HP Conventional Wisdom Watch II

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 127604


Okay, time for the second installment of our watch on HP conventional 
wisdom as expressed in recent discussions on this and other sites.  
Once again, as I can't do neat arrows a la NEWSWEEK, I'll 
use "rising," "falling," and "mixed."

HARRY POTTER - mixed.  Hope continues to run high that sixth year 
will be better than fifth year, but doubts about his eventual fate 
are running high in some circles.  Then again, others feel that 
Harry's death would rob the series of its magic and hope, something 
that they feel JKR would surely avoid.  In any case, the subject 
remains controversial.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE - mixed.  Controversy continues to swirl with regard 
to the headmaster.  Some feel he owes Harry a long talk and a big 
apology, or at least expressions of deep regret for what his 
decisions have put Harry through.  Others see him as a saint.  He is 
the only one Voldemort fears, yet traditional patterns of literature 
seem to mark him for death fairly soon.  Stay tuned.


SEVERUS SNAPE - falling.  Excitement about the British Cover has 
faded, as has speculation about Severus being the HBP.  Recent 
discussions have strongly focused on the Potion Master's many 
undesirable traits, and the possibility that JKR may well not see him 
in the same favorable light as many in the fandom.

RON WEASLEY - mixed.  Some see him as marked for the NEXT BIG DEATH.  
Others cling to signs of hope, such as his recent flowering and the 
Mirror of Erised.  One thing seems sure, Harry's best friend has a 
role to play, but it remains to be seen whether it will be triumphant 
or tragic.

HERMIONE GRANGER - mixed.  Her positive and negative traits are both 
strong.  We shall see which outbalances the other in HBP.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM - rising.  Whether as a nemesis of Voldemort or 
extracting well-deserved revenge on Snape, Neville remains a favorite 
to shine in HBP.

REMUS LUPIN - falling.  Not many are convinced by the ESE theory.  
But his behavior in OOTP wasn't encouraging, either.

MINERVA MCGONAGALL - mixed.  Essentially no change.  Her 
reprehensible behavior early in OOTP was marked by heroic action at 
the end.  We shall see.

RUBEUS HAGRID - falling.  No real change.  Perhaps the best candidate 
in many people's minds for the NEXT BIG DEATH.

DRACO MALFOY - falling.  Few expect much from Draco anymore, except a 
tatoo on his forearm relatively soon.

GINNY WEASLEY - rising.  Faith in Ginny in some circles seems to be 
growing ever stronger, and even her detractors admit that she seems 
to be becoming a power in the Potterverse.

PERCY WEASLEY - falling.  Whether you see him as abused child or 
wretched ingrate, the outlook isn't good for the middle son of the 
Weasleys.

LUNA LOVEGOOD - rising.  More people are remarking on her possible 
connection with Harry, and she certainly has staunch and vocal 
defenders in the fandom.

THEODORE NOTT and BLAISE ZABINI - rising.  The Crown Princes in 
Waiting of the Good Slytherins.

NICHOLAS FLAMEL - falling.  Dead, dead, and evidently, dead.

CHO CHANG - falling.  Does anyone have anything good to say about the 
girl?

QUIDDITCH - rising.  After some initial debate, the consensus seems 
to be that Quidditch will figure strongly in HBP.

THE DA - rising.  The strong consensus is that the DA will continue 
as Harry's special project.  Most believe it will be an official 
club, allowing Dumbledore to give Harry a shiny badge of his very own.


There are many other figures, of course, but most of them have not 
appeared prominently in discussions over the last couple of weeks (at 
least not on the sites I follow).


Lupinlore