More Harry ...

      I was supposed to be watching J.K.Rowling's reading of the first chapter of "Deathly Hallows" but Bloomsbury.com didn't quite come through. Maybe just a few too many (millions) were trying to log in at the same time. Anyway, it should be available for the next few weeks. Maybe I can get it tomorrow AM before the book itself arrives. Correction: just watched it and it was awesome! The setting in London's Natural History Museum was perfect and Rowling read wonderfully. Only the first chapter and there has already been a murder! Voldemort killed former Hogwart's "Muggle Studies" teacher Charity Burbage. He was also droning on about defending pure bloods from contamination - sounding altogether too Hitler-ish for my liking, although it definitely isn't the first time I've noticed it. And he emphasized that he alone must - and will - be the one to kill Harry Potter.
      So this is the last day ever that I can speculate. (It's like Christmas evening only without the stresses; HOW will I ever get to sleep tonight???) Tomorrow I'll sequester myself far away from any possible spoilers and read, read, read, read, read! (I finished rereading "Half-Blood Prince" today - the refresher was useful.) Looking at the Gazette's five possible endings writers proposed last Saturday, I'm partial to Louise Penny's. She believes it's actually Neville Longbottom who fulfills the prophecy (and sadly dies in the process along with Snape, who was a good guy after all). Dumbledore lives. Harry and Ginny wed as do Ron and Hermione. All in all quite happy and satisfying. I fear, though, the real thing may be a little darker.
      Nonetheless, here is my proposed ending albeit a little sketchy on the details. Dumbledore isn't dead; he rises like Aslan in Narnia. Somewhat regrettably (he isn't the most likable fellow) Snape does indeed turn out to have been on the side of good. He dies in the final battle with You Know Who, eliciting a twinge of sympathy from all those who thought the worst of him. Most importantly, Harry Potter does emerge triumphant (and more importantly alive). BUT ... a tiny bit (the last 1/7 th) of Voldemort's soul escapes, signaling that there will never be complete good in the world. And, sadly, in the battle Harry uses up all his magical powers and becomes no more potent than a muggle. But now, with the perspective of "one of us" and giving recognition to all the good muggles whose love helped in that battle, he urges all of us to continue the fight for good throughout our lives. Thus we all, in a sense, become magical and we all have the power - and the duty - to strive against all evil, cruelty, and injustice in the world. And in so doing the whole world actually does become a better place! All thanks to a book about a boy wizard and an author who is magical in her own right. (P.S. Harry and Ginny do wed; so do Ron and Hermione and they all live happily ever after as they so justly deserve.)