I think my Friday Five this week might be Potter-related, with an alternative set of questions for those who aren’t into the books—sort of a Choose Your Own Adventure. But Gord has started a prediction thread, which got me thinking about what I expect and/or hope to see in book 7 (spoilers for those who haven’t read books 1-6):
- Harry is NOT, repeat NOT, going to die. I know Rowling doesn’t want to keep the door open for sequels, but his death would be superfluous. The only upside to his death is the ability to be reunited with his parents and Sirius, and I just think that’s hokey.
Keith Olbermann predicts that Harry or his scar is the final horcrux, but instead of actually dying, he will be able to destroy the horcrux by giving up magic. I don’t like that either. In fact, better dead than to give up magic. It’s part of who he is. In fact, I don’t think Harry or his scar is a horcrux. It would have had to be created accidentally, and I don’t think that’s possible.
Maybe Harry will be willing to die; he might do something that he fully expects to lead to his own death, but no. Harry lives.
I also think Rowling has inadvertently confirmed this because when asked last year which five characters she would have for dinner, she named Harry, Ron and Hermione, then paused because she didn’t know whether she was allowed to include characters who died. That’s on the Wikipedia page for Deathly Hallows.
- Neville is going to kill Bellatrix Lestrange, but good. Or die trying. Perhaps his aptitude for herbology will help in this area but I can’t imagine how it would.
- This one hurts the most: Fred and George are toast. Just like their uncles Fabian and Gideon (same initials), they are going to fight valiantly and die heroically. But I hate it. I’d rather Ron or Hermione die than Fred and George. As I said at Gord’s place, killing off F&G, such pure goodness and joie de vivre, is like killing a golden retriever. Heartless. But this is a battle between good and evil, after all.
- Percy never redeems himself. Oh, this is even better: Percy redeems himself, but only after directly or indirectly causing the death of the twins. Oh! the heartbreak!
- Snape: definitely on the side of good. Always has been.
- Tonks and Lupin get married.
- Voldemort is destroyed (duh) but evil lives on. No dancing in the Ewok village.
- I don’t know whether this is a prediction on my part, or just something I picked up along the way, but I think house elves have very powerful magical abilities. I think the whole SPEW subplot (even though I found it a bore) could come into play in book 7 as the house elves rise up to help defeat Voldemort. Remember at the end of Chamber of Secrets when Dobby blasts Lucius? I think that’s part of the reason they’ve been enslaved—the best way to keep a powerful people down is to systematically oppress and belittle them.
That’s what I got for now.
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Asides
» A note to readers who are looking at the new blog: you’ll notice some “greatest hits” from reverendmother there, especially as I ramp up my writing in that space. Sorry for the déjà vu!
» There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places. -Wendell Berry
» “The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.” -Barbara Kingsolver
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one of my friends said last night that she thinks McGonagall is evil, b/c it seems that Voldemort needs a Hogwarts insider and Snape is good. I do not want to believe this, but I can see, literarily (is that a word?), how it could work.
SP over here, assuming Harry is a horcrux, thinks that he will be the last remaining horcrux and will have to kill himself/allow himself to be killed in order to kill Voldemort. obviously, however, V won’t be able to do the killing himself, a death eater will have to do it, b/c V can’t destroy his own soul.
During the week after the book comes out I will be dark because I won’t get to start reading until the 29th (post mission trip), but I can’t wait to see how this all turns out!
No WAY is McGonagall bad!
Voldy has his inside man, it’s Snape. Snape obviously has to feed the Death Eaters enough useful information so as not to arouse suspicion.
I wouldn’t rule out another insider at Hogwarts, though, just not McG. I am only two chapters into the re-read of book six. What becomes of Slughorn? I could see him selling out.
Oh, forgot another prediction about house elves that I will add to the post.
I can’t imagine her being right about McGonagall. Except I can. I just don’t want to. Therefore, I will not.
I think you are right about house-elves.
Sadly, I also think you are right about the twins. boo!!!
I have such a hard time believing Snape isn’t evil. He just seems so evil and always has. And there is NO way McGonagall is on Voldemort’s side!
I think Tonks and Lupin will be together, but I’ve heard lots of suggestions that Lupin will be killed.
Neville killing Bellatrix I hadn’t considered, but I like it!
And I just can’t believe that JKR would kill off Harry. That is just too dark–these are still kids’ books after all. There has to be some redemption at the end, and I just don’t see how killing Harry will achieve that. Tooooooo sad.
