Theories and Queries

Possible Spoilers Already?

2007-07-06T12:09:00.001-07:00

So, according to the administrator of www.dlisted.com,, some have already seen parts of "Deathly Hallows." Read his full posting here (WARNING: Do NOT highlight the blank area unless you want to see the spoilers): http://dlisted.com/node/12025

Personally, I don't take the spoilers to heart because they are merely speculation. I'll believe them when I read them in the actual book.

Finally, an update! HP7 cover revealed!

2007-03-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

View Here

When I first saw the cover, I was unimpressed.
The red title evokes an intense feeling, indicative of the action that will be taking place in the book.
The yellowy-orange background, to me, reminds me of power, which subsequently reminds me of victory. At first glance, it appears to be a rather cheerful cover for the final book.

However...

"'The structures around Harry show evident destruction and in the shadows behind him, we see outlines of other people,' David Saylor, Scholastic's art director, said in a statement.
'For the first time, the cover is a wraparound. On the back cover spidery hands are outstretched toward Harry. Only when the book is opened does one see a powerful image of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, his glowing red eyes peering out from his hood.'"

Though I haven't seen the entire cover, what I have seen doesn't seem to convey "evident destruction."

What do you think of the cover?

Hooray! We have a title!

2006-12-21T10:58:00.000-08:00

I'm assuming most of you have already been to mugglenet and/or JKR's site, but she gave us a wonderful gift... the title of book 7!!! I won't post it in case you want to find out for yourself through the mystery door, but once you do please post your theories/queries on this new development through the comments!

Human Horcruxes? by Kim I.

2006-11-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

**By Kim I.**

In a recent conversation with one of my Harry Potter obsessed friends, we discussed the possibility that Harry is not the human Horcrux. We originally suspected Harry to be the Horcrux in part because of Dumbledore's explanation of why he believed Nagini to be a Horcrux. DD seems to rush through the topic and provide weak reasons for why Nagini is a good candidate. It seemed to us that JKR used this passage as a way to indicate that living creatures can also be Horcruxes; this was the first time, over a year ago, we suspected Harry to be a Horcrux. I still strongly support the idea that Harry is a Horcrux, but there are some other characters that I would like to discuss, as well (I'll leave Harry out of this for now; you all know my thoughts on the issue). Note: I am not proposing that Neville and Wormtail are both Horcruxes, but rather either Neville or Wormtail is a Horcrux.

First Candidate: Neville Longbottom

Why him: Neville was introduced to us early in the story (chapter six in SS). He is described as a somewhat bumbling, forgetful, yet loyal and kind person. He quickly forms a friendship with Harry and Co, and he has been involved in their lives and quests ever since. We also know that Neville is a Pureblood whose parents were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange; they currently reside at St. Mungo's where Neville goes to visit them. Recently, we have learned that Neville is a much more valuable player than we believed before. In OotP, Neville joins Dumbledore's Army and shows that he is a talented wizard when he isn't under pressure, and he fights alongside Harry and Co. at the Ministry. Also in OotP, we learn, via the Prophecy, that Neville qualified to be the One qualified to defeat LV (born at the end of July to parents who had "thrice defied" Voldemort). Now, we all know how this song goes; LV picks Harry Potter, the half-blood, over Neville, the pureblood, as his adversary, and the rest is history, right? I don't think so.

Evidence: The most obvious evidence that points towards Neville being the last Horcrux is that he is a pureblood. We know that his entire family is made up of stern, yet respected and powerful wizards. We have also not been given any information, other than Neville's bravery, about why he belongs in the Gryffindor house. I propose that Neville and his family have ties to Godric Gryffindor's lineage. This theory also fits in with the Prophecy, since LV would want to take care of all of the possible opposition to his reign of terror. Neville and Harry are the two candidates, according to the Prophecy, so he needed to take care of them both. Neville is also very forgetful, which I believe is the result of a memory charm to erase the memory of being made into a Horcrux from his mind. I have also noticed that the HP books seem to be mirror images of each other, with GoF serving as the "mirror," if you will (for example, PoA mirrors OotP and CoS mirrors HBP). Recall that in SS, Neville sacrifices himself to try and keep Harry, Ron and Hermione from chasing after Snape and the Sorcerer's Stone. We know that Neville is very brave, and self-sacrificing, so maybe this quality will reemerge at the end of the seventh book.

How did it happen: When LV picked Harry to be the one spoken of in the Prophecy, I believe he knew that the Longbottoms also had a son who could be the one mentioned. LV doesn't seem the type to pick Harry on a whim; he must have seen something in Harry, or decided somehow that Harry was the one to be his adversary. In order to cover his bases, I believe his plan was to make Neville, the other contender for his arch-enemy, into a Horcrux, and he then planned to kill Harry. LV probably went to the Longbottom’s house with Bellatrix as his lackey. LV had previously killed someone, and used this killing to make Neville into a Horcrux. Since Neville and his parents had seen LV and his Death Eater enter the house and perform an odd spell on Neville, Bellatrix needed to ensure their compliance. She first tortured Alice and Frank into insanity, and then performed an incredibly strong memory charm on Neville, so strong that it damaged Neville's memory permanently.

What does this mean for the series: I think that at first, Harry will think that he is the human Horcrux. Harry will then realize, or Hermione will tell him, that it doesn’t make sense for LV to make him into a Horcrux, and then try to kill him. Harry and Co. will eventually realize that Neville would be an obvious choice for a Gryffindor Horcrux, and Harry will refuse to kill Neville in order to defeat LV. Neville will probably convince Harry that he has to be sacrificed, perhaps by going behind the Veil, and will die, killing the soul fragment within him.

Second Candidate: Peter Pettigrew / Wormtail

Why him: Wormtail was first met, in rat form, in the sixth chapter of SS, but Wormtail as a wizard wasn't met until the end of PoA when Sirius and Lupin confronted him. Wormtail is known as a weak wizard who likes to become friends with the biggest bullies on the block so that he can use them for protection. In school, Wormtail is in Gryffindor house with his friends James, Lupin, and Sirius, and when LV was rising to power, Wormtail betrayed his friends' trust in order to gain the protection of the powerful Dark Lord. After LV was reduced to "Vapormort," years later, Wormtail found him, nursed him back to health, and helped him regain his body. Wormtail is rewarded with a strong silver hand, and is suspiciously missing from OotP, and we learn in HBP that he has been at Snape's house at Spinner's End, acting as Snape's servant.

Evidence: The first piece of evidence that tipped me off that Wormtail could be a Horcrux is that Wormtail still owes Harry a life debt. Since Harry has to be the one to kill LV in the end, and I doubt LV would trust this rat with one of his Horcruxes, perhaps the debt can be repaid by sacrificing himself. Wormtail is half-blood at the least, since he was allowed into the Death Eaters' circle and we also do not know why Wormtail was sorted into Gryffindor. He has never shown bravery in the past, but perhaps lineage ties to Godric Gryffindor secured his place in the house. The fact that Wormtail is hidden away at Spinner's End with Snape also seems suspect to me. Lucius, Bellatrix, and Snape seem to be the DE that LV trusts the most, and so far Lucius has been given a Horcrux, and Bellatrix was in jail, and therefore a poor guard for a Horcrux, but Snape has yet to receive his treasure. I believe that rather than Wormtail being given to Snape as a servant, he was sent to SE in order to receive protection from Snape so that no one could be in contact with LV's only Horcrux with the ability to think and reason for itself. At first glance, Wormtail's loyalty to LV seems the same as any of LV's other followers, but taking the other information into account, it seems like this loyalty is different. He did, for example, track down LV, nurse him back to health, and give him a body.

How did it happen: When LV ordered Wormtail to kill Cedric in the end of GoF, I believe he had not yet made his final Horcrux (since he intended to make his final Horcrux with the death of Harry at Godric's Hollow that fateful Halloween). LV realized that he finally had a chance to make his final Horcrux with Cedric's death, the death of an innocent, and used a willing, groveling Wormtail as his Horcrux host. Remember, Wormtail has been in hiding ever since, probably protected by LV and/or Snape from harm.

What does this mean for the series: Harry will eventually wonder where Wormtail has been for the past two-plus years, and will try to find him in order to collect on the life debt. He will probably be trying to find Wormtail so that he can coerce any Horcrux-related information out of him. By then, perhaps Hermione will suggest it to him, or he will have a more developed and fine-tuned Horcrux-radar and will sense that Wormtail is the last Horcrux. He will force Wormtail to repay his life debt by sacrificing himself and destroying Voldemort’s last Horcrux.

I strongly believe that LV has made a human into a Horcrux, the question is who. There are rebuttals to Harry, Neville, and Wormtail being this Horcrux, but I believe they are the strongest candidates for the Gryffindor heirloom. Please let me know what you think about this theory.

A Literary Precedent by Kim I.

2006-09-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

**By Kim I.**

As we all scramble to try to figure out the plot of the seventh Harry Potter book, or at least to figure out the body count at the end of the series, other literary works have inspired several editorials. In order to try to make sense of the crazy clues and red herrings we have to sort though, I am going to examine one end of a famous literary work, and one obscure myth that may relate to the end of the HP series. (Note: any plot synopses I was unclear on were verified by www.wikipedia.org)

First of all, I would like to examine the end of Lord of the Rings. I can already hear people groaning and defending HP against the LotR fanatics, but I bring this ending up mostly to prove that its opposite will be true for HP. In the end of LotR: Return of the King, the LV-esque character, Sauron, is defeated; however, his second-in-command, Saurman, escapes and vandalizes the Shire, the hobbits' home. Frodo, the protagonist, is too wounded; both his body and his spirit are too broken to allow him to go back to his life before his journey. Frodo ends up going to a place similar to heaven, where he finds eternal peace.Applying this to the HP series paints a dismal picture. If HP followed this pattern, LV would be ultimately destroyed (his Horcruxes would be destroyed, similar to the ring in LotR), but his follower(s) would continue to wreak havoc. I see Bellatrix Lestrange or Lucius Malfoy being the Saurman of this story; one or both of them would most likely invade, and attempt to destroy Hogwarts. After Harry defeats LV, he will have too many psychological and physical wounds to be able to coexist with the rest of the wizarding world. He will most likely, following in Frodo’s footsteps, die a hero.

I do not think that the LotR story has set up a precedent for the end of the HP series. The only idea that seems to fit with the rest of the plotline thus far is the destruction of LV and his Horcruxes. I do not see any reason for Bellatrix and/or Lucius to destroy Hogwarts. Although they may prefer the Dark Magic taught at Durmstrang, their families have attended Hogwarts, and there is no real closure to be obtained in the destruction of Hogwarts. I also do not think Harry has to die at the end of this series. Unlike HP, in LotR, Sauron was the ultimate villain of all time, whereas we know that there have been Dark Wizards before LV; for example, DD defeated Grindewald and was able to live in the wizarding world, just as I believe Harry will.

Next, I will examine a more obscure myth; that of Koschei. Koschei is a character in Russian mythology that is also known by the names Koschei the Immortal, or Koschei the Deathless. The story is that Koschei separated his entire soul from his body and hid it in a needle, hidden inside an egg, in a duck, in a hare, in an iron chest, buried under a green oak tree on the Island of Buyan. The myth explains that as long as Koschei's soul is undisturbed, he is safe from all harm. Each step of the protection on Koschei's soul has its own escape route, as well (for example, if the hare is killed, the duck flies away). The egg and needle seem to act like voodoo dolls, though, in that if they are tossed about, Koschei's body is also thrown in the same direction. If the needle is broken, Koschei's soul is vulnerable, and he will die. (I would also like to note that several versions of Koschei and characters based off of him appear in everything from literary works to operas to video games.)Although this is a very strange and obscure myth, I believe it is the best indicator of how the HP series will end. Koschei clearly has many of the same traits that LV does, such as a fear of death, and taking an incredible number of precautions against the destruction of his soul. The main differences are the voodoo quality of the hiding places of Koschei’s soul (but we still do not know if LV's Horcruxes may have a similar effect on him. I am basing this assumption on DD’s explanation that LV is so used to most of his soul residing outside of his body that he cannot tell when a piece of it is destroyed.) The second difference is that Koschei hides his soul as a whole inside multiple protections, whereas LV hides seven parts of his soul in different hosts, which are individually hidden. The main similarities between the stories are that, first of all, they deal with antagonists who are afraid of death, and they are willing to rip their souls from their bodies in order to assure their immortality. Another note of interest is that if you count the number of hiding places for Koschei’s soul, there are seven, just like the number of Horcruxes LV created. I recently read an excellent editorial on www.mugglenet.com that deals with the "lock and key" mentality of the Horcrux protections. It explained that the Horcruxes may be hidden in such a way that you must discover and destroy them in a certain order to find and destroy the next Horcrux (the previous Horcrux acts as a key for the lock on the next Horcrux). I believe that this story helps explain the strength in the Russian Doll technique of hiding the Horcruxes, or soul. This myth does not help illuminate how Harry and friends will destroy the Horcruxes because based on which version of Koschei is examined; there are vastly different outcomes of the battles.

I honestly have no idea how the HP series will end. I, like many other HP nerds out there, enjoy trying to find clues and literary precedents to help point us in the right direction. The story I hear HP compared to most often is Lord of the Rings, so I tried to analyze its ending in comparison with a possible ending for HP. In my searching for other literary works to compare to HP, I came across the myth of Koschei. I believe Koschei’s myth can be helpful in understanding the concept of Horcruxes, but it is difficult to sort through the many characters based off of Koschei to determine the end of Koschei's story. If you all have any ideas of other literary works (ie: The Narnia series) that you would like me to consider, please let me know.

