Last-minute ideas

GulPlum hp at plum.cream.org
Fri Jun 20 18:31:50 UTC 2003


As I prepare to leave the house (in several hours!) a few last thoughts on 
what I think will and won't be in the book.

One thing in particular is making me reconsider one of my predictions... in 
the Paxo interview last night, and the interviews in three British 
newspapers today (Times, Telegraph and Express, each of which were labelled 
"exclusive" - huh?), JKR used a curious phrase regarding *that* death: 
"This time it is someone I consider to be a main character" (and variations 
thereon; that quote is from the Times).

"*I* consider"? Does this mean that it's not necessarily someone the 
average reader would consider "important"? General consensus (certainly the 
majority vote on HPFGU) is that it'll be Hagrid, but I'm beginning to have 
VERY serious doubts. Hagrid is without a slightest doubt an "important 
character" by anyone's standards so I'm wondering why JKR is hedging her 
bets like that.

JKR's been talking up this death for the last three years in a brilliant 
piece of marketing (as was the case, I understand, before GoF), so I 
wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing was just another bit of deliberate 
dissembling.

So the question remains, whom might JKR consider to be "important" in this 
way? I have no real ideas, but of course Lupin, Black, or even old Mrs Figg 
could all apply.

A few other thoughts on popular items of speculation in no particular order 
which I want to get on paper before I can be proved right or wrong (note: 
I've been deliberately avoiding the main list and other HP forums, as well 
as TLC and other sites so as not to open myself to spoilers; some of this 
may have already been revealed to be true or false):

"Arabella Figg" isn't "Mrs Figg". They're mother and daughter. Mrs Figg is 
a genuine Muggle old woman.

The "Magical Place" Harry visits is St. Mungo's. This may well happen in 
circumstances in which he is injured away from (or beyond) Madam Pomfrey's 
skills and needs to be hospitalised.

Rita Skeeter will make her return and be more vicious than ever. Her 
comeuppance will consist of being publicly revealed to be an unregistered 
Animagus.

Voldemort and  Dumbledore will come face-to-face in some way. Dumbledore 
will try to persuade him to change his path; of course Voldie will refuse. 
Harry will break the meeting, and this may well be the opportunity for the 
"It's time to tell you everything" speech.

The book may end with Sirius's exoneration, but not before several 
contretemps.

Hermione will *not* be made a Gryffindor Prefect for some reason. It'll 
come as a big blow to her. On the other hand, Ron *will* (he has to start 
on his way to making his PS/SS prediction of being Hogwarts Head Boy and 
captain of a victorious Gryffindor quidditch team come true; I assume that 
to be Head Boy, one first has to be a prefect, and that happens in Fifth Year).

Firenze the Centaur will make a re-appearance and we will find out the 
essence of both Trelawney's First Prediction, and what the centaurs meant 
by "Mars is bright" back in PS/SS.

I can't decide whether Aragog makes a re-appearance in this book or the 
next one.

I think that's enough.

--
GulPlum AKA Richard, who'll start his voyage of discovery of which of the 
above are right or wrong in, oh, less than five hours...





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