Featherless Fawkes, and other warlike wondering

[Tabouli]

No: HPFGUIDX 31796

You know, I'm beginning to wonder about the infamous wand connection scene.  I think there are a lot of interesting possibilities for both Dumbledore and the big V to be gleaned from that.  For example:

1. Lucius Malfoy decides to make a bid for power over V.  He concocts a sinister scheme to pickpocket Harry's wand using Draco, or his new house-elf, and then marches on Riddle House, using Harry's wand to paralyse V and his old one to nuke him with Avada Kedavra!

2. All of the Death Eaters decide they've had enough of Snake-Man, and devise a plot to kidnap Fawkes.  They pin him down, strip him of feathers, turn 'em into wands and overthrow the big V!

3. Dumbledore realises that he can guarantee the safety anyone on the wrong end of V's wand.  He persuades Fawkes to part with all of his remaining tail feathers towards the end of his next reincarnation, gets Ollivander to whip a few dozen wands up, and voila!  All of the anti-V fighters are armed with a secret, V-proof weapon!

As for students staying down a year, this could be a sneaky way to introduce a new classmate for the Trio... a sixth year failed by Snape, perhaps.

Katze:
> I think the good side will get either the Dementors or the Giants. I don't see them getting both.

I can't see the Dementors being in the least interested in joining the Good Side... remember Dumbledore's conversation with Fudge at the end of GoF?  On the other hand, I'll be interested to hear how Hagrid goes with the Giant recruitment drive.  What if he turns up at the start of OoP with his mother in tow?  He does like big, dangerous beasts... he might try to install his monstrous mother in his hut!

Judging by the power of House-Elf magic once freed from the dominion of their masters, the Good Side potentially has some *very* handy allies if they play their cards right.  I'm not sure about Hermione's approach thus far, but maybe Dumbledore and Dobby could go out into the community and try to dig up a few other discontented slaves and manage to win a few over.

Mahoney:
> Even though he said he spent the full moon curled 
up meekly in his office, that doesn't negate the possiblity that he 
could go rampaging against bad guys while in wolf form. <

But would the Good Side really want to turn all those Death Eaters into werewolves?  Eek.  I agree, though, that Wormtail of the Silver Hand is definitely going to be important, perhaps the one thing that swings the balance in the final showdown.  Just when all seems lost for Harry, Wormtail flings himself in front of V's wand and sacrifices himself to save his life, allowing Dobby time to turn up with his Fawkes-wanded House Elf army and save the day...

Regarding the odds being stacked against the Good Side, surely this is an age-ol' narrative device to make the turn of events more exciting, the odds more desperate and the final victory more triumphant!

Tabouli.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]