Things You Want/Don't Want to See in Book Six (SPOILERS!)

[Marchwarden]

This is the successor thread to Saryn's worthy "Things You Want/Don't Want to See in Book Five". I've included (SPOILERS!) in the title because I expect that many of the requests will be OotP-related.

WANT TO SEE:

- More Luna Lovegood: as comic relief, voice of wisdom, benign foil of Hermione and potential romantic interest for any one of several male students, she's simply too rich a character not to develop. And could we meet her Dad?

- More Tonks; particularly, more exposition on Metamorphmagic

- More Neville; I realize he may be being groomed for a glorious death scene, but even at that price, he'ss come too far to turn back now. A bit of romance would be particularly appreciated.

- Resolve the "Prodigal Percy" subplot. Amidst all the doom, gloom, death and destruction, seeing how (or if) a stricken family can mend itself will provide a welcome change of pace.

- More D.A.. True, with Umbridge out the D.A. lose their original need to exist, but who disbands an army when there's a war on?

- More Bellatrix. Hey, I love a good colorful villain/villainess. It can't always be Voldemort popping up, and she's probably the next most hateable (and the next most deadly).

DON'T WANT TO SEE:

- excessive Hagrid. His very virtue of steadfastness means that his character remains static; he's basically reprised the same role five times over, and while it's been entertaining, I don't need to see it again. Give him a breather and let him stay in the background for this one.

- The death of Remus Lupin. If he absolutely must perish, please save it for seven and make it good.

- Any more Gilderoy Blockhead. I've never enjoyed reading about him, either pre- or post-amnesia.

- Any killing of Weasleys. Weasleys are to be endangered frequently, but not slain. Use them for their proper purpose, please.

- Draco Malfoy continuing to think that he, Crabbe and Goyle can intimidate Harry and his D.A. cadre. If he wants to be sneaky and subtle like Daddy, that's fine; but the in-your-face bullying is so pitifully ineffective that trying it only makes him look stupid. And a stupid would-be nemesis is rarely either scary or interesting.

That's what I had off the top of my haed. Your thoughts?

[Pilgrim Grey]

Things I don't want to see:
Sirius (or the Potters) alive
Annoying Harry Angst/Anger

Things I do want to see:
A resolution to SPEW/Winky's story
Umbrige
Tonks as the DADA teacher

[Kristin]

Here's what I *want* to see (I'm not sure yet what I don't want):

I'd like to see Sirius's death become essential to the rest of the story. I'm so upset he died, but if the only thing his death means is that he's not in the books anymore then I'm going to be even more upset.
Fred and George somehow involved in Books 6 & 7. They're too precious as comic relief to lose. I'm sure JKR can figure out a way to include them even though they've left school.
More Lupin. We didn't really see much of him in OotP.
REVELATIONS. What about the promised Lily revelation? I loved finding out about the Marauders in PoA. I want more background information like that.
More cool Ginny and (somewhat) cool Neville.
But the Number One thing I'd like to see in Book 6? ...... a publication date of 2004. :D

As an aside, I think it's fascinating to look at the thread for book 5 and think about what wishes were granted and which weren't. :)

[xKatiexBellx]

I have only one thing:
I want more DA meetings...

[Elwen]

Want to see:


A DADA teacher who makes it into book 7 - this particular plot device has poutlived its usefulness.
More Remus (my fav candidate for a reprise of DADA - though it is unlikely).
More background on everything - especially Snape, Voldemort and the Potters. (At times I get the feeling she should write the backstory at some point - but that clashes with my hate of tie-in sales in any medium).
More of Harry coming into his own and finding a bit of his calm again.
More of the DA - I agree this should not be disbanded!!
A love interest for Harry
Some more clarity on what the ministry id doing, where Fudge, Umbridge and Percy stand.
More information on what the order is doing - the fifth book is called OotP and we never actually find out what exactly they are up to! That's frustrating.
more Dursley surprises!
some more information on the department of mysteries.



Don't want to see:

Too many deaths on the good side - I think some will be necessary but I hope it doesn't get too excessive.
Hagrid and another monster-subplot. Hagrid is the king of the sub-plot (mostly not leading to anything whatsoever)... Hagrid is great to have around in the story but does he always have to have his monster sub-plot? I like him as the bumbling confidant he is for H, H & R. Why does he always need 'jazzing up'?
House elves. (no hope there, though, I know). If we have to have house-elves I want more surprises.




I guess this is all I can think of right now.


Elwen

[Moxie]

:swoon: Must... have... more... Snape... :swoon:

Aside from that, I agree with the "Enough of Hagrid already!" consensus and with wanting more Bellatrix (Voldie may be the head baddie, but I've noticed when GMing role-playing games that most people seem to really get into hating a villianess more. I don't know why the general rule applies, but we certainly have enough "personal" reasons to hate Bella...) OTOH, I didn't care much initially for Luna or Tonks, though Tonks at least seems to have potential. I do want more Kingsley - that guy's cool. (I wonder if he was a Slytherin; we've been waiting long enough to see an openly good Slyth, and he's certainly cunning enough.)

[mallorniphredil]

I don't want to see anyone 'good' die in Book 6, it can be saved for Book 7 if someone is going to die at all. My Wish List:

-a mild, calm-tempered Harry
-a little more romance
-more DA meetings
-more tying up of plots and loopholes
-more (as Kristin said) REVELATIONS!

[Mirdan]

THINGS I WANT TO SEE:
Snape in action
more DA sessions...more DA activity, actually :D
a good background story on Petunia, the Marauders, and the Potters
more stuff about the Order of the Phoenix -- want to know what Lupin really does for the Order, especially Snape!
Harry as DADA teacher...now, before anyone else chews me out, let me explain! i know Harry's still an underage wizard, but i think he would be a good candidate to be considered as one. the DA is a good evidence of that, especially Neville's performance. but if that doesn't happen, then i guess...
Tonks would make a pretty cool DADA professor :cool:
want to see what Wormtail's been up to
more stuff about the Prophecy. i thought the ones that we learned from OotP weren't sufficient enough!
new characters! i want to see some more of the members of the Order. there's got to be a lot more than the ones we saw in OotP, especially now that Voldemort's return has been acknowledged by the Ministry!
more explanations about the circumstances surrounding Sirius's death. and what exactly is that Veil?
Percy. i wonder where he stands at this point?


I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE:
Sirius Black. as much as i love this character, i don't want to see him alive again. if JKR said she killed his character, so be it. but if he shows up alive and kicking, pffft! sometimes dead characters should just stay dead! :p
Hagrid hoarding anymore strange animal. not that Grawp was, of course!
Dumbledore dying yet...not until Book 7, at least ;)
Lupin's death...NOOOOO!
a Weasley's death...NOOOO!
the Dursleys doing a complete 180 and suddenly being all nice and sweet towards Harry. it's not really for consistency's sake, but it just seems so out of character if that ever happens.

[Limeth]

Things I would like to see:


agree with everyone who has said more DA meetings
proper continuation of Neville's story, particularly now we have heard the prophecy
more info on how the Potters and the Longbottoms escaped Voldemort 3 times
resolution of the Percy incident - I really want to see him come grovelling back to the Weasleys
more Tonks, she was pretty cool
Umbridge getting what for over her unbelievable treatment of Hogwarts (although unlikely)


Things I don't want to see:

ditto with many of you - Hagrid and his random monster stories. Enough already
any more Hogwarts v. the ministry of magic - I would like them to work together towards a resolution or at least 'try' to work together (again, probably unlikely to happen!)

[Kristin]

Originally posted by Mirdan
Harry as DADA teacher...now, before anyone else chews me out, let me explain! i know Harry's still an underage wizard, but i think he would be a good candidate to be considered as one. the DA is a good evidence of that, especially Neville's performance.

I thought of that, too. :) I don't think it could ever happen, though. Harry has more DADA talent than any other student (even Hermione), but he can still learn a lot from fully qualified wizards.

Maybe, though, the D.A. can stick around (not underground anymore) and Harry will still lead that.

[swiftsnowmane]

I hope the D.A. does stick around. I always liked the idea in book two of having a dueling club, and now that everyone knows Voldemort is back, I would hope that they would actually promote a defense club like that.:)

[jesuisalleeaujardin]

things i want to see:
_ how the marauders forged their friendship
_ the maraurders' backgrounds
_ snape's background
_ DA's development
_ lupin as the new DADA teacher :clap:
_ more of the prophecy _ meaning the magical world had their own theological structure, that's interesting. ...
_ mcgonagall having turned umbridge into mush on hogwarts' grounds :clap:

things i don't want to see
_ umbridge
_ any more people being killed :(

jardin

[Helenia]

Originally posted by Kristin
Here's what I *want* to see (I'm not sure yet what I don't want):

But the Number One thing I'd like to see in Book 6? ...... a publication date of 2004. :D[/list]



Absolutely! Highly unlikely to happen, but I'd love it so much!

Here's what I want to see:-

*Something nice happening to Lupin - he deserves it after the flak he's been getting.

* A decent DADA teacher with some staying power - it'll be a bit lame if they all only last a year

*Ron and Hermione realising what we all realised in PoA, that they are meant for each other!

* More James/Lily info - not necessarily on their relationship, but on what they did pre-death: why were they so rich, and why was Voldie after them?

* More ace stuff from Neville, ideally not including his death.

* Umbridge getting her comeuppance. Ditto Malfoy.

*Harry being reinstated to Quidditch.

* Sirius' death being given the significance it deserves.

Things I don't want to see:-

* Another significant death. Mention that people have died in the background, sure, but if someone dies in each book from 4-7 (and book 7 is going to be a bloodbath :devil: ), it loses its impact a bit.

* Too much romance for Harry. Would detract from the story.

* Harry as any sort of teacher. Yes, he taught the DA, but has basically taught them everything he knows now, and needs to learn more before he can impart it!

