Am I unique?

[Dondee Gorski]

No: HPFGUIDX 171193

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "eggplant107" <eggplant107 at ...> 
wrote:
>
> 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?!
<snip>

Dondee:

I think many of us in are heart of hearts believe Harry is going to 
die but we are in denial. We certainly fear it, but we hope that if 
enough of us proclaim "He is not going to die!" out loud then it won't 
happen. I have not gotten to the plug-my-ears-and-hum-loudly point yet 
but I may.

I remember discussing the series with friends once and during a heated 
moment in the conversation blurting out "Harry better die!" My meaning 
behind that statement, I explained to my shocked friends, was that I 
would not be satisfied with Harry living and none of us being able to 
continue the journey with him because JKR said she would stop at 
seven. 

I have very similar feelings towards Ayla in the Earth's Children 
series by Jean Auel. I don't wish Harry or Ayla any ill but I have 
gotten to intertwined in their stories  and I am a very selfish reader 
and the only way I will be satisfied with the ends of their stories is 
if they are truly gone.

A big part of me wants Harry to live because I love Harry and I want 
him to be happy and safe and whole. But another part of me, the 
selfish reader in me, wants to see his end with the end of book seven, 
either at age 17 or, preferably, at some later date in the epilogue. 
Either way I will grieve because it is the last book, but I will find 
greater emotional closure in laying Harry to rest.

I voted that Harry would not die in the Bragging thread because I 
believe Harry's story has more coming-of-age genre elements in it than 
tragedy elements. I know that that is no guarantee though because the 
Potter books seem to transcend genre just as they do age and culture. 
I do think (dare I say hope) that if Harry does not meet his end in 
the conflict with Voldy that we will learn of Harry's demise in the 
epilogue.

Just my two cents worth.

Cheers, Dondee