Which way?

[Ava]

No: HPFGUIDX 101820

Kneasy:
> > > See? The  possibilities are many, these are just a sample, 
lots 
> > > more where they came from, but only a few endings get serious 
> > > consideration. 
> > > And that's just  one facet of the story. Expectation and 
perception 
> > > again. *We* limit the possibilities we see, we're the ones in 
> > > blinkers.  We have defined our own boundaries. 

SSSusan:
> > It's interesting, isn't it?  Are these other possibilities 
ignored 
> > because we're oddsmakers at heart?  Because of the gut reaction 
> > factor?  Because of the "I don't WANT that to happen" aspect of 
it?  

Kneasy:
> Most likely it's a combination of a  number of influences, for most
> anyway.
> Tradition is probably high on most lists. "This  is the way this 
type
> of story ends; always has, and  so should this one."
> Yes, "Don't want it to end that way" has also figured in some 
posts,
> though  it may be a variant of the "Tradition" factor. What's 
familiar 
> is comfortable and comforting. Lots of fans have classified the HP
> series in their minds as a certain type of fiction; if it turned 
out not
> to fit neatly into that category, well, it might cause puzzlement, 
even
> consternation. But JKR never said it would fit any particular 
category.
> Expectation and perception, yet again.

        I am put in my mind of those sort of stories that postulate 
multiple (perhaps infinite) alternate universes, in which a small  
variable leads in each case to a new infinite number of alternate 
universes, of greater or lesser similarity to one another.  I don't 
mean the HP series itself, but of the possibilities Kneasy has 
raised as to where the path leads.  We can postulate to the bitter 
end as to what MIGHT happen, until we get TO the end and we KNOW 
which path is taken.  (Or not - we may very well be left with an 
uncertain post-series future, in some respects.)  But in the 
meantime, we're amusing ourselves, aren't we?  The brains are 
getting some exercise.
       It is not unusual, of course, to read a story in which we get 
to know our protagonist & main characters better and better.  As 
they become fleshed out more fully, we do come to have certain 
expectations of their behavior.  There is also, as one goes along, a 
sense that The End will probably go in a particular direction, or 
one of a diminishing no. of directions.  I think what draws HP fans 
ever deeper, is that as we get closer to the end of the series, we 
learn more and more, and know less & less.  
     In part, I think, that is because our protagonist comes in at 
the beginning of the maelstrom of adolescence & will end nearly at 
the other side, & JKR does not shy away - in fact, she effectively 
employs - the mental, emotional and developmnetal changes that an 
adolescent goes through, including the ugly nasty bits.  We don't 
know for sure where he'll end up, exactly, do we?  I picture Harry 
at his first use of Floo Powder.  When he stops spinning, our 
expectation, as his, is to end up in Diagon Alley, but he ends up on 
Knockturn Alley instead.  Of course, he gets where he belongs 
eventually, but could this be foreshadowing?  (Actually I just 
mentioned it as an analogy, but now that I've said it....)
     And then of course, we have our other friends and 
acquaintances, of whom we have learned all sorts of things.  With 
all this information, any idiot should be able to predict what will 
happen.  (It might be harder for someone of intelligence, though.)  
 The point is, there are just so many places JKR can go with this, & 
only she REALLY knows who these people are & what they'll do.  An 
unexpected ending doesn't require a bizarre twist, such as a gang of 
renegade goblins taking over the MoM & making Wizards & Witches into 
slaves with Dementor bos'uns (didn't I see a movie like that 
once?).  We can have an ending that follows fairly traditional 
lines, but still satisfies by defying our expectations and 
challenging our assumptions.  
     Anyway, all those alternate universes remain out there for our 
consideration, until Miss Rowling pops the bubble.  What bothers me 
is when people construct their own HP universe, find it becomes 
untenable in the subsequent book, & then get angry with the author 
for ruining a perfectly good (in someone's mind) 
theory/universe/relationship.  "My version/character/ship/ending is 
better than hers."  Whatever.  If I want to read my story, I'll 
write my story.  But I want to read HER story, the one that she's 
said, in essence, will not conform to anyone's expectations except 
her own.  
      For the record, that's a GOOD thing.

Ava