I was recently reading Order of the Phoenix for the umpteenth time, and I noticed something very ironic. I noticed that one of the Death Eaters was named Avery, at noticing this I had to put down my book and actually laugh out loud at the coincidence.

Here's the back story to the relevance of this irony:
I live in North East Wisconsin, and about a year ago a young woman went missing. It was later found out that she was murdered, in a very very cruel way as well. The man found out to be her murderer happens to be named Steven Avery.

I just couldn't help but be impressed by JK Rowling's uncanny and unintentionable picking of the name.

I shared this information with my friends, and they encouraged that I share it with everyone else here.

P.S. I don't know if this is the proper board to put this post in, but it's the closest relevant board to the topic.

and if you would like to read the story of the death of Teresa Halbach: http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers..._halbach/1.html

Wow, that's really wild! What a horrible story. I hope that this guy stays in jail for a long time.

his trail just started this week, and another funny thing, my cousin had to put off her wedding because she's on the jury!

Mod Note: Please watch your post length, guys. Posts should be longer than two lines, please.

As for this Avery guy - it's interesting. I would be hesitant to call it anything but coincidence, for fear of implying that people named Avery have some disposition towards evil (which is, of course, ridiculous), but it is a funny coincidence.

I think Jo is generally rather good with choosing names. The surname Avery reminds me of birds, because avis is bird in Latin, but I don't know the real origin of the surname. I guess it could go both ways (good connotation/bad connotation), but I imagine the Death Eater Avery to be a little hawk-like and with a harsh, cruel face. (Apparently, according to some random baby names site, it means 'elf counsel'... )

Erm...you know, I really don't think you should be saying that you know someone on a jury if the case is still ongoing, particularly a murder. Not very sensible, for a variety of reasons

That's a weird coincidence. I think JKR picked the names well for characters and places, but it's weird that that death eater should be the name of a murderer in real life. Especially since it didn't happen until long after the book came out. They even seem to be approximately the same age and are both cruel and everything.

Hmm, I do believe it was co-incidental... If it wasnt though, woah that would be a chilling story. Sorry I just dont believe it.

Yeah. I agree with the others that it's probably just a coincedence. Maybe Rowling already had all the DE names figured out or maybe she just read that name somewhere and liked it because it's kinda unsuaul.









Anyways, let's all support Severus Snape!!!

I was recently reading Order of the Phoenix for the umpteenth time, and I noticed something very ironic. I noticed that one of the Death Eaters was named Avery, at noticing this I had to put down my book and actually laugh out loud at the coincidence.

Here's the back story to the relevance of this irony:
I live in North East Wisconsin, and about a year ago a young woman went missing. It was later found out that she was murdered, in a very very cruel way as well. The man found out to be her murderer happens to be named Steven Avery.

You say that it made you laugh out loud.. but its not very funny really is it? I think that its probably coincidence.. but...the deatheaters are murderers so maybe she did intend it .. but i dont think i entirely agree with that because isnt there like legal rights or something?? And none of the other deatheaters are actually known murderers. Im positive there are legal issues with all that. Anyway wasnt it released in like 2003? and you said it happened last year so she couldnt of possibly known

That is horrible really nasty. I would have rathered she thought of that name in her head and the murder had not taken place. But.. i Suppose it's a way of getting revenge on jim. Because J.K shows what an evil people death eaters portraying how evil he is. But this should not have happened. Someones life is worth more than a book.

Hmm.....interesting. Although, it's more likely that she just used the name Avery, because she's heard it before or knows someone herself with that name. I wonder what the name Avery actually means, and if that has anything to do with why JK made a character with that name a deatheater.

Isn't that weird?JKR must be psychic!!I thhink that its a coincidence,though.But i don't think JKR actually meant it to hurt People whose last names are Avery,Nott,Malfoy...She just made some names,,(i think)

i dont know how she knew, but this is crazy! dont you just LOVE ironey? if she did it on purpose thats pretty slick and cool! if she didnt, thats what makes it even better and even more crazy!

I think that if she had known she would have avoided the similarity. Overall, she has been very good at avoiding similarity to existing people. She expressly said that all her characters are purely fictional, except one -- and we know who that was.

I'm sure she would not want to have the character of a Death Eater based on a real person. The resemblance is unfortunate, but it is a pure coincidence. How many people exist named Avery? Or Potter? Thomas? Grainger? And if one of these would show character traits resembling their namesake in the Harry Potter books, would that indicate that the writer is psychic?

I highly doubt that this is anything other than a coincidence. I'm sure JKR would not name one of her villanous characters after a real person, even if that person was a murderer. And I agree that if she had known about the coincedence she wouldn't have used the name.

that is definitely coincidence! and to be honest i dont find it at all a funny one. i dont think jkr would ever use it because of that murderer, she came up with his name before that murder and i dont think she would do it anyway. on the contrary, like others have said, if that avery bloke had done that murder before and she had realised the name connection she probably would have changed the name to avoid any of this.

I just read that, and think it's funny, whether it's been purposely added or just a co-incidence, it' still funny.

I think this is nothing more than a coincidence. I thnik it's good how you connected the 2, but in my opinion, completely unrelated. Anyway, you said this was about a year ago ... and you posted this only last year, 2007. Bearing in mind that we heard of Avery long before 2007 - I know for a fact he was in GoF, which was released in 2000 - I think this is pure coincidence, because these dates completely don't add up.

JKR definately wouldn't name one of her characters after a murderer, I don't think. I remember she clearly stated in an interview that she never named anyone after a real-life person, though Lockhart's personality is based upon someone she knew. No names, just characteristics.

I think it was just a coincidence..however, that is some sad news. How people think they have the right to take a life...I have no idea! In response to what the surname Avery means...I did some snooping and so far this is what I have found.

"Avery: This name may stem from the Latin meaning ‘bird keeper’. According to http://www.last-names.net/surname.asp it can mean contention or disagreement. Avery is also the brand name of a maker of office supplies, but I doubt our Death Eater will be exposed as a secret hoarder of filing cabinets and permanent markers."- DarkMark.com