[Pilgrim Grey]

I think someone from the OOTP (which will hopefully now be able to stop hiding from the Ministry) will probably become the DADA teacher, and they'll probably take over the reins of the DA as well. But I still REALLY want to see more Umbridge, butI want her return to be more than Rita Skeeter's in OOTP (that was just useless, Hermione should've turned her in :devil: )

[swiftsnowmane]

I agree about not having so many deaths, its already been almost too much for me to handle.:( However, as Sirius was the LAST person I wanted to die, sadly enough any other death won't be so bad for me now....:(

What I DO want to see:

~A continuation of the Inter-house friendships that we saw beginning in OotP, I really liked that.

~KREACHER TO DIE A LONG AND PAINFUL DEATH!!!!!:devil:

Er...... :o

~The Weasleys to always be together and happy, I love that family so much and don't want to see them suffer too much (i.e. NO WEASLEY DEATHS!)

~Sirius's name to be cleared publicly, and for people to believe it
:(

~Learn something about James to somewhat "redeem him" to Harry

~Snape letting go of some of his grudge against Harry/James, and for he and Lupin to have some kind of....closure. That's partly what bugged me about Sirius's death, was that he and Snape never even acted civil with each other.....*sigh*:(

[Fleurdelacour]

I want to see:

* Yes, exactly Kristin! 2004 publication!! :d She's had a three year rest! She can give us it early!

* More Remus Lupin. Anything (apart from his death... :eek: :( )

* Remus to maybe come back as DADA teacher... That'd be wonderful :)

* No more deaths. Like a few people have said, I dont think I could deal with another death... Imagine if Ron, or Remus died? I dont think I'd read the books ever again? :( Or a Weasley (apart from Percy... I was soo right about him!!)

* Yes... That revelation about Lily...

* Also agreeing with everyone, more DA lessons :)

* More from Luna, Ginny and Neville :)

* And, finally, Ron and Hermione finally realising they do love each other!! :D

I dont want to see

* Hagrid, I wish he'd have died...

* Grawp... :rolleyes:

* Also echoing what others have said a 'live' Sirius (or all the crying would have bee pointless...) or a 'live' James and Lily.

* Harry shouting at Ron and Hermione

* A Weasley death... I dont think I could bare it...

* Remus torture. Enough already! :(

* Remus dying... :(

[Pippin]

by Swifty
That's partly what bugged me about Sirius's death, was that he and Snape never even acted civil with each other. That bugged me too. I mean I never saw them hugging and becoming friends but the lack of closure there was such a shame. I want the whole "Snape vs. Marauders" backstory to have some closure.


Same lack of closure so far: Sirius and Wormtail. I want to know what happens to Wormtail, whether he´ll have any special role to play (likely, because of the "strong bond" between him and HArry for Harry saving his life).


by Elwen
More information on what the order is doing - the fifth book is called OotP and we never actually find out what exactly they are up to! That's frustrating. Well, we do find out: Some of them are trying to persuade people over to their side, some are guarding the Prophecy, and some are ensuring Harry´s personal safety - and given that there´s no more need for the first two things, and you don´t need to organise people into orders just to be bodyguard to a teenage boy, you might as well say that there´s no need for the OotP any more.

Honestly, where will all the underground resistance romance go when the aims of the Order become official Ministry policy?



by Helenia
* Sirius' death being given the significance it deserves. Amen to that. :)


I also want Hagrid´s monster stories to either be given some sort of significance, or to be totally abandoned. Same with Hermione´s SPEW stuff, it´s ridikkulus!



I basically agree with everything Mirdan has said, except Harry as a teacher. Remember Dumbledore thinks he´s got too much responsibility on his shoulders already!


Oh and of course I agree with this: Snape in action If he´s "out there risking his life", I want to SEE THAT, DAMMIT!!! :D

[Elwen]

Originally posted by Pippin


... (on the purpose of the OotP)

Well, we do find out: Some of them are trying to persuade people over to their side, some are guarding the Prophecy, and some are ensuring Harry´s personal safety - and given that there´s no more need for the first two things, and you don´t need to organise people into orders just to be bodyguard to a teenage boy, you might as well say that there´s no need for the OotP any more.

Honestly, where will all the underground resistance romance go when the aims of the Order become official Ministry policy?




I am not convinced. The order has been around for a while, or rather, it was around 14 years earlier and it has been revived. Its main activity is fightin g Voldemort - but clearly they do that in ways that aren't necessarily conventional (Mundungus! Contact with giants, etc).


I don't think that their activities will all be easy to accept for the Ministry!

And I would not want that, either. I want them to continue so we can see what they are all doing (Snape!!!).

Elwen

[Amberion]

Things I want to see

MORE HAGRID - but only if its Hagrid and his bringing Gawp more in to "mainstream" wizarding life. It would be great to see the two brothers and their struggle to be accepted

Tonkes & Remus - she seems made for everyone's favourite werewolf. And they are both just that little bit different

DADA teacher - someone totally out of left field - maybe Luna's dad :LOL:

No more deaths of people close to Harry, as other have said leave it for book 7

[Marchwarden]

A few further thoughts, seeing how so much has been brought up since I kicked off the thread.

On the want-to-see side:

- Yes to Snape in action. It's all well and good to be mysterious, but as the story draws to a close, it's time to start yielding some clues. Snape's worst memory was a start.

- Yes to flashbacks. Not only to the Marauder years, but to the Riddle years: Hagrid and McGonagall were both students around that time, and a younger Dumbledore was teaching Transfiguration.

- Yes to Mr. Lovegood as DADA teacher, or else Moody (it would be interesting to see how the real Moody compares to the impostor).

On the don't-want-to-see side:

- How could I have forgotten house-elves? We hateses them.

[Tiger Louie]

1. I've got my money on Kingsley Shacklebolt as the new DADA teacher. As he was the grand fromage on tracking down Sirius, he's now out of a job, so this would be an ideal use of his talents and a great way to find out more about this wizard. And let's hope we keep the DADA for the final two books, I agree that as a plot device a new DADA teacher each book has outrun its course.

2. I want more about the Marauders, Lily and Snape at school together (but I doubt we're going to get it). Including which houses the sorting hat put them into.

3. I want to know how the alliance to fight Voldemort is shaping up, given that the idiot Fudge actually realises what's going on at last :rolleyes:

4. I want to see Umbridge on trial for putting dementors on to suck out Harry and Dudley's souls :mad: It's the least we should get for this horrible teacher.

5. I want to see proper 'closure' on Sirius's death. Harry is owed this, and so are we! I want Remus's loss as well as Harry's acknowledged :hug: for Remus, :hug: for Harry.

6. A plotline for Hagrid which has him behaving in a more adult manner (which sadly means he will die).

7. Percy getting indigestion as he eats a huge helping of humble pie :LOL:

8. More about Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - I'd buy shares if they want to expand the business! And I suspect we'll need the comic relief they provide.

9. More use of the froot-loop who is Bellatrix. I agree that a villainess always adds spice.

10. I want to see Peter repaying Harry for saving his life when Sirius and Remus wanted to kill him.

11. I want to know what Neville's plant means in the plot.

12. I'd like to see what happens to 12 Grimmauld Place - Sirius must have left it to someone, probably Harry.

13. What Snape is actually doing for Dumbledore. Happily JKR has pretty well hinted that he's still a pivotal character, so we can expect to see more of Snape in action.

14. Voldemort actually making a proper move to get back his power in the magical world.

I don't want to see:

Any of the following die -
1. Dumbledore
2. Lupin
3. Snape
4. Any Weasley
5. Any other pupil

I don't want to see any more Divination classes - Trelawney wasn't a highlight, and nor is Firenze, IMO.

No more Draco unless she's going to polish up the act and have him more than a typical playground bully.

Tiger

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Tiger Louie
1. I've got my money on Kingsley Shacklebolt as the new DADA teacher. As he was the grand fromage on tracking down Sirius, he's now out of a job, so this would be an ideal use of his talents and a great way to find out more about this wizard. And let's hope we keep the DADA for the final two books, I agree that as a plot device a new DADA teacher each book has outrun its course.
My only quibble is that, if we are to finally land a DADA teacher with staying power, that individual should bring to the job some special quality that shows why he/she will last where others faltered. I don't think that that will happen until book 7.

2. I want more about the Marauders, Lily and Snape at school together (but I doubt we're going to get it). Including which houses the sorting hat put them into.

Why doubt? She's already begun, and between Penseives, Legilimens and whatever other magical plot device JKR introduces, we have more than ample opportunity.

3. I want to know how the alliance to fight Voldemort is shaping up, given that the idiot Fudge actually realises what's going on at last :rolleyes:

My guess? The Ministry will swing into gear, but being large, overt, entrenched and susceptible to political manipulation, there will still be a valid role for the Ootp and the DA to play - they're small, unobtrusive, reasonably secure, unfettered and responsive.

4. I want to see Umbridge on trial for putting dementors on to suck out Harry and Dudley's souls :mad: It's the least we should get for this horrible teacher.

I don't think she specifically ordered them to administer the Kiss; I think that, like the rest of the Ministry, she woefully overestimated the degree of control she held over the dementors. Petty sadists like Umbridge are usually so enamored of whatever minor authority they possess that they fail to notice how limited and fragile it actually is. Personally, I'd allow her to quietly retire from the Ministry, and even allow her to retain her pension and benefits, under two conditions: first, that she write a formal notice of voluntary resignation, complete with appropriate explanation of her reasons and full personal acceptance of responsibility; and second, that she use that quill. :devil:

5. I want to see proper 'closure' on Sirius's death. Harry is owed this, and so are we! I want Remus's loss as well as Harry's acknowledged :hug: for Remus, :hug: for Harry.

Absolutely. I realize the point JKR is trying to make: that death isn't always glorious or dramatic or visited upon the expendables, that it can occur at any time to anyone. But, $%#@ it, that's why every human culture in all of history has developed observances for the dead. They may not always get a final soliloquoy, but that is why the living speak for them. That is why we pause to remember. I truly doubt wizards are all that different in this regard.

