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Harry Potter predictions

Posted: Thursday, May 31, 2007 2:43 PM by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Filed Under: ,

Harry Potter fans, rejoice: In under two months, you'll be holding the final book in your hot little hands (or "lugging it around," if past page-lengths are any guide). The final book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," will be published on July 21, and the next movie, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,"  will be in theaters July 11 (moved up from July 13). It's a Wild About Harry summer. (And even then, it's not over...await the theme park in 2009.)

But forget the movie for now, loyal readers know what happens there. Let's talk about the next book. (If you don't like speculation and possible spoilers, duck out of this post now and go enjoy a chocolate frog or two.)

The nice thing about waiting on the book is that there are so many unanswered questions to ponder (sound familiar, "Lost" fans?) The biggest one of course, is who will die? Rowling has promised (threatened?) two major deaths in this last book. My pal Chris Bahn offered odds on various characters' chances to bite the dust in this 2006 article.

The major question about the deaths: Will Harry be one of them? (Make your prediction here.) Will he have to sacrifice himself to end the series to Rowling's satisfaction? Will Voldemort be the other, or is that just two easy, bad guy and good guy fighting to the death, like Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls?

If it's not Harry, who will it be? His pal Ron has to be a hot contender. (Remember the song lyric from "Sunset Boulevard" -- "nobody dies except the best friend"?) But maybe that's too cliched. If so, there are plenty of other Weasleys to take a bullet. (Fred and George maybe shouldn't buy any green bananas.) And don't forget ever-loyal Hagrid, or Neville, or even Hermione.

And what about Snape? The question with him is not only will he live or die, but is he good or bad? Where does his loyalty lie, and what exactly happened with Dumbledore?

There are other plot twists that cry out for resolving as well. Who wouldn't like to know exactly what happened the night Harry's parents were murdered? Is the mysterious RAB really Regulus Black, or is that again, too simple for words? What are the remaining horcruxes?

And fans have creative and fun theories too. It's not just Snape's loyalty that comes into question -- what if someone Harry trusted turned out to be working for He Who Must Not Be Named? (One theory I like suggests this person could have secrets, but I'm not sure I buy that.) I also like the idea that Harry will not die, but will live out his days in peace as Hogwarts' longest-running Defense Against the Dark Arts professor -- after all, who knows more about fighting baddies?

Let's hear your theories. After all, there's just seven weeks to go.

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Comments

just accept that dumbledore is dead. he isnt coming back. harry will have to do it on his own. neville will mooch the kill on voldemort because he is a stud. i cant wait to read the book.

Felix, Mertown, Idaho (Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:39 PM)

I'd b surprised if Harry does not die. His parents are dead. He separated himself from Ginnie (sp?), because of the challenges ahead. Things did not work out with him and the other girl. I think things are set up for Harry to die a heroic death, particularly since he does not have a family or love interest to tie him down. Also, "[n]either can live while the other survives," can also be read to mean that they must either both live, or they both must live, because "survive" suggests that the other has perished. Otherwise, one would still be dead already, rather than having both up and about. Thus, there cannot be one man standing, though I don't see Harry deliberately committing suicide. It will probably more along the lines of a climatic battle.

Long Beach, CA (Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:42 PM)

maybe this is to easy but doesnt it make sense that snape is working for the good guys and LV finds out and kills him for it. if that works then we just ned to find one person to kill off. i dont think its harry through couldnt it just be LV

mike bryan, long beach, ca. (Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:53 PM)

I think Harry is a Horcrux, I think Dumbledor is dead, and I think Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid et al will live..but I am afraid we will loose a Weasley....the squib thing is interesting and makes me wonder what role Dudley has..he is Harry's blood relative and they were born the same year.....and I am really afraid we will loose Lupin.

