Death omens

[shallowdwell]

No: HPFGUIDX 115781



Since we've been on the subject of who might die in the next two 
books, maybe we should take a hint from our seer Trelawny, who likes 
to look for Death omens.  Not that it will necessarily tell us the 
future, but it could be interesting to look at the text closely as if 
for hints.  

Fun, too.

For example, when Sirius was first seen (unbeknownst to us, early in 
book 3) it was as his big black dog form.  Shortly thereafter, Harry 
saw a like image on the cover of a book about death omens in the 
Wizard bookstore.  This omen was called (as we later learned from 
Prof. Trelawny) a grimm.  Everybody (but Hermione) supposed it meant 
that Harry would die, and even Harry wondered given that he saw it 
more than once.  

Of course Harry's not dead (yet).  But Sirius, whose animagus form 
was the grimm incarnate, *is*.  

Coincidence?  Or clever hint from JKR, who obviously knew what would 
happen to Sirius before she even introduced him?  YOU DECIDE ;)

Any others?  It doesn't have to be a symbol, it could just be an 
interesting play on words that catches your attention.

Among my favorites is when Malfoy and his chums find Harry at the end 
of OotP:  "You're dead, Potter," says Malfoy.  "Funny, you'd think 
I'd have stopped walking around," Harry replies.  (this is from 
memory--so the words may be inexact)

Which makes me wonder if the nice idea of a death/resurrection might 
not be quite appropriate.  It might explain why (aside from 
maintaining her secrets/dramatic tension) JKR likes to tease us about 
whether Harry lives or not.  If she says he lives, and we find a 
death scene for him, won't we all go "liar, liar" and "shame on you", 
or maybe if we're the hopeful reared on Disney types, say, "don't 
worry, she says he'll live so I know the death thing won't last."

On the other hand, if she says "he'll die" we might mope around, 
decide not to read on because its too depressing, and thus miss out 
on her twist ending.

And of course if she says, "he'll die but I'll bring him back" then 
she's given the whole thing away.

Actually, while I love resurrection stories myself (my whole faith is 
based on one!) I rather doubt that is what JKR has in mind.  She has 
taken a hard line on death, the value of life, and even has presented 
a potentially hopeful picture of what comes after.  She refuses to 
give even her youngest, most innocent, and most hopeful fans hope 
that Harry's parents  or his Godfather will return.  Why would Harry 
be different?

However, I remember thinking thoughout book 5, "Can this really be it 
for Mr. Weasley?" or else "oh no, there goes McGonagall!"  
and "Nooooo! She can't have killed Hermione!"  If I'm any judge of 
character, JKR may well delight to tease us with several longer 
duration *apparent* deaths, and Harry could even be one of them.

But if we see the body clearly lifeless, or have a character finally 
pronounced dead, that will be that.  She isn't likely to bring them 
back to life as by miracle.  That's just my hunch based on some of 
the quotes I've read from JKR.

So-- omens anyone?

Here's another that had me sweating out the last two books:
   Remember when Molly said to the twins at the beginning of GoF that 
she had been afraid that they would die and the last thing she would 
have said to them is that they didn't get enough OWLs?
   That memory still gives me a forboding that one of the twins will 
be untwinned before this is all over.  Brrrrrrr.

expectantly,

Andrea