Harry the martyr/Harry the killer

[Kimberly]

No: HPFGUIDX 14006

Hey gang!

I had a whole bunch of what I hoped were cheerful, positive and 
insightful comments (but were probably just random babble) on the 
shipping debate. But since shipping appears to have ticked so many 
people off just lately, I'm trying, in my cheerful and positive way, 
to avoid getting myself clobbered by the seasick on the list.

So I decided to tuck those away for now and go another route 
entirely, so as to add a (hopefully) interesting non-ship thread to 
appease the seasick (from whom I expect to get some brilliant 
responses on this topic.  Or barring that, money would be nice.  Note 
to Moderators:  Is extortion from the seasick for not posting 
shipping stuff allowed?).

Oh yeah, I should probably get to the point, huh?

Ok, here goes.  All the silly stuff above was to work up my nerve to 
discuss something that I find somewhat difficult.  I've been reading 
in various threads over time, and I have noticed two main trends when 
discussing the possible defeat of Voldemort.

In the first, Voldemort is killed by Harry.

In the second, Harry dies in order for Voldemort to be defeated.

Both of these scenarios make me a bit queasy.  I know Voldemort is 
evil, and has to be defeated, but I'd hate for Harry to actually have 
to kill him.  I keep remembering his decision in PoA to stop Sirius 
and Remus from killing Pettigrew, and it makes me sad, because I 
thought he was so wise to make the decision he did.  I know it's 
different - I know that at the time Pettigrew was helpless, and not a 
threat to anyone, which means that killing him was simply revenge, 
and not self(or world)-defense, as it would be with Harry and 
Voldemort, but it still makes me terribly sad to think that Harry 
would have to kill someone, even if that someone is Voldy.

The second scenario, of course, is sick-making just because I love 
Harry so.  It would break my heart if he had to die.  On top of that, 
though, I think the messianic nature of that scenario is kinda creepy.

So anyway, what I'd like to know is, are there other major theories 
that I've missed?  Do most people feel that one of these two is what 
is going to happen? Which one?  Why?  How do people feel about it?  
Do these two possibilities freak anyone else out, or am I just too 
wimpy?  

Any thoughts, ideas, rogue theories?

kimberly, all worried and wishing she'd just gone ahead with less 
depressing shipping after all.