The Cloak

2006-09-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm sure most of you, if there are any left, read and visit Mugglenet.com on a regular basis. It was stated on there that JKR posted that it is important why Dumbledore was in possession of the invisibility cloak. And while I don't actually have an actual theory persay, I thought I'd at least open the floor up to discussion about this topic. Maybe if I have more time, I'll try to write a theory later, but for now... any ideas?

Casting in OOTP Film

2006-08-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Helena Bonham Carter is all set to play Bellatrix Lestrange in the film adaptation of "Order of the Phoenix" and I have to say, I think she'll be perfect for the part! She was so amazing in "The Heart of Me" and of course, "Corpse Bride." Any other ideas as to who would make the perfect Bellatrix?

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2006-08-02-carter_x.htm

Two's a Crowd: Harry, Voldemort, or Both?

2006-07-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

I'm quite sure that you readers are aware of the statement JKR made in reference to character deaths in the final book, so it should come as no surprise that there will be two major character deaths. I would first like to point out the obvious fact that Voldemort or Harry will be one of the two characters that will die. Less obvious, however, is which of the two it will be.
There has been a theory circulating that Harry and Voldemort will both die; Harry's scar will be the final Horcrux and therefore Harry himself would have to be destroyed in order to kill Voldemort. To this theory, I say pish-posh! Most of the book would be a build-up to that one moment when Harry and Voldemort simultaneously die. I mean, it would be as if all of the major action would be taking place at that one moment! The theory makes sense plotwise but it would be illogical to arrange the final book in such a way that everything is built up, built up, built up, and then... splat. The ending falls flat with both Harry and Voldemort dying, a predictable ending that would, in my opinion, ruin the entire book.
The second theory people seem to be throwing around is that Voldemort will die. While I wouldn't enjoy this ending, it is more plausible than the aforementioned "Double Death" idea. However, I find that this ending would be too cheesy and cliche; the hero would save the day and the world would be perfect again! I say pish-posh to this theory as well.
So that leaves the idea that Harry will be the unlucky joe. I love this idea. First, if Harry dies, that means JKR cannot write any more HP books, which she has already said she not do. Second, Harry's death would, in it's wake, leave the wizarding world in turmoil, offering the readers one final question: What will happen now? It's the ultimate cliffhanger, the climactic apex of the entire series... It's pure genius!
Of course, there are always the dissenters to the idea of Harry's death, usually pointing out that it would be "too easy" to kill off Harry.
Well, to all of you nay-sayers, I will say, for once and for all, pish-posh! From any one of the three perspectives, the other two theories appear to be "too easy" or "predictable." You have to think of it from the writer's point of view: What ending would be the most appropriate (not in terms of being PG-rated, but rather in terms of finishing the book in a way that would satisfy the previous six novels and keep the readers on edge)?
Therefore Harry is my prime choice for one of the deaths in the final book.

Next up: Contenders for second character death!

Suggestions

2006-05-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

As I'm sure you've all realized, the amount of new theories that are posted on the site has vastly slowed up in the past few months. I also know that you're probably all sick of the excuses and apologies. I'd just like to get back on a regular basis of posting, just as I'm sure you'd like an increase of reading material. So, we're asking for your help to get back on track. Part of the reason why we've been so lax is that we're sort of in a stage or writer's block and we're not exactly sure of any new theories to post. I'm going to reread the books this summer to come up with new ideas, but until then, are there any theories you've wanted to have further insight about? Do you have any suggestions? It'd be a great help to have some fresh ideas, and we'd be more than happy to write about your ideas (of course we'll give you credit for the original theory)... so please feel free to write in either via email or comment box, with any theory ideas or suggestions... Thanks!

Perfect Preview?

2006-04-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

**I'm finally getting a post up! I hope that there's still someone here to read it!**

Ok, so I recently started to reread HBP and I was on chapter two, Spinner's End, reading about Snape and his conversation with Bellatrix and Narcissa. I was thinking about how early in the book this is all revealed to us. Isn't it usually that such large revelations as the true loyalties of a rather large, primary character are reserved for the end of the book? Now I know that JKR isn't just your average author and that this might be nothing more than a part of her plan for the whole book, but I think that maybe she revealed this to us so early because it's simply not true and it's there to throw us off the correct path. Think about it. There are a lot of people who have always questioned whether or not Snape was good or evil. This seemed like a rather simple, fast way to answer all those burning questions. It's almost too simple, too easy, and too fast.

Although Snape's evil tendencies are supposedly "confirmed" when at the end with the situation with Dumbledore, I don't think this necessarily proves anything. There've already been theories on this site that attempt to explain the possible reasons for his motives there, so I won't go into that, but this could also be another red herring in trying to decide who Snape is really siding with. It did say, " 'And, should it prove necessary... if it seems Draco will fail...' whispered Narcissa (Snape's hand twitched within hers, but he did not draw away), 'will you carry out the deed that the Dark Lord has ordered Draco to perform?' (HBP, American Edition p.36)" So, it seems that if Snape's hand twitched he was, at least mentally, hesitant. He might have known that he couldn't refuse, but he could have been thinking it.

All this theory is really trying to address are the movtives JKR had behind telling the readers so much pertinent information about Snape so early in the book. I feel that since it was done so early and so quickly, it's not a revelation to be trusted. Any thoughts?

The Grey Lady by Amanda B.

2006-04-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

**By Amanda B.**

***Okay guys, I know that we have in no way been very good about updating on a regular basis. If you want the honest truth, school is a time consuming aspect of our lives right now, and free time is not devoted to theories and this site, as it should be. So, if there's anybody who has stuck with us, thank you. I know it's frustrating to not have any new material to discuss in over a month. I will honestly try to make a conscious effort to devote more of my time to the site... thank you again to all those who keep coming back.***

This may seem like a far fetched theory, but it's something that I have been contimplating for a while now. It seems to me that the Grey Lady (Ravenclaw's ghost) is never really mention in the books or if she is it's very seldom and never by name. Well, LV would have wanted a Horcrux from Ravenclaw... maybe the Grey Lady is another Horcrux. It's not a major theory but just something that came to mind one day while day dreaming.

Barty's Fate by Kim I.

2006-03-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

**By Kim I.**

One striking difference I found between the Goblet of Fire movie and the book is that Barty Crouch Jr.'s fate from the book is never discussed in the movie. At the end of the book, he is questioned by Dumbledore about his actions during the school year as he was impersonating Professor Moody, his loyalties to Voldemort, and how he escaped from Azkaban. The wizarding world believes Barty Jr. to be dead, having died in Azkaban years ago; however, under the influence of Veritaserum, Barty Jr. confesses that his mother took a Polyjuice Potion, switched places with him and allowed her beloved son another chance at life. These details, while an interesting parallel to the role of mothers in the series (such as Lily's sacrifice, Mrs. Crouch's sacrifice, and Merope's lack of sacrifice for her own son), are not essential to the story.

The piece of information about Barty Jr. that is important to the series, and curiously overlooked in the movie, is his final fate. In the movie, Barty Jr. does not receive the Dementor's Kiss on Fudge's orders, rendering him incapable to testify in court ever again, or account for the fact that LV is, indeed, back in corporal form. I have been wondering since OotP what will happen to Barty Jr. after the Dementors sided with LV in the war. Does this mean that Barty’s soul can be "extracted" and given back to him, or does the Kiss work in such a way that once the Dementors have taken a soul, it can never be regained by the host? I believe that the Dementors may be able to give Barty's soul back to him, and if this happens, I'm sure we'll see a lot more of ole Barty soon enough. Keep in mind, he is the most devoted and fanatical supporter of LV (rivaled perhaps only by the one and only Bellatrix Lestrange), and he would do anything LV told him to.

It is possible that I am reading too much into this omission, but I think that it is too much of a coincidence that the Dementors are the ones in possession of Barty's soul, and they are now sided with LV. I am not sure what Barty's role in Book 7 will be (he may even become a Back-Burner Death Eater like Wormtail, but I doubt it seeing as he is a much more powerful and devoted servant that Wormtail ever was), but I believe he will be a big player for LV in his quest to kill Harry. It seems like he is the DE poised to be LV's most important ally (seeing as Lucius and Bellatrix, his former "favorites," failed so miserably at the DoM in OotP), so I believe we may see him either protecting one or more of LV's Horcruxes, or at least participating in the final confrontation.

The Gleam of Triumph by Kim I.

2006-02-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

**By Kim I.**

*Hey guys, another excellent theory by Kim that I've been meaning to post, so I just thought I'd let you discuss it while I write a theory. Thanks again for your continued support!*

"'He said my blood would make him stronger than if he'd used someone else's...He said the protection my-my mother left in me- he'd have it too. And he was right-he could touch me without hurting himself. He touched my face.' For a fleeting instant, Harry thought he saw a gleam of something like triumph [my emphasis] in Dumbledore's eyes. But the next second, Harry was sure he had imagined it… 'Very well,' he [Dumbledore] said, sitting down again. 'Voldemort has overcome that particular barrier'" Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (p 696-US edition).
"'His mother left upon him the trace of her sacrifice...This is old magic, I should have remembered it, I was foolish to overlook it…but no matter. I can touch him now."' (652-653 US edition).
"Triumph" is defined as "to rejoice over a success or victory; exult." http://www.dictionary.com/.

This excerpt has confounded Harry Potter fans for the past five years. Just as Harry has entered "safe territory," away from the Graveyard, away from the imposter Moody, he sees his mentor, Dumbledore, apparently triumphant that Voldemort was able to overcome one obstacle on his quest to kill Harry. Using the definition of triumph, it is clear that something that Harry told him has made DD believe that they have succeeded. We know that DD represents ultimate good, as stated by JKR herself, so DD clearly realized something that Harry and the readers did not see about this transfusion of Harry's blood, and therefore Lily's protection. Now, it seems at first glance to the reader that DD is referring to the Evans Blood Charm (EBC). Since LV now has Harry's blood running through his own veins, he, also, is protected by this EBC. I believe, however, that it is something more than that.

Examining what we currently know about LV's own magic protecting himself (the Horcruxes), I believe that the gleam of triumph we see in DD's eyes stems from the fact that his Horcrux theory was supported. We know after HBP that DD had been considering the Horcrux theory for awhile, but it was finally affirmed in his mind in CoS when Harry brought DD the diary. Keep in mind, that whenever "LV" touched Harry prior to GoF in the Graveyard, he was not doing so with his own body, but rather through a host, such as Quirrell. It was not actually LV who was unable to touch Harry, but rather his hosts were unable to touch Harry. I propose, therefore (bear with me, but I'm sticking with my Harry as a Horcrux theory here), that LV is mistaken, and DD sees this. The fact that LV can touch Harry does not stem from the fact that he has Harry's blood running though his body, but rather from the fact that it is actually LV's body (with a piece of his own soul) touching his own Horcrux. There have been discussions that individuals attempting to touch others' Horcruxes are "burned" or injured by the Horcrux (ie: DD's hand dying was a result of him touching Marvolo's ring). Since Quirrell was not the one with LV's soul housed in him (no, I do not think that he was a temporary Horcrux, but rather he was being possessed), he was burned by Harry, and died soon after from the burn spreading throughout his body at the end of SS. DD also tells us that without Snape's help, his hand injury would have spread throughout his whole body, and he would have died. We can conclude, perhaps, then that Quirrell's injuries at the end of SS stem from the fact that he touched a Horcrux that was not his own. Although LV was possessing Quirrell at the time, do not confuse that with LV making Quirrell into a Horcrux.

I think that this glimpse of triumph we see is another indication that Harry is a Horcrux. DD realizes that LV is given a false sense of security about his ability to touch Harry, and DD knows that LV still has no idea that Harry is one of his own Horcruxes. DD fears that once LV realizes that Harry is a Horcrux, he will kill Harry, knowing that he still has 5 other Horcruxes, plus himself, remaining. This glimpse of triumph is not malevolent, but it was put into this book for a reason. It is the first time where LV actually has a body, so he is finally able to touch his own Horcrux, Harry.

Update

2006-02-04T20:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I must apologize again for the state of the site. I don't even know if anybody still checks up on this anymore, it's been so long since the last update. If there's anyone out there who still visits, THANK YOU! We very much appreciate it. I don't actually have a theory to post at the moment, but I'm going to work on one that will hopefully posted in the near future. I just wanted to check in and let people know that we're still here. I promise there will be some new material to discuss very soon! Thanks again!

Nicolas Flamel

2005-12-29T12:01:00.000-08:00

I don't know whether this has any significance or not, but I was recently reading The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and saw that Nicolas Flamel was, in reality, a Grand Master of the Priory of Sion, a group whose main purpose was the protection of the Merovingian dynasty, or the bloodline of Jesus.

HP & GoF

2005-11-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone,

I'd like to again apologize for the very long time between posts... I hope that you haven't forgotten about us! I'm going to try to get a theory up later this weekend, but I'd like to take this post to begin a discussion about the recently released fourth movie!

I don't want to talk about it here, because some people might have not had the chance to see it yet, but if you want to start talking about it via the comments, that would be great! I'll post my thoughts in there. If anybody doesn't wish to know about the movie, beware of reading the comments!

Thanks for all of your patience...

What IS that Green Potion? by Kim I.

