The Campaign Builder's Guild

Yes, I searched through the dregs of the Dragon's Den and found no old thread on Harry Potter anything, and so decided to make one myself.

With both the 5th movie (which is the longest book) and the final book being released this July, speculation has come to an exciting peak, and is constantly growing.

The 5th movie, for those who've read the corresponding book, should no secrets, save speculation which parts will be cut out for time and which will make it into the film.

The 7th and final book, however, is absolutely RIPE for speculation, rumors, and seemingly innocuous details.



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**WARNING** SPOILER ALERT **WARNING**


[spoiler]Some of the questions being asked about the final book are:

Will Harry Potter live or die?
This is probably the biggest question, and one which J.K. Rowling hears in every interview she does.  Obviously there are only two possible answers, but the reasoning and logic behind them is as variable as the books themselves.

Is Severus Snape good or evil?
Also a popular question among the fans of the series.  At the end of the 6th book, we are led to believe that Severus kills Dumbledore (Dumbledore's death is also highly in debate) but many fans say that it had to be done, or that Dumbledore ordered Snape to do it because of the Unbreakable Vow.  In any event, Harry has never really trusted Snape, and that distrust leads him to believe that Severus is truly evil at the end of book 6.

Is Albus Dumbledore really dead?
If I recall correctly, J.K. Rowling has said on multiple occasions that Dumbledore is dead, but still has a part to play.  However, that doesn't stop fans from speculating on ways in which he could be dead, but not "all dead." (ala The Princess Bride)

Will Sirius make a comeback?
In the 5th book, Sirius Black, wanted criminal (though not guilty) and Harry's godfather falls through a magical archway and doesn't return.  Harry believes Sirius will become a ghost so that he can still talk to Harry, but Nearly-Headless Nick squashes that idea.  Some fans believe that he did not become a ghost because he is not truly dead, but merely trapped within another world, struggling to escape.

Who will die?
In one of J.K. Rowling's latest interviews, she stated that at least two important characters would die before the end of the 7th book, in addition to numerous minor characters (like Death Eaters and members of the Order).  Who are they?  Is it Harry and Voldemort?  Will Ron or Hermione perish before the book ends?  Ginny and Hagrid are also candidates for death, as are Draco and Snape.  The list goes on and on, and so do the debates.[/spoiler]

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I would be more than willing to post more questions for debate and/or my own opinions on the questions if there are folks interested in discussing this topic.

I personally love the Harry Potter books, both for the good story and writing and for the fact that they've gotten so many people interested in reading who wouldn't have even thought about it before.  In any event, if we're going to discuss anything, let's remember to keep it decent and not to get upset, it's just a book after all.  ;)

Well I'd contribute, but I lost interest after Harry Potter got really popular... the last book I actually read was Prisoner of Azkaban (I own the fourth one I think, but I never really managed to read it). I hope those who do read however, aren't completely outraged by whatever might happen at the end of the last book.

Quote from: TrollWell I'd contribute, but I lost interest after Harry Potter got really popular...

Just for curiosity's sake, could you explain this?  I'm interested in reasons behind people making statements like "I lost interested when it became popular."

Her writing has really degraded; in book 4, she spends about 500 extra pages to tell half the plot she did in book 1.

As far as the questions go, Harry will die simply because she doesn't want to be forced to keep writing sequels.

Severus is a jerk, making him lawful neutral at best. ;)

Dumbledore and Sirius, I really don't know. They were two of my favorite characters which means, apparently, they had to die.

Who else will die? I'm placing my money on Neville/Neville is actually the prophesy subject. It would be a good twist.

Neville can't be who the prophecy is about.. .it should be quite clear; the prophecy is about whomever Voldemort chose, and Voldemort chose Harry.

I don't see her writing as degrading just because the books have gotten larger.  She's mentioned many times that they get longer, because they start tackling more mature themes, just as the characters would do in real life as they age from 11 to 17.  She talks about more things as each  book progresses.  

I have a tendency to hate things that become fads, or things that I like that I realize are fads. Kind of relates to the old saying "don't wear it out". I read the third book and then all of a sudden all I heard about at school, on the internet, etc. was "Harry Potter this, Harry Potter that, Harry Potter movie! BOOK 4 OMG".

That and what Stargate said. Book 4 was HUGE, and what little I do remember reading didn't nearly have to be so spread out.

Quote from: IshmaylNeville can't be who the prophecy is about.. .it should be quite clear; the prophecy is about whomever Voldemort chose, and Voldemort chose Harry.

That's true, but in the end the author has final say. I admit it's unlikely.

