Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Two more days until I go to great lengths to shut myself off from the outside world and devour the last Harry Potter book. I've been preparing for months now. Over the last three months I've re-read the entire series and watched several of the movies so that I was properly primed for the last installment.

Now, I am ready to make some predictions for the final book. If you don't like to speculate on such things then don't read any further. I wouldn't call these spoilers by any means as J.K. Rowling has a proven track record of out thinking me.

Let's start with Dumbledore is alive. At first I felt very strongly that he was dead, because if he is indeed dead then Jo has said explicitly that there is no coming back. I spoke with Pokiman about it and so I will add his input too, because I think he brought up some good points. So here is the corroborating set up. In the first Potions lessons' in book 1 & 5 numerous potions were named. One of them was named in both lessons. It is also the only one that hasn't made an appearance in the books one way or the other the entire time. That potion is the Draught of Living Death which produces a powerful sleeping potion. So the set up was complete to fake a death. If Voldemort thought he was dead then Draco would be safe and Dumbledore would want that.

The set up continued with the discussion of non-verbal spells. A decent amount of time was spent on explaining them and giving them due notice. This never came to fruition in this book either. Jo doesn't normally leave loose threads or waste time writing about something that has no consequence. I think however it did come into play. We just weren't made aware of it.

When Snape performed the killing curse, Dumbledore was blasted from the top of the tower, but that is not what the Avada Kedavra does. When the Avada Kedavra is performed then the people just fall dead where they are with no sign of anything having been done. So it would seem that Snape actually performed a different spell nonverbally and just said the words for the killing curse. This would make it appear that Dumbledore was killed and get him safely out of the way of the Death Eaters.

As far as falling to his death from the top of the tower I don't think that was the case either. We already know of about half a dozen flying things in and around Hogwarts that could have caught/saved Dumbledore. There are brooms, thestrals, the Ford Anglia, Sirius Black's motorcycle, flying carpets, Fawkes, and the Wingardium Leviosa charm.

Of course if all of this is true then I am also making the prediction that Snape is not on the side of Voldemort. For this I would point to the fact that Snape has not killed Harry or any of his friends this entire time. I think we will find out why Dumbledore trusted him when nobody else did and that he will be vindicated. Even after supposedly killing Dumbledore he didn't try to hurt Harry even thought htey were in a direct conflict.

I haven't heard any spculation on this next part, but this hit me a little while back. We know that Voldemort is a descendent of Salazar Slytherin. It has been inferred that Harry might be a descendent of Gryffindor as his parents lived in Godric's Hollow and he was able to pull the sword from the sorting hat. Is it possible then that his friends are also descendents of famous wizards? Could Hermione be from the line of Ravenclaw and Ron from Hufflepuff? They certainly display the qualities that those houses are known for. I don't have any proof to support those ideas, but I think it's an interesting thought.

R.A.B. could be Regulus, Sirius Black's brother, but could also be the missing partner from Borgin and Burkes. The owners of the dark wizard shop would be in prime position to know what Voldemort was up to. They also were the only other people we heard of that knew about the now missing locket. This could be the reason that we've only ever seen one of the owners of the shop as the other one was killed. The locket itself does seem to be in Grimmauld Place as there is mention of a heavy locket during the cleaning of the house.

As far as who lives and dies. I don't know. I expect that Voldemort must die. I don't know about anyone else. Neville and the Weasley family seem like prime targets for death. Luna and Cho have outside shots of getting killed as well. I don't know whether the final conflict will be a large scale battle or a more intimate affair, but I'm full of anticipation waiting for Friday night.

30 comments:

Q said...

Do you think we will learn that Harry is a spaceman sent from the future to save Hermioninny from Ron?

Cyber D said...

Dags, you and I have had many an HP discussion. I like your thinking, and am reminded of how little I remember from my single reading of each book. For example: I have no idea what you are talking about regarding the locket and only a vague memory of a referance to RAB. What I can say is that while I am in complete agreement that Snape is still good, it may not be because Dumble is alive. He absolutely could be but he could also still easily have been killed without Snape being bad. The person to kill Dumby could have been anouther wizard disguised as Snape. Also, I've never heard you suggest that Hermoine could be Raven and Ron Huff. That's fun. I do agree that all signs point to HP as a decendant of Gryff. Finally, regarding deaths. I think Voldemort is also a definate for the graveyard. I also think Harry may sacrifice himself in killing Voldy. I think Ron and Herm are desinted to live and make babies. I think Jenny Weasly could die, perhaps Cho, maybe even McGonagel. I think Neville is so destined for the chopping block that there is no question he will live and without a doubt kill Bellatrix in heroic fashion. Finally I believe that, without question, Snape becomes Headmaster or Hogwarts. (sorry for all the bad spelling of HP character names)

Dagromm said...

