PeterDavid.net

I think Ron and Hermione are both relatively safe. That is to say, I don't think they will die.

I am also of the mindset that Harry will not die. It just doesn't make any sense to do that from a story telling standpoint.

I had forgotten about the Wormtail situation. That makes great sense.

I also half expect Draco Malfoy to earn some type of redemption before the tale is told. Remember, he couldn't kill Dumbledore...is that a glimpse of good we see in him? I don't know.

On a different note, Peter, I just wanted to let you know how much I loved your work on the Incredible Hulk...both times. You are one of the tops in the biz right now in my opinion. Thanks.

Good guesses!

I myself am thinking neither Ron nor Hermione die. I believe Hagrid and Snape will be the two who die and Snape will redeem himself in Harry's eyes at the end. Wormtail will die. Voldemort will die. Lucius Malfoy will die as will Beatrice LeStrange. AND, if there is justice in the world, Neville will kill her. And this just occurred to me when I reread the Half-Blood Prince this week (just like Ariel, I reread them all) not only will Hogwarts reopen but Harry will be the new Teacher of the Dark Arts. Voldemort wanted to teach there and also wanted to teach the Dark Arts. Harry will do what Voldemort never could. I think Draco Malfoy will survive and he and Harry, while never friends, will make their peace.

Can you tell this has been on my mind a lot recently?

Yeah, what you both said. The only thing I can really see is Draco turning his back on Lucius. At least, that's how the writer in me would do it. Now, I'm going to go back to my screenplays.

(And Russell T. Davies? NIIIIIIICE!)

I predict...

...that there's gonna be an awful lot of Deathly Hallows talk at this August's Archon! :)

Can someone help me with my Queen's English? Isn't "hallow" a word for "make sacred"? Is it interchangable with hollow/valley/moor?

1) Snape will redeem himself and sacrifice himself to save Harry and help destroy Voldemort.

2) I still have an odd gut feeling that Albus Dumbledore will either return in the flesh or in some way have a hand in the final battle.

3) Harry dies.

4) J. K. Rowling is going to pull a trick from the classics of English Mystery fiction and throw a completely unforeseen curve at us in the final confrontation.

Oh, before anybody points out that Rowling has said that two prominent characters will die and I've listed three...

I was very careful with my wording about Snape & Voldemort. Rowling has used several characters and scenes to emphasize that, in Harry's world in particular, there are far worse fates then death.

I'd decided a while ago that the most logical ending, given that I don't think Rowling will kill off Harry Potter but will want to effectively kill off the idea of further books, is for Harry to have to effectively abandon magic in order to kill Voldemort and save his friends. So everyone is saved, but he can't see or be affected by anything magical, and nothing magical can see him (maybe even split off the "muggle" and magical worlds into separate realms).

Oddly enough, Keith Olbermann, of all people, had some speculation on his show a few weeks back which explained how this could be done. Harry's scar ties him to Voldemort, so Harry thinks he can only kill Voldemort by killing himself. Someone else (Olbermann suggested Snape, but after all the "Snape is evil, no he isn't" fake-outs, I want Snape to be evil, even if it does make Dumbledore look foolish) suggests the alternative of abandoning magic, and with the help of his now-reformed muggle family he does so.

Of course, even if I'm right, and I'm not at all confident that I am, I'm almost certain Rowling will leave herself an out in the final page. Or maybe allow Harry to take some of his friends with him to the muggle world.

If one of Harry's two closest companions is to die, I’d rather see it be Ron than Hermione.

Re-reading all the books together lately I’m impressed again with how smart and just plain perceptive Hermione is. And, to some extent, how little Ron does. He’s a great friend to Harry and those are of value beyond measure. But it’s Hermione who actively helps understand and solve problems. She figured out it was a Basilisk. She had the time turner. She was the one urging him on to understand the Tri-Wizard egg. She came up with the idea for the D.A.

I’m sure there are examples I’m just not thinking of, but what has Ron done that actively helped Harry get to the goal since playing a game of Wizard’s Chess in year 1 and driving him to school in year 2? If Ron weren’t there, what would Harry not have known or been able to do?

He's been rather passive and that makes him less vital to everything. Hermione has come through almost as big a journey as Harry, and we’ve seen the changes in her confidence, her attitude, her growing flexibility and willingness to bend (okay, darn near break) the rules to do what is ultimately right.

Of course, that means Hermione's death would pack the greater emotional wallop, so...

.

On another note, something occurred to me as I finished up re-reading Order of the Phoenix. Nearly Headless Nick explains that he’s a ghost because (IIRC, don’t have the exact quote handy) he was hesitant to move on, to accept death. And earlier in the book Voldemort had said “Nothing is worse than death.”

Could Filch have something far worse than Peeves to deal with coming up... :-)

in RE: to Sean Martin:
Well Ron really gave Harry his initial foot-hold into the magical world, and unlike Muggle-born Hermione, he still suplies the trio with important knowledge and information about the Wizarding World in General.

R.J. Carter asked, "Can someone help me with my Queen's English? Isn't "hallow" a word for "make sacred"? Is it interchangable with hollow/valley/moor?"
Yes to the First, no to the second. As in "All Hallow's Eve" it mean 'saint' or 'holy one' (which is what saint means anyway... I believe Saint is from our Latin/French heritage while Hallow comes from our Anglo-Saxon linguistic roots, but that they're basically the same word.)

NOTE: "Relics of Death" was provided by Rowling for an foreign language translator who was having trouble deciphering the title.

My Prediction? Harry will kill Ron.

It's the Nargles man... They do weird things to you... ;)

Even if Dumbledore is dead (and the out of sight nature of his death leaves that WIDE open), considering how the "potraits" (like those in Dumbledore's office) work, he still is around as a potential source of advice/aid to Harry.

I also HOPE Snape does turn out to be a bad guy. I hate how Dumbledore is shown as being right about almost everything. I want Snape to be the one thing Harry has been right about all along throughout the books, even if why he thinks Snape is evil are wrong. Even Gandalf was wrong once or twice...

If either Ron or Hermione have to die, yes, Hermione would probably be a bigger impact with as useful as she's been, but it'll be Ron that takes the bullet for Harry if either of them dies. He's the best friend, he's lucky to have made it this far ;) Although I actually think Ron and Hermione will survive but it will end up being Neville dying after he defeats Bellatrix (I doubt that beyond Voldemort, Rowling has plans for any of the kids to be murderers), and Ginny will be the other "big" death.

I give Hagrid only about 30% chance to survive this book. I think the Big V is gonna go all out, assuming that his Horcruxes will help keep him safe.

Harry dies : 10 to 1 against. As much as I think that could make a good ending, I don't see Rowling going that route. It's too dark for her target audience.

