This entry nearly as long as actual opera by which title has been punned.
I had to write down my last thoughts and feelings and predictions. It’s all just thrown together, because wow can I ever not concentrate. But read through, (or skim, you know, whatever) and let me know when you think. And maybe we’ll revisit in a couple weeks to see how very wrong I was about most of this. Or hopefully right. And I will wait a few weeks to talk much more about it, unless of course Snape dies, in which case, I will talk about it at length and constantly, so you know, caveat lector. Or not. I might stop talking and typing all together. Regardless, after this is all over, I have plenty of other big deal things to talk about.*
Harry James Potter
I would be really disappointed if Harry defeated Voldemort, and lived to become the most famous wizard of all time, Minister of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, and then Headmaster at Hogwarts. Luckily, I don’t think that that will happen. If Harry dies, I won’t be disappointed, especially if he dies, taking out Voldemort and the evil that he manufacture with overwhelming, all-encompassing love, the “power the Dark Lord knows not.” Yes, it’s very much a crucifixion analogy and thus far in the series, Dumbledore has been the Christ-figure, but it would be alright. If he does live, which would be great, I’d be happiest if he married Ginny Weasley, had nine kids, and had a long, fulfilling career developing new charms for Honeydukes.
Tom Riddle: Lord Voldemort
Should die, natch. But it’d be great if he could die knowing just how wrong he was. And if that’s not possible, die knowing just how hard, and for how long, Snape betrayed him.
Other Characters
Of all the secondary and tertiary characters, Ron and Hermione should survive. If one of them doesn’t, it’ll be Ron—he’s spent the entire series sacrificing himself for Harry in one way or another and that could legitimately continue. Think of the fight to the Philosopher’s Stone in the first book: Ron doesn’t shine until it’s time to strategize. And then, when he does, he wins the Wizard’s Chess game, and handily, by sacrificing himself so that Harry can win, while keeping Hermione completely out of harms way. Hermione will survive because Harry’s just not that bright and needs someone to do this thinking for him.
The rest of the Weasleys must live, though I don’t think anybody would miss Percy, nor would anybody be heartbroken if, say, Charlie died. Poor Charlie—the superfluous Weasley. If the fanfic authors are borne out and Arthur Weasley becomes Minister of Magic, I will eat my hat. I will go buy a hat and then eat it.
Remus Lupin has to survive, if only so that Harry has some lingering connection to his parents. And so must Tonks, and then she and Remus have to get married and have a series of increasingly vibrantly colored but strangely mellow babies. Anybody else could be cannon fodder and that would be okay. It would be very dramatic if Hagrid or Minerva McGonagall died, as they each have reason to revenge themselves against Voldemort personally (I will bet you a dollar McGonagall is the closet Tom Riddle ever came to having a lover), but my heart would not break in two. It would be exciting if Death Eaters captured Trelawney and Voldemort broke her brain trying to legilimize the full prophecy out of her.
Some of the students should die too, for dramatic effect. Seamus Finnegan maybe, or Justin Finch-Fletchly. Crabbe OR Goyle, but not both. Pansy Parkinson OR Millicent Bulstrode, but not both. Frankly, I’m irrationally attached to Millicent because of how wonderful she is in fanfiction, so she needs to stick around too—and maybe get some plot.
Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom both need to live. I think they’ll play major parts in the Final Battle (if there is such a thing) and I’ll talk about Neville’s a bit more below. But they both need to live and then get married and have the most brilliant, sincere, genuine children ever.
Severus Snape, The Half-Blood Prince
This is the big deal. This is where all my concentration will be focused, and my primary reason for reading the book. As wonderful as Rowling’s universe is, and as exciting as the larger narrative is, at this point, Severus Snape is the most compelling character, bar none. Everything, seriously—EVERYTHING—will hinge on what side he chooses to act for. The consummate Slytherin (I wouldn’t be surprised if Rowling invented Snape, then created the defining traits for Slytherin House based on him) he is, and ever will be, on his own side. But for over 15 years, in the books, he’s been acting for both factions, the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix, in various and secret capacities. When last we saw him, he was fleeing, to the bosom of his true master or into the deepest possible cover, depending on how you look at things. And what he chooses to do, and say, and even think now, will be what really determines the fate of the wizarding world—not any actions of the Boy Who Lived.
