[kupoartist]

Having just read books 3 and 4, then the first 200 pages of the 5th in 1 week, I kind of noticed some patterns. Personally, I think it's going to be either {Harry's Godfather} or Neville. For {Harry's Godfather} , I feel that his relative uselessness at the begining of the book will lead to somthing later. As for Neville, I really feel that Rowling has been setting him up as a truely tragic figure (due to what happened to his parents). I think that his death would be very sad, as a sort of "mercy killing", but with a sense of tradgedy in that he's so innocent, yet harshly treated by the world. (on the counter argument though, this could be just a ploy to set him up as a true hero later in the series.)

Btw, I do think that its hard to avoid a massive spoiler here already. Having read some predictions of who will die, I totally ruined the whole point of the 3rd book. Hence why

Spoiler: show

Sirius Black

is refered to as "{Harry's Godfather}"

Spoiler: show

why? because you learn that "Sirius Black" is after Harry right at the beginning of Book 3. The whole point is that he isn't, and that he's innocent. knowing that Sirius is a likeable character, 300 pages before its revealed, kind of ruined the book for me (it was probably the best book in the series)

and i'm at the beginning of chapter twelve: "Professor Umbridge". I managed to read all 200 pages precedding that in the same day ... I like these books

Finally, I couldn't ever see it as being Malfoy. Unless sometime between page 200 and the end of the book he becomes the kind of character J.K. would cry about after killing off (as she said in a televised interview with Jeremy Paxman - all non BBC watchers probably wouldn't have seen this). It's unlikely to be Harry either is it... I mean, it would be a bit strange to write the 2 remaining "Harry Potter" books if Harry was dead. Unless he was Undead or somthing ^_^ "Rrrraaggghh, Harry no like the light or Holy Water!!"