Quote :

"Question: Will we be hearing anything from Sirius Black's brother, Regulus, in future books? JK Rowling replies -> Well, he's dead, so he's pretty quiet these days."

This would make perfect sense, assuming that unlike the other Black ancestors, Regulus did not like the Dark Lord

Regulus A. Black fits the initials (assuming the middle one) AND he is in fact dead

7/17/2005 4:35:15 PM

very interesting....

[Edited on July 17, 2005 at 5:47 PM. Reason : ,]

7/17/2005 5:47:22 PM

I figured it was Regulus.

I was waiting for Dumbledore to jump up and be like, ah ha, the curse hit the (fake) horcrux or something. It wasn't 'til the funeral that I was like... so... he's actually gone?

7/17/2005 8:30:30 PM

Yeah, she actually mentioned somewhere that after she killed whoever it was in the book that she told her husband and cried. I can't really see her doing that for someone unless it was dumbledore.

7/17/2005 9:46:47 PM

^ You're thinking about the interview she gave about writing OotP, talking about the death of Sirius. However, she might have done the same thing for Dumbledore. It was hard to read, I can't imagine writing.

[Edited on July 17, 2005 at 9:59 PM. Reason : spelling]

7/17/2005 9:58:03 PM

Quote :

"This would make perfect sense, assuming that unlike the other Black ancestors, Regulus did not like the Dark Lord Regulus A. Black fits the initials (assuming the middle one) AND he is in fact dead"

some key points to this are that they mention that regulus was killed BY voldemort or by voldemorts direct order, or so says sirius in book 5, but who helped him get to the horcrux in the first place, with drinking that stuff

the letter was written to the dark lord, and harry points out in book 5 that only death eaters called voldemort the dark lord, so probably a death eater wrote it to voldemort

the initials of course

and the fact that he wanted out, knew he'd be killed, and that the letter was written saying that he was already dead

7/17/2005 10:32:12 PM

^sooooo you think it was Regulus or no?

7/17/2005 10:35:51 PM

i think it was regulus
it makes sense

7/17/2005 10:42:42 PM

man, I still dont know whether to think Snape really is a traitor or not...

I mean, Dumbledore says "Severus, please...."

not, please help. I think he knew what severus was bound to do, but then snape was really evil towards harry as he ran away...but he still didnt cast any spells at him, when he could have.

I wonder if it's possible to say one spell but cast another....

Not that I think dumbledor might possibly be alive tho :/

7/17/2005 10:54:23 PM

I'm pretty sure Snape was never really on Dumbledore's side

the only reason he doesn't kill Harry is because Voldemort wants Harry for himself (as Snape says while trying to escape)

7/17/2005 10:57:56 PM

^^ many times he mentions that there are things worse than death

7/17/2005 11:01:48 PM

All I know is that if Snape dosen't have a damn good explination, he's going to have wished he had pissed off the Dark Lord rather than face the painful death that he's sure to face at Harry's hands. I'm sure Jo won't actually have Harry take his time in killing Snape, assuming he kills him at all, but that dosen't mean that it shouldn't happen.

On a side note, now that we know how Voldemort can be killed, we still haven't seen a Harry with enough skill to pull it off. Harry's still going to have to get bad-ass in a Hurry if he's going to fight Voldemort and win without some deus ex machina ending. Unless, of course, he finds himself a good sniper rifle. Horcruxs gone, 900 meters, clear line of sight, calm wind, BANG, no more dark lord... Oswald was a fag.

