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meddow ([personal profile] meddow) wrote2006-10-16 07:28 am
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Ten Book Seven Predictions

Potter fandom’s been a bit quiet lately so I though I would chuck out there my ideas about what will happen in the seventh book. Some of these theories feed into each other, others are self contained. Some I think are a real possibility. Others I think would just be awesome.

Ten Book Seven Theories and Predictions

1. We’re going to be seeing a lot of the Blacks

Yes, Sirius is dead. All evidence point to Regulus being dead. But the impression I got from Mrs. Black’s portrait was that the Blacks were more of a matriarchy so while the name is down, that’s not going to stop the family from having a large impact.

Why? We have too much information about them and we have too many players for them to not play a huge part. From the introduction of Sirius, we have slowly been learning more and more about the Black family, from the family home to new members being introduced, and I don’t think we are being given this information for no reason. Heck, the family House-Elf had a minor but pivotal role in OotP. One could point out that the Black family is there to be destroyed, however we have had the pureblood family destroys itself family already: the Crouchs.

As for the players, we have Narcissa, Bellatrix, Tonks and Draco who have appeared in canon and Andromeda is out there for potential of introduction. There is the good chance that Regulus is going to appear in the seventh book. And don’t forget Kreacher.

2. McGonagall will kick arse.

McG is a transfiguration teacher. Remember that episode of The Simpsons when Harry Potter was spoofed? Bart screwed up transfiguring a frog into a prince and created a pathetic frog-like creature that could only vomit and plead for its death. I bet you McG could do that to an opponent if she so wanted to.

Why? JKR has been dangling McG kick-arsedness in front of us since the first chapter of the first book. Slowly she has been doing cooler and cooler things, from taking on Umbridge to giving Neville some self-confidence to fighting Death Eaters. I think it’s time she came onto her own.

When it comes to McG, I would love to see her take on leading both Hogwarts and the Order. Main stream science-fiction and fantasy are full of the elderly, male mentor who dies to the point where it’s become a cliché, but I cannot remember ever seen a woman step up to the plate to replace them and I think it is about time that one did. Yes, JKR has gone on the record and said that McG is not in the same league as Dumbledore, though she is a worthy second, which is even better. McG will struggle and she will overcome and that would just great to read.

I should also point out that McG is a contemporary of Tom Riddle and got given the job at Hogwarts over him. It’s obscure, but it would be interesting if that came up in book
seven.

3. Dumbledore was dying in HBP

And Snape knew it.

Why? Because it would make theory 4 much more plausible if it was true.

It was either the arm or the potion, probably aided when in combination with Dumbledore’s age.

4. Tonks will be in league with Snape.

If Snape is indeed Dumbledore’s man and working deep undercover, he will need at least one person to know of this. That person can transfer essential information from Snape to the Order and vice versa and that person can vouch for Snape when it’s all over. And who better to do that job than a person who is both trained in defence and holds a nice government position with some authority. A person who received high marks in concealment and disguise but has yet to use those abilities in a plot essential way. A person who was acting just a little bit fishy in the last book. And a person whose House is unknown and who has blood ties to a notoriously bad family so can easily switch sides.

And just think how brilliantly it could play out. Tonks will be feeding information to Snape about the trio’s progress about the Horcruxes and at some point in the book will be caught in the act. Harry makes the assumption that half-blood + Slytherin = evil (Tonks is totally a Slytherin). Tonks flees and the readers are manipulated into agreeing with Harry. Tonks shows up later with Snape and either the info as to the whereabouts of the Horcruxes or at least on of the unaccounted for Horcruxes, reveling the Tonks and Snape are both on the side of light and very deep undercover. Harry realizes his assumptions based on blood and Hogwarts house are wrong and that prejudice = bad.

Why? Because it’d be freaking awesome.

It would answer questions. Why do we have a known metamorphmagus if the powers are never going to be used for anything other than entertainment? Why do we have all this information about Tonks, like that she is a Black and that she is a half-blood if it is never going to be used? Comparatively, we don’t know anything about Kingsley, Dung and Mad-Eye. Why has JKR on purpose concealed which house Tonks belonged to at Hogwarts?

It would also tie up the Snape storyline, fit nicely into the theme that prejudice is bad, and function as the Slytherins do good event that is so desperately needed to really cement the message about cooperation.

5. Hogwarts will kick arse

Hogwarts is itself is an entity and will protect its students and teachers if they are threatened by a great enough force.

Why? Voldemort has giants, werewolves, Dementors and, of course, the Death Eaters. Seems to me they outnumber the side of the light by quite a bit. The playing field needs to be leveled, and what better to do it then the place where the final battle will pretty much inevitably take place. It also would make the Hogwarts motto make sense.

