Surrealism in OOTP cover?

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 58253

I Have finally got a look at the OOTP cover previews.

There is some speculation about who the three people are. My guesses 
are Moody (of course), Lupin, and the younger face is, I think, Tom. 
Well probably not though, that is the most mysterious one to me.

I would like to leave the faces speculation alone for now and relate 
another point.

On each side there is a elongated head of an animal. To me it looks 
as though it is intended to be ably interpreted as both a bird and a 
snake. 

Forgive me, I am a bit of a fan of surrealism, and I am probably 
making a lot more of this than it is.
 
Going ahead anyway, mad as I may seem. 

Are we given a hint here to consider Slyth and Gryff in a combined 
form. I am seeing a kind of rotating balance between the forms of the 
Pheonix and the Snake in the illustration. 

Like I said I am mad as a Hatter.

Valky.

"....imagine what it looked like to old Armando Dippet. On the one 
hand, Tom Riddle, poor but brilliant, parentless, but so *brave*.." 
Tom Riddle CH17 COS

"...Ther's Talent,oh yes and a nice thirst to prove yourself....."
THe Sorting Hat to Harry CH7 PS