Asil Morgan, Providence, RI (Sent Thursday, May 31, 2007 11:59 PM)

Here's a theory NO ONE has mentioned. Snape was very much in love with Lily Evans! When Snape was terrorized by James Potter as a teen, Lily came to his defense, he called her a mudblood (no doubt to save face)--and summarily lost the love of his life. WHY ELSE WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN THE MEMORY HE TRIED TO HIDE FROM HARRY? I can see Snape ultimately sacrificing himself for Harry out of his love for Lily--care for a glimpse into the pensieve, anyone? As for the other death, Hagrid is likely, Ron is slow (but still capable of surprises), Hermione is too smart. My vote is either on Neville, Ginny, Mr. or Mrs. Weasley.

Sabrina Houston TX (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:04 AM)

First of all, harry is not a horcrux. You have to destroy all the horcruxes in order to kill Voldemort. So how can he kill himself and then kill Voldemort??? and Dumbledore would never murder someone to make a horcrux. He is dead. That is it. however, Serius is another story. I don't think he is dead. There is more to that curtain and that other room in the ministry of magic...the one that's door was locked. Finally, Snape is not evil. He was only doing what Dumbledore told him to do. Remember in the 6th book when Dumbledore and Snape were in the forest arguing and Snape said no, i won't do it and then he ran out angry. Obviously, Dumbledore asked him to kill him...why? I'm not sure. We all no Dumbledore would never beg for his life. That was obvious after the encounter with Voldemort at the end of the 5th book. He is also never wrong. Yes, he says he makes mistakes but he is not wrong about Snape. As for who dies, I think it will be Voldemort but i don't think Harry dies. My best guess would be Snape just because i know Voldemort wont be happy to hear that he was tricked all along.

Dawer, Nashville, Tennessee (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:11 AM)

Let me just also add on to how I said Snape isn't evil. When he first came onto the rooftop it specifically said that he did a sweep of what was going on. He saw both broomsticks. Remember, he knew Harry had an invisibility cloak. Don't you think he would have connected the dots???? I know he would have.

dawer, Nashville, Tennessee (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:18 AM)

Most people think RAB has to be Regulus Black. JKR knows that it's a simple connection, and it's so obvious. But since it's so obvious, maybe he's not the one. Maybe it's someone mentioned only once in the previous books, and later makes a bigger appearance in the Deathly Hallows. We realy didn't know about Slughorn before Half-Blood Prince, but he makes a huge impact, because he tells Harry [okay, he was drunk, but he still told Harry] about the Horcruxes. But, everything's possible, and the only one who knows for sure is JKR, so we ust have to wait until July [unless some information somehow leaks out].

Nicole Vu, San Jose, CA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:19 AM)

Here is a thought no one has had yet. In the scene in the GOF at the cematary. Voldemort walks around with many gaps in his inner circle. His number 2 in command is absence. It is none other than...................."Neville's Grandma". You read it here first ladies and gents...think about it, it explains alot.

Mobfish, Phoenix, Arizona (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:22 AM)

Does anyone remember Dumbledore saying in Book 6 to Draco that there are ways to bring people back from the dead or make them appear dead or something like that? Also, he'll always be at the school for those who are loyal to him. RAB is Regulus Black. I like the idea of Harry taking the DADA job. Snape is good and probably did make the unbreakable vow with Dumbledore a long time ago. Percy dying, that would be sweet, but I doubt it. How about Voldemort and Beatrix Lestrange, or Malfoy's dad or Lupin or McGonagall. Neville killing Lestrange (didn't she torture his parents) would be cool too.

Sheila, Omaha, NE (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:23 AM)

I think that Harry and Hermione get MARRIED, one of the "deaths" just COULD be a figure of speech, at his wedding to Hermione, Harry says "That's the end ( death) of my life as a Batchelor!" But, Harry and Hermy MUST get MARRIED, and then THEY run the School together!