Draco, after leaving Hogwarts with Snape and possibly meeting Voldemorte, discovers that true evil is NOT to his tastes after all, and turns to the "not evil, just a dick, fighting the greater evil" side by the end. Draco will always be a racist bully...

Completely ridiculous predictions, not to be taken seriously at all:

The final battle between Harry and Voldemort is aborted when Voldemort chokes on a fishbone during dinner the night before.

Harry is so stunned by this development that he shambles through finals like a zombie and fails to graduate from Hogwarts.

Hermione decides to go to muggle college. Her family cuts her off and she has to go wait tables to pay her tuition.

Harry, having left Hogwarts in disgrace, gets a job working in an electronics store, reporting to a guy named Shaun.

***Recent arrival to PeterDavid.net delurks to throw her guesses into the Sorting Hat***

1) As soon as Harry read the note in the fake Horcrux, I immediately came to the same conclusion as Ariel, and for the same reasons.

2) I think Snape is going to turn out to be a good guy--the overheard Dumbledore/Snape conversation will turn out to be Snape objecting to having to kill Dumbledore re: the Unbreakable Vow, and Dumbledore insisting it be done in order to safeguard Snape's "cover."

3) I wouldn't be surprised if Voldemort kills Hagrid; as Harry's first friend in the magical world, the one who tells him how he really ended up with the Dursleys, his loss would pack quite a wallop. As to the other major death...could be Snape, if he's actually a good guy and Voldemort gets past S.'s Occlumency skills. Or it could be Draco, because even though Snape would probably try to protect him from Voldemort, V.'s Legilimency skills would quickly reveal that Draco chickened out re: killing Dumbledore.

4) I do think Hogwarts will stay open, and that Harry, despite his stated intentions to track down Voldemort, will return to the school, because

5) that painting of Dumbledore is going to wake up eventually, and I'm pretty sure it will have vital info for Harry, re: the search for the remaining Horcruxes.

I think I'd better re-lurk before this comment equals "Half-Blood Prince" in length... ;)

Personally, I think...

1) Harry himself is a Horcrux.

2) I agree with the notion that by the end of the story, Harry has sacrificed all his magical ability in order to rid the world of Voldemort.

3) I think the father will kill the son...oh. Sorry. That's from an episode of "Angel."

PAD

My predictions:

Harry marries Ginny, Ron marries Hermione. None of the main 4 will die and Ginny while not that active early on has always been intended for Harry, it was obvious in book 2.

Two of these: Lupin, Hagrid, Moody or Mcgonogal die.

Snape, I want him to be the final big bad, but I have a feeling, especially based on an old JK comment, he will redeem himself and the death of Dumbledor was part of their plan. The opening chapter and the unbreakable pledge was just too pat, to be all it seemed.

Nevile turns Bellatrix into a drooling zombie, a much better ending for her than just death and justice for Nevile.

Quick less satisfying alternate ending to the one I speculated on above, now that I've been thinking of it. Harry, with the help and consent of his friends, is forced to remove all magic from the world, not just from himself, to stop Voldemort (which immediately cancels all spells keeping Voldemort alive). This leaves him in the company of his now all-muggle friends at the end, and faced with the prospect of teaching them about the real world.

My predictions:

1) Regarding Dumbledore -- as Voldemort told Harry in Order of the Phoenix, regarding the unforgivable curses, "You have to mean it." Did Snape mean it? That's the easiest out for Dumbledore's death.

2) I don't think Harry will have to abandon the magical word completely - to the point of cutting all connections. But I think it is a possibility in killing Voldemort he will lose his magical powers - turning him into a muggle. Ron and Hermione will survive.

If either suffer, I want it to be Hermione. And I want her to at least come to her senses and be shown the error of her ways. She has shown in recent books that she feels lots of morally unethical actions are justified for a cause. A very dangerous belief system to allow the series of books to close without addressing. (I'm thinking particularly of what she did to Rita Skeeter and what she did to enforce secrecy in Dumbledore's Army.)

3) Deaths: Hagrid and Draco, but Draco will redeem himself beforehand.

4) Neville will be involved in the death of Voldemort. Just as the prophecy was unclear about which one of them it would be, it won't be clear either way which one succeeds in killing Voldemort.

1) Harry becomes DADA teacher. As seen in book 5, he's more than qualified and capable.

2) Snape will be Headmaster. His killing of Dumbledore was prearranged between the two, and Snape will be crucial to Harry finding Voldemort. Also, Dumbledore didn't give Snape the DADA job specifically so that Harry could learn from the widest range of techniques possible.

3) Draco Malfoy is a werewolf. His feelings of hopelessness throughout book 6 are not in keeping with a young wizard proud of his family's connections with Voldemort in the past, and out to avenge his father's imprisonment. Also note the ongoing decline of his physical being throughout the book, reminiscent of Lupin in book 3. The mark on his arm that Harry, Ron and Hermione are sure is a Dark Mark is actually the werewolf bite.

4) Neville will become a Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts someday.

5) (Real long shot, but if I don't say it now, nobody will believe I said it.) All the voices behind the Veil inside the Department of Mysteries are victims of the Avada Kedavra curse. Voldemort's death will free them all, returning them to life, giving Harry the happy reunion with his parents and Sirius that he deserves.

6) Kreacher is still following Draco. Harry pulled Dobby off the job, but Kreacher wasn't there at the time. This is how Harry will find Draco, Snape, and Voldemort.

Interesting speculations from the David household. Just to back up Ariel's #5 prediction, about Regulus Black stealing the locket, apparently J.K. Rowling told the producers of the most recent film that they had to include Kreacher, the nasty little house elf who looks after the Black household. Apparently she warned them that if Kreacher wasn't included in film #5, it would pose some major problems when they got to film #7. So that would seem to tie in nicely with Ariel's speculation.

Regarding my own predictions, the only one I'm prepared to make is that Harry lives, although probably with some major physical or mental trauma. As Keith Olberman pointed out in that commentary a few weeks ago, Rowling couldn't possibly kill off Harry, because it would automatically devalue the entire series of books for generations to come. How many kids want to emotional invest in seven books only to have their hero get killed off at the end?

Oh, and this isn't a prediction, but I too would like to see Neville put the kibosh on Bellatrix. It just feels right to me.

Alas, I must leave the predictions biz to others. I can no longer merely predict. My pre-order showed up early and as of raiding my mailbox a wee bit ago I am now an owner of Book 7.

I inform you of my withdrawing from this thread not to be noble, but rather to be a jerk and rub it in to all the people who will be waiting in line this Friday night.

I leave you now to read (and change diapers, hold bottles, clean my shirt off, etc.) and shall not see you again for at least five days.

