10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About The Harry Potter Books
8. Originally, Hedwig Caught The Snitch In Harry’s First Quidditch Match
Publishing a novel isn’t just about the author. Literary agents, beta readers, illustrators, and editors all have a role to play. Indeed, it was Rowling’s editor that questioned a rather strange moment in The Philosopher’s Stone.
In the original version of the eleventh chapter, Hedwig (Harry’s owl) catches the golden snitch. As well as being against the rules of Quidditch, this is a rather ludicrous story beat – how on earth would she manage to catch it? But when Rowling was forced to change this scene by having Harry catch the snitch with his mouth instead, this had an impact on The Deathly Hallows.
Those who can recall the details of this final adventure will know that Harry opens the snitch by pressing his lips upon the metal. (Remember, snitches have flesh memories. Dumbledore planted the Resurrection Stone inside Harry’s first snitch so that he would be able to open it.)
As such, Rowling originally intended Hedwig to survive The Deathly Hallows and help Harry open the snitch before venturing into the Forbidden Forest.
But Rowling’s editor made the right call on this one. Banking on Hedwig being alive and well at the perfect moment isn’t the sort of thing Dumbledore would have done – he’s far too smart for that.