2005-10-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

*By Kim I.*

**Just wanted to apologize for the long gap in between theories and also thank all the readers and supporters of the site for helping to keep it going while we're busy with school. We appreciate it.**

One thing that struck me as very odd when I re-read HBP was DD's reaction to the potion he drank in the cave. The potion is first described as "emerald green" and emitting a "phosphorescent glow." DD also realizes that it cannot be touched, Vanished, parted, scooped up, siphoned away, Transfigured, Charmed, or "otherwise made to change its nature." When DD begins to drink the potion, at first glance, the potion appears to simply be killing/injuring him, but as he drinks more of the potion, his responses become more interesting. Here I will list out the progression of DD's responses after drinking more and more of the potion (from p. 571-575, US version).

Drink # Response
1-3 turns white, closes eyes, shakes head
4 staggered, fell forward against the basin, twitching face, as if dreaming a horrible nightmare, panting, voice Harry didn't recognize "I don't want...Don't make me...", "...don't like...want to stop..."
5 "No..." "I don't want to...I don't want to...Let me go..." "Make it stop, make it stop"
6 "No, no, no, no, I can't, I can't, don't make me, I don't want to... It's all my fault, all my fault", begins sobbing, "Please make it stop, I know I did wrong, oh please make it stop and I'll never, never again..."
7 cowers, failing hands, "Don't hurt them, don't hurt them, please, please, it's all my fault, hurt me instead..."
8 screaming, hammering the ground w/ his fists
9 "Please, please, no…not that, I'll do anything...", "No more, please, no more...", drank like "a child dying of thirst"
10 "I want to die! I want to die! Make it stop, make it stop, I want to die!"
11 "KILL ME!"
12 let out "a great rattling gasp" and "rolled over onto his face"

After finishing the potion, DD starts begging for water. I think that this whole scene is very important. The reader is freaking out at this point because we are so worried about DD, but I think more is hidden here. I propose that the potion acts almost as a memory or recollection of a Death Eater DD has tortured and killed for failing at a task LV assigned to him/her. I also think we see LV using all three Unforgivable Curses against the DE here, as well.

In the beginning (drinks 1-4), there are simply somatic changes we see in DD, he becomes white-faced, and looks ill. This could be the stage when the DE realizes that he/she has failed at the task, and realizes the horror of what will happen to him/her.

From drinks 4-12, however, DD begins to echo exactly what this DE says as Voldemort tortures him/her, perhaps by using the Cruciatus Curse. First, the DE resists what LV is trying to do to him/her as punishment, and pleads for LV to stop hurting him/her.

Then, by drink 6-9, we see that the DE is told that he/she will be forced to commit some heinous act that he/she cannot bear to carry out (maybe killing his/her own family, or someone else very close to the DE). This is where we see the Imperius Curse come into play. We continue to see the DE pleading to not be forced to commit the act he/she is being forced to do.

The final group of drinks, drinks 10-12, is where we see the previous curses becoming unbearable for the DE, and he/she pleads for death. He/she finally pleads for LV to kill him/her, and perhaps this was the intent of LV the whole time, because he does kill the DE.

Okay, so what does this all mean? I think this potion was NOT the original potion in the basin when the elusive R.A.B. retrieved the locket from the cave. I think that the DE in question is indeed, Regulus Black, and he placed this potion, that would make the drinker re-enact the horrors he faced in order to get the locket. Regulus clearly knew that he would be killed by LV for his actions, and he obviously wanted to leave clues for the next wizard(s) that came to retrieve the locket.

I think that the potion was put there by Regulus after he retrieved the real Horcrux, and its purpose is to show the next wizard(s) that came to the cave exactly what his sacrifice was in order to get that Horcrux. I am very interested to know what type of potion was in the basin when Regulus first got to the Horcrux, and exactly how he was able to overcome the horrors within that potion.

Harry Potter: The Gryffindor Heirloom by Kim I.

2005-10-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

**By Kim I**

Okay, so I know I am probably going to be drawn and quartered for even bringing up the idea that Harry is a Horcrux (original, aren't I?), but I would just like to express my views on the matter all in one place.

Firstly, I would like to go through a few books to cite information that points to Harry being the heir of Gryffindor, and then I will establish anomalies about Harry and his powers, and what this may suggest about him being a Horcrux, finally, I will examine the implications for Harry.

Let's begin at, well, the beginning. In SS/PS, the readers are given our first glimpse of Harry as a Gryffindor Heir. When Harry goes to Ollivander's to get his wand, when he finally picks the correct wand, it shoots out "red and gold sparks." Hm, red and gold…where in the devil have we heard this before...? Also in SS/PS, if memory serves me, we find out that James and Lily lived, or at least hid from LV in Godric’s Hollow. Okay, this just really screams Gryffindor heir to me. They picked the place named after their ancestor to try to escape being killed by LV.

Now, let's look to CoS; in this book, Harry confronts Tom Riddle in the ending scene, so we have Harry matched against the last heir to Slytherin. Now, we also know that in this battle Fawkes, who is again, red and gold (just pointing it out!), and the Sorting Hat come to Harry’s aid. We also know that the Sorting Hat was a relic of Gryffindor's, and what does the SH produce when Harry puts it on his head, but *gasp* Godric Gryffindor's sword. Later, when Harry is in DD's office, DD makes the comment about Harry being a "true Gryffindor," and again, I ask, are there really fake Gryffindors lurking about?

I would like to now examine information we are given that support the idea that Harry is a Horcrux. If you accept the idea that Harry is the heir of Gryffindor, then you also see that he could be the final Horcrux, so LV would have a trophy from each founder. First of all, even though we know that Harry and his actions scream Gryffindor, when he first placed the Sorting Hat on his head, it recommended that he should be in Slytherin. Why, you ask? Well, DD has always insisted that LV "transferred some of himself/his powers" to Harry when he tried to kill him years ago. Now, maybe this "transferring" refers to the part of LV’s soul now encased in Harry.

Also, Harry has some strange powers in reference to other Horcruxes. First, let’s take a look at the diary Harry destroyed when he was 12. Keep in mind, DD, the most brilliant and talented wizard of the time, was injured and almost killed in the process of destroying the Horcruxes, but Harry seems to emerge relatively unscathed. And, yes, you can point to the deu ex machina of Fawkes swooping in at the last minute to cure the Basilisk's poison, but if it is that simple, why did Fawkes not cure DD's hand? I propose that since DD is/was not a Horcrux, then he was injured by the other Horcruxes, but Harry’s ability to destroy the Horcruxes at such a young age suggests that he has other ties to them.

Looking more closely at how Harry destroyed the diary also gives us insight into why Harry is a Horcrux. Harry just "instinctively" knew that he had to pull the Basilisk fang out of his arm, and ram it into the diary. He was 12 at the time, and had no idea why he chose to do this, but he did anyways. Perhaps Horcruxes can signal each other, and even though Harry did not understand the implications of the diary at the time, he realized that it was some sort of terrible magical item. Harry also had a strong tie to the diary from the minute he saw it. Ron and Hermione were insisting that it was "just a diary," but Harry insists that there is something more to it. Now, does this mean that, again, there is some sort of tie between Horcruxes? I believe there is.

The incident with Harry and LV at Godric’s Hollow that fateful night also has a lot to do with Harry being a Horcrux, I think. First of all, LV kills James (splitting his soul once), then he DID NOT want to kill Lily. He gave her multiple opportunities to step aside, and JKR said herself that if Lily would have moved aside, she would have been saved. Now, she did not, so he killed her next (splitting the soul yet again?). Now, he turns to Harry, but his soul is oddly fragmented. Perhaps it is in 3 parts, or 4, depending on how multiple splits work. I think that this caused the anomaly that made LV turn Harry into an ACCIDENTAL Horcrux. For some reason, when LV's soul split when Lily died, and when the protection went to Harry, somehow Harry was turned into a Horcrux. This explains how the "powers" of LV were transferred to Harry, why Harry did not die (because I seriously doubt that you can commit Horcrux suicide), and why LV was reduced to a mere spirit. I think that after this, LV assumed that Lily's protection saved Harry, and that is why LV was hurt so much by the rebounded spell.

Now, I would like to examine Harry’s scar. I have read a lot of editorials about how the scar, rather than Harry, is the final Horcrux. I think this is an interesting theory, but why? The scar does not represent Gryffindor, and when would LV have gotten the chance to make the scar into a Horcrux? Rather, I think it is a marker that Harry is a Horcrux. Remember that on Marvolo’s ring, there was a crack down the middle. Crack, scar, follow me? I think that the crack appeared on the ring after LV put the Horcrux into the ring, and when the Horcrux was put into Harry, a similar scar appeared. Perhaps the marker on the Horcrux depends on the conditions under which it was made? (ie: vengeance/revenge, killing the family that deserted him and killing his enemies that had escaped him three times before). We also do not know if the crack was on the ring when we see Tom Riddle in Slughorn's party when we see him in the Pensive, or if the crack appeared after DD got the ring, so the timing is still nebulous (and I think JRK wanted it that way).

What does this all mean for Harry and Book 7 now? I think that if you accept this theory, it can easily go two ways, based on when the scar/crack appeared on the ring. If the crack appeared after LV made it into a Horcrux, then Harry will be able to extract the Horcrux, vanquish Voldemort, and survive (please let this be the case!) The other possibility is that the ring was cracked when DD took the magic out of the ring, in which case, Harry may be terminally injured by the removal of the Horcrux, and may have to die in order to kill LV. (I believe the former more strongly based on the "neither can live while the other survives" part of the prophecy. It makes it sound like either HP or LV will be alive at the end of this whole ordeal. And I can't bear the thought of Harry dying and evil winning, way too against the whole point of the novels thusfar.)

Again, I know that theories like this one abound on the internet now, but I just wanted to get some of my ideas out there, and I hope they also help explain my reasoning for why Harry is a Horcrux in my previous editorial.

Lovely Green Eyes

2005-10-04T17:20:00.000-07:00

What I love most about this site is the way it is carried on by theory contributors. Awesome work, guys! Anyways, I finally got back to thinking about Potter & Co., which led me to the information concerning Harry's eye color. We know that is important; that fact has been solidified by JKR herself. Why, though, do they hold significance, and to whom?

I believe that Harry's eye color is important for the sole purpose of Snape's "redeeming process," so to speak. The only emotions towards Lily (as well as James) that Voldemort possesses is loathing, so Harry having his mother's eyes would not affect him, not in my opinion, at least. Anyways, back to the main point...

Let's face the facts: Snape loved Lily. For this reason and this reason alone, Snape is going to impacted by Harry's emerald green orbs (poetic, no?). Imagine this: Snape is looming over an injured Harry, grinning fiendishly whilst raising his wand to deliver the most traitorous blow ever received by the young wizard. All of a sudden, as the former Potion master's lips part to release the "magic" word, a light shines down on Harry, illuminating the verdant green of Potter's eyes. Snape stands in bewilderment as his surroundings fade to black and Harry's face is replaced by Lily's, the bright eyes remaining the same throughout the transformation. "Severus," Lily whispers gently, "this is not the way." She reaches out to Snape, who responds by reaching his hand towards hers, and finally, the hook-nosed man snaps back into reality, the surroundings reappearing and Harry replacing Lily's image once again. Snape slowly lowers his wand and stands solemnly in front of Harry. No words are needed.

Basically, the reminder of Lily is what will keep Snape sane and will force him to remember what things are worth fighting for.

Alchemy and Horcruxes by Kim I.

2005-09-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

**By Kim I.**

Alchemy: "A medieval chemical philosophy having as its asserted aims the transmutation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the panacea, and the preparation of the elixir of longevity" (source: http://www.dictionary.com/)

We were first introduced to alchemy in the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone. Nicholas Flamel was our tie to the ancient art, and we learned that he (with the help of Professor Dumbledore) created the Sorcerer's (Philosopher's) Stone which does exactly what alchemy hopes to achieve; it turns base metals into gold and produces the elixir of life.

At a glance, it seems like the idea of alchemy was introduced simply as a plot point for the first book in the series. I propose, however, that alchemy, gold and immortality relate very closely to the Horcruxes we have learned about in HBP. When we learned about the Stone, we learned that it turns metals into gold, and makes the keeper immortal. We also know that the point of making Horcruxes is to help ensure the maker's immortality. Looking at the close tie between gold and immortality emphasized by the Stone and alchemy in general, I believe that all of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes are made of gold, or at least have gold accents on them.

First of all, I would like to propose what I believe the six Horcruxes are. I believe that Voldemort's Horcruxes are Marvolo's ring, the diary, the Slytherin locket, the Hufflepuff cup, Ravenclaw's tiara, and finally, Harry Potter. Let's first look to the Horcruxes that were given to us explicitly in HBP. We clearly know that Marvolo's ring was made of gold, with a large black stone and the Perevell coat of arms on it. Next, the diary; it was not explicitly described as being gold in the book, but in the CoS movie, the diary is shown with gold accents on the edges of the book. The Slytherin locket was also clearly made of gold, seeing as it was described as "a heavy gold locket." (Which, I also believe is the very locket that was found in 12 Grimmauld Place in OotP, but that editorials is for another time. J) The Hufflepuff cup is the final Horcrux that I agree with Dumbledore about, it was described as a small golden cup, as well.