6. A plotline for Hagrid which has him behaving in a more adult manner (which sadly means he will die).

I'd rather just see him fade into the background and return, refreshed, in book 7. JKR has written herself into a bit of a dead end with Hagrid; his most distinguishing characteristic is his consistency of character, which unfortunately means that there is little room for development. Remember that Hagrid was expelled fifty years ago; he isn't likely to change now.

7. Percy getting indigestion as he eats a huge helping of humble pie :LOL:

Can't argue. Obviously, he needs to reconcile, and of course they'll take him back, but a little abject groveling wouldn't hurt, especially if he takes the lesson to heart.

8. More about Weasley's Wizard Wheezes - I'd buy shares if they want to expand the business! And I suspect we'll need the comic relief they provide.

I doubt we've seen the last of them.

9. More use of the froot-loop who is Bellatrix. I agree that a villainess always adds spice.

I realize that she's technically been around since GoF, but OotP really brought her into full, 3-dimensional relief. She's an excellent complement to the ever-unctuous Lucius Malfoy.

10. I want to see Peter repaying Harry for saving his life when Sirius and Remus wanted to kill him.

It's been foreshadowed.

11. I want to know what Neville's plant means in the plot.

The Etymology Squad on the names thread has been working on this; no solid leads yet.

12. I'd like to see what happens to 12 Grimmauld Place - Sirius must have left it to someone, probably Harry.

16 years old and owner of a secret society HQ which happens also to be the ancestral home of Dark Wizards...not a bad subplot.

13. What Snape is actually doing for Dumbledore. Happily JKR has pretty well hinted that he's still a pivotal character, so we can expect to see more of Snape in action.

As long as we don't learn too much too soon. This secret is worth stretching.

14. Voldemort actually making a proper move to get back his power in the magical world.

In what way, pray tell? I'd have thought that the mass prison break and the ensnarement of the dementors might have counted for something.

[Pippin]

by Elwen
The order has been around for a while, or rather, it was around 14 years earlier and it has been revived. Its main activity is fighting Voldemort - but clearly they do that in ways that aren't necessarily conventional … I don't think that their activities will all be easy to accept for the Ministry!

And I would not want that, either. I want them to continue so we can see what they are all doing (Snape!!!).


Of course I want to see more of the Order, too. They ROCK! :notworthy

It could be true that it´s their methods the Ministry would disapprove of. But then, do we know that the Ministry ever disapproved of the Order in the first place, 15 years ago? Voldemort was *clearly* active at that time (no way denying it), and it wasn´t paranoid power-hungry Fudge in charge back then, either. Maybe the Ministry understood that you couldn´t get on top of Voldemort with just the Aurors and the Magical Law Enforcement whatever, so the gladly put it into the hands of Dumbledore and the Order.




Kingsley Shacklebolt would make a fantastic DADA teacher! But now the “second war” has just begun, I can´t see how the Ministry can spare one of their Aurors for a full time teaching job. There don´t seem half as many of them around as we need now, and remember over the last three years, noone has been accepted into training, so there must be a real staff shortage.

Unfortunately this mean Tonks is out, too. Which is a shame, she´d be great teaching DADA, and she´d be a fun teacher – probably closing her eyes to all mischief and siding with students when they get in trouble. ;)






by Tiger
6. A plotline for Hagrid which has him behaving in a more adult manner (which sadly means he will die). I admit I can´t bring myself to find this sad. Not at the moment. Hagrid annoyed me to no end in this book. I mean in all the other books he *does* get a part to play in the main plot, he does make some contribution. But not in this. He might as well have been away all year looking for giants.



12. I'd like to see what happens to 12 Grimmauld Place - Sirius must have left it to someone, probably Harry. Well, I´m not an expert at the Wizarding law of sucession ;), but if Sirius hasn´t left a will (and he doesn´t strike me as the kind of person who´d think of that) maybe the house has to go to his closest surviving relatives… which would be Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy! :eek:


I agree Draco has to grow up. His significance in the plot hasn´t changed a single bit since book 1, he´s still the eleven year old playground bully. Either he grows up quickly to be a worthy opponent to Harry or he gets something drastic happen to him (like change sides, or die, whatever).




Something more general: I´d like to see the story and the plot deepen, rather than widen. In GoF, the whole story suddenly got this wide scope, with the other schools, the international aspects… it was nice because we got an idea about the wizarding world outside Hogwarts that way, but if JKR doesn’t use any of that later on it was just an unnecessary diversion, and I´d have infinitely preferred to learn more about Harry´s family, the Marauders, the “first war” against Voldemort, in short about what *really* matters. In OotP, the story moves in again, we´re up close with the key locations and key characters again. I´d like that to continue. I don´t want any big new locations, big new characters, big new aspects of the wizarding world that we´ve never seen before – partly because I´m already worried that JKR will already have enough trouble tying up all the loose ends of the story.


Does anybody think it likely we´ll get to see Azkaban close up at some point?




Originally posted by Marchwarden
I realize the point JKR is trying to make: that death isn't always glorious or dramatic or visited upon the expendables, that it can occur at any time to anyone. But, $%#@ it, that's why every human culture in all of history has developed observances for the dead. They may not always get a final soliloquoy, but that is why the living speak for them. That is why we pause to remember. I truly doubt wizards are all that different in this regard. I agree. If Cedric Diggory (who´s death was sudden and unexpected if there ever was one) got a rememberance speech from Dumbledore that brought tears to my eyes, can´t someone wise and important please just say something like "Remember Sirius Black"? :mad:



Etymology Squad, I like that. :D



This secret is worth stretching. I´ve been stretched flat on my back for three years, waiting to find out! :swoon:

[Pilgrim Grey]

Maybe they have a rule against it, but why couldn't Dumbledore teach DADA? He might be too busy, and he used to be a transfiguation teacher, but he easily knows enough, and he could pretty well teach whatever he wanted, because he's the Headmaster and Fudge wouldn't dare try to stop him.

And wouldn't having the OOTP building going to Narcissa be interesting... hopefully JKR'll explore this in the next book...

And it seems like I'm the opposite to everyone else where Umbridge and PErcy are concerned - I never liked Percy and think that he deserves whatever bad end he gets (even though he is a Weasley), but I really like Umbridge, just because she seems so familiar to me. Wait, that doesn't sound right... I like Umbridge because she's a satire/characature of lots of people I've come into contact with (teachers mostly). That's also why I like the Dursley's, not because I like them as characters, but because I can laugh at their familiarity

[Helenia]

Originally posted by Tiger Louie

I don't want to see any more Divination classes - Trelawney wasn't a highlight, and nor is Firenze, IMO.


I hardly think that either Harry or Ron is going to have passed their Divination OWL, do you? I hope that I can fairly safely say that we won't be seeing too many more Divination lessons. I did like the bit after their exam though, when Ron said "I don't care if my tea leaves spell out die, Ron, die ..." :LOL: Reminded me of the Simpsons episode where Sideshow Bob has 'Die Bart Die" tattooed on his chest and when questioned about it, answers "It's German. It means 'the Bart, the.' " Sorry, got me on a tangent there.

I also agree that we need to see some character development from Malfoy. Why on earth did Dumbledore make him a prefect? He needs to face some sort of challenge, rather than just sit around being evil to Harry. We didn't see much of him in OotP, so if we do get more Draco in the next two, I hope it's something interesting. I think his position as Snape's blue-eyed-boy may be under threat now, seeing as everyone knows his Dad is a DE, and Snape's in the Order. Will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.

What is with all this Tonks/Lupin shipping?? Why, just because an (we assume) available adult female appears, does she have to be match-made with someone?

Another thing I'm slightly interested in, is whether there's any connection between Luna and Lupin - her name, obviously, meaning "moon." Or is it just because it conveniently sounds like Loony? (Which, to get completely distracted, is of course a diminuitive of lunatic, which is derived from "moon" anyway)

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Helenia
I hardly think that either Harry or Ron is going to have passed their Divination OWL, do you? I hope that I can fairly safely say that we won't be seeing too many more Divination lessons. I did like the bit after their exam though, when Ron said "I don't care if my tea leaves spell out die, Ron, die ..." :LOL: Reminded me of the Simpsons episode where Sideshow Bob has 'Die Bart Die" tattooed on his chest and when questioned about it, answers "It's German. It means 'the Bart, the.' " Sorry, got me on a tangent there.

Oddly, I not only enjoyed that quip of Ron's as well, but thought of the same Simpsons episode. Great minds think alike and so, apparently, do we. ;)

I also agree that we need to see some character development from Malfoy. Why on earth did Dumbledore make him a prefect? He needs to face some sort of challenge, rather than just sit around being evil to Harry. We didn't see much of him in OotP, so if we do get more Draco in the next two, I hope it's something interesting. I think his position as Snape's blue-eyed-boy may be under threat now, seeing as everyone knows his Dad is a DE, and Snape's in the Order. Will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.

Well, Snape is undercover, and Malfoy just might be a useful source of information, arrogant as he is when it comes to boasting about how dark and dangerous his family is.

One regrettable side effect of writing everything from Harry's perspective is that we don't see much of the bad guys except when they're confronting Harry. I'd like to see more of the Malfoy family dynamics, more of the internal workings of the Death Eaters and more of what Draco is like when he's not face to face with Harry Potter. Of course, we've already seen a bit of this through various plot devices, but now that the arcane espionage game is in full gear, we'll have a chance to see more.

What is with all this Tonks/Lupin shipping?? Why, just because an (we assume) available adult female appears, does she have to be match-made with someone?

It's a vibe, and not a baseless one. Consider:

"She looked the youngest there; she had a pale, heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet."

We get this before we even learn her name, mind you. Anyone remember the shape of McGonagall's face, or Sprout's eye color? An introduction like that strongly implies either a ship or at least a crush for somebody. Why Lupin? The consensus seems to be that he's the most deserving. He was quite popular even before OotP, and now he's got a tide of sympathy the size of a tsunami coming from the readers. After all he's been through, not to mention the nobility and fortitude with which he's shouldered his burdens, it's unsurprising that so many want to see him find a little love in his troubled life.

