What is the major plot of OOP?

[Jim Ferer <jferer@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50100

Wpfositpoi:"Does anyone have any guesses on what the major plot of OOP
will be? 

   We've all speculated on smaller plot lines, character fates, etc.
but there must be some story that sets all of that in motion.  It
would introduce new aspects of the wizarding world, information on the
past and be loaded with danger and, of course, a mystery."

We just can't know.  We're all so deprived over the last two years
plus we all feel like grasping at straws, but we all have to admit we
just don't know.  There are open threads and hints JKR has dropped:

Snape has taken off on an important, dangerous mission.  We'll
probably hear more.
Hagrid and Maxime have a mission, too, and we may see and hear more
about Giants.  We could even meet one.
We'll meet the "old crowd," the Enemies of Voldemort, the (?)Order of
the Phoenix, perhaps?  We'll find out something about Arabella Figg.
There will be serious conflict with the Ministry.  It will affect
Dumbledore, Harry, Arthur or Percy Weasley, or all of them.
Love is in the air.
It's likely we'll spend time outside Hogwarts.
We'll hear Harry's and his parents' backstory.

Guesswork?  The War is on.  It began when Cedric died; before that
were the usual nasty preliminaries before all wars.  It's likely to be
a nasty, dirty, underground war at first.  Voldemort's strategy will
be to undermine his main enemies Dumbledore and Harry, and take away
their base, Hogwarts, by getting one or both of them sacked or even
jailed.  Since we have two books to go after this one, that either
won't succeed or Dumbledore/Harry will get Hogwarts back before the
end of the book.

Deaths: We know they're coming.  Most likely candidates?  Hagrid, Ron,
Arthur, Percy, Fred/George/Bill/Charley, "old crowd".  Least likely? 
Dumbledore (this book), Hermione, Harry, Snape (not through with him).
 Everybody else is in the middle somewhere.

It's easier to guess at themes than the actual plot.  There's two
hundred and fifty-five thousand words, and we haven't seen two hundred
of them.  We have to wait.

Jim Ferer, who can't pronounce "wpfositpoi"