6. The Malfoy’s will turn

Lucius, Draco and Narcissa don’t seem to be the blindly loyalty type. Narcissa and Draco both defy Voldemort to some extent in HBP when Narcissa makes the deal with Snape and Draco is incapable of killing Dumbledore. I’m pretty sure that Lucius would only have gotten involved with the Death Eaters because initially he thought it would work out well for him. It’s no longer working out well for the Malfoy family and they’ll all be looking for a way out.

Though, saying that, I can’t imagine them ever fighting for the side of the light or being good. However, they’ll probably be willing to pass on information and names for a get out of jail free card.

Why? If I were Voldemort, I would have Slytherins do my dirty work. People with cunning, ambition, half a brain and of the opinion that they are above half-bloods and creatures like werewolves are not going to sit around and be treated like crap and being forced into making alliances with and taking orders from half-bloods, werewolves and giants. They’ll turn if they know they get a better deal on the other side. The question is, when the Malfoy’s turn, how much information and how many other Death Eaters will they bring with them?

Voldemort’s just going to have to learn the hard way that Hufflepuffs make far better henchmen.

7. Moony, Padfoot and Prongs will ride again

Let’s see: Harry’s Patronus is Prongs, Tonks’ Patronus is Moony. All it would take it for Remus or Peter’s Patronus to be Padfoot, which not outside of the realm of the possibility, and for them to all cast them at the same time, like, in say in a Dementor attack, which is again not outside of the realm of possibility, for the Marauders to symbolically return.

Why? Why not? It would just be a lovely moment if it were to happen. Two of the Marauders may be dead and the remaining two on separate sides, but the Marauders and the youthful innocence they represent, live on.

8. There will be equal amounts and maybe even more romance than HBP

Yeah, I know the criticisms of all the romance in HBP. However I do think there will be quite a substantial amount of romance and I think it is appropriate for there to be a substantial amount of romance.

Why? Because it’s war. War brings with it an urgency for people to live their live while they can and a lot of living one’s life happens to involve love and sex. In times of war, people become engaged and married in before they are sent off to the fronts. Look what happened with World War II. Loads of people became engaged or married and when the surviving solders came home and a lot of babies were born in the following years.

9. Harry will have the opportunity to kill Snape

I predict that Harry will have the choice to kill Snape, or let Snape die, only not take it. It is later revealed that when Harry let Snape live, Harry gained something he needed to destroy Voldemort, information or something, that he would not have received if Snape had died.

Why? Because JKR is playing an interesting game with fate and choice. The events leading to Harry having to defeat Voldemort so far have been the product of other people’s (namely Voldemort’s, Snape’s, and Lily’s). This finally gives Harry a choice, a moral choice about something different, but his decision will determine whether he defeats Voldemort or not. The message is that our moral choices are important in ways we cannot predict, so no matter what we should always do the right thing.

10. Hogwarts will be destroyed.

It’ll be completely totaled and they will have to go about building a new Hogwarts.

Why? The conflict in the Harry Potter books dates back to the formation of Hogwarts. Slytherin and Gryffindor’s break up is the origin of the rift between pureblood and Muggle-born. Harry and Voldemort seem to be just avatars of a greater conflict that is just gaining more and more strength as the century’s pass. Since it has been handed down through generations, really the only way to end it is to destroy the institution that began it all. From there they can rebuild and create a better future.

[identity profile] author-by-night.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
JKR has been dangling McG kick-arsedness in front of us since the first chapter of the first book. Slowly she has been doing cooler and cooler things, from taking on Umbridge to giving Neville some self-confidence to fighting Death Eaters. I think it’s time she came onto her own.


Well said - and agreed.

Let’s see: Harry’s Patronus is Prongs, Tonks’ Patronus is Moony. All it would take it for Remus or Peter’s Patronus to be Padfoot, which not outside of the realm of the possibility, and for them to all cast them at the same time, like, in say in a Dementor attack, which is again not outside of the realm of possibility, for the Marauders to symbolically return.

Hey, I like that. Though I'm not sure if JKR necessarily thinks of MWPP the way much of fandom - myself included - does. But it would still be really nice.

Because it’s war. War brings with it an urgency for people to live their live while they can and a lot of living one’s life happens to involve love and sex. In times of war, people become engaged and married in before they are sent off to the fronts.

Another good point I like. And in this case, there is no "front" - it's all in their backyard.

The conflict in the Harry Potter books dates back to the formation of Hogwarts. Slytherin and Gryffindor’s break up is the origin of the rift between pureblood and Muggle-born. Harry and Voldemort seem to be just avatars of a greater conflict that is just gaining more and more strength as the century’s pass. Since it has been handed down through generations, really the only way to end it is to destroy the institution that began it all. From there they can rebuild and create a better future.

