HP Book Support Group is Summoned!! About This Page:

[stonewall]

SUPPORT GROUP-WHERE ARE YOU!!! All this talk of killing Harry makes me think we need to call an emergency meeting to deal with the mere THOUGHT of such a thing occuring! I know, all the talk about the "Traditional literature would dictate that Harry, as the hero, representing good, would have to lay down his life for his friends and die to defeat the evil forces" but I CAN'T TAKE THIS ! "Get a grip on yourseld", I say, but I CAN'T . Support group is herby summoned to a meeting. Can we set a time and day and get the Chat Room(which shall henceforth be known as the "Minstry of Magic"? I can do any evening except Tuesday & Wednesday(until 9 EDT). We are supposed to have company for dinner on Monday but if that is all the works for everyone else then MY hyperventalating self is more important and again, if we did it later then she'll be GONE!! Get your port keys and flue powder ready!Wow- I REALLY need to get a grip on myself !

[ripkensnana]

Monday would probably be best for me....anything except Sunday (Trivia chat), and Wednesday. Probably 9 or later time-wise.

[Caldercup]

I think we should call it the Chat Room of Requirement

I have just one thing to say about the whole "will Harry survive" question... Frodo lived. (And shame on the "Classics Professor" quoted in CNNs report on this question. "If you look at the tradition of the epic hero ... there is this sort of pattern that the hero delivers people to the promised land but does not see it himself," said Lana Whited, professor of English at Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia, pointing out examples from King Arthur to Moses to Frodo."

Yes, Moses didn't see the promised land in the Bible, but Frodo saw a world without Sauron -- he returned to the shire and later was *rewarded* with going to the Gray Havens because he'd been through so much.

But... okay, Greek heros of Harry's ilk just didn't tend to survive. But the more modern Western hero (King Arthur, Frodo, the Pevensie children in Narnia, etc.) tend to survive through the series and to be rewarded for their battles with evil.

I can't imagine Rowling not rewarding Harry for his struggles. There are others that I think more tragic and fitting for them to die - especially as a sacrifice to Harry's safety -- but I just can't imagine that she'd kill Harry off. What she has said is that Harry's story is "definitely done" but not that it's because he's a goner. I think she just means that she's completed his story arc and there is no more to write about him.

She has also said that she might come back to write about the Hogwarts/Wizarding world, but it won't be about Harry.

Sigh... only a few more days left.
Eileen

[scottjs]

I saw the new movie yesterday. I am so confused. But I love the books and movies!!! Well a major death has to occure to end the series!!! And it has to be one of two people(So to speak) It has to be Harry or he who must not be named!!! Its gonna be interesting to see how it all ends!!! But I agree if its Harry that goes that would just be wrong. we shall see.

[stonewall]

Well, I hope you are right, Eileen but I was distressed to hear that Ms.Rowling was so upset as she was revising the final chapter that she had to check into a hotel to write it so her sobbing didn't frighten her youngster! After living with her characters for so many years she would probably be crying if anyone other than Lord V himself "bought the farm" but I still have a feeling that Neville is going to be departing.
I think all of us owe a debt of gratitude to the casting folks who spent so much time with the author and Chris Columbus to select the proper people for the roles (the only one that Rowling already had in mind was Robbie Coltrane as Hagrid). They all look just as I envisioned them from the descriptions in the books! Does anyone know if the cover art for the first book was done BEFORE or AFTER Daniel Radcliffe was chosen to portray Harry( I've always wondered why they didn't put green contacts on him since such a point was made of Harry having green eyes like Lily- maybe they figured that the intense blue carried just as much impact...) ?
Do you guys want to have a Chat before the book comes out where we can speculate on different points or should we wait 2 weeks until everyone has read the final book and then talk about it? thoughts please-

[COMinnie]

My family and I had an interesting discussion about this the other day. JKR's openly said that two main characters are going to die, but who really besides Harry, Ron & Hermione are considered main characters? Would you put Neville, or any professors, on this list? I think it would make sense if Neville were to die, but like he said in OOP "avenging his parents." As for the other character..I dunno.

