Are you looking forward to the 7th Harry Potter book?

Question

I have read them all and have to say that I am pretty excited to find out the fate of Harry Potter. What is your take on it? Will you be rushing out to get the newest release in July or do you think it should have been over long ago? I personally think that J.K. Rawling is a brilliant writer and can't wait to see what adventure she publishes next. Maybe she will be the next Tolkien?

Answer 1

I am very excited waiting for DH. I have it pre-ordered from Amazon. I am not upset at the amount of time she's taken. It is a complex series and to make sure of continuity, the later books would have to take more time to write and edit, IMHO.

It will be interesting to see what other projects she has in the pipeline. Since she says she wants to write more children's fiction, we adults may not be as interested, but we will see.

My thoughts on what happens in DH:

1. Harry is not a horcrux! (This idea makes no sense in light of the prophesy for one, and why would Voldemort put part of his soul into someone he might have to fight anyway). Also, were that the case, Harry can't vanquish Voldemort unless he let Voldemort cast a death spell at him, then cast one of his own at Voldemort, because all the horcruxes have to be destroyed before Voldemort can die.

2. Pettigrew still has a debt to Harry and that debt will be collected upon.

3. Neville will find his strength and confidence.

4. Bill Weasley's marriage will be the scene of a big fight, and maybe the death of one of the major characters.

5. Draco Malfoy will not be a major factor, unless he admits to himself that he is in over his head with the Deatheaters and turns coat.

6. We will find out that Harry is Dumbledore's heir, and among the things he gets is the pensieve and a bunch of very instructive memories.

7. Deaths: First, we are assuming that either Harry or Voldemort dies. I believe that Harry lives, because it is a children's/YA series after all and the central character of such series never die, JKR will not buck that canon.
Otherwise: My handicapping, in order of likelihood (IMHO):

Ron, Percy, Pettigrew, Fred/George, Neville, Lupin, Hagrid, Hermione, Petunia, Dudley, Tonks, Mr./Mrs. Weasley, Malfoy, Ginny, Bill, Fleur, Luna, Snape.

8. Couples (assuming they survive the book): Harry/Ginny, Ron/Hermione, Neville/Luna, Lupin/Tonks (and I think these two will marry by the last chapter).

9. Finally, about Snape:
Snape is Snape. He is beyond the sort of simplistic categorization as "good" or "evil", IMHO. I do believe he is not as evil as he appeared at the end of HBP. It would take too much space to really go into this in detail, but consider this:

It is well known that Snape played the double-agent prior to the death of Harry's parents, and there is no reason to believe he wasn't still a double agent on the anti-Voldemort side. Why then did he bind himself to the success of Draco's mission and then actually kill Dumbledore?
My answer: Dumbledore knew that destroying Slytherin's ring had fatally wounded him and Snape knew so too. Therefore he allowed himself to be bound to Dumbledore"s death, a death he knew was imminent and against which he knew Dumbeldore had taken precautions to ensure that his death would not derail the anti-Voldemort movement.

Now, on the other hand, if Snape has turned coats; why did he not kill Harry* or disable him and take him helpless to Voldemort? JKR made it clear that Harry is no match for Snape as a wizard (yet). If you look at Snapes "taunts" at Harry and put them into anyone else's mouth, they're very good advice on what Harry needs yet to learn to fight strong adult wizards on anything like equal terms.
My answer is that Dumbledore at some point shortly after Harry was orphaned made Snape take an unbreakable vow to protect Harry. This fits in perfectly with Snape's actions toward Harry in the books thus far. Yes, Snape is a mean SOB to Harry, but that is Snape's personality, and he didn't vow to be nice to Harry after all.

My conclusion is that in Book Seven, Snape will act covertly and eventually overtly to aid Harry, that he will likely live, and that Harry will be just as in the dark over Snape's motivations as when Harry entered Hogwarts. (BTW, the above is why I don't think Harry will die. If I'm right, then Snape dies too if Harry dies, and Snape is the ultimate survivor).

*My reading of the prophecy is that there is no requirement that either has to directly kill the other, just that one no longer lives, so I think Snape certainly could have killed Harry and talked his way out of it afterwards

Answer 2

I am super excited!! I am going to be out of town when it comes out... but I am going to try to go to WalMart or a place like that and get it the very day. Although I liked some of the older books better than the most recent one, I would never be able to read the first 6 books of a series and then not finish the series!! I am planning to read the whole book on the flight back home... lol. I hope J.K. Rowling does publish more books... I will read them even if they aren't about Harry. I hope this answered all your questions... lol!!

Answer 3

I will be at a midnight madness party.

I am very excited about the book, especially to see if any of my theories are right.

Jo as said if she writes again it will be under a pen name.

for book 7 theories and info on the books, movies, and theme park visit my personal HP site
http://rpccstudent.tripod.com/

Answer 4

I am so excited! I cant go wait in line to get it since I am in Germany...however, I ordered it already so that it will be shipped to me asap! Starting a week before Im going to be checking my mailbox everyday!

Answer 5

I can't wait!!!!!!! It's going to be awesome!!!! I haven't pre-ordered, but I'll be staying up all night at the bookstore with my friends. I really hope that Harry lives.

Answer 6

Are you kidding?? Ofcourse I am! Hopefully she doesnt kill him off and...she's better than Tolkien, she's in a class of her own.
July 21, 2007!!

And a warning to all of you guys who are going to wait at borders! Shield your ears, last year someone screamed who died in the parking lot! Pack your ear shielding gear!

Answer 7

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!!!

I have had mine on order for over 1 month now and am planning to be there when they open at 9am to get it.

Answer 8

Are you kidding?! You're kidding right? She's kidding...she's got to be kidding...is it July 21st yet?

Tent packed...check...sleeping bag...check...rain gear...check...camping chair...check...all 6 other Harry Potter books...check...cell phone...check...okay, all set to stand out and wait for 12AM July 21st!!

Wait...I forgot food...

Answer 9

oh yes of course! i pre-ordered it on amazon so that it can come on july 21... i'm so excited!

Answer 10

I AM!!!!!! I can't wait!!!! I hope no one I like is gonna die, but they probably will and I'll probably cry my eyes out.