Did anyone predict the death?

[D.G.]

No: HPFGUIDX 68755

-In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "coolbeans3131" <mom31 at r...> wrote:
...did anybody predict that it would be Sirius who would die?  ...I 
thought it was going to be Hagrid.

Coolbeans, I also thought it was probably going to be Hagrid -- and, 
of course, his absence in the early chapters of OoP served to 
heighten this expectation.  Other possibilities I considered were Ron 
(or one of his parents) or maybe even Neville.

(I assumed that, given the heat she's already taken for the alleged 
sexism of her characterizations, JKR wouldn't dare snuff out Hermione 
or any of the other female leads -- although when Prof. McGonagall 
took that hit in front of Hagrid's hut, I began to doubt my own 
prophetic skills.)

I must admit, though, that Sirius came to my mind as well.  Even 
though he represented a vital emotional sanctuary for Harry, and he 
was certainly a powerful and important ally in the fight against the 
Dark Lord, there was nothing inherent in him or his powers that 
seemed to make him essential for carrying on the plot.  There are 
plenty of other experienced Wizards (especially now that we know 
about the Order) to guide and protect our hero in the upcoming books.

And, from a literary/mythological perspective, it somehow made sense 
that Harry's "orphan" status --like Odysseus's status as a homeless 
traveler and "man of sorrows"-- must be preserved, even re-affirmed 
and re-established, at least until he reaches the culmination of his 
mission.

D.G.  ("JazzmanChgo")