The co-protagonists and minor characters in Book 7

[lyraofjordan]

No: HPFGUIDX 142736

Carol Wrote:
>
> We all know that the plot of Book 7 will require Harry (presumably
> with some help) to find and destroy four Horcruxes (locket, cup,
> Nagini, and something from Ravenclaw) and, ultimately, to confront 
and
> defeat Voldemort. [snip]> But what about the other (not so minor) 
characters, especially Ron and
> Hermione? 

Lyra:
Well, Carol, I read your post yesterday and set it aside to think 
about, and headed over the LiveJournal, where by an amazing 
coincidence I found in one of the Potter fandom newsletters a notice 
that someone was compiling a "masterlist of things JKR absoultely 
must answer in Book 7" 
http://www.livejournal.com/users/spritebmc/99356.html

Last I checked, spritebmc had listed 43 different things, with 
probably countless others listed in the comments tacked on. (I 
personally am not holding my breath to find out the 12 uses of 
dragon's blood or what happened to Sirius' motorbike, but apparently 
others are). And I don't think the list included some of the issues 
a lot of people really want to know about, including the details 
about the infamous "prank". I'm pretty sure people are going to be 
disappointed if their approval of Book 7 rests on getting answers to 
lots of little details.

Carol wrote:
What will Hermione do if she doesn't have the Hogwarts
> library at hand to do her research?

Lyra:
I'm figuring all three of the Trio will have their apparition 
licenses, so even if Hermione isn't stationed at Hogwarts, what's to 
stop a quick trip up to check the library? I think perhaps all that 
study she's put into ancient runes may come into play somehow as 
well. (In fact, it seems the Pensieve is always described as having 
odd symbols around the basin. I wonder if those are runes and if 
Hermione's skills might be useful in relation to using the pensieve 
to see some memory.)

Carol:> 
> So, what side plots (aside from Snape and RAB, which have been
> thoroughly discussed) really, really need to be resolved and what 
role
> will the sidekicks, subordinate heroes, and other minor characters
> (Luna, Neville, Dobby, Percy, Umbridge, Scrimgeour, 
Slughorn . . . . )
> play in resolving them? 

Lyra again:

After seeing how JKR goes thru a checklist and provides resolutions 
to side plots, I'm thinking I may be more satisfied if she just 
focuses on the big stuff. I'm absolutely lousy at making 
predictions, but it seems many of the minor characters are 
positioned to possibly help Harry in his main missions: Draco, for 
example, may have access to or knowledge of Dark objects or 
information that could come in handy in the hunt for horcruxes. 
Percy is positioned to intercept information from the Ministry if 
that is going to be his method for making up with with family. And I 
certainly hope Luna's faith in all things odd and wonderful will 
come into play. 

Neville, hopefully, will extract some measure of revenge against 
Bella, but from JKR's interviews, it doesn't sound like there's any 
hope for his parent's recovery. 


Carol wrote: > What themes other than choice and Love and where 
Snape's loyalties lie
> (house unity? wizards' attitudes toward other magical beings?) can 
and
> should be woven into the plot without extending the book to 800 
pages?
> 

Lyra:
Doing the love-conquers-evil theme is going to be the real trick 
here and the one I hope she manages to pull off well. After enduring 
SPEW and Hagrid's Tale, I certainly hope we'll see an improvement 
wizard's attitudes towards other magical creatures, and I think that 
can be handled within the major plot points. If most of the story 
takes place outside of Hogwarts, house unity may take a backseat.

> Carol, hoping we've at least seen the last of S.P.E.W.

 Lyra, who has no great love of SPEW but wishes all the best for 
Dobby