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I've been re-reading the books in anticipation of the finale's release later this month (whilst I am sunning myself on my honeymoon), and I thought we should all get our final thoughts on the record.
There is this meme on the internets that there will be tow characters killed. However, when I first read that, it was that Rowling had just finished writing a chapter where two characters died. Personally, I'd be shocked if the body count were limited to two. I'm gonna break down the important characters (ones that people care about) into categories of risk, from my point of view. Not included will be minor members of the Order, the DA, minor villians and professors, etc.
The dead characters will come from this group...
Voldemort: uhh, duh.
Harry Potter: I just finished re-reading Book 2, and the traditional Dumbledore-explains-it-all-ending has me more convinced than ever that Harry is an (accidental) horcrux. I don't know how it is all gonna work out with the prophecy and whatnot, but I just don't see how Harry can't be a horcrux, unless he WAS a horcrux before Voldemort regenerated.
Severus Snape: I firmly believe that Snape is on the side of the angels, and was compelled to kill Dumbledore due to 1) his unbreakable vow, 2) Dumbledore's orders to maintain cover, 3) Snape recognized Dumbledore was dying anyway, and 4) he wanted to save Draco from becoming a killer and from being killed himself. He will die trying to help Harry defeat Voldemort, possibly at the hands of Lucius.
Rubeus Hagrid: Harry has lost father figures in each of the last two books, and there is no reason to expect this trend to stop. There are at least two other candidates in this subcategory (Arthur and Remus), but Hagrid is the most likely, being the least skilled in magic and the most foolhardy when it comes to danger. Also of note is that the other killed father figures both had important alchemical colors in their names (Sirius Black, Albus (Latin for White) Dumbledore), and Rubeus means Red in Latin, another important color in alchemical traditions. My suspicion is that whichever of Harry's father figures gets offed (possibly all three), it'll be at the hands of Fenrir Greyback, as all would have particular reason to tangle with the werewolf.
Fenrir Grayback: I normally wouldn't include a character who appeared in basically one scene thus far, but Christ almighty, did he leave an impression. Because he is just so irredeemably evil and sinister, he appears to be the most likely of the Death Eaters to bite it. I think he'll be taking at least one Order member with him, though.
...characters I wouldn't rule out, but unlikely...
Arthur Weasley: See Hagrid's explanation re: father figures for Harry. Has already narrowly escaped death once, and of all the members of the Order, he and Molly are probably the least skilled.
Remus Lupin: Again, see Hagrid above. A showdown between Remus and Fenrir is practically pre-ordained, and I'm not excited about Remus' chances. But few characters have appeared as purely good as Remus, and I think Rowling has a soft spot for him, so he will probably squeak by.
Lucius Malfoy: Just because it's gonna feel so damned good if he bites it. Especially if it is Snape who finishes him off. Or Dobby.
Molly Weasley: See Arthur above regarding being in a bit over her head with the Order. This would make her a perfectly logical choice, but it would be so tragically sad that I doubt Rowling will go there.
Ginny Weasley: Harry's girlfriend in peril would be a bit cliche, but that's no reason to dismiss this out-of-hand, especially given Ginny's extraordinary bravery.
Ron Weasley: Perhaps a more likely candidate than his sister, given that he doesn't appear to be as magically skilled as her.
Minerva McGonagall: Defacto Headmistress and leader of the Order, she has often appeared as if her health were failing her. Not sure if she'd be killed, exactly, but may suffer a natural death.
Bellatrix Lestrange: This mad old bint (as Laz may call her) will almost certainly end up back in Azkaban, as opposed to six feet under. Her tenuous grip on sanity will be her ultimate downfall.
Peter Pettigrew: To me, he--not Snape--is the character I most wonder about in regards to whether or not he will redeem himself. If not (as I predict), expect Lupin to track him down and send him to Azkaban. If so, expect him to be killed by Voldemort or one of the Death Eaters.
...not bloody likely.
Neville Longbottom: Like Ron, but even less skilled, and even more foolhearty. Also has that iffy sort of prophecy against him. However, given his tragic history, I can't imagine Rowling killing him. It'd be like killing a puppy.
Fred and George Weasley: No characters have embodied joy and light and hope quite as much as the twins. No way would Rowling allow that to reach a tragic end.
Draco Malfoy: He, like Snape, has been set up for a redemption arc. Unlike Snape, there would be no need for him to die to complete it. His inability to kill Dumbledore will force him to face right and wrong, and he will do at least one decent thing in this last book.
Herminone Granger: Quite simply, she is too smart a witch to be put into a hopeless position, and too skilled to be killed by any but Voldemort himself. That simply isn't going to happen.
