I don't want to go the Godwin route. Gris and I are good.

I think Ron's a goner.

Maybe. If I were to choose, I would actually pick Hermione because Rowling loves her the most.

I haven't read many interviews. Is this from her, or how you feel from reading the series? I do know she'll have to deal with Julia if she kills Hermione, and man, Julia would win.

I actually agree, Jessica (though I was still happy after GoF - it was the disappointing continuation of the war setup that made me lose faith). I was happy with HBP mostly because it was significantly better than I was resigned to it being, but it still had big, big problems. And I don't think Book 7 will be as great as I so want it to be.

But I just can't get my head out of the universe.

Really, though, Harry can't die if she can't write a convincing war. And I still think she can't. So Harry won't die, or, if he does, it will be bad, so in that sense I hope he doesn't. But I hope a really, really good fanfic author out ther takes it on. I tried (after an inspiring discussion about the flaws with JKR's world-building with AJ Hall) but I don't write very well, so I had to give up.

ETA: Also, the WWII question was meant to be rhetorical, and even over-the-top. On look-back, the italics make it seem more serious and, frankly, passionate than intended. As mentioned, that whole argument is more justification for me than actual feeling.

Also, yeah, it's the Harry is a Horcrux plot that I'm talking about. There's just too many hints for it NOT to make happen, for me. I never felt that the explanations for the Voldemort-Harry connections made any real sense - mostly, I thought Dumbledore was BSing a bit, because, though he's very wise, I don't think he always knows as much as he appears to know - but this explains it so nicely.

I re-read CoS with the plot point in mind, and it makes so much sense.

I was thinking more that the scar would go "poof" , albeit likely more painfully than that.

I recall from an interview, I think, or something, that she said Hermione was her favorite. It was many years ago.

The only kid she's killed so far is Cedric, right?

Debet, I think that could work really well and be very awesome in the context of the whole series and his character.

I believe so, yes, P-C. Which seems very odd to me. Although, really, the body count hasn't been that high, just more impactful among the older generations.

though I was still happy after GoF - it was the disappointing continuation of the war setup that made me lose faith

I should clarify -- GoF was the last one I really liked. It was OoP and HBP that were meh. (HBP better than OoP if only because it wasn't twelve zillion pages, but still not up to the level of 1-4.)

I believe so, yes, P-C. Which seems very odd to me. Although, really, the body count hasn't been that high, just more impactful among the older generations.

That's why I'm unsure she'll kill any of the kids. Or maybe that's a sign she's going to be hardcore and kill a lot of kids. I mean, the end of OOTP with all the kids in danger was pretty harrowing, and if she pulls something like that, except with actual deaths, eep.

I think she has to kill at least one of the DA. Really, I doubt it will be Ron or Herminone, and I hope it's not Neville, because the Universe owes that boy a break.

I have to say, I just can't imagine the premiere franchise in kid-lit killing off its Hero and scaring all the kiddies. Won't somebody think of all the crying children? I do think Book Seven will be dark and that a terrible price will be paid, but I'm willing to bet the rent money (in an imaginary way) that Harry will get to walk offstage and continue.

And who said anything about a meaningless death?

I think there's a difference between a meaningless story and a meaningless death. I understood Cindy to mean that while Harry could die in a dramatic or sacrificial or whatever way, that death could also render the whole story meaningless.

I'm not sure I agree completely, but it's possible.