General 'What If...?' Thread

[willfitz]

Originally Posted by wandrider

Just curious what you would list for Gryffindor & why? Thanks!

Bravery, courage. He was willing to make a name for himself and go up against the most powerful people in the world (read: Dumbledore), and he was willing to try things which nobody had dared before.

[Lunatic]

Originally Posted by willfitz

Well, the whole point of my ponderings was that I feel that Voldemort did actually have the qualities that Ravenclaw and Gryffindor cherish, as he was in the books. The only house where he wouldn't fit, in my opinion, was Hufflepuff.

I never saw him as a Ravenclaw, basically because, like Hermione he could do some brilliant magic, his downfall had a lot to do with his own failures of imagination, not seeing that the Horocruxes would make him as inhuman as he became and then lacking the insight that certain behaviors were turning others against him, whether Snape, Regulus, or the Malfoys. Basically, he seems, like Luna described Hermione, 'brillant but limited' is part of why neither are Ravenclaw.

Gryffindor is possible for him, had he at an earlier age been mentored or taught some sort of empathy, including seeing his mother in a different light then of a coward who abandoned him. Harry grew up in very simular circumstances. Basically, he would have friends, he would genuinely try to turn a new leaf. He would eventually join the staff at Hogwarts and be a very effective DA teacher.

While I agree that Tom Riddle would never be a Hufflepuff, it's scary to think of him with loyal, hard working followers.

Here is a very good but unfinished fanfic that gets to the heart of who Tom Riddle might be in other circumstances. I think you might enjoy.

[bellatrix93]

Originally Posted by leah49

I think only the students eligible for the tournament would have gone to the school. I want to say that's what Beauxbatons and Durmstrang did, but there's nothing in the story that says that.

I think it said that Beauxbatons and Durmstrangs' students were all aged sixteen or seventeen, but I can't remember for sure.

Originally Posted by Lunatic

Basically, he seems, like Luna described Hermione, 'brillant but limited' is part of why neither are Ravenclaw.

But in fact Hermione was considered for Ravenclaw, which means she must have been qualified for it. It was her own choice that got her into Gryffindor, .

Also I don't think Tom would've been much better in Gryffindor (well, I don't think being in Slytherin is what made him a bad person). I think he would have been more isolated there. And if he had managed to gain followers in Gryffindor, they would've been brave, rash and willing to do his 'exciting' orders, which isn't much better than his ambitious followers in Slytherin.

[Lunatic]

Originally Posted by bellatrix93

But in fact Hermione was considered for Ravenclaw, which means she must have been qualified for it. It was her own choice that got her into Gryffindor, .

Personal theory. Hermione went to the sorting hat with the attitude "Gryffindor is the best". The hat did something along the lines of 'you would do well in Ravenclaw'. Because she passionately stuck to her guns rather then displaying the open mindedness wit beyond measure required, unlike Luna and detrimentally with Cho (she could see her friend's point, or the implications of Cedric dying) she defined herself as a Gryffindor and aquired lots wit, but not beyond measure.

[FurryDice]

Originally Posted by HPitty23

This has probably been asked before (I looked through five pages and gave up after seeing nothing), but what if the Triwizard Tournament had been held at Durmstrang or Beauxbatons? Would Harry have still had his name put in the cup? (I have a theory, but I want to see other people's responses first). How would the tournament being held outside of Hogwarts effect the entire novel, if not the whole series?

I think Madame Maxime and Karkaroff only brought of age students with them. When Harry's name came from the Goblet, Karkaroff complained that he would have brought a wider selection of students if he'd known that there would be underage competitors. I think only those who were of age travelled to the host school, so Harry wouldn't have been present. Although, if Dumbledore had been absent with the competitors at Beauxbatons or Durmstrang, it would make things a lot easier for Crouch as FakeMoody back at Hogwarts.

Originally Posted by Lunatic

I never saw him as a Ravenclaw, basically because, like Hermione he could do some brilliant magic, his downfall had a lot to do with his own failures of imagination, not seeing that the Horocruxes would make him as inhuman as he became and then lacking the insight that certain behaviors were turning others against him, whether Snape, Regulus, or the Malfoys. Basically, he seems, like Luna described Hermione, 'brillant but limited' is part of why neither are Ravenclaw.

