Significance of missing line (was: HBP paperback)

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 156029

Alla:
> So, I bought it today.
> 
> I was talking to somebody off list about "He cannot kill you if you 
> are already dead" that is in American edition, but as we know it is 
> not in the British one.
> 
> It is not in the paperback edition either. Dumbledore now jumps right 
> into "come back to the right side..."
> 
> Hmmm, looks like JKR really does not want this sentence to be here.


SSSusan:
I find that fascinating.  So, when given the chance to make changes or 
not, she/the editors chose *to* make the change and take the line out, 
to match the UK edition.  

I think you're right, then, Alla, that this means JKR would have 
preferred that the first US edition didn't contain the line.  
(How 'bout others from around the world whose HBPs are in languages 
other than English?  Is the line in there or not?)

Huh.  So, since I chatted with Alla about this, I know that she thinks 
this may mean that JKR is planning to have someone escape from death 
and come back... and that Alla hopes it will be Regulus.
(I'm kind of speaking for you here, Alla, so feel free to correct me!)

You know, I like that thought!  IIRC, we really have only Sirius' 
belief that his brother was murdered, right? As he tells Harry the 
story in OoP?  No actual evidence. And Sirius wasn't there, 
obviously... must never have seen a body.  Has anyone else ever talked 
about Regulus' death?  

Just think what could be learned from a living Regulus if he is 
R.A.B.!  He could perhaps be a big help to Harry in the horcrux hunt!
Yep, I like it very much. 

I've always been one who argued that Sirius is truly dead, because I 
think the "message" of that death was really that death just really 
sucks.  There isn't always a rhyme or reason to death; we don't always 
get the chance to say good-bye or to have the time with a person that 
we wanted.  It's another cruel blow to Harry, but I think JKR wouldn't 
toy with that death, just as she wouldn't have had James and/or Lily 
actually be alive all these years (the ol' Remus-James Switch theory).  
I also don't think DD is still alive.  I know the symbolism was there 
at the funeral, but I think his time truly had come and that Harry 
needed to move on without him.

But Regulus? Regulus never played a significant role in Harry's Story, 
and we don't have the kind of evidence for his death that we had with 
Sirius or DD, nor JKR's comments about it, as she has commented about 
killing off Sirius & DD.  Regulus coming back or not actually being 
dead... yep, that one I could see her doing and not having it feel like 
a "cheat" or a mixed message about death.

Siriusly Snapey Susan