Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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The seventh book in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling will feature the final adventures of Harry Potter as he attempts to bring an end to the reign of the evil dark wizard, Lord Voldemort. The title for Book 7, as it is sometimes referred to, has not been announced, though Rowling has confirmed that it will follow the recurring "Harry Potter and the..." formula.[1] The previous six books in the series have left many unanswered questions, and readers hope to learn how the many loose ends and unfinished adventures in the series will be completed. Rowling has stated that, more so than the other books in the series, the final volume is a continuation of the story line from the sixth book of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She has also stated that she has no intention of writing any further books about the Harry Potter characters. As of 2006, she has been working on the stories for over 16 years.

Release date and title

The release date for the final "Harry Potter" has not been announced by the publisher, but Rowling is working toward a release in the summer of 2007. A publishing director at Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. said in May 2006 that she hopes the seventh book will be released in 2007, even going so far as to say it is "likely."[2]

The fifth Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, is scheduled for release in North America and the UK on Friday, July 13, 2007.

In an interview following the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2005, Rowling stated:

"Realistically, I don't think I'm going to be able to do real work on it until next year [2006]. I see next year as the time that I’m really going to write seven. But I've started and I am doing little bits and pieces here and there when I can. But you’ve seen how young Mackenzie still is, and you can bear actual witness to the fact that I do have a very small, real baby, so I'm going to try and give Mackenzie what I gave David, which is pretty much a year of uninterrupted 'me time', and then I'll start writing seriously again."

In a Christmas 2005 letter on her official website, Rowling stated:

"I have been fine-tuning the fine-tuned plan of [book] seven during the past few weeks so that I can really set to work in January (2006). Reading through the plan is like contemplating the map of an unknown country in which I will soon find myself. Sometimes, even at this stage, you can see trouble looming; nearly all of the six published books have had Chapters of Doom. The quintessential, never, I hope, to be beaten Chapter That Nearly Broke My Will To Go On was chapter nine, Goblet of Fire" (The Dark Mark).

In September 2006, Rowling was nearly barred by US Transportation Security Administration officials from carrying a working manuscript for the seventh Harry Potter novel onto an airplane, due to security restrictions, but eventually she prevailed.[3] She said at the time she would rather have sailed home to England in a boat than be separated from the manuscript.

No title has been announced for the seventh book. Some British tabloids have speculated that Rowling will reveal the name before Christmas 2006. The broadsheet The Guardian has set up a competition for fans to guess the correct title before it is announced [4].

Background to the series

For more information, see Harry Potter.

The Harry Potter series was originally published as a children's book by British publisher Bloomsbury, and American publisher Scholastic Press. However, it rapidly became a phenomenal success amongst children and adults alike. The books each chronicle one year at school for the characters concerned and follows a long tradition of children's series about life in schools. Perhaps unlike some of the traditional series of this format, each book has matured and expanded in complexity and scope compared to the last, approximately developing with the age of the principal characters. Although the author has said that she comprehensively plotted the entire series of books before the first was published, and that this plot remains unchanged, she has also stated that it has undergone a number of revisions as it has progressed. The books started as relatively slim volumes (223 pages Philosopher's Stone UK ed.), but have grown as the series progressed (766 pages Order of the Phoenix UK ed.).

The books contain a significant element of fantasy and magic, but this is combined with a detective-novel approach to the story. Each volume contains a complete problem and task for the heroes to complete, but each has also added to the background information about the wizarding world in general and contains many pieces of information whose importance only becomes apparent in later volumes (known as foreshadowing). Thus a considerable fan following has developed of people wanting to discover how the many loose ends and unfinished adventures in the book will finally be completed. The author has stated that, more than with any other book in the series, the final volume continues the unfinished story in book six. She has also stated that she doesn't have plans for any other novels concerning Harry Potter.

Known plot details

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Continuing storylines from previous books

Harry

  • Harry returns to the home of his non-magical (Muggle) relatives, the Dursleys, during the summer. The magical protection which Albus Dumbledore arranged, that requires Harry to have a home with his surviving family, is set to expire on Harry's 17th birthday July 31.
  • There is expected to be a continuing relationship between Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter, even though Harry told Ginny in the last chapter of the sixth book that he "can't be involved with her anymore" and that they have "got to stop seeing each other" and that they "can't be together," because he's "got things to do alone now". [HP6]

