The RT-skewed DH meme

[tree_and_leaf]

1. Are you going to look at every possible spoiler you can before the book comes out? Did you with HBP and how accurate were the ones you saw?

No. I saw the HBP story about the betting on Dumbledore dying, but though I thought it was plausible, I managed to persuade myself that it didn't have to be correct - a triumph of wilful self-deception, since Dumbledore's death makes structural sense. But even if I don't avoid the spoilers, it won't spoil too much of my pleasure - it's not like Christie, where the only point is the mystery of whodunnit.

2. What will you do if Amazon (or whoever;) don't deliver your copy on time, and everyone is reading it except you?

I'll be getting it from a bookshop, hopefully (thought it's sightly dependent on when it comes out). Support local bookshops, save your postie's back!

3. Will you read the last chapter before anything else? Are you planning to read the book all in one go or are you a slow reader?

Of course not! I'll probably read it over one day - I'm a fast reader - but I imagine I'll stop for meals!

4. What's your theory on the meaning of "Deathly Hallows?"

I think this will be the hiding place of the final horcrux and/ or the site of the final confrontation with Voldemort.

5. What's the craziest Harry Potter theory you've got, which you could only share with your trusted f-list?

I don't think I've got one, unless you count my belief that Snape is a bitter, twisted Calvinist, along the lines of Robert Wringham in Memoirs ad Confessions of a Justified Sinner. Actually, that does count, doesn't it?

6. If you could write in a sub-plot of your own choosing to the main Harry one, what would it be?

I'd like to see what the Order is up to. And I know few people agree with me on this, but I'd like to know more about the giants.

7. Who do you think will die in the book, and who would you be most upset to see die, even if you don't think it's likely?
Snape, Pettigrew, at least one Weasley, Bellatrix. Voldemort, obviously. Probably one of Harry's classmates.

I'd hate Lupin to die, though I don't think it likely, and I'd hope Harry would live, but I think I'd be most upset if anything happened to Neville. He's possibly the finest Gryffindor of them all, and he deserves happiness.

8. Name three main (ish) characters who you think will definitely live and why. Is there a very minor character(s) you really want to have a happy ending?
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, just because of the structure of the plot.

Stan Shunpike, poor stupid boy.

9. If you don't like the book, or are bitterly disappointed by it, do you think you'll still stay in the fandom?

Pass. I'm confident that I'll like it, though.

10. One word (or concise) answers only!

- Snape: Dead whatever happens. I think he'll probably do something decisive to turn the course of events to victory for Harry, but we'll never know quite why he sacrifices himself .
- Bill: Unless his expertise in cursebreaking comes into play, I don't think we'll see much of him after the wedding. Perhaps he'll give the Trio some cursebreaking lessons.
- Peter: Plays some role in the defeat of Voldemort which repays the life-debt. Possibly lets Harry go, or engineers his escape.
- The Weasleys: One of them is bound to die. I'd guess Charlie, possibly Percy. Molly as an outside shot, but that might be deemed 'too cruel'...
- Did Snape love Lily: Maybe. But if so, unrequited, and in an unpleasantly stalkerish way. Come to that, Im not sure he knows what the word 'love' means, except possibly with reference to his mother (but not in an Oedipal manner).
- Hogwarts: The battle will come there at some point. Voldemort's obsessed with the place, and not just because Dumledore was there.
- Remus and Tonks: will they get married in the book? They'll get married at some point, I hope.
- Bellatrix: Dead. I think she will kill herself to avoid being captured, after Neville gets the drop on her. (I don't think Neville's a killer, but obviously it ought to be him who deals with her)
- The new leader of the OotP is ...? Possibly Moody, possibly Lupin (although he desperately needs some assertiveness training) I'd like to suggest Arthur, but I imagine it will be someone who was in the first lot.
- Percy: Sees the error of his ways. Hay or may not die heroically.

11. If Harry could take just one adult Order of the Phoenix member with him on the search for Horcruxes, who should it be and why?

