Re: DIVINATION TEST


I explained my position so clearly that if you can't understand it by
now, I'm not sure I can help you. But I'll try.

The subject arises solely because Rowling has promised to add an
epilogue to the 7th book, and we have to decide how to handle it in
relation to any predictions. (I might add, we are both beginning to
take this silly test WAY too seriously. ;)

I just looked up her quote about it, to see how she worded it. Here
it is:

JKR: [It's a big folder] "But this is the Final Chapter of book
seven. Um ... [laughs] which I'm still dubious about showing you, I
don't know what I feel like, the camera's gonna be able to see through
the folder. So this is it, and I'm not opening it for obvious reasons.
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."


Now, since you don't seem to know how to score my predictions, I will
tell you how.

First, if the epilogue is simply a normal last chapter for an HP book,
told like the rest of the series, then there is, of course, no real
problem. All of the predictions stand.

If, on the other hand, (as it appears) the epilogue will be told from
a forward-looking narrator who sums up future events, more explanation
is needed. (This would also apply if the narrator assumes an
omniscient position from which she speaks of the characters' distant
futures as if they had happened in the past.)

If the deaths do not take place in the main storyline [before the
Epilogue], but are mentioned only by the narrator at the end as a
future event, then here is how to apply my predictions...

One possible situation: Neville is wounded in battle, but is still
alive when the main storyline ends. His fate remains up in the air as
the narrator's epilogue begins.

My rule is: If the mentioned deaths occur directly because of events
begun during the main storyline, or take place within a reasonable
length of time from the end of the story (say, one or two years), then
I consider that the characters died in book 7.

Examples as they might apply to the Neville situation.

- If the Epilogue narration is: "Neville died of his wounds seven
days later, at St. Mungo's." Then I consider that Neville died in
book 7.

- If the Epilogue narration is: "Neville recovered nicely from the
wounds he incurred in battle, without so much as a scar. He grew up
to be the professor of Herbology at Hogwarts, and lived until he was
122." Then I consider that Neville did not die during book 7, his
ultimate fate was merely mentioned after the end of the story.


I hope that's reasonably clear.

That rule applies only to deaths, because death is inevitable, and any
truly comprehensive summary of future events would include the deaths
of all characters.



Other situations:

The main story is likely to end while Harry is still in his 7th year
(or shortly thereafter), so it is understood that other predictions
about future events, such as what job Harry might take when he leaves
Hogwarts, or whom he might marry, or how many children Hermione might
have, will most likely be dependent upon the epilogue for answers. So
naturally, answers from the Epilogue to those questions will not only
count, they will probably be essential.


If the epilogue contradicts what otherwise would appear to be the
ending of the story, then the epilogue wins - except in the case of
death.

For instance, if it appears that Harry and Ginny end up together when
the main story wraps up, but then the epilogue goes on to say "Harry
and Ginny went together for three years, and were even engaged at one
point, but never did get married. In the end, they drifted apart, and
he married Luna Lovegood.", then, in my opinion, Harry and Ginny did
not end up together.


In the case of a death (mentioned only in the epilogue) which
contradicts what would otherwise seem to be the ending of the story,
it depends upon when & how. If the death happens shortly after the
events we have witnessed in the main story, it counts.
For instance: "Harry had won. But he never got the chance to enjoy
his victory, because six months later, a grieving Bellatrix cornered
him on Privet Drive and killed him with an AK spell".


But if the mention is of a normal death, years in the future (the
inevitable fate of us all), it doesn't count.
For instance: "Ron and Hermione were married for 70 years, had
three daughters and one son (all red-headed), and were ultimately
buried together in the Weasley garden."


That's about as precise as I can be.







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Relevant Pages

  • Re: "More deaths coming" ????
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    ... (Harry WAS a Horcrux (though I thought it was not accidental), ... happenings, ... It's funny, when I read LOTR, one of the things I didn't really like much was the loooong epilogue at the end of the last book. ... PS PLEASE don't cross post any responses to any Tolkein groups. ...
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