A Prediction

[Smythe, Boyd T {FLNA}]

Yes, you heard it here first: I will complete the annoyingly repetitive,
often humorous, occasionally insightful category of Predictions--today!
That's right, not only will I have uncoded many, but I will have recoded
many posts placed in the wrong subcategories! Golly, I'm nearly breathless
in anticipation!


[insert mental picture of halftime extravaganza featuring Kool & the Gang,
the Boston Pops and the entire cast of Cats circa 1987]


Great show, y'all! While they clear the stage again, let's check on that bit
of scrying...and there it is! Yes, my prediction has come true. Better call
Guinness--or better yet send me a beer (or three).

Predictions now includes the following codes/#posts:
 1.12 **Predictions [0 posts]
 1.12.1 ****Book 4/GOF [0 posts]
 1.12.1.1 ******Predictions/with canon [12 posts]
 1.12.1.2 ******Predictions/no canon [62 posts]
 1.12.2 ****Book 5/OOP [0 posts]
 1.12.2.1 ******Predictions/with canon [241 posts]
 1.12.2.2 ******Predictions/no canon [322 posts]
 1.12.3 ****Book 6/HBP [0 posts]
 1.12.3.1 ******Predictions/with canon [13 posts]
 1.12.3.2 ******Predictions/no canon [37 posts]
 1.12.4 ****Book 7 [0 posts]
 1.12.4.1 ******Predictions/with canon [50 posts]
 1.12.4.2 ******Predictions/no canon [149 posts]
 1.12.4.3 ******Final showdown, Harry vs Voldy [70 posts]
 1.12.5 ****Future lives of characters after Book 7 [0 posts]
 1.12.5.1 ******Predictions/with canon [12 posts]
 1.12.5.2 ******Predictions/no canon [57 posts]

And that adds up to 1,025 in total. Here are a few good ones:

"I've always imagined that, at the end, Voldemort will be stripped of his
powers (by Harry, of course) and become more human, literally, by morphing
back into a gray-haired Tom Riddle. Then, once Tom Riddle is a Muggle, there
are all sorts of fun ways to kill him. :-) How about a nice, medieval public
beheading in the middle of Hogsmeade square?" <Piper>

"Love is strong enough to overcome AK as Harry Potter proves. I think that
to cast AK it takes pure hatred - and only pure love can beat it! Yet... No
counter-curse, not a charm, not a jinx/anti-jinx, not a hex... What about a
blessing, given with pure love by a kiss onto child's forehead? Mothers do
that all the time." <Finwitch>

"So why not kill [Harry], and if you're going to do it, I say chapter one
final book. Scare the hell out of everyone (on the train maybe, on the
muggle motorway on the way to King's cross - not protected... dead). Then
defeat Voldemort through that. The total outrage of this loveable, strong,
brave, little soldier's untimely demise would surely galvenise the wizarding
world and force them to accept the return of 'you know who' as real
(although this will probably happen before book seven)."
<James-archeaologee>

And my current favorite: "Perhaps instead of killing Voldemort he'll be
imprisoned in the body of a flobberworm for all eternity. Perhaps Hermione
will capture him in an unbreakable jar and keep him on a shelf next to Rita
Skeeter." <Mun 42>

A few things seem to give us all trouble with this section. Thus,

_Predictions FAQ_
Q: Do I code to predictions mundane things like guesses about who will die
that are not based on canon?
A: Only if it's *extremely* novel or about books 6 or 7. Most everything
normal has been predicted by post 40,000 for OOP. So the rest are 'Adds
Nothing New' unless they are amusing or defend using interesting canonical
arguments.

Q: Do I code to predictions guesses about who will end up shipping?
A: No. Those are Ships.

Q: What is canon?
A: Must at least be defended by canon-influenced logic to qualify as 'with
canon.'

Q: Where do I code a prediction that doesn't say which book?
A: Most of the time, these are about the next book to be released (currently
OOP where we're coding, soon to be HBP). A few are really open-ended; code
these to each subsequent book if you must.

Q: What if this prediction didn't come true in OOP?
A: Code it anyway for posterity.

Q: Should I cross code to all of the subjects of the prediction?
A: Please be sparing, especially if it's a prediction without canon.

Well, now I am going to trade in my crystal ball and tea leaves for some
time with my kids, whom I predict will be happy to see me again.

--boyd