Oh, I would absolutely hate to see Hogwarts fall apart, but you indeed may be right there. Perhaps it is even what the Founders would have wanted. Maybe Hogwarts started being destroyed the moment Salazar turned his back.




[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Though I'm not sure if JKR necessarily thinks of MWPP the way much of fandom - myself included - does.

I don’t think JRK has the same level of interest and adoration of the MWPP as fandom, but I do think they are there to symbolise a more innocent time before the Voldemort gained much power and because of that they will not be ignored.

And in this case, there is no "front" - it's all in their backyard.

Yep. So even more urgency.

[identity profile] gunderpants.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
I really like and agree with this stuff - especially about Tonks being the one who knows of Snape's plans, which I'd considered since their interaction in HBP.

I've also liked the idea of Hogwarts being destroyed. It's so fantastically symbolic, like the Danish Court being seized by the Prince of Norway at the end of Hamlet. I do hope JKR continues with that image.

[identity profile] gunderpants.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Also: do a quick search + replace on "dieing", yo.

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
How on earth did I miss ‘dieing’? Sigh. Thanks for point that one out before hopefully many people saw it.

which I'd considered since their interaction in HBP.

That was the scene that inspired the theory. JKR’s not going to just put that in that animosity between them for no reason (hopefully). I take the view with the adult characters that there are no throwaway scenes, since adults are less present in Harry’s life and so pushed for screen time.

[identity profile] spondonicle.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd love to see all of this (except maybe #8, if I wanted romance I'd read fanfiction) in Book 7. Especially double-agent Tonks, I'd never thought of that.

clearly, you should write the next book.

[identity profile] miss-daizy.livejournal.com 2006-10-15 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Nice job ~ well thought out and presented. Some of these I've considered before, some I've sworn by and some are new ideas. Good food for thought here.

[identity profile] teawithvoldy.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
JKR did confirm that Regulus had died way back during a online interview after the release of OOTP:

Someone asked her a question if Regulus was still alive and she said right out that he was good as dead.

I like the notion of Hogwarts being destroyed and rebuilt, sort of christian in belief.

And it also reminds me of Deep Impact when the White House was destoryed but you can see the President making a speech right outside the White house as it was being built

"We will prevail," sort of thing.

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
I didn’t realise that JKR had confirmed Reg’s death. He could still have quite an impact on the books from beyond the grave, like James Potter has. Though, this is completely assuming that he is RAB.

It would be quite like Deep Impact or any of those big budget disaster movies. Humankind always wins out in the end, against all odds.

[identity profile] troubleinchina.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 05:58 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, those are lovely theories, and I think they're great.

(But I want ESE!Minerva! And... and... I want Remus to be betrayer to Harry... And... yeah... But your theories make *sense*.)

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks. A friend of mine in RL who likes the Tonks betrayer theory thinks that Remus is in on it as well. I'm not convinced, but it could happen.

[identity profile] sugarannie.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
While I think these are all very interesting points you raise, and I'd love to see some of them (especially the one about McGonagall, and of course the romance, for I am such a romance-lover),
I have to disagree about theory four...not only because I don't believe that Tonks is evil(that's just an opinion), but for two (more or less logical) reason:

a) The Order does not know about the horcruxes. They did not know anything about where Dumbledore went with Harry. So, unless Harry himself conveys the information early in seven, neither Tonks nor any other Order member would know where Harry & friends are going and why, and

b)I just cannot see a Tonks and Snape-cooperation, for the only interaction of these two I can recall at the moment is the scene in HBP when Tonks brings Harry to Hogwarts. An interaction where he mocks her and makes fun of what she values most...which just does not seem like the perfect way of communication between allies to me.

Just wanted to add my opinion...

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 10:46 am (UTC)(link)
This is great :) I was hoping to get some discussion going.

Tonks would be evil for working with Snape, so long as they are working for the Order. Maybe being morally flexible, but not evil.

1. If Snape was going deep undercover, as in only one person was to know that Snape was really working for the Order. So everyone else in the Order is out of the loop, including Harry. If Harry is out of the loop then he is going to assume that the Order doesn’t know what is going on. What I’m saying is that we don’t know that no one in the Order knows and we can’t know until Harry asks them all.

2. Good point. Snape’s an arsehole. But Tonks and Snape don’t have to like each other to cooperate. They just have to recognise that no matter how much they hate each other, they are working for a goal that is more important than petty squabbles, which people are capable of doing.

[identity profile] sugarannie.livejournal.com 2006-10-16 10:57 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, well, I love discussions...ask any of my RL friends, some of them are already avoiding topics like HP in front of me :D

1. You're, of course, right that we don't really know who knows what. I simply supposed it was this way, because at the end of book 6, McG, who is an Order member, doesn't know. Maybe others are more informed than we know...

