The articles about the last Harry Potter book are multiplying, so it’s probably time for me to weigh in. First of all, spoiler policy: I don’t mind spoilers much, myself. I can reread a book with very nearly as much pleasure as the first read-through, and I often do peek ahead. However, I understand that others feel otherwise (in some cases, emphatically so!). I will probably write about the book here fairly soon after reading it, but for at least the first few weeks I’ll hide it behind a cut. After that you’re on your own, on the theory that in most cases the ones who care most will have read it by then. (If you’re the type who hates any spoilers ever for any books you haven’t read even if they’ve been out for two hundred years, this is probably not the place to be reading. And yes, Elizabeth ends up with Darcy.)
I am firmly in the camp of believing that Harry will live. This is mostly because I want him to, but also because I can’t imagine that the story would feel complete with a sad ending. (A bittersweet one, yes, but the death of the central character is a few leagues beyond “bittersweet”. I will probably peek ahead. I’m sure I’ll eventually read it even if he dies, but probably a lot more slowly and with considerably less enjoyment. Obviously, I’m not secure enough in my opinion not to need to peek.
There are a few things I am sure of:
— the conclusion will be satisfying, with few loose ends (one virtue of an author who is abjuring further sequels
— there will be a great and glorious victory over the forces of evil
— it will come at the cost of great pain. Whoever dies, it will be someone we care very much about.
One of the arguments for Harry’s death is that it would be in line with classic hero tropes. I don’t find this convincing. The great heroes’ fates have been too various: Moses dies (in extreme old age) knowing he achieved his goal but not able to enjoy it himself. Odysseus survives and wins back to his wife. Perseus and Hercules live and achieve their goals. Frey, Jesus, and Orpheus die, but return (in Orpheus’ case, without achieving his goal). Arthur dies as his dream is sundered, but again not until old age. Lancelot retires to a monastery. Bran saves his sister, then has his head cut off and used to protect his country from invasion (um, I think that was Bran). Aeneas and Brutus wanders off after Troy and end up founding Rome and Britain, respectively.
What I would rather like to see, but don’t expect to (at least not from Rowling herself) would be The Book of MerlinDumbledore, an epilogue taking place long after the seventh book. That could follow the model set by Moses and Arthur. In Book 7, Harry would triumph over Voldemort. He would then live a long, full life during which he would fight many battles over evil and would achieve great things. In his old age, Dumbledore would return (probably not in body) to give him some final guidance in the last, greatest battle. In the end he would die – I’m not sure if he would glimpse his greatest triumph with his dying gaze (Moses seeing the Holy Land) or if he would lose, but with a faint glimmer of hope, passing his dream to future generations and knowing that he had been a ‘wonderly fine candle’.