The rules are simple:
1) Pick two characters and only two characters you believe will die in DH
1a) If you list more than two picks, the first two are the only ones that count. So if you say "Hermione and Hagrid, and Neville too," your picks are Hermione and Hagrid. Neville may very well die, but you won't get credit for it.
2) Voldemort is not a valid pick. His death is assumed. You may, however, pick Voldemort to *live* as one of your picks
3) No submissions after the release
4) Winner gets bragging rights. And possibly some sort of title or nickname.
5) Please keep it relatively simple. Essay-length explanations of your picks, while quite possibly interesting enough to merit their own threads, will just make finding the winner more time consuming for me when it's all said and done.

I'll start.

My picks:
Harry Potter
Ron Weasley

[This message has been edited by J (edited July 11, 2007).]

I think Harry will make it, just for the record.

I actually thought that the news item I read indicated Rowling said the number of deaths was "more than 2" so...

I'm all for the bad guys biting it. Pettigrew's been in several books so I'm counting him. Mostly because I really want him to die. I also believe Not only Dumbledore but Sirius black will still be found to be alive.

Neville seems to be a popular answer, but I think he has a special place in Rowling's heart, and I don't see her taking him out. He could rival Harry in heroics, though.

Ron and Hermione are obviously destined to be man and wife, so they both are going to make it. (There are some uncanny resemblances between Hermione and Mrs. Weasley.)

Maybe Snape, but I think he is ripe for a tranformation of character that could better be seen and appreciated if he survived.

A real surprise shot would be having one of the Dursleys step up and take the hit for Harry. I really like that idea--especially if its Dudley. But either parent would be cool, too.

Another idea I really like is to have the twins go down. They seem like the jokesters, but when the s**t hits the fan, they'll get serious and face doom even when they know it is certain.

I do have a hunch that little Draco is going to undergo a little "conversion," but he may also wind up being the guy who gives Harry the death blow after Harry completely defeats Voldemort.

I think Percy is going to get some kind of reality shock and come around. He's a good Prodigal Son.

Hagrid may be a good pick because he is obviously so caring, and would do absolutely anything for the kids. Plus, he is good for some exoneration. He's almost too good of a choice, though. Besides--as Harry said--there's no Hogwarts without Hagrid.

I think Harry is going to live, too. I don't think Rowling wants her legacy to be the deep depression of 75% of the children in the English speaking world.

(Boy--I must really care about this stuff.)

All right, already. My guesses are:

Mr. Weasley
Cho

quote:

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He became a tragic irredeemable character.

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I'm banking on Hagrid's naive faith. I think Snape's apparent treason was really him carrying out his duty.

I think Pettigrew will survive as the object of Harry's mercy. In spite of killing his parents, he digs deep and forgives.

JKR said more than two people die, so I'll add Percy, Draco and Flitwick, who may come NEAR dying (he's bound to be a brave little man!) and survive after all.

Dumbledore is dead - JKR said you can't reverse death in her world. But he should be a help to Harry either through his portrait or as a ghost, perhaps.

JMO - and BTW - saw the film last night and it was GREAT!!!!

My picks:

1. Snape

2. Fred or George (But only one of them. The other will live.)

So my corrected picks are:

1. Snape

2. Fred

Those who will not die:
Hermione and Ron, what can I say they were pegged to be together since book 2.

Those who might die:
Harry and Ginny

Those who will die:
Voldemort and Neville, and possibly you if you get mad at me for "breaking" your rules :P

Right now you've only made one pick--Neville. (See Rule 2). Please make another.

(I ain't mad, so don't kill me).

Percy has been out of the picture for a while and the book needs a big payoff to redeem the character who's been out of the picture for a while.

Apart from Prof. McGonagall, Hagrid is the kids' main protector at school. JKR said she cried after killing off one character, and I can see her crying after the death of Hagrid.

I don't think that killing Harry makes thematic sense. His mother sacrificed herself to safe him. Harry's death would seem to render that sacrifice insignificant.

My only caviat about these two picks is that I don't think these deaths would have the emotional impact that the death of one of the three main kids would have.

I also think that Hagrid will die. Hagrid was the one who found Harry in the muggle world. Hagrid watches over him at all times. Besides Ron and Hermione, Hagrid is the most important person in Harry's life. Having Hagrid killed would make Harry snap.

Another note: I believe Neville will kill Voldemort. I think Harry won't be capable of killing Voldemort, and may even lose his life in the battle. Neville may become the Boy Who Killed You Know Who.

1.Snape(although he may not be totally dead my sister and I have this crazy theory about a horcrux and Animagi)

I just read an interesting online essay on The Twilight Zone and tragedy, which didn't involve Harry Potter but has some application here nonetheless. In the olden days (the early 1960s here) a show (or a book) didn't mind portraying tragedy and didn't mind having a character die. In these latter days, often the writer (or director or producer) are afraid of hurting their marketability by having heroes (or even villains) get killed---there can't be a sequel if the lead character is killed off in defeat.

I hope Rowling can defy this trend---I'll accept the death of any character, of even of all of them, unlikely as that may be. I think I'll go out on a limb and say, yes, Harry Potter will die.

For fairness's sake, I'm going to have to make a call on this and say you are stuck with your original picks--no changes.

I'm walking around with my fingers stuck in my ears singing la-la-la-la-la. And I'm not even what I would consider a huge HP fan.

Thought I'd pass this offer along:

If you advance order a copy before DH goes on sale at midnight tomorrow from: Booksofwonder.com - the books are being signed by Mary GrandPré, the illustrator. If you buy the deluxe edition or DH and one other hard cover Harry book, Books of Wonder is including posters (24 inches wide by 10 inches) of all seven dust covers. It looks like they might be out of the Deluxe Edition of DH.

Books of Wonder is a really amazing children's book store in New York City.

>>Harry, 11, from Trowbridge:”Why did you decide to kill Dumbledore in the 6th Harry Potter book?”

J.K. Rowling: “Not because I’m horrible, but because it’s an important part of the story. And he is dead.”<<

Of course, she could be lying just to keep us guessing . . . I guess by tomorrow, a lot of us will know the truth of the matter!