HP Conventional Wisdom Watch

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 126739


In the spirit of NEWSWEEK Magazine, I thought I'd give a conventional 
wisdom (CW) watch on our favorite HP characters.  This is based on a 
scan of posts from the past couple of months, and is entirely subject 
to all kinds of error.  Feel free to add corrections, additions, 
detractions, and howls of rage.  As I can't easily do nifty little 
arrows like NEWSWEEK, I'll use rising, falling, and mixed.

HARRY POTTER: Rising.  General thought is that he will rise out of
the 
angst and pain so characteristic of his fifth year.  How long this 
will take and how difficult it will be is a matter of debate, but
most 
expect Harry's sixth year to be much better than his fifth, at least 
mentally and emotionally.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE: Mixed.  Epitome of Goodness or Cold Manipulator?  
Well written hero or supposed icon of the good who fails to come 
across?  Will HBP clear this up, or further stir the cauldron?  He 
gets a slight lift from his appearance with on two out of three 
announced covers, seeming to indicate that he will have a prominent 
role in Harry's life and perhaps act to clear up the doubts about him 
in many minds.  But this is counterbalanced by a suspicion in some 
quarters that his prominence on the covers may be his death sentence.

SEVERUS SNAPE: Rising.  The UK Adult cover indicates to many that his 
subject will be very important in the sixth book.  He is also gaining 
as one of the candidates for the HBP.  However, CW with out snarky 
potions master is always extremely volatile, and almost no one doubts 
there are twists in the roller coaster yet to come.

REMUS LUPIN:  Falling.  His stature as a candidate for the HBP seems 
to have declined recently.  Pippin's theory of an ESE!Lupin so far
has 
few supporters, but the prominence of Dumbledore and Harry on the 
covers seems to work against the previously popular idea that he
would 
step up to be a paternal figure for Harry in the sixth book.  Also
his 
disappointing passivity in OOTP still grates on some people's nerves.

SIRIUS BLACK:  Falling.  CW is that he is dead and will remain that 
way.

RON WEASLEY: Rising.  He certainly became more prominent in OOTP, 
albeit by somewhat controversial plot twists.  How this will play out 
is a matter of fierce debate, but he seems unlikely to fade into the 
background anytime soon.

HERMIONE GRANGER: Falling.  OOTP left many believing she badly needed 
a lesson in humility, if not a smack in the mouth.  Her efforts with 
SPEW are not popular among readers, and many think she is doomed to 
embarrassment.

SEAMUS FINNEGAN:  Mixed.  Not a good performance in OOTP, but a 
longshot for HBP.

DEAN THOMAS: Rising.  His possible relationship with Ginny may bring 
him more into prominence, and like Seamus he is a longshot for HBP.

NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM:  Rising.  He showed signs of blooming in OOTP,
and 
it is a trend that seems likely to continue.

GINNY WEASLEY: Rising.  Despite some distaste at her personality
shift 
in OOTP, she seems unlikely to fade.  Mark her as Gryffindor Chaser 
and the most likely candidate for Girlfriend-of-the-Boy-who-Lived.

LUNA LOVEGOOD: Mixed.  A favorite of JKR, and one of the few 
characters who seemed to connect with Harry at the end of Book V.  
However, indications are that among fans outside of internet circles, 
reaction has ranged from indifference to annoyance.

PERCY WEASLEY: Falling.  Early speculation that he might be a spy for 
Dumbledore has largely given way to a focus on Percy as a Weasley 
misfit and messed-up dude.

MINERVA MCGONNOGAL: Mixed.  Her strong personality is a breath of 
fresh air.  But her handling of Harry in HBP gives new meaning to the 
word "maladroit."

DRACO MALFOY: Falling.  Expectations of a deepening of his character 
have been badly disappointed, and CW is that he is Most Likely to
Take 
the Dark Mark.  On the other hand, he still has a committed group
that 
see potential in him.

THEODORE NOTT: Rising.  Most likely candidate for Good Slytherin.

BLAISE ZABINI: Rising.  JKR confirms we will see more of him.  Like 
Theo, a candidate for Good Slytherin.

RUBEUS HAGRID: Falling.  His charm has worn off for many fans.  And
he 
seems to many to be the perfect candidate for Next Death.

GRAWP: Falling.  Of course, he was in the sub-basement already, so 
what can one say?

NYMPHADORA TONKS: Rising.  Neatest new character in OOTP, and seems 
likely to have a major roll in Voldy War II.

ALISTOR MOODY:  Falling.  Moody?  Whose that?

ABERFORTH DUMBLEDORE: Rising.  Will the smelly barkeep at the Hog's 
Head be the next DADA professor?

GODRIC GRYFFINDOR: Rising.  Possible HBP, and perhaps a match for the 
lion-like man described on JKR's website.

LUCIUS MALFOY:  Falling.  Jail-bait and probably soon escaped felon.  
Lo how the mighty have fallen.

NARCISSA MALFOY:  Rising.  Somebody has to fill Lucius' shoes, and
JKR 
confirms we will see more of her.

BELLATRIX LESTRANGE:  Mixed.  Scary villainess, but did she HAVE to
go 
into the infantile act at the MoM?

VOLDEMORT:  Falling.  Let's face it, he seems to be operating out of 
the Villain's Book of Cartoon Cliches.

PETUNIA DURSLEY: Mixed.  Hints we will learn more about her, and that 
there is more to learn.  On the other hand, it has also been
confirmed 
that she is barely in the book, and JKR seems to think she is too far 
gone to ever be redeemed.

DUDLEY DURSLEY: Mixed.  More to know about his experience with the 
Dementors, and hints from JKR that he MIGHT be redeemable.  But also 
we know he is "just Dudley."

SLYTHERIN HOUSE: Mixed.  JKR does not seem to like them very much,
and 
is not happy with the popularity of this house among fans.  On the 
other hand, Theo seems a candidate for a Good Slytherin, and the 
Sorting Hat is talking about House Unity.  But it seems awfully late 
in the day.



Lupinlore