# Things you're SURE wll happen in the upcoming Harry Potter novels **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716 "2003-01-05T03:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/181 "2003-06-12T15:38:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bishamon \* > \*\*I don’t think Lily was performing a spell or anything, after all isn’t she a muggle? She is Aunt Petunia’s sister. > \*\* Not a muggle, but Muggle-born, like Hermione. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/182 "2003-06-12T15:39:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bishamon \* > **I don’t think Lily was performing a spell or anything, after all isn’t she a muggle? She is Aunt Petunia’s sister.** She’s muggle born, is my understanding. But with powers. Like Hermione. Julie ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/183 "2003-06-12T16:11:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SciFiSam \* > Secondly, by what process could self-sacrifice turn into a massively powerful curse? Lilly gives her life, and her love is so strong, that it instantly turns Voldemort’s spell back on him? That karma is more instant than Pot Noodles. Spells in the HP universe usually require a wand, or at least an incantation. They don’t just _happen_. > > How to get around this one? Well, the wizarding world doesn’t operate by the same laws as the real, Muggle world. Most of the time the wizards are subject to the same rules of physics as the rest of the world, but magic can manipulate physical processes. Perhaps intense emotions or spiritual states, like love, can manipulate magical processes. If this is the case, it would have to happen fairly often (not just on one special occasion), and be something the schoolchildren are taught about. Perhaps they will be in later books. I’d like to see that. The books actually reference a number of occasions in which strong emotion leads to magical effects without wands or incantations. Examples: 1. Harry’s flight from Dudley’s gang, in which he winds up on the school roof. Fear-\>desire to escape-\>teleportation. 2. Harry’s drastic haircut, in which anticipated humiliation causes his hair to regrow overnight. 3. The inflation of Aunt Marge, in which Harry’s anger manifests magically against Marge. 4. Neville’s bouncing, in which his fear of the imminent impact manifested by making him bounce like a rubber ball (I wonder if it was a tranfiguration or a charm effect?). I would presume from this that such manifestations are relatively common among those with strong magical talents, and can occur even in those whose talents seem relatively weak. In fact, the primary purpose of the wands and incantations may be to discipline and control the flow of magic, rather than to facilitate it. There are references to old, powerful magics in the books. It leads me to wonder if wandless magic might actually be more powerful (though less predictable) than the modern magical disciplines. Primitive (or primal) doesn’t always mean inferior; sheer strength can sometimes compensate for a lack of finesse. Lily was a skilled and powerful witch–remember that she was Head Girl, and presumably the Hermione of her generation. I can certainly accept that she deliberately channeled the power of her emotions (love, fear, anger–the whole muddle of powerful emotions involved in a sacrifice like hers) into a protection for Harry. The very fact that the form that protection took was unpredictable may have been what thwarted Voldemort. ---
**Author:** ![curly\_chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@curly\_chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curly_chick)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/184 "2003-06-12T16:43:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bishamon \* > \*\*I am curious about James Potter’s family, though. Something should be brought up about his family at some time. Who were Harry’s grandparents on the wizard side? Were any of them ever dark wizards, or fighters against dark wizards? That should be brought up at some point I would think. \*\* Yes, I reckon you have got something there. OK, we all know that when Harry summoned his Patronus he saw himself in the future and thought he was his own father he could see. So Harry looks like James. Based on this why don’t we say that James’s father will turn out to be Voldemort. So if James’s mother was a witch, then James would not be muggle born. So that fits with what we know. There could have been some deal about Lord Voldemort wanting his son James to follow in his footsteps and James declined, changed his name to Potter (why not something a bit more glam, Jimmy?) while still in school, where he met Lilly. So the big V buggered off with his Death Eaters, building up a head of steam and wreaking havoc wherever they went. Next thing he hears is that he is a Gandpa. So he decided that his grandson, Harry would be his best bet to keep the Slytherin dynasty alive. James was having none of it and he and Lilly perished in the struggle