[HPFGU-OTChatter] Book 6 questions

[Vivamus]

> Luckdragon:
> With all the theories and ideas we've been discussing I 
> thought it would be interesting to create a little 
> questionaire with our best guesses before the book arrives. 
> Anyone that wants to fill it out can then compare it against 
> the real thing in July and we'll see who was right about what.
> 
> 1) Who do you think the HBP is?

Neville Longbottom, or 
Seamus Finnegan, or 
someone we haven't met yet

> 2) Is Snape a Vampire?

No, because JKR has said he is not. But all those bat and vampire references
around him must mean something.  In addition, we have had multiple
references to vampires in every book so far, but never a glimpse of a real
one.  That also must have a reason.  My guess is that SS is related to
vampires, but not, perhaps, in his immediate family.  

> 3) Are Sirius and Snape half brothers?

No.  Somehow, I think all the conversations about Severus by Remus and
Sirius would have contained hints of this, if it were the case.  (It is a
lovely idea, though.)
 
> 4) Was Snape at Godric's Hollow?

I *love* this theory, but I think it less than a 50/50 shot, so I'll have to
say no.  No, darn it, it fits too well.  YES!  (and LOLLIPOPS, too.  He
would only be motivated to be there out of love for Lily.)
 
> 5) Who will inherit the Black estate?

Either Bellatrix or Narcissa, for the simple reason that Sirius wasn't very
practical, didn't think much about the future, hated his house, and for all
of those reasons would never have gotten around to doing a will.  Also,
being the WW's most wanted criminal, it would be hard for him to file
something that would be valid in any court.
 
> 6) Where is Sirius's motorbike?

In the back yard at 12GP, under an anti-rust charm.  To be stolen if needed
for plot reasons.
 
> 7) Who will be the new Minister of Magic?

Someone we don't know.  Certainly not DU; she ruined Fudge's career, and
committed serious crimes in front of several witnesses.  No one will want to
protect her, and Fudge will gladly throw her to the wolves for ruining him.

Percy can't possibly be MoM, at his age, although it's pretty clearly his
life's ambition.  Arthur Weasley has as good a chance as anyone, but he
isn't likely to want it.
 
> 8) Is Harry the heir of Gryffindor?

I would have said yes, but I think JKR shot this one down in an interview,
so no.
 
> 9) Is Lupin good or evil?

Good.  Definitely good, but cursed, of course.
 
> 10) Will Percy reunite with his family?

No.  He hasn't gone far enough down the road to Perdition yet.  He won't
realize what an idiot he is until he does something unforgivable, such as
cause the death of an innocent person by his blindness.  I think the most
likely person's death for him to cause is DD, followed by his own father.
After that, he will realize what he has done, and want to go back, but no
one will take him.  

I think we will see Percy and Severus Snape show the two ends of the same
journey.  Percy will come back to the right side after committing a horrible
wrong, and spend the rest of his life working towards an atonement he can
never reach in life.  SS has been working towards making his atonement,
which is why he both hates Harry and protects him.
 
> 11) Who will die in book six?

Remus Lupin, possibly together with Peter Pettigrew or by his (silver) hand,
and one of the Weasleys -- probably Arthur.

> 12) Will Petunia perform magic?

Possibly.  I see no reason to expect it, but it's a nice idea, and she
certainly could, if plot demands it.

> 13) Is Snape good or evil?

I don't think it's an either/or question.  He strikes me as a nasty man,
sadistic and cruel, but one who follows a strict code of ethics for himself.
So he fights for what he believes is right, and does what he believes is the
right thing, but gets his own emotions so wrapped up in his decisions that
he makes a lot of bad ones.  For reasons that haven't been made clear yet,
his feelings are most mixed towards Harry.  He does hate him, with far more
passion than one would expect, even given his history with James.  He still
tries to do his duty for DD, though, even to putting himself at risk to
protect the very boy he despises.

All in all, he is a very sad character.  I expect him to finally redeem
himself, but only by giving his life for Harry. (and I don't think that will
happen before the seventh book.)  

Vivamus