Will the Boy who Lived become the Boy who Died?
In a few short days, the final installment of the beloved Harry Potter series will be released. What will a world of fantasy fans do after all the years of waiting? After the brief fury of reading that final book?
Will they lament the loss of the world’s best-known boy wizard?
I am not one to be pessimistic. In many cases, I lean toward optimism. But re-reading The Half Blood Prince, I wonder.
Just for fun, and because everyone else is doing it, I’d like to speculate. To think about the darker possibilities for Harry Potter. Care to join me?
Seems like Harry is in quite a fix. Dumbledore is dead. Snape seems to have killed him.
Was it all a ruse?
If not, Harry is faced with not only the Dark Lord, but a wizard who’s studied his weaknesses since age 11. Who treated him like a toy at the end of “Half Blood Prince.” Who has every reason to hate him for his father’s mistreatment. If Snape is a bad guy, what chance does Harry really have?
Then we have Lord Voldemort whose life is linked with Harry’s. Is it even possible for Harry to live while Voldemort does not? If it ends up becoming a deathmatch, will both Harry and Voldemort die even if Harry somehow gains the upper hand?
Rowling has shown us she will kill off important and lovable characters. Cedric. Sirius. Dumbledore. But would she go so far as to kill off Harry Potter? Will “The Boy Who Lived” become “The Boy Who Died?”
The clock is ticking. We will know very soon…
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Most people I’ve talked to seem to think that for Voldermort to die, Harry has to die. I really don’t care that much one way or the other. I’m more than happy to just wait and see.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I LIKE Harry and I do care. I really hope he doesn’t. But things do seem very grim…
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:54 pm
I do not think she should kill him off. Not because I love Harry Potter but because he has grown in so the hearts of millions and to kill him…that would just be barbaric; a perfect example would be just to go up to so someone’s best friend and just kill him, for whatever reasons you have.
She may find the need to end his life, she may not, but if she does…if she published that book knowing damn well that she would be killing off the best friend of millions…I hope she knows the price.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Since you replied quiet quickly, would you I be able to have a personal conversation with you? I have a few questions about the whole process you seem to have worked through.
Thanks.
July 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Hmm… I’m curious to see what will happen. I’ll stay home and read this book all day when it is released.
-White Ninja Pirate
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:00 pm
I, personally think that Snape, Voldemort, and Hagrid may die. Why? Because, being an optomist myself, I hope she puts a positive and ‘happy’ ending to the book. But, a thought has crossed my mind. How happy will Harry really be after he has killed voldy? If my theroy is right, Hagrid, his first friend, Dumbledore, his most loved and trusted advisor, and Sirius, his only link to his parents and his broken past, have all died. What happiness is left? He has witnessed death and has caused it himself, that would shatter any normal teenage boy…but, as we know, Harry is not normal. I am not sure but, I think J.K. will put him out of his missery.
{For thoose people reading this and wanting to kill me, I do realize that he will still have Ron, Hermione, the Weasley’s, and of course Ginny, but, think of it. He has suffered so much loss, how will he ever maintain a sense of security?}
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
i think it all depends on how the author feels about her fame and wealth. If she is tired of the fame and content to live off her money, she might kill Harry to ensure that she can drift into a life of wealth and reclusiveness. On the other hand, if she loves the fame she has earned as much as she loves the money, or if she loves the characters she has created enough to think she might want to revisit them later, she will keep him alive just in case she wants to revisit hogwarts with more novels.
Not to compare too closely two completely separate mediums or series, but I can’t help but relate the final Potter to the final episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Like Rowling, Whedon had no choice but to kill of some characters to maintain a sense of reality/seriousness. If all the ‘good guys’ survive armageddon, it isn’t really armageddon after all.
Also, both works include twists and turns that blur the line about who is or who isn’t a ‘good guy’.
I hope Rowling does it the way Whedon did, killing the good guy characters, such as Dumbledore in V_6. that most realistically could be resurrected, while leaving the primary triupharate alive to mourn the losses.
Having just posted this note, it occurs to me that similarites between these franchises are almost too eerie.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Isnt there always the possibility that good will always win out over evil? Yet some feel that there is always the price to pay with that and maybe her feeling is good will when even if it takes Harry’s death to do that? I do think this book will be awesome and cant wait to finally read it even if this means no more books I think it has been an awesome journey for everyone and for the author as well.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
well according to Puertorican news they said Harry was gonna die and with him either Ginny or Hermione would also die…But i refuse to believe it not only because I like Harry but it would be an awful ending and Ill really believe my money was wasted on this series
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:07 pm
To Tarek –
How about a make you a counter offer? I promise to post another blog on my journey becoming a writer tomorrow. If you like, I’ll answer your questions then. Is that fair enough?
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:08 pm
I hope Harry doesn’t die and I care if he does or doesn’t, but if it happens, it happens.
