Book 6 survey (SPOILERS!)

[justcarol67]

I take it the spoiler policy stated on the Home page is no longer in
effect? If not, the List Elves can remove this post with no protests
from me. If you have not read HBP, please don't read this post.
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> 1) Is Dumbledore truly dead? 
Yes, but he died from a seven-story fall, not from an AK. Note his
open eyes, peaceful expression, and other clues that Snape's spell was
an Impedimenta disguised as an AK. as I posted to the main list.

> 
> 2) Do you believe Snape betrayed Dumbledore?
I did on a first reading and was in shock for days. But after a
careful rereading of relevant passages, no I don't. I think he told DD
about his Unbreakable Vow and did the best he could to serve him
before it took effect, including "helping" Draco by putting his
accomplices in detention. I think that until Flitwick alerted him to
the presence of the Death Eaters, he had no idea that Draco's plan had
succeeded. Until he burst through the door and saw a shockingly
helpless Dumbledore, I think he he hoped that he would not have to
fulfill the last clause of his vow. The revulsion on his face was
revulsion at the deed he had to do, and the anger at DD for falling
helplessly into the DE's hands and forcing him to keep his vow. The
last look exchanged between them was a message: "Severus, please! You
*must* do this!" But why, aside from saving Draco and himself by
keeping his vow, I don't know.
> 
> 3) Are Lupin & Tonks really a couple or is this a red herring?
No red herring. Just a gesture to the fans who wanted Lupin to have
some joy in his life. (I'll be surprised if he marries her before the
war ends, though, and I don't expect him to survive.)
> 
> 4) Who loved Snape? Has Snape loved anyone?
Clearly, Dumbledore loved Snape as a son to the very end. Snape's
mother may also have loved him. I'm guessing that he also loved his
mother. Perhaps she died in his fifth year and MWPP caught him crying,
resulting in the cruel nickname "Snivellus" and a lasting hatred for
James and Sirius on Severus's part. As for Snape loving anyone, I
think he loved Dumbledore as a father and mentor. I don't think the
Snape loved Lily theory holds water. The life debt to James may,
though. Possibly Snape tried to protect him becaue of it and is
furious that James died despite his efforts. His remorse must have
related to Lily, not James, but need not imply that he loved her.
> 
> 5) Will any of the trio die?
Not Harry. Possibly Ron, but I hope not. It would be too predictable,
and Harry has already suffered enough pain.
> 
> 6) Will Harry & Ginny reunite?
If he lives, yes they will. What was that prediction of Trelawney's
about Harry having twelve children and becoming the MoM? And besides,
"scar" is the last word of the epilogue, not the main story, and that
to me suggests that Harry is alive at the end of the book.
> 
> 7) Will any/all of the trio go back to Hogwarts for book 7?
No, but Ginny will if it's still open. Maybe she'll use Pigwidgeon to
communicate with HRH and fill us in on events at Hogwarts.
> 
> 8) Is Harry's scar a horcrux?
No. I'm not even sure that Nagini is one, and the diary was a special
case because it was originally intended for a different purpose
(carrying on Salazar Slytherin's "noble" work). A real horcrux must be
a solid object, nearly indestructible, which can last to the end of
time, insuring the earthly immortality of the person whose soul it
contains. If it's destroyed, the piece of soul inside it no longer
serves its purpose. Moreover, a horcrux does not automatically result
from an act of murder. The murder is only the prerequisite, followed
by a very advanced, very complicated, wholly deliberate act of Dark
magic. I think the closest we've come to this kind of magic is the
combination of potion and incantation used by Wormtail (a better
wizard than he's been credited as being but a revolting excuse for a
man). The magic required to create a Horcrux would be, if anything,
more horrifying, or so we can gauge from Slughorn's reaction.
> 
> 9) Why wasn't Fawkes seen in any of DD's memories?
Because the memories don't take place in DD's office, or the office
was not yet his.
> 
> 10) Which major characters are most likely to die in book 7?
No canon for this, but Lupin and one or more Weasleys, including
Percy. I'll be very surprised, too, if Snape survives, but I'm betting
that he dies redeemed.
> 
> 11) Will DD's portrait be able to help Harry? 
If Harry visits Hogwarts, yes.
> 
> 12) What role will McGonagall play in book 7?
Headmistress of Hogwarts, too busy for much of a role in the Order.
Maybe she'll still teach Transfiguration.
> 
> 13) Will Harry go back to the Dursleys' as he is supposed to?
He has to. He promised Dumbledore. He'll leave just after he turns
seventeen, but not before danger strikes Privet Drive and Mrs. Figg
proves "quite late in life" that she can cast a spell after all.
> 
> 14) Will the DA or OOTP re-form to help Harry?
The Order is still "formed," and we'll see more of Lupin, Mad-Eye
Moody, along with the mysterious Aberforth, who may be the one who
tells the Order that Snape is not a traitor. As for the DA, only
Ginny, Neville, and Luna will still be members, and they will probably
train together in the Room of Requirement. Maybe they'll be the heroes
who save Hogwarts. Harry's battle wit LV will occur someplace else.
> 
> 15) Will Wormtail repay his lifedebt?
Yes, but not because he's become a good guy. If Snape is ESE!, maybe
he'll kill Snape. But I think we're in for something unexpected,
relating more directly to LV, and Wormtail will save Harry because the
life debt forces him to do so. If he doesn't die in the attempt, he'll
die later. Maybe Snape, whoc considers him "vermin," will end his
pitiful existence. (I'm more curious about the role the silver hand
will play.)
> 
> 16) Will the imprisoned Deatheaters escape from Azkaban?
No. they don't want to, at least not until Voldemort is destroyed. And
what place will they have in the WW even then? (OTOH, Dolohov was one
of the scarier Death Eaters we've seen so far. Maybe he and the
Lestrange brothers will escape to join Bellatrix, leaving Lucius and
the weaker Death Eaters to rot in prison.)
> 
> 17) Will Kreature hinder or aid Harry if he appears in book 7?
Kreacher is now Harry's servant. Possibly under Dobby's influence,
he'll come around. (DD's advice to treat Kreacher with kindness may
work. At the very least, a clean tea towel might help!) If not, if
he's truly loyal to Bellatrix and Narcissa (who despite her love for
her son is a supporter of Voldemort), then Dobby will kill him. At any
rate, we haven't seen the last of him.
> 
> 18) What is your take on Harry having "his mothers eyes"?
Simple. There's no magic, no special power, involved. They're just
highly unusual eyes that people remember. Slughorn, like everyone
else, recognized Lily's eyes when he saw Harry's, and they stirred a
memory of his affection for her (along with perhaps exaggerated
memories of her skill at Potions, which probably was closer to
Hermione's than to Severus Snape's). This sentimental attitude toward
Lily, combined with Slughorn's remorse for his unwitting role in LV's
rise to power, enables Harry to get what he needs from Slughorn--the
information on horcruxes that he gave to Tom Riddle.
> 
> 19) Did Snape actually help LV at Godric's Hollow?
This one is answered directly in "Spinner's End." Snape was already
teaching at Hogwarts (under LV's orders and perhaps DD's as well) when
the Potters were killed. He could not have been at Godric's Hollow.
(But Wormtail was, and he retrieved and hid LV's wand. Otherwise, he
could not have returned it to him in GoF.)

Carol, with apologies to the List Elves if I should not have posted
these reponses