People have complained in the past that the fandom is becoming 'stale.' One of the complaints is that the same set of characters gets used for everything. Neville gets used as a surrogate for one of the trio if something bad happens. Daphnie Greengrass and Blaise Zabini become the connections to Slytherin. And so forth, and so on.
Therefore, I have what one might call a challenge of sorts. Let us make use of the so-called unsung. The forgotten characters that everyone seems to overlook. The idea behind this challenge is simple. You must take a character, preferably one that exists in canon, though an OC will do, and make them important. Not earth-shatteringly important, mind, but someone that matters in the plot.
If you are having trouble fleshing them out, then simply start asking yourself questions about them. Do they have a romantic interest? Are they someone who might become a new friend of Harry's? Could they become a political ally? Are they purebloods, halfbloods, or muggleborn? What do they think of Harry and his friends? Of Dumbledore? Voldemort? The Ministry? How subjects are they best at? Worst at? Do they believe Harry is the Heir of Slytherin? Even after second year? Do they think Harry cheated to get into the Triwizard, or do they believe him? What's their opinion of the DA? Were they helping prank Umbridge, or did they just stand on the sidelines? Who do they have crushes on? Who is their favorite teacher?
These characters are cardboard cutouts. My challenge to you is to make them whole, interesting, and worthwhile as characters. This is not a true challenge, because I'm not requiring that you write a fic. A bio works just fine. You could could write them into an existing fic of yours. You could also expand upon them in a oneshot. However it gets done is your choice. What matters is that it gets done.
Below, I will provide as much canon information as possible about them. This will include their full name (if possible), their house (if possible), and their blood status (if possible). Anything else is fair game. And do keep in mind that this is not meant to be canon compliant. We were merely starting from a canon starting point. If you want to make someone on this list one of Harry's best mates, a guy Hermione had a crush on, or some wealthy heir who just came into their own, then by all means do so.
This is my current list. Feel free to add to it if you run across names that I've missed. I am using the sortings to pull names. This initial post will focus on those students sorted in the same year as Harry. Later, this list will be added onto to include students sorted both before and after Harry's first year.
Students Sorted In the Same Year as Harry
Mandy Brocklehurst: Ravenclaw, halfblood
Morag MacDougal: Female, Ravenclaw, pureblood, may have been called Isabel MacDougal in Rowling's draft
Katherine MacDougal: Ravenclaw, pureblood, is sorted in the original draft, but was cut from the published book. Debatable as canon, likely twin sister to Morag/Isabel MacDougal
Isabel MacDougal: unknown, pureblood, exists in the original draft, but Morag MacDougal did not. May have been changed to Morag later, or may be yet another sister of Morag
Sally-Anne Perks: unknown, unknown, unknown.
Megan Jones: Hufflepuff, unknown, dorms with Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, and Leanne Moon
Leanne Moon: Hufflepuff, unknown, dorms with Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, and Megan Jones, is friends with Katie Bell
Wayne Hopkins: Hufflepuff, halfblood
Lisa Turpin: Ravenclaw, unknown
Eloise Midgeon: Gryffindor, unknown, has a known acne problem, Ron Weasley finds her unattractive
Kevin Entwhistle: Ravenclaw, muggleborn
Su Li: Ravenclaw, halfblood
Kellah: Gryffindor, unknown. Last name unknown. Shared a dorm with Hermione Granger, Lavander Brown, and Parvarti Patil. Black hair, black skin, pigtails. Was close to Seamus Finnigan, visited Harry in the hospital wing frequently, especially after the Dementor attack, boggart is either a rat, a rattlesnake, or an eyeball.
This list, and the lists that follow, may seem somewhat overwhelming. I do not intend them to be. I merely intend them to be as complete as possible. You do not have to work with all of these characters, or even most of them. Feel free to just 'adopt' one or two of them and run with them. Also feel free to reinterpret a character someone else is already working on. This is all in good fun, after all.
Therefore, I have what one might call a challenge of sorts. Let us make use of the so-called unsung. The forgotten characters that everyone seems to overlook. The idea behind this challenge is simple. You must take a character, preferably one that exists in canon, though an OC will do, and make them important. Not earth-shatteringly important, mind, but someone that matters in the plot.
If you are having trouble fleshing them out, then simply start asking yourself questions about them. Do they have a romantic interest? Are they someone who might become a new friend of Harry's? Could they become a political ally? Are they purebloods, halfbloods, or muggleborn? What do they think of Harry and his friends? Of Dumbledore? Voldemort? The Ministry? How subjects are they best at? Worst at? Do they believe Harry is the Heir of Slytherin? Even after second year? Do they think Harry cheated to get into the Triwizard, or do they believe him? What's their opinion of the DA? Were they helping prank Umbridge, or did they just stand on the sidelines? Who do they have crushes on? Who is their favorite teacher?
These characters are cardboard cutouts. My challenge to you is to make them whole, interesting, and worthwhile as characters. This is not a true challenge, because I'm not requiring that you write a fic. A bio works just fine. You could could write them into an existing fic of yours. You could also expand upon them in a oneshot. However it gets done is your choice. What matters is that it gets done.
Below, I will provide as much canon information as possible about them. This will include their full name (if possible), their house (if possible), and their blood status (if possible). Anything else is fair game. And do keep in mind that this is not meant to be canon compliant. We were merely starting from a canon starting point. If you want to make someone on this list one of Harry's best mates, a guy Hermione had a crush on, or some wealthy heir who just came into their own, then by all means do so.
This is my current list. Feel free to add to it if you run across names that I've missed. I am using the sortings to pull names. This initial post will focus on those students sorted in the same year as Harry. Later, this list will be added onto to include students sorted both before and after Harry's first year.
Students Sorted In the Same Year as Harry
Mandy Brocklehurst: Ravenclaw, halfblood
Morag MacDougal: Female, Ravenclaw, pureblood, may have been called Isabel MacDougal in Rowling's draft
Katherine MacDougal: Ravenclaw, pureblood, is sorted in the original draft, but was cut from the published book. Debatable as canon, likely twin sister to Morag/Isabel MacDougal
Isabel MacDougal: unknown, pureblood, exists in the original draft, but Morag MacDougal did not. May have been changed to Morag later, or may be yet another sister of Morag
Sally-Anne Perks: unknown, unknown, unknown.
Megan Jones: Hufflepuff, unknown, dorms with Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, and Leanne Moon
Leanne Moon: Hufflepuff, unknown, dorms with Hannah Abbot, Susan Bones, and Megan Jones, is friends with Katie Bell
Wayne Hopkins: Hufflepuff, halfblood
Lisa Turpin: Ravenclaw, unknown
Eloise Midgeon: Gryffindor, unknown, has a known acne problem, Ron Weasley finds her unattractive
Kevin Entwhistle: Ravenclaw, muggleborn
Su Li: Ravenclaw, halfblood
Kellah: Gryffindor, unknown. Last name unknown. Shared a dorm with Hermione Granger, Lavander Brown, and Parvarti Patil. Black hair, black skin, pigtails. Was close to Seamus Finnigan, visited Harry in the hospital wing frequently, especially after the Dementor attack, boggart is either a rat, a rattlesnake, or an eyeball.
This list, and the lists that follow, may seem somewhat overwhelming. I do not intend them to be. I merely intend them to be as complete as possible. You do not have to work with all of these characters, or even most of them. Feel free to just 'adopt' one or two of them and run with them. Also feel free to reinterpret a character someone else is already working on. This is all in good fun, after all.
