Magic, It's Everywhere!

This is the Harry Potter Special Edition of the “Dueling Posts” broadcast between Suburban Island and Caustically Optimistic. Both authors discuss the same topic from their divergent points of view to give you a fuller view of the question at hand. If you would like to be a part of July’s Dueling Post drop either author an email or comment and we will include you in the process. First a video, then onto our story

Magic, It’s Everywhere

Like many people half my age I am excited about the impending release of not just Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows but the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I realize that I am fifteen years too old to be enjoying these books and while I could mask that with being a teacher and a writer I have to admit that I really do enjoy the story and mythology as much as the elements of fiction contained in the story and analyzing the text. I love gathering with Emily and other friends and hiking into the Forest of Nerds to our spot, past the Lord of the Rings fans but not quite to the Star Trek convention, to discuss the story, characters and our impressions and predictions.

I was first attracted to the books because of the controversy surrounding them. The same people who had been weaned on Bewtiched and The Wizard of Oz were suddenly, rabidly opposed to this book. If I know anything about Adolescent Literature I know that when adults come out against a book in force, it is a good sign that it will be a popular item with children. I know that my goal for my book once published is to offend Tipper Gore, Lynn Cheney and James Dobson simultaneously so that I can be an unparalleled success. What then was in this book that was so terrible that it needed to be taken away from children? That it should be banned, burned and discarded for other books?

I have read them all, some several times. I have found nothing in there that should create the hysteria that these books have. I have found a story that uses magic as a frame to house the story of children growing up and a classic story of good verses evil that is rivaled in adherence to the textbook hero story only by Star Wars. Often as a teacher of reading I am challenged on having the books in my classroom and I answer that challenge – and am willing to remove them from my room if this challenge is met: if you find me another series of 800 page books in British English that children fight over reading then I certainly will replace Harry Potter with your books.

They try and give me The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because that story is an allegory but considering the lack of depth in plot, character and mythology I can only call it an alle-snorey, it should be also be noted that witchcraft is present in this book as well. They try and give me the Lord of the Rings, which is oft over the student's heads, but is also an allegory despite having the same elements of magic that make Mr. Potter so offending. The Narnia Series and the Lord of the Rings are in my classroom as well, but Harry Potter is the big man on campus wherever he arrives.

The magic of Harry Potter isn’t the magic but it is how young people, and people who think they are young people, relate to the story of growing up. Readers enjoy the human characters they can relate to themselves and their friends, the plots that remind them of their own lives and realize better than we do that the magic is just the engine that drives the train.

What are my predictions about the book coming out twenty-five days from press of this posting? I compiled these with Emily’s help, editing and excellence in Potter Trivia (she got all N.E.W.T.s).

Harry vs. Voldemort
I am conflicted on this issue because while American authors feel compelled to end each story happily European ones do not necessarily feel this urge. However, these are books for children – children growing up during a time of increased awareness of terror in their lives – and I think Rowling will end this book with Harry winning. The prophecies seem to indicate the question’s answer being either/or and in this case I would put my money on Harry. However, we would have already given Rowling our money and I guess we cannot return a book or get a refund for disliking the ending, can we? I don’t think Rowling would do that.

Also, Emily and I have ascertained that the Death Eaters are really terribly incompetent. The best example we can think of is that in the first book – and following books – protections against Voldemort and his followers were frequently bypassed by the children and not by the adults they were intended to keep out.

Other Children Dying
I am going to bet against Hermione or Ron dying in the books for the same reason I do not think Rowling would kill Harry, but like any Star Trek Away Team I would expect anyone unattractive or ethnic to bite the dust. Neville? Cho Chang? Your numbers are up. Cedric Diggory dying was tragic in the story but he was not a huge character until that book. I expect that Neville’s development and usefulness in the last few books will bring him to prominence and then death. Emily notes that Neville being the other possible child from the prophecy also qualifies him for death, even if it were just a precaution. Cho Chang or Ginny Weasley – being close and beloved to Harry – makes them marks as much as their ethnicity and unattractiveness.

