Harry Potter Title-relevant plots

[nixofcyzerra]

So it occurred to me recently that a good portion of the Harry Potter books have misleading titles. Books 1-3 and 7 are fine IMO; the Philosopher's Stone/Chamber of Secrets/Prisoner of Azkaban was a Macguffin/Location/Person highly related if not central to the plot, and a Hallow is a holy or sacred item, and the wand, stone and cloak were central to the plot of book 7.

But books 4-6 are a different story (no pun intended.) The Goblet of Fire was peripheral to the plot, and only served as a plot device to get Harry into the Triwizard Tournament. Members of the order appear briefly at the start and end of OoTP (and are far less impressive than their name suggests,) but otherwise don't really show up much, and don't really progress the plot in any way, and I'm half-way convinced that JK only called book 6 "Half-Blood Prince" because she couldn't think of anything better.

So my questions are these: If you could rename any of the series (still following the "Harry Potter and the..." format,) what names would you choose?, and if you had to come up with a plot or plots relevant to the titles of the books, what would it or they be?

 

[Tom Haskworth]

Well, I always thought Half Blood Prince was the odd one out title-wise because you could completely rip out any reference to the Prince and not change much. Harry could get Liquid Luck a dozen other ways. The only story-relevance is really because it's where Snape finally (apparently) reveals his 'true' nature. But really, the story is about getting into Hogwarts to assassinate Dumbledore.

And that's the problem. GoF and OoP are both about trapping Harry both to dispose of him but also for another purpose (resurrecting Voldemort and getting the Prophecy.) So if the three had titles relevant to the main plot then they'd be massive spoilers unless carefully worded

Personally, I like the original titles. So, should your question really be if you HAD to rename the three according to the main story plot then what would they be? Let's see:

GoF could be Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament which is more central to events but still only part of the plot. Possibly Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Triwizard Tournament is closer. 'Purpose' instead of 'Mystery' is closer still but doesn't make a good title, but something like that maybe. Perhaps 'Completion', 'Conclusion', 'Success', or 'Fulfilment'? Clumsy titles but they fit the purpose better. Harry Potter and the Fulfilment of the Triwizard Tournament. I think I'll stick with Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Triwizard Tournament.

OoP would be Harry Potter and the Secret of the Prophecy. That is a slight spoiler so it could be Harry Potter and the Secret of the Future.

HBP might be Harry Potter and the Fateful Plot.

 

[Shirotsume]

HBP would be replaced with Harry Potter and the Half-Baked Plot.

 

[nixofcyzerra]

Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament, and Harry Potter and the Department of Mysteries both sound pretty good to me.

What plot would you come up with for "Goblet of Fire?" I probably would have made the GoF a far more powerful magical artefact, on par with the Philosopher's stone. Maybe have it so if a Phoenix goes through its rebirth while in proximity to it, the Goblet can siphon off and store a portion of the magical flames. Then have Voldemort capture a Phoenix of his own and torture it into insanity, and then use the Goblet, "Dark Phoenix" flames and a cocktail of Harry's and a Unicorn's blood to resurrect himself.

Maybe have the Goblet be a Horcrux instead of Helga Hufflepuff's Cup.

 

[gojiita]

If I recall correctly, the original title was Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament. I remember seeing that name on early reservation lists before publication and it was changed to the Goblet of Fire.

 

[point09micron_process]

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Don't Read This
Book 6: Harry Potter and the Don't Read This Either
Book 7: Harry Potter and the Why Are You Still Reading These?
Book 8: Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find More Money

 

[ghudson]

I always felt the titles were perfect for the books except the order of the phoenix. Its just that they were anyway fighting against voldemort. With or without the order.