A thought on the 7th Potter book May be SPOILERS

[hyphenate]

I have been trying to avoid too much discussion on the last of the books, because the thought of two deaths has bothered me quite a bit.

So instead I've been thinking on my own, and I've come up with a scenario. I could be WAY off base, because I haven't read much other than JK Rowling's upset over one of the deaths she's written, but I have come to a conclusion at any rate.

Let us explore REAL LIFE for a moment. Rowling loves her characters. She also loves the money she has made on them. And right now, we, the audience are waiting not so diligently for the next book--but we are also waiting for the next film.

And that's the important thing!! The films come out later than the books--up to two years later in some cases. And so...we will be seeing the 5th film while we are reading the 7th book. And while we ARE watching the films later than when we have read the books, up to now, we haven't had to worry about the characters, at least not the MAIN characters. Yes, the 5th book had some "deaths" in it, but what do we really know? Sirius Black went into some other dimension and might not actually be dead. Yes, the 6th book (Half-blood prince) had Dumbledore dying, and while we all loved Dumbledore, we knew he was old, and we knew that his death had probably been pre-determined in some ways. As long as Harry, Ron and Hermione were safe, things were golden.

But now....the 7th book will take out two characters, one of them very likely a beloved character. And so we quiver in fear that it might be one of the kids. But I don't think it possibly could be because of the whole movie thing.

Most of us would be too pissed off if it were one of the kids to likely see the two last films. And that would certainly hurt the box office. And certainly instill a great deal of hatred for JK Rowling, and possibly harm any future books she might write.

Yes, a beloved character WILL likely die, as well as one of the sinister ones, and while I certainly can't predict who it will be. my guess is that the sinister one will be Voldemort, not Snape (which is a fairly positive event), and that the loved character will likely be....Hagrid. Hagrid has been the closest one to the kids right from the beginning, and definitely one of the most beloved. But with Dumbledore gone, his presence is the most powerful one of the adults--I can't see many fans being depressed if one of the Dursleys ended up being killed, or any of the House of Slytherin. And none of the teachers (except for Professor McGonagle) is that close to them for us to care to a great degree.

I'm assuming some have also come to the same conclusion. It's the only scenario I can think of. But for logical reasoning, it's the one reason I can think of that keeps all of the fans happy.

[Mist]

1. Good reasoning--I also think it'll probably be Hagrid, though there are

a number of characters who could be described as "beloved" who aren't the trio: Tonks, Lupin, Neville, Luna, or a Weasley. I actually think Ginny might not make it...

Re: Hagrid being killed: there was an article online (can't reference it now as I lost a lot of info when my hard drive crashed) that posited that JKR was using some alchemical imagery. This was something to do with three steps, black, white, and red. Sirius BLACK was killed, then ALBUS (white) Dumbledore, leaving Reubeus (red) Hagrid to be killed off. The world of speculation about JKR's books takes some odd turns...

[Pithy Cherub]

2. My original guess is its a Weasley

but Hagrid has oft entered my thought. My thoughts for a Weasley were because for such a large family they have been relatively unscathed. harry has lost what little family he had as has Hagrid who has a thing with Olympe, so Hagrid as a potential parent gives me great amusement.

Money is not the driver, because the next movie will be big box office as they have a different, yet overlapping market. Many have only seen the movies and never read the books. Jo is writing to write where cruelty will seep in is how she will write to make it clear to even the most besotted fan of the books that this is it, fini, no mas! That means a major dramatic ending (with her keeping license of the characters) that preculdes any sequels or prequels as she has siad that this is it and she has lived with Harry for more than 10 years. From a monetary perspective, the enterprise will suffer as there are websites and other affiliated entities that drive traffic based on upcoming events. The only upcoming events would be two movies that readers know the ending. Her wrap up or epilogue has to be fulsome enough and she is an English Lit grad, so she knows that it has to satisy while it may create a need for world grief counseling.

It is someone Harry loves, if not Harry himself. My fear is if it is Ginny or Ron, Harry nor Hermione would recover. I know i won't. Sorta dreading it and wanting it already.

[Branjor]

3. Dumbledore said death is the next great adventure.

The name of the book is HP and the Deathly Hallows. Hallows=saints, as in All Hallows day. Voldemort can't die so is cut off from this. Maybe part of book 7 will take place behind the veil (of death)?

Just some rambling thoughts.

[XemaSab]

4. Have you seen the cover art?

You might want to check it out at www.mugglenet.com

[Branjor]

6. Thanks...just took a look at it.

Harry does seem to be in a rather otherwordly place there. I notice a curtain (veil) over to the right in the high resolution image. I wonder if it is the same one that Sirius fell through at the Ministry of Magic.

I notice that the UK has both a children's and an adults' version. Is the difference in the two only between the cover art or is it in the text too?

[XemaSab]

7. Just the cover art

There are differences between the US and UK versions though... some substantive, some notsomuch.

Did you know that Hepzibah Smith's house was filled with several large and flourishing pot plants? :o

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. Voldemort CAN die...

Once all the Horcruxes are destroyed. Harry has to kill him. That's what the last book is about.
As for who's going to die, I think it will be Hagrid and a Weasley, although I will be severely PISSED. The Weasleys are my favorite fictional family ever. They are kind and loving people, and I have fallen in love with them. I saw Dumbledore's death coming from a mile away, and it depressed me. I cried for HOURS. It was like losing someone in my family, as completely insane as that sounds. Book six ate my lunch.
But Dumbledore was right. Death is just the next great adventure. But that doesn't mean it's not depressing.

[XemaSab]

5. Arthur Levine said he was BAWLING UNCONTROLLABLY

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17828868/

[Pithy Cherub]

8. The description of very emotional after HBP,

is disturbing. My alarm bells are going off because the article also mentions Jo being non-committal as to how it ends and her observation about fixing it so no other author can amend it after she is dead. Oh Dear, it is not looking good at all for Harry or Ron or Hermione.:hide:

The only thing to hang onto is Dumbledore's words of Love. How does Love when in the end if Harry is Dead! :cry: Jo is going to make it very hard to like her if she does this dastardly deed! :crazy:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. Jo has said that Black and Dumbledore are really dead and not coming back.

I took it from her words that they will not be making an appearance in the last book.
Duckie