If Harry does manage to kill Voldemort, he either will die in connection to the Dark Lord or be killed by Snape. Afterall, Snape is much more powerful than Harry, so if Harry doesn’t die from the battle sure to ensue with Voldemort, than will Snape finish him off?
We’ll just have to wait and see won’t we?
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
NOOOOOO! Harry can’t die. Too bad it’s all too true. There is hardly any hope. I do think she will kill him too since she did say she’d end it so no one else could continue where she left off. If he does at least I know Voldemort HAS to die with him. She would not kill off Harry if she didn’t kill Voldemort also. Not too long till the books out. I am so afraid of who will die in the end…Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny…too many good people could die. Voldemort, Lucius, Bellatrix…hopefully is all I can say. I hope the book will be good…We all know it will be. It still scares me though to think that Harry may die. We already lost Dumbledore and Sirius…can she really take Harry too? Too many questions. Soon to be answered.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
if rowling kills off Harry then that’s the end of it and she will lose a lot of fans, someone will die but i wonder if this will really be the last book, since Harry apparently isnt finishing his 7th year. He still needs to find and destroy the other horecruxes, locate RAB (Sirius’s brother???), and then learn Occlumency to prevent the Dark Lord from reading his mind as he and Snape have done so many times before
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Wow. I am afraid he will die. I really don’t want him to, though. I feel like, as a character, he’s had such a very little time in life to actually be happy. He’s this great hero who doesn’t really get to be selfish, even in the most selfish of developmental stages. I really keep my fingers crossed that he’s able to overcome the great evil, but I fear that it is intertwined with his being and when it goes, so too does he.
BTW, I think ALBUS Dumbledore is not dead. I think it was ABERFORTH who fell from the tower.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I believe that he will not die. But I rather wait and see instead of wondering if it happens. I’ll just sit back, relax and enjoy the book.:)
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:40 pm
well, it would be a good idea, adding some more tragic sadness to this already sad tale…what i’m saying is that it would turn into a beautiful story whether she killed him or not.
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Tallichair–
JK has repeatedly said that yes Dumbledore is dead…and just for the record i hope harry doesnt die but i think he will.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:04 pm
I am not sure what to believe and not sure what to think. I wait with much anticipation for the last installment, and what happens happens as long as I get some closure.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Very interesting thoughts, Rob. I honestly hope that we do not lose our beloved Harry Potter at the end of this month. The losses of Cedric, Sirius, & Dumbledore werehard enough on fans of the series. I really don’t think we could take losing Harry too. :-/
… Not to mention the droves of “Harry Potter’s not dead” theories that would flood the internet if he were to be killed. People still don’t believe that Dumbledore is dead even after JKR confirmed it, why would they accept Harry’s death?
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Plain and simple, I think Harry will die. True, it would be hard thing for the public to accept, but considering his ties with Voldermort and Harry himself having that special talent for throwing himself into heroic disaster, it seems more likely than anything else. But then again, who knows. Rowling could be throwing us a curve ball that we never saw coming. I’m most impatient for this book to be released. I agree with the huntress of avalon though, in that some closure would be greatly appreciated. It’s been a long few years.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:31 pm
voldemort* and I give also give kudos to tallichair. I never considered Aberforth
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:33 pm
My personal theory is that Harry is the final horcrux. In the instant that that spell backfired Voldy bonded himself to him. What better way to insure you will never die than to bond your lifeforce to your greatest enemy. Harry will kill himself to destroy Voldemort. “The Boy who Died” is a great name for a final chapter.
Of course a chapter name like that just screams for Ron to die instead to throw a twist in.
My theory is Harry and Hagrid though.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Nice read Sir. I am a writer myself, only published online so far, but I know that your characters tend to take off and write themselves when they’ve been around awhile. No one is completely 100% good or 100% evil, especially if they are a complex character, as J K’s folks are. Some may seem completely one way or the other, but you just never know. I, too, anxiously await the newest book and if Harry, or any of the characters I have come to know and love die, then I will weep and mourn them as I have in the past 2 books. I will also understand that there was a reason, whether I know it or not, that they had to leave us. I am also interested in what else Harry’s lovely {heavy sarcasm there} Aunt knows about the wizardly part of Harry. That had me curious after the last book. I think it’s kind of amusing as that was a subtle {to me} plot point that has gotten pushed aside in the arguments and debate about Harry and Co.’s future. I am really looking forward to reading the final chapter.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Ya know, I would love to see like a Half-Good/Half-Bad guy, who is like a Master of the Dark Arts, but at the same time, Master of the Holy arts… so like, he kills at one moment, then the next helps Harry… I dont know, just my imagination.
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Of course Harry won’t die, because one of the other heroic people(say Ron or someone else who shows up) will save him at the last minute. They will die, I believe it will be a weasley personally, and Harry will be saved one last time. JKR knows the way to write a good book and before Ron dies he and Hermione will realise their love for each other too.