Glen Rasmussen Oak Hill NC (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 1:13 AM)

This is how the 7th book and movie will ( or should ) end: There is a huge fire at the Dursley's House ( the "muggles" that hate magic ), and, when the firemen hear a noise from under the stairs, they break through and find Harry, at 21 years old, talking to himself, and because he says stuff about magic and wizards, etc. he gets sent to a mental institute, IE, the whole story, all 7 books/movies turn out to be Harry's imagination while going batty locked under the stairs, his scar being from brain damage.

Dave Morganton, North Carolina (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 1:24 AM)

i believe that when voldemort kiled harry's mother it was a horicrux. when voldemort used harry's blood to come back to human form it released it and thus the horicrux was destroyed.

b.b. ohio (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 1:25 AM)

I do believe that all that are dead are truly dead. The one Voldermort feared the most was Dumbledore. Dumbledore was incredibly smart so I believe he has a final part to play in this final book. It may very well be through his portraits or even his pensieve. Remember he left Harry clues many times via the pensieve. I also do believe Snape is battling with his loyalties and will play a significant role may be even killing Voldermort himself since he too is a half blood prince. I think he is indeed loyal to Dumbledore but despises Harry. He tolerates him only because of Dumbledore. Now that Dumbledore is gone I doubt he will do much to help Harry. Harry I do believe will die. His arrogance and his lack of willingness to learn his studies has made him a blooming idiot. I doubt seriously he is a horcrux unless it is by accident. I do believe Voldermort is the other one to die. Rowling has already said that she would end the series in a way that it can never be resurrected. Afterall, she wrote the ending back in 1990 before she started the series, with one exception, the deaths are different. She also commented that she understands now why writers kill off their heroines. She has been writing these books for 17 + years and she is ready to move on to something else. She admits that she will never have another book as successful as Harry Potter. Neville, I believe as the rest of the gang will have as much as a role in helping Harry find the remaining Horcruxes and defending Hogwarts against the death eaters. Let's not forget that powers that protect Hogwarts and the secret chambers still exist. Not everyone except a parseltongue can enter making it accessible only to Voldermort and Harry. I would imagine one of the Horcruxes is in the Chamber of Secrets. But, I guess we will have to wait to read the book to find out. But, I have enjoyed everyones commments. I think they are inciteful and I can't wait to read the book.

Kelvin, Chattanooga, Tn (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 1:42 AM)

Dumbledore will live on in the picture in the headmasters chamber, but no resurrection is my guess. Snape will be redeemed. I have to confess it's really hard not to like Alan Rickman's character. Even when he's an ass, it's comical...save for killing Dumbledore. I can't imagine Harry attending Hogwarts in DH because I can't imagine him putting so many people he loves in jeopardy. On the American book jacket, Harry has the Slytherin locket around his neck and he's surrounded by deatheaters. I'm sure I read Sirius' mirror will come into play in Harry reestablishing communication with Sirius. Voldemort HAS to die. Maybe Harry's scar is a horcrux created when Lily Potter was killed, but Harry doesn't have to die to get rid of the scar...maybe a little fileted. I'm dying for Order of the Phoenix to come out. Those final battle scene read so cinematically.

Melissa, Hoover, Alabama (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 1:53 AM)

Where are the remaining horcruxes hidden? Dumbledore tells explicitly. It's not Harry. It's a race to recover them. Yes, there are ways of hidding Draco, so that everyone will think he's dead - thus the curtain the room of mysteries. Snape is good, plain and simple. Examine the cover jacket - both Voldemort and Harry are reaching for someting, w/o their wands - a horcrux? Can't use the same wands on each other, Voldemort can possess Harry. Both Snape owes Harry (by Harry's father saving his life - old magic) and Wormtail (old magic) owes him. Will come to help Harry in book 7. Remember, JK said, even though the book will end, there will be much to talk about.... I think she is going to tie up many lose ends, but leave us to our imaginations as to how the rest of the characters live in our imagination and perhaps what happened in some of the action scenes. Harry will live. Bet my double copy of book 3 on it!

