Maybe she prefers the big hairy mole and messed-up teeth prostheses she has to don for the McPhee movies over the coke-bottle glasses she has to wear for Potter, and I'll grant you, if memory serves from the last time I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, she would only have a fairly small part. (Surely the production of McPhee could work around her light Potter schedule, right?) And okay, it's pretty much a super-small part, but still pretty fun: She helps out in the Battle for Hogwarts! I was really looking forward to her crushing the skulls of Death Eaters with her crystal balls. (Heh, crystal balls.) And it's not just any minor re-writes or breaks from mythology, or (ick) re-casting they will have to do in her absence, it's the fact that with the exception of the unfortunate passing of Richard Harris, after which they had to re-cast Dumbledore, these movies have managed to hold onto nearly actor in an even remotely recognizable role for all of their eight movies. Considering how many children are involved, and how many big-name actors who have accepted very minor roles for their considerable talents, that's quite something.

And it's not as if Thompson, who joined the cast for the third movie, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban didn't know what she was getting into. Anyone with a pulse and access to multimedia knew these movies were going to do well and get made. Having every actor back time and time again was one of the many things that I admired about the franchises' production and gave a real charming authenticity to the world of Wizards and Muggles. So, while I still like you, I must say, not cool, Emma. Not cool at all. Send the publicity outlets a Patronus and let them know you're reconsidering. Please?

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