If Harry's Parents Didn't Die

[BubblesTheMonkey]

I love when Hermione and Harry visit Godric's Hollow because it makes me think about who Harry might have been if he grew up with his parents. Do you think Harry would be a completely different person if he didn't live with muggles but with his true parents instead?

[Line]

Uhh, that's a whole nature vs. nuture discussion...
Sorry, but I'm not touching that, people have a tendencie to get really passionate about such a subject...

[Kristen]

Yes, he would be a different person. But I don't think the issue is about whether he was raised by muggles or wizards. It's about the sort of home he had with either muggles or wizards.

Had his parents lived, he would have had plenty of love and probably siblings. There's a good chance he would have been more like James who was a good person but slightly arrogant and spoiled, since that's the sort of upbringing James had.
And if he'd had siblings, that changes the dynamic even more. You learn alot of things from growing up with brothers and/or sisters that you really don't get anywhere else.

As it was, Harry had food (although maybe not enough) and shelter growing up, and not much else.
And although it's sad to think of a kid growing up with so little love an affection, his rough and unfair childhood shaped a big part of his personality.
Because of it he was able to see that it's not okay to pick on someone just because you can. He learned early on that sometimes life is crappy and you just have to deal with it. And more than that, he was much better prepared to face Voldemort. Especially at the end when he had to be willing to sacrifice himself. I doubt he'd have done that if he didn't know what was at stake due to losing his parents.

Although, if you want to be technical, Harry wouldn't have needed to be who he was if his parents were alive. He wouldn't be "the chosen one".

[Kelly]

Kristen wrote: "Yes, he would be a different person. But I don't think the issue is about whether he was raised by muggles or wizards. It's about the sort of home he had with either muggles or wizards.

Had his p..."

Agreed. Well said.

[Emily]

But harry would still be raised in the time and fear of Voldermort! When he got on the Hogwarts express that first day- would he have noticed the scar on Neville's head and befriended him???? I'm thinking he would- and Neville would have been Sirius to his James!!! do you agree?

[Kristen]

You're assuming that things would have unfolded the exact same way with Neville and his parents as they did for Harry and his, and that's not really true.
If you introduce one person into a scenario who wasn't there in the first place, you change the entire scenario. And you're introducing three.
If the same things happened that led Voldemort to Harry that night and led him to Neville instead, his parents may not have had the chance to defend him. They might have had their wands on hand and fought him off. Neville might have gotten killed in the crossfire of a fight.
But I think the whole thing wouldn't have happened like that anyway. Wormtail would not be the secret keeper and would not have been able to betray them. They might have remained hidden successfully for a very long time, until someone could kill Voldemort.

But yeah, Harry would have been raised in a time when the world feared Voldemort probably.

[Elentarri]

If Harry's parents didn't die, there wouldn't be a whole series of 7 books.

[Matilda]

Line wrote: "Uhh, that's a whole nature vs. nuture discussion...
Sorry, but I'm not touching that, people have a tendencie to get really passionate about such a subject..."

Amen.

[Andreea]

Elentarri has a good point:)):))

[AgCl]

"if Harry's parents didn't die"

well that's a particularly bottomless cache of possibilities that can hurt a potterhead's brain.

[Bess]

I don't think he would've been so passionate about defeating Voldemort, this is assuming he wasn't a horcrux, because I think he was so intent on defeating Voldemort as vengeance for his parents. Plus I think having Harry live with the Dursleys made him a humble character (until the later books where he sort of goes on about being the chosen one). Also, the story would be completely different. It might've been Neville's parents who were killed instead and then the story would revolve around him.

[Leandra]

I think Harry would not be as strong, independent, quick on his feet, rash with no worries about his own fate if he grew up with parents.
He'd be well balanced, a bit arrogant, ignorant of life's hardships, and would actually have self preservation instincts...
Where's the fun in That? ^^

[Julia]

Harry would have had a little brother. Lily was pregnant when she died, and the child's godfather would have been Snape. I'm not kidding; J.K. Rowling said that herself sometime.

[Yutg]

If Harry's parents didn't die he would be Neville Longbottom.

[Willl]

Yutg wrote: "If Harry's parents didn't die he would be Neville Longbottom."

Almost would be:-) ya and Neville would have been the one!