Neville in the end - Who kills in the end?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 103025

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Lynx412 at A... wrote:
> In a message dated 6/27/2004 2:30:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> asian_lovr2 at y... writes:
> 
> > .... At the last second, the hero grabs the anti-hero and tries to 
> save him, but, despite a Herculean effort, he can't hold on and the 
> anti-hero plunges to his death. It's the classic way to save the 
> hero from soiling his virtue.
> > 
> > This is the best I can come up with at the moment. ... the Dept of
> > Mysteries-Death Chamber for the final battle. ..., Voldemort is 
> > about to accidently fall through 'The Veil', ..., Harry leaps 
> > forward and knocks Lord-V out of the way. Lord-V is so overwhelmed
> > by Harry's act of compassion, that he voluntees to walk through 
> > 'The Veil' thereby ending his reign of terror for all time. 
> 

> Cheryl/Lynx:
>
> FWIW, I ran both these options past my ten year old daughter. "Yeah, 
> Right. No way, that's dumb" was her reaction. I'm afraid I agree 
> with her. 

asian_lovr2:

Well, who would know better than a 10 year old. Actually, I wasn't
being entirely serious, my point was serious, but I admit my examples
were a bit frivolous. The point was that the anti-hero can die in the
end without the need for the hero to become a murderer or killer. 

In my somewhat frivolous examples, indeed the hero ends the story in a
grand magnanimous act of heroism, showing once and for all that he is
truly the greater person. Admittedly, this occurs mostly in low-budget
poorly written 'B' grade movies and TV shows, but is estabilishes a
precedent.

Do I want Lord-V to die? Yes, but I don't want Harry to kill him with
a direct conscious intentional act of harm. I want the books to end
with Harry's virtue not his vengeance.

In reality, I'm completely stumped for a workable ending (a tribute to
the author). Voldemort must the completely and thoroughly vanquished,
but he doesn't necessarily have to die. Although, I think Lord-V will
die; the question is will Harry kill him, and will Harry die with him.
I hope Harry will somehow cause his death, but again, I don't want
Harry to kill him with a direct willful act of harm.

Would Harry be justified in killing Voldemort? Absolutely, clear cut
case of self-defense, even if Harry Death Curse's Lord-V in the back,
it would justifiable from the perspective of a soldier in wartime. But
just because something is right doesn't mean it isn't wrong (legally
right & morally wrong).



> Cheryl/Lynx continues:

> 
> I'm afraid the closest I can come to any of your scenarios is LV vs 
> Harry in the Death Chamber and LV falling through the veil when he 
> tries to shove Harry through ... or, better yet, all LV's victims, 
> summoned by Harry's struggles, reaching through, grabbing him and 
> dragging him in after them. LV gets his just deserts, his victims 
> get their revenge, all is well.
> 
> The Other Cheryl


Asian_lovr2 (formerly bboy_mn):

Ho... Ho... where have I heard this before? ...or at least something
similar to this.

From:  "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...>
Date:  Sat Apr 3, 2004  4:17 pm
Subject:  Re: A portrait of Sirius? (Was: Empty picture)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/95091
In the very Last Paragraph.

From:  "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...>
Date:  Sun Apr 4, 2004  12:50 am
Subject:  How about... this ending? (was: A portrait of Sirius?)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/95121
continuation of the previous thread.

From:  "Steve" <bboy_mn at y...>
Date:  Mon May 31, 2004  12:41 pm
Subject:  Re: A Hero's Death - Basis in mythology??
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/99833
Link to over a dozen discussions of various possible endings and
outcomes. Not all of which are mine.

Just a thought.

Steve/asian_lovr2