I just found out that the last Harry Potter book hits stores on July 21. I am very stoked.
It took me a while to pick up a Harry Potter book and see what all the fuss was about. But after the first, I was hooked. And when I met my wife-to-be, I got her hooked (also got her hooked on Terry Pratchett, but that's another story). So we've been eagerly awaiting the next/last book.
I just pre-ordered it from Amazon. They're really good about delivering the book on the same day it hits stores.
So, if you haven't read book 6, go away now, because I want to talk about it. More specifically, an informal poll I'll give my answers to. You're welcome to give your own answers or dispute my answers in the comments.
1: How many of you think that Dumbledore isn't really dead?
I thought he and Snape colluded to fake his death, both to throw Voldemort off Dumbledore's trail and to raise Snape's cred among the Death Eaters.
Now, according to an interview with Rowling, she answered the question of whether Dumbledore is really dead with: "The British writer Graham Green once said that every writer had to have a chip of ice in their heart... Umm, I really can't answer that question because the answer is in book seven but, you shouldn't expect Dumbledore to do a Gandalf. Let me just put it that way. I'm sorry."
On the other hand, Gandalf didn't fake his death, nor did he purposefully fall into the pit with the Balrog. Furthermore, he came back transformed from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White. If Dumbledore faked his death, though the "unexpected" return would be Gandalf'ish, nothing else about the situation would have to be.
My main qualm with Dumbledore really being dead at Snape's hand is that it makes him out to be an old fool for trusting Snape. Through all the craziness, he had this odd confidence in Snape when no one else did. I have to believe that there was more to their relationship than deception and that Snape remains Dumbledore's mole in the Death Eaters.
2: Do you think Harry will kill Draco Malfoy, Draco will merely be on the losing side and go to Azkaban in the end, or do you think that Rowling will create a subplot of redemption around him?
I'd really like Harry to kill Draco's dad, but I think that of all the characters that Rowling could use to create an uplifting subplot of redemption, Draco's the best candidate. With how dark the last book looks to be, she may feel a need to redeem him.
===============
Those are my questions, those are my answers, have at them.
Entries (RSS)
I wanna agree with you and say that Snape and Dumbledore was in c'hoots about the whole dying thing.
See, i think Snape was loyal with Dd for the entire time and that he was forced to kill him because he made that oath thing in the verrry first chapter. He vowed that he would aid or take over draco's job for voldemort, and if he didnt do so he would die. It's not like he ever said, "i wouldnt tell dumbledore about it" did he? All he would have to do is not mention draco's name and he would be fine and within the confines of the vow. Dumbledore would therefore have seen this coming and acted accordingly, somehow so that Snape would kill him, but leave him alive ... somehow, idk.
Maybe he did die for good but Snape would still help the forces of good in order to redeem himself, or not.
Still ... she did say he wouldnt pull a Gandalf.
Really does kill it for ya though doesnt it? And his intimate conversations with Harry, saying that he (dumbledore) was wrong and that he made mistakes, really ... really pops his omniscience bubble.
I hope they all come back to life y'know?