Or so I think
July 2nd, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I think harry will win and at the end he’ll be standing outside the school with all his friends standing beside him but one of the good guys has to die so i bet…. well i don’t know but it’ll be good can’t wait
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:07 pm
On wether Harry will die or not depends on wether or not J.K. wants to make more books. Personally I hope not I think it will be either Hagrid, Ron or, Herminone. J.K. will want someone who will impact his life and those are the ones that impact his life the most. On wether or not snape is evil I have no idea only time will tell on that one.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 pm
– Robert
Sounds like a plan. I’m guessing you aren’t big on 1 v 1 conversations?
I haven’t read your book BTW so I don’t know what kind of an author I will find you as. You seem smart though and that is the first step to being a good author.
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:52 pm
So, i’m still in belief, that harry potter is a horcrux. Voldemort knew that if harry did kill him, then he would be able to take his soul back from harry killing him(if he made harry a horcrux). I also believe that the true person to stop voldemort will be snape. ‘The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches’. Said as Snape was appoaching. I believe snape to be the truly underestimated character Still, in these books. I believe him to be the most powerful, the most cunning, and desires the most glory. But then ofcourse, J.K. Rowling will be soft most likely for the little kids…
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:08 am
TO MIYU-
That was my other thought as well….that Ginny may die instead of Hagrid…you never know. But, I like how you wont know until the end and when you do know, you convince yourself that you knew it all along. haha love it!
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:12 am
through a window opened by harry’s parents, harry will recall his fathers last words. i think harry will strip volt of all remainding powers, and by the grace harry has shone, he’ll forgive and let volt live on. although volt will make a stupid last ditch effort thertining mafoys dad and entering young malfoy’s body. harry will save young malfoy and volt will be cast into limbo and suffer in the dungeons of self gloom without the posibility of redemtion. we’ll see the guarded gates of the unknown and behind them will be volt.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 am
i think that she wont kill off Harry for one simple reason…he has a LOVE that voldemort doesnt have. you know the prophecy says that he will show powers the dark lord kknows not…hello that love that he has in his heart will keep him alive…and the fact that he has a life debt owed to him by Peter Pettigrew she has to keep Harry alive so Pettigrew can fullfill it..bc if he doesnt then thats kinda dumb…remember Dumbledore told harry in POA that ” He will very glad one day that he saved Peter’s life” so mb in the mist of the fight Pettigrew will sacrifice himself in order to keep harry alive so he can kill voldemort..end of story…ta da the end… if anyone wants to discuss this with me just message me…im a HUGE harry potter fan and this is what i live for is discussion and theory…
–Shaye–
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:17 am
the theory in my house is that Harry will die, because he is one of the horcruxes. There is more to it but I don’t remember it all.
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:39 am
In the words of the most famous wizard in our world and theirs,(Albus Dumbledore), there are things worse than death. I for one feel that Harry is going to kill Voldemort and in doing so remove his scar AND his powers. He will become a muggle. To Harry and the rest of the world that is worse than death. But, I also think that someone will alter his memory so he forgets everything.
I’d personally rather see him die a heroic death.
Cat
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:09 am
Here are my Book 7 Predictions.
First of all, I haven’t read Deathly Hallows yet, so any knowledge that I have has simply been from channeling J.K. Rowling. As far as I know that isn’t illegal. But I may get into some hot legal water for too accurately predicting Book 7 prior to its release. So let me warn you in advance, the following contains Big Spoilers with a capital BS! Also, I apologize that this post is long, but people have written books about this stuff, and it isn’t THAT long.
Will Hogwarts reopen?
Of course it will! Institutions of this kind don’t die tragically like people. As long as there are people interested in keeping them alive, they continue to go on like roaches after an atomic detonation. Heck, the founders have all moved on already, surely some of them passed away and have become portraits inside Dumbledore’s office. So of course the school is going to reopen, the Board of Ed just has to elect a new headmaster, in this case, a headmistress. Minerva Mc. is the obvious choice for the job. I just hope her blood pressure meds will be enough. BTW, she hires Fabulous Butterpants (a new character) to be the DADA teacher.
Who ends up with whom?
Can we all finally accept that Ron and Hermione are meant for each other, and leave them out of all other potential relationships? I mean how many hints do you need? Book 7 they declare their love for each other.
Harry and Ginny fans? Harry’s got work to do defending the world from the evil that is Voldemort. He doesn’t have time for a relationship, nor does he want to endanger Ginny. But in this day and age are women supposed to sit around and knit sweaters while their hero faces the fight of their lives? Last I checked, this is the twenty first century we’re talking about, so no way! Ginny comes to Harry’s aid at the crucial moment, brutally and caveman-like wielding a big stick and saves Harry’s life in the final battle. Then she drags him home by his hair.