Liz, Goleta CA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 2:03 AM)

Of course Harry is the last horcrux. V was prepared to make the last one with the murder of James Potter. Can he get rid of it without killing himself? What do dementors do when they kiss you? Someone mentioned vampire foreshadowing. RAB said he would be dead by the time V read his note. Maybe undead? Another option for RAB is Rabastan Lestrange, with the virtue that he is not dead. Deaths in book 7? Snape (V does not reward those that pose a threat to his leadership by offing the only wizard he ever feared) and Tom Riddle. Harry teaches DADA his 7th year, afterward marries Ginnie and lives happily ever after next door to Mrs. Hermione and Ron Weasley.

Ron Portz, Woodinville, Washington (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 2:05 AM)

Just a thought. If Harry's scar is a horcrux then that means that he is carrying a piece of LV's soul inside him in addition to his own soul. What if LV strikes Harry with the death curse and instead of killing Harry kills himself instead. Harry's soul might keep him alive in the end, because Voldemort would be destroying his own horcrux (soul).

Tim, Kansas City, KS (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 2:42 AM)

Great theories, all...Here are my two cents: Snape is good, the unbreakable promise to Dumbledore had to be the reason Snape zapped him. I do not think that Harry or anyone in his 'gang' will kick the bucket. In fact, I don't think that Big Bad Lord Voldy will die either. I beleive that when the last horocrux is destroyed, something will happen to both Harry and Voldy, rendering both of them without magic. And I think that Neville will play a vital role in making this happen. (Voldy will eventually find himself in Azkaban) As for who dies? I think it will be Snape and Draco...may be a long shot but I think that Draco will find himself in a situation where Harry is about to be killed (by a death eater?)and Draco jumps in the mix to save Harry, and dies in the process. I think Snape may die in a battle where he saves Harry from Draco's Daddy.... Anywho, those are just my thoughts.... One more thing, in regards to B, Salem Oregon's comment - "JK's final message to her children: In all of our lives there comes a time to grow up, leave behind the enchanted days of our childhood and make our way in the real world." You couldn't be farther from the truth! We are all children at heart, which makes these books so popular for people of all ages. If we leave our enchanted days of childhood behind, what a boring life it would be!!!

Michael, Woodstock Valley, CT (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 3:34 AM)

I think that Harry is not a Horcrux but that his wand is. Previously it has been stated that Harry and Lord V share the same tail feathers of the same Phoenix in their wands. Also, the wand maker went missing in the last book which I think occurred because Voldermort was looking for this particular horcrux and found out that Harry was given the wand/horcrux. I also believe this is where Harry is truly going to have to "shine" because the moral of the story-- (and Dumbledore has hinted at many times) is that magic has made many magicians arrogant towards non-magical creatures. Harry will have to detroy all the horcuxs including is own wand. Essentially, Harry will have to destroy Voldrmort without the use of magic. Just my thought.

Juniper Yeager-Espejo, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 4:05 AM)

Syrius Black dies in this movie, Dumbledore dies in Half Blooded prince, Harry and harmonie in the last one

l rutt (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 5:39 AM)

Sorry, I didn't have the time to read all comments but wanted to chime in. No way Harry's dying - these are children's books! Not only is your hero not dying - evil isn't triumphing as a result! That's also why Harry isn't a horcrux. I'd say Hagrid, Snape and Voldemort are not long for this world. The first two will die protecting Harry. The last won't. But needless to say, lo' these many years after I first heard of Harry Potter on NPR, I'm eagerly awaiting the end of the series! It might have been some kids' youth, but it was my 20s!

muffy L.A., CA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 5:43 AM)

Is it possible that Harry himself could be the seventh horcrux?

katie canton, ga (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 5:49 AM)

I think that the 2 people that die are Harry and Voldemort. I think Harry is a horcrux. The way I think it'll turn out is that Harry will have to die, and then Neville will kill Voldemort. Another theory I have that no one has mentioned yet: what if Hermoine is related to Harry? I mean, Harry's mom was a mudblood, right? Wouldn't it be possible for one of Hermoine's parents to be related to Harry's mom. And how would that effect the outcome of the story? Snape is not evil. The theory about the unbreakable vow is reasonable, but I think there's more to it than that. Finally, Dumbledore is dead and he is not coming back. Sirius is a different matter. It would be cool to see him make a dramatic entrance in the upcoming book.

