Endings

[kiricat2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 85158

Kneasy wrote: 
> Preferences for the ending vary depending on the opacity of one's  
> rose-tinted spectacles. Some see Harry (plus partner) romping off 
into 
> a golden-hazed future; the meadows ablaze with wild flowers, 
bluebirds 
> twittering overhead, into a truly magical sunset with everything 
> perfection.
> 
> Those steeped in the lore of folklore appreciate that  there  are  
damn 
> few epics where everybody lives happily ever after. With alarming 
> frequency the one person who  doesn't get to enjoy a ripe old age 
is 
> the hero. He gets a holiday named after him instead (and wasn't 
that 
> mentioned at the beginning of PS/SS? Hmm. Harry Potter Day. I  
wonder).
> 
> Others, more cynical, suspect that JKR may not tie up all the loose 
> ends as promised. After all, a sequel or two might not  be a total 
> disaster, right?
> 
> Just for a moment, let's put aside analyses of the plot, 
fascinating as 
> they are, and consider HP from a slightly different angle. Is it 
> possible that the genesis of of Harry Potter could be an influence 
on 
> the ending?
> 
> We all know the place; a train between London and Scotland.
> We all know the circumstances; mother of a young child and times 
aren't 
> easy.
> We  all know that the story appeared almost miraculously complete - 
the 
> end was known at the beginning.
> We all know that international stardom was not envisaged. JKR hoped 
to 
> sell a few thousand copies, enough to supplement her income -  a 
local 
> story for a local audience.
> We all know she is not going to change the plot just to please her 
> audience.
> We all know that JKR is quiet, reserved, almost introverted, 
definitely 
> not the extrovert optimist type.
> We all know JKR claims to be brutal; kill 'em off if necessary.
> 
> So, what would be your odds for a happy ending?
> All in all, the circumstances of his genesis do not hold out a 
great 
> deal of hope - particularly the train journey; in the UK they are 
so 
> bad they generally promote rage and an inclination to kill, *kill*, 
> KILL!
> 
> I think it's thumbs down for Harry; 3:1 he doesn't make it.
> 

I think Harry will live, but that he will lose his magical powers.  
(And I'm sure others have suggested this before I have!)  Harry is a 
character who has spent a lot of his life feeling like he simply 
doesn't fit.  He was never treated as a full member of the Dursley 
family in his younger years.  And, once he was told he was a wizard, 
that caused even more alientation with his non-magical relatives.  

Coming late as Harry did to the wizard world, he felt out of place 
there, too. Even more so once he realized that everyone in that world 
knew who he was.  However, as his school years went by, he became 
more comfortable in this world, and felt that he belonged there. 
Now, at the end of OoP, Harry again feels alienation, because of what 
the prophecy tells him.  

I can see JKR stripping him of his magic powers, in some final battle 
with V., but letting Harry live, thus keeping Warner Brothers happy 
by not killing off the hero of the story.  Harry will be the hero who 
vanishes from the world he saved, remaining behind only in story or 
myth.  He'll no longer be part of the wizard world, but will never 
truly feel part of the muggle world, either.  

Marianne