Wow. That wasn't helpful at all

Edit: Arghh, I'm so bummed. I just realized I'm going to be at a leadership conference in Indiana when the book comes out

[Minniemouse27]

Interesting article on MSNBC today... all about the major characters and what their fate may be....

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19718441/

[RobinKay6573]

Here is my guess...Malfoy will die as a hero with Hagrid....Sirius will come back and he and Harry will live happily ever after....THE END. Sirius isn't really dead...I know he isn't. Why? Because we didn't see a body. No one is dead if there isn't a body, right???

[mrsmac2001]

*holding my right hand on all my HP books and raising my left*

I do swear I will try and be available for any and all support group meetings.

[COMinnie]

Thanks for the link Christine!

[Caldercup]

The main characters that could easily be "on the chopping block" include Voldemort, Snape, Draco & Lucius Malfoy, Hagrid, The Weasley parents, the twins, Professor McGonagall, Neville plus Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Rowling has stated that she was going to kill off one specific (unidentified) character, but then gave them "a reprieve." (My personal guess is that she changed her mind about Neville. I think he's going to make it.)

She has also stated that two or three characters will die in the last book (and probably a lot of minor characters.)

I'm thinking that Snape will heroically offer up his life to protect Harry. (Sob, sob, sob!! I so the Snape character and am convinced that he's truly good, even though he has a mean streak a mile wide.) I also think that Hagrid will die and that just makes me well up thinking about it. I think Malfoy will be converted and will turn his back on the Dark Lord, but I think he will bite it before the end.

I hereby make my predictions: Harry, Ron and Hermione will survive. I think Snape and Malfoy and Hagrid will die (on the good side) and Voldemort, Lucius, Bellatrix and lot of the lesser Death Eaters will die.

At least... that's what I'm crossing my fingers for!

I just wanted to add that there's a great book by the people who manage mugglenet.com. It has a stuuuuupid title, but it's a great discussion of the facts Rowling has presented in the books and all her public statements about the books. It is a very well-thought-out, well written, fact-based presentation of various theories and how they relate to the facts and the likelihood of their being the case. It's called "What will happen in Harry Potter 7" and is on the NYTimes bestseller list. I found it at Target, but it's at most major book retailers too.

It might tide you over until Friday at midnight
Eileen

[debsta922]

I agree with Eileen. I think Draco got the reprieve but Snape and Voldermort Die. (and I think Snape will die while saving Harry) I never thought about Neville dying... I truly hope he's able to cause Bellatrix some pain first (if he does die). I hope it's not the trio... Ron and Hermione need to get married... and Harry needs to get back with Ginny therefore becoming a true member of the family he loves so much... I can't wait til next weekend. I've already told dh that I am going to be occupied for the day on Saturday!

[stonewall]

OK, I just snagged one of my DD's magazines (she is still away) and found an article about Emma Watson, in which she says that she is signed on for the next 2 moveis- leaving the last one up in the air!
All of this speculation is getting to me and I can not find a web site that has an avatar or icon saying that "I DON'T TRUST SNAPE". Yes, Debbie did send me to the (I Do Trust Snape site, but they don't have what I want there. Has anyone seen anything? BTW, that web site has a nifty countdown clock running to the release time of the book.

[DebiDebiDebi]

Originally Posted By Eileen: I'm thinking that Snape will heroically offer up his life to protect Harry. (Sob, sob, sob!! I so the Snape character and am convinced that he's truly good, even though he has a mean streak a mile wide.) I also think that Hagrid will die and that just makes me well up thinking about it. I think Malfoy will be converted and will turn his back on the Dark Lord, but I think he will bite it before the end.

I am totally with your here Eileen. I just cannot get off the fence about Harry...
I certainly do not want him to die, yet, I can see it happening...man, I have never agonized over a book before...

[princessesrule]

Everyone has such great theories! I keep going back and forth after reading what everyone else has to say. I sthink that Harry is going to sacrifice himself in the process of killing Lord Voldermort.

Snape is one of the most confusing characters. I don't know what to think about him.

Can't wait until SATURDAY! Amazon says my books will be delivered that day. I hope they are right!