Opinions on Ten Big Mysteries

[cynthiaanncoe at home.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26279

Laura wrote:
> 
> Here are 10 mysteries/questions about the HP series.  <snip>

> 1.  Is Snape a vampire, half-vampire, or just a wizard?

I also think the idea is cheesy, but I'm willing to entertain the 
possibility that he is half-vampire.  That is because there seems to 
be a some "intermarriage" among wizards and non-wizards.  Hagrid's 
parents, Riddle's parents, Fluer's ancestors.  Also, now that I 
reflect on the argument that Lupin was "sticking it" to Snape when he 
mentioned a "vampire essay", I'd like to see Snape have a vampire 
connection because Lupin's comments would then be quite cagey, and I 
like the idea of him fighting back against Snape.  

> 2.  Among Snape, Bagman, Karkarov and Fudge, who are Death Eaters, 
> and which DE is too cowardly to return and which DE has left 
forever?

I think Bagman is a DE who was present in the graveyard.  Karkarov is 
the coward, and Snape has left forever.  Fudge is not a DE.

> 3.  In PoA, was Lupin simply sleeping on the train, or did 
Dumbledore 
> ask him to take the train to protect Harry?

I think Lupin was simply sleeping.  If he were awake, he'd have cause 
to bristle at some of the remarks made about him ("One good hex would 
finish him off.")  Also, if he is there to protect Harry, why not be 
awake and just sit there and chat with Harry?  

> 4.  How many students are at Hogwarts?

1,000.  I think the presence of additional students and teachers 
above the named characters is implied.

> 5.  Does Snape really want the DADA job?

Mmm, probably not.  You see, Snape is a half-vampire, so he needs 
access to fresh potion ingredients.  :)

> 6.  Does Trelawney have any predictive powers aside from the two 
> correct predictions Dumbledore acknowledges?

Yes, but just barely more than I have.  She did see the Grim a number 
of times.  She just misinterpreted what she saw.  So she was half 
right.

> 7.  In GoF, why is Wormtail performing magic with Voldemort's wand, 
> and does Wormtail still have his own wand?

I'm a little conflicted on this one, and I think it is complex.  When 
Wormtail blows up the street, he ought to leave his wand behind so 
everyone will think he died.  That would be why he would use V's 
wand.  But then again, there are so many spells in the graveyard that 
DO NOT come out of V's wand that I start to wonder if Wormtail is 
doing magic with his own wand.  Also, I was bothered that V 
explicitly removes his wand from his robe pocket after re-birth if W 
was supposedly using it in the graveyard beforehand to kill Cedric, 
etc.

> 8.  Are you convinced that you cannot apparate on the Hogwarts 
> grounds, or is this a red herring?

Yes, I'm sold.  Maybe JKR keeps saying this to support who is and who 
is not able to apparate to the graveyard.  There had better be some 
really clever reason for all of these heavy clues, though, or I'll be 
a little miffed.

> 9.  Why don't Fred, George or Harry see or notice Pettigrew on the 
> Marauder's Map?

I'm officially signing on to the theory that you only see what you're 
interested in on the Marauder's Map.  When Harry first gets it, he 
sees himself materialize on it.  Then he sees the word 
("Dissendium?") when he needs to open the witch's hump.  F, G and 
Harry never needed to see Pettigrew, so they didn't.  

> 10.  In what order and by whom are James, Lily and Harry attacked?
> 
I believe V killed James, then Lily, then tried to kill Harry.  I 
think Harry doesn't come out of V's wand because it is a "failed 
spell."  JKR tells us this order by way of background in the 
beginning of PoA, and I believe her.

Cindy  (who reserves the right to change her mind at any minute)