I've been on wattpad since I was twelve and for almost eight years. In that time I've gathered a lot of experience on writing and reading Harry Potter fan fiction. Now, I want to share all I've learned with you: from plot holes, unfinished work and...
How To/Not To Portray the Canonical Figures (In my Opinion)
Maybe you have a brief idea of an OC right now but let's spend some time with the canon characters first. How will they interact? However you choose to portray them it's up to you. This page is to help ensure they stick to canon. If this is something you don't want to do; that's fine!
In this chapter I will use three characters to help me demonstrate what I mean:
The Good: Harry Potter The Bad: Voldemort The Greasy: Severus Snape
Canon is Key If that's the only thing you take from this chapter: so be it.
1. Mouldy Voldie
Let's take my fic Melissa Riddle as an example of how not to portray Voldemort. Melissa Riddle, I'm sorry my dear but you are up for elimination.
Her father is, of course, Voldemort but the way I have portrayed Voldie is tragic. Sure he's scary but there is too much silly wandwaving and incantations in this class. He just screams the killing curse every two minutes and is not evil: he's just annoying, ugh. For example:
"MELISSA!" My father barked "UPSTAIRS NOW!" He pointed to the stair case. (Chapter 1)
I wrote this when I was thirteen, hold your laughter. So let me demonstrate how I, now finally parted from my teenage years, may rewrite this:
"Melissa," my father breathed. His voice was barely audible and it seemed to slither towards me like his trusted pet. He gestured to the staircase with one sallow hand. "Upstairs."
I refuse to be embarrassed by the first piece of writing as, for me, it demonstrates how I've improved as a writer.
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It's easier to deviate slightly from canon with characters such as Fred and George. They're just full of energy and it's harder to spot over-enthusiasm with them. But with characters on the dark side you need to be a little more careful.
2. Swiggity Cape, it's me; Snape
Let's talk about Snape, ba-by, let's talk about you and me. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things after Li-ly.
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Ah, Snape. I've written about you a lot but have since deleted the majority of rubbish portrayals of you.
He's the perfect 'in-between' character to describe. I haven't just picked him because he's super cool (which he is if you weren't aware).
If one is to write about Snape one has to be sly. If you want to evoke an emotional part of him do it reasonably. Hell, even do it with his perspective and unearth the conflicting emotions he has with his new lover, your OC, or canonical character and Lily. If he has a child how will he treat that child? If it's Lily's I doubt he'd be resentful. Yet, he wouldn't be over the top about it. If said child was from a one night stand from an unnamed woman, perhaps he would. Think logically when it comes to Snape.
If you want to get it precisely right; go watch the Potter films. His portrayal in action is perfect to study there.
3. Barry Trotter
Finally, let's talk about Harry Potter.
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Mr Potter: we get to see the most of him in the Harry Potter series (obviously) and so portraying him can be quite a tricky thing despite how much material you have to work with. The pressure to keep it in tune with canon is immense! So, let's create some scenarios.
Potter's sister: If she's brought up like Harry with the Dursleys, no doubt she'll feel as beaten as he does but as excited at Hagrids arrival. But this time Harry will have someone straight away to share in with the initial sorrow and someone to help deal with Dursley, so maybe he's less miserable.
Potter's girlfriend: no doubt this will come later in canon. Will Harry be able to deal with his visions of Voldemort easier with someone by his side? How will he feel about Ginny? Is Ginny in your characters path?
Basically, what I'm trying to say is: keep canonical to be believable! But tweak canon characters to suit your OCs, after all their fate will no doubt be changed but it's important to remember their attitudes. (If you have an example of a character from Potter who's been transformed into something uncanonical and works well, let me know! Just like everyone else; I'm still learning).