to prevent Voldemort from trying to abduct the new baby. So why did the baby not die? Because a mother is absolutely prohibited by all the international, nay intergalactic magic laws, from making any attempt on her own child’s life. The child will always bear the mark afterwards, even from an accidental attempt and the mother will perish because international and intergalactic laws, like reeeeeally suck, man. So during Voldy’s attempts to snatch the baby, Lilly’s spell goes the wrong way in the fracas and accidentally hits the baby, who is protected by my new mother-child force field and the curse is deflected off Harry’s forhead. Did I mention that the patented Mother & Child force field is not merely a force field, it has magical amplification powers? No? well, guess what? It has So the deflected, amplified curse hits Voldemort. Lilly screams when she sees her curse hitting the baby. The big V gives us the high pitched laugh we have heard so much about. (This is because no one has told them about the curly chick M & C amplification force field theory - if only they had been SDMBers) Lilly dead, Voldy, being the most powerful dark wizard there is can just about withstand the amplified curse, but he is a not himself at the end of it all. Green smoke Scar The End I don’t really have to point out that this is not really serious, do I? I’m still mulling over the socks motif - I like it, **kiralyn** ---
**Author:** ![JessEnigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cdc98d/32.png) [@JessEnigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessEnigma)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/185 "2003-06-12T17:37:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lsura \* > \*\* > I just have the idea that Neville (before he dies) could become someone to be reckoned with, someone Voldemort/the death eaters don’t expect. > \*\* I think Neville is way more powerful than he (or anyone else) gives himself credit for. When he messes up, he messes up spectacularly. Transplanting your ears onto a cactus takes a bit of work, I should think, as well as Banishing Flitwick across a room instead of a cushion. Plus, there’s all those melted cauldrons. Seems like if he were a near-Squib, he wouldn’t be able to do much of anything due to lack of power. He just lacks control. Verrrryyy interesting. I agree, I think he has a block of some sort, though I don’t know if it’s self-induced or if maybe something happened to him during the attack on his parents. ---
**Author:** ![Bishamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3e96dc/32.png) [@Bishamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bishamon)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/186 "2003-06-12T17:46:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gonzoron \* > \*\*Not a muggle, but Muggle-born, like Hermione. \*\* Ahhhh, that would explain it then. Thank you. So, Lily was a mudblood then? Perhaps there is something with muggles, and thus mudbloods, that the purebloods fear? Perhaps that is what Lily protect Harry and whatever is continuing to protect Harry at the Dursleys. There is such an Us vs. Them attitude between the wizards and muggles played up in the novels and this might be the cause of it. I think they need to team up if anybody is going to defeat Voldemort. The wizarding world isn’t above contacting the appropriate government officials when Sirius escaped, I don’t see there being a problem with contacting the muggle world once the Ministry comes around and recognizes the threat. If they aren’t so infiltrated by Death Eaters to effectively tie their hands. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/187 "2003-06-12T18:07:40Z")
I really hope that Voldemort doesn’t turn out to be Harry’s father. Shades of _Empire Strikes Back_. It’s Been Done, folks. One thing I would like to see and probably won’t: I would like to see how the kids are affected by their burgeoning sexuality. How they gain power but lose some control (for a while). How their magic powers become more…organic?, less rote learning. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/188 "2003-06-12T19:06:43Z")
The suggestions about Neville blocking are excellent. I really hope he comes out in this book or before the series is complete. As I said before, he represents the unlucky kid inside of us that just can’t grasp things, can’t get a break, just is on the wrong side of luck all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Kiralyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5fc32e/32.png) [@Kiralyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiralyn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/189 "2003-06-13T14:17:11Z")
