Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7) SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS! (1 Viewer)

July 21st 2007.

Actually sooner than I expected, which is pretty neat. Will Amazon deliver on that day? I have never pre-ordered anything before.

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H

I'm definitely psyched. This summer is the last one I get before the local government makes my position redundant. Which means it's the last year I get to live like a hobo, slumming it from town to town. Before I plunge headfirst into the real adult world of steady employment with benefits and responsibilities, I can enjoy one last swan song to my inner childhood.

I'm going to be out in line at midnight, somewhere. And I'm taking that Saturday off. Will Harry hook up with Ron's redheaded firecracker of a sister for good? Will Ron or Hermione die? Will Harry die? Can Voldemort be stopped? I can't wait to find out in July!

Yep, I've already pre-ordered, there is a book waiting for me July 21. I'm psyched

I shall be waiting in line at midnight here in the dear old UK (and because of the time difference, will probably know the outcome of the series by the time you guys get to buy your copies [insert maniacal laugh here]).

Okay, let's start the predictions:

(1) Harry survives
(2) at least one of the Dursleys, Hagrid, McGonaggle [sp?] and Snape die
(3) McGonaggle turns out to be a deep undercover mole for Voldemort
(4) there is a big revelation about Harry's biological parents and Mrs Dursley
(5) Dumbledore communicates with Harry via that gateway device in the Ministry of Magic introduced in the Order of the Phoenix

If you want to play at that game, I'll have seven hours to finish reading it before you get to buy yours

OK, 6.5 if you factor in waiting in line to buy and pay for it in the first place...

Some interesting predictions on your part. McGonagal a mole? That's quite far-out. Then again, Snape as a mole would be too obvious, as would Finch.

Yee.. so Snape as a double agent? I thought it was clear from Book 6 he actually -IS- what we thought.

My prediction:

* Mrs. Dursley knows way more about this then anyone knows.
* Ron or Hermoine die. I'm predicting Hermoine dies.

I agree on several fronts Andrew. Mrs. Dursley knows a lot more then we assume and McGonagle is an undercover agent.

Please, read it slowly!

Matter of curiosity, Yee-Ming - is Harry Potter a big thing in Singapore?

Sad but true - I've read the last four HP books within 24 hours of them going on sale. I'm even so sad that I get a separate copy for my son to read so he isn't hankering after my copy.

I think Ron is more likely to die than Hermione - I can't base this on anything but gut instinct.

Minerva's last name is spelled McGonagall in my US bought books.

Her possible double-agent status was first mentioned around these parts by Adam_S (w/ link) in the upcoming movie's thread. The darn thing was so friggin plausible I wish I hadn't cliqued on that link.

I am still hesitating between B&M vs online pre-orders (both a first for me). Do you fine folks care to share your experiences good or bad, last time around?

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H

I pre-ordered at Walmart last time, and no problems, no hastles, had mine at midnight. I definitely prefer B&M for this, because no delivery will reach you at midnight.. or the day before. So no matter what you do with an internet order, you'll get it a minimum of 9 hours after I do at a B&M

Quite. Borders had it all hyped up, although actually IIRC they opened at 7 a.m. to sell HP6, which would be midnight in the UK and therefore we'd get the book at the same time...

There were also numerous other shops taking pre-orders of HP6, one of them tying up with a courier company to deliver the books as well.

Having said that, I do recall last year, during one of Borders's many sales, that there were mounds of leftover HP6 books being flogged off cheap. Possibly because hardcovers never sell very well here, being seen as too pricey.

Personally, IIRC I picked up a copy a few days (or maybe a week) after it first went on sale i.e. none of this first-day rush, although I was one of the earlier ones to get it, and I read it over the next few days.

I'm assuming this thread, being about HP7, means discussion of anything in the first six is open and no spoilers required?

