You don't say?

Of course we knew more characters would die, so this news isn't really news. WHO will die is news. My guesses:

1) Severus Snape - Sacrificial Lamb, Sr.
2) Harry Potter - Sacrifical Lamb, Jr.

Both will die to save others, probably at the hands of the Dark Lord. I believe Harry will take Voldemort with him. The Leaky Cauldron links to J.K. Rowling's interview (wait for the jump) on the Richard and Judy Show.

Your theories?

Update: I listened to the MP3s. From what I gathered, Rowling will kill off at least two characters, which means she may kill off more than two. Rowling said two people die in Book 7 that she didn't intend to die (the final chapter of Book 7 was written years ago), and she saved one character who was supposed to die. Can't wait for that book.

Update II (6/27): Soccer Dad's theory:

I'd be very surprised if Harry gets killed. I believe his destiny is to become the Defense of Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. But I can also understand her wish to "own" Harry Potter exclusively. Harry Potter, while it may be appreciated at a number of levels, is still a children's series. Having a children's series whose main character is killed just wouldn't work. If that happened Harry Potter would be deemed too dark for children younger than teens. I can't imagine that's something that Rowling seeks.

I've heard people say that killing Harry Potter would be bad for marketing. Why would you want to buy all that Scholastic and Warner Brothers merchandise with depictions of a dead character?

Blogger speculation: JustOneMinute, Sword of Gryffindor, Dean's World (advice for fiction writers)…

Funny man Laurence Simon says: "The question is not 'Will Harry Potter die?' but 'How will Harry Potter die?'"

I'm quick on the draw, Glenn. I live on the Net.

A critic says JKR is trying to generate publicity. True, and it worked!

The Leaky Caudron's Melissa Anelli appeared on radio and MSNBC to talk about Book 7. Go to the site (wait for the jump) to download the MSNBC video file and MP3 radio interview.

Update III (6/29): Stephen Bainbridge says Harry's toast.

While you're waiting for me to blog about something interesting, check out a post by Merlin at Muggle Matters (say that five times fast) called X-Men 3, Harry Potter and the Imago Dei. I saw X-Men: The Last Stand the other day, and I'll review it…if I find time.

Spoiler Alert!!!

Merlin's post reminds me of a scene that foreshadowed the final scene. Professor Xavier was teaching a class on mutant ethics and briefly discussed the ethics of transferring your consciousness (after your body is destroyed?) into the mind of a person in a vegetative state. The scene ended abruptly when the professor became distracted by a troubled teacher. Read Merlin's post, but only if you've seen X-Men or want to see it.

Merlin sees a "Horcrux connection" in the movie. Wonder what that's about…

(Hat tip: Sword of Gryffindor)

Travis Prinzi reviews The Magical Worlds of Narnia.