Harry Potter release date -- July 16. Contains very, very, very, very minor spoilers.
I am not...I am not the damsel in distress. I am not some case. I have to work this. I've lived in a cave for 5 years in a world where they killed my kind like cattle. I am not going to be cut down by some monster flu. I am better than that. What a wonder...how very scared I am.
Fred ,'A Hole in the World'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Fred Pete - Dec 21, 2004 3:26:25 am PST #6680 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.
Connie Neil - Dec 21, 2004 4:25:26 am PST #6681 of 10002
brillig
My kittens are on Ron.
Jim - Dec 21, 2004 4:28:15 am PST #6682 of 10002
Ficht nicht mit Der Raketemensch!
Entirely Bloody Predictable Spoilers
Rowling has also previously revealed that a character will be killed in the sixth book, but she has given no hints as to whom.
F'fuck's sake, can't she think of anything else to trail?
Connie Neil - Dec 21, 2004 4:29:55 am PST #6683 of 10002
brillig
can't she think of anything else to trail
The sudden acknowledgement of the twisted passion between Harry and Draco would scare off Wal-Mart. Best to let it be a surprise.
Fred Pete - Dec 21, 2004 4:38:44 am PST #6684 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.
Jim, that's half the reason for all the "verys."
And if any male character gets a boyfriend, it's going to be Ron.
Lyra Jane - Dec 21, 2004 5:00:04 am PST #6685 of 10002
Up with the sun
I don't think Ron will die until the last (or next-to-last) battle in book seven if at all. The Harry-Ron-Hermione troika is just too strong -- it would be like killing off Willow in S3 to let him die now.
I think she might kill Neville, or (please?) Hagrid.
Fred Pete - Dec 21, 2004 5:02:56 am PST #6686 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.
Neville has become too critical to the arc. I think he's going to play a key role in Book 7.
OTOH, I could see Hagrid with a big bullseye on his back.
Maybe one of the professors? A parental substitute like McGonagall or even Dumbledore himself?
Lyra Jane - Dec 21, 2004 5:07:12 am PST #6687 of 10002
Up with the sun
I think Rowling did so much development on Neville in books 4 and 5 that he could die heroically at this point, his role fulfilled, and have his death serve as an additional motivator going into the last book.
A teacher would be a good guess, though I don't think Dumbledore, because the tension between him and the Ministry of Magic has been so important to the plots, and I don't see anyone else filling that position. (Unless the point of the last book is that no one does, and Harry needs to stand on his own against them. But that would really hurt.) Killing McGonagall could work.
Among the kids, what about one of Ron's siblings? Not Ginny, but Fred or George, or even one of the older ones.
Fred Pete - Dec 21, 2004 5:29:29 am PST #6688 of 10002
Ann, that's a ferret.
But now that it's clear that V has returned, the tension with the Ministry will change. It's going to be more of a turf battle for control of the anti-V forces. (Well, unless the Ministry joins V. But I think that's unlikely.)
Percy's death might be a little heavy-handed but could fit either redemption or inner conflict.
Kate P. - Dec 21, 2004 5:43:23 am PST #6689 of 10002
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
If Neville or either of the twins dies, I will throw a temper tantrum. I highly doubt she'll kill either Hermione or Ron, and I'm not terribly invested in anyone else.