possible theory as to who might die in book 7 and a couple of other thoughts.

[Mari]

No: HPFGUIDX 144254

A friend of mine and I were discussing this the other night. All 
through the series, Harry has had to deal with a series of deaths that 
become increasingly difficult for him.

In GoF, the death of Cedric is difficult because Cedric could so easily 
have been Harry; Harry feels on some level personally responsible. 

OotP ups the ante-- losing Sirius is more difficult for Harry on a 
personal level, as Sirius is one of his main sources of adult support.

In HBP, Harry loses his other main adult supporter, Dumbledore. He 
feels that the foundations of his universe are crumbling.

Assuming that the progression is that each death Harry experiences is 
going to be more difficult for him, who is the logical choice for book 
seven? Whose death could possibly be harder for Harry than Dumbledore's?

I would like to suggest that the loss of Ron is the only loss that 
would hit Harry harder than Dumbledore's loss. The Weasleys are 
effectively his family, and Ron (apart from Hermione) his closest 
friend and most loyal supporter. 

This argument could also be applied to Ginny, but Ron has demonstrated 
a willingness to sacrifice his own interests to those of his friends 
from the first book. 

On another note, there is a second logical progression I notice in the 
series as a whole; the issue of forgiveness.

In PoA, Harry has to make a decision about Peter Pettigrew. Is he going 
to make the easy choice, (allow Sirius and Lupin to kill the person he 
most hates at the time, the person who betrayed his parents to 
Voldemort) or the more difficult choice, spare Peter's life rather than 
perpetuate the pattern of murder Peter started. Harry realises that 
vengeance, while the most natural human reaction, is a lazy form of 
grief.

All right. Cut to HBP. Who does Harry now hate *more* than Peter? Who 
will he find it ten times more difficult to forgive, or at least give 
up the opportunity to pursue vengeance? Snape. JKR has said that 
Harry's hatred of Snape is now as personal as Harry's hatred of 
Voldemort.

Here we also see a parallel being set up. Harry and Voldemort clearly 
represent people who, in their childhood, had similar gifts. Tom Riddle 
made evil choices and became Voldemort. So far Harry has made mistakes, 
but has done his best to think of what the right choice rather than the 
easy choice would be. 

Who is the one character who is *very* similar in some ways to Harry 
and Voldemort, and who at this point could conceivably go either way? 
Again, Snape. This is why I am convinced that however JKR chooses to 
end the series, Snape's actions, and Snape's choices, will be a hugely 
important thematic vehicle for her. His ultimate fate will tell us what 
JKR actually wants to say about the possibility and working out of 
redemption, when it is possible, when it is not, and how it can be 
achieved or the opportunity for it lost forever.

Hope this ramble makes some kind of sense! ;-)

Mari.