Book 7 theories - by Miss Ann Elk (ahem)

[Cameraman Jenn]

I thought that Fudge only laughed off Harry's Aunt Marge incident because they were more concerned that Sirius Black was on the loose and the Ministry was also under the impression that Harry was in danger from Black.

[Romeo]

I agree, Dumbledore died.

But, so did Fawkes in CoS during Harry's first visit to the Headmaster's office.

Dumbledore's patronus is a phoenix.
His coffin burst into flames just before the tomb appeared.
Harry saw a phoenix joyfully flying in the sky right after the tomb appeared and assumed it was Fawkes.

I think Dumbledore will be back, in one form or another, other than his portrait.

THAT is an interesting theory! Until now, I thought for sure that Dumbledore did *not* die. My theory is that he traded places (souls) with Malfoy just before Snape blasted him. He was so confident during the whole scene on the roof, then the focus shifted away from him and Malfoy, and when it shifted back Dumbledore suddenly sounded like he was pleading. I don't buy it - not from someone who supposedly trusted Snape implicitly. I think (thought?) that he traded places with Malfoy, and it was really Malfoy that was killed. And one thing in my recent re-reading stuck out to me. There were pages of precautions published to help keep people safe from the Death Eaters. One of them was to have secret passcodes between friends and family members so you could make sure you weren't fooled by an enemy using polyjuice potion. When Dumbledore picked up Harry at the beginning of book 6, he paused and asked Harry - seemingly as a joke - how he was sure that he (Albus) was really who he claimed to be. Then he said something like, "just for the record, my favorite food is raspberry jam." I thought that tied in perfectly with my (previous?) theory - Harry would be about to kill Malfoy, who would tell Harry that bit of information - thus indentifying himself as Dumbledore. I've been driving my younger son crazy with this. I told him that raspberry jam will reveal the truth about Dumbledore - but I won't explain myself. I keep saying, "just wait - you'll see."

Snape is one of the good guys, although I have to admit that he doesn't like a lot of the people he's protecting (does that make him even better?). He could have blasted Harry at any time as he was escaping the castle, but instead he was *instructing* him. I just don't buy that "the Dark Lord wants him for himself." I don't see why V would think Harry to be of any more use to him - so if someone else could get him out of the way, more power to him. Likewise, Snape could have blasted any of the other teachers on his way up to the tower - or back out. It would have made things a lot easier for him and the other Death Eaters during their escape and (I'm sure) later on. I do like the bit about Snape loving Lily, and wanting to get James out of the way - then realizing what his plotting ended up doing and "going good." Or maybe he just took an unbreakable oath with Dumbledore. And Dumbledore knew of his oath with Narsissa - so in order for Snape to keep both at the same time, Dumbledore had to switch bodies/souls with Malfoy and let him kill his old body (or something like that).

And I'm one of the crazy crazies who ordered two copies of the book for home (since three of us will be reading it. and chivalry doesn't apply here - it's one copy for me and one for Jon and Patty to fight over - mwuahahahaha!), and a third copy addressed to my son's summer camp (where he will be from the day after the OotP movie is released until a couple weeks after Book 7 is released).

[sindatur]

Romeo? You can't be serious can you? Dumbledore would trade places with a student, in order to keep himself alive, and allow the student to be killed? IMHO, never in a million years would Dumbledore do something so unethical. He would, however, beg Snape to go through with killing him, as they had discussed earlier when Hagrid saw Dumbledore and Snape arguing and Snape saying he couldn't do it.

Perhaps there is some merit in Dumbledore being reincarnated, as it were, as a Phoenix, in order to take the next great adventure. If this is true, which doesn't feel right to me, it will not be the same Dumbledore, IMHO. Perhaps this Phoenix would help in some way, like in Chamber of Secrets, but, he won't be talking and giving advice and such. But, if Fawkes does come around Harry in Book 7, I will definitely be watching for him to be interested in raspberry jam or Lemon Drops or any other sweets.

