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Rowling explains changing last word in Harry Potter

Posted: Saturday, July 28, 2007 9:54 AM by Jen Brown
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Spoiler alert: If you haven't finished "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," you may not want to read any further.

It was widely reported that the last word of the final Harry Potter book was "scar" and for years Rowling said that was true. 

In the epilogue, which is set19 years after the defeat of Voldemort, Rowling paints a picture of Harry standing on platform 9 3/4, his nearest and dearest surrounding him.  In her original draft, the last line was “Only those who he loved could see the lightning scar,’” ….or “something like” that, she told Meredith Vieira in an exclusive interview.

Ultimately, Rowling felt that line was too ambiguous, begging the question about whether the scar was still there or not.  She said wanted a more concrete statement that Harry had won; Voldemort had been defeated.  The scar was still there, but now it was only a scar.

“I wanted to say it’s over.  It’s done.”

Rowling changed the last line to:  “All was well.”

“That felt right,” she said.

 

More from Meredith Vieira's interview with J.K. Rowling:

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I was thrilled with this book!  It seemed to be written in the most wonderful style-tying every lose end and story line together-I loved the epilogue-but then I love happy endings.  I was very concerned with all of the talk about Harry's death-since the entire series seemed to pit good against evil-it would have been tragic if evil won!  I applaud JKR for a classic work-and one of the best reads of my life!  and I am pushing 60!

bc boyle sch'dy, NY (Sent Saturday, July 28, 2007 10:37 PM)

I absolutely love Harry Potter. Thank you so much Ms. Rowling for the teriffic series!

Ashley H., Boston, Massachusetts (Sent Saturday, July 28, 2007 11:52 PM)

Not a big Harry Potter fan I applaud Ms.Rowlings accomplishment. Argueing over the last word in the book is silly. Sometimes you have to remember, "Its Just a Story".

james (Sent Saturday, July 28, 2007 11:56 PM)

If I could tell David Yates anything I wanted to  and have him follow it, it would be to make the movies LONGER! I could care less about his ADHD. I have ADHD and can sit through an entire HP film. The movies aren't about the director and his attention span and personally vendetas. The movies are about the book - the whole book. We fans deserve to finally get one movie that has most of the book in it instead of only 1 storyline of the book. I want to see the entire book on film, not just one little snippet. I want to see Ron in quidditch! However, that can't be unless it is put into the movie. the last book doesn't have quidditch! The last book, is the only book where I can see a shortened version, as its all wars, with little sub-plots to hold on to. The Order of Phoenix was missing 80% of the book. I felt cheated! The only reason I saw that movie twice was to see Flowline software in action. Flowline computer graphics was awesome. Please, put in the entire story in the next film, or I will be even more dissappointed. I want to see Rupert in Quidditch! (I can't remember if its even in the book, but I think it is.) Thanks!

Kyt (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 12:35 AM)

I found the epilogue rather low on details of what the Trios occupations were but I found it rather great that the reader could determine how their lives continued on. She has since stated what occupations they are. Harry and Ron being part of the Auror Department, and Hermione being head or apart of Magical Law Enforcement if i am rmebering correctly. All-in-All a great book and surpased my expectations.

Clay, Brownsville, MN (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 12:40 AM)

J.K. Rowling is a genious. The way she ties everything together. Small details in previous books turn out to be something completely plot changing in later books!! The work and effort it took her to write these books.....amazing! I can't wait for more Rowling books in the future. Wizarding world or not.

Kevin Greene, Lehi, Utah (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 1:57 AM)

I enjoyed the book, but I must admit, I was one of those fans that couldn't wait for the book so I went to the internet for spoilers; what I found was an alleged "editors copy" of the book. It was nearly 660 pages and unfortunatly was a much better read than the published book. I was diappointed in epologue of the published book. I understand now that Ms. Rowling intends to write an encyclopedia of characters... maybe then some of the loose ends she left about some of the characters will be tied up. Overall I am a big fan of the Harry Potter series; and for entertainment this book was worth the anticipation, but overall, book 4 is still my favorite!  

Brooke Johnson, Princeton, KY (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 3:25 AM)

Ms Rowling, I love Harry Potter and I loved the final book and the ending. Thanks for bringing us Harry Potter.

Isabelle Kimber, Adelaide, Australia (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 4:13 AM)

Flame me as many inevitably will, but in comparison to other harry potter books, this one fell flat in my opinion. Rowling had 6 books to set up the magical environment (which she did brilliantly), so why in the seventh book did much of that get thrown out of the window in favor of three magical artifacts that we have never even got a hint of before? The ending as well, was another example of magic (harry dying and rising from the dead...sigh... ) that could have been introduced earlier in the books. It seemed as though Rowling was grasping at straws to end a series that could have given her the entire bale of hay.
All in all, I felt this book was by far the weakest of an otherwise tremendous series

Kyle, Kingston, Otario (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 6:35 AM)

these books WILL go down in history

bob smith, orange county, california (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:07 AM)

Ms. Rowling weaved a fabulous series, ending with this wonderful book.It should have been shipped with a bow tied around it, to represent the gift that this book is, and the way she neatly tied up all the loose ends.
Myself an many others I'm sure, hope that she continues writing, as her style, wit, and imagination has brought the joy and wonder of reading to a new generation.

