my drivel, I hope you enjoyed at least some of it, it was certainly something a little different. As always, I do appreciate your feedback, and should you be generous enough to leave me a review, I will be very grateful. I would like to encourage everyone to vote in the poll on my profile, and if you are new to the story, congratulations for reading all 53 chapters so quickly, and if you do like the story be sure to add it to your favorite's.
Thanks again everyone,
IronMan.