[Usivius]

i agree. I can't imagine D switching places. But it is a really juicy idea...

[Menolly]

I agree, Dumbledore died.

But, so did Fawkes in CoS during Harry's first visit to the Headmaster's office.

Dumbledore's patronus is a phoenix.
His coffin burst into flames just before the tomb appeared.
Harry saw a phoenix joyfully flying in the sky right after the tomb appeared and assumed it was Fawkes.

I think Dumbledore will be back, in one form or another, other than his portrait.

THAT is an interesting theory! Until now, I thought for sure that Dumbledore did *not* die. My theory is that he traded places (souls) with Malfoy just before Snape blasted him.

Are you saying you're giving my theory merit?
You're the first that I know of, if so.

[A Gunslinger]

I don't know that DD would have traded spots with Malfoy...he in effect would have killed a student in so doing...anything is possible though!

[Cameraman Jenn]

Romeo, I think that's a pretty "out there" theory. I very highly doubt that Dumbledore would practice anything as dark as soul swapping in order to stay alive.

[Romeo]

I guess you're right - I never thought of it that way. And I'm suddenly shocked that I would have considered it possible (for Dumbledore's character). But it seemed to fit at the time - perhaps he didn't know that Snape was coming up (and would do what he did). After all, Snape didn't know of the task Malfoy was given. And Dumbledore kept warning Malfoy - telling him that he was giving him a last chance, etc. I guess I didn't consider Malfoy a student anymore at that point (even though he couldn't "pull the trigger").

But yes, Menolly, I do like your theory. I think it's currently the front runner.

[Sunbaneglasses]

My wife thinks that either: A. Dumbledore had made a Horcrux or two for himself (in fact she believes that Fawkes could be the Horcrux). Or B. Snape pulled back somehow on the spell only just almost killing Dumbledore and Fawkes cried over him, thus healing him.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Ok, and I am gonna go crazy here. HBP specifically states that DD was so anti horcrux adamant that he forbid the teaching. He would NEVER NEVER NEVER make a horcrux. First off, he would NOT split his soul or kill someone in order to further himself which is the implication of horcruxes. Also Dumbledore is DEAD. You can half assed a spell but it AIN"T gonna happen. Harry NEEDS to be on his own for the final book. Otherwise he can't finish his "heroes" journey.

[Menolly]

Harry NEEDS to be on his own for the final book. Otherwise he can't finish his "heroes" journey.

:::cough:::

:::Aragorn and Gandalf:::

[A Gunslinger]

Ok, and I am gonna go crazy here. HBP specifically states that DD was so anti horcrux adamant that he forbid the teaching. He would NEVER NEVER NEVER make a horcrux. First off, he would NOT split his soul or kill someone in order to further himself which is the implication of horcruxes. Also Dumbledore is DEAD. You can half assed a spell but it AIN"T gonna happen. Harry NEEDS to be on his own for the final book. Otherwise he can't finish his "heroes" journey.

Agreed 90%. Harry has to be own his own..leadership-wise. He no longer has a mentor of any kind. BUT, he will have Ron and he will have Hermione. They will NEVER abandon him, even if he begged them.

DD is dead. JKR is teaching her readers something about responsibility and sacrifice...not creating an AHA! moment when DD returns to help Harry vanquish LV...IMHO.

Leaders of the deathpool? I think Hagrid and Snape.

[sindatur]

Yea, Dumbledore made it very clear that the making of Horcrux was criminal, and that splitting the soul is a very "dirty" thing to do, it takes away your Humanity, and Dumbledore is about the most Humane person in existence. It would greatly tear down the person JKR has made of the character.