curly chick’s probably on to something with V being James’ father. BUT, and this IMHO, discounts that theory: Why would V hate H so much either way? If it was something Lily did, or if was something that mistakenly happened, that wouldn’t seem to be reason for V to hate him so much. It must be because V KNOWS that Harry must be gone for him to be successful in his ambitions. OH! DUH. Well, I guess it could be that V is related to H, and THAT IS WHY he must go. And on the other hand, this same relationship idea may be the reason why D was so satisfied V had used Harry’s blood in GoF. I know that D has said that V has made mistakes where it hurt him, but it seems a very stupid mistake to go to all that trouble to perform such a powerful spell in a graveyard over his fathers’ grave with the blood of so and so and such and such. Hmm, the blood/relationship thing affecting the curse on baby Harry, that’s interesting. JessEnigma and the Neville theorists are cooking up something good and I would be very excited to hear Neville become a pivital character. Seems like there’s a lot to go on there. LOL’d about the very complicated M & C amplification force field theory, and by golly JKR should give you a job! hehe I’m still thinking about those stinkin’ socks. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/190 "2003-06-15T02:13:59Z")
I have just finished re-reading #1, and Neville’s toad, Trevor, just keeps grabbing my attention. Maybe it is an animagi for the dark side that is waiting for Voldemort to come back. Possibly putting curses on Neville to keep him so inept. I am wondering if Voldemort and Harry are one in the same by means of that Time Twister thing that Hermione used in #4, but it would have to be used in reverse. Does that make sense? Hagrid or Dumbledore will die in #5. I am sure of it. Off to start on Chamber of Secrets. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/191 "2003-06-15T22:02:02Z")
I predict… hernias for postal workers. Apparently the book weighs 1kg, and the Royal Mail is already making special delivery arrangements to handle the extra load for next week. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/192 "2003-06-16T00:27:34Z")
I think Ron’s going to betray Harry, eventually. Dunno how much. Somewhere (don’t have my books on me) it’s said (many times, too, I think) that no wizard who’s gone bad has been from another house in Hogwarts than Slytherin. Screwing up like Ludo, yes…going bad, no. I think Ron’s going to screw up royally out of jealousy. I think Hogwarts will get shut down in the end of Book 5 or in Book 6. I think by the end of 6, Voldemort will have completely let the kittens out of the bag as far as Muggles knowing about wizards is concerned. If you’ve got the power, why not use it against everyone? (Then again, he may fear nuclear weapons or somesuch.) I think that the Dursleys know a lot more than they’ve been letting on. I think they knew what was going on from the beginning…I don’t know why, but I’ve always thought so. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/193 "2003-06-16T01:38:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jsgoddess \* > \*\*I’ve had an uneasy feeling since book 3 that Neville is toast. > > Which sucks because Neville is the only one incompetent enough for me to identify with. 😃 > > Julie \*\* I must reluctantly agree with you, even though I wish it weren’t so. Damn, I like Neville. One other possibility for a dead student would be Dennis Creevey, Colin’s little brother that just came to Hogwarts in GoF. The tiny kid that was_thrilled_ to have fallen into the lake and been pushed back into the boat by the giant squid. Cute little kid dying would be a real tearjerker. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/194 "2003-06-19T13:03:31Z")
I just hope Ginny doesn’t die. Someone said earlier in this thread that Ginny has outlived her usefulness as a plot device. And that may be true\*, but it shouldn’t mean that she has to _die_. In GoF, it seemed that she was maturing out of her crush, and I have to say that I like the idea of her getting over Harry just as much as I like the idea of her getting with him. It would be a good example for young girls, showing them that you can get over someone, move on and be **happy** , instead of making it your life’s mission to get the first guy you liked\*\*. But if she did die, it would very likely be an outgrowth of her devotion to Harry, and I don’t think I could take that. Hagrid’s death I could take. Much as I adore him, I don’t think his absence would ruin the series, because he’s one of those characters who really could live on in people’s hearts. And I agree with those who have said that Dumbledore dying would get things really amped up. I doubt it will be Sirius, Lupin or Snape, because we need those guys for exposition. It won’t be Draco either, because you can’t just take away that conflict with two books yet to go. \*Although I did read a fanfic in which Ginny and Harry faced down Voldemort and triumphed, then made tentative romantic overtures. The excellent, IMHO, point was made that they were able to do that because they’ve both already faced V. and lived: Harry as an infant and Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets. If they ever **do** hook up romantically, it should be on the strength of that. \*\*And by the same token, I wish Harry would just get over Cho already. I can’t say I have anything against her, because I don’t know anything about her—and neither does Harry! He has even less connection to her than Ginny does to him. I’d hate to see him continue spinning his wheels in that 13-year-old guy phase; he should also mature, and stop thinking that physical attraction is all there is. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/195 "2003-06-20T01:51:13Z")