I believe Snape fights for the light. That when he “spun Dumbledore a tale of deepest woe” that it was genuine. He was life indebted to James Potter, and deeply, secretly, shamefully in love with Lily Evans Potter; and, once he realized what he’d done by revealing the prophecy to Voldemort, he went to Dumbledore, chastened and resolved to be reborn good, if not nice. I firmly believe that he found out, maybe only moments ahead of time as Pettigrew announced to the assembled Death Eaters the secret-kept location of Godric’s Hollow, that Voldemort planned to murder the Potters and was compelled (as in literally, a compulsion made him Apparate) to go and warn them. James answered the door and the first words out of Snape’s mouth were, “Black betrayed you.” James proceeded to argue the point, giving Voldemort time to catch up. Voldemort saw Snape there (which is the real thrust behind his “one who has left me forever” statement), resolved to death with him later, and proceeded to kill James and Lily before dying himself. Snape is the person caring for Harry in the missing 24 hours, while Dumbledore sorts out Hagrid and Sirius tries to kill Peter Pettigrew before winding up in Azkaban.
I also believe that Severus didn’t kill Dumbledore so much as he said the words “avada kedavra” while he stopped healing them. Nearly all of Snape’s First Year Speech and subsequent interrogation of Harry has been used for one plot point or another. So when he says, “I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death” we’re to understand that that’s what he’s doing. Dumbledore says that Snape saved him from the curse that’s withered his hand; he didn’t cure him so much as prevented the rest of his body from dying the way his hand did. Snape keeps him (and however many other people, like Katie Bell and Ron Weasley) alive that year because of his utter brilliance at Potions and Defense) alive for the remainder of the year so that he can teach Harry what he needs to know. And then, at the moment of truth, when it’s kill the only person in the world who trusts him, or die himself while Draco’s soul is marred, Snape stops healing Dumbledore and flees, the entire time trying to save Draco’s life, minimize student casualties, and teach Harry the rest of what he needs to know as fast as he can.
I think Snape will spend the majority of Deathly Hallows sending all the information to the Order he possibly can. Tonks proves in Half-Blood Prince that one’s patronus can change in times of great emotional turmoil. Killing your mentor, father figure, and again, probably the only person in the whole world who believes in you is about as tumultuous as it gets and it’ll change Snape’s patronus. I bet its new form will be a phoenix and that everyone will believe Dumbledore is somehow communicating from beyond the grave. He’ll give them all the information they need to find the horcruxes, destroy them, and engage the final battle. Snape will stand then, at Voldemort’s left hand and wait.
Couple ways to go from here: many people think he’ll sacrifice himself. That he’ll leap in front of a killing curse meant for Harry, martyring himself and giving Harry and opening to kill Voldemort. I would HATE that. Dying a martyr might lead to posthumous redemption. Or it might lead to Ron spitting on his corpse and history subsequently ignoring him, because Harry isn’t the most generous kid ever. Snape might also be genuinely evil and Harry will have to kill him too, right before he kills Voldemort. That won’t happen though.
Ideally, at the point of confrontation, Snape will reveal himself to the Order as the person who has given them all their information. Voldemort will be flabbergasted and the moment it takes Ron and Hermione to incite Harry to act on the existing plan, based on Snape’s secret information, will be enough to end Voldemort and win the war. And then Snape will be arrested and put on trial so that there will be a public record of every amazing, noble deed he ever did in the war against Voldemort and Harry will have no choice but to apologize. Snape can then, depending on what he wants to do, go back to Hogwarts as the Defense professor, or go into business for himself. Marriage and children optional, but unlikely.**
Secondary, excruciatingly unlikely scenario puts Snape in the same place, but Voldemort manages to kill Harry. In the confusion, Snape manages to get Neville to act, mitigating the circumstances of the prophecy and Snape’s own complicity in the Potter’s deaths. Harry is the Boy Who Lived, but Neville is the Boy Who Triumphed.
At any rate, Snape works for the good, the light, the Order. And does not turn into a martyr, a sop, or any other sort of non-Slytherin nonsense in the meantime. He gets the respect he deserves, and craves. And I am vindicated in years and years of crazed fangirling.
I’m shutting all my computers off sometime around dinner-time today, but I will check back through the afternoon because I am genuinely interested in what everybody thinks. For better or worse, I’ll see you all on the other side.
*No, I’m not pregnant.
** I am already married, you see.
