In case you hadn't heard ... (Harry Potter)

[clauclauclaudia]

I'm sure some people's friends lists are afire with the news, but amazingly few people have said anything on my f-list and besides, I wanna talk about it!

So. Harry Potter book 7's publication date has been announced: July 21, 2007. A mere fortnight after the rumored 7/7/7, but this way it comes out more than a week after movie 5 rather than

Comments

[heavenscalyx]

I'd love to see GayRemus too. Or gaySomeonePositive. GayTonks would be nice. (Tonks and Remus get together, realize there's no spark, and decide to both come out and be best friends.)

And ImportantLuna, rather than ComedyReliefLuna. That would be nice.

I expect that either Ginny or Neville will die, and I cynically expect it to be Ginny, because of Rowling's past dealings with girl characters, her continued need to thanatomotivate Harry, and a possible need to reassert Harry's manliness (after motivating him with three dead male characters) without getting him entwined in a relationship. Neville's also a good possibility, possibly going out with a bang that includes him coming into his own in a less than satisfying way that the fans can go, "Um, yay?"

What would be really satisfying for me is if it turned out that Harry was a complete red herring, and Neville has been the Chosen One all along. Heh.

Oh, I'd also like to see Hermione suddenly manifest into something other than a shrew. She had such possibilities early in the

[clauclauclaudia]

I'm okay with Ginny dying in terms of whether I'd miss the character (not so much), but on the other hand I don't think she's well-loved enough that it's dramatically worthwhile to kill her off. And I agree with you about the problematic nature of JKR's girl characters. I'm skeptical that she feels a need to (re)assert Harry's manliness, though. *cue Equus pictures*

My problem with either Harry or Neville dying is that they've both had such a poor lot in life so far. I really don't want the series to come down to "life sucks, then you die", and I strongly feel that is what it says if Harry dies in book 7. And to a lesser degree if Neville dies.

I don't feel Hermione has been portrayed as shrewishly as some think. But it would be nice to see some assertiveness not of the cheap movie variety.

[heavenscalyx]

Well, okay, you have a point about the manliness. And about Harry or Neville dying.

I think the main reason I feel that Hermione has gotten a bum rap was the number of times the "Hermione said _________" lines had fairly pejorative adverbs in them in the last book. It felt like JKR was using "waspishly" at least often as Harry "fired up."

[leora]

I don't think it'd be life sucks and then you die.

It'd be life sucks and then you accept death because while everything will always suck for you, you will make the world better for others by doing so.

I think Harry has to die. I'll be surprised if he lives.

[dr_whom]

All I'm sayin' is, one of the Horcruxes had better be Rowena Ravenclaw's wand.

[clauclauclaudia]

Yes sir!

Apparently one gloss of "Hallows", in the context of Arthurian legend, is the four tarot-deck-suit objects, so I'm thinking you won't be disappointed in this.

[wolfheart17]

She has the damned suits mixed up. Ravenclaw should have totally been air (which was already given to Gryffendor, Hrmph). Not that I am actually bitter, any reference to the Treasures give me glee.

[juliansinger]

I have no predictions because I like being surprised by books.

And wah. Last time it came out in time for Calluna's birthday. Hmph.

[heavenscalyx]

This time it's in time for Akycha's birthday!

[clauclauclaudia]

"A very merry unbirthday to you!"

[lil_brown_bat]

My guesses:

• Dumbledore stays dead
  
• A Weasley dies
  
• Cornelius Fudge comes to a sticky end
  
• Snape is vindicated
  
• Nobody's gay
  

...but most of all...the involvement of magical creatures becomes very, very important.

[clauclauclaudia]

I think you're right. House-elves or centaurs or giants or... some non-human sentients are going to be very important. If she pulls it off well, that's better than the literal gay character. More thematically appropriate, at any rate.

I was hoping Fudge was a non-entity by now. Maybe he's a sekrit Death Eater, that'd be okay.

And... okay, a Weasley can die. But not Ron and not one twin without the other. (Have you heard? Ron has to go back in time and become Dumbledore! Courtesy of archive.org: Weasley is our King! )

[miss_bowtruckle]

Not one twin without the other???

Not one at all!!!

gah....

[clauclauclaudia]

*tries to click the little +icon and fails*

Yes dear. :)

But there are few angst-fics more angstful for me than when one of them dies and the other lives on.