7/17/2005 11:43:58 PM

(Taken from http://www.livejournal.com/users/ausmac/310041.html, but were my thoughts upon reading and were easier to copy than to type out myself)

Quote :

"Dumbledore was dying before this book even began. The blackened hand, which Snape or anyone else was apparently unable to cure, is evidence that something very powerful struck Dumbledore down, a curse that surely would have done more than simply damage his hand. It's likely it was held off, but not cured. The most telling evidence of this is Dumbledore's very actions. Firstly, he seems in a rush, and is doing much more in this books than in previous books. He has things to do, important things, but then he has had things to do before. There is a definite sense of urgency now in his movements. Secondly, his behaviour towards Harry. In the past Harry has to fight to get any sort of information from Albus; this time the headmaster is feeding it to him in great lumps, all centered around Tom Riddle/Voldemort. He wants Harry to understand Voldemort as thoroughly as possible and in as short a time as possible, even if that includes harassing another teach to find out missing bits of the puzzle. He shows the most impatience with Harry, not for acting foolishly or risking himself, but for wasting time. Time is something he has a limited amount of. Thirdly, Snape. There are hints throughout the book that Snape is being pushed to doing what he did in the final chapter. His vow in the first chapter, the overhead conversation with Dumbledore, and that final terrible scene where the two men pause before the killing curse is sent. And most tellingly, Dumbledore does nothing to stop it. Wandless or not, this is a powerful wizard capable of using wandless magic, as we have often seen in the past. Yet he does nothing - because there is nothing for him to do at that moment but die. There is also the fact that on that rushed return to Hogwarts, who does Dumbledore tell Harry to get - not Minerva or any of the other teachers, he tells him to get Snape. Because Severus has to be there, to do what must be done....because he is prepared.... As I said, Dumbledore tells Harry just about anything he wants to know in this book, except for one thing: Snape. He tells him virtually nothing about Snape, and for a very good reason - Snape is Dumbledore's last secret, vital weapon. If Harry were to be captured and taken before Voldemort, then Harry would almost certainly be memory-scanned, and if he knew of Snape's place in the Plan, then Snape would be lost. His belief in Snape's part as a spy is essential. And he immobilised Harry in that battle, hid him from sight so that not only could others not see and attack him, but also so that Snape could be allowed to do what he had to do."

Also, for the RAB, Regulus Alphard Black, anyone? Alphard was the name of his uncle.

7/17/2005 11:51:17 PM

^that was pretty good, seems to make sense...guess we'll find out with the last installment

7/17/2005 11:59:47 PM

^^do we have to wait another 2 years to get it?!

7/18/2005 8:10:05 AM

^ I think at least 2 years. I'm expecting this book to be bigger than TOTP.

I'm was pretty happy when they really got into nonverbal spell casting.

7/18/2005 8:23:53 AM

I was hoping Dumbledore was just fucking with everyone and jumped out the window when he got hit with the death curse. With all the talk of wandless and wordless spells, I figured Snape just stupefied Dumbledore and put together a green light show. :\

I'm really pissed that not only was a vampire mentioned and introduced at a party, but that Scrimgeour was rumored to be one. Do you have any idea how much vampire slash porn authored by 14 year old girls you're going to have to deal with now??

A lot of the book sounded like fan service and replies to message board speculation & fandom. For all the exposition put in some parts, ie, "Harry reminisced about the major conflicts of the first five books, ++details" slightly useful stuff to know, like Fleur's lineage and explanations for boys' reactions to her, were left out. I don't think I like how the Pensieve was used as an instant plot device and it's not like I crave a bunch of action or anything-- it just got old. I guess that kept us from getting distracted from the memories themselves.

The Tonks & Lupin thing kinda hit me out of left field !! I feel like the writing suffered. The style was the same but the first half of the book had a different voice than the rest of the series. And if Lupin gets any more ragged and thin every time we see him that'll make like 15 raggedy thinner descrptions. If he were a 300lb man in book 3, I estimate that he now weighs 12lbs and might lose in a fight against Kip Kinkle, even as a werewolf.

On that note, I think Bill should get super wolf strength and excessive body hair in future episodes.

PS: FUG!!

7/18/2005 8:49:50 AM

Quote :

"A lot of the book sounded like fan service and replies to message board speculation & fandom. For all the exposition put in some parts, ie, "Harry reminisced about the major conflicts of the first five books, ++details" slightly useful stuff to know, like Fleur's lineage and explanations for boys' reactions to her, were left out. I don't think I like how the Pensieve was used as an instant plot device and it's not like I crave a bunch of action or anything-- it just got old. I guess that kept us from getting distracted from the memories themselves."

