Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jessie-b]

Has anyone ordered the new book yet? Do you know if you can order it through Kyobo? Do you think they'll have English versions out on the 16th?

Theories? Is Dumbledore really dead? Is Snape with the Dark Lord? Is anyone else going to be holed up for a weekend reading this as soon as they can? I'm sooooo excited.

I have huge debates with my students about Cho and Hermione. They think Cho is not pretty and they point out these sexy, completely glam 20-30 year old Korean actresses who should've played her in the movie. I keep saying, ummm...she's a STUDENT, like you guys. Are you allowed to prance around showing cleavage and wearing 15 pounds of makeup? They think Hermione is "very beautiful". WHATEVER. Most of them think Harry used to be cute but isn't anymore, and Ron is too messy to be cute. Hahaha.

[Thunndarr]

It almost saddens me how much I know about this series.

Is Dumbledore really dead? Yep, dead as a doornail.

Anyway, here's the deal, as I see it. Dumbledore is dead because that's what this entire series is about, the mystery of death. Dumbledore says in the first book that death is just the next great adventure. He also mentions that Voldemort has yet to learn that there are things worse than death. (This is a big hint about the end of the series, IMO.) Further, the smoke phoenix (or whatever kind of phoenix it was) at his funeral was symbolic of life after death, not that he was actually reborn.


Is Snape really with Voldemort? I highly doubt it, much too obvious.

What I've guessed about Snape is that when he was a schoolboy, not only did he hate James Potter, he was also in love with Lily before James and Lily started dating. This would explain why Snape hates Harry (because of Harry's resemblance to James) but also Snape's obsession with Harry (because Snape can't help but remember Lily whenever he looks at Harry.) Oh, and it also probably explains why Snape, in my opinion, hates himself, and why Dumbledore believes that Snape is no longer working for Voldemort, because Snape tipped off Voldemort about the prophecy, which lead directly to Lily's death, which he clearly blames himself for. (It also would explain why he didn't kill Harry at the end of book 6.)

As for Voldemort and Harry...Well, this is pure speculation, but I think Harry is certainly going to die at the end of the series, but Voldemort will not. I would guess that Voldemort will end up living out his life in some wretched, non-magical state which Dumbledore alluded would be a fate worse than death for him. Harry, who will probably sacrifice himself to save either Ron or Hermione (and therefore cause Voldemort's second and final downfall) will be reunited with his parents, Sirius, and Dumbledore in some kind of afterlife.

[MilesToGo]

Very interesting, articulate response to the OP. Is it sad to be enthralled by Harry Potter? Oh well.

I agree that Dumbledore is dead. Gradually, Harry has been stripped of layer after layer of protection, and this seems highly deliberate on Rowling's part. It seems increasingly likely to me that when he ultimately faces Voldemort in the final book, he will have to do so alone (not sure how Ron and Hermione are going to fit into this).

Also, Rowling has already proven that she's quite prepared to kill off characters, even important, loved characters, and make no apologies for it.

Yeah, Snape being on Voldemort's side feels too obvious to me, too. (On the other hand, Rowling clearly signposted Ron and Hermione's romance books in advance, so she's not all about twists and sleight-of-hand). The theory that he was in love with Lily strikes me as very plausible. It'll be interesting to see whether you're right about that.

I read that Rowling claims she will kill off two major characters in the final book. Harry is one obvious candidate (although I'm not totally convinced he will die). Any other theories about who will die, and why?

I find it interesting that the last book seems set to depart from the framework shared by all the others, of taking place over the course of a school year at Hogwarts. I didn't expect that, did you? We've seen Harry go from childhood to moody adolescence, and this departure from Hogwarts together with Dumbledore's death seems to indicate that Harry in the final book will be more adult than child.

OK, that's all I've got. Anyone else?

[Flash Ipanema]

Actually, what she said is that she ended up killing two characters that she wasn't originally planning to kill off, so there will almost certainly be more than two deaths. However, one character who she was planning to kill was spared. I don't think any of these applies to Harry because I'm sure his fate has pretty much been sealed the whole time.

I'm inclined to believe Harry will die, probably a sacrifice of sorts, but I'm holding out hope. Partly because for many years JKR said the last word in the book would be scar. It no longer is the last word, but it's still very close to the end (presumably in the epilogue). If Harry is dead, why discuss the scar?

[swetepete]

I agree with the idea that a Snape betrayal would be too obvious. For the same reason, I think Potter himself won't die.

The predictions of Harry's unavoidable demise have been roiling for years now; even if it was Rowling's intention to do him in at the end, she herself might well have chosen a different route simply to avoid a predictable finish.

I think she'll do something trickier; maybe give Harry a hard bit of luck in some form, taking his magic away and dooming him to Muggledom perhaps, while doing the same to Voldemort...though that doesn't seem too likely. Or, maybe, she'll whack a couple of his friends instead. Or maybe bring back his folks and Dumbledore and Black, and then have them die again.

In any case, I hope she kills a Malfoy or two. Or three.

[MilesToGo]

Yeah, and I also wouldn't mind seeing Umbridge get more of a come-uppance than she has up until now. Did anyone else find her departure at the end of the Order of the Pheonix a bit of an anticlimax? I was baying for her blood by that stage. And she popped up again in the last book relatively unschathed. I hope Rowling isn't quite finished with her yet...

[Buff]

I've pre-ordered the book and am anxiously awaiting its delivery to my doorstep. All I can say is that anyone who posts a spoiler(in a thread title) will be hunted down and killed by me

[Ody]

[Kimchi Cowboy]

TThe first chapter of the first book was titled, The Boy Who Lived. I think the last chapter of the last book will be titled, The Boy Who Died.

So long, Harry. It's been a fun ride...

[northy]

I've pre-ordered this from Kyobo Books. It costs 21 000 Won and they are opening at 9.30am which is 90 mins after it officially goes on sale at midnight in the UK (which I think is the first place it does).

[Hollywoodaction]

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[Flash Ipanema]

[oxfordstu]

From IMDB:

[SeoulShakin]

I thought the book came out on the 21st, not the 16th. OP, are you sure about the 16th???

I have been waiting for this book for soooo long! I also agree that Snape was told to do the killing in place of Malfoy. Dumbledore knew that Malfoy didn't have the gumption to do it, and didn't want to ruin his future. Since the deatheaters already think Snape is a spy, it would make sense to have him do it. This also explains how Snape and Dumbledore were overheard arguing in the forest, Snape saying he didn't want to do it anymore, and Dumbledore saying, you already agreed to do it, so you must.

I feel like I'm ten years old waiting for this book. So sad... but oh so good!