JK Rowling made it clear she took no pleasure in killing any of her characters -- and she killed a lot of them in "The Deathly Hallows."
Melissa Jimenez, a senior from San Fernando High School, and one of the 1,600 Los Angeles Unified School District students who were able to participate in the Book Tour at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, asked Rowling about the characters she killed in "The Deathly Hallows."
Jimenez was one of 12 students who were able to ask Rowling a question about Harry Potter during the Book Tour. Rowling was asked, among other things, about Patronuses, the Sorting Hat and the Houses of Hogwarts.
Jimenez, like me, found the death of Dobby a little unsettling. Rowling responded similarly to Jimenez's question, saying that Dobby was representative of innoncence and that his death would have an intensified impact on other characters.
But Jimenez was equally upset with the death of Fred Weasley.
"George and Fred were twins," Jimenez said. "I was upset he died. He completed the family."
Jimenez said if she could have asked Rowling another question, it would have been about inspiration. She wanted to know what exactly inspired Rowling to write Harry Potter.
Fernando Juarez from Berendo Middle School asked Rowling about Patronuses. He wanted to know what Patronus Rowling would have. She said she would like an otter, but hers would most likely be a dog.
Juarez said if he had a Patronus, his would be a wolf.
Chanel Smith from University High School asked Rowling about Snape. One of the most complicated characters Rowling created, Snape went from being a sinister, mean, unforgiving tormentor of Harry Potter to the tragic hero who sacrifices himself to save Harry, his friends and allies.
"She knew what she was doing," Smith said. "It was mind-blowing. It affected me a lot. There's a lot of love inside everybody."
Smith said she was convinced Snape was a bad guy until the end of "The Deathly Hallows." It surprised her when he acted so selflessly in the Battle of Hogwarts. She was even more stunned when it was Snape who exposed Dumbledore's plan for Harry: "about pulling Harry along to kill him at the right moment."
Well, Harry doesn't die. But that's not exactly how Dumbledore planned it. And even though Harry essentially saves himself, it was Snape who allowed for Harry to face Lord Voldemort for the last time.
Smith had one more question for Rowling, too, but didn't get a chance to ask it.
She wanted to know what House Rowling would be sorted into. Rowling has said she would be a Hufflepuff, but Smith and I agreed she would be a better fit in Ravenclaw.
And Smith -- she wanted to be in a Gryffindor, of course. Not because she considers herself a brave person, but because she is a bit of a jokester, like Fred and George.