I think another factor is he wanted to learn these things, and push the boundaries as a means to an end - power, immortality, etc. Whereas a Ravenclaw would be interested in learning for its own sake, as Luna is. Likewise, Hermione is interested in learning and developing skills, but it's usually for a purpose -competitiveness, research for whatever problems they are facing, etc.

[WizardSnaps]

Originally Posted by bellatrix93

I think it said that Beauxbatons and
But in fact Hermione was considered for Ravenclaw, which means she must have been qualified for it. It was her own choice that got her into Gryffindor, .

I too agree with this.

[horcrux4]

What if Harry had decided to 'go on' at King's Cross and not come back to fight Voldemort? Would that last bit of Voldemort's soul we saw at KC be able to return to him if Harry hadn't come back? Nagini was chaining it to life, wasn't she? Neville would no doubt have still killed Nagini so Voldemort would have been mortal, but could anyone else have killed Voldemort?

[wandrider]

Originally Posted by horcrux4

What if Harry had decided to 'go on' at King's Cross and not come back to fight Voldemort? Would that last bit of Voldemort's soul we saw at KC be able to return to him if Harry hadn't come back?

I don't think so, since Harry would be dead. Also, it was a kind of freak semi-Horcrux not created by LV's spell but by Lily's sacrifice or some kind of fluke magic of ripping souls. Oh, yeah, I think it attached to Harry because he was alive with a body to attach to.

Nagini was chaining it to life, wasn't she?

I forgot. Refresh my memory.

Neville would no doubt have still killed Nagini so Voldemort would have been mortal, but could anyone else have killed Voldemort?

Yes, he had lost all his powers to do anything. AK him or send him to Azkaban. A 1/7th or 1/8th ripped soul would not be able to do much magically, imo, since in the book his magic was failing.

What do you think?

(P.S. Horcrux4, what did you think of my last post about your other What If in this thread? I posted that today, Thursday. Thanks.)

[kmhm]

What if... In a weird coincidence, Baby Harry and Neville were in the same room. And Voldemort decided to kill them both. Who would've survive?

[GingerCat1]

Originally Posted by horcrux4

What if Harry had decided to 'go on' at King's Cross and not come back to fight Voldemort? Would that last bit of Voldemort's soul we saw at KC be able to return to him if Harry hadn't come back? Nagini was chaining it to life, wasn't she? Neville would no doubt have still killed Nagini so Voldemort would have been mortal, but could anyone else have killed Voldemort?

Harry had fulfilled his end of the prophecy by that point and the horcrux inside him had been destroyed. As soon as Nagini was killed by Neville then Voldemort was no longer immortal and in theory he could have been killed by anyone.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by kmhm

What if... In a weird coincidence, Baby Harry and Neville were in the same room. And Voldemort decided to kill them both. Who would've survive?

Is Lily there? Did Voldemort make the offer to spare her? That's the only reason Harry survived in the canon.

[kmhm]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

Is Lily there? Did Voldemort make the offer to spare her? That's the only reason Harry survived in the canon.

Umm... what if both of them were alone. And both were spared lives from someone who loved them. Would both of them conquer Voldemort?

[bellatrix93]

Originally Posted by kmhm

What if... In a weird coincidence, Baby Harry and Neville were in the same room. And Voldemort decided to kill them both. Who would've survive?

Assuming Harry in that scenario still had Lily's protection, and Voldemort tried to kill him first, both would survive. If Voldemort tried to kill Neville first, the outcome would depend on whether Neville had protection like Harry. If he didn't, he'd probably die and only Harry would survive.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by bellatrix93

Assuming Harry in that scenario still had Lily's protection, and Voldemort tried to kill him first, both would survive. If Voldemort tried to kill Neville first, the outcome would depend on whether Neville had protection like Harry. If he didn't, he'd probably die and only Harry would survive.

As far as we know, there wasn't a DeathEater in love with Alice Longbottom.

[Lunatic]

Originally Posted by snapes_witch

As far as we know, there wasn't a DeathEater in love with Alice Longbottom.

That wouldn't prevent Frank or Alice making the same sort of sacrifice Lily did. They were trained Aurors after all and if they did it might mean James or/and Lily survived. No Dursleys is very cool.

[leah49]

Originally Posted by bellatrix93

I think it said that Beauxbatons and Durmstrangs' students were all aged sixteen or seventeen, but I can't remember for sure.