~8?)`

"... Rowling couldn't possibly kill off Harry, because it would automatically devalue the entire series of books for generations to come. How many kids want to emotional invest in seven books only to have their hero get killed off at the end?"

I keep hearing and reading this and can't figure out how that would be the case. I grew up on lots of fiction where the hero would die at the end or just shortly before. An obscure little story about a king and a sword springs to mind as one example.

It's not whether or not the hero dies, but rather how he or she dies and what impact it has that matters.

Harry fakes his death so he can live in peace and annimity.

Jerry, I guess you'll know the answer to that before a lot of us here, but if you don't mind, let's make it a silent victory one way or the other.

No worries, Joe. I'm not THAT big a jerk.

I think we'll learn that Snape was there with Valdemort when V killed Harry's parents. After Valdemort "went away," Snape rushed to his former infatuation, Lily Potter (pardon me if I misspell anything; I listen to the audiobooks), who, before she died, wrangled an unbreakable vow from Snape that he would do what he could to protect Harry. Snape decided the best way to protect Harry was to get him expelled from Hogwart's, a plan that didn't work. Also, the vow didn't mean he had to actually LIKE Harry, and Harry's resemblance to James also intensified Snape's dislike of Harry.

Also, I have a theory about two new adult gag items that Fred and George come up with, but I think it better anyone who's interested e-mail me so I don't bring down the level of Peter's blog.

It's been a while since I've read book 6, but I might as well throw in my two cents on this topic as well.

I can't imagine Draco sticking with the bad guys. He's a coward, and he'll stay a coward. He'll wise up to the fact that he's on the losing side and come crawling back to HP and crew begging forgiveness. I'm not sure if I see him redeeming himself much, but his past shows that he doesn't stay in a fight unless he's 100% sure he'll win. High possibility he quits the bad guys after his dad is killed by them for doing something wrong.

Ron and Hermione survive. Possibly deaths include Hagrid, Cho, Snape, Ginny, and Neville. Light chance of showers. O, and Fudge gets axed too, or possibly becomes another drolling zombie similar to the Longbottoms. It would be great justice after book 5.

The Dursley's kick HP out for good - only to be captured by the bad guys and held hostage as a lure for HP, who saves them reluctantly. However, this will not change the fact that they hate him and magic. I don't see HP reconciling with them at all ever, they're too static of characters. But HP will make his peace with the period of his life that he lived with them.

I really don't see any happy ending for Neville, which sucks because he's become a favorite the last couple books. But as HP is more of the surviving hero-type, Neville is more of a tragic hero type. This won't end well for him.

Percy needs to redeem himself, his help will be key to one part of the puzzle. He won't stop being a prick, but he'll make it up to everyone somehow.

Crab and Goyle die, possibly killed by Fred and George. They're stooges. Stooges die, that's how it goes. I see good things for Fred and George, maybe meet a pair of cute twins? Have loads of kids? O, and someone NEEDS to end up dating Luna, possibly Neville.

Sirius is gone for good. Dumbledor possibly comes back Kenobi-style with vital info or urging HP on near the end. But not for good. The books pull a lot of elements not only from LOTR, but from Star Wars, in my opinion. But that's the nature of the Hero's journey.

Somehow the magic world and the real world collide and are forever changed. Perhaps as a result of the final battle no one besides HP can remember any of the events and gets some serious PTSD. Personally, I'm really sick of the common theme of wizard superiority over muggles, and I'd love it if mugggles are essential in killing Voldy's army. Voldy is reborn somewhere, evil never leaves. And Murdoc never dies. Seriously, if MacGyver was HP, Voldy would be so dead by at least book 2. And the books would be about 17x cooler.

Snape is evil. As much as I hate HP being right this whole time, Snape hates pretty much all the good guys as evidenced by book 5 (if it needs any back-up). I don't think he'll redeem himself because he's shown time and time again his utter contempt of HP and everyone in the Order. The only person he has reason to dislike on Voldy's side is Wormtail (just for his involvement with James & Co.). I wouldn't bet my life on it, but I think Snape is evil.

What I'd really like to see (because I think it would be fitting) would be for Draco to develope a coke addiction. It totally fits with his character. However, I don't see drug problems springing up in a kid's book. Buuuut... I can dream.

That's about all of it. I didn't read the HP books for so long out of contempt for their popularity and the crazed fandom surrounding it. I picked them up eventually just to be able to argue with people about them, and enjoyed them way more than I expected. I don't like a good portion of the characters, but I like the books, so if this seems bitter that's why.

I predict that book 7 will reveal Snape to be Dumbledore's illegitimate child. If you count backwards nine months from Snape's birthday you'll find that shortly after he was conceived Dumbledore became headmaster. I believe that Snape's unwed mother hid his paternity from the public so that Dumbledore would have a chance at the job. The relationship between Snape and Dumbledore explains much of their behavior regarding each other and in how they deal with others (Snape's hatred of Harry is based on jealousy of Dumbledore's close interest in the boy).

I also believe a Horcrux theory based upon something that I read in a work of fan fiction. The story placed a horcrux in the junk room version of the Room of Requirement (the one through which the Death Eaters entered the caste in book 6). Since Dumbledore could never figure out what Voldemort was really up to when he applied for the DADA position for the second time, perhaps it was that he was secreting a horcrux in a room used to store mountains of magical random junk.

I have assumed that Harry is a Horcrux since the whole concept was explained in the earlier book. Harry speaks parcel tongue, and has been touched by Vlodie's evil. Harry will figure out that as long as he himself is alive, Voldie will have a foothold in the world of Wizards.

Knowing this Harry will sacrifice himself during the final battle to make sure that "He who must not be named" is gone forever. Heck the grand finale can be at Rickenback Falls.

JK will find herself in the same position Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was in...
A couple years will go by and miraculously Harry will be back alive and more films will be forthcoming ....and J.K.'s bank account will yet again continue to grow ....if the fans don't hunt her down and beat her to death.

Just a guess.

I predict that I will have the book spoiled for me (particularly, who dies) next Wednesday during Preview Night for SDCC.

Only days after the book is released, standing in line with the countless numbers of people who will likely have already read the book or have it in hand while waiting in line.

Yeah, it's gonna happen.

Nothing about my theory yet. I think the statue at the end of five is important. I think part of the end will come down to Harry knowing that the statue was a lie and he gets the help of the non humans. He gets the house elves (an entire army of them wearing little knit hats) the centaurs (with Firenze) and the giants (with Hagrid, Maxine and Grawp leading the way) to fight Voldemort. Though that would be tough to get in the movie since that has been left out of the others.

