<p>IIRC (and I can’t check because I lent the previous books to my mother), the most recently dead came out of the wand first, and James emerged, told Harry to wait as Lily would join them soon. </p>
<p>I’m also wondering about the significance of the artifacts belonging to the Hogwarts founders, beyond them being possible horcruxes. The Sorting Hat as been singing recently about how the houses need to come together. The owner of the Slytherin locket and the Hufflepuff cup told Tom Riddle that those items had “special” powers. Perhaps if Harry acquires them with Gryffindor’s sword and Ravenclaw’s whatever, they will provide enough power to defeat Voldemort?</p>
<p>I also think that a joke item from Fred and George will be very useful!</p>
<p>Yes, I agree. I thought immediately that Voldemort wanted into Hogwarts in order to get the Gryffyndor sword and the sorting hat as horcruxes. At first, I thought the sword was a horcrux, but then thought that it couldn’t have helped him if it was. The problem is, Harry didn’t tell McGonnegal and he won’t be coming back next year. Does he somehow break into Hogwarts in order to steal them? Will he go back home to Privet Lane first? If he doesn’t, then he loses his protection. Rowling was very emphatic about bringing home that point.</p>
<p>I was thinking…Remember how Dumbledore said that Voldemort was planning on making a Horcrux after he killed Harry, and that the snake could have been one? Well, is it possible that Harry himself is a horcrux…or to put one in a living person? That would explain some of harry’s powers…but would also make it so that harry would have to die in order for voldemort to be defeated…</p>
<p>and yeah, the snape thing seems almost too well planned. I find it impossible to believe that dumbledore could have foreseen the entire act with malfoy and all, yet not realized snape was a fake. Maybe dumbledore felt it was his time to go in order for harry to become what he has to be…</p>
<p>But the sword and all aren’t horcruxes, aren’t they just magical items that voldemort wanted to use as horcruxes?</p>
<p>so many questions. It seems like everytime j.k. answers one she raises three more.</p>
<p>There have been hints throughout that Harry is an albeit accidental horcrux. That is why Voldemort must kill him himself - not just because of the prophesy, but to get back that part of him that is in Harry. The sword and hat are not horcruxes. But I think Voldemort wanted them as horcruxes, and that is why he wanted a job at Hogwarts. Since he was denied, he had to find other things. Mrs. Dursley was an inconsequential part of the books, but she has fought with her H in order for Harry to be able to return, even though it is plain she doesn’t like him or the situation. It is possible that she has denied any powers she may have, as well, and goes overboard to show how much she hates the magic world in order not to have to acknowledge that she has some powers, too. I thought about Percy afterward, as well. The ministry will probably try to stop Harry, and what will Percy do? Is he a spy for the Order or is he just a pompous jerk who will follow anyone he thinks can help him climb the ladder and better himself? Lupin will be very influential in the next book, I think, as will Grawp, who has been fairly civilized.</p>
<p>I am a JK Rowling fan…big time…when in London several years ago, we went to the National Portrait Gallery…they had a special display somewhere in the first floor…and one of the display pieces was chock full of JK items…including her outline on 1 page of notebook paper that plotted out Chapter 7 from Book 1 that introduced the Sorting Hat, the Four Houses, the dining hall, and SNAPE. It was a treat to see how randomly her thoughts were captured…almost as if she were taking notes. It makes one think that anyone can create a story like this. Ha!</p>
<p>I was on line at midnight Friday nite, picking up a book for each of us and a set of the CDs…we are big fans of listening to them on long trips… my personal opinion on this book was one of relief…no real spoilers from me, just general comments. I was so afraid we would have to slog thru a war between giants and deatheaters… I so prefer the use of the pensive and memories to fill in the backstory and connect dots for us…I was definitely entertained by the path and detours she took…much better than I had anticipated…laughed out loud with glee over some of the plot lines…somehow JK manages to truly bridge the world between childhood and adulthood…she has written a story that interests both…it is a satisfying read…I am not concerned with the “deaths” that have occured…what this book has accomplished is to set up the final showdown between Harry and Lord Voldemort. The wand has passed, if you will, to Harry so he can stop the horror that is the Dark Lord… and I will be happy and sad when I have finished Book 7. Not sure that he really is alone, but he has accepted the challenge, believing he is on his own. I like firefly’s idea that Snape changed sides to the good side due to his love for Lily… one of the web sites, Mugglenet, had a list of what we know for books 6 & 7…and it mentioned we learn a lot more about Lily. That did not happen in book 6, so I expect that we will be treated to that emotional backstory in book 7. I believe at the end of book 6 that Snape did what Dumbledore asked him to do…and that was what he accepted at the end of book 5 when Dumbledore said to him, “you know what you have to do now.” </p>
<p>I think the rumors I had read had me completely focused on the new characters; the Half Blood Prince, the person with lion like mane of hair, and of course, Felix Felicitas… I loved what Felix was all about… the idea of it…and that fact that Harry waited so long before he used it…and then he used it for his friends…it was just magical stuff… to me, this was not dark, but rather liberating to see the maturity of the characters and the story line. </p>
<p>I am looking forward to tomorrow when the web sites open up their chat rooms to see what folks start speculating about the finale!!</p>
