Rowling's Death Prediction: Thoughts

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 115426


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "daughterofthedust" 
<daughterofthedust at y...> wrote:
> 
> 
> Okay, so Rowling has divulged that another main character will meet
> his/her end in book six...

Hickengruendler:

That's what the media said. But in truth, her quote was a bit 
different (see the FAQ-Poll on her website). She was asked, if more 
characters will die, and she confirmed it. She did not say in which 
book this will happen, she did not say if it is really a major 
character, nor did she say that there will be only one death of a 
major character in book 6. All she said is that there will be more 
deaths in the future books, and I don't think that this is surprising.

> 
> And here are my thoughts:
> 
> I don't think it's going to be Dumbledore, because that would just 
be
> too predictable. The death of an old mentor where folks keep saying
> "He's the only one Voldemort's afraid of"? Ehh, nah...

Hickengruendler:

No matter how obvious it might be, it always happened. Right now I 
can't remember a single story in which the mentor survived (some came 
back, like Gandalf. But still Frodo couldn't rely on him anymore, 
since they were separated). The point has to come, on which Harry has 
to stand-up to Voldemort alone, without Dumbledore to help him. Of 
course they might simply be separated, but there are three other 
reasons why I think that Dumbledore indeed will die: The famous quote 
in book 1, where he said that "Death is nothing but the next great 
adventure," which I see as foreshadowing. The quote in book 2 where 
he said that he will only truly leave the castle, when there's nobody 
left who is loyal to him. I think that is another foreshadowing that 
he might be able to help even from the grave, if the Hogwarts 
students and teachers remain loyal to him. The third reason is, that 
I'm convinced that Voldemort will attack Hogwarts in book 7. And for 
this, "the only one he ever feared" has to be gone.

> 
> Not many people predicted the other characters' demises (in Goblet 
and
> Order, respectively).

Hickengruendler:

I think before book four, it was impossible to predict Cedric's 
death, since nobody even paid attention to Cedric. However, around 
the middle of book four, it was pretty obvious, IMO. He was way to 
perfect to live.
  
> For some reason I'm leaning towards two characters: Neville and 
Percy.
> 
> Neville, because his importance has been hinted at and I could
> definitely see him doing something daring (mirroring what many 
thought
> Peter Pettigrew had done).

Hickengruendler:

Might be. It pains me to say it because he is my second-favourite 
character after McGonagall, but I think he's a likely candidate. 
However, I don't see him dieing in book 6. Not because I think 
Dumbledore will go, IMO it's very well possible that more than one of 
the main characters will die, but Neville, like Harry, Ron and 
Hermione, also has a storyline that contains him growing up and 
finding a place in society. And for this, I think it would fit 
better, if he lives through all seven books and if his storyline 
comes full-circle (for the better or for the worse) during the climax 
of book 7. Like I already said, I think it's very possible that he'll 
die then, but my hope is, that he's the student who'll become a 
teacher. With Harry, Ron and Hermione out of the run, and Malfoy 
being evil, Neville seems like the most important classmate of Harry 
left.


> Percy because I think the time will come when he will have to make a
> decision and choose sides.  I think that choice could lead to his
> death. I have a feeling he may make the wrong choice and then regret
> it...My mind keeps wondering about the significance of the last name
> "Weasley".  Could Percy embody it's implications?

Hickengruendler:
I see him as one of the least likely candidates. It would be too easy 
a way out for both, Percy and JKR. I like Percy not because he is 
sympathetic (if I met him in real life, I would love to kick him), 
but because of what he adds to the storyline, especially concerning 
the Weasleys. I like the Percy/Weasley family conflict, and I want to 
see it resolved. And Percy dieing to save a Weasley wouldn't satisfy 
me. I want Percy to live with the fact, that he was mistaken and to 
learn from his mistakes. And I want to see how the other Weasleys 
react to a Percy who's alive. I'm sure they all would forgive Percy 
the martyr, but it wouldn't be half as interesting, IMO.

> 
> And then there's the wild-card that's been thrown around the 
fandom...
> 
> Ron..Though I doubt it, it is possible that some kind of
> power-struggle/rift could develop, indirectly causing his death.
> 
> Ron his already demonstrated his penchant for holding grudges and a
> riotous temper. Though quieted because of his recent achievements,
> could definitely see somthing possibly developing along those lines.

Hickengruendler: 
I am sure the Trio will survive the sixth book. They are the 
strongest if they are united, and if some of them would die before 
book 7, there would be something missing in the story.