Cody Barfield, Simsbury, CT (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 6:45 AM)

i think that Harry will die and Neville will kill Voldemort and that Neville will become a Herbology teacher. I also think that maybe Ginny or Hermione will die trying to save Harry.

cape (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 7:10 AM)

Harry WAS a horcrux, but Lord V removed the part of his soul at the end of GOF! Hence the gleam in Dumledore's eye! Harry won't die! Hermione will, and Ron will end up with luna!

Justin Saine, Tmmins, ON (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 7:32 AM)

A couple of possibilities come to mind. Harry is/was a Horcrux, inadvertently created by Voldemort when he killed Lilly Potter. The blood taken from Harry, unwillingly given, may have been the process to transfer the soul back to Voldemort. Remember, Voldemort's condition at various places in the books have him as something worse than dead - souless? Another possibility is that Harry is a Horcrux and, at the end of the day, will need to give up all his magical powers (obtained unintentionally from Voldemort) and effectively become a squib. His knowledge of the hidden world of magic and his lost powers would be too much to bear and too great a risk for the wizarding community. Remember the memory charm? Harry gets his memory wiped, at the end, he is back in the muggle world, where he, unlike other wizards, can function comfortably and all he is left with is a "scar." Ties it all up with little chance of a sequal - even Mungo's couldn't fix Lockhart. But, what if Dudley's kid were to become a wizard? That is a story for another day.

S Douglas, York, PA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 9:08 AM)

I need to clarify that Rowling didn't say just two people die in Book 7. She said that two people die that she didn't plan on dying, and that one person doesn't die who she planned on dying. (In her words, the character gets a "reprieve".) The point is, more than 2 people are likely to die...but of those, 2 she hadn't originally planned on killing off. Also, I think Dumbledore is dead, but will show up in Book 7 via the portraits.

Ryan, Ypsilanti, MI (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 9:41 AM)

I think that RAB is Borgin, the remaining proprietor of the Dark Arts place in Knockturn Alley. He was in a position to figure out exactly what Tom Riddle was doing, and Tom had access to at least a couple of the horcrux objects through his store (the cup and the locket). Borgin expressed a certain dislike of Lucius Malfoy the minute the Malfoys were out of his store, and Draco blackmailed him over the Vanishing Cabinet in the shop. He has motive to say that enough is too much already.

Anne, New York, NY (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 9:43 AM)

Sorry to rain on everyones parade but i doubt harry is the last horcrux. It wouldnt make any since for Voldemort to kill Harry's parents and then make Harry a final horcrux just to try and take him out. The first book he orders Quirrell to kill harry, the 4th book in the grave yard he attempts to kill harry, book 5 he merges with harry daring dumbledore to kill him. If harry was a final Horcrux why would Voldemort want him dead.

Chris, SLC UT (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 9:51 AM)

I'm convinced about this one. Dumbledore is really dead and Snape really killed him but Snape is Dumbledore's man. Here's why: Once Dumbledore had drunk the liquid in the cave, he was doomed and knew it. He was in unspeakable pain and would have remained so for as long as he lived. He more or less forecasts this when he tells Harry how V would protect his horcrux. His plea to Snape was not begging Snape save him but to kill him and remove him from his agony. This explains why Snape is so angry at Harry's comments afterwards. Snape has just done the hardest, bravest thing he has ever done and Harry is reviling him.