Now, examining the common thread between all of the known Horcruxes, we see that all of them have been gold, supporting my idea that immortality is closely tied to gold, in Lord Voldemort's perspective, or even in the wizarding world. Now, let's look to my proposed Horcruxes, Ravenclaw's tiara, and Harry Potter. First, Ravenclaw's tiara seems to be a possible Horcrux, because, like some of the others, it was mentioned in HBP, but very stealthily. I was first pointed in the "tiara" direction when it was mentioned when Harry was hiding his potions book from Professor Snape. He hid the book in the Room of Requirement in a chest, marked by the wizard statue with a wig and a tiara placed on it. Later in the novel, I believe we actually see a reference to the Ravenclaw heirloom, however. I believe that the first reference to the tiara was just to pique our attention (or perhaps another red herring? JKR's specialty, as we know by now.) Mrs. Weasley mentions the real tiara in question when she finally realizes that Fleur is devoted to Bill. She tells Fleur "Our Great-Auntie Muriel…has a very beautiful tiara-goblin-made-which I am sure I could persuade her to lend you for the wedding... and it would look lovely with your hair" (HBP 623, US edition). We know that Fleur has blonde hair, so the tiara is also most likely gold. Now, we know that the Wealeys have generally all been in Gryffindor house, but that does not mean that Auntie Muriel could not be on Molly's side of the family, and be a descendant of Ravenclaw.

Finally, the last Horcrux, in my point of view, is Harry Potter. I know there are a lot of editorials already about the arguments for/against this theory, so I will just add one more fact to the ever-growing list of why he is the last Horcrux. Harry can also have this "golden rule," if you will, applied to him. Dumbledore has always emphasized that Harry's most important quality in his fight against Voldemort is the fact that he is able to love and acts solely upon this love. Dumbledore argues that it is this purity of heart that will make Harry able to defeat Voldemort in the end. Hence, I believe that you could say Harry's golden quality is his gold-hearted approach towards life.

In conclusion, even if my tiara and Harry Horcrux theory is wrong, I think that looking at other important items in the series that are gold could help point us in the right direction to finding the Horcruxes. Maybe I'm too idealistic, but I seriously think that JKR thinks that it's only fair for us to have all the clues we need to identify, and find, the remaining Horcruxes, now that our omnipotent advisor has left us and Harry.

Lucius: Dead or Alive? by Kelley

2005-09-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

**By Kelley**

Now I know what you are thinking "she's mad" but let me say that I do not truly believe this to be 100% true but the idea occurred to me and I have to say that it has stuck. So don't kill for saying it until you read this and look at the facts that I am going with.

FACT 1= Lucius went to Azkaban in OOTP.

FACT 2= JKR said that Narcissa will play a bigger part in the upcoming books since Lucius is in jail.

FACT 3= After the disaster in the Ministry of Magic a few Death Eaters are missing. Now I can't really remember all their names but no one from jail is heard about.

FACT 4= Azkaban was once the home of the Dementors.

FACT 5= The Dementors are now in LV's service.

FACT 6= OOTP saw a mass breakout of 10 high security prisoners. Who rejoined their masters service. NO ONE but Sirius Black has broken out of Azkaban. And 100 dementors came looking for him. When the 10 broke out not 1 dementor was seen.

FACT 7=NO ONE but Barty Crouch Sr was allowed to see the prisoners. And it was only because of Crouch's job that he got to do it.

So lets put these together. Dear old Lucius is caught and put in Azkaban with a few other friends. Narcissa steps up and takes on the role of mum and dad to nasty Draco. Now that the dementors are gone who is guarding the prison? We aren't told. But if it isn't guarded then why is Lucius still in there? And if is guarded then why didn't Narcissa or LV break him out? This to me is very important. LV broke out 10 followers before so why not now? Narcissa never tells anyone that she has been to see Lucius in fact all she says about him is it wasn't his fault about what happened in the Ministry. We do know that LV doesn't forgive nor does he forget. We know that he punishes those who fail him and if in most things in life it is 3 strikes and you're out then Lucius is a dead man.

Strike 1= He placed the diary/horcrux in Hogwarts at the wrong time and it was destroyed because of it.

Strike 2= He never went to look for his master after he fell. He slipped back into life as if he didn't do anything.

Strike 3= He failed to get the prophecy.

So Lucius is in jail and waiting for his master to came and get him but instead of getting him out LV kills him because he has failed him to many times. Now LV goes to Narcissa and says give me Draco or you will all die. Draco really does take his fathers place. What is there to stop LV from doing this? Like I've said this isn't 100% me believing but it could be true. So any thoughts?

Dumbledore's Horcrux Hoax? by Penny W.

2005-09-10T21:02:00.000-07:00

Edit: In bold

**By Penny W.**

I have thought out the whole point of Dumbledore showing Harry where the first horcrux was. First of all, Dumbledore seemed to know what to expect considering the orders he gave Harry before they reached the cave. Second, the mysterious RAB doesn't make sense. I can see Voldemort telling his Death Eaters about the horcruxes, but not their location. The only people who really knew of the cave incident were the lady from the orphanage, Dumbledore, and now Harry. Dumbledore didn't seem to know where the other horcruxes were located.

Theory no. 1- Dumbledore went to the cave before Harry, retrieved the horcrux, destroyed it, and had Snape make the same potion. Then he took Harry back, as a lesson to show him what he would be up against when he goes looking for the remaining horcruxes. Dumbledore and Snape had planned Dumbledore's death once they figured out what Draco was set out to do, and planned his death around the cave visit, or when it was time for Draco to carry out his plan. In turn, saving Snape's life, and the Malfoy's, although I don't think Lucius has much hope. Although now, Voldemort will be a little afraid of Snape, because he was able to do what Voldemort could not. So Snape will have to be a little more cautious and watch his back.

Theory no. 2- When Voldemort learned that Lucius had allowed one of his horcruxes to fall into the wrong hands,and be destroyed, he panicked, searched out his own horcruxes and left the phony ones in their places. Voldemort is so afraid of death, that he would go to these lengths to ensure that his horcruxes are still intact. Dumbledore beat him to the ring, but I think he might have the rest. Voldemort knew that RAB was dead already, so he left the message to fool whoever went looking for them into continuing their quest in vain. Giving Voldemort time to carry out certain plans.

Our Apologies

2005-09-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry we've been neglecting the site, what with all the lack of updates. Bear with us, we're just reentering the lovely realm of school and education, and in the midst of preparing and readjusting ourselves, we've had little time to get on here and write. Update coming soon, don't worry, you guys are never far from thought :)

Harry Potter Gryffindor? by Jim

2005-08-30T18:44:00.000-07:00

**By Jim**

I remember reading an interview with JKR in which she mentions that Godric's hollow (as in Godric Gryffindor) may have a deeper meaning beyond simply where Lily and James died. There has been so much effort to establish that LV is the heir of Slytherin could Harry be the heir of Gryffindor?

At the end of CoS when Harry is worried that he should have been placed into Slytherin dd says that "only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat" referring of course to Gryffindor's sword. At the time it seemed to be that that just confirmed that Harry did indeed belong in the Gryffindor House at school. But what if it was much more. In all of the discussions during OotP with the Black family tree the Potter family is not mentioned. It seems that JKR goes to an effort to mention just about everybody else and how they are related but not any of the Potters.

It would also be interesting because the sorting hat has said that Slytherin and Gryffindor started out as best of friends but parted company in the end. If this is the case then Harry may be able to tap into the power from Gryffindor to help in the final fight against LV just as LV has drawn on the power of Slytherin.

Lupin + Tonks = Love?

2005-08-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

Did anybody see this coming? For me it was totally out of the blue. I was totally taken by surprise. I was personally happy that JKR put these two together. While Tonks may not have been my first choice for a partner for Lupin, I think it is an interesting couple.

Lupin is an old werewolf, who has seen his share of tragedy. Tonks is a young auror who is at least 15-20 years younger. At first glance, these two seem like the most unlikely of couples. But, perhaps, this is exactly what JKR is trying to say. Maybe she's trying to get the point across that different people can come together and diversity is a factor that only makes a relationship stronger. Lupin's hesitation and Tonk's unwavering devotion towards him, gave the story a sweet little twist.

I also remember that in HBP, a character (I think Molly) said that during the last war against Voldemort people began to get married and have kids quickly just in case they wouldn't get the chance later. I think JKR illustrated just how serious this war has gotten by the joining of these two characters.

I think that Tonks and Lupin will be able to last. I think that their love is an uplifting one and a much needed contrast to the darkness of the rest of the story.

Snape's Boggart

2005-08-22T11:24:00.000-07:00

What is Snape's biggest fear? That question has been on the minds of many readers since first introduced to the intimidating ex-Potions teacher. I myself have a couple ideas as to what a Boggart might reveal if confronted by Snape, these ideas being A) Harry dead or B) Being alone.
I have sufficient reason to believe that each of these ideas are reasonable in prediction.

Snape is a mysterious character in all respects and this quality is what makes it hard to determine many things about him. Harry dead would be a fear that would surprise many people and would also prove him to be the redemptive character he is. He would be afraid of Harry dying for many reasons, a couple of which are 1) Harry dying would leave the Wizarding world in almost certain destruction and 2) With Harry dead, Snape would lose the last remaining visual reminder of Lily (remember, Harry has Lily's eyes).

Being alone would also suffice as Snape's biggest fear because first of all, many people assume Snape to be one of the most powerful wizards out there. While this may be true, power doesn't negate normal human feelings, which is why something so ordinary being a powerful wizard's fear is rather clever. It shows that Snape truly is a human being. Besides that, I think that Lily's absence had a profoundly negative impact on Snape and he feels that she was "The One." Now that she's gone, he won't have another chance at love, therefore leaving him alone, exactly what he does not want to be.

Those are just what I'm thinking as of now. I honestly think that these are more ingenuitive fears because they evoke emotion on a deeper level and would suit the character better than something like a fear of light bulbs or snakes.

Snape and the Dark

2005-08-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

While I have constantly stated my beliefs that Snape is on the side of the Order and is most undoubtedly good, I thought I should at least write a theory for the other side. I think it'd be interesting to discuss the other side of the argument and to get your input and thoughts.

There are, of course, the obvious reasons:

1.) Snape killed Dumbledore with hatred on his face, and perhaps in his heart as well. Nobody can deny the fact that he used the Avada Kedavra, thus causing Dumbledore's sad death.

2.) Snape was attending Death Eater meetings and was keeping loyal to Voldemort. We could even assume that everything he told Bellatrix was correct, thus proving his true loyalties.

3.) Snape made the Unbreakable Vow with Narcissa and was helping Draco all throughout the school year. We don't even know what else he was doing to help Draco complete his task.

Other reasons include:

1.) Snape is good at Occlumency and would be able to fool Dumbledore of his truest intentions.

2.) Dumbledore said that when he makes mistakes, he makes big mistakes. He could have made a mistake about trusting Snape, and this would be one huge mistake, ultimately casuing his own life.

3.) I posted before about a JKR interview where she said that the redemptive streak in Snape was something we should look for and remember in the seventh book. I think a commenter said this but, Snape could be redeeming himself with Voldemort.

4.) Snape has always disliked Harry. What better way to complete it than to team up with his arch nemesis for a chance at getting him dead.

While I think these are all possible reasons for Snape's alliance to Voldemort, something is still telling me that he's good, and he'll prove it to us in the last book.

Scrimgeour: Where Does He Stand?

2005-08-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit annoyed with Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour lately. He was always asking Harry about what he did with Dumbledore and he tried to use Harry to up the Ministry's credibility, and perhaps that is all just because he wants to do good- but whatever he is, he's not exactly the MoM that should be in office.

Scrimgeour behaves more like an old war veteran/general than a Minister. I didn't like him for a long time but now, as a character, he's starting to grow on me. I don't like the fact that he's the Minister, but I think he's a person who would be a good military strategent. It's obvious that the Ministry is in crisis. Scrimgeour is described as resembling a lion. The comparision implies the physical strength and power of Scrimgeour, but physical strength is not what the position Minister of Magic encompasses. The Ministry seems to be grasping on to a person who is not well-endowed mentally, but instead a person who seems to thrive on physical confrontations. The limp (which is not much of a physical handicap to said Minister) Scrimgeour exhibits reminds me of that of a sustaining injury a soldier would have. Also, I find that Scrimgeour is clever- not smart, but clever. He pretends to be nice to Harry to try to get what he wants- but I don't find that to be a display of intelligence, I find that to be a display of trickery that a credible Minister shouldn't be using.

Another couple possibilities are that ol' Scrimgeour is under the Imperius or that he's a Death Eater. He was surely prodding Harry for answers about the latter's journey with Dumbledore... Then again, that must could have simply been because the Ministry wants to be involved in activity against Voldemort. I now highly doubt in my mind that he's either of the two but remember that the possibility indeed exists.

So what is Scrimgeour? Is he a well-meaning man hired because of his similarity to a war general? Is he a Death Eater in disguise? A poor man under the Imperius? These are questions that cannot definitively be determined until the seventh book is released. Ultimately though, I believe he's a good man at heart, just the wrong man for the job. He should be on the battlefield, not behind a desk.

LAYOUT PREFERENCES

2005-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

Well, in honor of our upcoming one-month anniversary of the birth of Sectumsempra (July 17), Beth and I have been in talks about a new layout as well as buying a domain, which, when it happens, will most likely be www.sectumsempranites.com ("The home for Harry Potter thinkers and questioners alike!") Is there any preferences as to color, character, font size, etc. that you fellow Sectumsempranites have? I myself have been thinking on a broader and more grandiose spectrum.

As opposed to our three leading men that Beth and I have so willingly made a central theme, I was thinking that perhaps for the main page there will be more characters, bigger and different fonts, and more color. I also want it to have the feeling of comfort, like when you walk into an old friend's house. Of course, the fundamental focus of this site is our theories and queries, and that's what it always will be, but I also want to expand knowledge on the Harry Potter series: characters, settings, classes, and so on.

