27 June 2006

Rowling hints about deaths in the final Harry Potter book

"I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die," JK Rowling said this past Monday. "A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil here. They don't target extras do they? They go for the main characters. Well, I do."

Rowling seems to be getting the pre-publicity machine going for the last volume of her bestselling Harry Potter series, and while there is still no release date -though a few months back I speculated next summer as the logical release date, but it could be delayed until 2008 due to the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix next July - she is dropping hints on what might be the fate of some characters in the popular series.

She claims she has known since 1990 how the series was going to end, but admits now at least 2 main characters will die and one, who apparently did die, will get reprieve.

The series, which has gotten darker and darker with each conservative book, has become so popular that many adults await each new release as much as their kids.

But the big question remains, will she kill off Harry Potter himself? She admitted that she has been tempted too, basically saying that as a popular character he is, if he’s killed off, no one can take up the mantel long after Rowling has shuttled off this mortal coil. But I don’t think she will, but of course those “deaths” depends on how you describe “key characters”.

I’m convinced that Dumbledore survived his attack in the last book, The Half-Blood Prince. I can’t explain why I feel this way, but I do.

But Hagrid seems logical to kill off, as he’ll become a hero that Dumbledore always though him to be. And it good chance that Severus will die also, as I’ve felt since the start of the series, he is not as evil as portrayed. Out of the three main characters, I think Harry will survive, but as a logical procession of the story, either Ron or Hermione could be killed off.

It would bother many fans have any of the three died, but from a story progression -which Rowling has kept true too -it is logical one will die.

Rowling admits that she’s not done with the book, but if she (and Scholastic) want the book out next summer, expect a December announcement. The only wrench in this, maybe the Order of the Phoenix. Will Warners want a book competing with their film version of book 5 and vice versus?

Scholastic will want a summer release for the last volume, as Half-Blood did so well in 2005. Kids are out of school and that will prevent said kids (and adults) from ditching things like school work and just every day work.

But the wait, no matter what is damn annoying...

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