HP7 Predictions
Jul. 1st, 2007 08:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yours_trulyThis is a very long post. Due to its verbose nature, I will provide a quick summary for those who would rather not read it. (Seriously, I don’t blame you if you don’t.) If you choose to actually look at the whole thing, I must warn you again that this entry is essentially nothing more than a really huge geek-out (which is like a freak-out, but way more nerdy).
Summary: OMG, so, HP and the Deathly Hallows is like almost here ZOMGWHOALOLZ. I’m totally bummed because, like, I love Harry Potter and the fans and I just can’t believe it’s going to be over soon, and I know the one thing that’s totally been missing from your life is a three page history of how I came to love HP so much, so, like, here it is! And I’m, like, so totally a genius, so I’ve included a list of what I think’s going to happen in the book, cause, like, duh, obviously I’m way smart and I want to be able to laugh in all your faces and say, “I told you so!” Like, totally.
It is now July, boys and girls, the month of the end of Harry Potter. The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is only nineteen days away, and I’m feeling all kinds of emotions. Sometimes I’m more excited than I’ve ever been for anything, but other times I dread reading the book and wish it could be put off for another year or two. HP has been a part of my life for so long that I can’t believe it’s ending.
I remember when the first two books were out and I had absolutely no interest in reading them (gaspshockhorror!). I was all confused about whether Harry Potter was the author or the title, I hated the cover art (I’m still no fan of Mary GrandPre except for the DH covers), and I have always been wary of trendy books. In the fall of 1999, though, a friend and classmate used Philosopher’s Stone for a book report and his presentation convinced me to give Harry Potter a try.
My aunt and uncle who live in London sent me the first three books several weeks later, and I devoured them. I can still remember reading the first sentence of Philosopher's Stone for the first time. I can still remember toting Chamber of Secrets along with me to the movie theater to read during the previews. I remember staying up late in my bean-bag chair to finish Prisoner of Azkaban.
I wanted more.
Luckily, the next summer saw the release of Goblet of Fire. I was quite a snob at twelve-years-old, and I didn’t want to read it until I got my British copy from London, so I didn’t go to any release parties or anything, but I caved after a week or so. Lord knows how I did it, but I managed to make GoF last two weeks. I know exactly where I was when I finished it: the right, top bunk at my grandparents’ camp in Schroon Lake.
Then came the Great Book Drought. Three years passed in between the releases of Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. During that time, though, the movies for the first two books came out and I first set eyes upon the love of my life, Daniel Radcliffe. (Ha ha, totally kidding about that last part. Really. *shifty eyes* Fun fact: I was actually more of a Tom Felton girl in the early years. My, how times have changed.)
Order of the Phoenix came out in the summer of 2003 when I was fifteen (the exact same age as Harry in the book). I bought the book at midnight and just kept reading till I finished. I believe it took me thirteen hours. I had planned on making it last like I did with Goblet of Fire, but there was no way I was putting that book down once I had started.
Two years later (in 2005), Half-Blood Prince came out. I recall being very disappointed when the title was announced (I’m still not a huge fan of it), and fearing that I would also be disappointed in the book for the first time. All fears evaporated, though, as I once again got the book at midnight and began reading. (I think HBP took me nine hours.)
However, the most important event in my Harry Potter experience actually occurred the day before Book 6’s release. I was just sitting around my house being bored when I randomly decided to Google “Harry Potter” and see what came up.
The first result that I clicked on turned out to be Jo’s personal website. It was a goldmine of information. The FAQ contained questions that I had never even thought to wonder about. The backstory and cut pieces in the Extra Stuff section were absolutely fascinating to me. Finally, the Fansite section led me to two websites that would change my life: MuggleNet.com (MN) and The-Leaky-Cauldron.org (Leaky).
MN and Leaky became my new homes. The kids (and adults) there were my people. Finally I had found others who were as happy as I was to discuss literature and history and even (occasionally) theology all the live-long day. I read and wrote editorials, I chatted on message boards, I made friends, I discovered wizard rock, I listened to podcasts…. I have spent the last two years experiencing what the Internet is really for: broadening minds and connecting people who would never meet otherwise.