See, what we're aiming for right now is this: Theories/Queries will be separated into categories. Each category (i.e. Ministry-related T/Qs, Voldemort-related T/Qs, etcetera) will have a layout corresponding to the theme! For example, if we are doing Voldemort-related, then we would have something like a Dark Mark-esque layout, with information on Voldemort and things related to him. This will be hard work but hopefully all will turn out well. There will be a surprise of sorts for everyone as well, which won't be divulged until the new site is created.

Our lovely friend Kristina Rodriguez is the creator of this layout and will be working on the next ones, but if anyone wants to assist in making these layouts, e-mail us at tqsectumsempra@yahoo.com. Also, if there are any suggestions or wishes you might have, please comment so we can make this site a more welcoming and warm place to visit when you come to visit!

EDIT: I'm also trying to figure out the way categories will be determined (i.e. determined by character, setting, etc.) I'm thinking that categories for theories such as Teachers, Voldemort/Death Eaters, Otherworldly (meaning Dumbledore, Sirius, anyone else who is dead), is a bit too general, so perhaps popular topics like Horcruxes, The Trio, Dumbledore, Snape, etc. should get their own pages, then we could have a section for Misc. Observations and another section for Questions. I want everything to be as clear as possible so that people aren't tripping over themselves trying to find a specific theory, know what I mean? I'm thinking out loud now so my apologies for using this as a storyboard of sorts!

Is anyone good with graphics?

Cover Color vs. Content by Matt K.

2005-08-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

**By Matt K.**

The following is an observation that confirms many of the theories previously discussed on this site.

Everyone who has read the American editions of the Harry Potter books probably has observed that the phrase "Harry Potter" on each book cover is in a different color. Of course the color of the phrase usually coordinates with the cover art and serves as a flashy, uniform icon of the series. However, the color on each book may have deeper meaning. Each color perceivable by the eye has its own psychology and evokes certain emotions and connotations from the human mind and senses. When analyzed, the color on each book can be interpreted to reflect the content and happenings of the plot. By examining the colors of the six currently published works, insight may be revealed about the seventh and final book.

-Sorcerer's Stone (Gold): Gold is the color of riches and extravagance. This can relate to the Sorcerer's Stone and Elixir of Life and the immortality Voldemort seeks behind them. "Riches" can be interpreted as power-especially to a vicious murderer like Voldemort-which is exactly what is Voldemort's ultimate goal with immortality. Yellow, cousin to the color gold, also contributes to a deeper meaning. Yellow evokes happiness and joy, which are represented in Harry learning of his destiny in the wizarding world and his true love Quidditch (the Golden Snitch). On the other hand, yellow also denotes cowardice and deceit, which was obviously embodied in Professor Quirrell who hides Voldemort on the back of his head throughout the book and is known for his nervousness and twitching.

-Chamber of Secrets (Silver): The color silver itself is difficult-almost impossible-to directly relate to the book. It is the color of modernism, but that theory almost contradicts Hogwarts old reputation of tradition. Perhaps it suggests the radical ideas of Salazar Slytherin and his quest to rid the school of Muggle-borns. The color white, on the other hand, similar to silver, does a better job. White is the color of purity and cleanliness, which can be interpreted in two ways. First of all, purity and cleanliness describe Salazar Slytherin's attempt to purge the school of muggle borns. Purity and cleanliness also reflect the theme of the concept of Pure-Bloods as pure and good...in some people's eyes.

-Prisoner of Azkaban (Green): Green is the color of life and renewal, which for a brief period describes Sirius Black when he believes himself to be a free man, cleared of the charges of which he was wrongly convicted. Green is also the color of envy or jealousy, which can describe Snape. In the third book, the fact surfaces that Sirius and James made fun of Snape in their Hogwarts days and that Snape always wanted to be like them. They never accepted him, so he would therefore be jealous of them for being what he wanted to be but never could. Finally, green is the color of inexperience. This could adequately describe Harry and his attempts at the Patronus Charm. He tries and tries and tries but because of his inexperience and horrific past, he fails. We all know, however, that he eventually produces a successful Patronus.

-Goblet of Fire (Orange): Orange, like its parent colors red and yellow, convey energy, warmth, and the sun. These feelings describe the excitement of the Quidditch World Cup as well as the TriWizard Tournament. Both are exciting and energetic, and are intended for entertainment and international cooperation and friendliness (warmth). Orange is also the color that stimulates emotions. This aspect very well describes book number four. The "stimulating" is significant in Voldemort's return. By returning he is creating and evoking war and bad feelings in the wizarding world and "stimulating" controversy.

-Order of the Phoenix (Blue): The color blue for book five is almost a blatant contradiction of the content of the book. For the most part, the color blue is calming, happy, and friendly. Order of the Phoenix is hardly calming; in fact it is rather stirring and emotional and introduces Harry and other significant characters to the fate that he and Voldemort will ultimately suffer by the end of the series. However, too much of the color blue can result in depression and sadness-which fits perfectly. This aspect really fits well at the beginning of the book when Harry is lonely and anxious for news and contact of happenings in his own world and at the end of the book when Harry is sulky and moody from Sirius' death and his newly found fate. Perhaps this excessive feeling of blue is the reason for the totally blue cover!

-Half-Blood Prince (Purple): Purple is difficult to analyze to book six, but doable. Purple, like black, is the color of mystery. Mystery perfectly describes Tom Riddle/Voldemort and the life that Dumbledore tries to biography for Harry. Nobody really knows about Voldemort's life and it was very difficult for Dumbledore to collect memories that would aid them on their quest. Also mysterious is the introduced concept of the horcrux and Harry's inherited hunt for the remaining pieces. He has little to no idea where they are and must piece together the mystery to defeat Voldemort. Purple is the color of royalty, which adequately describes Dumbledore. He is like a god (or king) to wizards of his time, as seen by the vast number of people who attend his funeral. Anybody who matters attends, much like if a famous king or queen died. Finally, like blue, purple can result in sadness and moodiness, which again describes Harry and the end of the book as well as the entire community mourning from Dumbledore's death.

Now with the exception of JKR and the publisher, it is almost impossible to be totally sure what color the seventh book will be, but I predict that it will be red. Artistically it is the last main color to be used, but its meaning I think will fit the plot of the last book. Red has a range of emotions. It is the color of war and blood, which will probably (almost obviously) be the battle between Harry and Voldemort that must happen. Red is the color of anger and blood pressure-a tense battle between Harry and Voldemort. Red is also the color of love, which may signify (as previously suggested on this site) romance. Finally, on an interesting note, red is the hottest of the warm colors (red, orange, yellow) so perhaps (and probably) book seven will be the most intense and exciting of all the books. Hopefully it will be!

Into the Dark?

2005-08-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

This isn't so much a theory, but more of an observation.

JKR had said in a interview that she didn't believe that the books were getting darker. She said all the books were equally dark and that the 6th book was just as bad as the 1st, with Quirrel and Voldemort sharing the same body. I think I would have to disagree here. I think that books are, indeed, darker as the story progresses. I think that the first few books were almost like a fairytale and established the story and the essential Good vs. Evil scenario. There was apparent scary and dark parts of the first few books, but I think as the series progressed, the story just became so much darker and deeper.

I think as we are able to further connect with the characters and learn about them and find out what makes them tick and breathe and live we are able to better empathize with the characters. I think it is these feelings which cause the books to become darker. While I'm sure we could all empathize with Harry from the very beginning, it seems that bad situations just keep getting thrown his way and we get to experience it alongside him, which gives us a greater compassion for his situation. This compassion is what makes the books seem darker, in my opinion. Once we start to feel for and with the characters we become emotionally involved and wrapped up in whatever JKR writes.

So I think the last book will be the darkest of them all, obviously.

Does anybody agree?

Death Gamble

2005-08-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

I was mulling over potential character deaths in the next book, and realized that a lot of characters are going to die. With that said, here are my predictions of the characters who will die.

x Ron Weasley (One of the trio must die and it will be the one Harry is closest to.)
x Fred or George Weasley (The Weasley family is so big that it will be hard to believe if the entire family makes it through the war unscathed. Seeing as how the twins are essentially a copy of each other, JKR will get rid of one.)
x Severus Snape (He will prove himself to be good by risking his life for an important reason, and Harry will feel guilty for thinking Snape bad.)
x Lucius Malfoy (Voldemort'll be out to get him. Simple as that. I feel that Narcissa and Draco will live because of Snape.)
x Bellatrix Lestrange (I think that since she has been escaping death too much, it'll finally get her. I'm assuming by Harry because he'll want revenge for Sirius's death.)
x Voldemort (I'm grasping the notion that Voldemort will die because of the essential "good always wins" theme. Plus, like Bellatrix, he's cheated death too many times.)
x Rufus Scrimgeour (He isn't the Minister-type. He's more like a general, which is why I think he was appointed. Generals either live or die in a battle, and I feel that he will die. I also get a strange feeling about Scrimgeour. Imperious?)
x Peter Pettigrew (I hate Pettigrew. I just want him to die. Plus, he's a pretty stupid guy in general. He has no common sense.)
x Kingsley Shacklebolt (At least one of the Order members has to die and I think it'll be Kingsley because Lupin and Tonks will fill in Harry's parental gap and Bill just got married. Charlie we know absolutely nothing about, so him dying really wouldn't affect readers too much. I've ruled out Arthur Weasley because I know that if any of the children die, Arthur will be key in keeping Molly together.)

So for now, these are the ones on my list of potential characters to die. What do you think?

Post-Hogwarts Harry

2005-08-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

What shall become of our beloved Harry Potter after Hogwarts, or more appropriately, after the Wizarding War? So far we've been presented with three different theories: Minister of Magic, Auror, or Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Minister of Magic
Minister of Magic would be Harry's least likely choice for a profession. The Ministry has always been his "allied foe," if you will, throughout the books. It was only recently that the Ministry started believing Harry, and judging by Harry's reaction, he was not pleased with them. I think that to Harry, becoming Minister of Magic would be like becoming a traitor of sorts, and he wouldn't subject himself to the rules and regulations that he's despised for so long.

Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher
Harry is naturally attracted to trouble, danger, and adventure. A sedentary position as a teacher would not be something that Harry would find himself liking. While he loves DADA as a class itself, why not get into a field where you would actually use the lessons learned? This leads me to the final theory.

Auror
This is what Harry wants to be. This job has it all: danger, freedom, action... Simply put, everything that Harry is pulled towards. Of course, Harry was never that articulate in Potions, and Slughorn's lesser requirements made it easy for Harry to get into the Advanced Potions class (quite the scheme old Dumbledore pulled, I must say). But my problem with that lies in the fact that Harry would have done pretty atrociously if it weren't for the Half-Blood Prince. I mean, where would he have been if he hadn't of received that book? Or even if he didn't have the book, where would he have been if Hermione decided not to take that class? Hopefully he's not as bad at Potions as he let on- that 5 years of Snape just made him a little sluggish and he'll soon be a whiz .

See, Harry did get an E on his O.W.L. exam for Potions, but his performance the rest of the year wasn't too spectacular. Snape was only making sure that the best of the best, the capable people, were in his class. In a job like being an Auror, you can't do awesome 1/10 times, if you get what I mean. I don't know, from an educator's perspective I would say that Harry doesn't have it when it comes to Potions, but from my real perspective, I think an Auror would be the choice job for Mr. Potter.

R.A.B.: Part II by Katie H.

2005-08-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

**By Katie H.**

At this point, just about everyone thinks R.A.B. isRegulus Black. It makes sense, certainly: Death Eater leaving the flock knows he's going to get whacked, so he sticks it to The Man one last time before they send him beyond the veil. Getting from R.A.B. to Regulus Black is easy. Too easy. Its so easy that its starting to feel like a red herring.

So I went back and scoured the books to find anybody and everybody else who could possibly be R.A.B. I tried every possible R, A, and B in the whole set and I've come up with a favorite: Borgin of Borgin & Burke.Its a long shot, I'll grant (we don't know his full name) but he's got a lot going for him:

1) The guy knows a thing or two about magical artifacts, particularly the dark ones. If anyone can tell a horcrux from a hole in the ground, its thisguy.

2) Formerly Tom Riddle's employer. This is significant, since the note reads "be a mortal once more". There's a feeling that whoever wrote the note would remember Voldermort from when he was a Regular Joe the first time. Most of the Death Eaters are too young, but Borgin & Burke hired an 18-year-old Tom Riddle. They'd rememeber ...

3) Borgin is partly responsible for cheating Voldemort's mother of her most prized possession. What possession, you ask? Nothing less than the very locket that's now gone missing.

4) There's a good chance Voldemort off-ed his partner,Burke. That would explain why he's expecting to be dead soon. Goodness knows he gets nervous enough around Death Eaters.

5) If Burke is dead, Borgin woul dbe the first to know. He'd also probably know that Hepzibah Smith was dead. He'd notice that his salesman has dissappeared,and he'd also probably be aware that the locket is gone. (Antiques dealers are known to scan obituaries and will readings for estate information.) So: guy who sold locket = dead, woman who bought locket = dead, lock = missing, and salesman = missing there's a good chance the locket is significant. Borgin's probably smart enough to put it all together.

Snape and the Light: Part II

2005-08-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

While some people may continue to believe that Snape is a traitor and an evil man, I still have my beliefs that he is working for the Order in some way. I was searching online recently and found some more evidence of this, straight from JKR's mouth.

