Ron's death, Neville's role and Harry's travel

[eliasheldon]

No: HPFGUIDX 32728

Grey Wolf,

WOW!  Great theories.  I haven't posted to this board in a while, 
but this topic really sparked my interest.

In response to your theories:

*snip*
> 
> Th. 1: Ron's Death
The chess match represents the future

I never quite looked at it that way, but I have always had the 
feeling that Ron would die by the end of the series. I like your use 
of the wizard's chess game to justify the setup of this.  May I also 
add that Christopher Columbus said that his favorite scene of the 
movie is the chess scene because it reflects the heart of the 
books..... hmmm...... wonder if he has gotten the real scoop from 
JKR about Ron's fate?

OTOH, it is possible that Ron will only be injured (as was the case 
in the chess game) and that the death is not Ron but another lovable 
character.  Please see below for my theory on this....

> Th. 2: Neville's role in the books
Neville the canary defeating Draco the dragon

I agree that Neville is going to play a large part in the defeat of 
a big bad (Buffy term for something evil).  My theory (which I 
posted to this board about 6 months ago) is that Neville is so 
forgetful because he had a memory charm placed on him when his 
parents were attacked and tortured by the Deatheaters.

At some point, this memory charm is going to be broken.  Once it is, 
I think we will begin to see a different, more powerful side of 
Neville.  After all, his father was an Auror, it makes sense that he 
must also be a powerful wizard.

I like your theory about the canary and the dragon.  Very clever 
foreshadowing on JKR's part if you are right!  I am not sure if 
Draco is going to turn out to be evil after all - it is just too 
obvious for it to be true!  JKR being the master of plot twists as 
she is wouldn't make it that easy for us to id the villain, would 
she?

> Th. 3: Harry's travel
<Godric's Hollow, and Harry'll be going there to visit his 
> parents' grave.> 

That is a definite possibility.  The other possibility that comes to 
mind is Azkaban - what if he goes there to visit an imprisoned 
friend or to help defeat the dementors (face his worst fears)?

He could also show up at the ministry - less possible because it 
would not really be that exciting, would it?

Another possibility that springs to mind is the mountains where the 
giants reside - from the end of GOF.

> 
> Feel free to beat any of the three down, as long as I'm around to 
> answer back (which I will be, don't worry)

I hope you don't feel like I beat any of these down, I think they 
are quite good.

> 
> Grey Wolf
> (He who now understands why "one of the deaths" will be painfull 
to 
> write for JKR - just the theory was painful enough!)

I think the most painful death that she is going to write might be 
Hagrid.  Before the movie, I didn't really get as much of a sense 
about how tender and important the relationship between Hagrid and 
Harry is.  That last scene in the movie when Harry says goodbye to 
him almost broke my heart - it seems that JKR might have let Mr. 
Coltrane in on the little secret that Hagrid might not be around at 
the close of Book 7.  I can't really explain it more than the fact 
that I just got this eery feeling about it and that I think Mr. 
Coltrane played Hagrid much more sympathetically and softly than I 
pictured Hagrid in the books.

I hope this makes sense.  Thanks for the interesting topic...

Elia