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Thanks for the really great post! I totally agree with everything you said. I didn't mind SOME main-ish characters dying, because I love it when an author can make me laugh and cry and think all in one book. But killing of Harry and co.? That's going WAY too far.

'Why do we have to accept this at the age of 8?'

I think we need to acknowldge that by book 7 the characters are teenagers, and the book is really not intended for 8 year olds. Some 8 year olds will read it, others will have their parents read it to them or listen to Stephen Fry's excellent audio book, still more will insist on seeing the film if it is ever produced, but the book will essentially be a 'young adult' title.

Harry and co are becoming adults and therefore confronting adult evils. This development has been made quite clear in the previous volumes and I feel that it would be extremely unrealistic to expect a Disney style happy ending...

See Erin - that's what I think too. I understand Sirius and even Dumbledore but Harry and Ron and Hermione? What reason is there to keep reading then?

Kris, I understand where you are coming from but my comment about the age of 8 was directly tied to the Guardian column - he mentioned a young age so I responded to it. As for Disney endings, "Old Yeller" is a Disney movie and there is nothing happy about an ending with a dog, a shotgun and rabies. Trust me - watch it and be scarred for life.

I just don't see why Harry must die merely to teach us all a reality lesson or to stress somehow that these books are important and significant. Philip Pullman managed to produce far more serious and intense (and significant) books for young adults without killing Lyra and Will. It can be done, and I'd like to see Rowling do it.

Awesome post, Colleen.

As I said over at my site, I personally won't be hugely torn up if Harry dies. But that's just because he isn't my favorite -- if Neville dies, I'll be devastated.

But I really don't think she'll do it.

I think this is just a bit of early publicity -- not that I have a problem with that, I've had loads of fun talking to patrons and people online about WHO we think will make it and WHY and just chattering away like the geeky HP fans that we are.

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out.

And, a mini-rant. I'm so OVER the people feverishly chanting "DIE, HARRY DIE". I suspect that the majority of them are obnoxious hipster killjoys who hate anything popular purely on principle. Grrr.

The only reason (I thinnk) that JK Rowling wants to kill Harry, even Hermione and Ron because she lost her mother at the age of 45! But I as a 12 year old should not loose one of my favourite people and she certainly is using it for a bit of a helper to her life so there is someone more worse off than her (meaning Harry!)

I am soo sad and I will cry for nights if JO kills harry!

:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Poor Harry.

I feel so sorry for you. :(

Ok i want too comment on this,first i really got into harry potter after the goblet of fire movie came out,i read the order of the phoenix and was devastated siruis died,and even worst after reading the half prince and finishing days ago i was shocked yet not convinced at all dumbledore is dead,rowling threw far too many clues into dumbledore having a plan and it being obvious snape didnt have enough guts too do it at first

However about harry dying,i honestly think rowling is having a great laugh,it tickles her inside,HARRY DYING is far too expected and just how rowling wants it too be,rowling seems too be the type that would love for a majority of people to have high expectations based on clues she gives in attempt too throw you way the hell off and shock you with something else.Rowling is the type of person that hates spoilers and hates spoiled news and expectations it seems,its far too expected that harry is going too die,its just a spoiler if rowling acts on harry dying.And if harry does die or hermoine and them i honestly think rowling will cause there deaths too actually not be so DEATHY.For example there could be hidden prophecy that states when one sacrifices himself in killing such immense evil such as voldemort death itself can be overturned.Or say all 3 hermoine,ron and harry were killed and become eternal living ghost.or a matrix type ending were it shows you NEOS spirit resurrecting,the same clue could be at the end of the book 7 that gives you a great clue,harry will indeed live!

Honestly,just look at the past,rowling has thrown major expectations from major readers off bigtime,its her joy too have everyone deceived in these sequels and chains of storylines and books.I truly think we are indeed due for a major shocker that will be way out of what we expected i mean i can sit and name 20 different possible clues that rowling could be planning too make a final truth reveal in book 7 that were in book 6.for example harry may just discover he is indeed family with the malfoys and the weasleys due too the family tree having a relative name charles potter which was an ancestor of harrys.Also hermoine may discover after all that slughorn was indeed correct that she is not as muggleborn as she thinks and one of her parents somehow ,someway is truly an wizard and descendant of the granger in the longpast slughorn acknowledged too hermoine.We are indeed due for shockers of our book-reading life,even the deaths,we cannot expect everyone too live,i think we must face that.expect everyone including harry up too molly weasley and fleur delacour themselves too be possible victims of murders.However i am convinced rowling has the world fooled once again and deceived and makes her excited and gives her encouragement too write a story thats exactly not in line with whats too be expected by a majority.