There's an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape.

JKR: He, um, there's so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book 7. That's all I'm going to say.

This is from a chat in 1999, before book 4 was released. So I think JKR obviously had this all planned out and we will find out that Snape's true loyalties lie with the Order. His "redemptive pattern" will be continued when he redeems himself with the good side. Everything about Dumbledore's death will be explained thoroughly.

I was even thinking about how Snape could convince the Order of his true loyalty and thought that maybe he could show them one of his memories via the pensieve. Dumbledore and Snape could be there and their whole plan could be easily explained. Dumbledore would be seen planning his own death and perhaps even giving the Order members a message. I don't know if this could work out, but I think it could be a possible way for the Order to believe Snape. The pensieve never lies and always shows the viewer the truth, not the perspective of the memory holder.

I just know that Snape could never fully be evil. I know that his loyalties always will lie with the good side.

**The chat transcript can be found at this address http://www.quick-quote-quill.org/articles/1999/1099-connectiontransc.html **

Chamber of Secrets Discovery

2005-08-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Now this might have been blatantly out in the open but in the second book, what exactly did Harry learn/discover in the Chamber of Secrets that related to what he discovered in "Half-Blood Prince?" I'm suspecting that it has something to do with Horcruxes, but I'm honestly not sure and would like some ideas on this.

Percy's Loyalties

2005-08-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

So far, we know Percy to be a conceited, pompous, arrogant blowhard with no respect for his family or for what his family has done for him. He works at the Ministry of Magic and is pretentious enough to come to the family only if it helps out the Ministry (i.e. in book six when Percy visits with Scrimgeour). All of this family turmoil between Percy and the rest of the Weasley family makes me wonder if there is any hope for this self-serving office boy.

In my opinion, it would be too predictable if Percy returns to the Weasleys. I don't believe that the family and the Ministry are enemies, in the broader sense of the term, so technically, Percy isn't on the Dark side- yet.

There's been a lot of speculation that Percy will become a Death Eater. This claim kind of makes sense to me, seeing as how Percy likes to be on the "team" with the most potential success. I can picture it now: "Oh mother, it is quite obvious that the Dark Lord will fare better than the Ministry. I could become much more accomplished and successful if I work with the him. The Ministry has been losing immensely, and how would that look if I was part of a sinking ship?"

Then again, Percy is also very intelligent, and clearly has common sense, so although he is incredibly hungry for success, it's also very feasible that Percy will remain on the Ministry's side. I'm only posing possibilities, because Percy here is a sticky wicket.

A Striking Resemblance: Voldemort's Fate

2005-08-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Voldemort is one of the most intelligent and powerful characters in the entire book. He is smart and charismatic enough to get what he wants, when he wants, and from whom he wants it from. He recruits people on a daily basis and does wonders for the Dark wizarding community. Voldemort also happens to be the biggest hypocrite in the book. He pushes to "purify" the wizarding world of Muggle-borns and half-bloods, but he himself is a half-blood. Does this remind you of anybody?

Hitler himself was quite an intelligent and charismatic man back in the days of World War II. He, like Voldemort, recruited people as Nazis everday and did amazing things for the German economy. He got nearly everything he strived for but his problem (besides being a war-mongering dictator) was that he always wanted more. Another interesting parallel between said Hitler and Voldemort is that neither are what they want others to be. Like I said, Voldemort wanted to cleanse the world of Muggle-borns and half-bloods, but he himself was a half-blood. Hitler was one in the same; he wanted an Aryan race- blond hair, blue eyes, definitely not Jewish. Ironically, Hitler was a brown-haired, brown-eyed Jew.

Where I'm trying to get at is that the similarites between the two tyrants shouldn't go unnoticed because, all ideas aside, the resemblance could very well be a clue to whether or not Voldemort survives in the end of book seven.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY AND JKR!

2005-07-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 25th TO HARRY and 40th TO JKR!

Emotions and Danger

2005-07-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

Harry has always been independent; he had to be when he lived with the Dursleys. Unfortunately, his emotions have a habit of clouding his judgement.

His fury towards Snape (not just in the sixth book, but also in all of the preceding) often brought Harry into making rash decisions (such as the minor mistake of shouting the Protego spell against Snape during nonverbal spell lessons- he was so convinced that Snape was going to do him in that he screwed up and got detention) just like Harry's love for Sirius did. Although he does demonstrate blatant heroism, Harry also forgets to think. He has thus far been successful, but I think that when he lets his anger, sadness, frustration, and adoration take over without thinking things over first, he puts himself, but more importantly, others (because they are less competent wizards than Harry, so to speak), in more danger than necessary.

...But then again, not-so-great judgement also provides for awesome reading :).

Early Learner?

2005-07-29T20:41:00.000-07:00

We first learn about the Half-Blood Prince through indirect characterization via the potions book that Harry uses. We learn about all of his wit, cleverness, and undeniable talent for potion making without actually meeting the Prince. I think this was a very clever way of JKR to allow us to learn more about Snape and to see him in a different light. He was almost a friend to Harry thoughout the book, and was there for him at every turn, without actually being there.

While Snape seemed almost friendly as the HBP, what I don't understand is how he became so powerful and so angry at such a young age. It is my belief that it has to do with his parenting. Many of the most powerful wizards and witches have one magical parent and one muggle parent. Voldemort, Harry, and possibly Dumbledore are all good examples of this. Snape's parents fit the bill and his extraordinary talents fit as well. Perhaps this magical/muggle mixing has a special sort of effect on the child.

I believe that Snape's talents were increased and honed due to the fact that he was tormented in school. I think that his unpopularity caused him to experiment with different potions and spells. How else could he have come up with Sectumsempra and the several corrections and adaptions to the potions??

I think it's intriguing that Snape had such great powers at such a young age. It seems to almost parallel Voldemort to me. Perhaps a future theory...

Romance in "Half-Blood Prince"

2005-07-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

Was anyone besides me a little overwhelmed with the constant matchmaking in the sixth book? I swear, I turned the page and all of a sudden, one character was making eyes at another, who returned the gaze with a absolutely smitten stare. See, I understand that JKR is trying to show that the characters are growing up, but even the older characters were hooking up with one another. I think that this bothered me so much because the romance was quite gradual- no one really got anywhere with anyone besides Hermione and Harry with Viktor Krum and Cho Chang, respectively- until BOOM! Everyone's hormones started going mad!

Now, love and romance is not a bad thing at all, but I think that JKR pushed it a little in "HBP." I mean, I know that they're teens and they're going to be wanting to date and everything, but my oh my, I couldn't get away from it all. First it was Ginny and Dean, then Pansy and Malfoy, then Ron and Lavender, then Harry and Ginny, then Tonks and Lupin (albeit very cute, those two). I felt like I was entering a soap opera. I don't think that all of the coupling would have bothered me except for the fact that every hook-up happened so fast and ended just as quickly (minus Pansy and Malfoy- Tonks and Lupin we don't really know too much about yet). Harry spent the entire book pining for Ginny, then they hooked up and broke up within what, fifteen pages within each other, if that? Not to say that I wasn't creeped out by that, either. Harry is like Ginny's brother... The whole "Harry and Ginny is a couple" thing was really weird to me as a reader.

Then Ron and Lavender, it seemed like JKR was just finding someone in order to have Ron finally enter the dating scene; Lavender as Ron's girlfriend seemed to have been picked out of a hat.

Next book, I'm hoping for some relationships that'll last longer than a few weeks. We all know Ron and Hermione are going to get together but I'm really rooting for old Neville to get with Ginny and Harry to find romance with Luna (as strange as she is, she understands him). Tonks and Lupin I like as a couple too, so I hope that they stay together. Still though, I don't want the book to end up with everyone nicely paired up- it just isn't realistic. All in all though, JKR shouldn't have felt obligated to stick relationships in the book in every such way; she could have fit them in better. I felt like she thought that she NEEDED to put the relationships in, and while of course a series like the Harry Potter books need romance and such, it should be placed in conscientiously, not hurriedly (although I love the way Ron and Hermione were attacked by the green-eyed monster).

Basically, I'll have to agree with Beth and say that for the most part, most of the relationships didn't add anything to the story and that at times, they took away from it, at least for us.

Slughorn: Evil or Just Very Knowledgeable?

2005-07-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

Slughorn is an interesting character, to say the very least. He shows complete favoritism on students he believes will be successful later in life and does this only for his own personal gain. Slughorn seems to be the type of man who will follow power and cling to it, only to make himself more prestigious and more known. So I'm wondering if he didn't follow Voldemort as well.

While Slughorn obviously seems ashamed of his past, I have to wonder where he became so knowledgeable. He was able to tell young Tom Riddle about horcruxes. I'm not sure if they're common knowledge in the magical world, but I assume not since Harry and Hermione were unable to find much information about them in any book. So where exactly did Slughorn acquire this knowledge?

I don't think that Slughorn is an evil man. I think he is simply a man that loves attention and prestige. He may, however, have had a past he is not proud of. We already know that he doesn't like to look like a fool, so maybe he's trying to hide a darker past.

Any thoughts? I'm not sure if this makes total sense, but it's just something to think about...

Harry's Horcrux?

2005-07-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

I've read peoples' ideas that Harry himself is a Horcrux and that he will create a Horcrux for himself in order to destroy the one inside of him and still remain alive. I cannot stress enough how much I disagree with this theory. I firmly believe that Harry is NOT a Horcrux. He cannot defeat Voldemort if his soul is split and therefore will NOT create a Horcrux. Dumbledore said that "he [Voldemort] never paused to understand the incomparable power of a soul that is untarnished and whole." That being said, if Harry splits his soul, that "incomparable power" is infinitely weakened.

In order to create a Horcrux, an act of extreme treachery and hate must be commited- murder. Sure, Harry indeed hates Snape, and murderous thoughts will inevitably cross his mind, but ultimately, I feel that Harry cannot or will not perform the task of killing Snape (either because he finds information that will change his mind, or because he simply won't become a murderer out of free will). On top of that, to create a Horcrux, one needs to use complex Dark Magic. Harry is not a Dark wizard, and I do not think that he will go so low as to use it.

Also, the one thing that Harry has that gives him more power than Voldemort knows is that four-letter word associated with Cupid: love. Love is something that Harry can proudly say is in his blood, and willingly taking away someone's life (Voldemort the exception) would definitely weaken the love that is inside of him.

Furthermore, Harry cannot defeat Voldemort, even in the latter's mortal form, if he destroys himself, the alleged Horcrux. If Harry's mortal self is destroyed, all that would be left of himself is that of what Voldemort used to be when 'Avada Kedavra' backfired. So even if part of Harry's soul was preserved, he would be too weak, and thus useless, against Voldemort.

The Shroud

2005-07-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

One question that I have really been hoping to be answered is what exactly did Sirius disappear into when he died in "OotP?" I understand it was a black shroud but where did it lead to, and what was its purpose?
I mean, I suppose it could have been the physical manifestation of the eternity of death, and may possibly have led to absolutely nowhere, but I'm still confused about it. Does anyone happen to have any ideas on this?

Snape in Trouble?

2005-07-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

In the end, Dumbledore was left defenseless and weak, open to any attack thrown his way. Draco went up against him alone, and yet seemed afraid to act until others were present. When Snape came, he acted without a thought and killed Dumbledore. Since the Unbreakable Vow was most likely kept secret, wouldn't this be blatantly going against Voldemort's wishes? I fail to believe that Voldemort would have wanted Snape to perform this task because he wished Draco to die in revenge for Lucius's mistakes.

The reception from Voldemort will go one of two ways. Snape will either be praised for his accomplishment or will feel the wrath of Voldemort for directly going against his wishes. Personally, I feel that Snape will be given a higher position with Voldemort, just because he killed the only wizared that Voldemort ever feared. However, no action is without some sort of consequences and Snape will feel some sort of repercussions.

I think that although he went against Voldemort's wishes, Snape ultimately secured his "loyalties". He can now be free to assist the Order and Harry to victory.

Hogwarts Closed for Good?

2005-07-25T15:16:00.000-07:00

Yet another question that remains standing is whether or not Hogwarts will reopen for Harry's seventh year. I believe it will. This is because many of the characters are important to the element of the series yet aren't amongst Harry's closeknit group of friends. Even Neville and Luna aren't in on Harry's, Ron's, and Hermione's plan of not returning to Hogwarts. If the school is closed, how will the readers know what the other important characters are doing?

As Hagrid said, Dumbledore would have wanted the school to remain open- its as safe as any other place is now. While many of the students may not return, some undoubtedly will. Amongst those would be Ginny (whom Mrs. Weasley would not allow to travel with the Trio- letting Ron go will be hard enough as it is), Neville, and Luna. I suspect Dumbledore's Army will have a strong part in the Hogwarts setting.

How long the school will be opened for seventh year is undetermined; it is liable to close at anytime. With Dumbledore dead, I do not think that Voldemort has much use for Hogwarts anymore, and I also believe that those willing to come back to the school are those who are trustworthy, thus creating a somewhat safer atmosphere. Of course, the school will overgo many hard changes, and may ultimately close sooner than expected, but I am fairly sure that the school will at least be open for a little bit.

"Dumbledore, Alive?" by Anni Nugent

2005-07-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

** We'd like to note that this is the first theory that has been written by someone other than Christina or Beth. **

In the beginning of the novel, Slughorn introduces himself as the new Potions Master along with four potions. There's Veritaserum, Amortentia, Polyjuice Potion, and Felix Felicis. As their first lesson, they're instructed to make a batch of Draught of Living Death. This doesnt seem significant until the end of the novel when poof! I realized that all of these potions had a rather significant role in the book.

