piasharn | Obligtory HP Post (Reply)

With the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince drawing nigh, I thought it might be a good idea to jot down some of my hopes and theories on the next installment of the series. Besides, I don't think I've written anything fangirlish lately, and I rather miss it.

I've stated before that I feel the HBP is Godric Gryffindor, and I still stand by that statement. (See the linked post for why, if you haven't already read it.) I am also convinced that Harry is a direct descendant of his, much like Voldemort is descended from Salazar Slytherin. The graveyard on the grounds is undoubtably where the founders are buried.

Onwards and upwards.

I'm not as certain about my earlier hypothesis concerning controlled wandless magic. It's still (in my mind, at least) the best idea for the forshadowing in the PoA movie, but I was reading through some interviews with JKR recently, and she seemed to imply that controlled wandless magic wasn't possible. So I'm not so certain about that theory anymore, although I'm certainly keeping it on my list of possibilities.

On what happened to Sirius: He's dead. As a dodo. Don't get me wrong, I was upset over his death. I'd love for one of those "Bring Back Black" fanfics to turn out to be true, but it's not going to happen. JKR was far too upset herself when she finally wrote that scene, and I don't think it would have torn her up so much if Sirius' disappearance was temporary. Besides, death is one issue she really doesn't fuck around with. If we do see him again, it will be in a pensieve or something similar.

As sad as his death was, I do feel that it will serve a purpose. I think Harry will be much more subdued that he was in OotP. The death of his godfather is akin to dumping a large bucket of icewater on the fire that was his rage in book five. Harry has always had a tendency to rush in and save people. Until the incident in the Department of Mysteries, it worked out for the best, so one can't blame him for taking an action that had always worked in the past. However, he has now learned the hard way what the consequences can be. More importantly, he now knows why people will put their lives on the line to save him.

(On a side note, Angry Harry didn't annoy me nearly as much as it did others. As far as I'm concerned, it was a perfectly normal reaction for him. Not only is he a teenager - and teens tend to be overemotional and annoying - but he was under a considerable amount of stress, and had been for some time. I'd snap too.)

JKR has said that his stay at the Dursley's will be the shortest yet. This raises the question of where he will go. With Voldemort back in full force, I don't think the Burrow is safe enough. Grimmauld Place is certainly an option, although a rather depressing one. It will also be interesting to see if Remus is still living there.

Speaking of Remus, I am very curious as to how his relationship with Harry will be affected. They developed a good bond in PoA, and JKR once stated that Harry found two substitute father roles in that book. (This struck me as interesting because I, like Alfonso Cuaron, had always pegged Remus as more of an uncle figure.) However, we heard nothing from him at all in GoF. I know he doesn't have much money, but I'm sure Harry would have appreciated a simple "Happy Birthday" note or a letter or something. His silence during book four was rather disheartening, and made his (noticeably smaller) role in book six a bit puzzling. He didn't write. Didn't give Harry presents before, but he suddenly does at Christmas in book six.

Anyway, Remus is now Harry's sole connection to his parents and Sirius. (Although people like Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape all knew them, they weren't friends with them like Remus was.) He appeared to support Harry's efforts with the DA (given that the aforementioned Christmas present was DADA books) and has been one of the best teachers Harry has ever had. With the situation becoming more dire, I wonder if he'll take up the role of teacher once again.

I also think that there is more to Remus than meets the eye. I've been harboring a suspicion that he may be a Legilimens/Occlumens, and will probably write an essay on that in the near future. I've also been wondering about the exact nature of his lycanthropy, if that has something to do with the grey in his hair and the lines on his face, and if the disease may be terminal. Again, a more in-depth entry should follow.

JKR has said that we will find out more about the incident in which Sirius told Snape how to get into the Whomping Willow. I'm hoping that this will be in HBP, because I am insanely curious as to how and why this incident occurred. I know why Sirius would do that to Snape (he hated him), but I want to know why he would do that to Remus. I'd also love to know why Sirius thought Remus was the spy during the first war.

On the subject of who else will die, yes, I think there is a good chance Remus will kick the bucket before the end of the series. (Although heaven knows I want him to live.) Dumbledore and Snape are two other characters who I would put high on the list.

Getting back to Harry, I think he achieved an "O" on his DADA O.W.L.s. I think he passed Potions, but not with an "O". Given that Harry will need that class to pursue a career as an Auror, and that Snape is said to refuse students who don't get the top grade, I'm interested to see how that will turn out. More likely than not, Dumbledore will step in and override Snape's decision.

Ron and Hermione will hook up. If not in book six, then in book seven. Sorry H/Hr fans, but the R/Hr subtext is too obvious to be overlooked. I have no clue as to who Harry may fool around with next. Ginny is, of course, a possibility.

I think that's it. If I think of anything else, I'll try and post it soon. (Along with those Remus essays I mentioned.)