Peter & Ariel David: 4) Harry versus Voldemort will take place in Cedric's Hollow, which will become nicknamed Deathly Hallow afterwards.
Luigi Novi: Just FYI, the location of Harry's parents' home was called Godric's Hollow, after Godric Gryffindor, not Cedric's, which was the name the student murdered by Wormtail at the end of the Tri-Wizard Tournament in Goblet of Fire. As for the "Deathly Hallow" name, the book What Will Happen in Harry Potter 7? makes a convincing case that the name is a reference to the four Arthurian artifacts that are believed to be one and the same with the remaining horcruxes that Harry has to find and destroy.

Peter & Ariel David: 5) Regulus Black took the locket. I have looked through all the books and he is the only one with RB as his initials. They mention in the fifth book when they are cleaning the house of Black that there is a locket.
Luigi Novi: In addition, in all non-English foreign editions of the books in which the name "Black" is translated into a word that begins with a different letter, the initials "RAB" change, with the last letter always corresponding to the first letter of the name into which "Black" is changed. (See Wikipedia's entry on Regulus Black for more.)

"And, to some extent, how little Ron does"

While in the realms of the magickal world, Hermione does more for Harry(and, let's face it, the rest of the crew) Ron does a heck of a lot, just as Harry's best friend. While I could see where some would say that Hagrid had this role, Ron is Harry's first real personal connection to this bizarre world he's suddenly thrust into. Sure, Hagrid's the one that introduces Harry to all this stuff, but Ron's the one that Harry finds it easier to connect with, because of their ages and the fact that they both come from not-exactly the best situations.

(And, just as an afterthought, about the Dursleys--wouldn't be a kick in the privates if Dudley turned out to be a mage? Wouldn't happen, but the scene I've got pictured in my head is a doozy.)

Jerry, no matter how good the book is, put it down at least two yards away from Ian before changing him. Trust me on this one, pal. Just take my word for it.

I PREDICT:

I will not have time to read the Seventh Volume any more than I have had time to read Volumes 1-6. What can I say? I'm too busy reading trade paperbacks every night (and of course, going to see the Harry Potter movies). :-)

I PREDICT:

I will not have time to read the Seventh Volume any more than I have had time to read Volumes 1-6. What can I say? I'm too busy reading trade paperbacks every night (and of course, going to see the Harry Potter movies). :-)

Couple of random thoughts:

1. Snape is good. There's been way too much evidence in favor of the Good Snape theory and, to be honest, very little against (killing Dumbledore doesn't count, given that there's so much that sets it up as part of D's overall plan.) Not a nice guy, but good. And he was probably there in Godric's Hollow.

2. Fatlities galore. People keep talking about Rowling's 2-death statement as if it's gospel, but from the way I remember the quote, she's talking about two specific deaths, and not limiting it to only two. We're talking about all-out wizarding war with the future of the world as the stakes -- the bodies are gonna stack high before this is all over.

3. Not sure who they are, though. Deep down, I feel like the Big Three are all coming out of this in one piece. There's a strong argument to be made that Harry SHOULD die, but I have this odd feeling that he won't. It just doesn't fit with the tone. Can't explain more except a gut feeling. Rob probably should die -- classic best-friend stuff -- but I think he's coming out of this intact as well.

4. Also just a hunch: Harry + Luna 4-ever ...

5. ... As a result of Ginny kicking it, probably very narrowly missing a kill shot on Voldemort in the process.

6. Harry is totally a Horcrux. Another of those things that makes too much sense to not be correct. "The Dark Lord will mark him as his equal" -- what could be more equal that imbuing him with exactly the same amount of soul as V himself possesses?

7. Someone gets hideous death-by-Dementor. Probably a Death Eater.

8. Voldemort never dies, letting Harry off the hook. Hell, a guy that has that many backup plans for his own death -- living in a world where ALL wizards have numerous inherent backdoors out of death -- would be harder to kill than Dr. Doom, and you would NEVER know if you really, really, really got him this time. You could Kedavra him all over the map and never be sure. Plus, there's the frequent reference to fates worse than death -- which would mean some terrible limbo-like existence. The only way to be sure Voldemort is gone for good is by using some sort of plot device that proves he's Really Most Completely Dead. My guess is he gets yanked through the Veil (from the Battle of the Ministry) by the spirits of all he's killed and condemned to exist eternally without form or substance -- possibly able to witness the world but never, ever interact for all time.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but Harry as a Horcrux has been denied by Jo Rowling repeatedly, as has the possibility of Harry becoming a DADA teacher (or teacher of any sort, or the Minister for Magic). Both of those rumours have been debunked on her website. While some might argue that is the perfect way for her to surprise us all, I don't think she would out & out lie. In the past, she has hesitated and not answered whenever a fan gets too close to her story. And if she did lie, feel free to tar & feather me. I have faith Harry will make it through - good will triumph over evil, and Harry will live to fight evil back another day. Voldemort will not die - "there are things far worse than death" - but his evil power will be broken. As for the deaths - she said two main characters that she had planned to live died, and one that was supposed to die got a reprieve. I agree with whomever it was that said the bodies will pile up. Dumbledore will play a part, though dead - an interview with Dan Radcliffe mentioned that Jo told him she was "having trouble with Dumbledore" while writing book 7, and when Dan said, "I thought Dumbledore was dead?" Jo said that it wasn't quite that simple. I agree with all of Peter/Ariel's other predictions - I have also reread the books over the past few months - and I am very jealous of Jerry, who got his book already, especially since I won't even be able to look at mine until Saturday at 5pm. I am now going offline and starting a complete media blackout so that there is much less chance of this last book being spoiled for me. Happy Predictions!

Harry moves out of the Dursley's place and sets up housekeeping at Sirius Black's house. A couple days later who should show up on his doorstep but Draco Malfoy.

"Listen," Draco says, "I don't like this any more than you do, but the Dark Lord wants to kill me and Dumbledore said that the Order of the Phoenix would protect me."

(cue the theme to "The Odd Couple"...)

Dumbledore will play a part, though dead - an interview with Dan Radcliffe mentioned that Jo told him she was "having trouble with Dumbledore" while writing book 7, and when Dan said, "I thought Dumbledore was dead?" Jo said that it wasn't quite that simple.

If Dumbledore's death was authentic, as Rowling said, isn't his echo sitting in Snapes's wand, with access to Voldemort's inner circle, maybe like a virus?

Ron and Hermione haven't demonstrated themselves to be tactically capable, and everyone else would have to be dead for them to be the last line of defense against a Voldemort victory. Rowling has that single-child/child-from-a-large-family dynamic going with Ron and Hermione, and I think she'd have to shave her head and get photographed attacking cars with her umbrella before she'd favor sacrificing one or both of them to its alternative.

