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Ok, so she has had enough, and wants him dead. No, in fact, she just might have killed him. I am referring to what could soon become cause for national mourning, not just among the under-teens and those just across the line, but even among their parents…the death of the whiz kid Harry Potter.

Potter’s life has indeed been extraordinary. And in the process he has touched the life of his creator with more than just magic… riches, fame, and an aura of hallowedness being her share.

The poor little boy blessed with the talent that wizards envied, to make things happen right, and at the right time, filled a need.

Though Tolkein might have been the inspiration, Potter spoke in a language that children of today could grasp, comprehend and enjoy. In him, in these times of too much homework, unrelenting project work and missing from home because they are climbing the career and social ladder parents, children across the world found an alter ego.

A modern day male Cinderella was born, and he drew unto his fold, not just girls in pink sashes with long eyelashes, but also smutty boys who had been thrashed heavily by the neighbourhood bully.

But now, after six much loved, celebrated, and very successful books that delineated the exploits of a young and steadily growing Harry Potter, his time seems to have come.
Why, is a good question.

Perhaps, because he is too old to be a real icon to the under-teens. Unlike other child heroes, this one grew in age and time. The Five Find-Outers, The Secret Seven, Tin Tin, Asterix and his clan…every one of them was frozen in time.

The second reason is probably the very reason that Harry Potter reached cult status — the movies.

The real life image of Harry Potter, who managed to look, act and breathe the part, is no longer a tremulous young boy whose round glasses mist up at the sight of injustice… his face has grown angular, his voice will crack at sudden moments, and he is at that terrible stage between manhood and childhood that does not make for appealing cinema.

Worse still, the very same real life actor has signed on real life manly roles, as in Equus! and stirred up enough controversy to blight his Potter role.

Also possibly, Rowling has had too much of a good thing; success can be cloying sometimes, especially if somewhere in the back of one’s mind, one knows that the layering of fiction has a base that was borrowed to begin with.

So, the likely verdict: finish him off, wipe him out. End the story once and for all.
Another much loved hero, Sherlock Holmes, was despatched in similar manner by his creator, only to bring him back from the dead after the resultant public clamour.
Will it happen with Potter too?

While that question hangs fire, let it be said, that his fans will be so much happier and excited, if he disappears on a secret mission to save the world, or its environment… something that would engage their imagination and admiration, and keep them guessing, till he came back years later in his new avatar as a full grown super wizard, windblown hair and contact lenses in place ready to replace Clark Kent and Spiderman, and continue his fight against evil. The magic would take hold again.

And would be more palatable than at the death of a 16-year-old who grew too old to be his creator’s pet any longer!