I am wiser, more literate, and a happier person for having joined the HP fandom. During my life I have been/am active in other fandoms online (Animorphs, His Dark Materials, The West Wing, etc.), and there’s really nothing else like it out there. I believe that this group of people will continue to be active and communicate for many years, even after the books and movies are done; it’s bigger than just Harry Potter now. Thank you to everyone that has impacted my life through Potter! <3
My favourite thing about the fandom (other than wizard rock and the great people I’ve met) was reading, creating, and discussing theories about what will happen in this final book. Before I even started college I was exploring medieval literature and critical theory for clues and aides. Sometimes, looking for Potter connections has been the only thing that has gotten me through a difficult history, English, or philosophy class. I have read through books 1-6 twice now while keeping notes and searching for hints. I have had the privilege of reading wonderful editorials and academic papers about the series and its characters.
I consider myself, therefore, fairly intimately acquainted with the books themselves and the theories about Deathly Hallows in particular. Using all this knowledge, I have developed a list of my own predictions for what I think will happen in the final book. After I have read the book I will grade myself and see how well I really knew Harry Potter.
Please keep in mind that I avoid spoilers like the plague. I exiled myself from message boards and comment boards on fansites months ago, and I read news posts with half squinted eyes. I listen to the podcasts totally ready to press the pause button if discussion starts to sound spoiler-y. So, all these predictions are the results of two years of intense re-reads of the books and JKR interviews; great discussion with friends; my own knowledge of literary history and conventions; and some wonderful editorials, theories, and chats on the various fansites. I have no knowledge of what is to come in DH other than things Jo has said herself in interviews or on her website.
So, without further ado…
LIVE OR DIE
This section is a straightforward list of all the characters whose outcomes I would consider to be of importance and whether I believe they will live or die. Not too hard, right?
Harry dies
Voldemort dies
Snape dies
Ron lives
Hermione lives
Ginny lives
Luna lives
Neville dies
one twin lives
one twin dies
Arthur lives
Molly lives
Bill lives
Charlie dies
Percy lives
Fleur lives
McGonagall lives
Wormtail dies
Lupin dies
Moody dies
Tonks lives
Hagrid lives
Cho lives
Kingsley lives
Umbridge lives
Lucius dies
Narcissa dies
Draco lives
Bellatrix GETS THE DEMENTOR’S KISS
Greyback dies
Uncle Vernon dies
Aunt Petunia dies
Dudley lives
GENERAL PREDICTIONS
As you will see, this section contains a whole bunch of numbered statements. In some cases there are multiple theories that are dependent upon the first clause of the prediction being correct. If when I grade this thing that original prediction is wrong, I will not count all subsequent guesses, but rather treat them as though they didn’t exist. This will keep the penalization for incorrect predictions proportionate.
For example, predictions 36 and 37 depend on the fate of prediction 35. If 35 and 36 are correct but 37 is wrong, it counts as one incorrect prediction. However, if 35 is wrong (and therefore 36 and 37) I will count 35 as one incorrect prediction but then subtract two from the total number of predictions and act as if 36 and 37 were never made. Ja? Sehr gut.
Harry is a Horcrux.
Hogwarts will re-open and
Harry will return, but
in a part-time, semi-self-instructory capacity while he hunts Horcruxes.
RAB is not Regulus Black.
If I were to hazard a guess, I would say Andromeda Black or Amy Benson is RAB.
Nagini won’t be killed until the final battle is taking place, echoing the Quidditch match when Harry had to wait to catch the Snitch until his team was 50 points ahead. He must wait to defeat Voldemort until Nagini is dead.
Harry’s final showdown with Voldemort will heavily involve wandless magic, and
Voldemort will successfully be defeated,
though not by an Avada Kedavra.
Furthermore, Harry will not successfully use any more Unforgivable Curses in this book.
Harry and Voldemort will not meet face to face until the final battle.
Snape has been loyal to Dumbledore all these yeards and
he only killed Dumbledore because of some design of his.
Dumbledore really is dead, kids, and
he will not be coming back from the dead, BUT
he will have a slight advisory role via either his portrait or memories in the Pensieve.
Oh, and Dumbledore was a Parselmouth and
this fact is very significant to the plot.
We will find out that Parseltongue is, or at least can be, hereditary.
Dumbledore was a pureblood.
He had one or more Dark wizards in his family history.
Harry will use Parseltongue at some point to get past enchantments guarding a Horcrux.
The Trio will travel internationally for some reason.
There is a Horcrux hidden at Hogwarts.
The Love Room in the Department of Mysteries will not be significant.
The Veil Room, however, will be very important.
The Deathly Hallows refers to the Horcruxes.
Grawp will have an important role to play.
The Centaurs will fight with the good guys
after their people/forest/society is threatened by the Death Eaters.
There will be goblins on both sides.