However, the most surprise relationship turns out to be Molly Weasley and Tom Riddle, you got it Lord Voldey himself. She’s always had a huge crush on him, but Tom’s just been a little too preoccupied with evil sorcery, prophecies, and llamas to take much notice. When he disappeared from her life years ago, she settled for Arthur Weasley and together they raised a slew of kids. So many she’s lost count. But now that Tom’s back, she’s been scrapbooking all the articles in the Daily Prophet that mention his name and she’s become president of the Death Eater’s Fan Club. Of course, Arthur’s not going to stand for that. They fight horribly, and she sends him packing, freeing her to pursue her true love, Tom. It turns out, she’s just what Tom needs, someone to love.
Who else? I simply can’t address all the couples, so I’ll just list them and let you work it out for yourselves. Draco and Cho, Dolores and Bane the Centaur, Hagrid and Madame Maxime (she returns with the giants for the final battle), Rita Skeeter and Neville, Luna and Lupin, Peter and Crookshanks, Leonard Nemoy and William Shatner, Sirius and Tonks, Viktor Krum and Lavender Brown, Ren and Stimpy, Snape and Madame Pomfrey (He’s injured in the final battle, she nurses him back to health), and finally Belletrix and Arthur Cheesley (Hey, he’s got a good job and he’s single now, right?).
Who will live, who will die?
“Don’t expect Dumbledore to pull a Gandalf?” Sorry but Jo is really blowing smoke when she said that “Dumbledore is dead, truly, as in the no longer breathing kind of way. I’m not lying.” Really good news here for Dumbledore fans is that he’s faked his own death, ala Elvis Presley. After all, was there a body lying on the floor? No. What happened was, he got tired of trying to run a school with all the drama going on. So, he’s retired to Orlando, Florida and has worked up a killer tan. He couldn’t just retire in the normal, here’s a gold watch, kind of way. Do you think Harry would leave him alone? Not for a minute!
And on a more sirius note, Sirius isn’t dead either. Once again, do the body check. Nope, no corpse on the floor. Sirius returns in book 7, and his true name is revealed, Reginald Aloysius Black, or R.A.B. for short. He goes by the name Sirius because no one would take him serious by his real name. Sirius was of course afraid to use his name, real or assumed, on the note in the cave, so he used his initials instead. Sirius turns over Slytherin’s locket in Chapter 1, when he returns.
So now that the dead are living, who’s going to bite the big one? That’s the question everyone wants to know. First of all Harry, some say JK would be mad to kill off the cash cow, but don’t be silly. How much money does she need? She would never sacrifice artistic integrity for money at this point in her illustrious career. (Now, I have been known to be sarcastic on occasion. And so, sometimes the written word just doesn’t convey when you are being honest and forthright. Let me assure you that I mean this and I am not being sarcastic.) But is Harry the Sherlock Holmes type? Sacrificing his life to take Moriarty/Voldemort down? Hardly! First of all, what makes you think Harry would ever be so unselfish? He is definitely not there yet, and would have to do an awful lot of growing up before he gets there. (More than fictionally swallowable.) Hey, don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, he’s just not tragic hero material. So as stated above, Ginny rescues him, and he lives.
Now if I can be serious for a moment in respect for those who are among Jo’s immortally challenged, that is, you know, buying a pine condo, becoming toast, basting the formaldehyde turkey, going into the fertilizer business, donating the liver paté, buying the farm,–dead. Unfortunately, Ron is the tragic death of Book 7. Ron must die because he’s Harry’s best friend. How else will Harry ever learn that he isn’t invincible? This is the tragedy that makes good writing. Hermione and he discover true love only to have death intercede. (BTW, he’s run over by the Ford Anglia in the final battle.)
Is Snape good or evil?
Well both of course, I mean aren’t we all a mixture? But when it comes down to taking sides in the final battle, Snape will be among the good ones. Dumbledore doesn’t trust evil people and is too smart to be fooled by Snape.
Where are the Horcruxes? Harry will be attempting to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining two Horcruxes. Now if you were an evil wizard, where might you stash a piece of your soul? Well, it’s not quite that simple and easy. However, once you understand the answer, it makes perfect sense. The tasks of finding Godric Gryffindor’s and Rowena Ravenclaw’s artifacts turn out to be not so difficult. They are found in the third chapter of Book 7. Riddle used Godric’s left slipper and Rowena’s pet raven’s squeek toy.
But not so fast! When Riddle long ago asked Slughorn his opinion, he mentioned six horcruxes, but in doing so, he hid the fact that he really intended to use eight! So even though the six horcruxes are all located and destroyed in Chapter 1, there are still two unknown to anyone! How diabolical of him not to leave any clues whatsoever! It’s as though he wasn’t trying to make it traceable for his enemies!