He shouldn't take any of them along. However, I think Bill and Moody in particular could teach him useful skills he'll need on the way.

12. Will Remus and Greyback have a confrontation in human or werewolf form? Will Tonks be involved? Who will the other werewolves support?

No - I don't think Greyback has any further role to play. The werewolves will be divided.

13. Who is the person from Harry's class (and it isn't him, Ron or Hermione), who will become a Hogwart's teacher? What subject will they teach?

I don't know. I'd like to see Luna teach divination, because it would be hilarious, but she's not in Harry's year... perhaps it will be Lav-Lav taking over from Trelawny?

14. Do you think Harry will observe Remus looking less lined and walking with a little more of a spring in his step? If so, do you think he'll attribute it to Tonks, and if he does, will he blush?

I doubt he'll have time to speculate about that!

15. Will Ginny use, "But Professor Lupin saw the futility of being a noble prat!" for one of her million arguments with Harry about why they should be together? Do you think they'll get back together at all?

She may well think it, but I don't think she'll want to put Harry uner pressure during the quest. They'll get back together if Harry survives.

16. Which house do you think Tonks is in, and why? Is she going to morph into someone important and who will it be?

Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. I don't think she'lluse her morphing in a big way, but I like (I think it was) a_t_rain's theory that NARCISSA is a metamorphmagus, and was the big blond DE in the battle at the end of HBP.

17. Who will be revealed to be the heir of Gryffindor?

I don't think there is one left, but Neville would fit quite well.

18. As JKR has promised the final chapter will be like an epilogue; how do you think the final paragraph (hopefully) donated to Remus' future, and/or Tonks', and/or anyone else you want to write a paragraph on, will read?

I can't do a Remus/ Tonks one, there have already been too many jokes about multicoloured were-puppies. I'd be amused it it turned out that Stan Shunpike really did become the youngest ever Minister for Magic (and he could hardly do a worse job than Fudge or Scrimgeour - his worst fault seems to be a tendency to try to exaggerate his own importance, which is par for the course for a politician)

19. Which question from the books would it annoy you most not to have answered?

I like mysteries, so unless it's "did Harry or Voldemort win?", I think I'll see loose ends as an opportunity for fic and speculation, rather than an irritant.

20. What do you think the last line of the book is?

The only reminder was his scar.

Comments

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

Wow. I wasn't aware that ppl are already giving so much thought to book seven!

[tree_and_leaf]

... it's possible that we should find better things to do with out lives, isn't it?

[juno-magic.livejournal.com]

What could be better than procrastinating with memes concerning books?

(I'm just realizing that I'm totally out of touch with HP fandom. :-( )

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

I like (I think it was) a_t_rain's theory that NARCISSA is a metamorphmagus, and was the big blond DE in the battle at the end of HBP.

Nope, not mine, although I do think one of the Black sisters is. I think it might be fernwithy who came up with the blond DE twist.

And I love the idea of Stan for Minister!

[tree_and_leaf]

Hm. A good job I don't need this theory for academic purposes!

[nineveh-uk.livejournal.com]

12. You mean that Tonks won't be held captive and Lupin come to save her and have a huge big bloody violent fight with Greyback, whihc he will win, but barely escape with his own life, and have to be gently nursed back to health, and OMG fear that Tonks has been bitten, but her MM powers mean she can control the Dreaded Change?

[tree_and_leaf]

Well, I was trying to avoid the most obvious possibility....

[greenwoodside.livejournal.com]

*gets out her Stan Shunpike for Minister Banner*

I hadn't thought of Luna taking Divination before, but you're right, she'd be absolutely hilarious.

[snorkackcatcher]

6. Word to both. :) (And the goblins, for that matter -- they pop up every now and again but we never got to find out much about them.)

12. It's annoying that JKR never clarified whether Greyback escaped, isn't it? The last we heard of him, Harry had just Petrified him. I would say he seemed too important to just drop in the next book, but have thought that about characters before and been disappointed ...

16. The "blond DE = Narcissa" seems like a stretch to me. The Berserker act doesn't seem very Narcissa-like.