2. Also right. I guess this was just my thinking, because I always try to not have anything to do with people who treat me badly...of course, these differences could be put aside for a shared ideal...
I just don't think so.

Tonks and the RoR hall scene in book six...

[identity profile] ook.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 08:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'm still trying to figure out why Tonks came across Harry outside the RoR, telling Harry that she was going to Dumbledore's office. Could she have been going there to possibly plot with Dumbles and Snape? Her showing up out of the blue has to have been done for a reason (and it was never clear what she was doing there outside the RoR when Harry found her). That whole scene really struck me as odd, so I figured something may come of it in book seven.

Re: Tonks and the RoR hall scene in book six...

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I agree that scene is really odd and it doesn’t fit. The Remus/Tonks plot could still have been done without it. It could well be that Tonks was meeting with Dumbledore and Snape and JKR put it in there to have it come up in book seven.

[identity profile] iulia_linnea.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 01:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I really like your predictions, especially the fourth one. I'm going to think on them now because I feel ficcish all of the sudden; much of what you've said resonates with me, such as the Malfoys turning, because I've always thought the Blacks were more interested in controling their world than taking orders from some upstart intent on ruling it---and Malfoy isn't about to allow some half-blood to destroy his world (Narcissa wouldn't allow it).

So much to think about!

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I agree, it's in the interest of the Black family to control its own destiny. Bellatrix may not understand that, but I bet Narcissa does.

[identity profile] molsymo.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
hi. saw this on daily_snitch, and was intrigued. i must say, i agree with 90% of the stuff on here. i love the idea that tonks will also be a double agent. it would be absolutely incredible to see the wonky, clumsy tonks in that kind of role.

my own prediction? Remus will die. why? first, because JKR wouldn't give Pettigrew a silver hand for no reason. second, it seems to be right up JKR's alley to let two characters fall in love and then kill one off. that was my first thought when i read in GoF that Voldemort gave Peter a silver hand, and i'm a bit surprised more people haven't written about it.

anyway, this is fabulously interesting. go kick-ass McGonagall!

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 08:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I’m glad you like. I’ve avoided speculating about deaths since I really don’t want to think about which characters I love will not make it thought the series. So many of them deserve a happy ending, particularly Remus since his life has been rather crap. But I agree, there is a good chance he is not going to survive the last book. Though you never know, Peter may yet redeem himself.

[identity profile] molsymo.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
oh, agreed. lupin is probably my favorite character. i'd be incredibly upset if he dies, but i'm expecting it. i'm not holding my breath for Peter to save Remus. Harry, maybe, but not Moony.

here via the snitch

[identity profile] torigates.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Loved #10. It got me thinking, wouldn't it be fascinating if after Hogwarts was destroyed we got a symbolic 'new' four founders? Possibly Harry (or even better, Ron), Draco, Luna, and an as of now unidentified Hufflepuff. If you have thoughts on this, or who the 'puff could be, I'd love to hear them :)

Really interesting ideas overall.

Re: here via the snitch

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh, I love that idea. So long as they don't go down the house route since that hasn't worked out so well.

Zacharias Smith maybe? Or Hannah Abbot or Justin Finch-Fletchey. Plus it means Luna has to live.

Re: here via the snitch

[identity profile] torigates.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, perhaps not exactly a house system, or a new way of organizing so that the houses weren't so segregated.

[identity profile] only-for-one.livejournal.com 2006-10-17 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
You thought long and hard about this didn't you? :) I have been waiting for McG to totally kiss arse forever! She's just lost (who I assume) was one of her closest and dearest friends in Dumbledore, and I think that's really the motivation she needed to step it up a notch. I'm totally there with you on that.

I love your theory on Snape and Tonks! For well thought out! Deep in my heart I still really want Snape to be a good guy. I think I just don't want Dumbledore to have been wrong about him that whole time :)

I would add two more predictions though: I've always thought (and strongly hoped) that JKR would let Remus kill Peter and Neville kill Bella. I know that's a lot of killing, but this is war, right? I always felt she owed it to those two. I guess I would be okay with Harry's offing Peter as well, but he gets Voldemort, Remus should have Peter. Bella is just a life ruiner, and needs to go. I just hope Neville gets the chance to redeem his parents.

[identity profile] meddow.livejournal.com 2006-10-18 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
I’m glad you like the Snape and Tonks theory. Snape’s to much of an interesting character to turn out to be a straight bad guy, which is why I hope he’s a spy.

I don’t know about Nev killing Bella. Neville’s so lovely and what with the killing curse damaging the soul I wouldn’t want him to be a killer, unless he does it in a none magical way. I wouldn’t mind Nev pushing Bellatrix off the Astronomy Tower. As for Peter, I do think he may redeem himself yet, but die in the process. Really, Peter can’t live - it’d just be weird to have the man who murdered James and Lily wandering around free.