io9's AU ending idea for Deathly Hallows

[sunnyskywalker]

Good to know other people out there are also still analyzing the series and not finding the ending satisfying!

The Awesome Harry Potter ending JK Rowling didn't even know she had

The quick version for everyone who doesn't want to click through: a reasonable twist interpretation of "either must die at the hand of the other" is that in order to die, Harry or Voldemort must die at the hand of the other--that is, there isn't any other way for them to die. So by killing Voldemort, Harry loses any chance of ever dying himself and becomes forever The Boy Who Lived... which means that he sacrifices any chance of being reunited with his dead friends and family in the wizarding afterlife.

I have to say, this one hadn't occurred to me, but it's an interesting idea, assuming you could get the mechanics to work well enough not to distract from the drama. I'll have to give it some more thought. Immortal!Harry might be a little too terrifying an ending...

Comments

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, a very interesting idea! And yes, a bit terrifying.

How would it work, I wonder? Would he continue to age until his body is a crumbling wreck? Would he forever stay a young man? Would he eventually end up as an incorporeal remnant stuck on this side of the veil? Would he pass from host to host once his own body failed, drawn involuntarily into possessing the nearest living creature each time his host body dies?

Damn it, I didn't need a bunny. I'm having enough trouble herding all of the Marvel bunnies my blasted muse (points to icon) keeps unleashing on me.

[sunnyskywalker]

The mechanics is the big sticking point for me. How would it work? But if someone came up with a compelling enough explanation, it could be fascinating.

[hwyla.livejournal.com]

Not just terrifying because Harry might live forever. IF Harry had really died (and not come back), then even Neville killing the last horcrux Naigini would not have made Voldy mortal.

[sunnyskywalker]

That at least might have added more of a reason for Harry to hide out in a tent: if he died, he absolutely couldn't rely on Hermione and Ron to finish the job. It might have been really hard for him to learn to save his own skin instead of rushing headlong into danger! Though I'm not sure the Harry that resulted from such lessons would be any more pleasant than the one we got, so maybe it's just as well...

[nx74defiant.livejournal.com]

There was a fanfiction that I read with that story line. Ginny notices first that after 30 Harry isn't aging. At first Harry just dismisses it, but it becomes obviously true. Harry ends up alone and bitter. He is jealous of Hermione for being able to die and join her love Ron.

[vermouth1991.livejournal.com]

I'm reminded of Tolkien's wording on "unnatural long life" (such as Gollum's under the influence of The Ring): "like butter spread over until it's too thin"

[sunnyskywalker]

Sounds interesting! Vermouth's comparison to life with the Ring sounds apt, too.