[HPforGrownups] Request for opinions (and reasons to justify them)

[Moonstruck]

No: HPFGUIDX 44736

MarEprhaim said:
> One of the more prevalent predictions in the OoP
> Predictions Derby is that the more oft noted beloved
of Harry who will die in Book 5 is Ron (other top
contender, Hagrid). As Ron has always been the more
interesting and humourous character of the cast of
principles I found this speculation most distressing.
(snip) Has anyone picked up any evidence from canon or
otherwise that would support this possibility?

Now Me:

I'm of the opinion that Ron won't die -- or if it
does, it will be at the end of the series. 

I say that for two reasons: (a) JKR has set the stage
in GoF for something serious to develop between Ron
and Hermione -- plot-wise, it makes no sense to start
such a seemingly important subplot only to abandon it
in the next book by killing Ron, and (b) Ron hasn't
come into his own yet -- JKR has given us many reasons
to believe that Ron has the potential to become a
great wizard, but to do so, he's going to have to
emerge from the shadows of his brothers and Harry and
Hermione and find confidence in himself. It's going to
take more than one book for Ron to reach that level of
independence, and I simply refuse to belive that JKR
is going to kill Ron before he comes to peace with
himself and realizes his true potential. 

But there are two scenes that I find particularly
troublesome for Ron:

>From SS/PS:

" 'Yes...' said Ron softly, 'it's the only way...I've
got to be taken.'

'NO!' Harry and Hermione shouted.

'That's chess!' snapped Ron. 'You've got to make some
sacrifices! I take one step forward and she'll take me
-- that leaves you to checkmate the king, Harry!'

'But--'

'Do you want to stop Snape or not?'

'Ron--'

'Look, if you don't hurry up, he'll already have the
Stone!'

There was no alternative.

'Ready?' Ron called, his face pale but determined.
'Here I go -- now, don't hang around once you've won.'

He stepped forward, and the white queen pounced. She
struck Ron hard across the head with her stone arm,
and he crashed to the floor -- Hermione screamed but
stayed on her square -- the white queen dragged Ron to
one side. He looked as if he'd been knocked out."
(283)

Pretty self-explanatory, there.

And from PoA:

"As Harry was helping himself to roast potatoes, the
doors of the Great Hall opened again. It was Professor
Trelawney, gliding toward them as though on
wheels....Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit
down; her enormous eyes had been roving around the
table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream.

'I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall
be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never
forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to
rise will be the first to die!' 

(snip)

Full to bursting with Christmas dinner and still
wearing their party hats, Harry and Ron got up first
from the table and she [Professor Trelawney] shrieked
loudly.

'My dears! Which of you left his seat first? Which?'

'Dunno,' said Ron, looking uneasily at Harry.

'I doubt it will make much difference,' said Professor
McGonagall coldly, 'unless a mad axe-man is waiting
outside the doors to slaughter the first into the
entrance hall.'

Even Ron laughed. Professor Trelawney looked highly
affronted." (228-30)

That could be interpreted as a death omen for either
Ron or Harry, but notice that it's Ron who's mentioned
most after he and Harry rise. Also, though this is
only conjecture on my part, I don't believe JKR is
going to kill her hero off, which would leave Ron the
obvious victim. However, this scene could have a far
less literal meaning -- or it could mean nothing
(which I doubt).


Finally, let's not forget the seeming association with
Ron and the Imperious Curse in GoF. Not only is he the
student who volunteers information about it in DADA
class -- definitely significant since Ron so rarely
speaks up in class -- JKR makes a special point of
saying that Ron has a tremendous difficulty resisting
the curse when Mad-Eye tests it on him. Granted, the
Imperious Curse isn't necessarily lethal. But were Ron
to fall under it's influence (which I firmly believe
will happen), his possessed actions may put him in the
path of danger or he may be disgarded by Voldy/the
DE's once his usefullness has ended.

We shall see...but I'd hedge my bets that Hagrid's the
goner in book five :`(

-Jessica

=====
"Oh, I'll settle down with some old story/About a boy who's just like me/Thought there was love in everything and everyone/You're so naive!/After a while they always get it/They always reach a sorry end/Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then/With a winning smile, the boy/With naivety succeeds/At the final moment, I cried/I always cry at endings"
- "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying," Belle and Sebastian

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