Okay, not really much of a pool, but let’s just put our guesses on record, and see what happens when the novel comes out.
The question: Who is the Half-blood Prince?
All we know:[ul][li]It is not Harry nor is it Voldemort/Tom Riddle[/li][li]Half-Blood means not just one muggle parent – it can also mean someone with muggle garndparents or great-grandparents on one side. The other half must be pureblood several generations back.[/li][li]Anyone’s guess whether “prince” is literal or figurative, but it’s generally agreed that a “prince” is male (still, you could make an argument otherwise)[/li][li]This quote from Rowling’s website is probably about the prince himself: “[He] looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his tawny hair and in his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp.”[/ul][/li]
Is this a completely new character? Someone mentioned but never seen? Someone we know?
Post your guesses here, and we’ll find out when the book’s on the shelves!
Clearly ‘half-blood’ doesn’t just refer to half-muggles (it’s used to describe Hagrid, for instance), so I suggest that Slytherin is the child of a wizard and a serpentine race - a naga or somesuch thing.
This explains the name Slytherin, his being a passelmouth, and the general affinity for snakes, as well as tying into CoS.
But, from Rowling’s description, I’m thinking the people who suggest it might be Godrick Griffindor are on the right track.
Even so, I’m holding onto Slytherin. Even if he’s not the HBP, I’m holding onto that theory of his heritage unless/until Rowling actually does mention what his ancestry is.
We are also told that there is a clue in the chamber of secrets to the prince’s identity, in the actual chamber scene.
Anyone care to provide a translation of Gilderoy … something of the king? I predict that Lockheart will return, in much more heroic manner, and save Harry’s life.
It’s been so long since I’ve read the fifth book i’m trying to remember all of the characters it could be…
My guess is Draco Malfoy. I know we went through the whole family tree thing in the forth or fifth book that listed all the purebloods and I know he was there but I figure finding out he’s part muggle would just about kill him.
Plus i heard through the grapevine that Draco and Harry have a truce for a while in one of the next two books which sort of means to me that he’ll be a main character.
I think I’m going to be very disappointed if it turns out to be Godrick Griffindor. Especially if he somehow turns out to still alive. It’s just so predictable.
Also, if somehow Harry is related to GG or is his heir or anything, there is no way the sorting hat would have considered putting him in Slytherin.
I’m really hoping it’s either a brand new character or a minor character who takes on a new dimension. If it turns out to be GG, then I hope Harry’s seeing him in a pensieve or some other memory or in a painting or something. It would be just so trite (and IMO, unworthy of her) if it turns out he’s still alive.
My offcial guess is that it is a brand new charater (or else why would she be physically describing him) and this new character is the heir/descendant of GG.
I doubt that very much. JKR has said Lockheart is the only character based on someone she knows and it was someone who she “had to endure for two years”. I don’t see her making a hero out of him now.
If it’s an existing character, I’ll bet on Hagrid. How else would a half-giant even be considered eligible for Hogwarts? Second place would be Remus Lupin.
12 Grimmauld Place is going to turn out to be entailed on a male heir – i.e. Draco – forcing the Order to seek out a new headquarters.
Professor McGonagall is a widow, not a spinster. (Longer-odds prediction: Marlene McKinnon, a member of the Order killed in the first war, was her daughter.)
Amelia Bones is going to be the next Minister of Magic.
Dumbledore is going to bite the dust in Book Six.
Wild pet theory o’ the week: Peter Pettigrew was actually telling the truth when he said that he turned traitor under torture right before Lily and James’ death; the spy in the Potter’s inner circle who had been passing information for over a year was somebody else, and is still active in the Order. (Possibly Emmeline Vance, who seems to be getting all chummy with Remus Lupin in Moody’s photo of the original Order. Girlfriend of Remus? Good friend of Lily? Hmm…)
There is a chance, because of Harry’s close connections with Voldemort. Remember, Harry was endowed with some of Voldemort’s powers when the curse backfired that night, like being able to talk to snakes.
But yeah, I agree that if it’s Godric, it would be extremely predictable.
When I read the description (looked like a lion, etc.) in the OP, the first person that came to mind was Albus Dumbledore’s brother, Aberforth. Perhaps Aberforth is a half-brother of Albus? I’m currently re-reading the fifth book, so if these facts are wrong, that’s why.
This is currently the odds-on favourite. I’m torn between guessing it’s Godric, and guessing it’s Remus Lupin (she said Lupin was Halfblood in an interview).
I’ll enter my guess as Lupin, though, just because it’s not fair to not pick anything, in my own pool
It suggests “golden king.” It was also the name a famous highwayman – a bandit. That’s where she got it.
I once came up with a weird theory (not sure if I believe it myself) that the Ministers of Magic were parodies of real prime ministers. Since Fudge came to power the same year as John Major – replacing a female minister named Millicent Bagshot – and if he leaves at the end of the next book, it’ll be at the same time Tony blair came in.
And I had Gilderoy Lochart pegged as a parody of Tony Blair
I haven’t seen that in any interview, but it’s always a possibility.
Still, she doesn’t like Draco. She seems to detest him. So I’ve always had trouble seeing him turn into a good guy at the 11th hour, like a lot of people are expecting.