Ron mistakenly eats the chocolate tanted with the love potion which Romilda Vane intended for Harry; Harry mistakes Crabbe and Goyle numerous times for young girls doing Malfoy's bidding because of their abuse of Polyjuice Potion; and Felix Felicis of course has a significant part to play for Harry as well as his friends.

Veritaserum is mentioned quite a bit, but at this moment I can't recall when it was used--

Regardless, this leads to the last potion brewed that day. Draught of Living Death. This is the only potion that had been mentioned in that scene that had yet to play a part in the novel. It's my belief that Dumbledore is simply under the effects of the potion. If you aren't wholly convinced by this, take into account this little tidbit:

Every person who was killed by the Avada Kedavra curse in all six books died with their eyes open. I remembered for the sole reason that it creeped me out to no end-- but why would Dumbledore, under the same curse of death, have his eyes peacefully closed as he is found beneath the tower? And why would he summon for Snape of all people, so forcefully?

Possible Horcruxes

2005-07-24T18:37:00.000-07:00

JKR said that careful readers of HBP would find another Horcrux, which leaves me wondering what that certain Horcrux could be? As we know, the Horcruxes discovered most certain are the diary of Tom Riddle (destroyed), Marvolo's black ring (destroyed), the silver locket (possibly destroyed), Hufflepuff's cup (not destroyed), and three other ones that we don't know (since Voldemort himself is the seventh).

Harry Potter

Harry would be an interesting idea for a Horcrux, but ultimately, would not be feasible because Harry would have to die in order to destroy the Horcrux, and as Dumbledore said, Voldemort, even as a mortal, contains the same amount of intellectuality and power that he had before. If Harry died to destroy the Horcrux, no competant wizard would be able to destroy Voldemort, seeing as how the prophecy remains "neither can live while the other survives." Still, however, it would be a most interesting twist in the plotline- maybe neither would survive.

Nagini

I find this an interesting one as well, except for the fact that, as Dumbledore said, it would be unwise to use an animal as a Horcrux. Nagini has a mind of her own and will eventually die, so right there is a reason that making her a Horcrux is unlikely. I'm sure that Voldemort would be that remiss in putting the Horcrux in something that isn't immortal or inanimate, but we can't rule it out.

Black Goblet

This is the silver goblet with the Black family crest on it that Mundungus Fletcher had stole from Grimmauld Place. I can't be too sure whether or not this is a Horcrux but if, and only if, Mundungus is not who he appears to be (i.e. loyal member to the Order), then the possibility lies that he could have been stealing it back from Grimmauld Place to give to Voldemort before Harry goes back there. It might be farfetched and the evidence isn't so solid that you would bet your life the goblet is a Horcrux, but it kind of does make sense, if only a little. Plus, it was the only historical artifact really mentioned besides those of Voldemort's interest.

What do you think?

Name Significance: Blaise Zabini

2005-07-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

If you pay close attention to character names, a lot of the time, J.K. Rowling often bases the names off of the each character's personality. Take Pomona Sprout, Herbology teacher. As if there wasn't enough of a clue from the surname Sprout, Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees. Another instance is Malfoy, or mal foie, means "bad faith" in French, and thus far what we know about the Malfoys is that they are a Dark wizarding family (though as I've stated, I believe that something is about to change in that respect).

Now take Blaise Zabini. Zabini, an Italian surname, does not really indicate anything about the student's personality like his first name does. Blaise was Merlin's master (for more on Merlin, read about the legend of King Arthur) and in one of the Grail writings, he's the keeper of the Grail itself. In a sense, "Blaise is the inner self of Merlin. When the mysteries are complete, Merlin reports to Blaise, who then records the details of the Quest" (CRC). Blaise also means "stammering." To me, the meaning and attribution of the name seems to reflect something more about the Slytherin's personality, like his influence and intelligence, and other aspects that are yet to be exhibited.

We know Blaise as a dark, exotic-looking, Slytherin boy (mother French, father Italian). He's mysterious and independent, self-reliant and nonconforming. It seems to me like there is more than meets the eye. To me, he is so secretive that it is hard to know where his true loyalties lie and what his true intentions are, so I will not say that he will become good or evil, but there is something to him, something important that will make him a bigger character in the final book.

The Half-Blood-Prince and the Redhead

2005-07-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

I believe that Snape and Lily may have had some type of relationship or that Snape and/or Lily had more than platonic feelings towards each other. This belief stems from the fact that when posed the question, "Has Snape ever been loved by anyone?" JKR said in an interview that, "Yes, he has, which in some ways makes him more culpable even than Voldemort, who never has." While this person could have been his parents or a friend, I believe it was Lily. At first, I was confused how this could make Snape more culpable and not less because he has felt love, but then Christina explained to me, "because maybe he did something in the past to hurt that person." This would fit because he could have hurt Lily in many aspects. He hurt her when overhearing the prophecy and ultimately killing her and leaving her only son to live with her cruel sister, he hurt her when treating her son with contempt and hatred, and he hurt her with a possible rejection of whatever feelings she had towards him.

JKR was posed the question about whether Snape or Lupin had feelings towards Lily in the same interview. She replied by saying that Lupin was, "fond of Lily... but I wouldn't want anyone to run around thinking he competed with James for her." She does not, however, say a thing about Snape. This causes me to believe that Snape may have indeed had some feelings for her.

Other commenters on the site have expressed feelings of the same caliber, suspecting some sort of feelings between the two. I have to agree with them, that love may have been motivation enough for Snape to change sides. I also agree that Snape may have been hiding past feelings for Lily by hating Harry. However, I think it may have been deeper than just hiding feelings. I think that Harry reminded Snape of James, who was the man that would have most likely taken Lily away from him. Since Harry resembled so much and acted so much like James, Snape formed a burning hatred for him. He does, after all, always say that Harry is, "just like his father." He never once says he is like his mother. These actions towards Harry may further illustrate past feelings Snape had towards Lily.

I don't know if this theory will amount to anything more than just speculation, but I find it interesting that Snape was loved at some point in his life. As we have seen throughout the books, love is the ultimate source of power. It is the one thing that Voldemort underestimates and maybe this love saved or can save Snape.

** Interview transcripts can be found on mugglenet.com **

Lupin and Pettigrew

2005-07-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

As we know, Peter Pettigrew is now the owner of a silver hand and werewolves can only be killed by a silver bullet. Unfortunately, as we also know, Remus Lupin is a werewolf. Do I believe that Lupin will be killed by Pettigrew? That's hard to say, but as of right now, I will stick to 'no.'

Why I feel as I do about this is because face it, Pettigrew is a coward. He is a rat (no pun
intended) and a coward and a liar, and responsibility is not one of his strong suits. While working for Voldemort might be some kind of an accomplishment for him, he is also on the Dark Lord's last nerve. Another failure would result in imminent death. Why, then, would he not kill Lupin when faced with the courageous werewolf?

Like I said, Pettigrew is a coward, and because he's a coward, he wouldn't kill Lupin. As old Hogwarts friends and a fellow Marauders, Pettigrew and Lupin continue to share a bond inside of them that reminds each of them of the past. Pettigrew killing Lupin would be like you killing your childhood best friend- it just wouldn't happen. Sure, Pettigrew can, as the cliche says, talk the talk, but ultimately, will he be able to walk the walk, when face to face with the man he onced shared all of his Hogwarts experiences, secrets, and feelings with?

Redemption: The Shepherd

2005-07-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

I was reading through something called "Thus Spake Zarathustra" by Friedrich Nietzsche, which is a philosophical book that speaks of the idea of the "superman," by which Nietzsche meant that people will soon perfect themselves instead of waiting for perfection in an afterlife- but that is besides my point, although it can also be applied to some concepts in the HP series as well, though now I'm just rambling. I came across this, which was actually quite strange to see because it illustrates my point about Draco perfectly.

And verily, the sight I saw, its like I had never seen. I saw a young Shepherd, writhing, choking, quivering, with face distorted, from whose mouth a black and heavy snake hung down.

Saw I ever so much loathing and wan horror in one face? My hand tore at the serpent and tore - in vain! I could not tear the serpent from his throat. Then a voice within me cried: Bite! Bite!

Bite off its head! Bite! - thus cried the voice of my horror, my hate, my loathing, my pity, all the good and evil in me cried out?

The Shepherd bit, as my cry counselled him: he bit with all his strength! He spat the snake's head far from him - then sprang up, no longer a shepherd, no longer a man, but one transfigured, light-encompassed, one that laughed!

This passage is commonly associated with the death of Nietzsche's father, in which Nietzsche is the shepard, which even better illustrates my point. Beth, having done the Lucius theory, explained why the chances of Lucius surviving the war are essentially nonexistant. With Lucius as the dead father, Draco as the Shepherd, and either Snape or Harry as the narrator, the transition of Draco from bad to good is quite believeable.

As is written, the Shepherd is "writhing, choking, quivering" and the narrator does not believe that he saw "ever so much loathing and wan horror in one face." It is already clear to me that Draco does not want to be in the position he's in and that he'd much rather be rid of the horror that lies ahead. Then, the Shepherd spits the snake's head far away and becomes a "transfigured, light-encompassed, one that laughed." Therefore Draco would be rejecting the darkness inside of him, the snake of Voldemort leaving his body for good.

However, why would Draco be a Shepherd? My take on this is that since a Shepherd guides people, Draco will be able to guide some (namely Crabbe, Goyle, Parkinson, in otherwords, his posse) to the right side, because of his influence on them. It would be highly odd if JKR read this same passage and based Draco's redemption on it, yet I find the parallel between the snake in the book and the snake that represents Voldemort strangely coincidential...

Five-Second Quest into an Order Member

2005-07-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

It was said by JKR that the seventh book would delve deeper into the life of another member of the Order, one whom we don't know much about at all, but which member can it be? We know much about Lupin, the Weasleys, Sirius, Moody, and a satisfactory amount about Tonks, but who has appeared several times yet has never truly been in the spotlight? My best bet: Kingsley Shacklebolt.

As secretary to the Prime Minister, Kingsley can get a lot of information about what Muggles are and aren't noticing, and the actions that Muggles are taking to fix what looks wrong in the Muggle world. This seems to me a good reason that JKR will want to go deeper into his character and make him more of an importance to the last book.

Life After Azkaban?

2005-07-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

Lucius Malfoy: Famous Death Eater and father of Draco Malfoy. We know that Lucius was put in Azkaban after the events that occured in the Ministry of Magic at the end of OotP and that he continued to reside there during HBP according to Dumbledore. My question is why exactly was he not released. It is clear that the dementors are loyal to Voldemort, so why would he not want one of his prized Death Eaters free?

I feel that Voldemort is unhappy with Lucius for his failure. He might be keeping him there to make him suffer. Snape already told us that Voldemort was most likely giving Draco the assignment in order to kill him, in revenge for his father's mistakes. And to kill his only son would ensure the end of the Malfoy family line... a fate that I'm sure Lucius would not be happy about.

Christina was telling me that Draco will most likely be protected by Snape, through whatever protection he can give, allowing Voldemort to take his rage out on Lucius. I think that this is very possible. I think that, although I do not want to believe it, Lucius will be one to die... I think that Draco will have a change of heart and turn to the order when he finds his father dead at the hands of Voldemort.

So I think there is no life after Azkaban for Lucius...

GOF Picture

2005-07-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

Somebody please tell me why Ron looks like Danny Bonaduce.

Danny.

Da-I mean Ron.

"Our Trio's Down to Two..."

2005-07-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

First of all, I would like to thank Timon for singing this line in the Lion King. It works quite well for the purpose of this theory!

For the entire series so far, Harry, Ron, and Hermione have been best friends- the Trio. With the Wizarding world at war, it is almost laughable to think that JKR will make it so that all three of the friends live, and I think I know which one will die.

My first choice would be Harry, but seeing as how these books are blatant statements about good triumphing over evil, I find his death hard to see. Another reason why I don't believe it would be Harry is because Harry is not returning for his seventh year. This is significant because though it seems JKR will not write anymore Harry Potter books after the seventh, the fact that Harry is out on his own now leaves the possibility to write another book about him open ( but although I nixed his death as a possibility, deep down I still think he should snuff it).

I have a strong feeling that the person to die will not be Hermione. This is because her intelligence is what assists Harry in finding out what he needs to know about many things. Hermione's smarts are key in helping Harry find the other Horcruxes as well, therefore, I do not believe that she will die.

In the seventh book, Ron will be the one to die. I feel strongly about this because JKR says that Harry will be stripped of the people he loves most (i.e. Sirius, Dumbledore) because he needs to do things on his own. While this might be an argument for Hermione being the one to die, I continue to dispute this argument because regardless of how she helps him, Harry always, always finds things out for himself. Anyways, as I've said, Ron will die. Harry and Ron have been the closest friends out of the Trio, if even by a little bit, and Ron's deaty, I believe, will hurt just a little more than Hermione's. Ron and his family took Harry in, and Ron always took Harry's side in arguments with Hermione. In general, Ron is Harry's best friend and I think that his death would signify the tragedy and sorrow that Harry is experiencing, as well as play the role of the impetus that Harry needs to finish off Voldemort.

The Life of Tom Riddle

2005-07-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

What exactly is the significance of Dumbledore's retelling of Voldemort's past. It seemed to be his last battle against him, possibly giving Harry the information he needs to defeat his nemisis. We learn about the parents and the past behind the powerful wizard, but how exactly will this help Harry. Does the answer to the defeat of the Dark Lord lie in his past?