I've never had time to re-read the Potters (hey, I have a 4-year backlog on Star Wars books!) so the memory slips, but IIRC Snape was indeed a double-agent, his true loyalty being with the "Order of the Phoenix", i.e. against Voldemort. And Mrs Dursley knowing more than she lets one was also explicitly alluded to -- sounds odd, that, "alluded to" by definition means it isn't explicit, yes? But IIRC someone explictly said something to Mrs Dursley about what had happened all those years ago when Harry was left in her care and protection.

I preordered my copy the day they announced the release date at the nearest Borders store in my area. I just visited the store today and they told me there are over 1,500 preorders just at that store for the book! I'm not even sure if my guess of 15-16 million copies of the first print run for this book will satisfy demand....

Ive preordered from amazon using the 2 day delivery option, Ive always received my dvds on release day.

I wont preorder this, Ill prob just go to walmart at midnight and pick one up. Last year I did this and walked in and back out in 10 minutes.

I dont think Snape will die, but think Harry is prob a horcrux and may croak. Malfoy may not make it either. That way Rowling can never be pestered to do more books.

There is always a possibility that Rowling can do a spinoff series, although I think it is highly unlikely.

I'll end up reading it later than most people, since I normally wait until I can get a hold of a copy from a library.

I think Severus will die. Harry wants revenge, and hates him just as much as You-Know-Who. Have to

Draco Malfroy, who was hestitant to kill Dumbledore, will end up not following in his parents' footsteps. I also think his parents will die. He just seemed too afraid in the last book.

A lot of loose ends to tie up.

Should have released it 2 weeks earlier for marketing purposes:

7/7/07

Yee-Ming, that used to be the same in the UK but in recent years hardback books seem to have become pretty cheap so there's been an increase in sales. This is largely due to removing a law that prevented books being discounted. This had been in place to protect small specialist bookshops who relied for their principal trade on bestsellers, but who couldn't compete with bigger stores who *only* sold bestsellers. Personally, I was quite happy to see most small booksellers go bust - the shops were often run by bad-tempered individuals who glowered at you. We now have Borders and similar, and to be honest, they've been a huge improvement.

My guesses...

. Ron will be tempeted by money to do something against the Order but Hermionie /Harry will stop it.

. Harry won't die. He'll win with the help of a number of friends. See above.

. Snape will save Harry's life and they'll either make up or come to some understanding. Snape loved Harry's mother too much to harm him.

. McG is a baddie and will die in book 7 though it won't be revealed until well into the book

. The giants will play a role in stopping Voldermont...likely with Haggrid and his 'girlfriends' help.

. Dumbledore will play a significant role in the final book. He died with a purpose in mind and like Obi wan will mentor Harry.

. Malfoy will again have the chance to do evil but will not be able to do it. I'm not sure if he'll do good per say but he won't turn out to be as evil as many assume. Maybe his father will die early on and cause him to refect on the cause?

. Snape told Harry that he needs to learn to block people reading his mind. That lesson will have to be mastered early in book 7. Any guesses on who the teacher will be?

.There's been too many references to the power of friendship / love for it not to play heavily in the final book. My guess is either Ginny's love for Harry or his friends affection will be the ultimate difference. Voldermort never had friends or love in his life so it makes sense that ultimately that'll be the deciding difference.

. The name of the group that's attacking Voldermort is The Order of the Phoenix. I find it hard to imagine that with a name like Phoenix that rebirth is going to be important. Fawkes is sure to be part of it but I wonder what other significance there will be

. Harry will end up being the new Defense agasint the dark arts teacher.


Rowling has said two major people die in book 7. I'm leaning towards McG and Snape...but also strong possibility that it'll be Hagrid, Hermione or Ron.

Snape will die saving Harry's life. Can I bet money on that somewhere? Because it's a MORTAL LOCK I'll even bet any of you dummies

Ron, Hermione, and Harry will ALL survive.

Sirius Black will make appearance(s)...somehow.

you guys see this?

http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=15430

Welllll... our boy Harry's grown up, hasn't he? All buff and ripped, and gettin' jiggy with a blonde babe too...