Chris Lee, Clarksville, MD (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 9:56 AM)

MSNBC Reports, that the movie date has been moved up from July 13th, 2007 to July 11th, 2007! Also in their article the ask readers to make predictions on what will happen in the final book, Harry Potter and the

Muggle Guide (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 9:59 AM)

Interesting theory about Harry being an accidental horcrux - I will have to ponder on that a bit. I think Prof. McGonagall is a spy for the dark lord and she will be one of the ones who dies. Percy redeeming himself and being the second one is intriguing too, and remember, we aren't limited to two deaths. JKR said AT LEAST two characters die. I just can't wait for the book, but I know I will be depressed once I finish it. I hope she has another series in the works.

Rory Hyde (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:04 AM)

i think Neville could kill voldermort instead Harry

jiab(Harry's fan),vientiane LAOS (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:09 AM)

I'm starting to wonder if RAB is not Regulus, but someone else. Maybe RAB is just rearranged and the person is ARB, BAR, or ABR. Just a thought.

Jaimie, Michigan (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:19 AM)

These have all been fun to read. Here are my theories, for what it's worth: Harry survives. He has to. Otherwise, you've got a series of books where an evil wizard makes a child's life miserable and then kills him at a very young age. Very depressing and pointless, so I doubt that will happen. Who dies? As much as I hate to say it, I think it's Hagrid, who has been becoming more and more expendable throughout the series. I also fear that Molly too will die - the good mom who worried about everyone's safety but her own. Snape will turn out to be on Harry's side, if not exactly good: remember Sirius' point that the world isn't divided into "good people versus deatheaters". Personally, I can't wait for July 21!

Donna, Maryland (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:22 AM)

If Harry Potter is a horacrux then perhaps Snape kills Harry after Harry kills Lord Voldemort. I have two more theories: Perhaps Neville kills Snape and Harry kills Lord Voldemort or Harry kills Snape and Neville kills Lord Voldemort.

win, denver, co (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:27 AM)

snape has to be good -- JKR studied classics, she knows the constructs of classic literature, and one of the great themes of classics is the redemptive character arc. within the potter-verse, there is only one character who is a member of slytherin house AND a death-eater (snape). slughorn proves that not everyone to come out of slytherin is bad - he may be a bit dense, but he's not a baddie. but there is no other character who has been a death eater and stands a chance at redemption, except for snape. also, JKR stated that at least two people will die in the final book. i think that the series cannot end happily if voldemort lives, so i think he will die, but not necessarily in the fashion we all expect. i wouldn't be surprised to see lupin, neville, and snape all die as well. wormtail will die to fulfill his life-debt to harry, and snape will die in harry's defense. the theories about molly weasley and neville's grandmother are great, i'll have to think about those. ditto the theory about harry being a squib, although i'm not entirely sure that's going to be true. i think it's more likely that harry would choose to leave the magical world than for him to be unable to participate in magic.

Jessica, Richmond, VA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:28 AM)

Harry will live. Harry will kill Voldemort. Snape is good. Harry will be able to communicate with Dumbledore through his portrait. Harry will be able to communicate with Sirius via the mirror. Harry is not a Horocrux. The reason Voldemort wasn't going to kill Harry's mother is because he was going to use Harry's death as the final murder to split his soul the final time.

Eden Ayers, Westlake Village, CA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:30 AM)

I don't think Harry is a Horcrux or he won't be able to kill Voldy. Snape is good. Voldy and someone else will die, don't care who as long as it is not Ron.

Kelly, Monroe, LA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 10:53 AM)

I watched a show over the weekend that showed how Star Wars follows the symbolic standards of the "hero's journey" epic style. Well, so does Lord of the Rings, and so does Harry Potter. If one wants to look at it that way, then the ending is pretty easy to determine. Harry will destroy Voldemort, and he will have to do that alone. Whether or not he survives is up for debate, as this is never totally the same in these stories. They sometimes triumph and live on, and sometimes the burden of the fight eventually destroys them. But one thing that seems to be the same in all the places is the fellowship of people around the hero. And the ones most close to the hero never die. Han Solo and Princess Leia. Samwise Gamgee and the other two hobbits. Hermione and Ron. But that doesn't mean that other members of Harry's "fellowship" won't fall. In fact, I expect it. I am sure Voldemort and some of Harry's friends will die. But I don't think it will Hermione or Ron. And whether Harry lives, that is going to be the big surprise for me.