Alas, I must leave the predictions biz to others. I can no longer merely predict. My pre-order showed up early and as of raiding my mailbox a wee bit ago I am now an owner of Book 7.
---

Was it from Deepdiscount.com?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070718/en_nm/arts_potter_leaks_dc;_ylt=AqbFK_RkXsNF3oG3bsF8dK7QbbUC

Yes, it was indeed. They had the same story posted on MSN a few hours ago as well.

I'm going to go out tomorrow and check a few of the notorious early sellers around here. One of the supermarkets around the corner and the Walmart down the street have a habit of putting out the Disney DVDs way before they're supposed to. Got some other stuff I need to look for, so if I see it, hey, I won't buy and tell.

I read last week thatRowling says she can't rule out another book. So i suspect Harry doesn't die.

OTOH, i barely made it through the first two books, so i know nothing.

I have big problems with the idea of Harry as Horcrux, mostly because Voldemort was intending to kill him. While I think it possible that V. planned to use the Potters' deaths to create a Horcrux (per Dumbledore's theory), Harry was supposed to be one more fatality--you don't put part of your soul into something that you're planning to destroy at virtually the same time.

Plus there's the fact that since regaining his body, Voldemort has tried to kill Harry twice--again, if V. made Harry a Horcrux, I'd think V. would be far more likely to protect Harry.

Now, if Harry is maybe an accidental Horcrux, i.e., whatever artifact V. planned to use was destroyed when V.'s Avada Kedavra (sorry if the spelling's off, too lazy to go look it up) rebounded, and the Horcrux spell itself rebounded into Harry...then, yeah, Harry has to die, after finding and destroying the remaining Horcruxes. And then Neville kills Voldemort.

Man, I hope MY copy arrives early! (But if it does, you won't get any spoilers from me!)

My theory at the end of HBP was that they really would leave school, thus neatly eliminating the main reason for stopping after book seven. Also... some of the changes made for the fifth movie make me wonder if it's foreshadowing for the seventh book. Thinking about it is driving me crazy.

My theories:

1. Snape will prove that, even when he killed Dumbledore, he was still following Dumbledore's instructions all along and winning the trust of the Death-Eaters.

2. Ron will die, saving Harry's life in the process.

3. Voldermort will be betrayed by one or many of his own death-eaters (possibly Narcissa Malfoy)

4. Draco will become the target of Voldermort's wrath and will join forces with Harry (reluctantly)

5. Grawp will somehow deal with the giants who have started to terrorise the English countryside

6. Ginny will suddenly and spectacularly come to the rescue when all seems lost.

7. We will learn that Dumbledore was somehow inadvertantly responsible for Voldermort's rise to power in the first place, and always blamed himself for all the horror which took place (including the deaths of James and Lily)

8. Hogwarts itself will be partially or entirely destroyed.

My theories:

1. Snape will prove that, even when he killed Dumbledore, he was still following Dumbledore's instructions all along and winning the trust of the Death-Eaters.

2. Ron will die, saving Harry's life in the process.

3. Voldermort will be betrayed by one or many of his own death-eaters (possibly Narcissa Malfoy)

4. Draco will become the target of Voldermort's wrath and will join forces with Harry (reluctantly)

5. Grawp will somehow deal with the giants who have started to terrorise the English countryside

6. Ginny will suddenly and spectacularly come to the rescue when all seems lost.

7. We will learn that Dumbledore was somehow inadvertantly responsible for Voldermort's rise to power in the first place, and always blamed himself for all the horror which took place (including the deaths of James and Lily)

8. Hogwarts itself will be partially or entirely destroyed.

jerry can you at least say if the copy that's been uploaded on the internet is real?

my email is marquisdcarabas@gmail.com I just want to know the name of the first chapter.

as for deep discount. They are going to get their pants sued off of them.

I agree with Ariel, the only initials for RB is Regulus Black, and we know the locket is attached to a shelf in the Black house. I also think that
1) Neville will be the one to kill Voldemort, even if accidentally, relieving Harry of his fame and letting Neville shine in the eyes of his grandmother. Neville owes Harry, and the debt must be repaid. By prophecy, Neville is the only other who can do it.
2) I think it will be a Weasley to die, but not Ron - perhaps Mr. Weasley, or Percy, which would befit the nasty git. It could also be Draco, turning his mother and possibly his father against the Death Eaters, although Lucius is true evil, and true evil should not change.
3) Snape was acting on Dumbledore's orders, as Harry did to poison him, and that Dumbledore will arise again (hence the Phoenix symbol) to lead his Army to victory.
4) Harry will eventually become Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

Has any book in the history of printing been awaited so rabidly? Please, Ms. Rowling, don't disappoint us.

My thoughts:

I'd believe Harry dying before losing his powers, because that would be a fate worse than death at this point. What is there for him in the Muggle world at this point? (It also hasn't been foreshadowed that I can see, while the possibility of him dying has been hanging over the series since book one.)

I agree with Syd that I haven't heard anything to convince me that Harry is a Horcrux. Part of that is because the theories have been based off the incomplete information in book 6, but the attempts to justify it haven't overcome the objections to the idea (why did Voldemort try to kill Harry in books 4 and 5? Since Horcruxes are extremely rare, how can you create one accidentally--or, if it wasn't an accident, why would Voldemort do it intentionally and then try to kill Harry? If Harry has part of Voldemort's soul, why couldn't V possess him in book 5? What about "Neither can live while the other survives"? and so forth).

If it does turn out that Harry is a Horcrux, this revelation will come with Rowling's explanation of how this is possible, and as long as it's consistent I'll accept it. None of the fan explanations I've heard have been very convincing, though (especially the idea that Voldemort would happily sacrifice 1/7 of his soul to be rid of Harry--the very idea is deeply inconsistent with V's character).

I'm in the "Snape is on Dumbledore's side" camp. I don't think it's an issue of whether Dumbledore or Harry is right about him--more fundamentally, it's an issue of whether Dumbledore or Voldemort is right about him. Since Dumbledore is a keen student of human nature and Voldemort has had a low Humanity score since he was a child, I know who I'd believe. (Also, in book 5 Snape shows that he knows how to lie to Voldemort, and has the skills to do so--if he's Voldemort's creature, why would he need to?) There's also the fact that Snape is the most morally complex character in the series, and a lot of that complexity just goes away if he's really a mustache-twirling villain. I'm sure we'll find out Dumbledore's exact reason for trusting him--I know the idea of an Unbreakable Vow has arisen in the past.

I made some predictions..
1. Harry Lives
2. Dudley has thewizard gene, but his mum kept him from that world, and probably why she dotes on him because of what happened to her sister.
3. Snape dies saving Harry.
4. Harry's Mom can see thru his eyes.
5. Nevelle's parents are cured by the end.
6. Nevelle ends up a teacher at Hogwarts

What I think would be a nice follow-up.. a set of Hermoine Granger stories coinciding with the orginal books. She and Ron do a lot of stuff without Harry. She figures stuff out on her own. I think doing the series based on her point of view would be a good read.

