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Issue Date: July 15, 2007
Harry Potter Predictions
With the release of the final Harry Potter book, an assorted group of followers predicts how the story will end.
By Jeffrey Ressner
The Harry Potter series, by British author J.K. Rowling, has sold more than 325 million books and spun off movies, video games, apparel and other merchandise. The seventh and final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," is set for release next week. USA WEEKEND rounded up a group of hard-core Harry followers to predict how the last adventure might unfold.
EMERSON SPARTZ As a home-schooled 12-year-old, Spartz taught himself basic HTML computer language and in 1999 founded Mugglenet.com, one of the first and largest Harry Potter fan websites.
There's no chance Harry will die, and it's very unlikely that Hermione, Ron or Ginny will, either. I'd like to see the book climax in an epic "Lord of the Rings"-style battle between good and evil. On one side would be all the creatures from the dark side: giants, werewolves, vampires, plus all of Voldemort's Death Eaters. On the other would be all the members of the Order of the Phoenix, Ministry of Magic employees, house elves and the U.S. military, with all its nuclear ballistic missiles. How awesome would that be?
MARYSIA KAY A London-based actress who has appeared in films including "Demonic" and "Messages," Kay also practices Gardnerian Wicca, often called British Traditional Witchcraft in the United States.
I have absolutely no firm idea of where Rowling is going to take things. She might do something drastic. Perhaps Harry will kill Voldemort, and at least one other major character will die, maybe more. I don't think she'd kill Harry, but she might do something debilitating to him, such as removing his magical abilities or his memory. I certainly don't want Harry to die, and I hope none of the other major characters do, either -- with the possible exception of Hagrid, who quite annoys me.
SUSAN AIKENS A buyer of children's material for Borders, Aikens attends all midnight release parties for the Potter books, and she likes to show up on opening day for each Potter film. She has read every book in the series at least twice.
Good will prevail, and Harry will overcome Voldemort, but he won't be able to do it without help. In the ultimate act of redemption, Snape will sacrifice himself so that Harry can defeat Voldemort. All the questions and doubts will be summed up in the final chapters, but it won't be a pat "happy ending." Instead, the ending probably will convey the ambivalence and sadness that Ms. Rowling must feel in saying goodbye to characters who have meant more to her than they ever could to her readers.
ADAM ROBERGE The co-captain of a Walking Wizards fundraising team, 13-year-old Roberge is helping to publish a National Braille Press edition of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". Blind since birth, the New Hampshire-based student has enjoyed the audio version of every book in the Harry Potter series.
Harry will live, but Voldemort is going to go down for all the murders he has done before, and I bet that Harry kills him with magic. Some Death Eaters will probably die, too, while Harry, Ron, Draco Malfoy, Hagrid and the rest will all survive. In fact, I think there's a good chance Harry might marry Ginny Weasley, and Hermione will marry Ron Weasley -- maybe there'll be a double-ring ceremony. This book will end the years at Hogwarts.
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Some Potter goods we could live without
We adore the Harry Potter books and movies, but Hogwarts' hero also has been exploited for a lot of junk that makes nose-biting teacups seem useful by comparison. Among the ludicrous Potter products we won't be sorry to see vanish:
BABBLING BOOKS
Scores of absurdtie-ins include "If Harry Potter Ran General Electric," "Looking for God in Harry Potter" and our personal favorite, "Harry Potter and International Relations," in which the boy wizard is linked to real-life globalization and geopolitical issues.
CRAZY COSTUMES
Halloween outfits are fun, but a gold-plated sterling silver Gryffindor ring inlaid with crystals? And what about those officially licensed Quidditch goggles, with Golden Snitch logos stamped on each side?
WANDS AND BROOMS
Whisks and sticks from Mom's broom closet can't compare with the nearly $80 "Sienna Storm" racing replica or a "Lignum Vitae Wand: The Merlin" that retails for $65. On the website Alivans.com, all brooms carry repeated warnings for Muggles: "Please realize they do not fly."
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