HP Death Watch

[filkertom]

J. K. Rowling says that at least two characters will die in the final Harry Potter book.

Who do you think they might be? Who do you want not to die? For myself, I think it'll be Snape and Hagrid, with a side of Malfoy. Maybe one of the Patils, possibly one of the Creeveys. Maybe even Lavender. (Offing Flitwick would just be mean.) It would distress me greatly if Luna or one or both of the twins bought it. And I'm a big ol' Harry/Hermione 'shipper, so obviously I hope they both make it.

Comments

[pyrephox.livejournal.com]

I'm betting Snape and Ron, myself.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Man, the angst if Ron bought it... especially if he threw himself in front of something aimed at either Harry or Hermione. hee hee hee!

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

I think that Snape will be one of the ones who buys it, saving either Harry or Draco, and either Ron or Hermione. Or perhaps Neville, in an appropriately dramatic way. I think that Draco will be redeemed, and Snape is working as Dumbledore's "inside man". I also think that Harry is the one who got the "reprieve" that she talked about... I think she meant for him to die, and changed her mind.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Unless it's Neville, which is another death that would distress me. But it's really possible, as you say, in an appropriately dramatic way.

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those folks who thinks JKR is following an alchemical storyline. So there need to be three significant deaths (red, white and black) that lead to Harry's enlightenment. She's already killed off Sirius BLACK and Albus ("white") Dumbledore, so the red death will probably be RUBEUS ("red") Hagrid and/or at least one of the Weasleys. It would be highly ironic if that was Molly, since her boggart was her family members dead.

[hughcasey.livejournal.com]

Ooooo... neat theory!

[batyatoon]

Just about the only death I think I wouldn't be able to take?

Is one but not both of the Weasley twins.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I tell ya. They're two of the best characters in both the books and the movies.

[tnatj.livejournal.com]

My hunch is Snape and Voldemort are the two characters, most likely.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, Voldie's goin' down. :) I think she means two other characters. Because if it is just Snape and HWMNBN, that's really wussing out.

[scruffycritter.livejournal.com]

Harry and Voldemort. :-)

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Harry's possible death is a subject for much discussion. I hope JKR doesn't do it, if only because that's really a shitty way for the series to end. I mean, that poor kid has been jacked around in every possible manner, and that's in canon....

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

Watch "at least" turn into killing one of them three times or something...

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Hope not. Especially since it's already been done (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curse_of_Chalion)....

[druidsfire.livejournal.com]

I will respectfully disagree with the 'Snape is actually good' crew with the Freudian statement... sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. JKR's said we shouldn't have much sympathy for the guy.

Therefore, it's my belief that the two who will die are going to be Peter (the one who could actually be redeemed by using his silver hand on Fenrir Greyback) and... hmm.

Killing Snape is too easy. Much like Dr. Yueh in Dune, a million deaths are not enough for him. My vindictive streak says the guy should live a wizard's lifetime but somehow completely stripped of his wizarding powers. Live like his filthy Muggle father. And honestly, I don't think she'd kill off a character that about half of the readership WANTS dead and would actually /cheer/. Character deaths of this epic sort of style always seem to have to /mean/ something. She's always so sorry to tell us that someone has to die, and whenever it's a big deal, it's always someone we /care/ about. And given how acrimonious the fandom is on the subject of Snape at times... it doesn't make sense to mention a death she's sorry about that half her readers will shout YAY! about.

Soooooo, who can we use to make the readers weep? Peter is the one that simply makes sense from the epic cycle of things (betrayer redeeming himself to save the one person left he can apologize to - Lupin, also in danger from Greyback and the silver hand). It's gotta be one of the kids. Ron makes sense because that would completely unhinge Molly and practically shatter the Weasley family. Ginny for the same reason (and the added bonus of making Harry 'all alone' at the end). Hermione's death wouldn't serve to tug on the heart strings quite so much, because she's not as tied to all the other characters as Ron or Ginny is. So. It'll be a Weasley. My money's on Ginny simply because she was the first female Weasley born in however long... and Voldemort possessed her. Yep.

I don't see Harry dying, but I also don't see him sticking around afterwards. Sorta like Arthur and the three queens, going to Avalon to 'rest' after his ordeal. Perhaps to return again someday when he's needed.

Then again, JKR's turned epics on their ears before. I can't wait to find out! :)

Say WHAT?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I can see a lot of this (athough I respectfully disagree on the Snape thing; Anne showed me several good reasons why Snape is, while hardly a good guy, working against Voldemort)... but...

... "Hermione's death wouldn't serve to tug on the heart strings quite so much, because she's not as tied to all the other characters as Ron or Ginny is"?!?

Without getting into the merits of Ginny v. Hermione in Harry's love life... Ginny is fluff. Hermione is one of the three central characters of the books. And the shy nerd bookworm, at that -- certainly the character I most identify with.

No, if it's Hermione there'll be blood on the walls of HP fandom.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Harry. I think he's a horcrux and has to die.

And either Ron or Neville, although Neville, especially, would break my heart.