Quote from: IshmaylI don't see her writing as degrading just because the books have gotten larger.  She's mentioned many times that they get longer, because they start tackling more mature themes, just as the characters would do in real life as they age from 11 to 17.  She talks about more things as each  book progresses.  

There's a difference between tackling mature themes (which I don't think she does too terribly well) and bloating her writing. I would cite examples, but I've misplaced my harry potter books.

I personally don't find the quality of her writing to be any better or worse than it was when she started.  It's rather simple for my tastes, but I still find the plots exceedingly entertaining.

I'm not bothering to speculate, as all my questions will be answered soon.  In fact, the only question that really has me wondering is "what did Dumbledore's brother do with that goat?"

Looking forward to the conclusion, and am heartily glad that Rowling has absolutely no intentions of continuing the saga.

EDIT: And to Troll, I think it is a shame when anyone quits something because it has been adopted by the massess.  Struggling against a trend for the simple fact that it is the trend is no better than the adoption thereof.  It is the antithesis of individuality, and terribly ironic.

(Consider that a thing is not inherently a fad by virtue of its mass appropriation.  Just because most people might not appreciate its true value, and therefore pursue it as a craze, doesn't mean its value is thus defeated.)

Quote from: Stargate525There's a difference between tackling mature themes (which I don't think she does too terribly well) and bloating her writing. I would cite examples, but I've misplaced my harry potter books.

I have been quoted in two newspapers saying that "Rowling uses adverbs as if they were cocaine." I am inclined to agree with Stargate here. It's a good story with needless bloating.

Quote from: TrollI have a tendency to hate things that become fads, or things that I like that I realize are fads. Kind of relates to the old saying "don't wear it out". I read the third book and then all of a sudden all I heard about at school, on the internet, etc. was "Harry Potter this, Harry Potter that, Harry Potter movie! BOOK 4 OMG".

That and what Stargate said. Book 4 was HUGE, and what little I do remember reading didn't nearly have to be so spread out.

I did my best to not like the Harry Potter books when I started reading them, for pretty much the same reason, they were too popular already, and I considered myself above the masses.  I realize now that this is (at least the way I took it) a ridiculous, arrogant, and childlike position to take.  In my defense, I was still but a child myself.

But after reading the first chapter of the first book, I was hooked, and have been ever since.

I don't see Rowling's writing as have gotten any worse since her first book, nor do I see it as having gotten miles better either.  The story, however, has become increasingly involved and complex as the books have progressed.  The first four books were relatively simple in the main plot, "something exciting happens at Hogwarts, Harry gets involved."  However, once Voldemort was revived, there became a real point for Harry to be involved in all sorts of terrible things, since it turns out that Crazy V has been after him for years and years.

This isn't to say that the details of the main plot weren't intricate and complex, I am still in awe when I read the first two books and look at the tiny details that turn out to lead to the answer at the end.  Of course, I do this for many mystery books.  

Jaerc, I'll agree on that front.

It reminds me of when I watched 300; I loved the movie, but I thought the political scenes were crappy and superfluous.

"Get back to the chopping off of heads, and do not bore us with this absurdist fantasy of a woman speaking before a council of Greek men!"

Darkxarth summarises my attitude fairly well.

Quote from: Stargate525As far as the questions go, Harry will die simply because she doesn't want to be forced to keep writing sequels.

Quote from: Stargate525Dumbledore and Sirius, I really don't know. They were two of my favorite characters which means, apparently, they had to die.

Who else will die? I'm placing my money on Neville/Neville is actually the prophesy subject. It would be a good twist.[/quote]
I agree with Ishmayl, Neville isn't the subject of the prophecy.  I'd be tempted to agree with you about it really being the author's decision in the end, if she hadn't already explicitly stated in book 5 that Harry was the subject of the prophecy.  Now, that's not to say the Neville can't play an important part or die in battle.  In fact, I'd be willing to bet that he plays a VERY important role in the last book, though I couldn't say what that would be.

Perhaps saying that I hate fads wasn't quite the proper way of explaining that it should've been. I don't like the books anymore because they got worn out for me. They just weren't as interesting. It was really just too much of a good thing. At one time I absolutely loved Harry Potter. But there's only so much I can take from any one particular subject before it gets old to me and I just lose the interest I may have had. I don't think I'm the only person here who's ever had that happen with anything.

For some reason, since the first book, i have really wanted
1.) The charms teacher, the dwarf guy, to die.
2.) Hagrid to clip is head on a door while waking through it
3.) Severus to get, i don't know, shot or something.
and finally
4.) Dumbledore to really be working for Voldemort, or be Voldemort's boss or something like that.

Or Dumbledore to BE Voldemort.