So what are the final two Horcruxes? Why, one is Dobby the Elf, who turns himself in. While he used to serve the Maldoy Family, he was turned into a living horcrux. This makes perfect sense as elves are difficult to kill as they can apperate at will, and their life span is off the charts! These little buggers live for thousands of years, so they make excellent storage receptacles for bits of your standard evil wizard’s soul. Dobby is instantly killed by the Order of the Phoenix. (JK Rowling apologizes in advance to Dobby fans everywhere.)
Finally, young Tom Riddle put another portion of his soul into his family’s old automobile, a Ford Anglia! Yes, the same indestructible Ford Anglia that Harry and Ron took to school and crashed into the Whumping Willow! Unfortunately, the car is invulnerable. (I particularly can’t wait for this part in the seventh film when the car is driving through the Forbidden Forest while being bombarded by lightning bolts and fireballs, and everything else in the Order’s arsenal, but remains unscathed.)
However, when all hope seems lost, when it seems Voldemort has won, his eyes meet the eyes of Molly Cheesley and they fall deeply in love. Voldemort turns over a new leaf and works the remainder of his life to make up for his misunderstood life and a few misdeeds.
Finally, there’s more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye, and we’ll find out what’s unique about her in Book 7. We already know she’s not a squib. JKR has said, “There is a character who does manage, in desperate circumstances, to do magic quite late in life, but that is very rare.” Well, when Dudley tracks mud onto her living room floor, the pent up aggression explodes. She uses one of the “unforgettable curses” on her own son, the Keeanu Reeves curse! He instantly is wracked with pains, rolling on the floor, as though forced to actually watch a Keeanu Reeves performance. Of course, he will have nightmares the rest of his life.
Thanks for reading, and please be kind enough to warn others you share this with, that these are Big Spoilers.
P.S. JKR has changed the last word. Once expected to be “scar,” it is now, “sandwich.”
Thanks,
tim
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:48 am
In order to destroy Voldy, Harry has to first destroy all the Horcruxes, does he not???? Well at the risk of answering the question in a “Sopranos” style unsatisfying conclusion, I’m going to give my opinion on the ending of Harry Potter… in three simple words.
But first remember that Harry’s mother saved him by giving up her own life right? And by trying to kill him, Voldy passed some of his power (unintentionally) On to Harry… all of this leads me to my simple 3 word conclusion that I think MIGHT be how JK Rowling sums up the saga…
Harry The Horcrux….
Take that however you wish…..
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:09 am
Edward has a point what if harry has to die to kill voldemort because he is the last horcrux.
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:28 am
I’m kinda sure that both Harry and Voldemort will die,since Harry Potter is not a “Happy ending story” you know?Those kind that ends with: “And they lived happily ever after!”.
But ofcourse Rowling has a awesome talent to surprise her fans!Anyhow…Time will show us.
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
Harry will live and destroy Voldemort with Snape’s help. I believe Snape will die in the process of helping Harry. Dumbledore is dead, but Snape didn’t kill him. There was more at work there than we know. I think Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to do what he knew he must (I’m not sure if it was because of the potion he drank in the cave or for some other reason…some have speculated that it was Dumbledore posing as Snape who made the Unbreakable Vow and if you read that part closely, Snape doesn’t sound very Snape-like. He is almost polite to the sisters.)
I think out of all the characters and their motivations, Snape and Dumbledore’s connection is the one that we will learn the most about in the final book.
July 3rd, 2007 at 11:56 am
I am completely convinced that Harry is going to die. JKR said that she would not write more harry potter books than these 7; ergo, harry must die. My own personal opinion is that harry or his scar is the last hoarcrux. Also, I would have to say that the RB character mentioned in the prophecy or whatever it is… is totally Regulus Black. Though he is supposedly dead, no one is really sure. That is my two cents. enjoy.
July 3rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
To add to that, look at it from a business point of view. Should Harry live, the popularity of the series would force the poor character to another round of trials in a sequel or, perhaps even, a sequel series. But that would kill the original series and I don’t think JK Rowling would agree. And if she doesn’t, look at Gone With the Wind. The famous book had a sequel written by an imposter that was just as popular or more for its happy ending. All people have to do is wait for the age when the copyright dies, or bug the author until she gives. Harry probably has an obligation to die.
But, to tell the truth, I believe Dumbledore will come back. I mean, look at all the other guardian characters in other fantasy novels. He’s too complicated a character to let go of.
Plus, I believe Snape still has some good in him. People condemn the character too readily because of Harry’s views of him. True, he killed Dumbledore - but simply because he holds a lot of hate does not mean that he is all evil.
We’ll have to see.
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:21 pm
There are three things I’ve been eagerly anticipating this month: the birth of my third child, Harry Potter Year Seven, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix!
