Words, Words, Words.

I've been saying for a long time that, while the story Rowling has created is unique, the formula is not. Harry's is a typical hero's journey, mirrored in everything from King Arthur to Star Wars. Which, of course, means the mentor must die (so the hero can learn to stand on his own two feet), and the longtime adversary may turn out to be more than he seems. (Which, unfortunately, means that he may also die in a heroic flash of cliché.) JKR may surprise us - something I'm holding out for - but the recipe's been right so far.

So give the sword to Ron, already.

I wouldn't mind that, but then I'm also afraid for the misunderstood lesser-Weasley. He's been building toward that "something special" for several books now . . . and somehow the payoff has never been very satisfactory. All we've gotten is flying brains and retrospective descriptions of what he's done (be it quidditch or fighting Death Eaters in Hogwarts). As the loyal sidekick and (*ahem*) "funny one," he may finally outshine his family and come into his own . . . just in time to get that pesky harpoon through the chest himself.