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The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens
jonstephens
09 February 2007 @ 07:41 am
Q & A - #10 - "What do YOU think is going to happen in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS?"  
Q & A - #10 - "What do YOU think is going to happen in HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS? Is Snape to be trusted? Will Harry return to Hogwarts? Have we already seen all the remaining Horcruxes?" ~ Brian Farrey @ Dispatches

I haven't thought terribly much about this topic, even though my sister and I have had multiple conversations about what might happen in HARRY #7. She's quite the Harry Potter nut. 

My Unformulated Thoughts:

Snape is to be trusted because Ms. Rowling said so. She said so in an interview/special with Stephen King and John Irving @ Radio City. Snape is a good guy. "But how can that be?" you ask. "He just _____ _____!!!" I know, I know. I'm thinking the same thing.

Harry will return to Hogwarts because at least one of the Horcruxes is there. Perhaps the Gryffindor sword? Perhaps the Sorting Hat? Voldemort's wand? (Ms. Rowling said it's not that) I don't think we've seen all the Horcruxes, but the question remains -- what are they? With how much time Voldemort spent at Hogwarts as a child, there is no doubt in my mind one or more of the Horcruxes is back at the school. The big question -- What if Harry's a Horcrux? (Even though Ms. Rowling said no) 

Sadly, Dumbledore is really, you know, and will not be back. (Ms. Rowling said so) 

A Few of My Questions:

QUESTION #1: Who is R.A.B.? Is it Sirius Black's family member, Regulus Arcturus Black? Sure seems that way. If Harry still has relatives who are alive, that could be crucial.

QUESTION #2: If Dumbledore and Snape were teaming up to hatch some plan, did Dumbledore leave a message (or messages) behind for Harry? What will they say?

QUESTION #3: Ms. Rowling said one of the main characters is going to die? So which one will it be? Harry? Hermoine? Ron?

QUESTION #4: What will happen with Neville Longbottom? He seems like such a growingly integral part of the prophecy and the novel that he has to play a role.

QUESTION #5: Does Harry have to die in the end?

My Little Rant About the Release Date: 

What were the marketing people thinking? 7/21/07? Why not 7/7/7? It's perfect when you really think about it. 

STELLAR POINT #1: 7 is the number of perfection, and having three 7's in the release date signifies the completion of a perfect series of books. After all, it is Book #7!

STELLAR POINT #2: I can already see it on advertising billboards everywhere -- 7/7/7. If that isn't 10 times better than The Omen's 6/6/6, I don't know what is.

STELLAR POINT #3: On those advertising billboards, banners, and signs, I can see the 7/7/7, creatively arranged as Lightning Bolts. You know, like the one on Harry's forehead. Astounding! Why was this not thought up in some backroom brainstorming ceremony? Why was I not the one to receive the creative bonus? Maybe my attempt at a design (see the graphic on the left) doesn't electrify you, but some awesome designer's sure would have.

STELLAR COUNTERPOINT #1: Most British summer schools end between July 20th and July 25th, which makes perfect sense for the release date. It'll be the first thing every British kid wants to do when summer school lets out.

All that aside, it can easily and accurately be said that I cannot wait. Go Harry!
______________

I'll be answering one of these questions a day for as many questions as I have, so if you've got anything you wish you could know about me, ASK IT HERE.
 
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Newport2Newport[info]newport2newport on February 9th, 2007 05:08 pm (UTC)
Whew, that's a lot of postulating! I've never read a H.P. book -- tried to, but couldn't get into 'em. I like the movies, though. Usually it's the other way 'round for me...
The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens[info]jonstephens on February 9th, 2007 05:58 pm (UTC)
Does that make me a postulator? Guess so.

The books are fantasteriffic! Way better and deeper than the movies.
christy_lenzi[info]christy_lenzi on February 9th, 2007 05:13 pm (UTC)
Geeze--that's a great marketing idea! I love the seven lightning bolt thing. What were they thinking?

