Harry Dying -- Predictions for OoP -- Percy

[Penny & Bryce]

No: HPFGUIDX 24994

Hi all --

Back again from a short absence, so I'm replying to some things as long 
ago as last Friday.

Bente13 at peoplepc.com wrote:

> I don't think Harry will die in the books. Partly because I seem to
> remember JKR saying something to that effect once (although I could
> be wrong) but more importantly because it doesn't go along with the
> tenor and theme of the books. They are childrens books, whether JKR
> intended them as such when she wrote them or not (and I'm sure she
> did, in one sense of the word at least; they're *about* children).
> The fact that they appeal so strongly to adults too, is a fluke and a
> result of good writing, but they're published and written for kids.

Sorry -- I couldn't disagree more.  JKR has said in countless interviews 
that she didn't write them with a target audience in mind.  Others have 
responded eloquently as to how Harry's death could tie in very nicely 
with the tenor and theme of the series so I won't bother to chime in 
there.  But, the fact that the protagonist was a child when the series 
began does not make these books "childrens' books."  For one thing, 
he'll be an adult when the series is completed.  Harry is also growing 
up, and in fact, in many senses, he will have grown up beyond his 
chronological age by the start of Book 5 (given the experiences of GoF). 
JKR has unequivocally stated that she is not deviating from the original 
plan she has for the series, and she expressed serious doubts as to 
whether young children should be reading the series (in other words, she 
has no plans to "tone it down" for benefit of younger readers). 
Incidentally, she's also been rather coy about whether Harry will die or 
not ... "what makes you think I won't kill Harry?"  I personally don't 
believe that he will die at the end of Book 7, but it's not because I 
think JKR will keep the tone light because they're just childrens' 
books.  It's also not because of her statements about not writing more 
than 7 books.  I just don't have the gut feeling that Harry will die in 
the end.  :--)

Magpie wrote:

<<<I've always held on to the hope that JKR won't kill Harry because 
these stories started out as stories she told to her daughter.>>>

Actually, she conceived the idea for HP in 1990, while stuck on a train 
from London to Manchester.  She began writing & outlining at that point. 
Her daughter wasn't born until 1993.  She did write in coffee shops & 
such while Jessica was napping in her pram, but the writing was well 
underway before Jessica was old enough to really hear stories.  She 
also, as I understand it, refrained from reading any of the books to her 
daughter until she felt she was old enough (she caved a year earlier 
than she'd intended, reading the first one to her at age 6 rather than 7 
as planned).

PREDICTIONS FOR OOP -- Joywitch asked for predictions for OoP.  I'm not 
volunteering to compile all the predictions into a FAQ or anything, but 
I'll throw my one big prediction into the hat.  I'll eat a big helping 
of crow (not literally) if this doesn't pan out, but I want the glory of 
being the earliest and strongest proponent of this:  FITD.

FITD: Farmer in the Dell (Ron likes Hermione, Hermione likes Harry, 
Harry likes no one or someone else ... and it's all one big mess) -- I 
grow more & more convinced of it everytime I think about it.  She's hit 
us over the head with the fact that Ron likes Hermione.  She's been so 
subtle about Hermione that no one can definitively say where her 
romantic feelings lie (that is, good arguments can be made for both 
Harry and Ron as recipient of her affections).  What does R/H add to the 
plot?  Not much as best I can see.  What does FITD add to the plot, 
OTOH?  Conflict.  As Ebony said, conflict drives a plot.

Yep.  I won't predict much of anything else (deaths in particular). 
But, I'll hang my hat on FITD or some variant thereof.

PERCY -- I see that I have to wave my banner "Percy Lovers Unite" again. 
Trina, where are you?  :--)  Percy is *not* evil.  Percy has the 
potential to become a pawn of the Dark Side due to his ambitions, but I 
don't think so.  That also does not make him evil per se.  It just means 
he's vulnerable.  So, however, is his brother Ron, who can't seem to 
resist the Imperius Curse and has his own set of ambitions.  Ambition 
can be a good thing or a bad thing. If Percy's overriding characteristic 
was his ambition, why would he not have been a Slytherin?

I also want to point out that Percy has done many good things.  He is 
pompous and overly fond of Rules (reminds me of Molly).  But, he is also 
IMO fundamentally good-hearted and fond of his family.  He is heard 
proclaiming Ron's chess prowess at the Leaving Feast in PS/SS.  He seems 
very concerned about Ginny's health in CoS.  He is quite concerned for 
Ron after the 2nd Task in GoF.  He's proud of their accomplishments and 
concerned for their welfare.  Ron seems to believe that Percy's ambition 
would take precedence over familial ties, but Hermione takes Ron to task 
for thinking this.  I know we've had this debate before, but I'll say 
again that IMO, Hermione is a far, far better judge of character than Ron.

I think Percy will be sorely tested in OoP.  He may even make a 
temporarily bad choice.  But, I think he'll do the right thing in the 
end.  I just hope it doesn't cost him his life (or that of someone else).

Penny