The Chain (was Non-HBP spoiler, was (SHIP: Oh, my.)

[Talisman]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Barry Arrowsmith" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
IF 
SPACE
IS
A
VACUUM
I'D
LIKE
A
LITTLE
HELP
AROUND
THE 
HOUSE

Talisman, saying, how about that Percy-syndrome, huh?

Kneasy wrote:
>We've had the books with the teen crushes, the almost puppy-love 
>passions Hermy/Krum/Ron in GoF; Harry/Cho in OoP; more or less 
>everybody in HBP,but now comes the time of testing. As Lyn says, 
>it'll be loyalties strained and death doing the sundering and how 
>they all cope that'll be central to book 7. <snip> Get ready to 
>have your withers wrung.

Talisman:
No doubt.  I think the romance of Tonks and Lupin--especially in 
light of Rowling's remarks and Mrs. Weasleys observations about 
couples feeling the pressure to marry before the ax falls--is doomed.

Perhaps there will be a lovely double wedding at the beginning of 
Book 7, but I fear before the book's over Lupin will have taken his 
turn as courier, carrying a piece of LV's soul beyond the veil.

That, I think, is a part of being a member of the Order, not just 
the willingness to fight LV, nor even the willingness to face death 
in the battle, but an agreement--if necessary--to go out by friendly 
fire in order to transport another piece of LV soul.

That is why Mrs. Weasley is so agitated when Sirius tells Harry 
about the Order, and he wants to join.  

You may recall, it's not Mrs. Weasley who answers Harry, it's Lupin.

"No...The Order is comprised only of overage wizards," he 
said... "There are dangers of which you can have no idea, any of 
you..." (OoP 96)

He is saying this to a boy who has met the assembled DEs, who has 
already battled LV, a Basilisk, dementors, a troll, etc.  

There is something even more awful facing members of the OoP?  uh-
huh.

Also, regarding the perceived timeline problems with Snape and 
Trelawney's prophecy.  I think it's pretty clear that Snape was not 
an eavesdropper.  He was already a member of the OoP.  As double 
agent he only told LV part of the prophecy, because the Prophecy was 
used, repeatedly, to manipulate LV.

First Godric's Hollow, then the DoM.  Both were part of DD's plan.

Speaking of Godric's Hollow, it was not Snape's turning point.   He 
had already long since turned. 

The romance scene between Snape and Narcissa--which is obvious in 
the book--and predicted by moi--puts an end to LOLLIPOPS and all 
it's progeny.

Even I, who am more than willing to extol Snape's many charms, do 
not believe that all his major actions are the result of a *series* 
of love affairs.  Abandon the DEs for Lily and kill DD for Narcissa--
I don't think so.

Talisman, observing:  I can see you out there, with your fingers in 
your ears, saying la la la la la.