Humiliate yourself in public

[brwneil]

No: HPFGUIDX 171046

Predicting what will take place in the final pages of the Harry 
Potter series is like asking to humiliate yourself in public.  The 
odds are certainly against you being correct.  I even tried entering 
one of those surveys where you predict the outcome, but honestly I 
found most of the questions stupid and off point.  For what its 
worth, here are my predictions; some based on actual things said in 
canon and others just pure guesses.

1.  I'd bet money on this one.  The series will end with Ron's dad 
being made Minister of Magic.   Arthur is a very popular man, knows a 
lot of people and most importantly likes Muggles.  This possibility 
has been hinted at numerous times, but most importantly by Ron when 
he says that they have as much chance of winning the Quidditch Cup as 
his dad does of being made Minister of Magic.  Unlike Hermione and 
Dumbledore, Ron is usually wrong.  They won the Cup and I feel his 
dad will become Minister of Magic.

2.  JKR loves to tell us things ahead of time without really telling 
us.  Read the first few books over and note how many times Harry has 
the impression that Snape can read minds which we find out in book 
five he actually can.  It would seem impossible that a family as 
large as the Weasleys could make it through the war without loses; I 
mean deaths, not just injuries.  In HBP Mrs. Weasley upon seeing the 
sign in the joke shop window says that Fred and George will be 
murdered in their sleep.  Ron quickly says that they won't.   Once 
again I feel that Ron will be proved wrong.

3.  Dumbledore told Voldemort that there are things worse than 
death.  I can't see JKR having Harry do an unforgivable curse to kill 
Voldemort.  Would it be worse for a person like Voldemort to lose all 
his magical powers and rot away in prison?  Perhaps receive the 
kiss.  I see Hermione having a large part in Voldemort's downfall 
because she is Muggle born and Death Eaters are so anti Muggle.  It 
would be like giving a Jewish person the chance to destroy Hitler.

4.  The trio will all live to see another day.  None of the three 
will die nor will any of them go on to teach at Hogwarts; Neville, 
however, will become Herbology professor.

5.  The school will reopen in the fall.  Think about it!  Hogwarts is 
the gathering point for all the students and professors.  Without 
Hogwarts we lose the opportunity to see a lot of characters.  
Besides, a Horcruxe is hidden in the Room of Requirement near Harry's 
potion book. 

6.  I guess I have to touch on relationships as much as I hate to.  
JKR seems determined to couple Ron and Hermione.  I've seen all the 
hints, but I still shake my head and ask why?  What makes them want 
to be a couple?  What attracts them to each other?  Must be Ron's 
flawless table manners.  Anyway, much to my displeasure, I expect 
them to get together.  I don't expect this to happen, but I can 
always pray that they break up.  

I think JKR might have a surprise for us when it comes to Ginny.  The 
H/G relationship was never referred to as love; also, how much time 
elapsed between Ginny's previous boyfriends?  I don't think Ginny 
will wait for Harry.  She will return to school and start dating 
again.  My pick as her next boyfriend is Neville.  What about Harry?  
Well, Luna and him seem to really understand each other.

There they are, just some of my fearless forecasts.  They're probably 
all wrong, but just in case I had to post them otherwise I'd have no 
proof.  Now you can all go have a good laugh.

Neil