Probably. My sister has our copy of GoF so I can't look it up. (It sucks that she has 4/7 of the series, I have 1 and we lost the other [OOTP]. I think one day I'll make a trip to the bookstore for 6 of the missing books (8 if I count the two school books I don't have) anyway, this is way off topic). Yeah, that's probably where I heard it. It leads me to believe that if one of the other schools hosted it then Harry wouldn't be there and he couldn't have been a champion. Therefore, it had to be Hogwarts. Voldemort needed Harry to come to the graveyard and the only he figured out how to do that was to get Harry to come via the trophy. If the tournament had taken place elsewhere he might have been up the creek.

[GingerCat1]

Here is a big one

What if Ron had died when he was poisoned in HBP?

How would Harry, Hermione and the Weasley's have reacted and how would it have changed the overall plot?

[Lunatic]

Originally Posted by GingerCat1

Here is a big one

What if Ron had died when he was poisoned in HBP?

How would Harry, Hermione and the Weasley's have reacted and how would it have changed the overall plot?

That's a good one.

Basically Draco would have crossed the moral event horizon and Harry would be out for blood in the tower scene.

Hermione would be would be shaken and angry.

The biggest effect would be on the student body.

There would be a lot of sympathy from former DA members and perhaps a reactivation of the DA. Basically, more people would be watching their galleons at the climax, leading to a larger and bloodier battle on both sides at the end of the book, perhaps preventing the planned death of Dumbledore (temporarilly) but causing the death of more students.

This news would probably delay the fall of the ministry or lead to more resistance to the Death Eater takeover; killing kids tends to discredit ones cause.

Basically, you'd have a much more open war with Harry locating the horocruxes while various characters; Remus, Charlie Weasley, Neville, Ernie Macmillian acting as 'officers', slowly fighting a loosing a war. Harry would probably recruit a few others for the 'camping trip' who would become friends, but not like Ron.

Draco would die, but regretting his actions. He might even do something redemptive in the process.

[snapes_witch]

Originally Posted by Lunatic

That wouldn't prevent Frank or Alice making the same sort of sacrifice Lily did. They were trained Aurors after all and if they did it might mean James or/and Lily survived. No Dursleys is very cool.

But my point was that the only reason Harry survived was because a DE who was in love with Lily asked Voldemort to save Lily. V offered Lily the chance to live, she refused, and according to DD her death called forth an ancient magic that saved Harry's life. Frank or Alice couldn't make that same sacrifice as the above didn't apply to them. Of course, they were brave and could have fought V but it's doubtful IMO that they would have survived his attack.

[GingerCat1]

Originally Posted by Lunatic

That's a good one.

Basically Draco would have crossed the moral event horizon and Harry would be out for blood in the tower scene.

Hermione would be would be shaken and angry.

The biggest effect would be on the student body.

There would be a lot of sympathy from former DA members and perhaps a reactivation of the DA. Basically, more people would be watching their galleons at the climax, leading to a larger and bloodier battle on both sides at the end of the book, perhaps preventing the planned death of Dumbledore (temporarilly) but causing the death of more students.

This news would probably delay the fall of the ministry or lead to more resistance to the Death Eater takeover; killing kids tends to discredit ones cause.

Basically, you'd have a much more open war with Harry locating the horocruxes while various characters; Remus, Charlie Weasley, Neville, Ernie Macmillian acting as 'officers', slowly fighting a loosing a war. Harry would probably recruit a few others for the 'camping trip' who would become friends, but not like Ron.

Draco would die, but regretting his actions. He might even do something redemptive in the process.

Hermione may generally be a very nice person but i suspect if she learnt that Draco was responsible for Ron's death she would show him absolutely no mercy when they met again. Ron's comment in DH's would ring true for Hermione as well, had Ron died Hermione would have wanted to go out there and kill death eaters.

Had Ron died i suspect Ginny and maybe even the twins would have gone on the horcrux hunt with Harry and Hermione as i can't see Ginny and the twins taking no for a answer given they would want to avenge their brothers death.

One thing for certain though, Harry would have been devastated if Ron died (much worse than Sirius's death) and Hermione would have been even worse as she would know that she spent the last few months of Ron's life no speaking to him (and never admitting to him how she felt about him).