<p>I must admit that I groaned aloud when Dumbledore urged Draco to come over to the right side. All I could hear in my head was Luke Skywalker saying, “Father, I have to save you!” and Vader replying “You already have.” Methinks Rowling saw Return of the Jedi one too many times. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. As someone said, I hoped that Dumbledore’s death was a sham until Fawkes started singing and the picture of Dumbledore turned up on the wall of his office. Then I figured it was real, and wondered where on earth the story line was going to go next. Many thanks to those who identified - or at least offered a theory on - the identity of R.A.B, that was driving me nuts. I thought Regulus was dead? Hmm, I guess not. LOL, DD was away for the weekend, which is the only reason I got to read our preordered copy first. Now I can’t wait for her to get home and read it, so I have someone to dissect the story with. Thank goodness you people are here!</p>
<p>Regulus is dead. But who knows when the horcrux was substituted? It could have been after he finished school and before he died. Interesting that Harry inherits the Black house and estate. Including the real horcrux??? Perhaps it is hidden there? Is that the reason for Sirius’s death? So Harry, who knows of the horcrux, can dig around and find it??? At least Rowling says she has already started writing book 7. Maybe we won’t have to wait another 2 years for it. This one is going to be the hardest to wait for, I think. D was in London on school trip last summer. After the day’s activities, she and another friend wanted to go to Platform 9 3/4. Well, the teacher wouldn’t let them go alone, and didn’t want to take 20 kids alone with him on the tube, so D, friend and teacher went alone (with 5 extra cameras each. She has an awesome picture in front of the sign. (And so do 20 others!) Wish I could have been there!</p>
<p>To me it is clear (well possible) that Dumbledore did not die. The main reason is the book has him begging Snape, or something of that sort. (The book is not in front of my as I write). Dumbledore would have died with dignity unless it was all a ruse to fool V.</p>
<p>Also, apart from the green flash and Dumbledore fallling then, did Harry ever see the body later? I know I read this section quickly, so I could be wrong, but I don’t recall anyone actually seeing it. </p>
<p>As much as I dislike Snape, I am betting he turns out to not be what he appears to be here.</p>
<p>I’m only on page 412, but I couldn’t help but peek ahead into the book to find out who dies a few days ago. I was really sad to find out it was Dumbledore since he was my favorite character (even though I’ve had a feeling that something would happen to him in either the 6th or 7th book for a long time now). </p>
<p>However, like several others on this board, I’m not completely convinced yet. I’ve already skimmed the ending (yes, I know I’m cheating on this, but I can’t help it), and I saw that Harry sees a phoenix in the flames before the coffin forms. Harry also says that line (that Dumbledore told him in an earlier book before he himself was taken away) to the Minister of Magic that “Dumbledore will only be gone from Hogwarts when no one there are loyal to him.” I hope it does turn out to be a hoax (or even a partial hoax) in the last book, but I’m not going to hold my breath on it so I don’t get too disappointed if it doesn’t happen. I have a feeling that no matter what turns out to be the true fate of Dumbledore, he will still be helping Harry in onee way or another in the last book.</p>
<p>Well, I’d better keep reading. I really want to finish it ASAP. Besides, maybe I’ll find more evidence that supports our theory. :)</p>
<p>But the previous headmasters don’t really go away - they appear in their portraits, able to communicate, etc. So I’m hoping Dumbledore speaks again.</p>
<p>Dumbledore is dead for 2 reasons - the phoenix and his picture appeared on the wall. We see Dumbledore’s body as it is carried in by Hagrid to the funeral, and Hagrid can’t control his emotions or lie very well, or keep a secret well, so I think he was dead, since Hagrid continued to cry the whole time. As for Dumbledore begging, I don’t think he was begging, he was courageous and solicitous with Draco and then stood off the rest with words, and he only said 2 (might be considered begging) words “Severus…please…” - I think he was asking Snape to do something that they had agreed upon, such as continuing to protect and help Harry. And she put in the dots, meaning something was left unsaid. And Snape was VERY upset when Harry called him a coward - isn’t that what James had said to him before? And only someone very brave would continue to be a counterspy for the Order. I thought at first that Dobby would haave a key role in the last book, and maybe he will, but apparently the next movie doesn’t even have the elves in it, because they had to cut a lot. I understand Rowling did not let them cut many other things because they were important to the future books (won’t reveal exactly what). Since she let them cut the elves then they probably won’t play such an important part. However, Fawkes will help Harry, I think, as he did in the past, because of his great loyalty to Dumbledore.</p>
<p>Isn’t JK Rowling great? To think that we have sooo much to mull over… did he or didn’t he kill Dumbledore? Is Harry a horcrux? Is Serious dead? is his brother Regulus dead? What is up with Lily? with Aunt Petunia? </p>
<p>The thing about Snape that I am wondering about…he used the Avada Kedavra curse…which one has to mean to have it work… I am in total agreement that Dumbledore saying “please” to Snape was due to their previous agreement that this had to be done… but it is hard to fathom that Snape really wanted to kill Dumbledore if they were one the same side…so perhaps all that was accomplished was that Dumbledore was stunned?? Or else the timeturner was employed? Another web site has a whole thread about Dumbledore and time… his ability to move btwn sites very quickly etc etc…
anyway, it is a wonderful treat to have so much to think about and revisit…certainly the different web sites have so many creative ideas to consider… kind of a replacement addiction for the all consuming world of college apps???</p>