Oh, and Dumbledore is in the book. But he's dead. He probably planned it to come back as a ghost, or he'll be valuable as a portrait in the Headmaster's Office.

Jasonk,

Fist, I absolutely love Neverwhere.

Chapter One is titled the Dark Lord Ascending. I post this possible spoiler to tell everyone that it is in fact not a spoiler. A friend and I played this game last night. He was checking on my book by having me read a bit here and there and telling me that it wasn't really Book 7 that I was reading from. He stood by that position until he saw the thing.

There are a number of "leaked" copies on the web that appear to have the right chapter names, but they range from slightly wrong (maybe leaks of early drafts) to completely off the mark. After my friend and I had our little exchange, we went leak hunting and found copies on the web to be rather funny when held up next to the poster's declaration of assurance that they did indeed have the genuine article.

Just chill out and wait. It'll be worth it. Even I, despite the earlier posts, have to do that. The book was actually ordered for my wife. I don't get to touch it again until after she puts it down and the Potter Finale afterglow fades away. I'll likely not be reading the last chapter of the book any sooner then all of you. Oh, and my wife's nieces and nephews now believe that I'm second only to Santa Claws in obtaining gifts. They just wish that it was their gift and not hers.

My exposure to the mythos is through the movies only, and only once each. Based on that level of exposure, and the inevitability of story cycles:

* Snape and Draco both show their good sides at the last moment, and one of them dies

* Harry gives up his magic to defeat Voldemort, with a last page perk up of "He really still does have magic, but he doesn't know it". Could be via a flash forward five years, with Harry's son showing magic instead of Harry.

* One of Harry's major companions (from movie #5: Ron, Hermione, Luna, Neville, Ginny) dies, and at least two lesser ones as well (one kid, one instructor).

* Oh, and... Voldemort is revealed as Harry's father. (Story cycles, I tell you.)

And for a fun one, given the rabid anticipation of this book and some other recent object:

* Steve Jobs has a cameo to give Harry an iPhone

Harry and Voldemort team up to fight a greater equal. Once that is defeated, Voldemort dies, but not before making peace with Harry. Voldemort--now as Tom Riddle--appears as a ghostly form alongside Dumbledore and Sirius Black as Harry and his friends dance and rejoice with a bunch of fuzzy furry beings in the forest, all singing a "yub yub" song.

Fifteen years later, J. K. Rowling announces plans to a series of prequels tracking the evolution of Tom Riddle into Voldemort. Tom will accompanied on his adventures by a powerful wizard, a young Albus Dumbledore, and an annoying house-elf named "Raj-Raj."

The book's climax comes when Harry utters a marvelous but very soft-spoken three-word curse: "No more wizards." Suddenly, the world reshapes and where there were millions of wizards and witches in their secret world, there are now but a handful (maybe a mere 198) left and they're forced to deal with Harry's mysterious disappearance.

1) This guess is probably right or close. Wormtail's death is probably going to be vital to the story.

2) I don't think any of the main three will die - but I wouldn't be suprised if any of them sustains heavy injuries.

3) I don't think Neville will kill Bellatrix, but it would be fitting if he was the one to defeat her in the final battle.

4) I think 'Deathly Hallows' refers to something other than Godric's (not Cedric's) Hollow. This renaming would not only change Hollow to Hallow, but change the singulart Hollow to Hallows.

5) I think it pretty well has to be Regulus Black, there being no other RB's. I think Regulus will turn out to still be alive and will replace Sirius as a father figure for Harry.

As for my own guesses:

a) Dumbledore will be resurrected. I don't think it's accidental that there's a phoenix motif assoctiated with him.

b) While I wouldn't call Snape good, I think he is still on the side of the Order of the Phoenix, and killed Dumbledore because Dumbledore asked him to do it.

c) Ron and Hermione will end up together, and Harry will end up back with Ginny. Rowling has laid a lot of groundwork for these pairings, and hasn't really given much basis for a Harry - Hermione pairing.

From the ashes, five will rise. But then Stu will quit and Pete will be fired and replaced by Ringo.

Then John will be the Walrus.

And they shall be "Beatles" with an "a."

And he who killed his king must beware the thane of Fife.

And questions of names, quests, favorite colors and airspeed velocities of unladen sparrows must be correctly answered.

And when they've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Okay. I've never actually read any of the Harry Potter books. Maybe I will one day. Just to satisfy my curiosity.

Rick

---
1) This guess is probably right or close. Wormtail's death is probably going to be vital to the story.
---

Ooops, that's supposed to read 'Wormtail's debt'.

Jerry thanks. i do hope you're right see on live journal someone posted the very last page. and thinking it was a joke (and unaware of the apparent leak) i read some of it it wasn't all that good . then when i found out it might be genuine..

I don't want to read the leaked copies because i didn't like what i read and if i go in that frame of mind it's going to be bad.

real or not the person behind this is a class A jackhole

"The Dursley's kick HP out for good - only to be captured by the bad guys and held hostage as a lure for HP, who saves them reluctantly. However, this will not change the fact that they hate him and magic."

I'm not sure. I have a feeling Aunt Petunia is actually a squib, and therein lies her hatred of magic. Her sister was a witch and drew all the attention, while poor Petunia tried and tried and never got anywhere, and thus she shuns everything magic. How else would she know about the Dementors, and who's words was she supposed to mind?

"...and an annoying house-elf named "Raj-Raj."
Not to mention, his overly annoying precocious sister Dee, and a pair of sidekicks, one whose purpose is to greet everyone they meet with "Hey, hey, hey" and the other who brings salads and invokes house elf magic. "Ooom shal-a goom shock shock, Ooom shal-a-goom shock shock!" This will be closely followed by a ligament tearing dance and a twirling red beret.

You know what's funny - I'm the only one in our house that has read all the books so far. Children numbers 3 and 4 started the "Harry Potter" craze in our house, but lost interest around book 4. Children numbers 1 & 2 (who were in their mid-late teens when the first one came out) have never gotten into HP. Number 2 will watch the movies, number 1 won't even do that.

Megan

Ok, only one real prediction from me.

Peter's life debt to Harry.
When he lost his hand rezzing Lord V, His Evilness replaced it with a *silver* hand. Silver. Good for killing werewolves with.

I always thought that it would be the hand of doom for Lupin, as much as I lvoe the character. However.... What if Peter pays his debt by killing Fenrir Greyback?

The funniest prediction I've heard yet is that the end of the new book has Harry, Hermione and Ron eating a plate of onion rings in the Leaky Cauldron. Voldemort walks in and then the last 80 pages of the book are blank.

