New Harry Potter!

[David Franklin]

Originally Posted by Gadget

You know, I can see Hermiony (?) or Ron being killed off: what better motivation for Harry to actually kill a "live" person? Could push him over the edge into some dark stuff and cause lots of damage.

After the "otter" thing - (JKR's favourite animal and Hermione's patronus in OoTP) - my personal belief is Hermione is JKR's doppelganger (dare I say, MarySue?), so I think she's safe. I could see Ron dying, but I honestly think that would be a fairly minor event compared with Dumbledore dying. And let's face it, when Hagrid goes around saying "As long as we've got Dumbledore, we'll be OK", you might as well start searching the Yellow Pages for undertakers...

[Groovy Dancer]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

Um- if we're going on the way it was done, then in the first LOTR book, hello? GANDALF? You see him plummet off into a chasm! OK, so he's not REALLY dead, but you don't find that out until WAAAAAY into the second book.

Back to Harry: Ron and Hermione- entirely possible. I actually don't think Harry's going to survive to the end of the final book, because of the way the prophecy about him and Voldemort is worded, so pairing up possibilities are moot. And there might be a character we haven't met yet.

I like the idea of Dumbledore kicking the bucket and being replaced with Snape (purely from the reader POV), but it's unlikely to happen- Fudge has realised his mistake about Voldemort, so would be more likely to choose someone Dumbledore was closer to, like McGonagall. Remember it was HER who took charge of the school in Chamber of Secrets when Dumbledore was removed from office.

Also: I think Neville is going to die, but he's going to go down kicking some serious Death Eater ass, because as we've seen, once his confidence is up, nothing can stop him (except stopping him being able to pronounce the words of a spell).

I still think and agree with Smooth that Winky and Dobby will kick major Death Eaters ASS!!

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by David Franklin

After the "otter" thing - (JKR's favourite animal and Hermione's patronus in OoTP) - my personal belief is Hermione is JKR's doppelganger (dare I say, MarySue?), so I think she's safe. I could see Ron dying, but I honestly think that would be a fairly minor event compared with Dumbledore dying. And let's face it, when Hagrid goes around saying "As long as we've got Dumbledore, we'll be OK", you might as well start searching the Yellow Pages for undertakers...

It'll be exactly like Patches O'Houlihan getting killed in 'Dodgeball'! (OK, maybe not EXACTLY like it...)

I'm not going to complain about JKR having a MarySue- we've ALL done it (and David, if you've never taken part in National Novel Writing Month then you should check it out).

I think Dobby and Winky are going to do for the Malfoys.

[Barry Shnikov]

Personally, I'm holding out for the new Winnie the pooh adventure. I'm pretty sure that Piglet is going to get it, as Christopher Robin discovers a penchant for bacon. And I reckon the final episode will see a fight to the death between Eeyore and Kanga.

[Divissima]

Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov

Personally, I'm holding out for the new Winnie the pooh adventure. I'm pretty sure that Piglet is going to get it, as Christopher Robin discovers a penchant for bacon. And I reckon the final episode will see a fight to the death between Eeyore and Kanga.

There's always one (and it's usually Barry Shnikov)...

[Barry Shnikov]

Originally Posted by Divissima

There's always one (and it's usually Barry Shnikov)...

Hmm. Winnie the Pooh books are not just for children, you know. They have 'adult editions' that don't have dayglo coloured cartoons on so you can read them in the tube without having to feel embarrassed.

The writing is tremendously inventive, and the discerning reader can see that the author wades in a dishes the dirt on some of the truly momentous issues of modern life - there's rite of passage when Pooh and Piglet go in search of the Woozle and Weezle; betrayal, when Eeyore finds his tail being used as a bell pull by Wol; identity crisis, when Tigger tries to see where he fits in the forest by trying everyone's lifestyle; existential angst when Pooh gets stuck in a honey pot and falls into the heffalump trap, and Piglet thinks Pooh is a heffalump. And of course, finally, loss, as Christopher Robin goes upstairs.

And of course who can forget the heartbreaking story of how AA Milne wrote the first stories in the tea rooms of the local hotel because he couldn't afford to heat the 12-bed family-pile in the home counties?

[Divissima]

Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov

Hmm. Winnie the Pooh books are not just for children, you know. They have 'adult editions' that don't have dayglo coloured cartoons on so you can read them in the tube without having to feel embarrassed.

The writing is tremendously inventive, and the discerning reader can see that the author wades in a dishes the dirt on some of the truly momentous issues of modern life - there's rite of passage when Pooh and Piglet go in search of the Woozle and Weezle; betrayal, when Eeyore finds his tail being used as a bell pull by Wol; identity crisis, when Tigger tries to see where he fits in the forest by trying everyone's lifestyle; existential angst when Pooh gets stuck in a honey pot and falls into the heffalump trap, and Piglet thinks Pooh is a heffalump. And of course, finally, loss, as Christopher Robin goes upstairs.

