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allwildgirl

allwildgirl

Cathlete
Okay, so J.K. Rowling just mentioned in an interview that two fairly pivotal characters are killed off in the last instalment. Who's it going to be? Could it possibly be either Ron or Hermione? Or Harry himself? The prophecy does say something about one not surviving without the other. So if Voldemort is killed off, does it make sense that Harry would have to go too?

Does anyone have any theories? And is Dumbledore really gone? I can't believe that. I have to believe that he comes back, in some way, shape or form. The alternative just doesn't bear thinking about.
 
I think Harry and Voldemort. JK Rowling made an interesting remark about authors killing off primary characters to avoid non-author "sequels." She also said the last chapter of the 7th book was written long ago, which I find fascinating!

Also, like you said, there's the prophecy. :)

It's too sad to even think about, though. My kids will be so upset!

Marie
 
I read that too. The thing is, it's a world of magic. So just because he's killed off doesn't preclude someone from bringing him back. Right?

I wept copiously for the final two chapters of Half-Blood Prince. Then I read it with Sophie and we both cried.
 
I think the prophecy has something to do with Neville, and I think Neville will die. I think Dumbledore will come back in a portrait. Other than that, I just don't know.

I would really hate to see her kill Harry, Ron, or Hermione. I don't think that has to be done for the integrity of the story, as she seems to claim. I think she is just trying to make a point. I, for one, will be very sad if she kills off any of the main 3.
 
I hated that Dumbledore died. I'd also hate if Harry, Ron or Hermione died. They are kids books, ultimately, and by gum, there should be a happy ending.
 
Ooooooooooooh, I never thought of the Neville angle! That's an interesting theory.

And yes, I agree. I'd be very upset if she killed off one of the main three. As would everyone else in the world.

I also hated that Dumbledore died.

And what about the Snape thing? What's up with that? Why did Dumbledore trust him so implicitly? Was it really Snape? Was Polyjuice potion involved?

So many questions!
 
This is so funny. I thought I was the only adult who was really surprised by the Snape angle. I mean, there had to be a reason that Dumbledore trusted him so much, right? Maybe it wasn't really DD but a body double!

I don't know, though, she seems to have no problem killing off characters - consider the last few books. And also the premise of Harry's parents being killed off in the beginning. Thus, I will not be at all surprised if she kills off Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but I will be very, very sad! I sobbed through the last book, too.

:)

Marie
 
I cried through at least the last half of the 6th book. And kept crying. Because Harry is growing up and it's been so hard and he's done so well. Because Dumbledore was a wonderful man, and Harry needed him for his wisdom and knowledge and goodness. Because of where Harry came from. Because this story will be over someday. Cried and cried. And cried some more.

DH wanted to talk theories with me, but I had to ask him to stop. I just want to wait and see what happens. And then I had to cry a few more tears, of course.:p
 
I didn't hear the entire interview with Rowling, but the part I did hear seemed to be saying that she understood WHY someone would kill off the main character, but she did not hint that she would. I think I would be truly disappointed if Harry does die. It's a good vs evil book and the good is ALWAYS supposed to prevail. Harry embodies the good. I think the Neville angle would be interesting... Neville and Voldmorte. And Neville would die a hero and avenge his parent's death. He would also fulfill the prophecy... Hmmm.
 
I don't think the books would stand as a successful series if Harry dies. I mean, I wouldn't encourage a young person to read the series knowing that the end is such a heartbreaker. I think it is going to be Ron, important to the series but ultimately expendable for the series' integrity. Maybe Harry will even be partly responsible for Ron's death, so he doesn't get out of this scott free and shiny clean. Maybe Harry, Hermonine and Neville team up at the end, who knows?

Dumbledore is gone, I think. I like the fact that Rowling believes that evil on this level can affect the main characters of the story. Although you know it as fiction, you create more emotion for the characters knowing that they are as fallible as you or I.
 
I don't think killing off Harry affects the integrity of the series in any way. It would just be so darn sad!!

We are just too used to a steady diet of Hollywood-tainted "happy" endings, I think. If you watch some of the really great old movies, they rarely ended with the characters riding off into the sunset. Great authors like Hemingway stayed true to reality, as well. So there's something to be said for ending the series with some kind of logical conclusion.

I think the Neville angle is interesting, but she did say two PRIMARY characters. I don't think he qualifies.

Marie
 
Ok let me throw you all a curve. I also think Snape is really a good guy, and I don't know if Dumbledore is dead (though visit www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com for some interesting thoughts). But my DH thinks that Professor McGonagall is really the bad one here - the LAST one you'd ever expect.

Lorrie

"Pain is temporary - quitting lasts forever"
Candace Grasso, CC-V-6
 
Well, let's list who is a primary character -
Harry , of course
Ron
Hermione
Voldemort
Hagrid
McGonagall
Snape
Lupin
Ginny !!! OMG - I just thought of her as I was typing this. It could be Ginny - she's certainly primary enough and it would be just awful for Harry to lose her at this point.

Unfortunately, I do think the other primary character will be either Ron or Hermione. Don't know why so much as a feeling I have.

I read something she wrote after book five where she said she cried and cried when Sirius died. Her husband told her to just "don't kill him off" and she said somethng like "but that's how the story has to go, I just didn't know it until I wrote it". From that older piece and this new interview - I'm thinking she didn't realize these two characters would die until she wrote it. Since book seven isn't finished yet, I'd say it's not Harry - afterall the hero can't die until the very end, if he has to die at all. (not saying he wont' die, just that he isn't one of the characters she is referring to in the interview).

And who here really thinks Voldemort WON'T die? I mean, seriously, he HAS TO.
 
*taps impatiently on her desk* I wish JK would finish the darned book and put all of this speculation to an end. Of COURSE I'm going to preorder it for pick up so I have it the first day and can read it before I read any news about it.

Now Professor McGonagall is an interesting angle. Not one that ever occurred to me. There are things that don't fit (like she was there when Harry was delivered to the Dursley's as a baby and has saved Harry's butt more than once), but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.
 
I think Draco Malfoy might be one of the characters to die. He was working for Voldemort in Half Blood Prince and if he fails in whatever task Voldemort has given him, he may be killed. I'm also trying to remember the promise Snape made to Draco's mother to protect or something like that? Maybe Draco and Snape die. Hmmm. . . I'll have to go back and read the book before the next one comes out.

I also heard Rowling say in the interview that she wasn't tempted to kill off Harry until the final book which doesn't say one way or other if he will die but is still interesting.

I'm optimistic that Dumbledore is still alive somehow and would really hate it if Hermione died. I wept too when I read about Dumbledore's death.

Sue
 
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