Hogwarts

  • Rowling has said that Hogwarts will "of course need a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," [citation needed] suggesting that Hogwarts will still remain open, even after the attack by the Death Eaters at the end of book six; however, it is unknown if Harry will even return there.
  • Harry stated in the sixth book that he does not intend to complete his final year, but that doesn't mean he might not make an appearance on Hogwarts grounds at some point during the story.
  • Hogwarts is expected to have a new head teacher or headmaster, as the previous headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was killed in book six. Minerva McGonagall is the most likely, as she served as deputy headmistress under Dumbledore, and because she seems to have inherited the office from Dumbledore. Additionally, when Dumbledore was removed from office in Chamber of Secrets, it was McGonagall who took over as Headmistress.
  • If Hogwarts is re-opened, then a new Head Boy and Head Girl will be appointed.
  • If Harry returns to Hogwarts, it will be his seventh and final year. However, at the end of Book 6, Harry stated that he would not return even if Hogwarts were to re-open. Ron and Hermione said that they would leave Hogwarts as well, to help Harry fight Voldemort. Should Hogwarts reopen, Harry and his classmates would be expected to complete their final N.E.W.T. exams.

Other

  • The quest to identify, locate, and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes will continue. The remaining Horcruxes must be destroyed before Voldemort can be successfully conquered.
  • There is no suggestion in the prophecy that Harry will prevail, at this time it is unknown. More of the things that happened on the night this prophecy was made will be revealed, and that most probably play a very important point in the survival of Harry or Voldemort.
  • Book seven is expected to identify the mysterious R.A.B., who claimed to have stolen one of Voldemort's Horcruxes with the intent to destroy it, while replacing it with a fake that was recovered by Harry and Dumbledore. In an interview, J. K. Rowling said that Regulus Black was "a fine guess" for R.A.B.'s identity. And her American publisher says that it is Regulus Arcturus Black, but that is not confirmed. [6]
  • The true and final loyalties of Severus Snape will be revealed, with an explanation of Dumbledore's death at the hands of Snape, and in Snape's reporting of the prophecy about Harry Potter to Voldemort. A confrontation between Snape and Harry is expected.
  • Kreacher, the former Black Family house elf which passed to Harry's ownership with the death of Sirius Black, may make an appearance. Rowling told the filmmakers of Order of the Phoenix to include the character in the movie, because he is "very important." [7]
  • The reason why Lord Voldemort believes that Harry Potter (rather than Neville Longbottom) fulfills the prophecy of Sybill Trelawney will be revealed. According to Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort did so for a reason that only he knows.
  • In the third book, Wormtail incurred a debt to Harry when Harry saved Wormtail's life. Wormtail has not yet had the opportunity to discharge this debt. (page 459, Bloomsbury pocket edition)(Page 375, Scholastic Press edition). On that very night, Dumbledore said to a sceptical Harry that he would one day be glad that he had saved the life of Voldemort's servant.
  • Rowling stated on her web site that there is something "significant—even crucial" about the answer to the question of why Dumbledore had James Potter's Invisibility Cloak. [8]
  • More will become known about Harry's scar.
  • Also, this book will explain why someone can become ghost while others cannot[citation needed]. One of the important characters will appear as ghost in this book [citation needed]. (This may have already been answered, at least to a certain degree, in Order of the Phoenix Chapter 38, where Nearly Headless Nick explains that wizards who are afraid of death often return as ghosts.)
  • It will be clear in this book about the meaning of that letter sent to Aunt Petunia from Dumbledore in the opening of book five. Till now, it is unknown what "remember my last" means, although Rowling addressed the question on her web site [9]. Also, Rowling had stated that we will find out more about her in the last book.[10]

Information from J. K. Rowling

  • J. K. Rowling said that Harry might get another pet at some point.[11] However, Kreacher and/or Buckbeak may have filled this role. She also hinted that Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, might have another role.[12]
  • In an interview with Tatler magazine, Rowling confirmed that she had decided upon a title, saying: "I so nearly told you the title, it almost popped out...".[13] However, in a later appearance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, she stated that she had just thought of a new title, in the shower preparing for her appearance.[14] Rowling has since stated that she now has a third potential title, and that this new title is "ahead by a short nose, or perhaps that should be a vowel and two consonants".[15]
  • Rowling wrote the last chapter of the book some time ago, to give her an ending to work up to. The last word of the seventh book, according to Rowling, is currently "scar" [16], but she has also said it may change, along with the whole last chapter she has previously written. This last chapter contains details of what happens to each surviving character:

"This is the thing that I was very dubious about showing you... (T)his is the final chapter of book seven. This is really where I wrap everything up, it's the epilogue. And I basically say what happens to everyone after they leave school - those who survive - because there are deaths - more deaths coming. It was a way of saying to myself, 'Well, you will get it, you will get to book seven one day. And then you'll need this!' So I'd just like to remind all the children I know who come around my house and start sneaking into cupboards that it's not there anymore - I don't keep it at home anymore for very, very, very obvious reasons. So there it is." – J. K. Rowling[17]

