I hope Harry has settled down a little bit. He was extremely angry all through the last book; Og knows he had good reason to be, but he needs to develop a little more of a level head.
Anyone think Lupin might be back as DAD teacher? With the Ministry somewhat discredited, and Umbridge (the one who drafted the legislation that made it almost impossible for Lupin to find a job) disgraced, maybe Dumbledore will find it possible to re-hire him. It’s either Lupin or some character we haven’t met yet.
Projecting ahead to book 7, I think if anyone ever ends up getting married in this series, it’s gonna be Hagrid and Madame Maxime.
Interesting. I’d like Lupin for DADA but I’m not sure if Dumbledore’s triumph will be quite enough to overcome the social prejudice against werewolves.
I do think Lupin is second-in-command of the Order, however – he seems to be giving the orders when Dumbledore is absent, and he’s the only one who doesn’t have to ring the bell to get into Grimmauld Place. If Dumbledore dies this time like everyone expects, maybe Lupin will step into his shoes?
Another reason I don’t think Lupin will be the next DADA teacher is because I buy the theory Diceman presented in an earlier Harry Potter thread here on the SDMB. That theory is that the potions Snape used to protect the Philosopher’s Stone foreshadow the DADA teachers:[ul][li]Poison – Quirrel [/li][li]Nettle Wine – Lockhart[/li][li]Allows you to go forward – Lupin[/li][li]Poison – fake Moody[/li][li]Poison – Umbridge[/li][li]Nettle Wine – Unknown[/li][*]Allows you to go backward – Unknown[/ul]By this theory, our next DADA teacher should be a total incompetent, but not particularly dangerous to Harry. Doesn’t sound like Lupin.
I know it’s not the typical forum for such a thing, but cite? As to second-in-command, McGonagall seems just as much to be Dumbledore’s lieutenant as Lupin, maybe more.
I’m holding out for book seven for Dumbledore’s death. And Lupin will stand with (the living) Harry at the end, a father figure at last. But for leading the Order when Dumbledore valiantly-sacrifices-himself-so-that-Harry-can-live-to-defeat-Voldemort, my money’s on McGonagall.
My prediction: The HBP isn’t going to be a contemporary in Harry’s world. He’s going to be a legend, a myth, an outside character. Something like Gryffindor himself, who we will hear tales about over the course of the book that directly relate to the action at hand.
Oh, and mad dark-corners-of-the-castle necking for Ron and Hermione.
Eh, someone’s gotta say it: Dumbledore will die. I think he’ll die protecting Harry or telling him something very important or both.
I don’t think Petunia is a Squib (JKR discredited this theory) or a witch who failed out of Hogwarts/decided not to go there. I think she’s just a woman who’s somewhere in between human and witch. It’s likely that she might be one of those people who are more “tuned in” to the magical world. Maybe she witnessed the magical world with her sister, but never took part in it because, you know, they’re all freaks and whatnot.
Just some random thoughts that popped into my head on an empty stomach.
I predict that Dolores Umbridge will have an extended convalescence at St. Mungo’s, and the news will come in February that she gave birth to a beautiful foal
I agree. I have a lingering suspicion that what Ron saw in the Mirror of Erised will eventually come true. He’s already on track for it–he’s now on the Quidditch team, riding a big swell of confidence after the last match, and he’s a prefect. That positions him to potentially be both Quidditch Captain and Head Boy, something none of his brothers ever managed.
Plynck, that’s just wrong. Have some sympathy for the poor centaurs, would you?
MCGonagall is second-in-command of the school, but we almost never see her do anything for the Order.
Start with the “Advance Guard” chapter in Order of the Phoenix. All my page numbers are from the Canadian edition, children’s version, paperback:
It’s logical that Lupin first greets Harry and handles the introductions – he knows him – but starting on p. 51, he starts giving orders. He commands Harry to get packed, the group of them to go out into the garden (53), to mount their brooms (54), to life off (55), to descend (56). Moody gives orders, too, but there’s no indication that the orders are taken seriously (even Tonks seems to be able to override them).