\*\*Place your bets \*\* [Odds on Who Dies](http://www.msnbc.com/news/928523.asp?0cb=-317163371#BODY) > [@](#): > > THOSE WILLING TO brave guard dogs and $100 million dollar lawsuits might try to sneak a peek, but the rest of us have to wait until Saturday’s publication. Until then, here are one fan’s odds on who’s going to bite the floo dust. > > **Harry Potter: 1,000,000,000:1** — Hint: ‘Harry Potter’ is in every book title. > > **Hermione Granger: 100:1** — She’s got too much going on. Hermione’s Muggle background sets up plenty of plots in which others are prejudiced against her, and her knowledge of spells comes in handy if Rowling ever writes herself into a corner. > > **Ron Weasley: 75:1** — Ron’s probably staying, too. He’s a solid character and plays off Harry well. But then again, there’s a tendency in entertainment to occasionally kill off the number-one chum (“Top Gun,” anyone?) Or as they sang in the “Sunset Boulevard” musical, “nobody dies except the best friend.” > > **Draco Malfoy: 50:1** — Itchy has Scratchy, Tom has Jerry, Harry has Draco. Our trio of good kids needs an enemy, and really, would Rowling burst into tears after killing off this little snot? > > **Dumbledore: 2:1** — The beloved Hogwarts headmaster certainly has his share of enemies — sometimes among his own staff. He’s fairly elderly, so his death could be seen as an almost natural occurrence. Plus with the loss of Richard Harris, who played Dumbledore in the films, there’s precedent. > > \*\*Hagrid: 3:2 \*\*— Sad to say, the gentle giant would be a natural choice. The kids love him, but he’s always been a bit of an outsider. It’s easy to imagine him giving his life for Harry, or for Dumbledore. > > Other possibilities: Cho, Mrs. Weasley, Dobby, one of the Dursleys (we wish!). I never thought of Draco biting the big one. I can’t see killing off a nemisis, Harry’s entire schooling career would just be so much easier then. Do the Weasley Parents have first names? I’ve drawn a blank. \*\*Other thoughts \*\* Why hasn’t **Ron** tried out for Quidditch if just about all his brothers have been on the team ( Fred, George and the Dragon handler one, I think.) He is so keen on the sport. First years never make the team, but he hasn’t tried on in 2 or 3. Hmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/196 "2003-06-20T02:37:17Z")
Okay, here’s my idea of who might be biting it. If as was said it’s a main character that’s a character that’s been in all four books so far. Probably a good sort too, or Rowling wouldn’t have cried about the death. Likely a character fond of Harry, who would indeed die for the kid. And [cynical voice on] Rowling makes money from the movies, so why jeopardize the quality of acting of a "main"character, if they know they won’t make it through the whole series of flicks?[cynical voice off] Are you ready for this? Hedwig. Think about it ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/197 "2003-06-20T02:51:49Z")
I’m not putting this in a spoiler box as it just the merest speculation. This morning I woke up and said to my husband, “Mark my words, Snape is dust.” but the more I think about it the more I think I’m not psychic. Besides I can’t see Rowling crying over Snape, either, although I probably would. I think Ginny is a much better possibility, or at least another child. (please not Hermione, please please). I wish Harry would get over Cho too but I don’t see it happening. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/198 "2003-06-20T03:17:43Z")
**Baker** , that is brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/199 "2003-06-20T04:55:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*\*\*Place your bets \*\* > > [Odds on Who Dies](http://www.msnbc.com/news/928523.asp?0cb=-317163371#BODY) > \*\* So, if those are fan odds, what are they giving in Vegas? ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716/200 "2003-06-20T07:22:00Z")
Just thought of something else. If it’s not too crass to say so, the death of either Hagrid or Dumbledore would probably be pretty cinematic. If it was Ginny or Neville or any kid, well, they’re young, they’re inexperienced. Diggory was taken down just like that. It was Voldemort’s callous remark, “Kill the spare”, that was jaw-dropping, not the means by which he was killed. Drama is when a kid triumphs over an adult menace, not when they lose. Whereas, it would take something cataclysmic to take out Hagrid or Dumbledore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-youre-sure-wll-happen-in-the-upcoming-harry-potter-novels/146716.md?page=11)