The Hogwarts ghosts will help fight Dementors.
Ollivander went into hiding on Dumbledore’s advice
to avoid being used by Voldemort to solve the problem of the brother wands.
Hermione’s knowledge of Ancient Runes will be key.
The mirror that Sirius gave Harry in Book 5 will come back into play.
There will be no time travel in this book.
There will be an attack on Privet Drive.
Dudley will be the character to use magic later in life.
Dumbledore had James’ invisibility cloak because Dumbledore was supposed to give it to someone else to use, or was planning on returning it to James after someone else borrowed it.
Dumbledore’s “gleam of triumph” in Book 4 was due to the love in Harry’s blood weakening Voldemort.
The Lost Day isn’t actually terribly significant. Harry was just traveling with Hagrid, or being kept safe somewhere or something.
EPILOGUE PREDICTIONS
JKR has said repeatedly that the final chapter is an epilogue telling what happens in the future to all the surviving characters. For this section, I hereby preface every statement with IF HE/SHE/THEY SURVIVE(S)…. This way, if a person I assume was going to live actually dies I will merely disregard the appropriate prediction and refrain from adding it into the grand total when I make my calculations, similar to the system for the second section.
Hermione will become a writer and activist.
Luna will become a professor at Hogwarts.
Ginny will become an Auror.
Ron will work for the Ministry.
Hermione and Ron will get married.
Hermione and Ron have at least one child that they name in some way after Harry.
The surviving twin will carry on with the joke shop and be very successful.
A monument of some kind will be built for Harry either at his grave or the place of the final battle.
Bill and Fleur have at least one pretty little baby.
McGonagall continues as Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Draco still has his father’s wealth, so he mostly just does whatever strikes his fancy.
Dudley lives a normal Muggle life, probably a businessman like his father.
Just as a point of interest, I am in the minority of the fandom with some of my predictions. Only 21% agree with me that Harry will die, and 33% think he is a Horcrux. Dumbledore being a Parselmouth is almost never spoken of.
When I grade myself I will make a simple percentage of correct answers out of the total. But, because I’m a dork, I will give myself a grade based on the OWL grading system in the books.
Oustanding = 91% - 100%
Exceeds Expectations = 81% - 90%
Acceptable = 71% - 80%
Poor = 61% - 70%
Dreadful = 51% - 60%
Troll = 0% - 50%
That's about it I guess. I dunno, I had a nostalgia attack. Don't judge me. =)
Summary: OMG, so, HP and the Deathly Hallows is like almost here ZOMGWHOALOLZ. I’m totally bummed because, like, I love Harry Potter and the fans and I just can’t believe it’s going to be over soon, and I know the one thing that’s totally been missing from your life is a three page history of how I came to love HP so much, so, like, here it is! And I’m, like, so totally a genius, so I’ve included a list of what I think’s going to happen in the book, cause, like, duh, obviously I’m way smart and I want to be able to laugh in all your faces and say, “I told you so!” Like, totally.
It is now July, boys and girls, the month of the end of Harry Potter. The release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is only nineteen days away, and I’m feeling all kinds of emotions. Sometimes I’m more excited than I’ve ever been for anything, but other times I dread reading the book and wish it could be put off for another year or two. HP has been a part of my life for so long that I can’t believe it’s ending.
I remember when the first two books were out and I had absolutely no interest in reading them (gaspshockhorror!). I was all confused about whether Harry Potter was the author or the title, I hated the cover art (I’m still no fan of Mary GrandPre except for the DH covers), and I have always been wary of trendy books. In the fall of 1999, though, a friend and classmate used Philosopher’s Stone for a book report and his presentation convinced me to give Harry Potter a try.
My aunt and uncle who live in London sent me the first three books several weeks later, and I devoured them. I can still remember reading the first sentence of Philosopher's Stone for the first time. I can still remember toting Chamber of Secrets along with me to the movie theater to read during the previews. I remember staying up late in my bean-bag chair to finish Prisoner of Azkaban.
I wanted more.
Luckily, the next summer saw the release of Goblet of Fire. I was quite a snob at twelve-years-old, and I didn’t want to read it until I got my British copy from London, so I didn’t go to any release parties or anything, but I caved after a week or so. Lord knows how I did it, but I managed to make GoF last two weeks. I know exactly where I was when I finished it: the right, top bunk at my grandparents’ camp in Schroon Lake.