I agree with you in some aspects of that but I also felt that the whole book was rushed; like she didnt want this book to be as big as Order of the Phoenix.

The possibility of the school not being open is intriguing in the aspect that we get to see more ass-kicking however I think I'll miss hearing about all the other people in the school.

7/18/2005 9:34:25 AM

^ I was glad Quidditch matches were no more than 5 pages long and there weren't long descriptive chapters about what it was like to sit in a classroom, though.

But the teachers said if a kid showed up, they'd teach them and I'm gathering that Harry will make a hair's escape from Dementors after a screwed up apparating test to the Dursley's house to perpetuate the Fidelius charm and then proceed to school with his trusty owl. Draco's in trouble for stalling and Voldemort's going to see that next time they meet and might actually need to lay low @ Hogwart's. Or he'll go to Durmstrang. Or flunk out for attempted murder of an administrator. ;p

After HBP's Spiderman ending (as observed by some tasteless writer at the NYT) I predict that a small band of unlikely heroes chosen by the forces of light will take Voldemort's horcruxes to the crack of Mount Doom and just as Harry's about to do something morally regrettable Kreecher will jump out of the shadows and destroy Voldemort himself !!

7/18/2005 9:51:58 AM

Quote :

"I'm really pissed that not only was a vampire mentioned and introduced at a party, but that Scrimgeour was rumored to be one. Do you have any idea how much vampire slash porn authored by 14 year old girls you're going to have to deal with now??"

Hehe, I'm guilty of reading fan fiction. And let me tell ya, the majority of stories out there did NOT even need to be conceived. Some of them just have the spelling and grammar of a second grader, but otherwise have an okay premise. Most, however, suffer from bad grammar, bad spelling, and a really, really, really bad idea for a story. Rarely have I ever seen a truly good idea for a story, with or without proper grammar and spelling. ALL YOU 10 YEAR-OLDS CAN JUST STFU ALREADY!

7/18/2005 10:00:41 AM

That reminds me, the naming convention has gotten completely Star Wars on us.

Darth Evil, Scrimgeour = "Scour grime" anagram, Moff Midboss, and what I remember from the Bible indicates to me that REGULUS BLACK IS ACTUALLY BABY JESUS.

Or a lion.

Maybe just his patronus is.

Hey, since they said Scrimgeour looked like a lion, and that Regulus was dead, and the Scrimetc was said to be a vampire, who wants to place bets that Regulus IS Scrimgeour. :O

I'm taking this to a message board immediately !!

7/18/2005 10:10:57 AM

^ You're right. I must have missed it previously but "Professor Vector" for Hermiones Arithmancy teacher?

7/18/2005 10:23:24 AM

Does anyone even think Hogwarts is going to play a part in the next book?

Other than a small role I doubt it will because at the end Harry had made up his mind that he wasn't going back and Ron and Hermione were dead set on going with him to find the horcruxes and etc.

7/18/2005 10:28:05 AM

I think it'll have to take place @ Hogwarts because that's the entire premise of the series: Harry Potter's adventures v Voldemort in wizarding school. Now that Hogwarts isn't an entirely super safe place (or because it will be by book 7) it'll give Harry et al a base of operations, or be the stage for the final showdown. Voldemort has an exceedingly strong tie to Hogwart's because it's where his identity solidified as a child and gave him the definitive importance he craved. He also has the jones for Hogwart's memorabilia (Slytherin's, Hufflepuff's, Ravenclaw's, & Gryffindor's collectors items). The OotP may have to set up there, too, since Sirius' house isn't safe. It may not function as a school so much as it has in the past, but I don't see Rowling abandoning it as a setting.

And WTF ever happened to Professor Sinistra? :p

7/18/2005 10:38:03 AM

ah good point, i didn't think about that

I'm still curious how Harry is going to improve enough with his abilities to be able to pull off everyting that's coming next

7/18/2005 11:00:51 AM

I think they may ramp up the DADA classes. Once again, they've lost a DADA teacher and I wonder whos going to fill that roll. I wonder if Slug's upto it or if hes gonna bolt.