Another thing I'm slightly interested in, is whether there's any connection between Luna and Lupin - her name, obviously, meaning "moon." Or is it just because it conveniently sounds like Loony? (Which, to get completely distracted, is of course a diminuitive of lunatic, which is derived from "moon" anyway)

If there's any implied connection in the books (apart from her name meaning "moon", I must have missed it. All I noticed was that "Luna Lovegood" sounds like a character in a James Bond movie...;)

[Kristin]

I think the Order will still have a role to play. Now that the Ministry acknowledges that Voldemort is back, the Aurors, the Ministry, etc. can publicly oppose Voldemort. But there's still a need for secrecy.

Mr. Weasley now doesn't have to fear trouble at work for fighting against Voldemort. But Snape can't join in the Ministry's fight. If he wants to fight Voldemort, he'll have to go through other channels.

Ministry support will be an advantage to The Order of the Phoenix, to be sure. But the Ministry won't replace the Order.

There's always a need for an underground organization. It keeps things secretive, which is a big advantage. Voldemort is bound to have supporters/moles inside the ministry. So, even though the Order doesn't have to defy the Ministry and work against it to get people to believe the truth ... the Ministry still can't know too much about the Order, even though they're on the same side now.

... which is all good because I want to see more of the Order. :)

On another subject, here's a quote from JKR from a BBC interview:
They have such fun with their theories - and it is fun, it is fun. And some of them even get quite close. No-one has ever - I have gone and looked at some of it and no-one's ever... There is one thing that if anyone guessed I would be really annoyed as it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one's quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it. So you know, I would be pretty miffed after 13 or 14 years of writing the books if someone just came along and said I think this will happen in book seven. Because it is too late, I couldn't divert now, everything has been building up to it, and I've laid all my clues.
The idea that fans have gotten close but never figured out this thing is fascinating to me. :)

[Bellatrix_Lestrange]

Originally posted by Marchwarden
It's a vibe, and not a baseless one. Consider:

"She looked the youngest there; she had a pale, heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet."

We get this before we even learn her name, mind you.

I, too, was a little annoyed when a young, single adult female finally appeared in the Wizarding world and suddenly everyone was playing matchmaker, but...you sort of have a point. JKR might as well have led her out onto a runway...

[Elwen]

Hello and welcome, Bellatrix! Nice to see you around here (as well as in CoE :) ).

Now on to that hunch of Marchwarden's....

Originally posted by Marchwarden t's a vibe, and not a baseless one. Consider:

"She looked the youngest there; she had a pale, heart-shaped face, dark twinkling eyes, and short spiky hair that was a violent shade of violet."

We get this before we even learn her name, mind you. Anyone remember the shape of McGonagall's face, or Sprout's eye color? An introduction like that strongly implies either a ship or at least a crush for somebody. [/B]

Under most conceivable circumstances I would agree that this introduction is significant in the way you suggest. But not in this case.

It is Tonks's most important characteristic that she can change her face and hair so she needs to be described the first time round - soon after this she changes her hair colour and we also get a scene not too many pages later where she changes her nose... later on she turns up as an old woman with grey hair... There are many references to Tonks's appearance, nearly eveery time she turns up.


I still wonder whether she has a 'default' appearance (hair colour and style aside) so people recognise her in daily life... :D





And I am intrigued about the BIG plot-twist we'll see in the last book, according to JKR... :D This will be quite a ride, to be sure... :)

Elwen

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Elwen
Under most conceivable circumstances I would agree that this introduction is significant in the way you suggest. But not in this case.

It is Tonks's most important characteristic that she can change her face and hair so she needs to be described the first time round - soon after this she changes her hair colour and we also get a scene not too many pages later where she changes her nose... later on she turns up as an old woman with grey hair... There are many references to Tonks's appearance, nearly eveery time she turns up.

Valid point, Elwen. I hadn't been thinking of it that way. It may not preclude a ship, but it does make it a bit less obvious.

Personally, I think that, now that the principal characters are in their mid-teens, a twenty-one-year-old (roughly equivalent to a college senior) would make an excellent big-sister figure. She seems to get along quite well with the students, and can relate to them on a more even level than, say, McGonagall or Hagrid. Of course, one of them might develop a wee crush, but that would not be unrealistic, and could make for a most entertaining read. That's the role I foresee for Tonks. The Remus/Tonks angle, while not impossible by any means, seems prompted more by readers' sympathy and affection for Lupin than by any specific chemistry between the two (at least so far ;) ).

[Helenia]

Originally posted by Marchwarden
If there's any implied connection in the books (apart from her name meaning "moon", I must have missed it. All I noticed was that "Luna Lovegood" sounds like a character in a James Bond movie...;)

It does, now I think about it! Although a somewhat different character from the one in the HP books! I'm not sure if there's a connection, it's just that you know how JK is with names; it's possible there's some significance to it.

I agree with Elwen that the reason she's described like that is because of her capacity as a Metamorphmagus (is that right?) rather than because she's destined to become somebody's love interest.

The Remus/Tonks angle, while not impossible by any means, seems prompted more by readers' sympathy and affection for Lupin than by any specific chemistry between the two (at least so far)

That's what I think as well - there aren't any particularly interesting scenes between the two of them, it's as I say, simply because everyone's feeling huge sympathy for Lupin (inc me! :hug: ) and Tonks is the most (i.e. only) likely candidate for a shipping. I don't think that's going to happen though, myself. What I did notice when I finished re-reading it last night was this from Ron: " 'Good for you. Just choose someone - better - next time.' He cast Harry an oddly furtive look as he said it" Is this Ron giving his blessing to future Harry/Ginny stuff?

[Lady Haleth]

Re Tonks/Lupin matchmaking. I dunno... I got the distinct impression from her appearance and mannerisms that Tonks would be more interested in Cho than in Lupin.

[Seriphus]

Things I want to see:

A proper story, not just adding information to the series as a whole, with some really good twists.
More Snape.
More history.
Harry to form a closer relationship with Remus.
An addition to the prophecy, like why Voldemort wanted to kill James as well, but not Lily.
Progression of Draco's character, be it in a good or bad direction.
Pettigrew.


Things I don't want to see:

Harry getting even stroppier.
Sirius alive and well.
Any pointless subplots that distract from tying up a first batch of loose ends.
Snape making friends with Harry.

Another thing I'm slightly interested in, is whether there's any connection between Luna and Lupin - her name, obviously, meaning "moon." Or is it just because it conveniently sounds like Loony? (Which, to get completely distracted, is of course a diminuitive of lunatic, which is derived from "moon" anyway) That's a really good point. Cool, I wonder if there is a connexion? He he, Moony and Loony. :p I really like Luna and I think she must have some real significance in the story to be introduced as quite an important character in OoTP.

[Pippin]

Originally posted by Seriphus
Things I want to see:
An addition to the prophecy, like why Voldemort wanted to kill James as well, but not Lily.
Huh? Where does it say that he expressly wanted to kill James, but not Lily? I seem to have missed something. Didn´t he just kill James first because he was trying to block Voldemort and give Lily the chance to escape with Harry?





Posted by Pilgrim Grey
I really like Umbridge, just because she seems so familiar to me. Pippin backs away from Pilgrim Grey :eek:


Unlike with the Dursleys, I find it hard to laugh at her as a caricature. That woman gives me the creeps!




I did like the bit after their exam though, when Ron said "I don't care if my tea leaves spell out die, Ron, die ..." You know, all you great minds ;), what that reminded *me* of? It sounds too much like foreshadowing to me to laugh about it!



As for Draco, there must be a tactical reason why Dumbledore made him a prefect. I have no specific theory on this but I think Draco will still surprise us all.

I think his position as Snape's blue-eyed-boy may be under threat now, seeing as everyone knows his Dad is a DE, and Snape's in the Order. Will be interesting to see how their relationship develops.We´ve been discussing this in the Snape thread… I think there *is* no relationship between Draco and Snape to speak of. Snape treats Draco the way he does for purely tactical reasons, too, not because of any personal like or dislike. Like March suggested, he might be using it to spy on the Des. He´s also using Draco to take revenge on Harry (and James) but that´s all the reason there is why Draco gets away with the bullying.





Posted by Kristin
Voldemort is bound to have supporters/moles inside the ministry. Well, this has me convinced that there is still a need for the Order. Doesn´t someone say in one of the earlier books (sorry I can´t be more precise :rolleyes: ) that the bad thing about the “first war” was that you never knew who was on which side, and whom you could trust? That´s a fairly common phenomenon in authoritarian regimes, or in civil wars. And scary. People will want to stick together with some trusted friends then, of course.


Or maybe something dreadful will happen, like Voldemort becoming so powerful that he might take over the Ministry, or force all the “official” representatives of the wizarding world into exile, so there´s a need again for some underground resistance.





On another subject, here's a quote from JKR from a BBC interview:
“There is one thing that if anyone guessed I would be really annoyed as it is kind of the heart of it all. And it kind of explains everything and no-one's quite got there but a couple of people have skirted it. So you know, I would be pretty miffed after 13 or 14 years of writing the books if someone just came along and said I think this will happen in book seven. Because it is too late, I couldn't divert now, everything has been building up to it, and I've laid all my clues.” Gosh, this drives me crazy! Everyone please, please stop theorising so we don’t ruin book 7 for JKR!!! :eek: ;)


You know what I do wonder about? Do the fans´ discussions have an impact on what and how she writes? I don’t mean it like “we want to see more Hagrid” so she writes more Hagrid, but more like she´s taking into account which theories have been around and consciously confirms or debunks them?

Could it be that she decided *not* to write the Snape-loved-Lily theory because it´s been discussed all over the place ever since PoA?

Could it be that she put all those red herrings as to who was going to die into OotP (have you ever seen so many people in mortal danger in any of the other books?) *because* it had been announced that someone would die and everyone was on the edge of their seats who it was going to be?





