Monstrous odds

[Barry Arrowsmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 96304

Past books:

PS/SS - Fluffy, Troll
CoS - Basilisk, Acromantula
PoA - Dementors
GoF - Dragon, Blast-ended Screwt, Acromantula
OoP - Centaurs, Dementors

Time to place  your bets for  which mythical beast(s) will threaten 
young Potter in book 6.

3:1 on (3 gets you 1) - Dementors.
Hot favourite, almost a racing certainty. Featuring in 2 of the last 3 
outings they are rumoured to have changed trainers, switching from 
Fudge to the care of a more aristocratic owner who lets them out for a 
bit of exercise more frequently than previously.

Evens - Nagini.
Avid followers of plot form often wonder why this impressive performer 
has been held back for so long. Nasty, vicious and totally obedient to 
orders, many can't understand why this horrible herpetoid has not been 
launched against Harry before.
Has it been saved for the big one? Will it be  'snake eyes' for Harry?

6:4 - Werewolf.
Not just any old werewolf - Loopy Lupin hisself! Forgetful with his 
potion taking and suspected by many of ulterior motives, this runner is 
the dark horse in the race.  If,  as expected, book 6 covers an entire 
year then he'll have 13 glorious opportunities to show his true form 
and put the bite on Harry. (Book pays even if he does the dirty while 
in human form. He's still a werewolf, full moon or not.)

7:2 - Acromantula.
Yep, them again. This is a good each-way bet - there is a strong 
suspicion that it'll be Ron who succumbs to his pet nightmare and Harry 
will be the one to carry his husk-like remains back to Molly. There 
won't be a dry eye in the house.

5:1 - Sphinx.
This one has hardened in the betting, firstly because of rumours that 
the next volume might be entitled HP and the Pyramids of 
Something-or-other  and because of a possible pattern in the books.  
Harry tends to meet 'types' of beast in a non-violent encounter before 
the occasion when the solids hit the fan. Remember?  Python - Basilisk; 
Norbert -  Dragon;  Dean's tarantula - Aragog; the Weasley Ghoul  - 
Dementor. Not without exception, of course, but often enough to give a 
hint. And that Sphinx was entirely too friendly. If Harry met it in a 
pyramid it would be a very different cauldron of toads.

13:2 -  Dragon.
That Dragon reservation in Rumania - anywhere close  to Krum's home 
patch in Bulgaria, do you think? Just across the border, maybe? Who 
could be disappointed by more of the vicous, flaming, wizard-eating 
antics of every child's favourite monster? And Krum is booked for a 
return  appearance according to herself.

10:1 -  Chimera.
A whisper from the stables.  Cryptic note in FBaWTFT indicates that it 
would be just the sort of thing Hagrid would be interested in. A nod is 
as good as a wink to a blind Basilisk. Say no more.

12:1 - Cockatrice.
Features in the betting for the opposite reason to Chimera. It gets a 
mention in the series but *not* in FBaWTFT. Just like Fluffy, Dementors 
and House Elves. Definitely a  bet for the contrarian punter.

Other prices on application.

Kneasy
Bookmakers to the less discerning gentry.
Motto: would I  lie to you?