Sarah, Euless, Texas (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 11:17 AM)

With 99.99999% certainty, RAB is Regulus Black. As you all know, the HP series has been printed in many languages. The color "black" only begins with a "B" in a few of those languages. In every edition, in every language, the last name "Black" was changed to the word for the color "black" in that language. Similarly, in each of the HP&THBP editions, the initials on the note that HP and AD found in lieu of the locket showed the last initial changed to correspond with the first letter of the word "black" in the language of that edition. Cut and dry... RAB is Regulus Black. By the way, RAB likely enlisted the help of a certain house elf to help him retrieve the locket... Put that in your pipe and smoke it ;-)

John R., Barre, VT (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 11:19 AM)

I really hate to upset all of you guys, but J.K. Rowling said explicitly that Harry, nor his scar, are horcruxes. I read it on the same site that I read that Dumbledore is definately dead.

S, Fort Worth, Tx. (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 11:22 AM)

OK, good theories so far but from a writers perspective JK Rowling has already set things in motion. Here's how I think they will play out. The house elves will play a major role in turning the tide against Voldemort. She wouldn't have introduced them unless she had a reason. Harry is not a horcrux and he will not lose any powers except perhaps the parseltongue capability. Neville will play a key role and perhaps die while killing Bellatrix. Dumbledore is dead but will be reborn like a phoenix (the fire exploding from his coffin surprised everyone) will he be younger? Sirius will talk to Harry again but will likely still be "dead". Percey will be under an imperius curse and will likely make an attempt on someone's life during the wedding. Bill or Charlie will intervene and stop him but not before he kills someone possibly Fleur or Molly. Remember, Wormtail/Scabbers was Percy's rat for a long time. That will be Voldemort's in to Harry's life. The majority of the book will be Voldemort indirectly attacking Harry through his friends while Harry hunts down the horcruxes. The final battle will take place inside Hogwarts where Hagrid will die. Snape is good but not by choice. I'm not sure how an unbreakable vow works once one of the parties is dead. But Snape did make a vow with Dumbledore. I also think that love is going to play a crucial part in the ending of this tale. I can't wait to read it

Steve Butler, Fort Collins, CO (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 11:32 AM)

I believe it was Dumbledore's brother who actually died, and Albus is laying low to help. I also don't believe Sirius is actually dead, just a twist to add to the plot. Unfortunatly I think Hagrid will die along with LV. Snape is a good guy, but he hides it well. All reasons stated in above commments. Neville will probably kill LV in the end because he hasn't really had a big part in the books previously. I think LV accidently gave some of his powers to Harry when he tried to kill him. I'm sure it had to do with the spell Harry's mother had used to protect Harry. "Nothing stronger than a mother's love.

Ramona Rohr Iola, KS (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 11:41 AM)

I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but Dumbledore is most definitely dead. Deader than a Dumbledorenail...Rowling says so. Even if he wasn't dead, there is no way he has a Horcrux. In the Potterverse, Horcruxes are the epitome of evil; they're so horrible that even Hermione can't find anything about them, and neither could Tom Riddle. To create a Horcrux you have to MURDER someone; Slughorn tell us that you have to "commit the ultimate act of evil" and that killing "tears the soul". Now, let's get real. Do you really think that the model of good in the series would do something like that? No! I doubt Dumbledore killed anyone in his entire life, not even Grindelwald, whom Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog Card tells us he merely "defeated", which is a long way from "killed" according to my dictionary. Personally, I don't believe Harry will kill Voldemort; I think Snape is going to do it out of revenge for something that may or may not have anything to do with that sob story he fed to Dumbledore. Harry has a pure and untarnished soul, and I think Rowling will keep it that way.