Harry may hunker down with Ron and Hermy and learn some more powerful spells, either on their own or under the guidance of McG. Maybe the DA will get involved too. I dont really see all of the friends hes accumulated over the years just letting them 3 go off and do it alone.

7/18/2005 11:04:42 AM

Hermione's a very advanced for a witch her age and Harry's lucky as hell (and talented when he can focus) and has been thwarting Voldemort since he's been a baby. Ron will make an excellent body shield. Fighting against Voldemort won't be a matter of power but ideology, ie all the love shit that gets inserted by Dumbledore in every book so far. Voldemort's been afraid of Dumbledore because of his power (the power of luuuuuuuuurve!!) and sometimes tradeoffs have been the result of confrontations. But Voldemort's going to be undone by his ideology and all the psychoanalysis that went on in this book will pave the way for that, just as his behavior in the other books has hinted at it.

His willingness to kill unicorns to stay alive, to murder people to preserve his soul, and the fear he uses to control the Death Eaters is going to be pitted against love, justice, and apple pie or butterbeer. We're going to find out that friendship will overcome darkness and that family (since everyone's going to be related to each other since everyone's marrying a Weasley) endures, and that love is the most important magic evar.

Question: Why was this book named after the HBP/Snape? Previously books were subtitled with an object, a place, an event, or an organization that was pertinent to the central storyline. Here, Snape just flips out when he finds out Potter's using his book with curses he kept in the margins. Is there going to be any significance to Potter, Snape, and Voldemort having muggle fathers? Was the subtitle just released to fuck with kids who spend two years between books speculating? ;p

7/18/2005 11:25:27 AM

[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 11:31 AM. Reason : ]

7/18/2005 11:29:10 AM

I say Voldemort shows up with the rest of the Horcruxes in his mitts and the Death Eaters trailing behind at Bill and the Veelas wedding and when they kiss, theres a love explosion and BAM... no more evil.

7/18/2005 11:29:21 AM

HEY FROSH

JEALOUS MUCH

Wear your robes tonight.

(Fleur Delacour-- another example of the abused naming convention. )

7/18/2005 11:33:23 AM

Are you talking about my graduation robes?

7/18/2005 11:35:01 AM

Quote :

" man, I still dont know whether to think Snape really is a traitor or not... I mean, Dumbledore says "Severus, please...." not, please help. I think he knew what severus was bound to do, but then snape was really evil towards harry as he ran away...but he still didnt cast any spells at him, when he could have. I wonder if it's possible to say one spell but cast another.... Not that I think dumbledor might possibly be alive tho :/ "

Snape could have easily killed Harry but he just kept disarming him.
!




[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 11:51 AM. Reason : Dumbledore ]

[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 11:51 AM. Reason : AH!]

7/18/2005 11:39:22 AM

^Dumbledore didn't write the note in the locket

R.A.B did and we're all guessing that it is Sirius' brother Regulus


and that may be why Snape only disarmed Harry, but recall he also says that no one can kill Harry because he is the Dark Lords to deal with

[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 11:49 AM. Reason : ]

7/18/2005 11:49:47 AM

Lucius is part Veela; he goes into heat

I saw that was the title of a page returned in a Google search. I don't think I'll be clicking that link.

7/18/2005 11:58:30 AM

Quote :

"I'm still curious how Harry is going to improve enough with his abilities to be able to pull off everyting that's coming next "

Quote :

"I'm still curious how Harry is going to improve enough with his abilities to be able to pull off everyting that's coming next "

7/18/2005 1:53:14 PM

Anyone remember the locket that noone could open when everyone was cleaning in OotP? (OP6) Anyone else think that it could be the Horcruxs that Regulus stole?

http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/dark_items.html#Grimmauld

7/18/2005 1:54:08 PM

^ Seems like he would have gaurded it better, since he assumed Vold. was going to hunt him down and kill him for it.

7/18/2005 2:02:20 PM

Being that he was killed, he may have never gotten the change to do away with it properly. Also, since Voldemort didn't know he had it, he wouldn't have been looking for it. Thus, after his death, it probably got filed away at Grimmauld Place somewhere. The question is, does it still contain part of Voldemort's soul?

