Well, according to Mugglenet there is still no release date set for Book 5.
I think she’s taking her time to make sure there are no errors (like the order of the ghosts coming out of Voldy’s wand) like there were in GoF. I don’t think she has writer’s block, because she’s mentioned plenty of plot points in interviews. Check out Mugglenet for spoilers, if you want them.
Given that she’s not only writing Book 5 but also the screenplays for films 2 and 3, supervising the making of said films, making heaps o’ merchandising deals AND is pregnant, I think we can safely say that she’s probably a bit busier than she was when she wrote the first couple of books. I’d rather get a decent final product later than a slapdash one now (like book 4, which could probably have used another draft before publication).
buffybeast, an Auror is a wizard who chases and brings to justice Deatheaters and those wizards who go over to the dark side. There’s an explanation of this in Goblet of Fire**. Madeye Moody and Neville’s father are Aurors.
Apos, that’s an excellent question about the spectators and what is it exactly that they’re watching. I think we can infer from the book that in the second and third tasks, they’re just waiting to see who emerges from the lake and the maze first. Then they get the story from the champions about what happened. You’d think they would have rigged up some kind of magical cameras to show the audience what’s going on. I guess the folks in the audience just sit and chat or something until the task is over. This is certainly a weak spot in Rowlings’ plot.
Shera, I don’t know what to do about Cornelius Fudge. I suspect he’s the one who’s hiding from Voldemort and the Deatheaters. He had Barty killed before he could reveal that he was a former Deatheater.
Cornelius Fudge is going to be what Rowling means about the difference between doing what’s right and doing what’s comfortable and easy. He’s not a bad guy, but he’s what allows bad guys to subvert and beat the system, and holds good guys back.
Actually, he had Barty’s soul sucked out, rendering him (B. Crouch the Younger) essentially a zombie. But he’s not exactly dead.
So you think that when Voldemort, in speaking of the missing Death Eaters, refers to
that he’s talking about Cornelius Fudge? Intriguing idea, but I just don’t buy it. I’m sure Fudge is just the man Voldemort wants as Minister of Magic, but he’s just too big a fool to be more than an unwitting dupe of the Dark Side’s invisible manipulations.
Personally, I think Snape is the one referred to in my italics.
On preview, what Apos said, regarding Fudge.
The coward is definately that principal guy from Durmstrang who sold out his comrades, also had the DeathEater mark, and showed it to Snape, and then fled when Voldemort got his powers back. Snape is the one that left Voldemort forever.
Fudge didn’t seem to have any devious plot when he had the Dementor do it’s soul-suck: indeed, I remember that mostly being the iniative of the Dementor itself (which is not good, considering that it could have already been working for Voldemort) simply not questioned by Fudge because he is in heavy denial and just wants to destroy or push away anything threatening. Dumbledore’s words to Fudge at the end prove, more than anything, that Fudge is a good guy at heart, just a lazy and deluded one that can’t be counted on.
Speaking of the Dementors, I predict that in either book 5 or 6, all of the human guards and staff at Azkaban will have their souls sucked out, and Voldemort will gain a huge number of new Death Eaters from the escaped prisoners.
Draco Malfoy’s mum turns out to be a muggle. Draco finds out he’s really a mudblood. That frosts his britches.
Neville goes toe to toe (wand to wand) with Crabbe and/or Goyle. Later he rescues his Mom and Dad from the institute.
Harry kills Lucien Malfoy in an accident. Draco believes (obviously) Harry did it on purpose, thus carrying the Draco v. Harry childhood rivalry into adulthood as archenemies.
I think Rowling’s equating Death Eater’s with Nazis and Voldemort is equivalent to Hitler–and those rumors that he was actually part Jewish. Whether that is true or not, there were people in the Nazi party who had some Jewish blood. Voldemort has that same kind of self-hatred.
I haven’t seen the animal textbook, what was it called? Could someone tell me what a kneazle is?
According to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them a kneazle is a ‘cat-like creature, very intelligent. The Kneazle can detect unsavory or suspicious persons very well and will react badly to them. However, if it takes a liking to a Witch or Wizard, it makes an excellent pet.’
Crookshanks is rumored to be part or all Kneazle (which would ruin my Animagi theory) but I don’t have a cite for that.
FWIW, I’m more willing to believe kneazle than animagi. After all, Rowling already played that card two or three times (depending how key a plot point you consider “prongs” to be).
Something I am amazed I haven’t seen mentioned here yet: It is discovered in GoF I think that Harry’s dad was an animagus, which leads to the possibility that Harry is one as well. Based on the way things progress in the books so far, now that Harry has learned of his Animagus heritage, he should find out in #5 that he is in fact an Animagus as well–probably capable of becoming a snake (being a parseltongue that speaks snake).
