8 Harry Potter Edits JK Rowling Made From Earlier Book Drafts

4. There Was An Explanation For Nearly Headless Nick's Headlessness

Nearly Headless Nick (portrayed brilliantly by John Cleese in The Philosopher's Stone movie) is a spirit who wanders Hogwarts after a botched decapitation. Not much is known about Nick, apart from the fact he enjoys terrifying new students, but Rowling originally had quite a substantial back story planned for the character, which she wrote in the form of a ballad.

The ballad details Sir Nicholas' encounter with Lady Grieve, who asks him to straighten her teeth using magic. When he tries, she sprouts a massive tusk.

It was a mistake any wizard could make, Who was tired and caught on the hop, One piffling error, and then, to my terror, I found myself facing the chop. Alas for the eve when I met Lady Grieve, A-strolling the park in the dusk! She was of the belief I could straighten her teeth, Next moment she'd sprouted a tusk.

The ballad continues, detailing how Sir Nicholas is arrested for the insult and sentenced to death. He's ultimately executed with a blunt axe, owing to the fact the executioner has lost his grindstone. Since then, Rowling has spoken openly about how difficult it was to cut the ballad, which featured thirty-two lines across four verses.