What about Hedwig dieing? Hedwig is a character (more or less) who’s death wouldn’t have a huge impact on readers, but an impact, nonetheless, as she is somewhat a main character. Having Harry’s bird die would raise eyebrows and definitely cause talk.
- Charlyfawks
I think that the word “Vanquish” in the prophecy doesn’t mean to kill Voldy but rather kill his evil. I know it sounds odd but follow me on this one. Humans aren’t born evil, they become evil by what happenss to them in their lives. For example could it be possible that before Tom became the bully of the orphanage he was bullied himself. We know that Harry\’s bits of ‘wandless’ magic are triggerd by emotional stress (i.e. being bullied). Could it be possible that the same thing happened to Tom when he first used his magic? I say it is, and unlike Harry he chose (remember choice is an important theme in Harry Potter, and it is emphasized more than you realise when you’re just reading the books) to train himself at controlling this power. Hold the phone, that means Voldy used to be good. If we consider Voldemort as a ‘used to be good guy’, then we can get him back to the good side, no? Well no, as you have read (some of you over and over again) he has undergone terrible transformations, while studying the Dark Arts. I tend to see Tom as a young boy gone bitter over what happened to him (If you’ve read the books, you know what I mean), while I see Voldemort as an inhuman being of evil (it’s just how I see them). I actually see them as two different characters, neither of them is a nice guy, but I do not think that the use of the terms “vanquish” and “Dark Lord” were used by Rowling on accident. Perhaps Voldemort and Tom Riddle will have a sort of Darth Vader/ Anakin Skywalker redemtion in the end. Afterall, it is love that Harry posses and what better way to use love than to redeem another?
- Paul
I believe that Hagrid might die in the seventh book. There is some foreshadowing to this in the sixth. When Harry and Dumbledore enter the house that Slughorn is staying in, it looks like a battle scene, or something. A few aspects of the room were mentioned a little too specifically, in my opinion. It says that a grandfather’s clock is laid shattered on the floor, its pendulum laying a few feet away. It also says that a piano is upturned on the floor, its keys thrown all around. At the end of the book, Dumbledore (a very old man: Grandfather clock) is lying at the bottom of a tower, without his wand. Hagrid is Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts. Pianos are known for being very big and bulky, and for having keys… just like Hagrid. Could the piano represent Hagrid as the grandfather’s clock represents Dumbledore? The clock is destroyed and Dumbledore dies, the piano is also destroyed, will Hagrid also die?
-Theory by Mike
Ron could die purely for emotional or dramatic impact. His sacrifice (for Harry and Hermione) was foreshadowed in the first book. By now he’s such an obvious pick, that he’s no longer that obvious. Might also be part of a 2-for-1 “Romeo and Juliette” package deal that inspires the lone hero to greater heights…
Lives - Has a massive fan base that has mobilized behind him. He’s a favourite character of JK, and a Weasley. He may also be kept around for shipping purposes and OBHWF (One big Happy Weasley Family). He’s too obvious a choice to get kedavraed.
-WesterlyOthers have different ideas about whether or not Ron will die.
Others have different ideas about whether or not Ron will die.I just don’t see it. Especially if Harry dies; the only point, literarily, of killing off Harry, is to then focus on the survivors and what his life/death ultimately means.
-Anonymous
Snape: Alas…Be he guilty or innocent, he won’t survive this double agent game, plus, I doubt JK would go through the complexity of Harry having to tolerate a living Snape, or Snape ruminating on ‘Mr. Potter’s’ death. *sighs*
Threory by forum member Westerly.
Hidden Horcrux agrees. He writes:
I think it is extremely likely that Snape will die in Book 7. If he is really evil, than Harry will have to kill him to get to Voldemort. If he is really good, he will be killed by Voldemort for trying to help Harry.
Peter Pettigrew: Don’t see a place for him in the new Voldemort free era I’m afraid, plus he has the redemption/sacrifice arc to play out.
Remus Lupin: sighs Love him, but the last Marauder won’t make it I suspect. May go down, while savaging Fenrir…
Threory by forum member Westerly.
Well, we can all certainly see Lupin being the self-sacrificing type, can’t we? I’m guessing he kills Greyback, or Greyback kills him.
Theory by Hidden Horcrux.
There’s a war going on, it can be assumed that at least a few of the Death Eaters will be killed before it’s all over, but whom?
Hidden Horcrux has some predictions.
Draco: I think it is possible Voldemort will kill Draco for his failure to finish off Dumbledore. I don’t think it is likely, though. I think JKR wants to make a point out of trying to bring Draco back over to the good side (whether that attempt is successful or not).
Bellatrix: She’s the one Death Eater that I think has to die. I wouldn’t be surprised if either Ron or Hermione does it, which then makes Harry mad (having wanted to avenge Sirius’ death personally).
Narcissa Malfoy: Technically not a death eater, but she seems to support them. Perhaps she dies to protect Draco? Is JKR setting us up for a powerful Malfoy/Potter-mirror-image twist?
Westerly has a few idea of his own about which Death Eaters will die.
