Are Harry Potter's days numbered?

Question

J.K. Rowling said two characters will die in the last installment of her boy wizard series, and she hinted Harry Potter might not survive either.

“I have never been tempted to kill him off before the final because I’ve always planned seven books, and I want to finish on seven books,” Rowling said.

“I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, ‘Well, I’m gonna kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels. So it will end with me, and after I’m dead and gone they won’t be able to bring back the character’.”
So what do you think will happen?

Answer 1

I've read so many rumours and so many theories and opinions concering this matter and it's all really confusing at this point.

I am inclined to think that Harry is going to survive. Before you start getting angry and contradicting me, let me say there are several strong factors that determine me to cling to this opinion. One of this factors is the fact that JKR hates being easy to read. Harry Potter fans probably know how much JKR despises being predictable, therefore if most rumours and opinions support the theory that Harry is going to die, then you can be sure he will survive. You could contradict me with the theory that JKR wouldn't care about the public's opinion and wouldn't try to change the plot just because we have already discovered her intentions and have examined the hints she left behind so closely that we were able to figure out how the story will progress. But just think about it. If you were a writer and if the hints you intentionally left between the lines would be so easy to analyze that your readers would already know what the next book you're writing would consist of, how would you feel? Wouldn't it be like the book has already been read although it hasn't even been published yet? Yes. This is reason is strong enough to determine JKR to distort the plot so we could be proven wrong. Like I said, if most opinions side with the theory that Harry is surely going to die, you can be sure he won't.

Another strong factor that influences my opinion is the story's pattern. This story is based on the theory of evolution. If you examine the story and the books progress closely, you will notice that it all works according to the standards of evolution. And if you analyze JKR's personality and writing style, you will see that it makes no sense for Harry to die.

Most people think Harry is going to die because they are afriad of it, they don't want it to happen, so it's only logical that if they are faced with the possibility of it actually happening, their first reaction is to say 'Oh, no, it will happen for sure!' This general opinion that his death is imminent doesn't come from any reasonable proof, it only comes from fear. So there's no reason to form your opinions according to it.

In a way, it would be understandable if he died though. Harry is the main character, the hero, the martyr. He's the one that the whole war is based on and the one that the whole wizarding world looks up to, so it would be logical and it would add a much more dramatic tone to the whole story if he would be the sacrifice, if he would die for the safety and happiness of the wizarding and muggle worlds. It's only logical that if Harry was the one who started the war he should also be the one who ends it. The idea that his death would represent the last say in the war and it would twist the evolution of the wizarding and muggle lives is appealing to people.

But just think about it. In every book, Harry had to go through a lot, he had to go through a series of tasks and challanges. Throughout the books, the challanges and experiences he has been forced to live have formed him and determined him to progress, to evolve. He's a character that suffered a lot, but not without a purpose. Every book and every year he spent at Hogwarts basically represented another challenge, another task. He successfully completed all these tasks, managing to fulfill the progress JKR wanted for him. Reading the books and watching him evolve is like watching a man climb the stairs. Each stept was a test for him. Therefore it would only make sense that this man that is trying to reach the top of the stairs, wants to reach it for a reason. And it wouldn't be logical at all if once he reaches it, he suddenly falls off... would it? No, he goes there with a purpose. The last book is the final task. He doesn't have to sacrifice himself to complete it. On the contrary, he has gone through so much already that his destination has to be happiness.

Answer 2

It's not going to matter whether or not Harry Potter dies in the 7th book. Any future books written by other authors will weave their story the way they want and if they bring Harry Potter back to life, then they bring him back to life. The seven books J.K. Rowling will write about Harry Potter are not the end-all-be-all of the Harry Potter World. The story has reach the point where it has become its own world in the minds of readers and it will continue to grow beyond what J.K. Rowling writes.

Imagine that J.K. Rowling's books are picking up from a previous series. Everything that happens before Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone are nothing but hints and short bits of backstory that is intertwined with the the seven books that tell the Harry Potter story. A prequel series of books would cover these events in more detail. Instead of the current heroes of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Cho Chang, Ginney Weasley, and Luna Lovegood forming the D.A. club and battling to stop Voldemorts second rise to power, the series would involve James Potter, Lilly Evans, Sirious Black, Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody, and Albus Dumbldore forming the Order of the Pheonix and battling Voldemort the first time around.

Books that take place after J.K. Rowling's 7th book could go into new stories. Building off of characters and plot lines based on those in the original books. If Harry dies, perhaps I'll right a series of books where Ron & Herminone get married and have a kid that ends up bringing Harry back to life only for him to become the next "Dark Wizard Lord" and Ron and Hermione must find away to turn him good again or battle to the death with their dear old friend.

Additional Harry Potter books may not be what J.K. Rowling wants, but they will appear and add to the Harry Potter world. The best example of this is what happened with Star Wars. George Lucas wrote the original story and it has been added to by other fans to create the "Expanded Universe", most of which Lucas does not agree with or go by. Never the less, the Expanded Universe has been embraced by a majority of Star Wars fans because it adds to the greatness of the original story.

Answer 3

I've read a lot of Harry Potter and although an adult I have enjoyed the stories. I thought it could only be a matter of time before J.K. got rich enough not to want to write about him any more. I started looking on the Internet for another character that would fill the void, there's a book called "Visitors," by Bob Chapman, it's all about a little boy with powers but not like Harry Potter. You can buy it from Amazon, I think it was great!

Answer 4

Will Harry Potter be killed off in book 7? That would be a pretty bold move on the part of Rowling. Harry Potter is a typical archetype of a hero. The hero’s story always begins with relative obscurity. The Hero gradually realizes his inner potential and his destiny to fight the forces of darkness. This archetypal hero is part of our living myths. These stories are the basis for the three major western religions. In Judaism it is Moses who gradually realizes his destiny to fight the Pharaoh. In Christianity it Jesus who realizes his destiny and finally in Islam it Muhammad who follows the same path. Finally lets not forget Luke Skywalker who goes to through the same journey of the archetypal hero. Will Harry be killed off in book 7? Well with the exception of Jesus all the other archetypal heroes survive their battle with the forces of darkness. The question is, does Rowling see Harry Potter as Jesus or Luke Skywalker? Lets hope it is Luke and not Jesus!!!.

Answer 5

Since Harry was not brought up in a proper way, he goofed off with Ron most of the time instead of spending time with Hermione at Hogwarts. Ginny may have slipped Harry a love potion, or else Harry wouldn't be kissing her without thinking when she threw her arms around him.

Answer 6

J.K Rowling just probably wants to raise some suspense. Like make you THINK she's going to kill of Harry and then surprise us at the end . . .again :P I'm not entirely sure. I suppose we'll just have to wait until the book comes out. *sniff*

Answer 7

no because she would get more than anybodies ever gotten hate letters especially because she beet the best seller list by millions. you can also check these sites mugglenet.com versirium.com and leakycauldron.com for more awncers. I'm a crazy harry potter fan so this should work. also on these websites are rumors put down and rumors ignored so that should probably help. they also have information on the movies (which are nothing like the books but it might help) so explore and good luck finding information!

Answer 8

No! I am positive he will not die. He will walk off into the sunset, the solitary hero of the wizarding world.

Answer 9

I don't think he'll die it would just ruin the whole story for me and I don't think J.K.Rowling wants to many hate letters but one things for sure Voldemort is dead!

Answer 10

It's true that we don't want him to die, that would be horribly sad, but then again, she might not want anybody to keep going with the story, so I have no idea