Deathly Hallows - Guesses

[Demmero]

I'm still of the opinion that Neville Longbottom is one of the key players in the finale. It's been too long since I read the last couple books, but there's something about the prophecy and the fact that Neville also lost his parents to Voldemort, IIRC.

Yeah, I sort of feel that way too. The other no-brainer concerning a character with a big reveal due is Harry's mother, Lily. Six books into the series and we still know next to nothing about her--has it even been revealed which house she was in during her Hogwarts years?

I think there's a love story (possibly unrequited) between her and Snape that will be revealed in Book 7.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'm even willing to concede that he didn't *really* want to kill Dumbledore.

But, of course, he did.

How certain are we that Dumbledore was actually killed by Snape? That he didn't do something that looked like he was killing Dumbledore but didn't actually kill him?

It would be a cheap trick to bring Dumbledore back like that, but I'm guessing it could happen.

(FWIW Dumbledore seemed to me to be extraordinarily stupid in his treatment of Harry throughout the series. If he listened a bit more and told the truth a bit more things might have gone very differently)

 

[Tonguez]

That being said, I think the last book and movie is going to be a Musical.

How 0old are they now?

I'm hoping it will be a soft-porn Frat movie reminiscent of Revenge of the Nerds but with magic and snakes mmmm Hermione and snakes

 

[kingpaul]

How certain are we that Dumbledore was actually killed by Snape?

There's his headmaster portrait in the Headmaster's Office. They show up when prior headmasters die.

 

[Chimera]

How 0old are they now?

I'm hoping it will be a soft-porn Frat movie reminiscent of Revenge of the Nerds but with magic and snakes mmmm Hermione and snakes

Too young. 17 in the movie, so no go.

But in reading your post, I had the bizarre recall that Harry is a parseltongue.

Not that that has any relevance...

 

[billd91]

No, it doesn't. Snape's done things that are recklessly stupid if he genuinely wants Voldermort defeated (being willing to see Harry, Sirius, and Lupin suffer minor discomforts over a petty grudge is one thing; being willing to see Harry be possesed and used as a catspaw, Sirius executed, and Lupin fired is another thing entirely), ...<snip>

I don't see how those things are recklessly stupid. Voldemort wasn't even resurrected yet and it's still possible to be a very pettily vindictive man even while generally working for the greater good. Getting Lupin fired from Hogwarts, for one thing, wouldn't stop Lupin from being around to help the Order. Getting Sirius executed wouldn't likely be a factor either since everyone except the 3 kids, Lupin, and Pettigrew thought Sirius was on Voldemort's side. That would have appeared to be a net gain for the good side.
You just have to realize that Snape's not perfect. He has psychological issues, anger issues, that prevent him from always being the most effective supporter of the team. It's part of what makes him interesting.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

How certain are we that Dumbledore was actually killed by Snape? That he didn't do something that looked like he was killing Dumbledore but didn't actually kill him?

From the description in HBP, it's pretty clear that Dumbledore's doornail-dead.

(FWIW Dumbledore seemed to me to be extraordinarily stupid in his treatment of Harry throughout the series. If he listened a bit more and told the truth a bit more things might have gone very differently)

Very true. It appears also that Dumbledore started making more obvious errors in this book, being careless with the horcruxes. For the second one, the obvious choice would be to go back and grab Hagrid, aka "Mr. Half-Giant with the Enormous Constitution", and have HIM drink the crap.

Also, he's the only one who trusted Snape, which I think is the fatal flaw in the "Snape undercover" theory; any information he relays to the Order now is going to be disregarded by his fairly obvious betrayal. While he *might* turn on his Dark Lord, whom he fairly obviously likes, to help Harry, whom he fairly obviously despises, I can't imagine that would result in him living longer than Harry's next action.

(Hrm, shades of X-Com...Harry uses the Imperius Curse on Snape to have him gank Voldemort, or at least fight him...nah)

Brad

 

[drothgery]

I don't see how those things are recklessly stupid. Voldemort wasn't even resurrected yet and it's still possible to be a very pettily vindictive man even while generally working for the greater good. Getting Lupin fired from Hogwarts, for one thing, wouldn't stop Lupin from being around to help the Order. Getting Sirius executed wouldn't likely be a factor either since everyone except the 3 kids, Lupin, and Pettigrew thought Sirius was on Voldemort's side. That would have appeared to be a net gain for the good side.
You just have to realize that Snape's not perfect. He has psychological issues, anger issues, that prevent him from always being the most effective supporter of the team. It's part of what makes him interesting.

Getting Lupin fired, when he was the only compentent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Dumbledore'd been able to find in years, was recklessly dangerous because it meant a whole generation of English wizards was getting through school with hopelessly inadequate training in a subject vital to their future survival.

Snape almost certainly was in a position to know Perrigrew was the traitor all along, and certainly overheard enough to -- absolute most paranoid case -- grab everyone, take the Veritaserum out of the cabinet, and ask some questions.

Giving up on Harry's Occlumency lessons directly led to Sirius' death, and very nearly led to Voldermort getting the prophecy and Harry, Neville, Hermione, Ron, and Luna being killed as well. If he couldn't handle doing it himself he had a responsiblity to find someone who could.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I just finished the series in anticipation for Deathly Hallows, and I had a bizarre thought. What if the way for Harry to defeat Voldemort is to forgive him? Dumbledore was always talking about how love is the most powerful magic out there.

Dumbledore is always saying that love is the most powerful magic out there, but forgiveness and love are not actually the same thing. Besides, the Big V certainly isn't seeking forgiveness.

No, Harry's going to have to show the Big V some love.

My theory is that Deathly Hallows turns out to be rather disgusting slash fiction.

 

[Raven Crowking]

There's his headmaster portrait in the Headmaster's Office. They show up when prior headmasters die.

But the Wizard Cards, the Azkaban Wanted Posters, and the newspapers also show that you can use a picture of a wizard while they're alive. And, let us not forget, that book showed us the potion that makes you look like you died.


RC