Posted by Elwen
It is Tonks's most important characteristic that she can change her face and hair so she needs to be described the first time round - soon after this she changes her hair colour and we also get a scene not too many pages later where she changes her nose... later on she turns up as an old woman with grey hair... There are many references to Tonks's appearance, nearly every time she turns up.
I still wonder whether she has a 'default' appearance (hair colour and style aside) so people recognise her in daily life... I wondered about that, too. Maybe she only changes her hair and nose, and the eyes and general shape of the face stay the same?

I mean we know it´s not all about looks but how exactly do you fall in love with a person if you can´t ever be sure what he/she looks like? (This doesn´t mean that someone *has* to fall in love with Tonks, of course.)

[Pilgrim Grey]

What I did notice when I finished re-reading it last night was this from Ron: " 'Good for you. Just choose someone - better - next time.' He cast Harry an oddly furtive look as he said it" Is this Ron giving his blessing to future Harry/Ginny stuff? I thought JKR kinda put a stop to that with Ginny growing out of her star-struck crush and growing into being... well... a bit of a scarlet-woman (;))

Re Tonks/Lupin matchmaking. I dunno... I got the distinct impression from her appearance and mannerisms that Tonks would be more interested in Cho than in Lupin. Interesting thought, but I don't think JKR will want to upset the god-botherers any more ;)

Pippin backs away from Pilgrim Grey


Unlike with the Dursleys, I find it hard to laugh at her as a caricature. That woman gives me the creeps!Yeah, I don't like her character either, but I've met so many pathetic people who like to abuse what little power they have to make themselves feel big that I just had to laugh. And the title of "Inquisitor" and all her little rules are so brilliantly Orwellian, it's just great writing :)

Huh? Where does it say that he expressly wanted to kill James, but not Lily? I seem to have missed something. Didn´t he just kill James first because he was trying to block Voldemort and give Lily the chance to escape with Harry? I can't remember exactly where, but it is mentioned that Voldy was after Harry/James, and he only killed Lily because she was shielding Harry...


And thanks to everyone who liked my little fan-fic, even if you didn't like the scenario :)

[Kristin]

Originally posted by Pippin
You know what I do wonder about? Do the fans´ discussions have an impact on what and how she writes? I don’t mean it like “we want to see more Hagrid” so she writes more Hagrid, but more like she´s taking into account which theories have been around and consciously confirms or debunks them?

My guess is no. In the recent Newsweek interview, Rowling says about her daughter:
"She's told me unequivocally who I'm not to kill. And I've said, 'Well, I already know who's going to die, so now is not the time to come to me and tell me I mustn't kill X, Y and Zed, because their fates are now preordained.' And she doesn't like hearing that at all. Not at all."

So if pressure from her daughter doesn't change the books, I don't think the fans will have an effect. (And I think that's great! :))

On the other hand, in the Royal Albert Hall interview, she expressed concerns over the popularity of Draco and Snape, which makes me wonder if JKR might pull a Boba Fett. :p

[Tiger Louie]

It's taken me a while to come back on this - hope it's still relevant!

Originally posted by Marchwarden
My only quibble is that, if we are to finally land a DADA teacher with staying power, that individual should bring to the job some special quality that shows why he/she will last where others faltered. I don't think that that will happen until book 7.

I think that there have already been 2 potential permanent DADA teachers who have had genuine reasons why they couldn't continue. Moody would still be a superb DADA teacher (if a little paranoid) and Lupin was only hounded out (excuse pun) for the small lycanthropomorphic problem! Shacklebolt is a senior Auror, and has done battle with death eaters - we may only just have met him, but it is clear that he's built his reputation within both the Ministry and within The Order.


Why doubt? She's already begun, and between Penseives, Legilimens and whatever other magical plot device JKR introduces, we have more than ample opportunity.

I doubt that we will get more back story as it is only included where it is germain to the plot. We may get more, but only where it has a direct bearing on the here and now in HP6 and HP7.

I don't think she specifically ordered them to administer the Kiss;

I think she knew absolutely what she was doing, and the probable consequences. Don't forget that the last time the dementors were in action at Fudge's request they sucked out young Barty Crouch's soul! I don't imagine for one moment that Dolores Umbridge isn't fully in the picture on that. With Fudge as her role model, she will take her lead from that example.

In what way, pray tell? I'd have thought that the mass prison break and the ensnarement of the dementors might have counted for something.

I meant that we, like Harry have been waiting for action from Voldemort, striking at the heart of the wizarding world. Azkaban doesn't, in my view, represent the heart of the wizarding world.

I was really glad when he finally showed up - but have you noticed that he is rather keen to let all his minions do all his dirty work. Even though on the showing so far, they are woeful at doing it!

Tiger

[Pippin]

PG, about Harry and Ginny, I think quite a few of us think now that Ginny´s growing up and becoming a really cool, self-assured girl, it´s MORE probable that she and Harry will make a nice couple than it was before with that ridiculous girlish crush. Now that Ginny´s interested in other guys, Harry will have a hard time getting her attention (assuming he wants to) which I find much more funny and interesting than poor little Ginny trying to get Harry´s attention.


GO GINNY! :D





Umbridge is great writing, that´s for sure. I guess I´m just lucky I haven´t ever met anyone like her, least of all at school. :eek:



As for fans´ influence on the books,
by Kristin
In the recent Newsweek interview, Rowling says about her daughter:
"She's told me unequivocally who I'm not to kill. And I've said, 'Well, I already know who's going to die, so now is not the time to come to me and tell me I mustn't kill X, Y and Zed, because their fates are now preordained.' And she doesn't like hearing that at all. Not at all."

So if pressure from her daughter doesn't change the books, I don't think the fans will have an effect. (And I think that's great! )
Thanks for bringing the quote here, Kristin - and I sure am relieved that JKR is just going through with her plans. I agree that we fans shouldn´t really determine where the plot is going, who lives and who dies.




by Tiger
Azkaban doesn't, in my view, represent the heart of the wizarding world. But it´s one of those places that are talked about all the time, and we haven´t been there yet. I wonder what use Azkaban still is without the Dementors guarding it. Did you all read the final chapters of OotP that way, that the DE caught in the Ministry, including Lucius Malfoy, are actually (back) in Azkaban now? Which means we´ll have ANOTHER breakout soon? Isn´t this getting a little repetitive?


I was really glad when he (Voldemort) finally showed up - but have you noticed that he is rather keen to let all his minions do all his dirty work.
That´s so true - "I can´t be seen around the Ministry", yeah right. If Sirius can, so can you. What a coward. :p

[Seriphus]

I can't remember exactly where, but it is mentioned that Voldy was after Harry/James, and he only killed Lily because she was shielding Harry... I'm going to have to have a reread of the whole series because I can't find the evidence at the moment and I'm wondering whether I got that wrong. But we had a huge discussion on why he wanted James and not Lily and about Harry being described as "the last Potter" before OoTP came out so there must have been something behind that. I wondered about that, too. Maybe she only changes her hair and nose, and the eyes and general shape of the face stay the same? Didn't she change quite significantly at one point- into an old lady, I think? Mind you then she would only have had to change her hair, skin, nose etc. I wondered whether she has to stay female or whether she can have a male appearance.I doubt that we will get more back story as it is only included where it is germain to the plot. We may get more, but only where it has a direct bearing on the here and now in HP6 and HP7. I imagine there may well be a lot of significant backstory in the next two books. We've got quite a bit of character history to find out that must be relevant to the plot. Snape, for example.

[Pilgrim Grey]

Originally posted by Seriphus
I'm going to have to have a reread of the whole series because I can't find the evidence at the moment and I'm wondering whether I got that wrong. But we had a huge discussion on why he wanted James and not Lily and about Harry being described as "the last Potter" before OoTP came out so there must have been something behind that.
I think it might be in POA, where Harry remembers Voldy telling Lily to get away from Harry (which implies that he doesn't necessarily want to kill her), but there might be something else

[Pippin]

by PG
I think it might be in POA, where Harry remembers Voldy telling Lily to get away from Harry (which implies that he doesn't necessarily want to kill her), but there might be something else Well if that´s all the evidence, it´s not very convincing. It might have been the same with James, only we never get to hear/see that confrontation because Harry didn´t witness it directly, so he can´t remember it. Maybe Voldemort did just the same, told James to stand aside and when he didn´t, blew him out of the way.


Although, from the "last of the Potters" POV - yes, I´m a proud supporter of the "Heir of Gryffindor" theory :D - its likely that Lilly mattered less. Only I don´t see any evidence.




About Tonks,
by Serphy
I wondered whether she has to stay female or whether she can have a male appearance. That would be way too cool. :cool:

[wilecoyote]

What i don't want:
dead weasleys

nice Dursleys

dead hermione, neville

ron continuing to be an inconsiderate, emotionally retarded git

snape becoming chummy with lupin (i still don't trust snape)
:mad:

what i do want:
neville's character to be developed more (i think a new wand may make a lot of differnece)

ginny to continue playing quidditch perhaps a beater

harry to learn to control his temper. it's ok to be angry but i think it went a little to far

hagrid to be redeemed, by an army giants, hippogriffs, thestrals and giant spiders. his role is intricate to the plot for that reason. 14 years ago many magical creatures fought for voldermort, because he made promises the ministry wouldn't. hagrid is a friend to magical creatures and that is very important.

more about lily and james, not for redemption as someone else mentioned. it's good for harry to realize his parents weren't perfect, but i would like to know more about what they did after school and before death

remus reinstated as DADA

SPEW to take a slightly different turn. hermione needs to understand that elf rights doesn't necessarily mean freedom and a paycheck. but a right to choose whether to be free.
more dobby

harry and narcissa in a legal fight over the house

more gred and forge

percy not eating, but choking on humble pie.

malfoy getting the crude beat out of him again :trout: along with a visit to his dad in azkaban. but i don't think snape would act any different since he's supossedly undercover.

more of the order, but i think that's a given. since the order was formed during the previous reign of terror, i think there role will be much the same now. i think that even then, they were outside of ministry. there are certain things that governmenal bodies are unable or unwilling to do, hense Oop.

and of course like everyone else i want a publication date that isn't three years away. she's had her marriage, had baby, it's
time write. ;)

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I did like the bit after their exam though, when Ron said "I don't care if my tea leaves spell out die, Ron, die ..."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You know, all you great minds , what that reminded *me* of? It sounds too much like foreshadowing to me to laugh about it!