I would also judge by Rowling’s style so far that Ron & Herm are destined for one another, and Harry and Cho…but not before Harry’s had a turn with Fleur, and maybe Ginny. H & C’s “romance” will be one of those filled with many almosts before they actually get together.
Draco is a permanent bad guy. But I would be willing to be he and Daddy are plotting against Voldemort for their own nefarious and greedy reasons.
Snape will live, and finally achieve his life’s dream at the end of book 7 and become the DADA prof.
Dumbledore dies, and McGonnall takes over until she is killed in 7. Amazingly (but to nobody’s surprise), Harry ends up as the youngest-ever headmaster at Hogwarts after the big bad battle.
The “scar” thing is a teaser; there are bazillions of possibilities to proceed that:
Cho reached over and fondly touched his scar.
And throughout his long years as headmaster, young wizards and witches never tired of hearing how Harry gained–and lost–his scar.
Though the lightning bolt on his forehead never left him, Harry would remember the loss of his friends to Voldemort as the greater scar.
etc…
I thought being an animagus was something one studied for, not a trait one is born with? I’m at work, so I can’t look up the reasons I was under that impression, but it was in PoA that I got that idea.
One thing that hasn’t been mentioned (unless I am a poor reader, which is not outside the realm of possibility) is that Harry is at the Dursleys because as long as he is there, he is safe. He keeps on trying to be elsewhere - which would be fine with the Dursleys, you’d think - but he always ends up back there. If he finally succeeds in finding another place to live during school breaks, terrible things will happen.
I think its something one studies for. One chooses an appropriate animal form, rather than having it inborn. At least, that is the impression I recieved. You’ll notice their are no known Amoeba animagi, not are there any repltilian, etc. People would normally choose warm blooded mammalian forms, not alien ones. If it were truly a random, inborn talent, more distant species would probably be more common; there are more exotic beats, or even unpleasant local ones, than there are “charismatic” animals.
Except that: Rita Skeeter = beetle. But you did say “normally”.
According to the HP site previously mentioned, the next DADA teacher will be
Arabella Figg.
We’ll see soon enough…
Even so, what’s to stop Harry from following in his father’s and father’s friends footsteps? I’m betting he picks up animagus of some sort in #5. In fact, one might wonder if the Order of the Phoenix might require you be animagus to join…
I might also point out that, in favor of it being something you’re born with, that if you could learn how to do it I would think that:
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The ones in the books would have chosen more exotic forms. They were (theoretically) chosen/discovered when they were Harry’s age, and one would think one of them would have picked (in youthful foolishness) something more exotic than the common beasts we’ve seen so far.
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The transformations we’ve seen have all been seamless and easy for the animagi, whereas the casting of magic has always required an effort of some sort. This would tend to indicate it’s not a learned thing, as everything they’ve learned in school so far has required effort of some sort.
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The registration thing can be argued either way. If it can be learned, registration would be somewhat easier; just track those who buy/borrow the appropriate books. But the Wizard’s Council (or whatever it’s called) requires that somebody volunteer the info that they are animagus, indicating that the great wizards of the world would have no way of telling that somebody is a shapeshifter unless they caught them in the act.
It may be no surprise, given my handle, but I’d personally like to be a feline animagus, preferrably a tigger. (Yes, I spelled that right.)
Predictions:
Ron and Hermoine will end up together - THAT is OBVIOUS – it will happen in the next book. It will not be hidden from Harry. The books are rrealtively quiet about the relationship until later in 3 and more clearly in 4 – the movies on the other hand are ALL OVER IT – expect to see it blossom in book 5.
None of Harry, Ron and Hermoine will ever die – they are the Trinity upon which the story is based.
Harry will likely end up with Cho, if not in Book 5 then Book 6. SHE will die before anything too serious happens between her and Harry. Jenny has already lived out her usefulness – she will merely fade away.
Dumbledore will die somewhere in the middle of Book 7 – most likely murdered by Draco Malfoy while at Hogwarts following his father’s and Voldemort’s instructions. AFTER Harry kills Draco Malfoy, the great battle between Harry and Voldemort will soon follow thereafter. Draco’s death will be with the assist of either Crabbe or Goyle. Voldemort may or MAY NOT be completely destroyed. Draco’s father will remain untouched …
By the end of Book 7, Harry will become an Auror – leaving possibilities for further HP books to be added at a later date.
I expect to see the former dark Arts teacher Werewolf character to resurface in the near future. Perhaps even returning as the Dark Arts teacher in book 5.
Okay – after stating all the above – here is another possible scenario …
The great battle of good and evil will happen in Book 5 – all will seem dark and dismal until Harry saves the day.
Book 6 and 7 will about Harry becoming the greatest Quidditch player ever, and he will ead England to the World Cup championship …
oops – forgot that the book is written by a CHICK, and sports are secondary …