As far as Deathly Hallows, and whether or not Harry lives or dies, here’s my take on the whole thing: what happens, happens. There’s nothing any of us can do to change it; endlessly debating and speculating, in the meantime, almost takes some of the thrill out of it! I, personally, can’t wait, either way. Yes, I’ll be disappointed a little, and heartbroken a lot, if Harry were to die. I nearly couldn’t finish Book 6, since it was so hard to read through my tears! (I’ve never cried over a book before; movies, songs, tv, but never books!) That won’t change my being a fan of the series. I’m still planning on, after I finish Book 7, buying a complete hardcover set (mine are half and half, so far, with the first four being paperback; that’s the point where I got totally and completely hooked, and didn’t want to wait past the first day to buy them, so the others are hardcover!)
My predictions aren’t nearly as well thought out as some of those I’ve just read, but that’s just because I haven’t put nearly as much thought into it; I’ve just been anticipating a very good read, with some very good characters who’ve become friends, as good books will. I don’t know whether or not to believe Dumbledore may actually be dead; I’d love to believe he isn’t, that it was all a hoax, and he’ll return to save Harry one last time, as he always has before. But, every hero needs to learn to stand on his own two feet, too; if Dumbledore rescues him every time he gets into the slightlest bit of trouble, he’ll never learn to take care of himself.
With regards to Snape, it’s been easy to see him in a dark light. He’s a former Death Eater. He’s turned traitor not once, but twice (and I’m not even talking about his attack on Dumbledore; he betrayed the community as a whole to side with Voldemort, then turned his back on him to come over to the original Order of the Phoenix). He’s greasy, ill-tempered, and is constantly lurking, trying to get Harry into trouble or catch him in it. His treatment of the Gryffindors, of Harry in particular, of Lupin, and later of Sirius are nearly unforgivable. Not to mention the spellbook Harry found in Book 6, belonging to the “Half-Blood Prince.” BUT, Dumbledore, while eccentric, isn’t stupid. He’s not one to be taken in by an insincere apology! The only reason he would put Snape into a position of such high trust is if there was a genuine reason to do so. True good in Snape. So, I can’t decide one way or the other, “Is Snape good or evil?”
Whether or not Rowling kills Harry off in the end, it’s been proven in the past that popular opinion, unlike magic, CAN bring the dead back to life. Several people have compared Harry to Sherlock Holmes, sacrificing his own life to kill Moriarty. Is everyone forgetting what happened next? The world was in a such an uproar at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for killing such a beloved character that they left the man no choice: he was forced to resurrect Holmes and continue writing his stories. Is Rowling any greater than Doyle? Would she be better able to resist that same mutinous caterwauling from her fans? Who knows?!
Anyway, that’s just my two cents on the entire subject!
July 3rd, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I think both of them will die.
First off. Both are loveable characters. Voldemort for those whom do not particularly like the goodies, and prefer the Death eaters.
Harry is the most famous. yet, perhaps not the key character. For the past 2 books (Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Price) and maybe Goblet of fire. The plotline seems to have turned sides to suit Voldemort. Voldemort gained power, and is still growing. He has Snape of his side, and as you said, has studied his weaknesses for 6 years.
snape threw Dumbledore aside like a ragdoll. he could do it far easier with Harry.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:41 pm
First of all, I think it needs to be said that Dumbledore is definitely dead and Snape definitely killed him. I’m not entirely sure what to make of all of this…I think that Snape is out for himself. He is, after all, a Slytherin, and they tend to think inwards first. So, if it came down to a match between Harry and Voldemort, and Snape was witnessing it, I think that he would go with whatever side seems to be willing to give him the most. Just look at how he came to the Light Side–he told Dumbledore that he was remorseful of telling Voldemort about the prophesy. But was he really, when he hated James? Dumbledore, at the time, had more to offer him–an out if Voldemort fell.
Snape is undoubtably a better dueler than Harry is at the end of HBP, but all of that could change. Harry has vengence as his main reason for going on, and as such has more of a reason to fight. He also will be tested by all of the obstacles before the Horcruxes, making him a better duelist.
On to Voldemort. The first question was, I believe, whether or not Harry could live as long as Voldemort survived.
Yes. Yes, he could.
If Harry was willing to put aside the fact that Voldemort had murdered those closest to him, along with many others, if Voldemort could forget about the prophesy and immortality, then the two could go riding off into the sunset on Norbert as flowers rained down from the heavens and the entire wizarding community cheered and sang the Who-ville song.
But you see, the key word is “IF”.
As Dumbledore said in HBP, Harry could chose to ignore the prophesy; his life did not have to be determined by it. Harry himself wants to destroy Lord Voldemort; he admitted that he would have wanted to see Voldemort killed, and be the one to do it whether or not he had ever heard of the prophesy, simply because Voldemort ruined his life. Voldemort, on the other hand, will not let the prophesy drop because he is afraid of it–after all, it predicted his destruction, and Voldemort is obsessed with immortality. So as long as Voldemort remembers the prophesy, and Harry doesn’t run off to Antarctica or some other similarily remote place, then Voldemort and Harry are locked in eternal battle.