Then came the Great Book Drought. Three years passed in between the releases of Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix. During that time, though, the movies for the first two books came out and I first set eyes upon the love of my life, Daniel Radcliffe. (Ha ha, totally kidding about that last part. Really. *shifty eyes* Fun fact: I was actually more of a Tom Felton girl in the early years. My, how times have changed.)
Order of the Phoenix came out in the summer of 2003 when I was fifteen (the exact same age as Harry in the book). I bought the book at midnight and just kept reading till I finished. I believe it took me thirteen hours. I had planned on making it last like I did with Goblet of Fire, but there was no way I was putting that book down once I had started.
Two years later (in 2005), Half-Blood Prince came out. I recall being very disappointed when the title was announced (I’m still not a huge fan of it), and fearing that I would also be disappointed in the book for the first time. All fears evaporated, though, as I once again got the book at midnight and began reading. (I think HBP took me nine hours.)
However, the most important event in my Harry Potter experience actually occurred the day before Book 6’s release. I was just sitting around my house being bored when I randomly decided to Google “Harry Potter” and see what came up.
The first result that I clicked on turned out to be Jo’s personal website. It was a goldmine of information. The FAQ contained questions that I had never even thought to wonder about. The backstory and cut pieces in the Extra Stuff section were absolutely fascinating to me. Finally, the Fansite section led me to two websites that would change my life: MuggleNet.com (MN) and The-Leaky-Cauldron.org (Leaky).
MN and Leaky became my new homes. The kids (and adults) there were my people. Finally I had found others who were as happy as I was to discuss literature and history and even (occasionally) theology all the live-long day. I read and wrote editorials, I chatted on message boards, I made friends, I discovered wizard rock, I listened to podcasts…. I have spent the last two years experiencing what the Internet is really for: broadening minds and connecting people who would never meet otherwise.
I am wiser, more literate, and a happier person for having joined the HP fandom. During my life I have been/am active in other fandoms online (Animorphs, His Dark Materials, The West Wing, etc.), and there’s really nothing else like it out there. I believe that this group of people will continue to be active and communicate for many years, even after the books and movies are done; it’s bigger than just Harry Potter now. Thank you to everyone that has impacted my life through Potter! <3
My favourite thing about the fandom (other than wizard rock and the great people I’ve met) was reading, creating, and discussing theories about what will happen in this final book. Before I even started college I was exploring medieval literature and critical theory for clues and aides. Sometimes, looking for Potter connections has been the only thing that has gotten me through a difficult history, English, or philosophy class. I have read through books 1-6 twice now while keeping notes and searching for hints. I have had the privilege of reading wonderful editorials and academic papers about the series and its characters.
I consider myself, therefore, fairly intimately acquainted with the books themselves and the theories about Deathly Hallows in particular. Using all this knowledge, I have developed a list of my own predictions for what I think will happen in the final book. After I have read the book I will grade myself and see how well I really knew Harry Potter.
Please keep in mind that I avoid spoilers like the plague. I exiled myself from message boards and comment boards on fansites months ago, and I read news posts with half squinted eyes. I listen to the podcasts totally ready to press the pause button if discussion starts to sound spoiler-y. So, all these predictions are the results of two years of intense re-reads of the books and JKR interviews; great discussion with friends; my own knowledge of literary history and conventions; and some wonderful editorials, theories, and chats on the various fansites. I have no knowledge of what is to come in DH other than things Jo has said herself in interviews or on her website.
So, without further ado…
LIVE OR DIE
This section is a straightforward list of all the characters whose outcomes I would consider to be of importance and whether I believe they will live or die. Not too hard, right?
Harry dies
Voldemort dies
Snape dies
Ron lives
Hermione lives
Ginny lives
Luna lives
Neville dies
one twin lives
one twin dies
Arthur lives
Molly lives
Bill lives
Charlie dies
Percy lives
Fleur lives
McGonagall lives
Wormtail dies
Lupin dies
Moody dies
Tonks lives
Hagrid lives
Cho lives
Kingsley lives
Umbridge lives
Lucius dies
Narcissa dies
Draco lives
Bellatrix GETS THE DEMENTOR’S KISS
Greyback dies
Uncle Vernon dies
Aunt Petunia dies
Dudley lives
GENERAL PREDICTIONS
As you will see, this section contains a whole bunch of numbered statements. In some cases there are multiple theories that are dependent upon the first clause of the prediction being correct. If when I grade this thing that original prediction is wrong, I will not count all subsequent guesses, but rather treat them as though they didn’t exist. This will keep the penalization for incorrect predictions proportionate.