I feel the same way about Snape. I’m hoping that when the chips are down he just cannot bring himself to support he-who-must-not-be-named in a battle against Harry.
I hope I’m right, got plenty of Kleenex available if I’m wrong!
I think Snape is a secret keeper.
I think Harry wins and Voldemort loses
I think you may be right about Fred and George but hope its Percy. I think Scabbers will die trying to save Harry, life-debt and all that.
I think I can’t wait!!!!
Good call on Scabbers, hip—had forgotten about that tidbit.
Love these ideas, and to be in Scotland when #7 comes out is holy.
Saw movie today. Loved it.
Back to book: I also love the twins. But yes, it would be a heartbreaker if a Weasley dies. Maybe the parents?
Neville is going to play big in #7 but I’m not sure why. Would love for him to kill Bellatrix.
I think the dead might somehow come back but not in a hokey way (please JK).
We are in ardent negotiations about the book reading policy in this house (no gasps, even in the privacy of your bedroom) and are considering buying two for the Peace, Purity, and Unity of this family.
buying three books - two kids going off to camp - won’t go without them - can’t stay home ‘cuz i’ll be stuck in mine - EEK! will donate two to charitable cause…
had not thought of the house elves thing, they do see all being in everyone’s houses - interesting…
spoiler alert to movie - I was surprised that we did not get to see Neville’s parents at the hospital - only in photo…
I wonder what percentage of the books sold are duplicates within a family because people just can’t wait!
I really want to think Snape is on the good side… but it seems so important as a coming-of-age-thing for Harry to be right about something that Dumbledore was so wrong about, that I think Snape may end up on the bad side after all.
I think Draco is done for - but dies in resistance to the death eaters.
Not the twins!!! Who will make the candy and the toys?
That’s an interesting thought, about Harry needing to see the fallibility of his mentor. But I think he’s already had that experience with his father and Sirius, through the Pensieve and Snape’s worst memory of being tormented by a very arrogant James.
Here’s the clincher for me. If you re-read the scene in HBP when Snape kills Dumbledore, Dumbledore says, “Please,” and then “Severus, please…” and Harry realizes that Dumbledore is begging Snape. THEN Snape raises his wand and does the AK curse.
So the “Snape is evil” folks assume that DD was pleading for his life, but why would he have reason to plead for his life BEFORE Snape has raised his wand? On the contrary, he is begging Snape to fulfill the plan as they had devised it—to kill DD to keep Draco from having to do it, as well as maintaining his cover as a Death Eater. The loathing on Snape’s face is self-loathing for having to go through with an Unforgivable Curse.
I think you’re totally right as regards Dumbledore and Snape…and don’t forget, earlier, Harry overhears a conversation between the two of them where it sounds like Snape is trying to back out of something.
I don’t think Snape and Dumbledore planned Dumbledore’s death–however, I think they DID have a plan in place in case it came to that. And I think you’re right in that Dumbledore’s pleading was for Snape to follow through with what they had already discussed.
Add to that Snape’s escape from Hogwarts after Dumbledore’s death–if he was evil, he would have just thrown another Avada Kedavra spell at Harry instead of all those wimpy spells that slowed Harry down, allowing Snape to escape, but did no real harm.
I think Snape is going to die, either saving Harry or killing Voldemort (or both). In his death, he finally comes to terms with his feelings for Lily (and James).
I just now had a thought–wouldn’t it be something if Snape made an Unbreakable Vow to Lily to protect Harry? I just can’t see Book 7 ending without at least one GIGANTIC revelation like that. Hmmm….
I love the logic of your predictions. I too will be devastated if the twins die, or even– God forbid– just one of them dies! I hope, hope, hope you are right about Harry and Snape.
Mags
Keith Olbermann predicts that Harry or his scar is the final horcrux, … interesting thought … hoping that the horcrux is in Lucius Malfoy so that Draco can be the boy he was always supposed to be.
Ginny’s been a victim too many times BUT as Harry’s sweetheart she will be in grave danger … and I think Hermione might die because she’s too clever.
I was so shocked Dumbledore died in the last book - and I think the sword of Griffindor will play a part again.
soon we’ll know … like many I’d like to hear the great love story of Harry’s parents and just why Snape and James Potter were such enemies.
It will be interesting to see what Rowling turns to next though won’t it?
oh and a thought … what about Peter Pettigrew …
in Azkaban Rowling has Dumbledore say
“Trust me … the time may come when you will be very glad you saved P’s life.”
(in the context of talking of what bond is formed between one wizard and another that saved his /her life. Like Ginny. Like Snape and James.
interesting