The Death Chamber

[Richard]

No: HPFGUIDX 81636

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, digger <altered.earth at n...> 
wrote:
> entropymail wrote:
> 
> > Nick told Harry  "I believe learned wizards study the
> > matter in the Department of Mysteries--". 
> > 
> > This is probably what Nick is talking about; a place which has 
been
> > devised to study death. Perhaps even speak to the dead. Because 
of the
> > amphitheater-like setup of the room, it may be some sort of study 
hall
> > or, perhaps, an observation room like those you might see in a
> > teaching hospital. 
> > 
> > Just my thoughts!
> > 
> > :: Entropy ::
> > 
> 
> digger:
> 
> yes, my reading of it exactly. See my post 
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/66829.
> 
> Following on from myself again (shame-faced)
> The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of Harry 
dragging 
> Voldy through the veil. Because if Harry is willing to sacrifice 
> himself, he could be returned to the land of the living, as a 
> 'bodhisattva', so he can finish his 'work' on earth. It would have 
to be 
> a purely selfless sacrifice though, and not because he wants to see 
all 
> his loved ones again. So I stay steadfast to my DeadLand!Harry 
theory, 
> that Harry will make contact with the dead, and yet not die.  That 
would 
> make sense of JKR mentioning the possibility of Harry dying at the 
end, 
> and yet leave him around for a sequel. Quite apart from all the 
> religious parallels ;-)


to which I (Richard) reply:

Sorry, but I would find it hard to agree LESS.  JKR has repeatedly 
said that "dead is dead" ... and might as well have added "... and 
gone forever," given the firmness of her attitude on the subject.  I 
would be shocked and appalled by such a turn, as it would run counter 
to so much of what JKR has said, and the general, persistent thread 
of "life lessons" contained in the Potter series.  If Harry or anyone 
else dies, they will be well and truly dead, unless they so fear 
death or love this World that they choose to become ghosts ... and I 
can't see Harry choosing to become a ghost, either.

While unspeakables may well study one facet of death in this room, 
attempting to communicate with the dead here, and the room itself did 
play such a prominent role in OotP, I can't see it as a recurring 
locale for the series, even for a final battle between Harry and 
Voldemort.  Rather, I think the key to the final battle lies in 
Harry's hands.

Think about how many people have noted the reference to and use of 
hands throughout the series, and the fact that it was with his bare 
hands that Harry defended himself against Quirrel (sp?).  Further, 
the prophecy in OotP specifically says that either must die at the 
other's hands, as neither can live while the other survives.  I don't 
see Harry's dragging Voldemort through the arch and veil as being a 
fruition of the hands theme.  Sure, it would be done with Harry's 
hands, but Harry's hands would not be the CAUSE of Voldemort's death, 
the arch performing the deed instead.  Even if Harry were to PUSH 
Voldemort through the arch, we still have the problem that Harry is 
consistently described as small and thin, making it unlikely that he 
would be able to manhandle Voldemort to and through the arch.

And when you think about it, Harry is a good person (despite certain 
adolescent features that alarm some readers), but I would hardly 
consider him a candidate for being returned to the World of the 
living to become a "bodhisattva," especially when such a return from 
death would so completely violate the stated position of JKR and the 
life-lessons substrate of the series.

So, much though I may respect you as a person, and your right to have 
your own opinions, I still think you've headed down a very blind 
alley with this theory of yours.


Richard, who thinks JKR should be taken seriously when she 
says, "Dead is dead."