Pensieves, Potions, and Peril: The HBP Covers

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 125722


Well, the HBP covers are out.  They show:

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1) Harry and DD staring into a large stone bowl, possibly a pensieve
(Scholastic Cover)

2) A battered textbook of Advanced Potions (Bloomsbury Adult Cover)

3) Harry and DD wreathed in flame from DD's wand, both with
fierce/angry/frightened expressions (Bloomsbury Children's Cover)

Well, what can we deduce?  I think the most obvious things are:

A)Interaction between Harry and DD will be important,
B) advanced potions will play a role
C) Harry and DD will face some kind of serious attack/danger

OK, now for the speculation:

1) HBP identity -- well, DD is on two of the covers, and a potions
book on one.  That would mean, I suppose, that based on the covers DD
and Snape are the two best candidates.

2)  The pensieve -- if it IS a pensieve, is DD showing Harry important
aspects of the past?  Perhaps he is revealing his own past with
Grindlewald, or the past of Voldemort/Tom Riddle, or the reason he
trusts Snape.

3) Potions -- will Harry get into Advanced Potions?  The book in the
Bloomsbury cover is probably not his, as it is worn and ragged and
Harry has no need to buy used books.  Could it be Snape's?  Could it
be Dumbledore's?  Could it belong to one of the Weasleys?

4) Harry/DD interaction -- will DD be tutoring Harry?  If so in what?
 Defense?  Occlumency?  Legilimency? Some have speculated that perhaps
DD will tutor Harry in potions.  Actually, the potions book and the
pensieve could fit together.  Perhaps one lesson in advanced potions
is making the fluid for a pensieve.  Or the book may have been carried
by someone in a pensieve memory, such as a young Snape or Tom Riddle.

5) Expressions -- on the Bloomsbury Children's Edition, DD and Harry
are both angry/fierce/frightened.  But what to make of the expressions
on the scholastic edition, particular with regards to Dumbledore?  Is
he frightened? Surprised?  Or is this a lofty look of power?

Lupinlore