For example, predictions 36 and 37 depend on the fate of prediction 35. If 35 and 36 are correct but 37 is wrong, it counts as one incorrect prediction. However, if 35 is wrong (and therefore 36 and 37) I will count 35 as one incorrect prediction but then subtract two from the total number of predictions and act as if 36 and 37 were never made. Ja? Sehr gut.
Harry is a Horcrux.
Hogwarts will re-open and
Harry will return, but
in a part-time, semi-self-instructory capacity while he hunts Horcruxes.
RAB is not Regulus Black.
If I were to hazard a guess, I would say Andromeda Black or Amy Benson is RAB.
Nagini won’t be killed until the final battle is taking place, echoing the Quidditch match when Harry had to wait to catch the Snitch until his team was 50 points ahead. He must wait to defeat Voldemort until Nagini is dead.
Harry’s final showdown with Voldemort will heavily involve wandless magic, and
Voldemort will successfully be defeated,
though not by an Avada Kedavra.
Furthermore, Harry will not successfully use any more Unforgivable Curses in this book.
Harry and Voldemort will not meet face to face until the final battle.
Snape has been loyal to Dumbledore all these yeards and
he only killed Dumbledore because of some design of his.
Dumbledore really is dead, kids, and
he will not be coming back from the dead, BUT
he will have a slight advisory role via either his portrait or memories in the Pensieve.
Oh, and Dumbledore was a Parselmouth and
this fact is very significant to the plot.
We will find out that Parseltongue is, or at least can be, hereditary.
Dumbledore was a pureblood.
He had one or more Dark wizards in his family history.
Harry will use Parseltongue at some point to get past enchantments guarding a Horcrux.
The Trio will travel internationally for some reason.
There is a Horcrux hidden at Hogwarts.
The Love Room in the Department of Mysteries will not be significant.
The Veil Room, however, will be very important.
The Deathly Hallows refers to the Horcruxes.
Grawp will have an important role to play.
The Centaurs will fight with the good guys
after their people/forest/society is threatened by the Death Eaters.
There will be goblins on both sides.
The Hogwarts ghosts will help fight Dementors.
Ollivander went into hiding on Dumbledore’s advice
to avoid being used by Voldemort to solve the problem of the brother wands.
Hermione’s knowledge of Ancient Runes will be key.
The mirror that Sirius gave Harry in Book 5 will come back into play.
There will be no time travel in this book.
There will be an attack on Privet Drive.
Dudley will be the character to use magic later in life.
Dumbledore had James’ invisibility cloak because Dumbledore was supposed to give it to someone else to use, or was planning on returning it to James after someone else borrowed it.
Dumbledore’s “gleam of triumph” in Book 4 was due to the love in Harry’s blood weakening Voldemort.
The Lost Day isn’t actually terribly significant. Harry was just traveling with Hagrid, or being kept safe somewhere or something.
EPILOGUE PREDICTIONS
JKR has said repeatedly that the final chapter is an epilogue telling what happens in the future to all the surviving characters. For this section, I hereby preface every statement with IF HE/SHE/THEY SURVIVE(S)…. This way, if a person I assume was going to live actually dies I will merely disregard the appropriate prediction and refrain from adding it into the grand total when I make my calculations, similar to the system for the second section.
Hermione will become a writer and activist.
Luna will become a professor at Hogwarts.
Ginny will become an Auror.
Ron will work for the Ministry.
Hermione and Ron will get married.
Hermione and Ron have at least one child that they name in some way after Harry.
The surviving twin will carry on with the joke shop and be very successful.
A monument of some kind will be built for Harry either at his grave or the place of the final battle.
Bill and Fleur have at least one pretty little baby.
McGonagall continues as Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Draco still has his father’s wealth, so he mostly just does whatever strikes his fancy.
Dudley lives a normal Muggle life, probably a businessman like his father.
Just as a point of interest, I am in the minority of the fandom with some of my predictions. Only 21% agree with me that Harry will die, and 33% think he is a Horcrux. Dumbledore being a Parselmouth is almost never spoken of.
When I grade myself I will make a simple percentage of correct answers out of the total. But, because I’m a dork, I will give myself a grade based on the OWL grading system in the books.
Oustanding = 91% - 100%
Exceeds Expectations = 81% - 90%
Acceptable = 71% - 80%
Poor = 61% - 70%
Dreadful = 51% - 60%
Troll = 0% - 50%
That's about it I guess. I dunno, I had a nostalgia attack. Don't judge me. =)
