On the Record: My Harry Potter Predictions

Well, the Mugglenet staff has gone on the record. It will be interesting to see which of their predictions come true! In the spirit of a HP release, I, too, will offer my humble opinions on these questions (taken from the Mugglenet staff predictions):

Who will die?

Please, please, PLEASE not Harry! Or any of the trio, for that matter! (Although, if one of them has to kick the bucket, my money's on Ron.) Out of the good guys, Hagrid will certainly go--he follows the alchemy model I read about in a wonderful editorial on Mugglenet. (I'll have to post a link later, 'cause I still have to find the editorial.) At least one Weasley will die--their numbers are against them there. My money is either on Fred and George or Percy. And, as much as I hate to even think about it, I am afraid that Lupin will die. But if he has to go, I hope Tonks goes with him. After all, he finally found love--they shouldn't be separated!

From the other side,Voldemort will most certainly die. I also think that Bellatrix and Lucius will finally get what they deserve. (I can picture Neville avenging his parents and me chanting NEVILLE! NEVILLE! NEVILLE! in the background!) Wormtail is going to get the axe, too, possibly paying his life debt to Harry. I also think Snape will get the axe...but I haven't made up my mind whether it will be while he's defending Harry or defending Draco (possibly even defending Draco from Bellatrix!). Both are possibilities.

Will Harry return to Hogwarts?

Yes, most definitely. Hogwarts is as much a character as any of the people, and we're not done seeing it yet! However, I still haven't made up my mind as to whether it will reopen or not, or whether Harry will just return in passing or for his education.

How will the various relationships unfold/begin?

Well, Ron and Hermione will (finally!) get together, as will Bill and Fleur on their wedding day (although I think it likely that the wedding will be interrupted by Death Eaters). Harry will eventually figure out that he is stronger with Ginny at his side and will stop being noble. And, provided that Lupin doesn't die (PLEASE, JO, LET REMUS LIVE!), he and Tonks will live hairily ever after.

However, the focus of this book will not be relationships. Harry has Horcruxes to destroy and a Dark Lord to defeat, remember?

To what does "Deathly Hallows" refer?

Either the Horcruxes or the people Voldemort killed to make them. Although, since one translation is "Relics of Death," I'm inclined to lean more towards them being the Horcruxes.

Is Snape good/bad/neither?

I trust Dumbledore. And while Snape is a nasty piece of work and will never be a warm and fluffy character, he is on Harry's side--whether Harry realizes it or not. It's not a question of if he's "good" or "bad," because "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters." It's more a question of which side he will fight for.

General comments on the series coming to a close

I first read about Harry when I was 11 years old. I have grown up with him, and I am immensely sad that this is the last time I'll be able to go to a midnight release of his newest escapade. Even so, though...I'll finally have all my questions answered! There have been moments over the last few weeks when I have actually lost my breath because I felt so excited.

Jo, I cannot thank you enough for sharing this world with us. It has made my life far more interesting and has given my friends and I something besides politics and religion to argue about. I cherish these characters as much as I cherish my friends, and I hope you will give all of them what they deserve! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

But, you know, this is not the end. I still have an editorial in mind for Mugglenet, and there will still be lots of analysis and plot-picking to do for quite some time. You know, I have actually considered doing my senior thesis on Harry Potter? No, this is certainly not the end, at least not for me!