The only thing I see as being fitting would be for Harry to discover the true biggest V supporters all along... The Weaseley Family!
They've been the center of everything, even moreso than Harry, the whole time.
Ron versus HArry... Ron dying.

A poster named Duke of Earl Grey posted these predications at nitcentral.com:

10) Harry realizes the past year of his life was just a dream when he wakes up one morning to find Dumbledore taking a shower in the prefects’ bathroom.
9) Peeves? Gay as a French horn.
8) James Potter left his invisibility cloak in Dumbledore’s possession merely as collateral for his massive gambling debts.
7) In a Fight Club-like twist, Harry finally recognizes that Ron and Hermione don’t actually exist, except in his mind. Go back and look at the clues. It makes complete sense, I swear…
6) To open the locked room at the Ministry of Magic, one need only sing the complete lyrics of a specific Huey Lewis & The News song.
5) Dumbledore’s implicit trust of Snape stems mainly from Snape never giving away that Dumbledore was a big Air Supply fan.
4) Wormtail ate all the Cracklin’ Oat Bran! I thought I smelled a rat…
3) Mistakenly convinced R.A.B. stands for “Raymond Burr”, Harry spends his entire summer watching old Perry Mason TV movies, but in doing so, ironically he discovers the vital clue to his quest.
2) Though relieved to find out he is NOT one of Voldemort’s horcruxes, Harry is soon dismayed to learn he is in fact housing a portion of the soul of Peter Tork.
1) A dying Snape, defeated at the hands of Harry, utters his ominous final words: “Fifty points… from… Gryffindor…”

I've never read any HP book, but did see the first 2 movies. After watching them, I told my diehard literature friend that in the last book HP would realize all the magical world was a made up fantasy to compensate for his real parents (or relatives) abusing him. I still believe that this was JK's original intent, but I don't think it'll happen now with the success the story line has brought to everyone involved. It'd just be too tragic and too real.

He grows up and marries you. Is that what you wanted to hear?

He grows up and marries you. Is that what you wanted to hear?

Sasha-
That is one of my favorite cameos on the Simpsons. The way she said it you KNOW she has thought it before.

Kath

It was perfect, wasn't it.

Last minute predictions before I go off to the bookstore, rereading Year Six:

Harry achieves detente with Aunt Petunia and the Dursleys (whom we learn was a witch-in-training who quit) and the Dursleys. However, just as he leaves as the last bell chimes signifying his 17th birthday, Number Four Privet Drive explodes, killing the Dursleys. Harry feels terribly guilty, realizing he really did love them. These are “minor” deaths though, leaving the other two major deaths in play.

Dumbledore is dead, dead, dead (his appearance in the picture frame as a former headmaster gives it away). He leaves clues and exposition in the form of phials of memory to be seen in the pensieve.

Dumbledore made a deal with the centaurs when he rescued Umbridge, securing their support.

Umbridge will appear to make life difficult. She’s not a Death Eater or under the Imperious Curse. After having a chance to relearn to hate her, something truly horrific will happen to her, making Harry feel horrible (again).

Someone will be kissed . . . by a dementor, thereby getting around the Rowling’s two death dictum by having someone suffer a fate worse than death. Umbridge, Bellatrix, or Voldemort will be at least one of the victims. Rowling will actually show the kiss “onscreen.”

Longbottom will utterly spank Bellatrix with a Cruciatus Curse, avenging his ‘rents.

Wormtail will repay his debt by not killing Harry when he has the chance. He may very well kill someone else instead, making Harry wish he had been the victim instead.

All the Weasleys will survive. If one dies, it will either be Ginny or one (but not both) of the twins.

Weasley Wizarding Wheezes pulls the family out of poverty. Arthur gets a significant promotion.

Percy becomes a spy for Voldemort, either by becoming a Death Eater, courtesy of an Imperious Curse, or by threatening the family.

Fleur and Bill’s wedding will go off alright; Molly will be a perfectionist terror.

Kreacher becomes a spy for the Order.

Draco utterly pussies out when he could have made a real difference, possibly leading to someone’s death. He’ll have to live with it.

Hagrid dies. So does Lucius.

Snape is still on the side of angels but not because he wants to do the right thing, but rather to avenge Lilly Potter (nee Evans). He will do anything and sacrifice anyone to take down Voldemort. He truly regrets killing Dumbledore. He will live and go quietly to Azkaban.

Harry will defeat Voldemort; Snape will kill him.

Hogwarts will be the scene of the final fight. It will take damage, but will survive.

Either Harry or Voldemort’s wand will break, exposing the phoenix feather core, bringing Fawkes into play, probably as a 1-Up powerup.

One of the horocruxes is the locket nabbed by Regulus Black mentioned in Book 5. Mundungus Fletcher has since filched and fenced it.

Voldemort accidentally created a horocrux with Harry. Harry isn’t the horocrux – Voldemort is (for Harry).

A new ghost is created, probably Voldemort since he will try to escape death.

Hermione survives, and in the AMERICAN GRAFITTIesque epilogue, we learn he eventually becomes headmistress of Hogwarts. Harry becomes an Auror. Ron goes to play quidditch professionally.

I just read books 4-6, and came up with this list of predictions with my son.

1. Fleur and Bill's wedding will take place relatively early in the book.
2. Neville will bring Bellatrix to justice one way or another.
3. Harry will somehow discover a way to channel the spirits/essences of the 5 people closest to Harry that Voldemort has killed (Mom and Dad Potter, Sirius, Cedric DIggory, and Dumbledore). In this way, he will defeat Voldemort.
4. The three major characters (Harry, Ron, Hermione) will all live.
5. Couples at the end of the book will include Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny, Lupin and Tonks (though one of these might die), and Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood.
6. Snape will go to Azkaban, Voldermort and Bellatrix will die.

I have a theory that I'd bet money is correct ... read at your own peril:

I just finished reading Book Six, and I was reminded that Voldemort hid pieces of his soul in six items in order to ensure his immortality. Dumbledore speculated that these items were a locket, a ring, a cup, a diary, a mysterious item that would have belonged to one of the founders of Hogwarts, and Voldemort's snake.

I believe that Dumbledore was wrong. I don't think Voldemort hid a piece of his soul in the snake. I believe that he hid a piece of his soul in Harry! That is why he wants Harry alive, that is why Harry seems to have picked up pieces of Voldemort's personality, and that is why, as J.K. Rowling said, one character dies but gets a stay. This makes me think that Harry will have to die to make Voldemort vulnerable to death, but Harry will be ressurected at the end.

I mentioned this theory to my partner, and she is now livid with me because she's afraid I gave away the ending. We'll have to wait and see, but I'm betting I'm right. I look forward to finding out tomorrow!