Bellatrix Lestrange: This is a book predicated on vengeance, and she’s a true Voldie loyalist, beyond redemption. She’ll get hers.
Fenrir Greyback: <shrugs> What else is he there for other than to be killed and defeated?
Draco Malfoy: Is besieged by enemies. Is important enough to draw a conflicted response and is a bad-boy favourite.
Why he might live: To show that there is such a thing as redemption, and life beyond the world of pure-blooded mania?
Lucius Malfoy: Is a significant character who’s death will have impact on Malfoy thus creating a sub-plot.
Why he might live: To suffer Malfoy’s and Narcissa’s death and the consequences of his choices?
Narcissa Malfoy: Technically not a death eater. She seems to be the type that would sacrifice for her family and she’s in a dangerous position.
Tonks: In some ways, I think Tonks might be an easy character for JKR to kill off. She has been around for 2 of the books, is very likeable (in my opinion), but hasn’t had a huge role to play in anything. She doesn’t really drive any part of the plot. How about a “Greyback kills Tonks, Lupin kills Greyback” subplot?
Hagrid: This would be a terrible blow to Harry–and for that reason alone, I think it’s got a 1 in 4 shot of happening. It would be terrible, though, to see Hagrid go. In part because there is no other character who could take up Hagrid’s comic slack.
Nymphadora “Tonks”: Obviously dependent and can’t liiiive…if is living is without her man etc. (if HBP was anything to go by). Then again, she could also be an undercover death eater and traitor to boot…
Why she might live: To be living proof that life goes on and that there’s more to her character than her zany hair?
Mad-Eye Moody: Prominent member of the Order. He’s an Auror and a fighter and will be in the thick of it. Death will finally justify his paranoia. And, he’s old.
Why he might live: Because he’s a skilled Auror.
Professor McGonagall: Has a good shot at dying since she’s old, she’ll be in the line of fire defending Hogwarts and she’s a fighter.
Why she might live - Because she’s so sensible and who would be her successor - Sybil Trelawney? Would also be useful in a new era.
Kingsley Shacklebolt: Dies - As token Order fodder. Or.
Lives - As token Order survivor.
Percy Weasley: Dies, because he is a traitor, or because he tries to redeem himself, thus providing a poignant, ‘complex’ moment. Sacrifices himself for the family? Is the least favourite Weasley, providing an easy sacrifice.
Why he might live: Part of a redemption story - Percy sees the errors of his ways and rejoins the Weasleys.
Mr. Weasley: Dies - Because nice (bland) guys finish last. Is connected to several of the main characters. Death was foreshadowed in Book 5.
Lives - Because he’s nice, he’s a Weasley and he’s a father. Also could be part of bridging the gap between Muggles and wizards in the future or could finally become the new MoM?
Fred and George: Die - Extremely popular characters whose demise could have a really significant impact on readers. I guess one could live, and the other could die, to add to the angst but they are a unit. They also don’t mind putting themselves at risk and standing up for others.
Live - Because the new world will require laughs and WWW.
Bill Weasley: Dies - Well, he’s already been bitten, and ravaged so…
Lives - Because he’s already taken his share of the knocks.
Ginny Weasley: Gah. Only Weasley girl, under the ‘Chosen One’s’ protection. Also don’t think that her death will have as much impact as a more well-developed character’s would. Most likely, she’ll get injured and Harry will assume she has died and will go berserk, blah, blah. If she does die, Harry will find some highly improbable way to bring her back. Also, JK just lurves her.
Mrs. Weasley: Too annoying yet inconsequential to get killed off and will live to sniffle, and shriek for another day. With Hagrid gone, someone needs to get hysterical at the funerals.
Charlie Weasley: A Weasley may pass on and shatter the OBHWF dream, but I doubt it will be Charlie. He’s hardly in the book.
-Theory by Westerly
Others have some different ideas about who will die…
Ginny: At the end of HBP, Harry gives Ginny a Peter Parker-ish dismissal because he wants to protect her. If Ginny gets killed anyways, he’ll realize that it won’t make any difference whether he’s distanced himself from people or not, so he’ll be able to not feel guilty about receiving help from Hermione and Ron (which is good because Dumbledore has hinted that Harry should keep them in on things as much as possible).
Also, even though we’re supposed to be rooting for Harry and Ginny, we haven’t been given any particularly developed scenes where we can actually fall in love with Ginny at all. The lack of substance with the relationship might be because JKR wants to make it easier to kill her off.
The only thing that I think would make it difficult to kill off Ginny is that she’s the first girl born to a Weasley in a very long time, and it might be hard to ruin that.
Her death may have been foreshadowed in book 5. JK has a habit of killing off Harry’s emotional support base and his mentors. The character’s centrality and importance was already greatly reduced in book 6… A nice way to flip the ‘Ron will die’ script. Could also set up an interesting dilemma since she’s the brains behind the outfit. Provides a grim resolution to some aspects of the shipping wars.
Why she might live: For shipping purposes or OBHWF (One big happy Weasley family). Because she’s smart, and may have a real plan.
Threory by forum member Westerly.