I was thinking the same thing. JKR loves to foreshadow. Even though she may be a bit verbose, there is little that she doesn't put in for a reason either to move forward, be used at another time or as a red herring. Which is it, a red herring or a prophesy?

[Tiger Louie]

Originally posted by wilecoyote
[[quote]ginny to continue playing quidditch perhaps a beater

Ginny expresses her intention to try out for chaser in the next Gryffindor trials.

hagrid to be redeemed, by an army giants, hippogriffs, thestrals and giant spiders. his role is intricate to the plot for that reason. 14 years ago many magical creatures fought for voldermort, because he made promises the ministry wouldn't. hagrid is a friend to magical creatures and that is very important.
Good point Wilecoyote! This would be a substantial improvement on where the character seems to be going at present, and you have highlighted a characteristic of Hagrids which really will add value to the fight :clap: I like this and it makes excellent sense to me.

And welcome to these boards!

Tiger

[Kristin]

For everybody looking for the evidence about Lily's death... it's in two main places: At the end of SS/PS, Voldemort says to Harry "Your mother didn't have to die. She was protecting you" (or something like that). In PoA, when Harry hears Lily because of the dementors, he hears Voldemort tell Lily to "stand aside."

[Colli]

MORE SNAPE and
LESS HAGRID.

:D

And I wouldn't mind Snape in black silk boxers with little silver snakes all over them... :swoon:

As for the Simpsons "Die Ron Die" comment on the last page, Rowling *is* a huge Simpsons fan, I have no problem believing she borrowed that line. ;)

[Pilgrim Grey]

I think the line from the Simpsons was a parody of the Hannibal Lector Movie Manhunter (Red Dragon) where the Tooth Fairy had tattoos like that on him... I think...

[Fyre]

Though I hate the fact that Sirius died, I don't want to see him back again. I know that J.K killed him off for a purpose, and I'd like to know why. A funeral wouldn't be too bad either.

I need to see more of that veil. It's too... mysterious to leave hanging. Ooops, no pun intended. Mysterious bodiless voices... I mean, really... we finally have a reason for hearing voices!
:D

More Neville. His character was wonderfully developed in the OotP, and I'd like to see more of it. He has a wonderful core of inner strength that doesn't always show...

I'll get back to this thread... nature calls. And no, I don't need to go to the bathroom... :rolleyes: I'm at school camp and I had to bring my laptop. So, I'm quickly surfing the net and everything... and now, the teachers are seeking for us poor victims to try out their new form of torment: bush-walking torture...

[Pippin]

Posted by Kristin
For everybody looking for the evidence about Lily's death... it's in two main places: At the end of SS/PS, Voldemort says to Harry "Your mother didn't have to die. She was protecting you" (or something like that). In PoA, when Harry hears Lily because of the dementors, he hears Voldemort tell Lily to "stand aside." Thanks for finding that, Kristin – but it´s really James´ death I was interested in: Same as Lily´s (because he got into Voldemort´s way to Harry) or other reasons?

I promise I´ll let the matter rest after this.



Colli, you´re a naughty girl. :o






:wave: Hi Fyre, nice to see you at the MI! Come back soon with more thoughts once nature´s stopped calling! ;)

[wilecoyote]

In an interview JKR said that the dead do not come back to life. So I think Siruis is gone for good. They can't even do one of thoes wand spells that brings back the shade, because it wasn't the spell but the vail that got him.

As for Neville, I have high hopes for him, when he gets his new wand. I always thought his problem had to do with his possibly having witnessed his parents torture. I figured maybe they did a memory charm on him when he was a baby. But after meeting his grandmother, I can see why he has no confidence if she's always telling him he's not as good as his father.

I also want to see more of Luna, she's great comic relief.
There will also probably be more of Rita. Wasn't her deal with Hermione only for year?

[Lembas]

Do want to see:

The Dursleys die and Harry left unprotected! That would make the OOTP come after him sooner like they promised. Did I mention I hate the Dursleys? JKR has taken away most of Harry's family or would-be-family, so why not the Dursley's? Voldemort could use a Muggle to off them. If this seems harsh, I apologize, but I loathe the Dursleys!

Tonks back. She was so cool. Maybe as a teacher or as a bodyguard for Harry again.

Flesh out Luna Lovegood more. There's more to her than meets the eye. I like her alot.

Ron to really excell at Quidditch, with him and Harry teaming up.

Neville really coming in to his own as a Wizard. OOTP really upped the voltage on his abilities, so let's see a much more confident Neville.

Grawp to play a part in the story. Why introduce him if you're not going to use him further?

Snape, for once, to tell Malfoy to shut up!

Hermione and Ron to finally cast aside their bickering ways and just shut up and kiss.

All-out war to begin between Voldemort's forces and the good guys.

Don't want to see:

Too much of the Dursleys ( see above ).

Another good guy die. Let's slaughter a baddie for once, shall we JK?

Snape to keep ridiculing Potter.

Hermione to keep reminding Ron and Harry to do their studies. Harry at least should be dead serious by now about doing his studies to complete his education as a Wizard. However, JK may be making a point that not all education comes from school. We get it, okay? Have Harry excel, even at Potions.

Anymore secrets from Dumbledore. Tell Harry straight, will you? Look what secret-keeping got him in OOTP.

A jerk for DADA teacher. Let's have a pleasant, Lupin-like character, okay?

[wilecoyote]

Amen to Malfoy shutting up. :trout:

I'm listening to the book now and picking up on things i missed the first time.

so, i'd like to find out why Dumbledore didn't want Trewlarny to leave. could he be protecting her too.

and i'd like to see some competition to Hermione. perhaps in another suitor for Ron's affections, in the form of Luna. and although she is looney, she's a ravenclaw so obviously really smart (although that's what i used to think about Cho) :barf:
Hermione is my fav, but i think she needs a rival to bring out the best in her. :notworthy

[Pippin]

Did anyone else feel very irritated by Luna? I can´t make head or tail of her, and what her significance in the story is. It will be a significance of some sort or she wouldn’t have been included in the DA and the final battle, but otherwise she strikes me as a younger version of Sibyl Trelawny. :rolleyes:


Oh, I don´t want the Dursley´s to die! I mean, I really want their eyes opened in the end in some way, so they realise their faults. I want Harry to come out of all these years with them as vastly superior, and I want them to be in complete awe and admiration for him. But if they died, some really crucial element of the books would go missing. It would be like expelling Harry from Hogwarts or abolishing the Ministry of Magic or cancelling Quidditch forever. Or killing Sirius, yeah right. :rolleyes:


Another thing I really want to see is Harry in Snape´s NEWT Potions class. :D I can´t imagine a school year at Hogwarts without Potions.




Posted by wilecoyote

so, i'd like to find out why Dumbledore didn't want Trelawny to leave. could he be protecting her too. I think so. After all, it was her that made the Prophecy Voldemort was so eager to find out about. And even if Seers usually don´t remember what they “See” (she didn´t remember what she told Harry at the end of PoA about Voldemort coming back), but maybe she could be made to tell, and Dumbledore wanted to protect her from that. Maybe this is the whole reason why he took her in as a teacher at all! I mean, she hasn´t been much use at all, really!

[Bellatrix_Lestrange]

Originally posted by Lembas
[B
Hermione and Ron to finally cast aside their bickering ways and just shut up and kiss.
[/B]


Yes!:notworthy

And for what it's worth:

Do want to see:

- more Fred and George, more Neville, more Luna, more Tonks, more Lupin.

Don't want to see:

- More Hagrid. I don't dislike him, it's just that, as was mentioned upthread a ways, he's a very stagnant character, and we've had five solid books of him basically repeating the same gag.

- More pompous, uptight centaurs. Firenze can stay.

[Pilgrim Grey]

Originally posted by Pippin
Another thing I really want to see is Harry in Snape´s NEWT Potions class. :D I can´t imagine a school year at Hogwarts without Potions.
I have a feeling this might happen, maybe just so Snape can keep an eye out for Harry (although that doesn't really make much sense), maybe his subjects don't fit in his timetable and he's forced to do potions or maybe the OWL testers think that Harry has a natural ability with potions or something :p

None of the reasons are really plausible, but I don't think that JKR would just relegate Snape to the ranks of bit-part teachers (like Sprout and Flitwick) because he's such a popular character

[Seriphus]

Doesn't Harry need to do potions to become an auror? I was a bit worried that he would drop potions and we'd see less of Snape, but it looks like he'll carry on with the subject, albeit grudgingly. :)

[Lady Haleth]

I finished rereading PoA last night and was struck by this conversation between Dumbledore and Harry:
"Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt... When one wizard saves another wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them... and I'm much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter."

"I don't want a connection with Pettigrew!" said Harry. "He betrayed my parents!"

"This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me... the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew's life."

If that isn't foreshadowing, I don't know what is. (And doesn't this remind you all of Gandalf's words to Frodo about pitying Smeagol?

The bond between wizards... another facet to Snape's complexity ... he was beholden to James for saving him, thus he has a duty to protect his enemy's son.

[Seriphus]

Oh yes! And I wonder if Pettigrew's conspicuous absence from book 5 might have been to let the fact that he's indepted to Harry slip our memories. ;) Or maybe not. But I don't think Voldemort's too happy about that fact.

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Tiger Louie
I think that there have already been 2 potential permanent DADA teachers who have had genuine reasons why they couldn't continue. Moody would still be a superb DADA teacher (if a little paranoid) and Lupin was only hounded out (excuse pun) for the small lycanthropomorphic problem! Shacklebolt is a senior Auror, and has done battle with death eaters - we may only just have met him, but it is clear that he's built his reputation within both the Ministry and within The Order.