Snape may not have known exactly what Malfoy was tasked to do when he took the vow, but, I believe throughout the year watching Draco, he came to figure it out, and Dumbledore definitely knew Snape was coming, he sent for him, saying he needed Snape's potions making skills to repair the damage from the cave poison

For those who don't believe that Dumbledore and Snape had an agreement that Snape must kill Dumbledore if it came to it, what theories do you have for what Hagrid overheard them arguing about, and Snape saying he couldn't do it? Those of us who buy into the theory that Snape did agree to kill Dumbledore if need be, believe Snape was telling Dumbledore he couldn't kill him, and was willing to endure the punishment of breaking an Unbreakable vow in order to not go through with it.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Here's something interesting. Someone offered up a theory about Harry possibly being a horcrux and I pretty much pooh poohed it. I may have to eat those words. I'm not saying I am sold but I think the theory may have some hint and now I will present evidence to support both pros and cons. In the end of COS,

"You can speak parseltongue, Harry," said Dumbledore calmly, "because Lord Voldemort --who is the last remaining ancestor of Salazar Slytherin --can speak Parseltongue. Unless I'm much mistaken, he transferred some of his own powers to you the night he gave you that scar. Not something he intended to do, I'm sure..."

"Voldemort put a bit of himself in me?" Harry said, thunderstruck.

"It certainly seems so."

These statements plus the ambiguous "One cannot live while the other survives." Seem to indicate more than just a simple link by scar.

HOWEVER, Voldemort would have had to make Harry a horcrux after killing James and if that's the case, why would Voldy have tried to kill his own horcrux? Lily cast a spell to protect Harry. Voldy doesn't know this. He casts killing spell at Harry and it backfires and his powers are stripped, by his own admission he is unable to use a wand. So he couldn't have made Harry a horcrux unless he cast the killing curse at the same time as Horcruxing Harry which makes no sense.

Any thoughts peops?

[A Gunslinger]

Perhaps he is an accidental horcrus...a horcrux by proxy. That the effort of trying to KILL harry (to avoid the fate of the prophecy) in conjunction with the spell that Lily cast made a vessel of Harry?

Now in order to Kill Voldy...Harry himself must now die so as to destroy all vestages of Voldy?

I was never a strong proponent of the theory to begin with...but i suppose it is possible. Though i think Hary lives....don't ask me to support it though.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Well, I can't say I am sold one way or another, it's just things that pop into my head because of the ideas you guys put out there. I can't wait to discuss The Chrons after FR is out. I took myself out of all the discussions because I was in danger of revealing too much and also arguing from an unfair standpoint. I should have some time to join the fray between the release of FR and before I am armed with too much info again. In the mean time I am gonna take all my crazy theory arguments out on you guys and HP.

[sindatur]

There's that mysterious Voldemort is the last ancestor of Salazar, again. I swear that makes me believe Nagini (or one of her ancestors) are in Salazar's family tree, through some whacko time travelling thing.

He did kill Lily, so maybe he unintentionally cast the Horcrux spell on Harry, without realizing it. Perhaps that's what Lily did, was make him a vessel? I always thought Lily had put a piece of herself into Harry that gave him the protection, and have even wondered (since him having Lily's eyes is so important and central) if maybe Harry wasn't born with green eyes (but, rather blue like his father's), but, they changed to green when she put part of herself into him.

[Cameraman Jenn]

That's pretty interesting Sin. I thought that she cast a part of herself into him to protect him too and that is why he must remain for part of each year under the "blood protection" of Petunia. I was just casting the horcrux stuff out there because I came across that section when I was on the train this morning. I am reading the series again and I am armed with notebook and pen and I am taking copious notes and once I am done I am going to drive you all crazy crazy crazy with theories about 7 cuz I am the friggin QUEEN OF DORK!!!!

[sindatur]

I used to refer to this theory as "The Ritual of Sowelu" (Sowelu being the rune for protection/strength, and looks remarkably like harry's scar, which was shown differently on the book covers before the movies started coming out). It also kindamade a connection with working Luna into the story, as I have the impression her mother was experimenting with magic at the Ministry when she blew herself to kingdom come, while poor Luna watched.

I think the Duchess of Dork is a far more appealing sounding title for you

[Cameraman Jenn]

HAHAHAHA!!! Duchess of Dork, I like it.