I don't know, Cuz. I am a huge fan of the series, but I don't have any issue at all with main characters being killed off. Even Mr. Potter himself. What she has created here is sort of a Peter Pan of a character. His essence lies in the fact that he is young and overcomes. Since Potter lives in the real world (unlike Peter Pan), or at least the semi-real world, it would be easy to try to imagine him growing up and having an 'ordinary' life, but that would be death to the essence of his character. I think he has to live on in our minds as a youth for his character to stay true, so if I were her, I probably would kill him off too.

Plus she's under pressure here to create the ending of endings. This ending is the culmination of years of work on so many books! She has the biggest fan base ever waiting on what this finale will be. She has to make it big, and shocking, or what is the point?

Besides, killing off the main character is generally considered way more bold than a "traditional" happy ending. Happily ever after, usually considered a cliche in my understanding, is generally the 'safe' choice. Look at how Hitchcock thrilled the world by being so bold as to not only kill off the main character in Psycho, but to do it early in the story.

Yes, this is a children's or young adult series we're talking about, not an adult thriller, but I don't think that kids are quite so delicate that they can't handle (or even relish) a story as exciting as to promise a big plot shift like this.
Yes, Old Yeller affected me greatly when I saw it as a kid, but I incurred no real lasting trauma. Nor did it ruin my ability to fantasize and escape reality through fantastical books and movies.

If kids want to bask in the illusion of Harry Potter's eternal life, they can always revisit his previous stories, and if parent's worry about any ill affects such a dark plot twist could have on their child they shouldn't give it to their kid to read. I honestly think that any of the books past maybe the 2nd or 3rd ones are perhaps a bit above the young child's level anyway. Certainly, book 4 became meaty in a young adult or even adult kind of way. And ok, so some of these younger kids will be given the story anyway. But kids aren't all that naive to this stuff anymore. They see extremely violent movies all the time. And the parents who don't allow their kids to view that stuff are also the ones who are more likely to monitor their reading.

I also don't blame her for thinking of killing off Harry to keep the series her own. I will still be surprised if she does kill him. Even given the hints she's dropping. And I am so excited to read whatever her choice ends up being. But the truth is. She really can't stop it. Any character that survives in the series will inevitably come back in the future whether she writes the stories or someone else does. (They've done it with Peter Pan, the Wicked Witch of the West, they can do it with anyone else). Maybe we'll have a series of books that follow the Weasley twins. Maybe there will be a Hermione spin-off (if she makes it). Heck, even if the whole world is blown up, that doesn't preclude someone deciding down the road that there was an alternate reality, or some wizard made it to another planet and then magicked them all back.

Maybe even Gregory Macguire will write a book about how misunderstood Voldemort was. :)

Now that is something I would love to read! Maguire's take on Voldemort!!!

To not have Harry Potter die would be to betray the theme of the books. That theme is that there are things worse than death. This began in the first book (see the end of it). And one such thing is to live in shame knowing that you could have prevented a great deal of suffering but failed to do so. This is a very good lesson for teenagers on what a hero truly is. The books are essentially meant to be read by people the same age as Harry Potter. That is why it is all happy endings in the first three, and then gets darker through adolescence. Besides, there are way too many happy endings in American children’s and teen media. The old children’s stories were full of horror and earlier generations seem to be better for it.

I get your point, I really do. And I totally think at least some of the central characters should live. But in thinking about people who make heroic decisions to fight evil head on, Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Joan of Arc, The Kennedy Brothers, Sir Thomas Moore, etc., it more often than not ends with that person dying.

Harry's death would not necessarily constitute a completely sad ending. Literary tragedy? Yes. But not necessarily a total loss. Remember that the world is always left a little better after this person sacrifices him/herself for human kind.

