Opinions on Ten Big Mysteries

[magpie1112 at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26704

I've been fighting with my new DSL line, so I haven't been able to 
post.  Thanks to Laura, I'll use her terrific 10 to share my latest 2 
cents....

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., justanopinion2001 at h... wrote:
> 1.  Is Snape a vampire, half-vampire, or just a wizard?

I think that he's just a wizard.  His shady, sneaky ways are just a 
way that JKR uses to show us that he's a teacher that isn't exactly 
likeable.  The rest, IMHO, is herring-ville.


> 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?

Snape and Karkarov are DE's.  I think that Karkarov has run and hid - 
though he may re-join if found (in order to save his own skin).  At 
the end of GoF it seems as though Snape is gonna play double-agent; 
he'll definitely be putting his life on the line.  It will be 
interesting to see if Voldy buys his re-conversion, or if V takes in 
Snape as a "keep your friends close, your enemies closer" tactic.  

Bagman may or may not be a DE - I haven't firmed up my opinion yet.  
Voldy may have given Bagman a role as a DE as an ego-stroke (and 
goodness knows Bagman isn't exactly bright enough to see past empty 
flattery).

Fudge will be the one to watch.  He is so tied to rules and points of 
law that he could easily be swayed by promises of order and 
regulation in Voldy's camp (sorta like the old Lawful Evil for you 
former D&D'ers out there).  Big question: will Fudge stick to the 
familiarity of order, or fight for right?


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

I've always thought that Lupin was just catching a cheap (or free) 
ride to his next job.  But that sneakoscope sure did cause a fuss.  I 
could be persuaded either way.  It could be that Lupin himself was 
watching over Harry, since Harry is his good friend's son.


> 4.  How many students are at Hogwarts?

approx. 1000 - I'll obey JKR on that one.


> 5.  Does Snape really want the DADA job?

Nope.  I thought he did, but when I re-read everything I think he 
just had a bone to pick with each teacher:

a)  Quirrell was acting odd;
b)  Lockhart was a pompous blowhard;
c)  Lupin stirred up old school hatreds and jealousies;
d)  Moody was a known nutbag

I think Snape is awfully proud of his personal accomplishments in 
potions, and that is where he will stay.


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

None that she can tap.  Unfortunately, she believes that the 
predictions she makes while fully conscious are accurate.  But they 
are pure bunk (or pure luck).  I think we'll see/hear more accurate 
predictions from Trelawney, but they'll be more of the same trance-
like predictions.  She just can't harness her power, poor thing.


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

Pettigrew uses Voldy's wand because his was lost after the "big bang" 
that landed Sirius in Azkaban.  I have a feeling that Pettigrew will 
have to fend for himself, wand-wise, now that Voldy is more himself.  
I don't exactly see Voldy as the type who shares, do you?


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

I think that most wizards and witches cannot apparate into/around 
Hogwarts.  I think that if you know the charms and protective spells 
that surround the grounds, and how to get around them, you'd have no 
trouble getting in/out or around.  And I have a feeling that there 
are other types of spells besides apparation that can get you about; 
we may yet see Voldy appear on Hogwarts grounds in later books.  

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

Because the Marauder's Map only shows you impediments to mischief-
making.  Or, if you are choosing to use the Map for a reason other 
than its "intended purpose", it shows you only what you need to see 
in order to do whatever it is you are going to do.  Otherwise, there 
could be up to 1000+ "dots" at any given time.  

Or at least all the lower year students would have been shown on the 
MM when Harry snuck out to Hogsmeade.  So I'm betting that the Map 
shows you only what you think you need to see at any particular time.


> 10.  In what order and by whom are James, Lily and Harry attacked?

James, Lily, then Harry were killed by Lord Voldemort.  Voldy 
obviously needed to kill the male Potters, and Lily just happened to 
be in the wrong place at the wrong time (for all the right reasons, 
of course).


I'm typing like a maniac in the hopes my DSL line will actually allow 
me to post.  All typos are unintentional and will be obsessed over at 
a later date.

- Denise (who seems to have an opinion about everything)