Q - You can leave now.

CD - That was the worst part about talking about it with you, because you didn't remember anything. You did well with the names. If Harry does die however I think that Ginny might find consolation in the arms of Cho Chang and Hermione. I can't wait until the seventh movie!

Q said...

What if we found out that Ron was a spaceman?

Id said...

Emma Watson is hot.

Cyber D said...

So no love for my "Headmaster Snape" theory?

Tera said...

Since I'm not a Potter fan (although I may be a fan of Pot), I will leave the commenting to the experts...I'll send Nina over as she has just finished re-reading the series as well, and may have some input!

Dagromm said...

Q - Out!!!

Id - I have no comment on that, but I might come April 18th of next year.

CD - I like it. It would certainly amuse me. Of course that might mean that Voldemort wins.

Tera - They're a lot of fun and I would recommend them to anyone. You can still hang out if you want to.

Nate said...

I can't read any of this.

My book doesn't show up until Monday. I must avoid all media until then.

Dagromm said...

Gyuss - Monday???? What the hell?

Q said...

Okay. Okay. So what if both Ron and Harry were spacemen. Yeah spacemen brothers who were sent to Earth to rule it with an iron fist? And to double team Hermioninny?

Susan said...

I expect a full write up as soon as you're finished reading it. My mom refuses to tell me and I don't have time to read it until August 15.

Nate said...

Yeah, stupid Saturday release date. I take all deliveries at the office, and we're not open on Saturdays.

Nina said...

OHHH I CAN'T WAIT!!! But here are my thoughts about the Book 7.
First of all, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Dumbledore is dead. Jo revealed that in a couple of different interviews. But she also said that he will return in some "form" in Book 7. What we don't know for sure (which I don't think you mentioned) is whether or not Sirius is dead. She won't say which makes me think that he may still be alive. And she said that the 2 way mirror that he gave Harry in Order of the Pheonix will come into play.

Snape? I'm really not sure. I'm thinking that he's on the side of Voldermort. I know he's had lots of chances to do away with Harry but there are lots of little clues in each book that he may be a part of the dark side. One being that the always calls Lord Voldermort the Dark Lord and only Death Eaters refer to him as such. Remeber Harry asking Snape about that during his occlumency (?) lessons in OOTP? He never gave an answer. But on the other hand, we have no idea why Dumbledore trusts Snape. We're supposed to find that out in Deathly Hallows as well. The biggest clue to him being evil is his conversation with Bella when in the beginning of Half Blood Prince. I suppose that could have just been a deterrant as well.
I like the thought that Ron and Hermione may be decendents of the other houses. But isn't Hermione the first magical person of her family?
I really have no idea who R.A.B. is. I've assumed that he may be part of the black family and also thought that he may be Sirius' brother. Because we don't ususally meet characters that do not come into play at some point or another.
My final thougt is about who dies. I have an awful feeling that Harry will die along with Voldermort. Mostly because I've seen interviews that JKR has given and she's expressed her thoughts about not wanting another author to continue the story about Harry after she has finished the series. I think that either Ron or Hermione may die as well because...if you can remember back to a little conversation in the Prisioner of Azkaban when most students are away for a holiday and Ron, Harry and Hermione eat dinner with the staff. Trelawany makes a comment that maybe she shouldn't join in because then there would be (unlucky) 13 people at the table and the first person to get up from the table would be the first to die. Ron and Hermione get up together and she asks who was first and everyone just blows her off. But then again Dumbledore was there and he's dead, so maybe that was just another of her wacko moments.
Ok, wait. One more thing. My sister has an interesting theory about Harry. Maybe he'll kill Voldermort in the end but loose his powers in the process since it's known that a lot of Harry's magical abilitis came from the attempted Avada Kedavra Voldermort preformed on Harry as a baby.
I thought that was quite interesting.
Sorry to go on so long!

Churlita said...

My daughter was just saying that she didn't think Dumbledore was really dead either. Hmmmm.

Q said...

I have it on good authority that Dumbledore is a spaceman...

Q said...

Reading book 7 now it is great!

Dagromm said...

Q - You are dead to me.

Susan - I'm going to try to hold off on writing about it so as not to give anything away. Sorry.

Gyuss - You might want to try out a book store.

Nina - Awesome comment. I haven'ty seen where she has said that Dumbledore is dead and not coming back. If he is and is just going to come back in some form or another than I would imagine that would be in the form of the painting in the Headmaster's office or the two way mirror that Sirius gave him. Can it work into the afterlife? I remeber her saying that it would be important as well.