7/18/2005 2:21:04 PM

Quote :

"everyone's going to be related to each other since everyone's marrying a Weasley"

ahahaha

7/18/2005 2:37:56 PM

Quote :

"The question is, does it still contain part of Voldemort's soul? "

The other question remains as well: Who helped Regalus retrieve the damn thing in the first place?

It was made very clear that noone could have retrieved it alone. So who would help him steal something so dangerous and yet, want no recognition in the theft (There was only one set of initials)? It's still uncertain to me whether or not voldemort "felt" it was being stolen. Dumbledore said they lose their connection with the original soul after time, but if Regalus and his accomplice had stolen it soon after it was created then there's a chance that they confronted Voldemort almost immediately after the theft.

[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 2:49 PM. Reason : kk]

7/18/2005 2:48:20 PM

Maybe Snape was the accomplice.

7/18/2005 2:55:20 PM

Quote :

"The tree also shows his brother Regulus Black who died about fifteen years ago."

That was in Book 5, so it sounds like Regulus would have died the year Harry was born. I'm wondering how close to the birth of Harry he died and when he had a falling out with 'Mort exactly.

^ If indeed Snape is trustworthy and he is just following Dumbledores orders, I think he would have told Dumbledore of the Horcrux's.

[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 2:57 PM. Reason : ]

7/18/2005 2:56:11 PM

Quote :

"Maybe Snape was the accomplice. "

If he was, then they couldn't have had any confrontation with Vold. Because Snape would've got his shit kicked in, and never been allowed into Vold's inner circle.

7/18/2005 2:58:14 PM

You have to remember, Voldemort dosn't seem to know that his Horcruxs are in danger. If Regulus had a falling out with Voldemort, and needed someone to help him get to the Horcruxs before he was killed, Snape would be a logical person to have as an accomplice, assuming the Snape was loyal to Dumbledore. Snape, being a master Occlumens, wouldn't have to worry about Voldmort finding out unless Regulus tattled before his death. Something else to remember, Regulus seems to be the only one to know about Voldemort's Horcruxes except, Harry, the late Professor Dumbledore, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Slughorn.

7/18/2005 3:04:14 PM

I understand that Voldemort may not be aware of the Horcruxs' destruction. Also, yes, Snape would have been a good accomplice. However, if indeed Snape was the accomplice to Regulus and loyal to Dumbledore, and he helped Regulus swipe it in the first place, why would Dumbledore not know it wasn't there in the middle of that lake and why would Dumbledore not know there were several more? In turn, why would Dumbledore do all of this research again and make Harry find out the story behind the Horcrux's again.

[Edited on July 18, 2005 at 3:16 PM. Reason : ]

7/18/2005 3:09:29 PM

^ That's the only flaw I've been able to find in my argument. I'm still trying to refine my theory to account for this. I think the biggest problem we have is that we don't know enough about Regulus to infer very much. I'm going to be thinking on this one for a while.

7/18/2005 3:25:31 PM

Also, judging by the tidbit of information that we just found that Snape was the one who overheard the Prophecy (although I forgot how soon after the Prophecy was made that the Potters were killed) its reasonable to think that he still loathed the good side enough not not help out Regulus at the time he may have swiped it.

7/18/2005 3:28:01 PM

Regulus coulda done it himself if he took an antacid and lit himself on fire.

7/18/2005 3:36:38 PM

its possible that Snape didn't want to kill Dumbledore but didn't see any way around it with so many death eaters around. Dumbledore always said Harry was more important than even him, so perhaps Snape needed to do it in order for his words to carry weight when he told the death eaters to leave Harry for Voldemort when they wanted to kill him. That way Snape gets to stay close to Voldemort and Harry is still alive to stand a chance, even with Dumbledore gone.

7/18/2005 4:00:38 PM

That's the way I'm leaning. Snape is a part of the ultimate plan of defeating Voldemort and Dumbledore knew this.

Or something.

7/18/2005 4:31:17 PM