I agree that Kingsley Shacklebolt is highly qualified for the job, but I'm not sure the Ministry will want to spare him now that the Second War is underway. The real Moody is certainly an option; a)he's qualified; b) he's retired, therefore available; c) he could pull double duty by watching over Harry for the Order, and d) it would be interesting to see the difference, if any, between the two 'Moodys'.

I doubt that we will get more back story as it is only included where it is germain to the plot. We may get more, but only where it has a direct bearing on the here and now in HP6 and HP7.

I wouldn't expect to get gratuitous Marauder scenes just for the heck of it but, that said, every volume to date has involved past events (revealed either through narration or flashbacks), so it's a safe bet that we'll see more backstory. The chain of circumstances leading from the Founders' Era to the Riddle Era to the Marauder Era to the First War to the Second War is one of the elements that bring depth and solidity to JKR's fictional world, and I doubt she'll abandon it.

I think she knew absolutely what she was doing, and the probable consequences. Don't forget that the last time the dementors were in action at Fudge's request they sucked out young Barty Crouch's soul! I don't imagine for one moment that Dolores Umbridge isn't fully in the picture on that. With Fudge as her role model, she will take her lead from that example.

You could be right. I reread her admission in Chapter 32; she seems to imply that she was trying to get Harry expelled (by provoking him to do magic), but it's not explicit.

I meant that we, like Harry have been waiting for action from Voldemort, striking at the heart of the wizarding world. Azkaban doesn't, in my view, represent the heart of the wizarding world.

I believe I understand you now. Azkaban is an important part of the Wizarding World's ability to preserve order, and I'm sure the average wizard on the street was rather disturbed to hear that its security had been compromised, but it's not the same as laying siege to Hogwarts or fighting a running battle up Diagon Alley. Mind you, open battle in the Ministry building sort of fits the bill, but there's still a difference between trying to burglarize the Ministry and ending up in a fight, and making a full-out assault on the place.

[Pippin]

Posted by Lady Haleth

If that isn't foreshadowing, I don't know what is. (And doesn't this remind you all of Gandalf's words to Frodo about pitying Smeagol?)

The bond between wizards... another facet to Snape's complexity ... he was beholden to James for saving him, thus he has a duty to protect his enemy's son. Snape being on the good side and in the Order would be a sufficient reason to expect of him to protect his enemy´s son.

But then, it certainly gives an interesting twist to the Snape-Harry dynamics. One more reason to hate Harry, for Snape. It must be pretty hard to owe your life to your favourite enemy.



Posted by Seriphus

But I don't think Voldemort's too happy about that fact. [Harry saving Pettigrew´s life] If he knows. I mean he knows from Pettigrew that Harry saved his life but maybe the consequences (the special bond) are another kind of “ancient magic” that he neither knows or understands?



Posted by Marchwarden

The real Moody is certainly an option [for the DADA post]; a)he's qualified; b) he's retired, therefore available; c) he could pull double duty by watching over Harry for the Order, and d) it would be interesting to see the difference, if any, between the two 'Moodys'. Lanen has just started a great thread on the DADA teacher topic. :)

Which reminds me, I forgot to say that I definitely want to see more Moody. He rocks. And I find his attacks of paranoia so funny. “If anyone dies, the rearguard will take over.” :LOL:




every volume to date has involved past events (revealed either through narration or flashbacks), so it's a safe bet that we'll see more backstory. The chain of circumstances leading from the Founders' Era to the Riddle Era to the Marauder Era to the First War to the Second War is one of the elements that bring depth and solidity to JKR's fictional world, and I doubt she'll abandon it. Not that we´ve directly seen anything of the Founders’ era yet. I do hope we´ll get to see something of that. I personally believe the very heart of the whole story goes back there, and I´d like to be proved right. :D




I reread her admission [Umbridge sending the Dementors after Harry] in Chapter 32; she seems to imply that she was trying to get Harry expelled (by provoking him to do magic), but it's not explicit. Interesting – I never thought about it that way. Here´s the quote from Chapter 32:
[Umbridge:] “He [Fudge] never knew I ordered the Dementors to go after Potter last summer, but he was delighted to be given the chance to expel him, all the same… Somebody had to act… they were all bleating about silencing you somehow - discrediting you – but I was the one who actually did something about it."
Is it likely that Umbridge did something as risky and dangerous as setting Dementors on Harry without the intent to kill him, but only to make him do magic? Harry might have repelled them, but Dudley or any other Muggle could easily have been worse than killed! I doubt that Umbridge would have been sad when the Dementors had literally silenced Harry. Expelling him from Hogwarts would have resulted in the confiscation of his wand, of course, which would have discredited him greatly, but *silenced*?




it's not the same as laying siege to Hogwarts or fighting a running battle up Diagon Alley. Mind you, open battle in the Ministry building sort of fits the bill, but there's still a difference between trying to burglarize the Ministry and ending up in a fight, and making a full-out assault on the place. Although Voldemort turning up there in person, and duelling with Dumbledore, was something I hadn´t expected to see until the end of book 7! How much more escalation and big-scale open conflict will we see? It seems sort of strange to go back now to each side working in secret, with the occasional one-on-one confrontation.

[Pilgrim Grey]

I can't remember, has their been any speculation on what the "magical" part of the bond between Harry and Wormtail is? I know that he's obviously indebted to Harry for sparing his life, but Dumbledore talks about "magic at it's deepest", so there has to be something more to it. IMO the same thing is working with Snape and Harry (as has been said), but like with Wormtail there's something magical about it. I just can'tthink what. Maybe there's some magical way that Wormtail/Snape will have to repay their debt to Harry/James (by way of saving Harry), like, for example, if Voldey AK'd Harry and instead of killing Harry it killed Wormtail?

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Pippin [/i]
Which reminds me, I forgot to say that I definitely want to see more Moody. He rocks. And I find his attacks of paranoia so funny. “If anyone dies, the rearguard will take over.” :LOL:

I loved that bit. The actual quote is:
MOODY: "If one of us is killed..."
HARRY: "Is that likely?"
MOODY: "-the others keep flying, don't stop, don't break ranks. If they take out all of us and you survive, Harry, the rear guard are standing by to take over; keep flying east and they'll join you."
TONKS: <gets cheeky>
MOODY: I'm just telling the boy the plan. Our job's to deliver him safely to headquarters and if we die in the attempt..."
SHACKLEBOLT: "No one's going to die." (I always imagine a tone of exagerrated patience, reading that line).

Not that we´ve directly seen anything of the Founders’ era yet. I do hope we´ll get to see something of that. I personally believe the very heart of the whole story goes back there, and I´d like to be proved right. :D

We've been closing in; with every volume we've gotten a bit more. While I'm not one of those who'd insist that Harry turn out to be Godric's last descescent, the Founder's Era should play some part in the story's ending.

Is it likely that Umbridge did something as risky and dangerous as setting Dementors on Harry without the intent to kill him, but only to make him do magic? Harry might have repelled them, but Dudley or any other Muggle could easily have been worse than killed! I doubt that Umbridge would have been sad when the Dementors had literally silenced Harry. Expelling him from Hogwarts would have resulted in the confiscation of his wand, of course, which would have discredited him greatly, but *silenced*?

You may be completely right. As much as it sticks in my craw to even slightly defend Umbridge, I feel I have to mention...

While it was not common knowledge that young Mr. Potter could perform a Patronus Charm, anyone whose position in the Ministry involved the authority to dispatch Dementors would most likely have learned what happened to a hundred of them in PoA. If she knew what he'd done to a hundred, she might have well felt that two would only be a provocation. Mind you, the potential harm to innocent Muggles makes her act inexcusable in any case. Honestly, if the if the Unforgivable Curses land you a mandatory life sentence in Azkaban, I can't imagine anyone receiving a lighter penalty for unleashing soul-sucking nightmares in Surrey. Of course,, only a few witnesses heard her admit it, and the Squad certainly won't be saying anything - in fact, they'd probably contradict any testimony the Da might try to put forth.

Although Voldemort turning up there in person, and duelling with Dumbledore, was something I hadn´t expected to see until the end of book 7! How much more escalation and big-scale open conflict will we see? It seems sort of strange to go back now to each side working in secret, with the occasional one-on-one confrontation.

I have faith in JKR; if she ended OotP with "The Second War Begins"; then war it'll be.

[Pippin]

March - first of all, :rotfl: at your sig. As movie Ron would say, bloody brilliant. :D



by PG
Maybe there's some magical way that Wormtail/Snape will have to repay their debt to Harry/James (by way of saving Harry), like, for example, if Voldey AK'd Harry and instead of killing Harry it killed Wormtail? I dunno - for me, it doesn´t have to have to be the spectacular, visible kind of magic, such as a jet of green light zig-zagging around and finally hitting Wormtail instead of Harry. I think whenever Dumbledore talks of the "ancient" kind of "deep" magic, it goes very much beyond something like blocking curses. It´s more the kind of, when someone's once saved your life, and then HIS life is put into YOUR hands and you´re given the chance (or the order) to kill him, you still won´t do it. Something moral rather than technical, if you take my meaning.





Thanks for bringing the whole "rearguard" quote here, March. It´s hilarious. :D

SHACKLEBOLT: "No one's going to die." (I always imagine a tone of exagerrated patience, reading that line). Interesting, I hear him say it in a really calm, totally matter of factly voice. You know, like an absolute truth others can rely on (I think he says it to Harry for that reason). But there´s no right or wrong interpretation of this comment, of course - it´s just interesting how every reader "hears" things differently and we can still agree that a line is totally cool. :cool:



anyone whose position in the Ministry involved the authority to dispatch Dementors would most likely have learned what happened to a hundred of them in PoA. If she knew what he'd done to a hundred, she might have well felt that two would only be a provocation. But it was still a very close shave, for Harry as well. It´s not like there´s a Dementor coming up and zap, they´re gone again (like you´d deal with a boggart). And the more traumatising experiences Harry has, the more vulnerable he will become. The "100 Dementors" was an extreme, very exceptional situation. Think of Harry´s state of mind at that moment and it makes sense that he did have this extreme emotional power just then to repell them. On August 2nd in Little Whinging, there was nothing to make Harry so desperate and so powerful.