Snape is a tough one and is certainly one of the biggest mysteries. I'll give it this. Trust in Dumbledore. There was a mention of Snapes' hand making the tiniest flutter when he took the Unbreakable Vow. In rereading the vow, I think it gave him some wiggle room to stick to the vow without actually doing what Narcissa wanted.
Hermione is the 1st witch or wizard that she knows of. I think it's possible for a squib to merge into muggle life and eventually someone further down the line become a wizard or witch. It's totally my conjecture and I doubt anything will come of it, but I wanted to throw it out there.
I was thinking that she had said somewhere that R.A.B. wasn't Regulus, but I just reread the interview and she neither confirmed nor denied it. That was my first thought too, but I could have sworn that I read that wasn't so. Ooh, and she also says that Dumbledore's family is important.
You could be right about Ron and Hermione. That might depress me way to much, so I hope not. I remember that part with getting up from the table as well, and Trelawney has actually made a number of predictions/comments that came true that she doesn't get credit for (The Lightening Struck Tower).
I like your sisters' idea. That would make for an interesting twist.

Dagromm said...

Churlita - I think your daughter is a genius. Like me.

Q - I thought you left already

Q - No spoilers please.

plug said...

Yes, please hold off comments because I am not first in line to read it in my household. And I'm not buying five copies!

I like your theories - here're mine:
Dumbledore is dead but this is an allegory right? So he'll be back in some form for sure. Maybe Fawkes will play a role.

Snape - good. I have to trust the headmoaster on this one. I was thinking Dumbledore asked him to do it in order to save Draco from having to do it - he's a kid and D. wouldn't want that on his shoulders.

I think that the Malfoy family will figure in here. Harry's mum died for him , Narcissa may have to do the same for Draco. This'll finally cinvince Draco that V. isn't the great wizard Draco thought he was, and he'll finally (begrudgingly) join forces with Harry. I think there's refernce to all four houses needing to get on the same page in order to defeat Voldemort. I think Harry's gonna have to muster up some empathy for Draco and that might be how it happens.

I always thought a Weasely will die. My money has been on Percy, but when Bill got bitten I started thinking maybe that would be it for the W. family.

I think Hermione will become headmaster (eventually) and McGonagall can be Minister of Magic.

Dagromm said...

Plug - There's no telling how many Horcruxes Dumbledore has. OK, probably none, but I think that you might have a good point with him returning in some other form.

I agree Snape has to be good. Dumbledore's not that gullible and doesn't make that many mistakes. Maybe he did order Dumbledore to kill him, but that alone won't be enought to earn him Harry's or anyone else's forgiveness.

You could be right about Draco, but if she dies for Draco will that impart the same protection on him that Harry had?

I could see a Weasley dying. Charlie would be the easiest for the readers to accept, but I wouldn't be shocked if it was one of the twins or even Mrs. Weasley.

I think Hermione will become a dentist like her parents. A magical dentist.

Nina said...

You can check out www.mugglenet.com to read about Dumbledore being dead. From the home page, click Deathly Hallows Book 7 in the side bar and then click on Debunked Rumors. It has quotes from an intreview JKR gave discussing the matter.

Come to think of it, I think I remember JKR saying that R.A.B. wasn't Regulus too.

And what do you make of the importance of Harry having his mother's eyes?

Cyber D said...

What happens on April 18th?

Dagromm said...

Nina - I like you. Dibs.

I don't know what the importance of that is either. She certainly made no bones about the fact that it would be important though. I'm gonna be kind of pissed if it never comes back to mean anything.

I'm also curious about the look of triumph that Dumbledore flashes momentarily while in the office talking with Harry at the end of Goblet of Fire. It would make one think that Harry said something significant that would lead to Voldemort's downfall.

Cyber D - Someone's 18th birthday.

Kofi said...

Dagromm -- Your insightful breakdown of J.K. Rowling's "movie outlines" is precisely why you (yes, you) should have ghostwritten books 5-7 for her. I

I've flipped through the spoiler photos so there's not too much more damage you can do spoiler-wise.

Dagromm said...

Kofi - Thanks. I'm trying to avoid looking or hearing about any of that. I'm hoping to get to the book with out knowing what is coming. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I don't know why Q hates you.

Q said...

I don't hate anybody Dagromm! Except you. I do hate you a lot.

Dagromm said...

Q - What everrrrrrrrrrrr.

Kofi said...

Usually I'm the hater. This is a new look for me.

I tease JK's "outlining skills" mercilessly, but in spite of myself I will be at the bookstore on Saturday.

Dagromm said...

Kofi - It's cool. Hate rules here at the House. Even when lovin' it's with hate in my heart.