alchemy in HP(was: Ron-death of a friend?/theme

[littleleahstill]

No: HPFGUIDX 111529

Phyllis wrote:
>IMO, Ron will be one of the deaths in the last book, the
>alchemical "work of reddening." The alchemical Great Work is
>divided "into three or four essential phases: `the work of
>blackening' (Nigredo or Melanosis), `the work of whitening' (Albedo
>or Leucosis), and finally `the work of reddening,' which alchemists
>originally separated into two complementary moments, that of gold
>(Citrinitas or Xantosis) and that of purple or transmutation of venom
>(Iosis)" (see: Maurice Aniane, Alchemy: The Cosmological Yoga, Part
>2: Phases of the Work, http://www. alchemylab.com/AJ2-1.htm). In
>alchemy, the work of reddening is symbolized by the ceremonial
>meeting of the Red King and the White Queen.

Leah:

I understand JKR to have suggested during an interview that Ron's 
death was not part of her plan.  I believe she said something 
like, 'As if I'd kill Harry's best friend'.  So while that's not a 
complete denial, it leans in that direction.

I do agree that Ron's sacrifice in the chess game seems to foreshadow 
something, and of course there is the Ron=DD timeturning theory as 
one explanation. (Though of course in the context of the PS/SS tasks, 
it's Hermione who gets sent back).

Couldn't the reddening you refer to be a reference to Rubeus Hagrid?  
(I assume you are thinking of Sirius for the blackening stage and 
Albus DD for the whitening (though there could be a Lily reference 
there).   You point out all the maroon references to Ron (isn't DD 
wearing maroon robes in the diary vision?), but couldn't this be a 
reference to royalty rather than the reddening process?  And Harry 
sees Ron and Hermione wearing crowns- and I understand that kings and 
queens are an alchemical image.

I'm taking the alchemical idea at face value there, because I do find 
it interesting.  My question is, do you think this a deliberate theme 
by JKR?  There are a number of what seem to be reasonably overt 
references to alchemy in the text- not only the PS itself, but to 
alchemists- Nicholas Flamel, Paracelsus, John Dee.  However it does 
seem to be a rather obscure subject to form a major theme in the 
series.

Laurasia wrote:   
>  But, like I said above, I agree that there is a metaphysical
>level of magic present and I think the best stories are those
>which do tap into this higher domain. JKR's story is so popular
>and works on so many levels from children to academics because
>it is a very good example of issues beyond the physical
>domain of the universe.

Do these 'alchemical' references tap into this metaphysical level of 
magic?