John, Washington DC (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:28 AM)

It's amazing to witness a modern-day genius, and even more amazing to see that genius produce her magnum opus. Hopefully this isn't the end for JK Rowling, and that her future works will be just as brilliant. Thank you, Mrs. Rowling, for giving us the world around such wonderful entertainment, and we look forever forward to your next endeavour, whatever it may be.

Blair Anderson, Crystal Falls, MI (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 9:24 AM)

The Deathly Hollows was an exellent finish to a great series. I only have one little problem I would have liked harry to actually kill Voldemort instead of it being Voldemorts own curse.

Hassan Ahmed, Edinburgh (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 9:24 AM)

it's a very trilled novel. TQ soooooooo much 4 a very adventurous journey. BUT... it's lovely if the author detailed a little bit about P.Snape. I luv to see if the relationship between potter and snape settle a little bit more. i just very sadddd it's end like that. i suspect all along that snape has a little bit up his sleeve.

Jamie Doe, Romania (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 9:36 AM)

Thank you so much for years of excitement! I shared all these deep emotions with Harry, Ron and Hermione and the other main characters. You made it one of the most wonderful series I've ever read. Rereading the books from time to time will be a great pleasure for me!

Silvia H., Lampertheim, Germany (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 10:41 AM)

Seemed like a fine way to end a series but open the door to another involving the offspring and remaining characters. Excellent way of insuring positive cash flow down the road, nothing wrong with that, of course.

Raphael, Denver, Colorado (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 11:23 AM)

Dear J.K. Rowling!
Thanks alot for everything! I loved your Harry Potter! it's beem a part of me since i was 10. The last book was very heart moving and strong. Especially when Dobby and Snape die. Tnaks alot!!

Chapa Perera, Colombo, Colombo (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 12:09 PM)

I read the book and was thoughly enjoyed with the way that it ended. I thouroughly enjoyed the complete series from book one all the way through book7

Bill Christensen, Omaha , Nebraska (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 12:19 PM)

I think the last sentence was perfect.  It's so elegantly simple because it sums up everything in Harry Potter's life that has never been.  Never before, had all been well.

Donna-Marie, Swindon, England (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 2:22 PM)

Wonderful book series! I loved the way Book 7 ended. I was really scared that Harry was going to die and that would have ruined it for me. Thanks JK Rowling for not killing Harry. I love the way she brought back every character we had ever heard of and gave them a part in the end, and how she had left clues in the other books. I went back and found the clues she left and it's so neat how she tied them all up. I got to where I was not taking anything for granted, and everything that seemed unimportant would probably turn out important.

Rhonda, Jackson, TN (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 2:46 PM)

I admit that at 35 yearsold, some may view me as too old to enjoy a series like Harry Potter. However, I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I looked forward with GREAT anticipation to this, the 7th and final book of the series. As saddened as I was by Sirius' death in book 5, Fred's death really knocked the wind out of me emotionally speaking. I understand however that in war which this book sought to detail death is inevitable. Even when it is the death of a favorite character. This just goes to show you just how much emotion J.K. Rowling's readers have invested over the years into the Harry Potter series. I, for one, will read them over and over through the coming years.

David Trousdale, Beaumont, Texas (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 6:12 PM)

Reading each book made my normal daily life seem more imaginative.  I saw the early "portal" concept as going to a website and by clicking, ending up somewhere completely different.  I saw soccer as quiddich and preferred fields surrounded by trees for the image.  The moving pictures became camera cell phones.  Harry kept his innocence throughout.  The last quest was shared with Nevelle, who also became a leader, and Harry trusted him to do a monumental task.  The snake was such an evil metaphor. Nevelle killed it with the Gryffindor sword in front of the classmates he rallied and led.  Harry became equals with his friends, and his trust in others was rewarded brilliantly.  Only Harry knows the whole story.

Lisa Dennison, Sterling Heights, Michigan (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 7:50 PM)

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!  I was so worried that Ms. Rowling would seek to destroy the beloved three in a way that made them unresolved.  However, I was plesantly surprised to see that the genius in Ms. Rowling is still very much alive!  The Deathly Hallows was as emotional and gripping as any of Harry's previous years. I thought it cleared things up quite nicely!  Look forward to more, whether connected to Harry and the wizarding world or not.

Andrea Williams, Durhamville, New York (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:44 PM)

I read the book in 1 day and then cried myself to sleep. I still cannot believe its over. I've been reading the books since I was 9, even before the films came out and now im 15.Harry potter is my life. I am completely consumed by it and now that its over i feel like I have nothing to live for. I hope rowling will continue to write books, even if they are not harry potter related. She has talent that I would kill for.

Magdalena, Mississauga Ontario (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:51 PM)

A good author knows when a series has come to an end.  Those that try to continue based on fan response utimately pay the prices.  Well done Ms. Rowling, well done.

Jim Rathburn (Sent Sunday, July 29, 2007 9:16 PM)

Harry Potter is cool!!!! He was my first big read!

call marow,DC (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 5:30 PM)

I love Harry Potter. He was my first big book! your mmy inspuration!

call marow,DC (Sent Monday, December 03, 2007 5:33 PM)



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