There is this meme on the internets that there will be tow characters killed. However, when I first read that, it was that Rowling had just finished writing a chapter where two characters died. Personally, I'd be shocked if the body count were limited to two. I'm gonna break down the important characters (ones that people care about) into categories of risk, from my point of view. Not included will be minor members of the Order, the DA, minor villians and professors, etc.
The dead characters will come from this group...
Voldemort: uhh, duh.
Harry Potter: I just finished re-reading Book 2, and the traditional Dumbledore-explains-it-all-ending has me more convinced than ever that Harry is an (accidental) horcrux. I don't know how it is all gonna work out with the prophecy and whatnot, but I just don't see how Harry can't be a horcrux, unless he WAS a horcrux before Voldemort regenerated.
Severus Snape: I firmly believe that Snape is on the side of the angels, and was compelled to kill Dumbledore due to 1) his unbreakable vow, 2) Dumbledore's orders to maintain cover, 3) Snape recognized Dumbledore was dying anyway, and 4) he wanted to save Draco from becoming a killer and from being killed himself. He will die trying to help Harry defeat Voldemort, possibly at the hands of Lucius.
Rubeus Hagrid: Harry has lost father figures in each of the last two books, and there is no reason to expect this trend to stop. There are at least two other candidates in this subcategory (Arthur and Remus), but Hagrid is the most likely, being the least skilled in magic and the most foolhardy when it comes to danger. Also of note is that the other killed father figures both had important alchemical colors in their names (Sirius Black, Albus (Latin for White) Dumbledore), and Rubeus means Red in Latin, another important color in alchemical traditions. My suspicion is that whichever of Harry's father figures gets offed (possibly all three), it'll be at the hands of Fenrir Greyback, as all would have particular reason to tangle with the werewolf.
Fenrir Grayback: I normally wouldn't include a character who appeared in basically one scene thus far, but Christ almighty, did he leave an impression. Because he is just so irredeemably evil and sinister, he appears to be the most likely of the Death Eaters to bite it. I think he'll be taking at least one Order member with him, though.
...characters I wouldn't rule out, but unlikely...
Arthur Weasley: See Hagrid's explanation re: father figures for Harry. Has already narrowly escaped death once, and of all the members of the Order, he and Molly are probably the least skilled.
Remus Lupin: Again, see Hagrid above. A showdown between Remus and Fenrir is practically pre-ordained, and I'm not excited about Remus' chances. But few characters have appeared as purely good as Remus, and I think Rowling has a soft spot for him, so he will probably squeak by.
Lucius Malfoy: Just because it's gonna feel so damned good if he bites it. Especially if it is Snape who finishes him off. Or Dobby.
Molly Weasley: See Arthur above regarding being in a bit over her head with the Order. This would make her a perfectly logical choice, but it would be so tragically sad that I doubt Rowling will go there.
Ginny Weasley: Harry's girlfriend in peril would be a bit cliche, but that's no reason to dismiss this out-of-hand, especially given Ginny's extraordinary bravery.
Ron Weasley: Perhaps a more likely candidate than his sister, given that he doesn't appear to be as magically skilled as her.
Minerva McGonagall: Defacto Headmistress and leader of the Order, she has often appeared as if her health were failing her. Not sure if she'd be killed, exactly, but may suffer a natural death.
Bellatrix Lestrange: This mad old bint (as Laz may call her) will almost certainly end up back in Azkaban, as opposed to six feet under. Her tenuous grip on sanity will be her ultimate downfall.
Peter Pettigrew: To me, he--not Snape--is the character I most wonder about in regards to whether or not he will redeem himself. If not (as I predict), expect Lupin to track him down and send him to Azkaban. If so, expect him to be killed by Voldemort or one of the Death Eaters.
...not bloody likely.
Neville Longbottom: Like Ron, but even less skilled, and even more foolhearty. Also has that iffy sort of prophecy against him. However, given his tragic history, I can't imagine Rowling killing him. It'd be like killing a puppy.
Fred and George Weasley: No characters have embodied joy and light and hope quite as much as the twins. No way would Rowling allow that to reach a tragic end.
Draco Malfoy: He, like Snape, has been set up for a redemption arc. Unlike Snape, there would be no need for him to die to complete it. His inability to kill Dumbledore will force him to face right and wrong, and he will do at least one decent thing in this last book.
Herminone Granger: Quite simply, she is too smart a witch to be put into a hopeless position, and too skilled to be killed by any but Voldemort himself. That simply isn't going to happen.
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