Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince point of discussion (Spoilers)

[wolff96]

Am I the only one that read the interview where she said that one of the "big three" (Ron, Harry, and Hermione) was going to die in the final book?

And for what it's worth, I believe that Dumbledore is deader than a doornail. Every time they said something along the lines of "We're safe as long as Dumbledore is around, he's the only one You-Know-Who has ever feared." it was another nail in the old wizard's coffin.

 

[Flyspeck23]

If Harry dies that will be unsuitable, IMO, for the kids that make up the main audience of the books. If he kills himself then I'd say she is way out of line. I expect a more happy ending and would be a bit put off if it's a downer like Harry dying.

The "kids" are growing up with Potter, so the target audience for the last book will be what? 16, 17?
Such is live. At that age I had to cope with the suicide of Kurt Cobain

This isn't a Stephen King novel!

Yes. So Potter will stay dead. And Dumbledore, for that matter.

 

[Desdichado]

I think it very unlikely that any of the "Three Musketeers" will die, and I'd consider it nearly impossible that Harry would die in this series, personally. I just really, really don't see it.

However, we have had, in each of the last three books, the death of a character of increasing importance and significance. I expect to see a few more important characters die in the next/last book.

 

[BrooklynKnight]

I just want to bring up the following point.

There was obviously some sort of emphasis on learning to cast spells silently, but...is it just me or does Harry already have a hidden talent for it?

I can think of 2 specific instances when he's used magic wordlessly, (if not also accidentally). In SS when he released the snake from its cage, and in POA when he blew up his aunt.

 

[Tinner]

Am I the only one that read the interview where she said that one of the "big three" (Ron, Harry, and Hermione) was going to die in the final book?

And for what it's worth, I believe that Dumbledore is deader than a doornail. Every time they said something along the lines of "We're safe as long as Dumbledore is around, he's the only one You-Know-Who has ever feared." it was another nail in the old wizard's coffin.

I recall hearing that one of the Big 3 was going to die.
I think it has to be Harry.
But not necessarily because Harry is V's final hoarcrux. I think he'll have to die because it will be the only way possible to stop Voldemort.

I actually think that Dumbeldore used his death to create some sort of hoarcrux or other protection for Harry.
Dumbeldore is always telling Harry about how powerful the force of Love is. This is usually in reference to lily's sacrificial death to save Harry.

Well, it sure seems to me that Dumdledore set up his own sacrificial death to give Harry power as well.
Perhaps it's just some sort of ultimate charm to ward off Voldemort, or he's transferred some of his power to Harry the same way V accidentally did when he tried to kill Harry?
We know that creating a hoarcrux requires a death. Would D have arranged for Snape to kill him to create one for Harry?

I can't wait for book 7!!!

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

The "kids" are growing up with Potter, so the target audience for the last book will be what? 16, 17?
Such is live. At that age I had to cope with the suicide of Kurt Cobain




Yes. So Potter will stay dead. And Dumbledore, for that matter.

There are tons of Potter fans who are still young kids of 9 or 10 and like ages. I don't think she needs to put that much adult content in the books. Sure people die, but I know my godson and his brother and other kids would just be devastated if Harry gets killed. He's the hero they identify with. The books are getting more sophisticated as Harry grows up but I don't think the target audience has changed much, it still childrens lit IMO.

P.S. Well if you have read much King you know that most of his "heroes" end up totally screwed over, or dead, or insane at the end of his stories. There are really no happy endings for the most part.

 

[Flyspeck23]

There are tons of Potter fans who are still young kids of 9 or 10 and like ages. I don't think she needs to put that much adult content in the books.

You're redefining "adult content"

The books are getting more sophisticated as Harry grows up but I don't think the target audience has changed much, it still childrens lit IMO.

Yes, but it could be argued if it's suitable for small children.
Let me rephrase that: I'm not sure if it's suitable for children who couldn't cope with the death of the main character.

Then again, I haven't read the books yet

 

[Desdichado]

I don't think it's a question of suitability, it's a question of her not wanting to kill Harry (I expect, and I believe from transcripts of a few interviews I've read with her) and I suspect she also knows that it would be a phenomenal marketing blunder because most of the audience would hate that too.

 

[Urizen]

It had occured to me (just after reading the book) that A.D might have created a Hoarcrux which contained his own essence when he died with Snape's help, Dumbledore being the "sacrifice" needed in this case.

I'm not quite sure that floats though. I don't know if Dumbledore (or anyone else for that matter) could create a hoarcrux for themselves if someone else is doing the killing.

Something is definately odd about that "fake" hoarcrux though. I'm wondering what other relevance it might have.

Hmm, a 7th book devoted to finding 4 hoarcruxes seems unlikely to me. I'd be willing to bet this goes past 7 books.

Does anyone else see alot of "pagan" influences in these books?

 

[Urizen]

Oh, for what it's worth, I don't think Dumbledore's dead. No proof, just a hunch.

Even if it wasn't the hoarcrux theory I proposed, something just seems_off_about that whole death scene. I don't buy it.