  • Rowling has stated that there will be no Quidditch matches in book seven.[18]
  • We will learn something very important about Lily in book seven:
Now, the important thing about Harry's mother - the really, really significant thing - you're going to find out in two parts. You'll find out a lot more about her in book five, or you'll find out something very significant about her in book five, and you'll find out something incredibly important about her in book seven." – J. K. Rowling[19]
  • Rowling has long said that Harry's eyes resembling his mother's is important.[20]
  • Severus Snape has been an important and enigmatic character throughout the books, as his true loyalty has always remained unclear. It is to be anticipated that as a surviving major character, his loyalty will be settled in the final confrontation of the book.[21]
Questioner: There’s an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape.
Rowling: He, um, there’s so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book Seven. That's all I’m going to say.[19]
  • She has stated we will learn more about Peter Pettigrew, Dumbledore, and his family.[18]
  • At the Edinburgh book festival, Rowling mentioned that something more would be revealed about Petunia Dursley. Nothing of note occurred in book 6, so this remains to be discovered.[10]

"..there is a little bit more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye...She is not a squib, although that is a very good guess. Oh, I am giving a lot away here. I am being shockingly indiscreet."

Rowling repeated this comment at the Radio city charity reading in August 2006. [23]
  • Whether related or not, Rowling has also said that some non-magical character will perform magic late in life in desperate circumstances.[24] However, she has also said that Aunt Petunia will not perform magic.[25]
  • Also at Edinburgh, Rita Skeeter was mentioned: "She is loathsome . . . but I can't help admiring her toughness. . . . There is more to come on Rita"[10]
  • On Dolores Umbridge, "It's too much fun to torture her not to have another little bit more before I finish"[18]
  • The two-way mirror given to Harry by Sirius Black and his flying motorbike will return.[26] Rowling refused to comment whether Sirius himself might in some way reappear, but she has also said that there was a reason why he had to die.
  • Dumbledore was said to have a "gleam of triumph" in his eyes when told that Voldemort had restored his body using Harry's blood, at the end of Goblet of Fire (Ch. 36). Rowling has confirmed that this is "still enormously significant".[22]
  • Someone from Harry's class, not Harry, Ron, or Hermione, also not who most readers would expect, will become a Hogwarts teacher. This seems to indicate that Hogwarts will indeed re-open, though possibly not until after the main events of book seven have occurred. [19]
  • Rowling has stated that there will be a member of the Order of the Phoenix who has been seen very little so far who will be important in the seventh book.[citation needed]
  • Rowling has been consulted on the film versions of the books, so as to ensure that important aspects of the story do not get omitted or changed that might contradict her future plans for the series. After completion of Prisoner of Azkaban she was interviewed and commented that she was startled by clues which had crept into the film, relating to the final outcome of the series.[citation needed]
  • There are indications that at least two of the main characters will die. In a June 2006 interview about the previously-written ending, Rowling stated that:
    • "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die...A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil...They go for the main characters, or I do".[27]
  • When further questioned in June 2006 about authors who kill off their main characters, Rowling said "I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, well, I'm going to kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels'".[27]
  • Rowling clarified that "Dumbledore is definitely dead", when asked by Salman Rushdie and others at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Rowling answered the same question three times, each time with increasing conviction.[14] [28].
  • When asked what questions she should have been asked, she admitted that "the final book contains a couple of pieces of information that I don't think you could guess at", and declined to explain further.[23] On September 13, 2006 she updated her website saying that when she was asked that question, her mind went blank. Since she couldn't make amends, she created a NAQ section of her website, in tribute to the girl who asked the question. In her NAQ section, she states:
    • "Why did Dumbledore have James' invisibility cloak at the time of James' death, given that Dumbledore could make himself invisible without a cloak?"
    • September 29, 2006, she reveals that Severus Snape was not under the cloak the night of the Potters' death in the Rumors Section.
  • Asked which five of her characters she would like to invite to dinner, she chose Harry, Hermione and Ron, but then hesitated before choosing her last characters, saying "See... I know who's actually dead", unsure whether she was permitted to invite those who are 'dead'. [23]
  • On her website, in the Rumours section, there is the suggestion, Book Seven will be called "Harry Potter And The Pyramids of Furmat", this is answered jokingly with: The Pyramids Of Furmat lie a few miles east of the famous Fortress Of Shadows, not far from the magnificent Pillar Of Storgé. Many tourists prefer to view these ancient monuments at night, when they are illuminated by the Green Flame Torch. All of these "landmarks" are former rumoured names for the various Harry Potter books.
  • Lord Voldemort was voted best villain at the Big Bad Read poll. Responding to the news Rowling commented:
    • "I hope those of you who voted for him in the big bad read enjoy reading about him in book seven, where he finally gets the leg room for which he has been aching all those years in exile."[29]
  • Rowling has promised fans that they'll, "See [stuff] again" from Ginny in book seven, implying that at some point, whether Harry likes it or not, she will become involved in the fight against Voldemort.[citation needed]