Dumbledore (and Snape)
Dumbledore isn’t dead, completely. Rowling said there would be no Gandalf moment where he’d be resurrected – and someone resurrecting from the dead would really set the Christians off. Emily and I believe his animagus is a phoenix and that is why a phoenix rose at his funeral – in some shape or form Dumbledore will still remain with Harry – not unlike Obi Wan remained with Luke in Star Wars.

Dumbledore pled for mercy from Snape when he was killed and while I do not like Snape I also hold out hope that people – real and fictional – are redeemable. Snape could have been in cahoots with the Headmaster, allowing him to remain ‘good’ and uphold his oath to Lady Malfoy to help Draco Malfoy kill the Headmaster.

I think that Dumbledore, like Obi Wan and Jesus, knew the power that Good has over death and that their deaths are not permanent. Obi Wan and Jesus prepared themselves to die at the hands of their prodigies knowing they could better serve their other followers that way. In Chamber of Secrets Dumbledore says that he will not leave Hogwarts as long as there are people still loyal to him there. Emily also reminds us that Dumbledore tells Voldemort that there are things worse than death in Order of the Phoenix.

Snape is duplicitous and this could be another clever turn on his part or genuine treachery. Emily believes Snape is evil and opportunistic and I would like to see him ‘good’ in the end. We have to remember that Lupin defends James Potter and Sirius Black’s bullying by telling Harry that Snape was no “innocent victim.” Many death eaters, most notoriously the Malfoys, recanted or helped the Order of the Phoenix – but were really still servants of the Dark Lord. I will grudgingly side with Emily because she is the Potter Scholar and better judge of character (real and imagined) but keep my fingers crossed behind my back that Rowling pulls out some genius move with Snape.

Hogwarts
Hogwarts will reopen, under the leadership of Minerva McGonagall. The office opens to her – and only respects the real Headmaster or Headmistress of Hogwarts – so there is little question to her leadership of the school. I would also submit that despite it all the school is still the safest place for the children. Emily thinks that once Voldemort is defeated the school will reopen, I would think sooner for literary continuity – but we are unsure if Harry will return.

Will Harry become an Auror?
He would have to return to school and get N.E.W.T.S on all core subjects to be admitted for formal Auror training. However, for ease of storytelling, I think the school will close and Harry will join the Order of the Phoenix and fight the Death Eaters. He may not become a formal Auror but I am certain that he will, at the least, perform the duties of one in his mission. McGonagall and the other members of the Order are well aware of the prophecy and also know what Harry must do; they’ll train and teach him, protect and guide him. Ultimately – as she promised – McGonagall will train Harry to fight the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Hermione and Ron won’t leave his side – and I am sure that will be a subplot to watch.

Who learns magic late in life?
This was a hard one for Emily and I to answer. We considered Dudley and Petunia – but they are obviously Muggles and I am not sure that Dudley is in ‘late life.’ I would hate to see Uncle Vernon receive redeeming qualities. Hagrid knows magic, does magic, but how much magic does he know? Could the ability to do magic and a need for formal training be two issues? Hagrid learned something but his training is incomplete – otherwise he would have been implicated in the Order of the Phoenix. Cornelius Fudge has yet to show redeeming qualities, so it could be him.

I would put money on Hagrid learning a few tricks. When they have wanted to Dumbledore and McGonagall have bent rules for the greater good – and to protect and promote Harry – and Hagrid would be a good candidate for greater literary glory. This could also be the end of him.

Harry and Ginny
Will Harry marry Ginny Weasley? This question has been obvious since the beginning. They had the beginnings of a romance and that will return after the Dark Lord dies but considering the timeline of events Harry Potter will eventually come to America to defeat Hillary Clinton, when this happens he will meet and fall in love with Emily and they will live happily ever after. Besides, it is weird to date your best friend’s sister.

So tell us, what do you think?

Comments

[Andrew]

Wow, never knew you were a HP junkie. I myself must also confess. I like some of your theories, and I have to say I also hold a spot in my heart for Severus should he redeem himself. Have you considered the possibility of Harry's victory over Voldy, but at the cost of his own life? Prophecy doesn't clearly rule that out. I think that would be a satisfyingly resolved yet dark end to the series.