Morons.
The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens[info]jonstephens on February 9th, 2007 05:59 pm (UTC)
I honestly don't know what they were thinking.
Kelsey Johnson Defatte[info]cocoskeeper on February 9th, 2007 05:26 pm (UTC)
Oh, yeah... The marketing thing! Those folks are idiots!!!! 7/7/7 it should've been!!!! You are SO right!!!!
The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens[info]jonstephens on February 9th, 2007 05:59 pm (UTC)
For once, I think I'm right. Doggonit!
christinenorris[info]christinenorris on February 9th, 2007 05:52 pm (UTC)
Why not 7/7/07? First of all, the movie comes out, what, four days after that?

Secondly, that's the anniversary of the London bombings. I can understand not wanting to do it that day.
The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens[info]jonstephens on February 9th, 2007 06:03 pm (UTC)
Actually, The Order of the Phoenix movie is scheduled for release on July 13th, halfway between 7/7/7 and 7/21/7, so it wouldn't make a difference to bump the book's release date up 2 weeks. In fact, it'll probably boost movie sales. Double the promotion power.

As for the London bombings, I say "Redeem the date!" But I've always been one for paying tribute. Why let the terrorists keep that date? I had similar thoughts when movies everywhere took the Twin Towers out of their movies immediately after 911. I say, "Keep 'em in to pay tribute!"
mike|ted[info]lost_child2 on February 9th, 2007 08:23 pm (UTC)
Since HP7 isnt going to be released on 7/7/7, does that mean that you wont buy it? I think they chose the date when it would be most convenient for the largest possible number of people to start reading a new book.

Release date of Harry Potter book #6: July 16 [2005]
Release date of Harry Potter book #7: July 21 [2007]
The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens[info]jonstephens on February 9th, 2007 10:15 pm (UTC)
Oh don't get me wrong, of course I'm going to buy it and read it straight through from blasted cover to blasted cover. That is really interesting that the release dates are so close together, basically identical, 3rd Saturday in July.

I did do a bit of research and found that the summer school session in Britain lets out at some schools on July 25th, other schools on the 20th, which would leave kids all excited about the end of summer school and dying to read Harry Potter. Perhaps that's a factor they took into consideration.
mike|ted[info]lost_child2 on February 11th, 2007 04:06 pm (UTC)
Yay! New stellar point!

I think what i was trying to mean when i asked you if you are going to buy the book is i was wondering whether or not you and people like you (who already know they will buy the book) are the target of the HP7 marketing campaign. I mean for example, maybe Scholastic are trying particularly hard to sell books to people who have never read Harry Potter before, in which case it would be useful not to empasize the fact that this is book #7. Well, maybe. I dont know too much about this marketing stuff, so i guess i am pretty much just grasping for straws.
(Anonymous) on February 11th, 2007 04:47 pm (UTC)
It will never be made public knowledge but here's the reason they didn't do it on 7/7/07:

The London Subway bombings happened on 7/7. To release the book on the anniversary of that date would not be cool. I GUARANTEE you that that date had been eyed for several years as the release date of the final book. (The importance of seven in the books is NOT to be overlooked.) The bombings made that impossible. Jo can talk about how that date gave her additional time to write and additional time for the book to be edited. But the fact is they could no longer do it on a day that many associate with something so horrible.

End of story.

In regards to your Question #3, Jonathan....I guess "main characters" is a subjective term. IMHO, the Main Three are safe. But Hagrid could be considered a main character (he's been around from the very beginning). McGonagal. Another Weasley. Really, it depends on who Jo thinks of as main characters. I think the definition can (and should) be broadened from Harry/Hermione/Ron.

Thanks for answering my question.

--Brian
Dispatches
The Blog of Aspiring Novelist Jonathan Stephens[info]jonstephens on February 16th, 2007 04:19 pm (UTC)
You might be right. *drats*