Finally, I really don’t think that Harry is going to die. While J.K. Rowling has indeed shown us that beloved characters can and will be killed off, the Harry Potter series is, at it’s heart, a series that is directed at children. What message would Rowling be sending to the future generations by killing off Harry Potter? The good die young?
Also, in my eyes, the fact that J.K. Rowling has approved of a Harry Potter theme park says a lot to me about the chances that, not just Harry, but the entire trio have of surviving the final book. What type of person wants to go to the theme park of the Boy-Who-Died? What type of attractions would they have? A big gravesite with all of the tombs of the main characters? Oh, I can see it now–”Come one, come all! See the tombs of Harry, Ron, Hermione! We’ve got it all, folks! Sirius, Dumbledore, Cedric, Lily and James Potter!”
I think not.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
meh, whether or not harry dies simply defines whether the series ends as a fairy tale or as a tragic hero’s quest. either way it should be good. ‘course my opinion is not one shared by the majority of the harry potter fandom, and I am also a part of the “I trust snape” crew. Snape is as complex, if not moreso then harry, there must be some reason to give the character such attention, he is going to play a pivotal role in the final book, possibly moreso then even harry. I see alot of anakin skywalker in snape, he is a dark, brooding figure who is tormented inside by both the past and uncertain future, was snapes killing of Big D a ruse? maybe, maybe not. its all in the air at the moment, even tralawney (spelling anyone? I can’t find the books) on her super psychic moments would have a hard time pinning down details.
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:01 pm
As a writer, I really don’t want to speculate on whether J.K. will kill off Harry–it’s her story and I feel she has the right to tell it as she pleases. I can’t wait until my pre-ordered copy arrives in the mail so I can find out what happens next. But I am already saddened by the knowledge that this will be the last book. Like many fans, I’d like this series to keep going. Though I know from the reality of life that “all good things come to an end”. However, the wonderful thing about books is that they are friends that last forever and will always be there when you want to visit them again. I will be taking the journey to Hogwarts for many years to come.
July 3rd, 2007 at 6:06 pm
Hmmm… in discussing the prophesy, Jo says she worded it VERY carefully: “The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies… and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not… and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…”
It seems clear that either Harry or Voldemort must die, as neither can live. I do not believe that Harry is a horcrux, in fact I believe Jo has planted hints against this in interviews and book readings. In the Mugglecast podcast, the MuggleNet-ers have discussed why Harry could not possibly be a horcrux. A horcrux is an object that contains a portion of Voldemort’s soul and so can express itself as Voldemort would. Harry, being a living being, would not be able to carry Voldemort’s soul without it expressing itself in some way (remember the diary posseses Ginny). When Voldemort was carried within Professor Quirrell, it was necessary for the professor to feed the entity to mantain it. However it is important to realize that Professor Quirrell was not a horcrux because he was not an object, and Voldemort did not kill someone to split his soul and complete the spell to create a horcrux on an object.
Harry has been marked as Voldemort’s equal by the very fact that Voldemort tried to kill him. Had Voldemort gone after Neville Longbottom, whose parents had also trice defied him and born at the same time, then we would have a very different story.
Voldemort must die at the hand of Harry to rid the world of his evil. Harry has love infused, and even though Voldemort now has Harry’s blood in his veins (remember Dumbledore smiled at this) - he still does not know love. More prominent in the movie than in the books is the pain both experience when Voldemort touches Harry in the graveyard after regaining his body. I believe this is a key to his demise. “either must die at the hand of the other” By weakening Voldemort through ridding the world of his horcruxes, Harry will have an intact soul and when he touches Voldemort, who is now a fraction of what he once was, Harry’s touch will contain more power than Voldemort possesses.
Will Harry die? Jo herself says he has had so much tragedy in his life. How can she take his own life away too.
However! She does comment on her website how she understands the temptation of an author to kill off the main character so that no other stories can be written by others. Would she do this? I doubt it.
July 3rd, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Well I sure hope he doesn’t die, but I do believe that he will have to die, for Voldemort to die. And also because if he doesn’t die, than people are going to want to know more, they are going to want more books from J.K. on this subject. Yet she has already stated, that after this book she will no longer be writing about Harry Potter. So, sadly I believe Harry will also die, but it’s okay… because it just gives us writers, something more to play with in our own stories.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
It is all speculation but I think he will die. It just seems like the likely thing to happen.
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Keep in mind weather or not Dumbledore died stays dead or is ressurected he will always be a Picture in the headmasters room. He can easily help when ever he is needed.
About killing off Harry sure it would be horrible but think about (sorry I know completely oposite stories) Optimus prime and Hotrod. Optimus dies to carry on the Autobot legacy through rodimus Prime. She hinted it seemed in book 5 that Harry wasn’t all that important and that Harry himself relized this. What if Harry and Voldamort have to die for the real hero to step forward?