Kristin, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 11:53 AM)

I've been reading some of these posts, and I have to say that I don't think Harry is a Horcrux. It is theorized by Dumbledore that Voldemort would split his soul into 7 portions. Two have been destroyed (the diary by Harry, and the ring by Dumbledore), one is thought to have been destroyed (by the mysterious R.A.B) which leaves four. One would have been used when the killing curse rebounded on Voldemort when he tried to kill Harry, which leaves three left. There are the two articles from the remaining founders (Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw), and then Nagini...Voldemort's snake. I don't believe Harry is a Horcrux for this simple reason. Even if you don't count the rebounded killing curse, Voldemort's body has to have one of those sould portions in it, doesn't it?

Mike, Illinois (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:17 PM)

Here is my two cents worth: I think Dumbledore is really dead, but like Harry's mother, I think that he used his own death for an advantage. This might be by the arrangments he made with Snape beforehand. In any case, remember that Harry's mother died "to save him" which is why he wasn't killed by Voldemort. Now, who did Dumbledore die to save? The obvious guess is Harry, but the less obvious answer would be Draco Malfoy. This would explain Dumbledore's triumphant expression when Snape showed up as Malfoy was hesitating to kill him. I also think that the character arcs in the story follow very classic lines, as other posters have suggested. Harry is good, Snape will be redeemed by his actions, and I have no idea who is going to die. It might be Snape in the commission of his final redeeming act. This would leave Harry to work through his conflicting feelings without having to confront or be confronted by Snape in the end. I think the other death has to be Voldemort, but there might be more than two...

Kerrie, Shrevport, LA (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:37 PM)

I'm not sure what two characters are doomed to die in the final book of the series, but I have a theory that has to do with that and the horcruxes. Every Harry Potter fan (that has kept up with the books, at least) knows that there is a deep connection between Harry and Voldemort that came to be on the night of the attempted murder of Harry (as states this article), so I think that in the end both Harry and Voldemort will have to die because I think Harry is Voldemort's final horcrux. Forgive me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I read Half-Blood Prince, but isn't a horcrux an object of some sort that a witch or wizard puts a part of himself into in order to stay alive? Well, Dumbledore told Harry in Chamber of Secrets that on the night Voldemort attempted to kill him that some of Voldemort's powers were transfered to him and that's how Harry was able to speak Parselmouth; but what if powers weren't the only thing that was transferred? What if a part of Voldemort's soul was transferred as well, making Harry Voldemort's final horcrux? I know it is but one of the many and many theories out there, and there may be many reasons why this may or may not be possible that I haven't considered, but it seems feasable to me.

Hayley Smirthens, Knoxville, TN (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:38 PM)

I have had a great time reading the books with my daughter. Harry Potter has really motivated her and kids/people everywhere to read more. Ok my thoughts...Harry will live, Dumbledore is dead, Sirius is dead, Snape is good or as good as he can be. I think that Dumbledore knew his time was coming and that is why he started educating Harry in book 6. This would give Harry a better understandin of Voldemort for when Harry had to face him on his own. Ron and Hermoine die (to stick with the theme that the closest to Harry die), Snape kills Voldemort after Harry has defeated him becuase I don't think Harry is capable of killing anyone, even Voldemort. Harry is not a Horcrux, Voldemort wantd to kill Harry when he was a baby not have him keep a part of Voldemort's soul even in his lifeless body had Voldemort succeeded. I think that Harry and Ginny get together again and the last chapter describes thier life together with harry teaching at Hogwarts. RAB... defenitey Sirius' brother, I will bet that Dumbledore's brother will play a role somehow as well. And there is more to Harry's Aunt Petunia that we know. Interesting thoughts on Ms. Weasley, curious to see if that plays out.

Mark, Virginia (Sent Friday, June 01, 2007 12:39 PM)



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