Harry adopting past Harry isn't really a very well-used plot idea. I've read them, and almost all of them involed superharry traveling back in time. What a joke. And that one where Harry just traveled back when he was 15 (which was a decent twist), all of a sudden 15 year old Harry is acting completely like a confident parent (even if he's not sure what he's doing!).

 

Sorry for the what ifs but I just want to get all the opinions on all situations out.
Heres another, same situation as before, what if older Harry doesn't want that world to know he's Harry and the two meet?
Would it be bad then to have a different name, and have older Harry just think himself as Harry. Thus it would have to be the readers job to determine which Harry is being referred to.
I agree that the one who the story follows should be called Harry but what about in instances such as these. Do you as a reader find it difficult to differentiate the two.
Heres a stupid example, I'll use the name of Evan for older Harry since it has been used a million times, so no one should get offended.
Harry looked down disdainfully at his former self, so weak and pathetic.
"Th-thanks for saving me Mr. Evan, I really am pathetic at magic."
"Yes you really are" Harry said as he walked away.
Would a situation like that be confusing?

 

If it was well-done, I'd basically just ignore it and mentally replace every "name" with "Harry". Unfortunately, it's very rarely done well. It tends to be some vapid crap that goes along with his becoming a vampire or a wannabe-goth to suit the author. Or being adopted by the Malfoys and proceeding to fuck all three of them for some reason anyway. Or Severitus.

 

There are certain occassion where I think a name change is necessary, Primarily, Dark!Harry.

If he's going to go dark, I just don't think he'd stick with the name "Harry Potter." It just isn't awe inspiring.

Tom Riddle couldn't keep his dull name and be a dark lord. He had to shed that aspect of himself, that conection to his heritage.

Harry values the family he has never known, and thus he keeps the name. He is trying to bind himself closer to it.

However, if he went Dark, I don't think he could avoid rejecting his name. He needs to set it to the side, this allows him to surrender any attachments he had to those who once knew him.

 

Like pinkboa said, Harry Potter isn't fear inducing. So long as the new name is introduced slowly over time, instead of referring to him immediatly as his self-proclaimed name.

Also, I find myself accepting to most name changes, even ridiculous ones such as Asmodeus, so long as it isn't adopted or given to Harry by street children. Anything to do with the name Bolt and your story almost automatically loses all respect from anyone.

I personally find it confusing when there are more than one Harry Potter running around and they're both referred to by the same name. Putting a Mr or Sir infront of one of them makes it easier to tell the difference between them.

 

I agree with you for the most part, but I have to disagree with you about one thing- the name Harry Potter not being awe inspiring.

Picture this- You're a wizard or witch who has always seen Harry Potter as the bastion of all that's good in the wizarding world. One day you just wake up and see this headline- HARRY POTTER MURDERS MINISTER OF MAGIC.

The name Harry Potter itself is quite plain, but if combined with the image which people have come to associate Harry Potter with and if Harry did do something contradictory to that image, it is awe inspiring.

 

Has anyone thought of Harry keeping his name? By keeping, I mean his actual name, Harold. It would a shining example of the "hiding in plain view" concept. I think it would work particularly well in those Independent!Harry fics, with the way manipulative Dumbledore is portrayed. He would probably overanalyze and dismiss any Harold that turned up in reports as an obvious pretender.

 

There was a fic that used that actually. Harry had been adopted by muggles and moved to backwoods US under the name "Harold John Porter". He came to Hogwarts and didn't even know that he was Harry Potter. Near the end of year 1 is when he discovered the truth I think.

 

Where in canon does it state that Harry's first name is Harold? I think you're confusing Fanon with Canon.

 

Harry's name isn't Harold its Harry, I prefer Harold because it is more royal and less common but yeah his name is Harry. Harold is fanon Tom Riddle is Tom, not Thomas as a side note.

I suppose I'm thinking simplemindedly, but I keep coming back to time travel fics, where Harry doesn't adopt the other Harry, nor does he act as a parental figure in any way. Yet he also seeks to aid "that worlds" problem (i.e Voldemort). What do you do then without giving away that he's a time traveler? I'm not too concerned with his first name as Harry, Harold, and all the variations are common enough not to draw attention, but what about Potter? If you don't want him connected to the Potter family wouldn't a name change be necessary?

 

Amusingly enough, Anlun, in that situation he doesn't really need to have his name changed. His name could still be Harry James Potter, the only thing is, people wouldn't believe him. The younger Harry would be the only remaining member of the "Actual" Potter family, according to the other people; the older Harry would just be an Impersonator, in their opinions. And, considering his obvious age, they would think he's a pretty bad impersonator.

If he wants any actual credibility, on the other hand, changing his name wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

I posted a poll based on the opinions I've gathered so far.