I think the extra knowledge will help Harry understand more of who Voldemort is and what drives his actions. I think that this knowledge is even greater than all the magical ability in the world. This is what gives Harry the advantage and what might cause him victory in the end. I think this is why Dumbledore took the time to teach Harry and to track down all the different memories. I think he believed this information would be of great use to him. This is seen when Harry expects to be taught spells and charms and defenses by Dumbledore, when in actuality he was taught history and knowledge.

The past of Tom Riddle will come into play somehow. It might be directly or indirectly, but it will help Harry in his quest to defeat Voldemort.

Dumbledore's Foreshadowing

2005-07-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

This theory refers to the possibility that Dumbledore knew that his death was inevitable at the end of the sixth year and that Snape would be the bringer of it. Our other theories broach this theory somewhat, at least mentioning that Dumbledore knew that he had to die, but I believe there is concrete evidence of this early on in "Half-Blood Prince," and this evidence is Snape being appointed teacher for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position.

For the first five years that we were exposed to Snape, he has always been the Potions teacher. Then, all of a sudden, in Harry's sixth year, Snape is the DADA teacher. Why, I wonder, would Dumbledore hold off this position for five years and then all of a sudden give it up? The answer lies in his vast knowledge of past, present, and future (not so much "seeing" the future more so being aware of it).
He knew that Snape was a former Death Eater and was a spy for the Light. He knew that he was aging, therefore directly causing slower reflexes and weaker defenses. He knew that Voldemort was back and that the Wizarding world was at war. He knew that Snape would inevitably be called to service. All of these are indications that Dumbledore had that would be key in his own death.

Both Dumbledore and Snape knew that by the latter taking part in the former's death, Snape would never be able to return to Hogwarts (either because he was not allowed, or because Hogwarts was not reopened for parental assurance). If Snape was forced to do the unthinkable {kill Dumbledore}, before he was to become DADA teacher, then his dream would be unfulfilled. Being the DADA teacher was the one thing that Snape desired, and by killing Dumbledore before he got the post, the position would remain only his desire, never his reality, and two injustices would have been done.

Dumbledore knew how much this post meant to Snape and to just all of a sudden give him the position after waiting five years shows that he must have had an indiction or clue that his death was approaching and that Snape would be involved in it, his involvement being the act of following his duties as a Death Eater while keeping his cover as a spy safe.

To sum it up, Dumbledore somehow knew it was coming.

Redemption

2005-07-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Draco Malfoy is the arch nemesis of Harry Potter. He's mean, snobby, and full of insults (but I still can't get enough of him)- he even assisted the Death Eaters into Hogwarts. Why, then, if he's so bad, did he not kill Dumbledore? He is not pure evil; Draco Malfoy may be redeemed.

As he stood on the Lightening-Struck Tower, wand pointed at Dumbledore, it was clear that he knew then what he didn't know before. He realized what he had gotten himself into, what Lucius had gotten him into. All Draco had wanted to do was protect himself and his family, and to show that he can handle the task set ahead of him. Dumbledore knew it as well, and offered to put Draco in what is basically a witness protection program, and judging by Draco's reaction (he began to lower the wand), it was clear that, if given more time, Malfoy would choose to follow Dumbledore.

Draco has never been given a chance to believe in anything but Lord Voldemort and the magnificence of the Dark Arts. Lucius could not be seen raising a Dumbledore-supporting son. Therefore, Draco was brought up honing the same beliefs as Lucius. With Lucius in Azkaban, Narcissa's motherly love was revealed (more on this another time) and Draco is now able to choose for himself. What his ultimate decision is will not be found out until the final book, but I suspect that Snape will have a significantly major role in shaping Draco's choice.

As you all know, Beth and I are under the impression that Snape is ultimately a good character and that his actions in "Half-Blood Prince" resulted from loyalty, not betrayal. Snape left with Draco after the murder. I'm assuming that eventually Voldemort will summon them both for different reasons: Draco to punish and Snape to reward. With Snape on a pedestal, the former Potions teacher must have some sort of influence on a few of Voldemort's decisions, one namely being Draco's punishment. Death would be the Dark Lord's prime choice, but with Snape being Voldemort's favorite Death Eater, killing Draco may easily be avoided, so Draco would live, at least for the time being.

If Draco's life is spared and Snape reveals to him that he truly is fighting for the Light, Draco would most likely realize that if he follows Snape, everything will be okay. His family would be safe and so would he, therefore the chances that he will convert to the good side are high.

The Locket

2005-07-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

We all know that the locket found in the cave by Dumbledore and Harry was a fake, replaced by the mysterious R.A.B. Where the real locket lies now... I have no idea. I was confused by this at the end of the book because I was unsure whether we could trust this mystery person to have been able to destroy the locket or whether we should assume that it is still out there somewhere. Harry seems to believe he has yet to find it... which is proven by his mantra of the locket... the cup... the snake... something of gryffindor's or ravenclaw's... I guess we will find the answer to this in the last book.

I think that the locket either lies destroyed or with an accomplice of R.A.B. I seriously do not believe that R.A.B. would be able to complete the task alone. If Dumbledore himself needed to be force fed the liquid, then I doubt any other wizard or witch would be able to successfully retrieve the locket. So this could mean that some other person out in the world knows about Voldemort's horcruxes and may be attempting to find the remaining 4.

I guess I'm also just wondering how in the world Harry is supposed to find the rest of the horcruxes. It seems so improbable to me for him to do so much in so little time. But I guess when there's a will, there's a way. His revenge against Snape and Voldemort may drive him to extremes that may ultimately save the world.

Does this make any sense?

Snape is the HBP

2005-07-18T19:00:00.000-07:00

Well I can honestly say that I am neither surprised nor ever doubted anybody other than Snape was the Half-Blood Prince. While this fact has already been established, there are some that still continue to confuse me... or at least make me think.

First of all, JKR titled a whole book after the HBP, and yet I feel like I know virtually nothing about him. To me it seems silly to have a whole book titled after a character the readers do not know too much about. So I'm thinking that there has to be more to the story. Remember, after all, that HBP was going to be the title of Book 2... so if JKR was in any way planning of disposing such a fact to us so early in the series, well there must be some deeper meaning to Snape being the HBP. Something we have yet to have learned.

I also think that through the Advanced Potion Making book, we are able to see a different Snape. We are able to see his brilliant mind and sharp wit. I find it refreshing to learn about him in such a way. I think this also shows how the relationship between Harry and Snape could have differed if it were not for the grudge and strong hatred between Snape and James/Sirius. I think Snape could have been a strong role model for Harry under different circumstances.

I guess all I am trying to get at is that I suspect there is much more to the HBP storyline than what we are told...

Trust: Is Dumbledore Right?

2005-07-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

The burning question in everyone's mind after reading "Half-Blood Prince" most certainly is "why did Dumbledore trust him?"
Trust is a word that is the key to secrets and secrets are the key to betrayal, that's the feeling I get when I speak to other people about this particular theory. Snape betrayed Dumbledore and murdered him ruthlessly... in front of Death Eaters. Dumbledore pleaded, "Severus... please..." but to no avail. "Avada Kedavra." The words spilled out from Snape's lips as effortlessly as a snake wrapping itself around its prey. Snape broke Dumbledore's trust. Or did he?
Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard in existance. He was wise beyond years and had the greatest mind the Wizarding world had seen in ages. Even Voldemort was frightened of him. But the most touching thing about Dumbledore was his faith in man. When had Dumbledore ever steered anybody wrong? You can't respond because Dumbledore had never misled anyone. Why, after everything else Harry put stock into, did he not believe in Dumbledore's faith in Snape? Harry has never liked Snape, a great deal of it stemming from his knowledge of the Marauder days. A more important question: Why, after everything you put stock into, did you not believe in Dumbledore's faith in Snape either?
Dumbledore was an excellent judge of character. He demonstrated that time and time again from experiences with young Tom Riddle, Karkaroff, and so on. If there is one thing that Dumbledore could not be mistaken about, it was his judge of character. He admitted he was capable of mistakes; all humans are. He was right about Slughorn- whose cupidity is appalling, but he's decent nonetheless- and Hagrid and countless others. What made him wrong about Snape?
Keep this in mind: Snape cannot blow his cover. He must do what it takes to keep his position, and Dumbledore was aware of this. Bellatrix was already suspicious of Snape. Furthermore, Dumbledore had Harry swear an oath to do whatever it took to get the former to drink the potion, what makes you think he didn't have Snape swear one to kill him if necessary?
Gargantuan story short, Dumbledore was an excellent judge of character; Harry does not know any of the circumstances under which Dumbledore developed his trust for Snape. Harry assumed (which, as he was under extreme duress and agitation, is thoroughly understandable), but what happened when he last assumed something so grandiose? Think Sirius.

JKR's Joke

2005-07-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

I also found this kind of funny: Slughorn never remembers Ron's name. He called him "Rupert" once. What's the name of the actor that plays Ron? None other than Rupert Grint. JKR, you sly little fox!

R.A.B

2005-07-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

In response to Beth's theory of Snape displaying loyalty to Dumbledore in a feat that suggests otherwise, I completely agree. Dumbledore was not one to plead, nor beg, at least not in the manner displayed on the night of his death. He was the most intelligent wizard of his time and undoubtedly weighed the pros and cons, thus ultimately deciding that his life in exchange for a more peaceful world was a fair bargain. I have a couple theories that intertwine with Beth's Snape theory but those remain to be posted.Tonight, as a bonus for our "grand opening," I've decided to reveal who I believe R.A.B to be.

R.A.B were the initials left on a piece of parchment stuck between a fake locket believed by Dumbledore and Harry to be another Horcrux. Summarized, the note stated that the author believed he will be dead by the time Voldemort received the note but also that the author stole the real Horcrux and planned to destroy it as soon as possible. We do not know whether or not this Horcrux was destroyed; we can't safely assume that it was, but for the time being, we will.

The author would be none other than Regulus Black, brother of Sirius Black and former Death Eater. After Regulus found out the extent to which Voldemort was going in order to achieve power, Regulus attempted to back out and was eventually killed.Why I believe Regulus to be the mystery author, in addition to the R and the B matching up to the intials (we do now know Black's middle name), is because it is completely logical.

At one point in time, he was a Death Eater, as was much of his family, meaning he knew the a good deal about Voldemort's plans, and possibly more than intended. Whether his discovery of the Horcrux was by suspicion or by blatant explanation, I am not sure, but this theory makes a lot of sense to me. Plus, he was trying to get out, and the best way to attempt to break free from Voldemort is destroy a part of his soul. The author writes that he will most likely be dead by the time Voldemort reads the note. Why? Because the Death Eaters had closed in on Regulus soon after he stole (and hopefully destroyed) the Horcrux. Unfortunately, the reparably-bad wizards finish last...

Snape and the Light

2005-07-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

I do not think in any way, shape, or form that Snape is evil or bad. Despite the rather large amount of evidence against this theory at the end of HBP, I think Snape is ultimately good. I feel that due to the unbreakable vow he made with Narcissa he knew there would be no way of getting around the death of Albus Dumbledore. He made the unbreakable vow to keep his cover as a Death Eater and futher convince not only Voldemort, but also his fellow Death Eaters of his allegiance to the dark side.

I think that he killed Dumbledore according to both Dumbledore's own wishes and the vow he made. Dumbledore knew that his death could be the final impetus to cause Harry to defeat Voldemort in one final battle. Now that Dumbledore is dead, Harry will have to depend on only as himself and use the knowledge given him. Dumbledore's death will have an obvious effect on the wizarding world and now that Snape is the one that killed him, he could hold a very powerful position with Voldemort, which could potentially help Harry in the end. I think proof of Snape's true loyalties can be observed at the end of HBP. When Harry calls him a coward, Snape reacts immediately with so much hatred. He didn't want to kill Dumbledore... it probably took immense bravery and loyalty to perform such a task, which makes Snape the bravest of them all.

I also don't think that Dumbledore would be such a bad judge of character. He knew Snape's past, and wouldn't put his complete trust in him unless he knew that he could. Dumbledore is the kind of man that knows everything that goes on. There is something we are not being told about Snape, which I'm sure we will find out in the last book. While I must admit the pleading at the end threw me off, I believe this was all part of the act of Dumbledore.

I believe that sometime during the final book, Snape will reveal his true loyalties to the good side and ultimately help Harry win the battle against Voldemort. For some reason I have a feeling that Snape will play a rather crucial role in the death of Voldemort, maybe even sacrificing his own life for the greater good. It might be because he's one of my favorite characters, but I want to believe that he can overcome the obstacles and prove many, most definately Harry, wrong.

Well I could write so much more on Snape, but I'll stop here for now...

And so it begins!

2005-07-17T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today begins the journey into two of the greatest minds the Muggle community has ever seen- Potter-wise, of course. This site is the home to the theories and queries of the Harry Potter series (I know you are applauding at my grandiose rhyming skills). Beth and I (I, being Christina), hope to delve into some of our theories about 'Half-Blood Prince' and the preceding five books. Hopefully some of our theories and hypotheses will turn into realities once the final book hits shelves in approximately two years- and I'm hoping this journal will be a memory of sorts to look back upon when our eyes finally glide upon the pages of the seventh book and we discover whether or not we've been correct in our guesswork. Anyone who reads this and is sincerely interested in this is more than welcome to share their thoughts and theories about any or all of the books (and book to come!). Cheers, and good reading!