Attack on Hogwarts?

[arrowsmithbt]

No: HPFGUIDX 107536

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "boyd_smythe" <boyd.t.smythe at f...> wrote:
> > Kneasy wrote:
> > <snip>
> > I'll be quite disappointed if Hogwarts remains unpenetrated and if
> > (when) it is I expect the showdown to happen in the Chamber.
> 
> Hmmm, let's see. Reasons why your theory makes sense:
> 
> * No evidence yet that Jo enjoys penning bloody battles--the closest 
> example is the centaurs and Grawp, and even that was fairly harmless 
> for younger readers. So if she can get the main characters in a room 
> together for the final showdown, she avoids massive LOTR-style wars.
>
Kneasy:
Yeah; there'll be no  great battles, the Giants are down to a demoralised 
handful and the Goblins appear to  be sitting this one out. As Pip opined
in her epic post 40044 (should be compulsory reading for all would-be 
analysts) this is a  war of skirmishes, a low intensity  war. So any 'battle'
would work best in a fairly confined space.

Boyd:
> * From a cinematic standpoint (if that description makes sense within 
> a book), the Chamber would be a great backdrop. Take the battle to 
> Hogwarts, Harry's home, but also to the Chamber within it, 
> Voldy's/Tom's home. High, soaring walls and statues of Slyth.
>
> * Some might argue that the Chamber is where this all began--Slytherin 
> started the WW down a path of racism, and Tom either echoes his 
> sentiments or carries his spirit (Vapor!Mort). Ending Voldy's reign 
> here would bring the story full-circle. And this would be the best 
> place to reveal any more secrets the Chamber contains.
> 

Kneasy:
That's my take on it. A last desparate mission to root out the evil at it's
source. And if Voldy  has plans for destroying/taking over Hogwarts,
what better place to start than from somewhere within.
 
And CoS is supposedly the book where JKR has planted some significant
clues. Could it be that we've all been concentrating so much on the
actions of characters that we've missed something important about
the Chamber itself?

Boyd:
> * It's from you, Kneasy. 'Nuff said.

Kneasy:
It's probably unwise to be swayed by my glib patter.
Any old rubbish that looks vaguely interesting and I'll slap it on the board.
It's no more likely than the worst excesses of the SHIPping fraternity.
Um, well, on second thoughts maybe not  quite that bad.

Boyd: 
> On the other hand, we've been to new places in every book, so perhaps 
> the showdown will happen somewhere we haven't yet been. Then Jo can 
> build the meeting however she wants. An existing location could be a 
> bit limiting, whereas she can set the stage however she wants if she 
> moves it to a new site. Weapons, allies, revelations, whatever. Just a 
> thought.
> Could it be the Hogwarts cemetery? still could fit with the whole 
> spirit of Slytherin/Vapor!Mort theory

Kneasy:
I'm a bit wary  about this Hogwarts cemetary thing -  not that it exists,
herself has said so (or is reported as having done so). But we've already 
had one fight in a cemetary and having the rotting cadavers of the undead
heaving themselves out of one of Prof. Sprouts flower beds doesn't strike
me as being JKR's sort of thing. Be a good place for a revelation or two,
names on headstones suddenly forming unsuspected links, maybe.

So far, of all the named places of significance in the WW, there's only
one we haven't been to - Azkaban. Now that  the Dementors have gone
Harry and his chums could visit without having an attack of  the vapours.
I'm ignoring foreign parts -Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Dragon reservations,
Egypt, etc., mostly because I can't see how she'd get the whole of Harry's 
support team to them with any facility.
A school trip? International Quidditch? Seems unlikely.

So -  I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain. It'll be the Chamber take 2.