It´s very interesting that Umbridge actually has the nerve to admit to the Dementor attack before lots of witnesses (something like what, 12 people, and people of very different backgrounds and allegiances). But then, maybe she was so sure that the Ministry would back her up about this order. After all, she might technically have been authorized to order the Dementors around - they´re officially under Ministry control and maybe the senior under-whatever can issue orders where to send them.


if she ended OotP with "The Second War Begins"; then war it'll be. True, but it´s called the "second war" because there was a first "war" as well - and that particular time doesn´t really strike me as a real "war". More a civil war, or just a state of general confusion, disorder, fear, unexplained deaths and disappearances, that you get in authoritarian regimes, or in extremely unstable countries. It doesn´t mean it´s less serious for everyone involved, but I don´t think the word "war" is very appropriate (from what we know of the time back then - which is still very little, of course).

So maybe the second "war" will be no more a classical "war" than the first.

But then, of course JKR is free to use words as she wishes. :)

[Kristin]

While it was not common knowledge that young Mr. Potter could perform a Patronus Charm, anyone whose position in the Ministry involved the authority to dispatch Dementors would most likely have learned what happened to a hundred of them in PoA. If she knew what he'd done to a hundred, she might have well felt that two would only be a provocation.

But it's not known that Harry successfully drove away the Dementors with a Patronus Charm. Besides, it was the "second" Harry who drove the Dementors away from Sirius, Hermione and the "first" Harry. (No one but Dumbledore knew that there were two Harrys when the Dementors were attacking.) Fudge and Snape certainly don't know:

From PoA, Chapter 21, Hermione's Secret
"What amazes me most is the behavior of the dementors... you've really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?"

"No, Minister ... by the time I had come 'round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances...."

Plus, at Harry's trial, they are surprised that he has produced a corporeal Patronus before.

No, I'd say that Umbridge set the dementors on Harry, thinking that Harry wouldn't be able to drive them away. I think she was planning on them giving Harry the kiss. :eek:

And I would love to see her get her comeuppance (in more of a way than just a mysterious, nasty run-in with centaurs). And I have mixed feelings about whether I want to see her reappear in Book 6 or 7. On the one hand, I hate her. On the other hand, she's so nasty, she's the type of character I love to hate. It's worth reading about all the bad things she does just because it makes you want to stand up and cheer at the fireworks or the niffler or the swamp! :D And she makes Snape look like a really nice guy!

[Elwen]

Well, the fate of Umbridge is alltogether mysterious....


Apart from the Dementors her behaviour at Hogwarts was at least in part criminal. If nothing else I should say that trying to perfom a cruciatus curse on Harry or a DA member in front of witnesses should be enough for a trial, if not a spell in Azkaban!!!

There might be mitigating circumstances for using such a curse but trying to get a confession out of a pupil should not be one of these.


But then, what's the point of Azkaban now that the Dementors have changed sides? Why were the caught Death Eaters sent there?

Elwen

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Pippin
March - first of all, :rotfl: at your sig. As movie Ron would say, bloody brilliant. :D]

Why thank you, Pip.

Thanks for bringing the whole "rearguard" quote here, March. It´s hilarious. :D

Interesting, I hear him say it in a really calm, totally matter of factly voice. You know, like an absolute truth others can rely on (I think he says it to Harry for that reason). But there´s no right or wrong interpretation of this comment, of course - it´s just interesting how every reader "hears" things differently and we can still agree that a line is totally cool. :cool: ]

Oddly enough, that's how I hear his voice normally. In that one instance, however, I got the sense that there would be a tone of...patient resignation. Not any sort of prissy tone; just a bone-deep, world-weary "This is the two hundred and thirty-first time I've had to quell Alastor's paranoia" sort of voice.

But it was still a very close shave, for Harry as well. It´s not like there´s a Dementor coming up and zap, they´re gone again (like you´d deal with a boggart). And the more traumatising experiences Harry has, the more vulnerable he will become. The "100 Dementors" was an extreme, very exceptional situation. Think of Harry´s state of mind at that moment and it makes sense that he did have this extreme emotional power just then to repell them. On August 2nd in Little Whinging, there was nothing to make Harry so desperate and so powerful.]

You have a point. Still, what works at first only under unusual conditions comes more readily to hand with experience. OotP Harry has come a long way from PoA Harry (not that all changes have been positive; he was a really nice kid before his raging hormones kicked in).;)

It´s very interesting that Umbridge actually has the nerve to admit to the Dementor attack before lots of witnesses (something like what, 12 people, and people of very different backgrounds and allegiances). But then, maybe she was so sure that the Ministry would back her up about this order. After all, she might technically have been authorized to order the Dementors around - they´re officially under Ministry control and maybe the senior under-whatever can issue orders where to send them. ]

Well, the IS would have backed her up, and the DA were on their way to expulsion, and would not have been very credible afterwards. As to her authority...a policeman has the authority to fire a pistol, but they can't just do so when they feel like it; even if she had the authority to release dementors, I'm certain she couldn't do so without some justification.

Of course, given the Ministry's hysteria over Harry, she may have thought that as long as he were shut up, none of her superiors would look too closely at the details...

True, but it´s called the "second war" because there was a first "war" as well - and that particular time doesn´t really strike me as a real "war". More a civil war, or just a state of general confusion, disorder, fear, unexplained deaths and disappearances, that you get in authoritarian regimes, or in extremely unstable countries. It doesn´t mean it´s less serious for everyone involved, but I don´t think the word "war" is very appropriate (from what we know of the time back then - which is still very little, of course).

So maybe the second "war" will be no more a classical "war" than the first.]

I always thought of it as the kind of war the Five Families used to fight: no uniforms or pitched battles, but many assassinations and counter-assassinations and much terror and intimidation.

I could of course be wholly wrong, so it's good that we have you around, Pippin; After all, you need someone of intelligence for these message...thread...things.

[Deagol's Bane]

It all sounds good to me.


Definitely Snape in action... and some more McGonagall.
Not that I want Snape and Harry to be best pals, but I'd like some kind of understanding/resolution between them.
More from all the school champs - especially Krum (I thought he was real funny). Both Fleur and Krum were mentioned in OotP, and I thought we'd hear more from them. Next time, I suppose.
I'm pretty interested in the O.W.L. results.


That's all I can think of right now.

[stridersghirl]

Want to see

1. I want to know what that veil was and why it killed sirius

2. I would love Sirius not to be dead as long as she had an excellent reason for it and if his coming back was a pivotal moment in the whole story.

3. If he is dead for him to get a proper memorial

4. Why Dumbledore trusts Snape (dont think that will come till the 7th book though )

5. More Lupin and him to look after harry

6. I'd like Krum to come back as well and be in the order that would be quite cool.

7. More about Petunia's background, how much does she know, why does she know it, is there a good reason why she hates magic.

8. What dudley's dementor memory was

Dont want to see.

1. A lot of the story based on the school subjects. I was so disappointed in the ootp when they went back to school. I dont think it will happen though

2. Lupin die

[Mirdan]

Originally posted by stridersghirl
6. I'd like Krum to come back as well and be in the order that would be quite cool.
i have a feeling we'll be seeing Vicky soon...as soon as Charlie comes back from Romania with some other witches and wizards from Eastern Europe, that is! imagine Ron's reaction...;)



i don't want to see Lupin dead either :( but wasn't there an interview where JKR said that Lupin will have a critical role to play in Book 7? i wonder what exactly she meant by that.

[Pippin]

Good point about Harry and the Dementors, Kristin.


Posted by Marchwarden

a policeman has the authority to fire a pistol, but they can't just do so when they feel like it; even if she had the authority to release dementors, I'm certain she couldn't do so without some justification. But with people like Crouch sr. in charge (he might be dead but I still see a lot of the Crouch spirit in the official Ministry policies :eek: ), “extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary measures” could be “justification” enough.




just a bone-deep, world-weary "This is the two hundred and thirty-first time I've had to quell Alastor's paranoia" sort of voice. I can hear that now, too. It must be SO annoying to have to work with Moody. :D





I always thought of it as the kind of war the Five Families used to fight: no uniforms or pitched battles, but many assassinations and counter-assassinations and much terror and intimidation. That´s how I see it, too. It doesn´t matter what we call it, really. it's good that we have you around, Pippin; Oh well, for questions concerning language, you might actually prefer a native speaker. :o






Originally posted by stridersghirl
6. I'd like Krum to come back as well and be in the order that would be quite cool. I can see Krum sympathising with the DE and Hermione getting into real trouble and conflicts of loyalty because of it. Maybe she even gives away some secrets or does other stupid things just because she´s in love. You might say that would be extremely out of character for ultra-rational Hermione – but it might be all the more shocking and unexpected for that. After all, she was irrational about Lockheart, too.




by Mirdan

wasn't there an interview where JKR said that Lupin will have a critical role to play in Book 7? i wonder what exactly she meant by that. I wouldn´t be too worried about that. It could be anything. I´m inclined to think it has to do with his being a werewolf. I mean I can´t see Lupin as a werewolf (off Wolfsbane) ripping apart a DE, but I don´t think the werewolf factor has served its narrative purpose just yet.

[Marchwarden]

Originally posted by Pippin
I can see Krum sympathising with the DE and Hermione getting into real trouble and conflicts of loyalty because of it. Maybe she even gives away some secrets or does other stupid things just because she´s in love. You might say that would be extremely out of character for ultra-rational Hermione – but it might be all the more shocking and unexpected for that. After all, she was irrational about Lockheart, too.

JKR has always been careful to leave us guessing about Krum. He has a sinister air to him, he had that mysterious last conversation with Hermione...and yet so far, he hasn't actually done anything bad, except while under the Imperius Curse. Curious fellow.