[tonemangoldfarb.livejournal.com]

If he were a horcrux, then Voldemort wouldn't have tried to kill him.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Dumbledore, but for real this time (y'know, you've never seen Dumbledore and You-Know-Who together at the same time in recent years; only in the Pensieve...and how trustworthy is that?)

And the other will be Rita Skeeter, who will die while trying to get close to a story. See, the whole noxious gossip columnist thing is just a joke, she really IS a crack investigative journalist, and does a lot of undercover work for the Ministry.

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

(y'know, you've never seen Dumbledore and You-Know-Who together at the same time in recent years; only in the Pensieve...and how trustworthy is that?)

Er, the two of them fought in OOTP...

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'd hate to see Ron, Harry, or Hermione die. I'd REALLY hate it if Harry dies.

So my bets are Snape and Percy. About this point, the only way Percy can redeem himself is to die nobly saving the others ("The Passion of the Percy" theory.)

[djonn]

Notice, mind, that the two deaths are assigned to characters she had not originally intended to kill off. That strikes me as significant, and I think it necessarily excludes many of the major players -- Harry, Ron, Hermione, Snape, Dumbledore* -- because changing their fates would amount to a greater change in that final, already-written chapter than she indicates has occurred.

Given the parameters, I think that by far the likeliest two candidates for "didn't originally die, but do now" are Fred and George; I suspect that Rowling didn't expect them to evolve into more than minor comic relief, and the slightly heroic streak they've developed makes it awfully likely that they'll try the Grand Gesture thing again in the last book and actually buy it this time.

Also note that one character has gotten a reprieve, and apparently won't die as originally planned. If I had to guess at that one, I'd be thinking in the direction of Luna -- her friendship with Harry has looked like the sort that would create tremendous angst if she were killed due to their connection, but I think she's become valuable enough as a sort of observer/recorder figure that Rowling may have changed her mind. The dark-horse outside possibility might be Sirius, whose "death" was just fuzzy enough to leave a door open for his return.

*I know, I know; remember, however, that I'm firmly convinced that Dumbledore isn't actually dead yet (possible key word there, "yet"). Either way, though, Rowling will have had his fate planned from the start, and that plan hasn't likely changed.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Snape almost has to be one death. I hope the other is a Malfoy (or two, or three; they get on my nerves) but if we're talkin' good guys, I think we lose McGonnagle.

And possibly, unexpectedly, Peter Pettigrew in an act of redemption (remember the bit about how Harry's kindness provides a link between them).

Please, JKR, not Neville or the twins. They represent what makes life worth living, and killing them would be cruel.

[blueeyedtigress.livejournal.com]

JKR made a statement ages back about Lupin playing a highly significant role in the seventh book. And traditionally, no matter what happens, good or bad, intentional or un-, the werewolf dies -- it's almost part of the mythos regarding werewolves.

And if that should happen, I shall be torn between pissed off and being in mourning. *sniff*

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Hadn't thought of Lupin, but sadly he's reeeeal expendable. So is Tonks, dammit.

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

Oh, what the hell. A few random predictions that will probably be wrong:

General note: Rowling's exact words were, "[T]wo die that I didn't intend to die." There could be any number of deaths, it's just that two of them weren't originally planned.

Harry will survive, because he's never had any real happiness in his life, and he deserves it. He'll end up with Ginny, who'll also survive. (Sorry, Tom.)

Hermione and Ron will survive, and end up together. One or both may be seriously injured, but they'll survive.

Dumbledore is dead already. It's important that everyone else find a way to defeat Voldemort without him.

Voldemort will die a final death, but that's not who Rowling is referring to. He's been an intended death all along.

Snape will die saving others. Also an intended death. And possibly a contributing factor in causing Draco to renounce Voldemort and dark magic.

McGonagle will survive. Who else can run Hogwarts?

Hagrid? No. He's the stout-hearted comic relief, and they just ain't those kinds of books. His death, despite the personal impact on the main three, just wouldn't mean as much thematically.

Neville won't die, but will have a chance to do something heroic. And probably do it successfully.

Fred and George strike me as very likely. First, because it covers two unexpected deaths with one unexpected plot development. Second, because experiencing that tragedy will deepen both Ron and Ginny.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Goodness knows, Ginny needs something to deepen her.... ;)

[cleverthylacine]

Which Malfoy?

I would take losing Lucius easier than losing Draco; she's already done a lot I can't forgive her for, but if Draco dies, that's the book-out-the-window clause there. I've steeled myself for the notion that Snape will buy it and frankly, given the last book, I do not expect to like this one. And Hagrid, probably.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I think Lucius is toast; I think Draco is going to be redeemed, or at least exonerated. If JKR was going to kill Draco, Book 6 had a couple of perfect chances.

[sifractusfortis.livejournal.com]

I gotta go with Snape, but there's some nagging part of me that says it's too easy.

I also think Ron is vic #2, but I think there's a twist to it. I think Ron might be Harry's Judas -- a theory my brother came up with and is tres' unpopular.

Some other possibilities:

Lupin, J Random Weasley, and McGonnigall.

I really hope they don't kill Neville. I shall be displeased.

