Red Flags, Red Herrings

[Milz]

No: HPFGUIDX 18972

Rowling leaves a number of clues in her books that foreshadow events 
(red flags) in the upcoming ones, for example Mrs. Figg. I assume 
there are some false clues (red herrings) included too, though I 
can't think of any off-hand. This list has discussed the more obvious 
ones such as the green-eyes thing but here are a few red flags- red 
herrings I wonder about.

CREATURES:
PIGWIDGEON(PoA)
Sirius doubts Pig's reliability and noted that Pig was eager for the 
job of delivering to Harry. Is Pig a double agent?

CENTAURS: RONAN, BANE, FIRENZE
'One book wonders' or shall we meet again?

ARAGOG
In a way, Aragog has an issue with Voldy. Voldy exposed Aragog and 
framed Hagrid.

LETHIFOLD
Mentioned in "Fantastic Beasts". It kills wizards and witches. The 
only thing that can stop it is the Patronus. Will one be sent to Ron 
or Hermione (since they haven't mastered the Patronus yet?) Will one 
be sent to Harry?

BUCKBEAK
Will he have a greater role than Sirius' mode of transportation?

PEOPLE:
BILL WEASLEY (GoF)
Bill states that the last time he was at Hogwarts was 5 years ago.
Is the purpose of that visit somehow important?

VIKTOR KRUM
Good-guy? Bad-guy? Somewhere in-between?

THE MCKINNONS
Wizard family mentioned by Hagrid in SS/PS and killed during the 
Voldy years. 

DURSLEYS: PHYSICAL FEATURES AND MAGICAL INCIDENTS
SS/PS The Dursleys are given almost animal-like physical 
descriptions. Dudley is pig-like. Petunia with her long neck, blonde 
hair, and horse-like face, is giraffe-like. Vernon is description is 
reminiscent of a bull, IMO. SS, PoA, and GoF, some magical incident 
physically affected a Dursley. Aunt Marge inflated. Dudley has had a 
piggy-tail and a ton-tongue. Are the animal-like physical 
descriptions a clue to further Dursley related magical incidents? 

BERTHA JORKIN
Who did Bertha see kissing Florence behind the greenhouse?

HOGWARTS STUDENTS: MUGGLE-BORNS, HALF-MUGGLES, PURE-BLOODS
The Muggle-borns seem to get most of the Slytherin-minded attention. 
But, Ginny Weasley's possession by Tom Riddle's Diary showed that the 
pure-bloods aren't really "safe" (Cedric seemed to come from a 
wizarding family too). When all is said and done, are the Pure-bloods 
more high-risk than the Muggle-borns or half-Muggles?

DAEDULUS DIGGLE
Diggle was mentioned twice in SS (akin to Mungdungus Fletcher who was 
mentioned in CoS and GoF). Red flag? Red herring?

OBJECTS:
OPAL NECKLACE (CoS, GoF)
In Borgin and Burke's shop, there was a cursed opal necklace. Madame 
Maxime wears an opal necklace in GoF. Assuming that they are the same 
necklace, is the opal necklace a red flag or red herring?

"THE MONSTER BOOK OF MONSTERS"
Will the biting book that can only be calmed by tickling its spine 
play an important role?

THE SNEAKOSCOPE
When last we heard of it, it was in Harry's trunk (GoF)

WIZARD CANDY
BERTIE BOTT'S EVERY FLAVOR BEANS
Don't know exactly why, but for some reason I don't trust their 
presence in the books. There's something mildly sinister about them.
CHOCOLATE FROGS
Ditto for the frogs.

THE PHOTO ALBUM
Hagrid sent owls to James and Lily's school friends for photos. Harry 
notices Sirius in the wedding photos. Any other friends/foes lurking 
about in them? Will Harry met these school friends?

UNFOGGING THE FUTURE:
CENTAURS' PROPHECIES (SS/PS)
"Mars is unusually bright tonight" (Fulfilled in SS/PS, but does it 
still apply?)
"Always the innocent are the first victims. So it has been for ages 
past, so it is now."
"The forest [Forbidden Forest] hides many secrets."

DIVINATION/FORTUNE-TELLING CREDIBILITY
In SS/PS, Harry tells Hermione of the Centaur's prophecies. Hermione 
replies the prophecies sounded like fortune-telling, which McGonagall 
says is an inaccurate magical art. In PoA, we are introduced to 
Professor Trelawney and exposed to more of McGonagall's opinion of 
divination. Are we being set up to believe that divination is 
inaccurate, when it really isn't? Or is Rowling being honest with us 
about the inaccuracy of divination?

TRELAWNEY'S PREDICTIONS
This is a sub-group of divination credibility. But Trelawney's 
Christmas Lunch prediction in PoA was that whoever rose from the 
table first would be the first to die. Harry and Ron rose 
simultaneously. Most of Trelawney's predictions are partially correct 
(Parvati's "beware of a red-haired man", when Padma was Ron's date 
for the Yule Ball). Is the Christmas Dinner prediction a red flag or 
a red herring? Will Ron and Harry be the only survivors of those 
seated at the table? Will Ron and Harry cause a death?

PLACES:
GODRIC'S HOLLOW
Site of the first Voldy-Harry battle. Could it be the final 
battleground?

FORBIDDEN FOREST
Aragog's domicile, the Flying Ford Anglia's sylvan garage. The 
Centaurs said it held many secrets. Have we learned all of them?

HOGWARTS CASTLE
Magical castle with plenty of magical rooms, including one that Harry 
hasn't found yet. Is Hogwarts the site of the final battle?

DUMBLEDORE'S OFFICE
It houses the penseive, Godric Gryffindor's sword, the Sorting Hat 
and Fawkes. Will Harry find anymore useful things in there (with the 
exception of Dumbledore of course) 

SNAPE'S OFFICE
In PoA, Harry noticed Snape had more jars of potion materials than in 
CoS. Are these routine supplies or is Snape stocking up for something 
else?

MALFOY HOUSE
The secret room in which Malfoy hides Dark magic items. 

KNOCKTURN ALLEY
Was Harry's visit a one-time thing?

CURSES/SPELLS/CHARMS/POTIONS/ETC.
UNFORGIVABLE CURSES
Will Harry use one or all of them? Will Ron and or Hermione?

THE 12 USES OF DRAGONS BLOOD
Will they come in handy?

POLYJUICE POTION
PJP has been used twice in the series. Will it rear its ugly head 
again?
---

Milz