When they get to Grimmauld Place in the next chapter, Lupin simply taps on the door and it opens. Every other character who comes has to ring the bell. He seems to have the key.
Plus, whenever there’s an argument (Snape/Sirius, Molly/Sirius), it’s Lupin who smooths things over.
Agreed - the chess game back in book 1 showed that he’s got a much better strategic sense than Harry does. Besides that, Harry has too much else to do, and Ron needs to do something besides mope about like he has been for the last couple of books.
I don’t think we will see as much with Hagrid his character is a bit played out. Maybe he dies.
Another thought that has been bugging me is Is Draco Malfoy’s Mother alive? I don’t recall her even mentioned other in the possible context of ‘My parents’ by Draco. I could be wrong.
It is hard to guess who will die in this next book, but it sure is fun.
Hagrid: sentimental favorite: died defending Harry against Voldemort
Dobby: protector of Harry even if he is nearly a Jar Jar Binks of this series, though less annoying. Against his former Master, Lucius Malfoy.
Lucius Malfoy by Dumbledore, thus turning #7 into a Draco Vs. Harry Palooza. (this would be a stretch.)
Percy just as he realizes the error of his ways, he dies to protect his family from a Avada Keveda curse meant for Dad by Lucius.
Snape dies in a dramatic showdown proving he was a good guy all along and confesses his undying love for Lily. Though he is too pivotal of a character to die off, I feel.
Dumbledore will die, but where will we get all our exposition from? Hermione just can’t do it all.
Neville Longbottom will die protecting Hermione and become a hero at last.
** Ron Weasley** very long shot. Unless he sacrifices himself for Hermione and Harry. Or maybe his parents.
I hope we see more of Professor McConagall’s storyline and I love it when Lucius Malfoy makes his appearances. He’s so deliciously e-viiiiillllll.
Hogwarts accepts students who showed magic before their 11th birthday. JKR mentioned in one of her interviews that not all magical people show this before they’re 11. So maybe Petunia is actually a weak and untrained witch. She was a late bloomer and wasn’t accepted at Hogwarts. That would *really * fuel the jealousy flames.
“JKR thinks that that the thought of Snape in love is a “very horrible idea” and is stunned that someone wonders if Snape might fall in love. We will find out why in book 7.”
Yeah, Katie Bell will be in her seventh year in HBP. That means she and Harry have equal seniority on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, although it wouldn’t be too big of a shock for me to see Ron make captain despite the fact he’s only played for a year. I don’t think that Harry will be captain, though. Between the war, the DA and whatever new troubles HBP will bring up, I really don’t think Harry will have the time to be captain, and to be honest I’m not sure if he understands the strategy well enough to be captain.
Speaking of the DA, no matter who the DADA teacher is, I expect it to continue. It’s important for Harry to learn to be a leader, and the DA hasn’t really accomplished much beyond showing us that Neville really does have talent.
Okay, fair enough. Except I seem to recall various notes of Snape (and of course Dumbledore), at least, quietly entering Grimmauld, which would imply “the key” is not entirely exclusive.
Maybe it’s more that Lupin is Dumbledore’s #2 in the wide wizarding world, and McGonagall, courtesy of her position as Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts, can be Dumbledore’s strongest help for the Order within. I can’t rationalize it, but it just FEELS like McGonagall will assume leadership of the Order in the same way she assumes leadership of the school in Dumbledore’s absence; she has that commanding presence. Lupin is not the most self-confident of blokes.
Do remember that McGonagall only seems as prominent as she is because Harry’s the main character, and she’s the head of Harry’s house. Flitwick and Sprout could be just as important in running the school or even the Order as well as she, but just less noticeable in the books. (And of course Snape is plenty prominent in the books, but can’t possibly be second in command because quite frankly he doesn’t play well with others.)
Voldemort refers to Lily as Harry’s “Filthy Mudblood mother” IIRC, so I believe they were Muggles. James’ parents were of the Wizarding world, again, IIRC.
