Am I unique?

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 171170

> > Eggplant:

> > I can't find anyone in this group (or any other Potter group 
> > for that matter) who agrees with me that Harry will die in 
> > the last book. But can that really be true? Nobody agrees 
> > with me? Nobody?!

> Cassy:
<SNIP>
> I mean,who would buy their kid Philosopher's Stone, knowing 
> that the main character is going to kick the bucket eventually. 
> Not to mention that there's 2 more movies to sell as well. So, 
> I'm afraid that Harry's death is just wishful thinking on our 
> part. :(

Goddlefrood:

There are plenty of indicia in interviews that Harry will die. I 
was at one time going to write up a theory that he would, but am 
kind of all theoried out, as 'twere. A sudden burst of realisation, 
such as there are only 17 days until release, may bring me out of 
this torpor, but then again it may not. Ah, that's actually the 
case in Fiji, only 17 days to go.

The books began first off for JKR writing for herself. She says 
she had a plan and despite the odd tweak she's stuck to it. If 
Harry was slated to die he will die. No matter what other 
pressure might be brought to bear either from the publishing 
industry or the industry that shall not be named or elsewhere.

For what it's worth Harry has probably already died several 
thousand times during the course of gaming by those who want to 
see him die, and in the computer games no doubt he can.

JKR does not seem to be someone who would bow to pressure in other 
words and I, therefore, disagree with Cassy.

Here are some interview quotes with links as I'd compiled them 
dated between just 1999 and 2001. There are many more later than 
that.  The nearest JKR came to letting slip slip that Harry would 
die was reported in an article in The Scotsman (Number 4 below). 
She withdrew the comment wuickly apparently but had been taken 
at first as being serious (and when is she ever, at least until 
after DH is released?) This is all pasted from my file:

************************

(1) Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999

With the huge success of the first three books and your seemingly 
endless imagination, do you think that you might (please, oh 
please) consider continuing the story past the originally planned 
seven books? Maybe continuing with Harry as an adult or books 
about his children?

So you're convinced I'm not going to kill Harry??!! I try never 
to say never, because it seems that every time I do I end up by 
doing the thing I've forsworn. So, there is a remote possibility 
that there will another Harry book, but at the present time I am 
planning only seven.

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/0999-barnesnoble-staff.htm


(2) Davies, Frank. "Joanne Kathleen Rowling, creator of the Harry 
Potter," Sunday Gazette-Mail (Charleston, SC), 14 November 1999

- On Harry's fate: "I know what will happen to Harry in book 
seven, but I'm not going to tell you - he's got quite a full 
agenda coming up, poor boy."

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1199-gazettemail-davies.html


(3) Carabine, Michelle. "As Happy as Harry in the Cafe Society," 
Evening News (Edinburgh), December 7, 1999

So what will life without Harry be like?

"It will be like someone died," she confessed. "There are things 
about the Harry phenomenon that I won't miss much but Harry 
himself and the writing . . . it is going to be like someone 
died."

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1999/1299-eveningnews-carabine.htm


(4) Miller, Phil. "Writer gives hint of grim fate for Potter in 
last book," The Scotsman, 21 July 2000 

She said: "I always planned seven [Potter books], I never said 
I would do another one, but at the moment there will be just 
the seven. I've got it planned, and Harry dies obviously." 

Perhaps to the relief of Potter followers, she quickly added: 
"But that's just a joke - or is it?" 

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/0700-scotsman-miller.html


(5) "About the Books: transcript of J.K. Rowling's live interview 
on Scholastic.com," Scholastic.com, 16 October 2000

Question: Is it true that since Voldemort took Harry's blood by 
force, that Harry can kill Voldemort, but Voldemort can't kill 
Harry?
J.K. Rowling responds: It's an interesting theory, but I wouldn't 
trust it too much!

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-scholastic-chat.htm


(6) America Online chat transcript, AOL.com, 19 October 2000

Why stop at seven books when you could make up Harry's whole 
life?

I notice you're very confident that he's not going to die! 

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-aol-chat.htm


(7) Barnes and Noble & Yahoo! chat with J.K. Rowling, 
barnesandnoble.com, 20 October, 2000

What are you plans after you have finished the Harry Potter 
series? Are you considering writing a sequel series with Harry's 
own children, or other characters we have met? 
jkrowling_bn: Harry's own children? Are you sure he's going to 
survive to have children?! 

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-livechat-
barnesnoble.html


(8) Couric, Katie. Interview of J.K. Rowling, NBC Today Show, 
20 October 2000 

J.K. Rowling: I'm intrigued because everyone seems very confident 
I'm not going to kill him. 

Katie Couric: Well good! I hope you're not! (Both laugh.) 

J.K. Rowling: I'm not saying either way. 

Katie Couric: That would make big news here this morning. 

J.K. Rowling: Everyone assumes that there will be an adult life 
and maybe they're right. But no, I think I'm going to stop at 
seven. I'm not going to say "never another one." If I had a 
burning desire to do another one, I'd do it. But at the moment, 
I'm planning to stop at seven.

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2000/1000-nbc-couric.htm


(9) Comic Relief live chat transcript, 12th March 2001

I love the Idea of Harry getting older, do you think you might 
be tempted to write books about Harry when he is working and 
has a family of his own? 

Hmmmmmm... yet another person who is convinced I'm not going to 
kill him off! Where you people get the idea I'm soft-hearted, I 
don't know. I'm joking. Or am I? 

http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/2001/0301-comicrelief-staff.htm


(10) Interview transcript (partial), Blue Peter (cBBC), 12 March, 
2001

When Harry leaves Hogwarts will he return as a teacher?

JKR: How do know I'm not going to kill him off in book 7?

(Gasps and smiles from children and presenters)

JKR: <chuckling> Erm, I'm not telling you, I know, I know what's 
going to happen to all of them after Hogwarts ... <hurriedly> 
the people who survive ... what's coming. So, erm, but I'm not 
going to tell you <grinning now>

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/files/JKR%20Chats/

********************

Back to Goddlefrood:

She may not be joking, but I think she is. I would not be 
surprised if Harry died, however I don't think he will. 
Having said that if he does die he would be able to rejoin 
all his loved ones and that would be a happy ending of sorts 
for Harry after all his suffering.

SPOILERS FOR NARNIA SERIES AND MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE FOLLOW
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One other point, addressed to Cassy - people still buy the 
Narnia books in large numbers and all the characters die in 
a train crash. It's never stopped many other books continuing 
to be popular either. Michael Henchard, perhaps my favourite 
character in fiction, dies in The Mayor of Casterbridge (he's 
also the title character). That hasn't stopped many including 
me from enjoying that work over and over again. 

If Harry's death occurs some may not read the books in the 
future. They would be, IMO, in a small minority. As to the 
last two other media thingummies being less popular, *if* 
JKR has decided Harry will die no media that shall remain 
nameless's executives are going to persuade her otherwise

Goddlefrood