Neville deathwatch countdown...

[paulk54321.livejournal.com]

Neville is the fat, clumsy kid that everybody picks on, so he is the one I identify with. Hate to tell you this, but he is probably doomed. Every time I identify with a character, he gets killed off. :(

Snuffin' It - Spoiler Alert if you haven't read Book 6!!

[chaoticgoodchic.livejournal.com]

My brother & I have been debating this since the last book came out.

I believe both Voldemort AND Harry are going to snuff it.
I also think that Dumbledore's death was a fake, but that won't
mean he won't come back to die for real in book 7.

After all, in literature can good exist without evil?
Even Sherlock Holmes said it would be worth it to walk hand-in-hand through the pearly gates with Moriarty.

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

I'm assuming that she means two people other than Harry or Voldmort.

Since I still really want Snape to be working for the good guys, I don't want him to die. Neville comes to mind, especially since he's made such progress in the last two books. But I'm not sure that shes' up to that much irony. The easy way out would be, Harry dies killing Volmort, then Ron and Hermione die as well. But that feels to easy even for this book. If I was going to hazard a real guess? Neville, and a Weasley, not sure which one.

[rmeidaking.livejournal.com]

You know, I could really see Fred and George becoming Ghosts in the Nearly Headless Nick tradition, helping future generations of Hogwarts scalawags. It would be a bonus if they died in a major explosion of their own making which somehow saved the day.

I suspect that Minerva McGonagall has no chance to survive. Dumbledore is already gone, and I expect that in the new, post-He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named era, Hermione will take her place as headmistress of Gryffindor.

Harry Potter's fate is the big question: Does he survive, or not? I could see it going either way, and it turning out that the only way to kill H-W-M-N-B-N OR Harry is to do them both in at one time, in a suitably epic battle that consumes - or merges - them both.

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

I agree that it would be most enjoyable if Fred and George die then come back as ghosts, and see just how long Filtch could survive with them giving new students helpful advice. But if not, I really hope they survive. I hate stories where characters I identify with the most are killed off.

[mouser.livejournal.com]

That's two ADDITIONAL characters.

This issue EVERYONE DIES!

[oakianus.livejournal.com]

Hembeck Reference ftw.

Dead Weasleys, everywhere

[youngcurmudgeon.livejournal.com]

I say:

Snape. Draco. At least one Weasley -- my bet's on Percy, with Charlie or Bill as the one she was gonna kill but then didn't. I agree with above comments that killing Fred OR George would be horrible and, therefore, likely. I'm much more confident about Remus now that he's got Tonks. Lucius, possibly. The Trio, Ginny, and Neville will all survive. Because I say so, dammit.

Oh, and the way Harry's definitely not going to be brought back? Dumbledore left him Fawkes, who bursts into flames when Harry is too close and ...

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

Okay -- the article is pretty clear that two characters that JKR didn't think would die (when she started writing book 7) *do* die, and that one she had marked for death *doesn't* buy the farm. There are almost certainly characters whom she intended to kill off who *do* die.

So, let's start with the Always Fated Not To Live Through It List: Voldemort. (Comedy or tragedy, a truly evil villain croaks in either.) Harry may die taking out V.; I'm not sure if he'll die, live, or live but lose all his magic. I'm pretty sure Lucius will buy it. I'm also pretty sure Snape was fated to die: whichever side he turns out to be on, the *other* side will waste him as soon as they're sure. If Dumbledore isn't actually dead yet, he'll die for real. One of the major supporting good guys... and I have a gut feeling it's Neville (sacrificing himself), which doesn't make me happy. And finally, Peter, but it could be by an act of redemption, taking out something meant for Harry.

Who surprised JKR by dying? One is almost certainly a Weasley. Possibly Ginny; possibly *Arthur*. Maybe Percy will redeem himself through death, but that seems too easy. I don't think only *one* of the twins will die -- either they both live, or they both die. (I'd count the twins together as "one" death for the present purpose.) If they both die then it will be in the most utterly spectacular fashion possible -- and give Harry his opening to kill Voldemort.

The other surprise (to JKR) death, I think, will be one of the faculty/staff: Hagrid, Trelawney, or Lupin. If I had to make a prediction I'd say Lupin, for the various reasons given in previous comments above.

Who surprised JKR by *living*? I think it's Draco -- maybe by having a sudden change of heart and deflecting a spell at a critical time.

Who would I *not* want to die? Any of Our Intrepid Trio, to start, though I think it's posisble that Harry will. I also don't want McGonagall to die, for we need *someone* to run Hogwarts until Hermione is experienced enough. Oddly enough, I don't want Fleur to die, despite my initial negative reaction; I just hope she *grows up* in book 7.

[danruk.livejournal.com]

Neville Longbottom's Luck is about to run out. He's on the axe.
Snape ... *hrrmm* Snape... I want to believe there is some 'other shoe' on how the death of Dumbledore went down. Of coruse if there isn't ... then sure, off with him, but maybe in a 'redemption' attempt to help harry thwart Voldemort.

[ruisseau.livejournal.com]

Harry and Hagrid becaue Harry is a horcrux