I think, though Ms. Rowling does not say it flat out, that she is implying here that mortal sacrifice, done for love, is never a tragedy or completely sad. Maybe not only is it not unfortunate, but perhaps it is even THE meaning to life. Metaphorically, that giving of self is the food of the spirit. It's why Voldemort's attempts are repeatedly foiled. He just cannot understand this, because he has lost all sense of love.

One is reminded of the Don Quixote or St. Francis.

I totally agree with the article. Harry should not die and I will be soooooooooooooooooo angry and sad if he does. I think that either a)Harry will die saving the wizarding world and saving his friends(please let me be wrong) or b) All the hints and comments by J.K Rowling have been a publicity stunt to attract attention and get people interested because if you carefully read them, they don't agree either side. Also, why would she give such big hints about something that will happen? Wouldn't she want to keep it a secret and not give obvious hints(please may I be right.

Excellent post, and although I don't entirely agree with you saying that in the end HP is a children's series, because it really was never meant to be. I have other reasons why I think Harry will live.

As most are saying, why would JKR give such huge hints? She's not the type to do that at all. I think she's probably laughing at everyones speculation of Harry dying. She probably never even blinked an eyelash at that idea.

Also, in my opinion this whole "teach a lesson about death" and "nothing really ends happy" is a load of rubbish. No body no matter how rich and powerful they are can take it upon themselves to teach that lesson without it becoming a conspiricy. No matter how many people have predicted it, if Harry dies an uproar will be heard around the world. As it will if he lives, but not nearly as loud. And so many people will leave HP fandom, things will die down, it won't be what it was. I just can't see that happening. Or maybe it's just denial.

yah i guess not..
harry potter must live..
harry potter made JKR mulimillionaire and now that she already rich she will end up the book and harry potter will die??..
many people expect that harry potter will live happy ever after..
look,,, many people wants him to kill but look,, until now he is still alive..

yeah,, i guess JKR just say that harry potter will die so that many people will interest on 7th last book..

i agree with that one guy that said that she is just tring to trick us all. she wouldnt kill harry. but i think that one possiblity is that part of vodemorts soul is in harry so he must sacrifice himself or voldemort will never truely be gone.

I hate saying that we are all just going to have to sit back and wait, but we are. I can't imagine how depressed I'm going to be if Harry does die though - all that time invested in a series only to lose the big payoff at the end?

Sheesh!

She might just be messing with us though and if that's the case she has done a great job. I'm still holding out for Snape though - he can't be all bad, he just can't!!!

yeah, i think that snape is probably good to. he could have taken harry to voldemort tons of times but he didnt. i think that snape will surprise us all in the end. oh and i was thinking something severus snape sounds an awful lot like sever a snake doesnt it.

I agree with both sides. I agree that nobody should have to stare death in the face at the age of 8, but if you think about it, most of us face loss at a young age. We wake up to find that our dog-cat-bird-hampster is dead, or a relative has died overnight. We have to remember though, that this is a series intended for young adults, and typically, 8 year olds don't read the books do to parental constraints.
I have several theories, but I think the main reason I want Harry to live is because I have known him for 7 years. I am one of the few kids who was allowed to read the series at the age of six, and I credit the series for giving me my brain. I wouldn't be getting A's and B's on report cards if I hadn't have gone to my mom with my copy of Sorcerer's Stone and askedd, "I can't say this word, how do you say it?" If I didn't ask her that, then she wouldn't have explained that Erised is Desire spelled backwards. And if she hadn't have explained that, then I wouldn't have asked what Desire meant. I had never been exposed to that word before, being only 6 and just starting the 1st grade. If Harry dies, I'll probably be in a really bad mood for several days, and I would probably cry. I'll definitely cry if Neville dies because he really is brave, but yet, his grandma still says that he should be more like his father. was. I think that Neville is going to die, along with Snape. I also think that Snape might be the final horcrux--maybe--but its just a thought. I don't really think that Nagini has anything to do with the story, unless he is working for Voldimort and he is the snake that Harry let out of the zoo in book 1.