-Soulcon
July 4th, 2007 at 12:12 am
There is also a lot of buzz that Harry will have to do something with the black veil we see in book 5. Is advice sought from someone on the other side? This mysterious piece of equipment so central in an arena-type room, yet bearly explained. Could Voldemort simply fall through the veil, sparing the life of a beloved hero?
As for Harry’s importance - he does not show any snobbiness in his abilities or towards the attention he receives. I think he knew from the first book that he was on an amazing ride, and he was grateful to be rid of the Dursleys.
July 4th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
I read somewhere, perhaps from an interview, that JKR did not rule out the fact that other people besides Dumbledore might be making a return appearance from death.
Also there was some talk about a significance of Harry’s eye color beyond genetics. *shrug*
July 5th, 2007 at 10:09 am
I hope that Harry WILL survive at the end of it all. It would undermine the entire “good always triumphs over evil” belief; which I, along with millions of other fans, still hold onto. She will lose millions of fans if she would kill off Harry. I also think that there is ALWAYS hope, even when things look as grim as they might for Harry.
Also, Heather has stated many of my exact sentiments. Voldemort is only a fraction of the wizard he once was, and with the destruction of the horocruxes, he can never fully have the power he once had.
I think Harry has more of a chance than we think. We also have yet to see what other powers Harry has….etc
And Heather is also right about Rowling saying that “Harry has had so much tragedy already, that how could she take his life too?”
I just do not think that she will kill Harry.
July 5th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Heather,
There is evidence that he could be a Horcrux, because his scar is attuned to Voldemort’s feelings. He also has gained abilities that he shouldn’t have had. So he could be the Horcrux, yet I still doubt it. And the whole thing about Snape is solved simply enough. Both Dumbledore and Snape wanted to spare Draco from killing Dumbledore, so Snape(who was also bound to keep Draco safe any way possible) killed Dumbledore to not only save Draco but keep a good standing in Voldemort’s eyes.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Regarding Snape, Snape has been a red hering seince book one it would come as a great surprise to me if he killed Dumbledore for Voldemort.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Reasons to suport my thoughts. One Dumbledore said “Serverus Please” Many would see this as a plea for his life but as Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard ever except perhaps Voldemort and Harry, Why would he fear death. the answer quite simply is that he was asking to me killed so that A) no one would question Snapes Loyalty and B) Snape wouldn’t break his unbreakable Vow because if he did he’d die and leave the order short one spy. Reason Two. When Snape tossed Harry around during his escape he seemed not to be gloating about his power over him but more like he was telling him how he needed to improve.
July 6th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
As I sat there, compelled to keep reading through the death of Dumbledore in Half Blood Prince, it occurred to me that nobody was off limits in meeting their demise, probably not even Harry. I have been trying to come to terms with not only the fact that Deathly Hallows will be the last book, but that also Harry may be no more. There will be no daydreams of Harry off in some magical world doing heroic and magical things with Ron and Hermione by his side. Something in me just doesn’t see Rowling ending it in a “happily ever after” tone. She has taken the books darker and darker through each progressive one. I’m not ready for this last book to come out. I have my prepaid copy voucher and I will be one of those idiots out at midnight to get my copy and I will rush home and read the book and not do another damn thing (except eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom) until I read the last word on the last page. Mostly because I know that once the very first person finished that book that discussion of it is going to be all over the place and it will be unavoidable. I’d rather read it for myself than for the news or the internet to tell me. I’m not ready, though, but then again, when in life are we ever ready for most of the things we are trying to postpone?
July 7th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
I agree with the notion that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape not to save him, but to do what they had already planned…for Snape to kill him. It would have been easy for Snape to have finished off Dumbledore at any point in the book, since he was the first one that Dumbledore sought when he was injured (note that even Snape says in Spinner’s End that he helped him when his hand was injured destroying the ring Horcrux). Does this mean that Snape knew HOW his hand was injured? If Snape knows of the Horcruxes and he was really evil, wouldn’t he have told Voldemort that his horcruxes were in jeopardy?
Also, there is the telling sign that when Snape has Harry on the ground during the escape that ‘his face is filled with pain.’ I see that as his pain at having to kill Dumbledore.
There is much more to the Snape/Dumbledore connection than we already know. Dumbledore would not have trusted Snape based solely on his repentance about who was killed because of the prophecy. It would have taken more.
As for Snape not dying because of the Vow and subsequently not being able to spy anymore…I think it was all part of Dumbleodre’s plan. And I do believe that in the end Snape will die saving Harry.
July 8th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
I don’t think Harry will die.
JK has made it very clear that both cannot live. I don’t see her killing Harry and leaving the Dark Lord.
Killing both would not work with the back story and I don’t see her leaving the Dark Lord as the victor to end the series.
I too think that Snape is the tragic, anti-hero who will ultimately sacrifice himself to save Harry.
JK needs Harry. After she realizes that she cannot write popular, best selling adult fiction - she’ll go back to Harry in 10 to 15 years.
October 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
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October 13th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
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April 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
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