Both of Harry’s parents are wizards, his encounter with Voldemort changed him but he would have had powers either way. I don’t believe he will lose his powers but the parsel tongue and scar may go away.
Harry & Hermione live Ron probably does too, but if any of the 3 die, it’ll be Ron
Snape is not only good, but [spoiler for those who haven’t read book 6] it is shown that what he did at the end of book 6 made it possible for Harry to live and Voldemort to die, which of course, Dumbledore knew all along
Voldemort, Draco Malfoy, Tonks and Neville all die
Hagrid and Trelawney play key roles in saving Harry (Hagrid dies for his trouble too, I think)
McGonagall becomes the new headmistress of Hogwarts
…and if any romance blooms, it better damn well be between Harry and Hermione.
- Trelawney makes another useful and authentic prediction.
- Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback dragon comes back to help Harry.
- Harry will find in the Penseive the reason Dumbledore trusted Snape.
- There is a dragon below Gringotts.
- Harry must help unite the four Houses of Hogwarts, and the four races from the Ministry of Magic statue (elf, wizard, centaur, goblin).
- A fake rubber-chicken wand from Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes will play a critical but unexpected role.
I like this a lot.
That sounds pretty plausible - I think your husband’s brilliant too!
I am trying really hard not to overthink this entire book , lest my enjoyment is ruined by my expectations.
Not that that is going to stop me as there is no one in real life to SQUEEEEEE about this too at all.
Norbert will be making an appearance.
I suspect we will see the Time Turner device thingie again, especially towards the end of the book.
Snape dies sheilding Harry so that Harry can kill Voldemort.
Or
Voldemort kills Draco ( for failing in a task, not for being a turncoat) and Lucius Malfoy kills Voldemort for killing his only son. Harry then kills Lucius for ruining books 1-6 and the moneyshot we’ve all shelled out mucho dinero to see.
Pettigrew is toast. By Voldy, but ends up repaying his debt to Harry by saving his life.
Belletrix ends up back in Azkaban by Neville’s doing. She begs for death rather than go back, he doesn’t do it. His parents do not regain their memories. Look, we all cannot have happy endings, m’kay.
Bill will marry LaFluer ( or is it Charlie?)
Ooh. I like that.
Almost guaranteed. Snape either dies or goes into exile; and I would nearly bet the farm on the first. He has done too much to go back into a ‘normal’ life. It would be like Darth Vader surviving Return of the Jedi.
Bank on it:
1 Harry becomes DADA teacher after graduating. And also head of Gryfnnwhatever House.
2 Draco is good, and will play a pivotal part in Voldemort’s defeat, due to his interaction with Voldie’s first victim, the ghost-girl in the toilet.
Other musings:
7 Harry was a horcrux, and Voldie used him at the end of book 4, Dumbledore was pleased by this because it meant Dumby didn’t have to kill Harry to destroy the horcrux.
12 I don’t expect a lot of good guys to die. It’s a kid’s book, even in Lord of the RIngs 90% of the good survived in the end.
27 Ginny will defeat an Oliphant and it’s crew all by herself, then slide down its trunk right past the camera , WHOOSH!
62 Hermione will become an Auror. She has what it takes, Harry doesn’t.
68 The action scenes will suck.
Let me add another prediction. Rowling will use up a year’s supply of ellipsis marks. She will have to import a crate of adverbs from France to describe the way people talk (however, she has laid in extra supplies of the word “coolly”). 
I’d be really surprised if Bill married Charlie.
AND WHEN PEOPLE GET ANGRY THEY WILL TALK IN ALL CAPITALS.
As of this post the contest is over.
I’ll give everyone a few days to read the book. Please do not post why you think you won here; just reference the post for now. I will disqualify you if you spoil the ending by posting it earlier than Saturday, 28th, or by not using a spoiler cover no matter when you post it.
The prize is $50, cash, sent to an address of your choice. I will not personally send it to a charity; it needs to go to a Doper who posted on this thread, at an address of their choice.
I will try to announce the winner next weekend, by Sunday. If your post contains any wiggle room, e.g. “Hermione or Ron…” you do not qualify.
Long about next Sat or Sun post your contention that you won and a reference to the post you made, and by Sunday the 28th I’ll try to figure out how to get the winner the money.
In case I forget anything, send any reminders to thumbtop@hotmail.com but do not crap up my inbox with junk and please do not further distribute this email address.
CP