Maybe Snape will die? I think that would leave many people feeling satisfied :P

Sarynit, of course I am a fan of Ms. Rowling, since her brain created this wonderful world that I love to visit. But one thing I both love and hate about her is that she's unpredictable and sometimes merciless. She has taken us on a great ride so far, so I guess I'll just have to trust her judgement. I hope you're right about Harry.
Charolastra, that's so funny that you had your own Ron and Hermione thing going on. I don't find either Harry or Ron particularly attractive, but it would be pretty disgusting if I did, since I could be their mother. I just feel more protective and maternal towards Harry than Ron, probably for the obvious reason, Ron's got a pretty good mom already.

Eek - I just re-read my post...I sound very harsh! What can I say - one of the brilliant things about Rowling's writing is she is able to evoke such emotion from her readers.

I brought up this thread to my dh at dinner last night and his prediction is (like you charolastra) Snape is one of the ones that will be killed. AND he predicts that the other prophesy is that Harry is going to be the one to kill Snape and Snape knows it which is another reason why he despises Harry so much but Snape is committed to the good side and therefore is still going to play his role in bringing down Voldemort even if it means that he has to die. This would also explain why Dumbledore so vehemently defends Snape without giving Harry many specifics why.

His other prediction is that Hogwart's is one of the Horcruxes (since it was one of Voldemort's happiest times) and therefore Hogwarts must be destroyed.

We shall find out soon enough....

My theory on the events at the end of HBP is that Dumbledore was actually pleading with Snape to kill him. If the Death Eaters hadn't been so wrapped up in the fact that Draco or Snape needed to kill Dumbledore, they would have noticed that there were two brooms on the roof. Who would be with Dumbledore besides Harry? I feel that if Snape had not killed Dumbledore, Harry's life would have been in jeopardy and that Snape knew that. That leads me to believe that Snape will, in the end, be on the side of good. Finally, the stunning spell Dumbledore shot towards the Death Eaters, I firmly believe was MEANT to hit Harry so Harry wouldn't try to save him.

I can't wait for next week. And I've got my copy of DH reserved and will be attending a midnight party (and leaving quickly) to pick it up. CAN'T WAIT??

Oh, and are you all aware of the Universal Orlando Harry Potter theme park being constructed now? It's supposed to open in late 2009 or early 2010. I can't wait for that either. DH and I are planning on attending in the summer of 2010.

Kim--My grand motivation to lose weight is that if I lose 60 lbs we are going to the HP Park as soon as it opens!!

I think Hermione and Harry understand each other too well to be romantically involved. Ron needs rescuing. :)

I am too dumb to be involved in the theories. But can't wait to read it soon!!!!

I just found a HP thread in the Support forum under General Chatter. There is a lively discussion going on up there as well as aphil, a moderator, who has obvious studied all things HP intensely! You guys might want to check it out.

Schmoodle, I'm not in any hurry to finish this book either...though I am afraid someone will tell me the ending before I can finish it. :shrug: Not sure what I should do...read really fast or read really slow! :lol:

I think I'll probably lock all the doors and stay up all night reading really fast. Then, I'll go back and read again REALLY slow. Then I'll have post-Harry letdown. Then I'll go back and start with #1 and read them all through again.

I read an interview yesterday that was done with JK Rowling and she said that "...some characters will die in the last book, but wouldn't say if the boy wizard is among them: "It's not a bloodbath, but it's more than two,".... what??? more than two??? :?:

She has been clear that two "main" characters will die. So I guess this means that some peripherals will buy the farm as well. She must be having so much fun yanking everyone's chain.

Today is the day!! At 11:59 a group of about 30 girls and guys are going to see the midnight showing of Harry Potter! We all booked our tickets in advance and I am so excited! Harry Potter has been in life for almost ten years... I remember the first time I read it! From fourth grade to being a senior in high school this year I have loved Harry Potter.

I can't wait for the last book and I honestly want Harry to die. How else could it end?

How are you guys going to read the book? I think i will keep the internet closed, minus my spark people account, and just eat, exercise, and read. I would hate to have the book spoiled. The ending of the fifth book was spoiled for me so I am taking extra steps to be careful!

Missmess, I will give you that one. I do believe she considers the main characters to be not only Harry, Voldemort, Hermione, and Ron, but also Snape, Neville, Draco, Jenny, Hagrid, Prof. McGonagall, as well - anyone who appears regularly and in whom we are emotionally vested in either direction. I would consider non- main characters to be those like Cho Chang, Luna (although we'll see), the Parvatis, Pansy Parkinson, and so on.

RocknRoll, I think we'll definitely have to go into quarantine next weekend. I do not want anyone to spoil it for me. I may get violent, if necessary.

UGH! OOTP is showing at midnight tonight and I'm really torn regarding whether or not I should go. DH is out of town, so I know I'd be by myself, but I want to see it so bad! We'd go tomorrow night, but I know that it will be SWAMPED and we're supposed to be seeing Transformers again. AUGH! Decisions, decisions!

What do I do?!

Kim, I love to go to the movies by myself! The only time I can do that is when I'm out of town on business. I probably look like a real loser, but I get to see exactly what I want to see and nobody needs go pee, or other distractions. I'm tempted to sneak out tonight and see it by myself. I plan to take the kids to a matinee on Thursday, hope it won't be too busy. I'm going to go to the cruddy older theatre in town instead of the fancy new one.

All we have is a cruddy old theater with two screens. I'd kill for just one more screen. (It's a drag when all that's showing is two of the same type of movie.) It's such a pain with only one ticket window and the line going around the corner. I just figure that there won't be a lot of people there at midnight. I might start cruising down the drag to check the line around 11 pm. We'll see.