[golfwidow]

I think we're going to find out that there's more to Snape than we've seen, and that Dumbledore had solid evidence for trusting him that goes beyond mere instinct.

If Rowling is to get her reiterated wish not to see the series continue beyond this book, with or without her input, Voldemort must be vanquished by the last page. Whether Harry loses his life or not remains to be seen (I think not) but if Voldemort is not gone, people will run like hell with the open storyline, and that defeats her purposes.

My own ideal concerns Harry flying off to Discworld and teaching wizardry to the clueless wizards at Unseen University, and quaffing a lot of beer in Ankh Morpork. It probably also concerns him taking off his clothes, because I saw that picture of him from Equus.

[Stan]

Since I don't read the books, I can only determine what will happen based on what I've seen in the movies and what I've seen on bumper Stickers.

1. Trust in Snape.
2. Republicans for Voldemort.

Based on those two things... I can say that Harry will somehow cast Voldemort to the muggle world. Where he will be promptly elected to President. (R of course).

Somewhere along the lines, Snape turns back to Death Eater and the US Currency will be switched to say "In Snape we Trust" by a very grateful Voldemort.

Harry will continue making naked stage appearances in the Muggle world...

And one of the weasleys and that Hermiane[sp] girl will hook up.

How dare you compare HP to Star Wars.

[Spritopias]

Stan, as you know the Jedi Council of Greater Denver and Colorado has issued a Fatwa against me, ostensibly for offense over "The Forest of Nerds," and currently I am under the protection of a local militia called, "Dumbledore's Army" as the People's Soviet Socialist Republic of Spritopiastan is unsure how to respond to angry virgins who live in their mother's basements.

[Shawn]

My gut is telling me that Neville will be the one who vanquishes Voldemort, not Harry. All Harry is is a Herucrux for Voldemort's soul (See scar on forehead) so he definitely has to die at some point, even if just for a couple of minutes.

I seriously doubt Dumbledore is dead, if only because he didn't even put up a fight against Snapes. It's all just a staged performance to spare young Malfoy's life. I guess the easiest way to tell if he is dead is to see if Malfoy can see those invisible beasties now. If he can't we'll know immediately.

If I had to guess who dies I'd have to say Ginny does. Yes, it's trite and cliche, but come come we all know that's the magic formula for climaxes. Going down this route, Harry will probably manifest evil in his quest for vengeance and become the very villain he despises. I predict a scene where Voldemort, after revealing to Harry the herucrux connection, grunt out in rich baritone: "Now join me and together we shall rule the world!" At which point Neville comes busting in like a hippo tripping on barbed wire and accidentally pushes Voldemort into a ravine of molten lava.

That was probably just me going crazy for a minute, but I stand by my prediction of Neville as the surprise hero.

[Suburban Island]

Lots of great points here and it all gets us wondering - what will happen, will our guesses pan out?It will be interesting to see what Rowling has cooking up for us. I love your perspective from the classroom. Star Wars has a lot of the heroic and mythic to it and I think that is one of the reasons that these films are so exciting and uplifting.

[Harriet]

Oh, I wanted to pick apart your grammar and your punctuation (and you a teacher!). I will instead question just a bit of logic: where did you get the idea that Ginny and Cho were unattractive? I never did. *** Just in general, I think I will mention that I did give my kids the Narnia books -- for different ways of looking at things, not for the way they preach Christianity. That is the beauty of knowing how to read.

[liz]

Challenge me to a duel, please? Pretty please?

[Terri]

You're a bloody genius! I agree with your theories about the 7th book. I want Snape to just be evil. Pure evil. But after re-reading The Half Blood Prince, I see where it could go either way. I think Snape will be redeemed. DARNIT!

I occasionally have debates about Harry Potter banners at my church. If you have to ban Harry Potter, then you have to ban fairy tales and Shakespeare, etc. etc. Then they pull out reasons like Harry is a bad example because he breaks rules and there are few consequences. Spoken like a person who's never read the books. Harry has been one of the most miserable unhappy kid I've ever read about. If he gets lucky breaks, it's karma!

Okay, rant over. Thank you and good night. :)

[sir jorge]

that's one heck of a post!