[the_old_crowd] Things I pray to see in OOTP

[Amanda Geist]

Ellen (Hi, Ellen!) asked:

> What do you really hope we will find out in OOTP?

Do I really need to say this?

I want more about Snape. His character is so frickin' *complex* and there is
not *One* *Single* *Thing* that he has done or said that we could put down
cleanly to one motive. More, the various motives were often 180 degrees
apart.

I want to know some of the "Past with a capital P," I want to know if he
even *knew* Lily, much less anything closer, and I want to know beyond a
shadow of a doubt that he is fully human.

I want to see the changing (hopefully, maturation) of the relationship
(interaction?) between Harry and Snape, so tantalizingly presaged in that
last exchange of glances.

I want to know if I am correct about the Dark Mark, among its other
functions, binding the DEs to Voldemort unto death.

I want to know if the twins really bought Ron dress robes.

I want to know if my house-elf theories are correct: that they are bound to
a place as much as to a family; and that Winky is just as atypical for the
breed as Dobby.

I want to know if Jan's theory that the goblins will be key in Voldemort's
plans (and downfall) is on target.

I want to know that JKR is far too good an author to let a whisper of
unregistered animagi or Polyjuice potion or Veritaserum or Priori Incantatem
creep into the next book, at the least.

I want to know if Remus Lupin will bite anyone; if so, whom; and what the
repercussions are.

The "Assassin!Snape" theory so creepily fills the bill on several levels, I
am looking forward to seeing if any of it is correct. For those of you who
unfamiliar with this, it says that
(a) Snape's task *was* to go back to Voldemort
(b) Voldemort will require some proof of his loyalty, and ask him to kill
someone. My personal variant: target is Dumbledore.
(c) tie-in to Jan's "Love as a Spell Component" theory: Dumbledore's willing
death will be the final thing required to complete a kick-ass protection
spell against Voldemort:
--Dumbledore has exhibited no fear of death
--he worked on alchemy [very potion-like] with Flamel
--his own potions master is apparently close to him
--Lily's sacrifice *must* have had something special about it, as others
must have died for loved ones and not had the effect her sacrifice did, so
possibly her willing death completed a powerful spell (unrelated corollary:
I'd like to find out more about this sacrifice that protected Harry)
--Flamel also went to a willing death for the greater good
(d) Dumbledore will die, whether or not Snape does it
(e) Harry will believe Snape did it, building in the requisite viewpoint
misunderstanding
(f) *Snape* may believe he did it (I can see Dumbledore setting something
up, where Snape kills him accidentally or unintentionally), and it will
cause him untold angst
(g) Voldemort will also believe Snape did it, and take him back
(h) Harry will, however, work against Snape (see item e. above)
(i) Understanding will only come on all required levels *just* before all
hell is ready to break loose, barely rescuing the situation
(j) This understanding will require Snape and Harry to communicate

I *love* this theory. It's mostly mine; it's a variant of an original that
had Snape killing Karkaroff to prove himself to Voldemort, but the rest of
us wanted to know what the test would be in asking Snape to kill someone he
doesn't really care for and that Voldemort probably wants to off himself?
No, the real test would be someone Snape loves.

Okay, enough rambling. I want to see if any of that is going to occur.
Especially Jan's "love as a spell component" theory. He was also the one who
pointed out that alchemy must involve potions work, and suggested that one
basis of Snape's respect for Dumbledore was professional.

Off to bathe children now.

~Amandageist
(Jan is my husband, forgot to mention that)