Okay... here is my theory. I think that the trio will go looking for the final horcruxes-the final 3-and somehow, right when Harry is about to destroy the second-to-last one, Lord Voldimort shows up. (sounds predictable? Wait for the ending.) Then, (I don't know how yet,) somehow, Neville shows up. Snape will be there too, but only to assist the, "Dark Lord." Harry will have another one of his life r death battles with Voldimort, but then, Neville will decide to step in and he will get killed. Harry will be temporarily unarmed, because of the grief and shock. Then Snape will finally show where his true loyalty lies, and he will step up to the plate. He will try to kill Lord Voldimort, and he will miss by a fraction of an inch. Lord voldimort will fire an Avada Kedavra, and both die simultaneously. Of course, Harry will be devastated. This is my best theory, my other ones are similar though. I'll just have to wait for the summer to find out what hapens.
I read somewhere that people are speculating that Sirius Black isn't dead. I totally agree. My modo is, "Black is commin back." My mom and LA teacher thought that was a laugh, in a good way. They are Still undecided.
My friend looked at this theory, and she said, "Where is Malfoy in all of this?" I read somewhere that Malfoy only has a 1/2 chance of living, and I say that he's dead. He's the person who nobody likes, and nobody really cares about, (except for Pansy Parkinson), so why not get rid of him? He has no purpose being in the seventh book-unless of course he is still working for Voldimort and he tries to help him kill Harry-in that case, he would be really weak. I have hated him from the start, so until the book comes out, his name is mud to me.

Thanks for coming by Kaiti and your well thought out comments. I agree with you about Neville - a lot of people think Neville will end up being way more important than anyone has thought and that he might be the ultimate sacrifice.

I will really hate it if that happens, but then again I don't want anyone to die at this point.

Malfoy might redeem himself - you never know. (I still trust Snape though, I keep thinking there must be a major twist with him in the last book.)

See you back here after we all get to read!

Kaiti im not disagreeing with you but if im correct isnt harry the only one that can kill voldemort and in your explaination harry just sits back and watches. i am kind of agreeing with the big rumor about harry being the last horcux.

oh and have any of you heard the rumor about sirius blacks brother regulus black being the one who stole the locket?

Harry Potters secret power is love? this confused me no end when i first read it as a normal 12 year old, i remember thinking, Thats rediculas! how can he beat someone who can kill with the flick of a wand.. when all he can do is love?, Now, as an inteligent 16 year old, i dont look past the power love gives harry ny more. Harrys greatest strength is not only that he can love, but that people love him back. his dad, mum, cedric, sirius, and more recently dumbledore (may he rest in peace), all put there lives on the line because they couldnt imagine their world with out harry! and many more are willing, Hermiones brains, Rons loyalty, nevilles Bravery, Ginnys brilliance, the twins cunning, will all be traits that harrys will rely on in the next novel. but this leads me 2 wonder, has he just given up his greatest power? he does not have as much magic power as voldie, and he is now pushing his freinds away? telling them he has to do this alone? fatal mistake? This loyalreader and freind of harry potter hopes not. :(

HEY! HP fans add me on msn to discuss more rumors or theories- goody_goodworth@hotmail.com.. cheers

thats a good outlook Goody. im very frustrated because i want harry potter to live but something inside of me says it is time for him to die being heroic. idk at least people would take him more serious and would stop fighting about wheather he was the chosen one or not.

thats a good outlook Goody. im very frustrated because i want harry potter to live but something inside of me says it is time for him to die being heroic. idk at least people would take him more serious and would stop fighting about wheather he was the chosen one or not.

My predictions:
1. Ron, Jenny and Snape die.
2. Albus communicates with Harry thru the picture he now inhabits (shadows) in the headmasters room.
3. Snape and Draco are both good...but still nasty.
4. Regulas is RAB and destroyed or captured some of the Horcruxes.
5. Harry ends up with Hermoine....I think she's always loved him but felt he was to far beyond her.
6. Snape loved Harry's mum....although he denied it. I think he cared for Narcissa, also....but he was always rejected.

those all sound really good except i dont really think that hermoine and harry will every be togather. That and Im not really sure if Snape loved Lilly, he called her a mudblood when she tried to help him.

i think that in the seventh book harry will not die.although dumbledore will not be with him though he will discuss the matters through his pic and obviously use penseive and also may neivelle will die and it might happen that harry will go with luna inthe end but its only a prediction and nothing else

its obvious that harry will not die because in the 3 book dombledore said that one day harry will be happy that peter is free its means that he will save harry and surely will be turn to be good, may be ginny will die or any one weasly but again its prediction