I saw the new HP movie this past week, but otherwise have not been giving the franchise a lot of thought recently. (My book should arrive early next week, as I am frugal and went for the free shipping.)

That said, predictions:

1. Everybody will save Harry, or nearly so. very likely including Wormtail.

2. I think Ron & Hermione will both survive (as will Harry). Very few of the archetypes Rowling is using as plot-templates are fundamentally tragic; I think that as dark as Book 7 is likely to get, it's also going to be very much about redemption and the enduring power of love, and in the particular kind of story-construct Rowling is building, you just don't do tragic endings.

That said, I will venture the prediction that if either Ron or Hermione dies, so will the other -- they will live or die together.

3. For absolutely no tangible reason at all, I think it may turn out to be Draco who takes out Bellatrix Lestrange.

4. Surviving Weasleys are likely to include Ron (see above), Mrs. Weasley, and Ginny. All other Weasleys are both expendable and likely to be expended. Ginny will live, I think, because I expect that a key element of the ending will involve Harry and Ginny essentially taking on the roles of James and Lily.

5. Surviving Hogwarts faculty are likely to be very, very thin on the ground. I'd like to see Hagrid survive (I think he may have been Rowling's reprieved character), but I wouldn't bet on any professor's fate one way or the other save for Snape, who is almost certainly doomed (if probably in a good cause).

6. Surviving Hogwarts students? Pure guesswork. My own guesses are that Draco and Luna will live, Neville will die heroically, and all other secondary student characters are tossups.

I finished book 7 this morning.

:-)

Megan

Friday during lunch I stopped into a local Borders store. The manager and his staff looked like soldiers preparing for battle. They were moving racks from place to place and turning the area near the cash registers into a maze so that the expected throngs would be orderly when it was time to pay up.

Reader's reviews on Amazon have been mixed and Deathly Hallows rating is now at a 3.5

Susan O said: "I have a feeling Aunt Petunia is actually a squib, and therein lies her hatred of magic. Her sister was a witch and drew all the attention, while poor Petunia tried and tried and never got anywhere, and thus she shuns everything magic."

Aunt Petunia can't be a Squib because her parents weren't magical - a Squib is a non-magical person born to magical parents. JK Rowling has confirmed she is not a squib, but that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Having finished the book, I figured it was safe to come back online and read the rest of the theories but I will not say anything about it. So don't ask. :) Happy Reading!

Finished it last night. Loved it. Waiting for the review thread.

David

I'm not far into it, but I have started it. I'll try not to spoil what's happened so far in my predictions.

Lots of deaths. Not necessarily major characters, but we'll see at least one major battle featuring witches and wizards not necessarily of the Order (Hogwarts, perhaps? Hogsmeade? Diagon Alley?) and many of them will be killed. Personally, I think any and all of the teachers and more-or-less unimportant students are fair game.

I don't think Harry will die. If he does, he'll somehow be ressurrected.

If Voldemort doesn't die, he'll be a ghost, a phantom, or some other non-dead entity that has no bearing on the physical realm.

I don't believe Harry is a Horcrux, although it would make for an interesting twist. It just seems like Voldemort is too adamant about killing Harry himself, though.

Dumbledore is dead. Not that I want him to be, but I believe Rowling has confirmed it.

That said, I suppose it is possible for Sirius to come back in some way, shape, or form.

Snape could go either way. However, I believe if he turns out to be evil, it's not because he has been the entire time; I believe if he's loyal to Voldemort again he was turned somewhere between Goblet of Fire and Half-Blood Prince, and has a damn good reason (in his eyes) for doing so.

While I could see the "Big Three" surviving to see another day, I can also envision at LEAST one of them biting it as to give the final moments a deeper impact.

The redemptive/protective power of love will come into play at some point. It seems like it was too big a deal in the first half of the series for it to be completely ignored since Voldemort's physical reincarnation.

As per the cover, I predict that the final battle between Harry and Voldemort will take place in some sort of magical colosseum (perhaps called the Deathly Hallows) with Death Eaters watching.

Kreacher himself will not do much of significance; however, I feel that more than likely he'll have some kind of information that will either reveal backstory or give Harry a clue to his intended path.

That's all for me, for now.

-M

Voldemort is Harry's father, Hermione is his twin sister, and the whole thing will end with Snape chucking Voldemort off of the top of a tall tower, then collapsing.

These were my predictions (I won't tell you if they came true or not):

1) Hermione will die. I agree with Ariel on this one, and since Hermione is my favorite, she's getting the axe.

2) The reason Snape turned was that he was in love with Lily Evans/Potter, and the depth of his love is what convinced Dumbledore.

3) Harry is a horcrux. I can't figure out how this works with the "six horcruxes" idea, but I believe that this is the cause of his connections with Voldemort.

4) Snape will do more despicable things until right before the end of the book, where he will play a key role in saving Harry or, more likely, weakening Voldemort. Perhaps Snape will figure out the horcrux thing and take one of them out.

5) ALBUS Dumbledore is not dead. He was switched with his brother, Aberforth. Rowling has said "Dumbledore IS dead," but I've never heard her say "ALBUS Dumbledore is dead." I don't really believe this, but I kind of hope it's true, as Dumbledore was my favorite character before... you know.

6) I, too, believe that Wormtail will fulfill his obligation to Harry in some way.

7) I, too, hope that Neville opens a can on Bellatrix, preferably with a cool, Inigo line ("My name is Neville Longbottom. You killed my parents. Prepare to die." OR NL: "Offer me stuff!" BLS: "All that I have and more, please!" NL: "I want my parents back, you female dog!")

8) Harry will have to die in his final fight with Voldy, as I believe HP to be a horcrux.

9) After Harry dies and is freed from Voldy's influence, his forehead will no longer have a scar (Hence the long-foretold last word of the book, now confirmed to no longer be the very last word).

10) One of the Weasleys has to die. I hope it's Mr. or Mrs., as I hate to see parents lose children, but I don't really know who it will be. I don't think the Weasleys are safe even if Ron bites it.

Well, there you go. Right or wrong, those were my predictions. When I was wrong, I was usually happier with the choice Rowling made than I would have been with my prediction.

Eric

their won't be anymore Harry books but I think their could be a Dumbledore prequel similar to The Hobbit.

Adding to my earlier, completely off-the-wall predictions posted above:

Ron Weasley becomes the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. His first week on the job, he gets pantsed during class by a rowdy young wizard. His second week, he wanders into a room he's never noticed before and is eaten by a troll. Ginny replaces him.

This morning, on the way into work, I thought up a final scene that actually ends with what I've been told is the real last line of the book (which I don't own and haven't read--in fact, Sorcerer's Stone is the only one of the books I've read so far). It's pretty grim, though, so I may send it to Peter first since it's his board.

Must see!

http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20070722