HeadMaster Snape & The Battle of Hogwarts

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 164824

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" wrote:
>
> > "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> > <snipped, read it up-thread>
>
> Carol responds:
> I really like this idea, in part because it makes Snape highly 
> visible and because it enables him to "slither out of action" of the
> murder-and-torture variety, which would be highly detrimental to
> DDM!Snape, and because it sets up an emotionally charged encounter
> between Snape and Harry. Snape could even enlist the aid of the
> portraits and use, say, Portrait!Phineas as an intermediary between
> Hogwarts and the Order while still pretending to be loyal to 
> Voldemort.   <snip>

Mike:
I too like this idea of Steve's. Of course the open question still 
remains will Hogwarts even open this year? If McGonnagall becomes 
Headmistress - seems likely - she was leaning towards not re-openning 
at the end of HBP. 

I would also like to commend Carol on her interpretation of the use 
of portraits. This is about the extent of the help Harry or anybody 
should expect from the portraits, including Dumbledore's. I have read 
a lot of wild theories on how much help Harry might get from DD's 
portrait in the Head office. JKR has already explained that the 
portraits are but a faint imprint of person portrayed. (in the case 
of Madam Black - not so faint <g>)

They are not the once powerful witches and wizards themselves and do 
not carry the font of knowledge they had when they were alive. If you 
reread what these portraits said and what they did you would find 
that they were hardly more than messengers on the one hand, and 
members of the peanut gallary on the other. I don't see Dumbledore's 
portrait being any different, not if JKR is going to remain 
consistant. 


> Carol cont.:
> I considered the idea of Snape working with his seeming rival 
> Bellatrix to engineer a DE escape from Azkaban, during or after 
> which he would subvert Lucius Malfoy and a few others to rebel 
> against Voldemort, but I like your idea even better because it 
> recenters the action on Hogwarts.

Mike:
Can't we have both?! <g> I like this idea too, Carol. Although, how 
about reuniting Lucius Malfoy with his son - and having Lucius remain 
in Voldie's camp - it could make for even more pressure on Draco and 
produce an interesting dynamic if Draco is eventually going to turn 
to the side of light.


> Steve:
> > <snip>   attack at the Weasley Wedding,
> 
> Carol:
> Nor do I think we'll see an attack on the Weasley wedding, which 
> can easily be kept a secret (it would be ... folly to invite 
> Madame Maxime to fly in with her Abraxian horses. Keep it
> quiet, all in the family. <snip>

Mike:
Question: Isn't it traditional that the wedding is held at or near 
the home and family of the bride? Why does everybody assume that the 
wedding between Bill and Fleur will be hosted by the Weasleys? 
Wouldn't this be the perfect time to get out of Britain, get away 
from the bubbling cauldron that is the British WW right now? It goes 
with tradition that this wedding would be in France and it has a much 
better chance of being unmarred if it is held there. 

As an aside - it would also mirror PoA if the book starts out with 
the whole Weasley family and Hermione out of the country, of course, 
this time Harry is too.
 

> Carol, who doesn't expect a "bloodbath" but does interpret JKR's
> unplanned deaths remark as implying planned deaths as well

Mike, hoping JKR goes all William Wallace on us <eg> She does live in 
Scotland and Hogwarts is in Scotland. Sooo ... let's have Hogwarts 
Braveheart, waddaya say? :D