Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Who Dies?

OK - I have no problem admitting that I am a total Harry Potter geek (and a Lord of the Rings geek too for that matter). JK Rowling has announced that at least one character will die in the next Harry Potter book (to be titled Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince). Some bookmakers (those that take bets not those who make bindings) are taking action on just who will die (or be the first to die) in the new book. Below please find the current odds and my thoughts on the possibility that the character might be "bumped off".

Professor Dumbledore 2-1: This has a certain Obi-Wan Kenobi elegance to it. The young Skywalker (in this case Harry Potter) must find his way on his own without the mentor who has placed him on his hero's journey. Too Joseph Campbellish if you ask me. Too obvious and therefore unlikely for the never predictable JK Rowling.

Rubeus Hagrid 3-1: The death of Hagrid would be awful. I don't think Rowling could kill off the character she patterned after Robbie Coltrane. Although Hagrid would lay down his life to protect Dumbledore or any of the kids without a moments hesitation. Then again, if he was going to die it would have been at the hands of the giants in the last book. I don't think it will be Hagrid (but I wouldn't discount the chance either).

Ginny Weasley 5-1: No longer a (one-sided) love interest for Harry and having played her major role in the second book - I say no to her being the first corpse. Ginny also makes a very good foil for hijinks now that the twins are no longer at school.

Dobby 7-1: The books are already getting unmanageable in length. Why bring in more house-elf involvement not central to the good wizard / bad wizard struggle? I don't see it being Dobby.

Ronald Weasley 8-1: Won't be Ronald. You need Ron to be Harry's best friend and keep the Potter character real (Ron is the measuring stick to Harry's character as far as normal teenage devopment).

Professor McGonagall 10-1: This is a possibility. Unless McGonagall is going to teach the kids transfiguration then her usefulness in the series may be used up.

Hermoine Granger 12-1: Never gonna happen. Hermoine and Ron fall in love - they don't get killed.

Cornelius Fudge 15-1: I'm rooting for Fudge to "get it" and removing him opens the way for open warfare against Voldemorte. At 15-1 it's maybe worth a tumble.

Lucius Malfoy 18-1: Killing Draco's father could set up an even greater hatred between Potter and Draco and a revenge angle for Rowling to exploit.

Professor Snape 25-1: Snape is in danger. He is the spy on the side of the good wizards. If he is found out it would mean certain death. Too predictable - that rules it out.

Draco Malfoy 30-1: I don't see it. Although Rowling could write a scenario where Malfoy has a chance to kill Potter but becomes noble at the last moment and this nobility leads to his death. But this isn't the Grinch and I don't see Malfoy's heart growing five sizes one day. I'd rule Malfoy out. Then again - maybe Malfoy is killed by Harry in a duel. That would make sense as far as a plot device but again - I don't see Malfoy the one to die.

Harry Potter 400-1: Taking this bet would be like taking Holy Cross to win the NCAA basketball tournament. Not gonna happen.

None of the Above 4-1: This would be the best bet if you ask me. Neville Longbottom should have a good chance of being bumped off. What about Percy, Fred or George Weasley - or Mr. or Mrs. Weasley for that matter? Even JK Rowling must be sick of the Dursley's. Why not bump off Dudley, Aunt Petunia or Uncle Vernon?