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Beyond book seven

  • Rowling confimed that there isn't a university after Hogwarts and further Harry Potter books.
Q: Do you think that you will write about Harry after he graduates from Hogwarts? Isn't there a University of Wizardry?
A: There's no University for Wizards. At the moment I'm only planning to write seven Harry Potter books. I won't say "never," but I have no plans to write an eighth book.
  • When asked about other books similar to Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Rowling has said that she would consider writing them at some point and that they would also be written for charity. She also mentions writing an encyclopedia-style tome on all the major characters, also for charitable purposes.
  • Shortly before the release of book 5, in an interview for the BBC, she was asked about Harry's future by Jeremy Paxman: [30]
Jeremy Paxman: So you know what is going to become of all the major characters over the span of the series?
J.K. Rowling: Yeah..yeah.
Jeremy Paxman: Why stop when they grow up? Might be interesting to know what becomes of Harry as an adult.
J.K. Rowling: How do you know he'll still be alive?
Jeremy Paxman: Oh. At the end of book seven?
J.K. Rowling: It would be one way to kill off the merchandising.
  • When questioned about possible future books, she jokingly suggested Harry Potter and the Mid-Life Crisis.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Interviews with J.K. Rowling". Quick Quote Quill.
  2. ^ "Publisher: Book 7 'likely' in 2007". HPANA. 2006-05-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "J.K. Rowling Smuggles Harry Potter on the Plane".
  4. ^ "Win a JK Rowling signed bookplate".
  5. ^ Rowling, J. K. "Section: F.A.Q." J.K.Rowling Official Site (in English). Retrieved 2006-09-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. ^ Anelli, Melissa and Emerson Spartz. "The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part Two," The Leaky Cauldron, 16 July 2005
  7. ^ "Elf's Absence From Next 'Harry Potter' Flick Opens Up Plot Questions".
  8. ^ "NAQ (never asked question)".
  9. ^ "J.K. Rowling Official Site Section: FAQ".
  10. ^ a b c "J K Rowling at the Edinburgh Book Festival". J.K.Rowling Official Site. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Raincoast Books interview transcript, Raincoast Books (Canada), March 2001". Quick Quotes Quill. Retrieved July 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ "Edinburgh "cub reporter" press conference, ITV, 16 July 2005". Quick Quotes Quill. Retrieved July 3. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Greig, Geordie (Tatler magazine, January 2006) "Special JK", harrypotterfanzone.com
  14. ^ a b "Dumbledore 'definitely' dead, says Rowling". HPANA. 2006-08-02. Retrieved August 3. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/ J.K.Rowling Official Site
  16. ^ "J.K. ROWLING: The 25 Most Intriguing People Of '99,". People. December 31, 1999. Retrieved June 30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Harry Potter and me, BBC Stephen Fry interview, 28 Dec 2001". quick-quote-quill. Retrieved 03 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b c "MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling (part 2)". Mugglenet. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b c J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October, 1999
  20. ^ Loer, Stephanie (October 18, 1999). "All about Harry Potter from quidditch to the future of the Sorting Hat". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling (part 1)". Mugglenet. Retrieved 02 July. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ a b "MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling (part 3)". Mugglenet. Retrieved July 2. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ a b c "Radio City August 2006 Charity Reading". HPANA transcript. Retrieved August 20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Barnes and Noble interview, March 19, 1999". Quick Quotes Quill. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Aunt Petunia will start exhibiting magical tendencies". JK Rowling Website: Rumors. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ a b "World Book Day 2004". Quick Quotes Quill. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ a b c "Transcript of JKR Interview on Richard & Judy". TLC interviews. Retrieved June 30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "[He Who Was Killed in Book Six] is Really Dead, JKR Rethinks Title of Book Seven, More from Radio City". news report. The Leaky Cauldron. 2006-08-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Rowling responds to Voldemort voted top villain". news report. The Leaky Cauldron. Retrieved September 12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "JK Rowling on Newsnight".

External links

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