And of course who can forget the heartbreaking story of how AA Milne wrote the first stories in the tea rooms of the local hotel because he couldn't afford to heat the 12-bed family-pile in the home counties?

I think you'll be needing your own thread here, Baz

[Tessalicious]

Ok guys, here's a plan for you.
The Owl bookshop in Kentish Town is also having a midnight opening Friday night to sell the Harry Potter book (at £11.99), and Kentish Town is only two stops on Thameslink from Cricklewood, so I'm thinking that we could all go to Ashtons and dance till 11:30 then head off to Kentish Town in a Harry-Potter hungry pack. How does that sound?

[Divissima]

Originally Posted by Tessalicious

Ok guys, here's a plan for you.
The Owl bookshop in Kentish Town is also having a midnight opening Friday night to sell the Harry Potter book (at £11.99), and Kentish Town is only two stops on Thameslink from Cricklewood, so I'm thinking that we could all go to Ashtons and dance till 11:30 then head off to Kentish Town in a Harry-Potter hungry pack. How does that sound?

Sounds like an excellent plan - and probably handier than Piccadilly for those of us resident in North London. Not sure I can make Ashtons, but I can definitely see you in KT.

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Tessalicious

Ok guys, here's a plan for you.
The Owl bookshop in Kentish Town is also having a midnight opening Friday night to sell the Harry Potter book (at £11.99), and Kentish Town is only two stops on Thameslink from Cricklewood, so I'm thinking that we could all go to Ashtons and dance till 11:30 then head off to Kentish Town in a Harry-Potter hungry pack. How does that sound?

You forgot to mention that we'll all be extremely well dressed!

I dare someone to say (loudly as always) 'packed with Muggles, of course...' as we arrive. Especially if there are some small impressionable children around.

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

You forgot to mention that we'll all be extremely well dressed!

I dare someone to say (loudly as always) 'packed with Muggles, of course...' as we arrive. Especially if there are some small impressionable children around.

Take a boogie-box with and do some busking. Bradders might even fork out some admit-ones if you take Ceroc t-shirts too. Best keep the noise down though - Kentish Town nick is just around the corner.

[Little Monkey]

I guess I shall just go down to WH Smith all by my lonely self to collect my pre-booked copy of Harry Potter (can you hear the very faint sound of violins playing in the background?)..... London is kinda a wee bit out of my way... But at least I'm getting mine for £9.99!

Not sure if I can be bothered to go down at midnight, though. Might be curled up in my bed, nursing my cold instead.

Monkey

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

Take a boogie-box with and do some busking. Bradders might even fork out some admit-ones if you take Ceroc t-shirts too. Best keep the noise down though - Kentish Town nick is just around the corner.

I almost wish I'd seen this post last night. Almost. Something tells me most of the clientele at a midnight bookshop opening for Harry Potter would not be quite within the usual Ceroc demographic.

And a side note: There are very few people who could get away with calling a CD player a 'boogie-box'. Well done.

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

And a side note: There are very few people who could get away with calling a CD player a 'boogie-box'. Well done.

I've heard that term a few times - either it's coming back into style or that's actually a technical term.

Don't ask me, I can barely get my car radio to work.

[Rhythm King]

Originally Posted by Purple Sparkler

And a side note: There are very few people who could get away with calling a CD player a 'boogie-box'. Well done.

You do lead a sheltered life, don't you PS...

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Rhythm King

You do lead a sheltered life, don't you PS...

Yeah, pretty much. I'm getting better but I still have moments where I don't understand some technical term (usually to do with going upstairs) and then when it's explained I get rather embarrassed because I was too naive to know what it meant.

[KatieR]

Originally Posted by Rhythm King

You do lead a sheltered life, don't you PS...

its alright R-K, I have taken Miss PS under my wing and am doing my best to corrupt her totally.!

[LMC]

Here's to annoy you all...

I couldn't be bothered to order or queue for HP5 - but 8.5 hours after it was on sale, I happened to be needing petrol and there was a pile of 'em by the checkout - discounted.

So I'm staying for the last dance at Ashtons and will pop round to my local baby Tesco tomorrow - because it's odds-on that it will be there.

[KatieR]

Originally Posted by NewKid

Here's to annoy you all...

I couldn't be bothered to order or queue for HP5 - but 8.5 hours after it was on sale, I happened to be needing petrol and there was a pile of 'em by the checkout - discounted.

So I'm staying for the last dance at Ashtons and will pop round to my local baby Tesco tomorrow - because it's odds-on that it will be there.

But its just the fun and silliness of it all that makes it appealing.

[LMC]

Originally Posted by KatieR

But its just the fun and silliness of it all that makes it appealing.

I'm now officially no longer in my early 30s let alone in my 20s, so I'll pass on standing around for two hours and take the extra half-hour dancing - NO posting any spoilers until at least Monday!!!