The forgotten stories of Harry Potter: exploring ghost plots and lessons from what-ifs

Have you ever thought, as a Harry Potter fan, how different this series could have been if J.K. Rowling made other choices in the books? It is bittersweet to realize that the stories we know today just weren't perfect at the very beginning. It's just those imperfections that shaped them into something magical.

Rowling herself called her discarded ideas "ghost plots." These abandoned drafts, such as setting the Potter house on a stormy island, making Voldemort a dwarf, and giving Hermione Granger a sister. show just how much a story can evolve.

But these unexplored plots aren’t just about storytelling. They mirror life’s journey, which includes moments of trial, error, and growth moment. This insight originates from Oliver Horton's article in TRL Magazine, The Rowling Library (Issue 97, 2025, p. 10). While these details never made it into the final books, we do know something about them.

"There is a shadow version of Harry Potter that never made it to publication, a spectre composed of ideas that J.K. Rowling chucked out. In this phantom tale, Hermione Granger has a sister, the Potters die on an island, and Voldemort is a dwarf. Which were all parts of the story’s creation"

Oliver Hot

1. What If Hermione had a sister? Rewriting the bonds that shape us

Let’s start with Hermione. Picture her as the older sibling in a magical household. How would a sister change her role in the story? Would she still be the fiercely independent character we love, or would sibling rivalry have shaped her differently?

In an early draft, J.K. Rowling envisioned Hermione’s dad as a key figure who finds baby Harry after the Potters are killed on a remote island. Imagine the drama: a storm-tossed night, a brave Muggle father crossing the sea to rescue the Boy Who Lived. It’s a vivid, gothic scene that sets a completely different tone for Harry’s story.

What do you think? Would Hermione have grown into the same brilliant witch if she had a sibling to share her adventures with?

2. Lessons from Rowling’s writing process

Rowling’s deleted scenes reveal an important truth. Perfection isn’t instant. Behind the seamless flow of Harry Potter lies years of rewriting and rethinking.

Did you know? The Potters’ island death scene wasn’t the only major change. Neville Longbottom was nearly the Chosen One! Rowling also considered ending Ron and Hermione’s romance altogether.

These examples remind us that failure and experimentation often lead to breakthroughs. Just as Rowling reshaped her drafts, we can revisit our own scrapped dreams in life moments we thought were failures and turn them into something magical.

3. Why imperfection makes the story magical

J.K. Rowling’s discarded ideas might seem strange, but they add depth to the final story. They remind us that creativity thrives in imperfection.

Think about it, if Voldemort had been a dwarf, would he still have been the same terrifying villain? Would Harry’s life with the Dursleys feel as poignant if Hermione’s family had rescued him instead? These what-ifs are fascinating because they let us glimpse alternate versions of a world we love.

4. What are your “ghost plots”?

Much like Harry’s story, our own lives are full of forgotten ambitions. Decisions we didn’t make, paths we didn’t take. But maybe those discarded ideas still have value.

What’s a ghost plot in your life that you could revisit? A failed project, a missed opportunity, or even a relationship that taught you something important?