Research Notes: Plotlines from Rowling's Discarded Manuscripts

J.K. Rowling once shared drafts from her writing process in an interview. Some settings and plotlines were later discarded due to length constraints. Below is how this book's author handles these plotlines:

1. The Ancient Runes professor's name: The name Bathsheda Babbling appeared only in the drafts—the author will use this name for Hogwarts' Ancient Runes professor, though details such as her age, appearance, and abilities have yet to be decided.

2. Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott: There was a scene where Draco and Theodore chatted in the gardens of Malfoy Manor. The narration mentioned that Theodore was the only friend Draco acknowledged as an equal—Crabbe and Goyle could only be considered followers. Rowling also revealed that Theodore Nott was originally meant to be a more developed character, but much of his role was cut from the original work due to length constraints—the author used this setting in Chapter 4 of Volume One, "Increasing Strength."

3. Dean Thomas: Like Theodore, Dean was a character whose scenes were heavily cut due to length constraints. He was originally supposed to appear in the midnight duel during their first year. Later, on Rowling's official website, Rowling revealed more background information about him—he was actually a half-blood wizard. When Dean was very young, his wizard father left home. To protect his wife, he never told her that he was a wizard, and was eventually killed after refusing to join the Death Eaters. Dean was raised by his mother and stepfather, always believing himself to be a Muggle-born wizard, until he discovered the truth during his years at Hogwarts. This plotline was cut due to length constraints—the author acknowledges this setting, so Dean Thomas is a half-blood wizard in this book, with a fairly capable father. After all, being noticed by the Death Eaters meant he could not have been weak.

4. The Vampire professor Trocar: A Hogwarts professor in the drafts who was discarded—if a Vampire-related plotline appears in the future, the author will use the name Trocar.

5. Florian Fortescue's hidden identity: Rowling once revealed that she had originally intended to write a plotline involving the Elder Wand to explain Florian's disappearance: Florian's true identity was as a descendant of Dexter Fortescue, a former Hogwarts headmaster. He was killed because he knew information about the Elder Wand and Ravenclaw's Diadem. However, she ultimately decided to omit this part, replacing him with Phineas Black and the Grey Lady as the characters who revealed that information—the author will use this setting, making Florian Fortescue the unassuming descendant of a prominent family.