MikeS Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> However, I definitely think Sirius
> is not coming back. The reason for this is because
> a lot of the books have been about consequences
> and the consequences of Harry’s actions are the
> deaths of a lot of people that care for. Now I
> agree his death was a bit fishy, but my take on it
> is that the portal he fell through will have a
> further significance to it, and that is why Remus
> wouldn’t let him go to look.


I just can't imagine Harry going through all that just to be left with nothing but the Dursleys as his relatives!

I think Sirius will be his one "gimme" for his troubles... assuming he survives, that is.





>
> Now I’m also for the hidden room in Grimauld Place
> theory. I however place one more item in this
> room. A time turner! Remember Hermione in a throw
> away comment mentioned that they destroyed them
> all (maybe I missed when that actually happened in
> the previous book!). My theory is that time travel
> is going to be involved in the last book.

I love that idea. If a wizard knows he's supposed to be coming back, it might help him deal with Voldemort by surprising him with a double.





> I don’t
> think the ‘love spell’ would be powerful enough
> for Lilly to block the killing curse. I have one
> reason for this, and that is that I once read an
> interview with J K Rowling where she said the
> last words of the last book would be ‘a scar’. It
> makes sense for this to be Harry, maybe with Ron
> and Hermione looking down at a baby. This is
> either a young Harry… or Ginny gets pregnant, and
> though the books have some pretty grown up themes
> I have a sneaking suspicion that teenage pregnancy
> won’t be one of them (but I’ve been wrong about
> sooooooo many other things is these books… that’s
> why I love them)



Okay. I absolutely disagree. How about it ending with a sentence like, "And for the first time in his life, when he looked in the mirror, he could no longer see a scar."


If he effectively removes the Horcrux, then the mark left by a powerful spell would be gone. This would be the ultimate end of the story.

Unless we can compromise, and Ron and Hermione are looking down at Harry and comment that they no longer see "a scar"... as he lay in his coffin. Now THAT would just suck!




>
> As for Snape. I wonder if the real plan between
> him and Dumbledore was that Dumbledore would block
> the curse. Snape could not be aware of what
> happened in the cave and how weak Dumbledore was.
> Maybe he will turn out to be as shocked as anyone
> else by his death. Also in Snape’s defence “No
> unforgivable curses!” he warns Harry, he is trying
> to protect his soul too!


Might that not trigger the Unbreakable Vow... killing the person you are not supposed to betray?




>
> As for Dumbledore. Well, if there is one character
> I think can come back from the “Gandalf manoeuvre”
> it is him. Not just because he is based on
> Gandalf, but remember the glimpse of a phoenix
> coming from the fire at the funeral? Still as I
> said about consequences before, I’m not holding my
> breath.


Very likely, now that everyone keeps mentioning it. Or, it's just Harry's wishful thinking. Tough call. As I asked Stephanie above, can you think of the instance (I swear it was in THIS book) where they talk about creating substitutes? Or was that part of the Horcrux explanation. Damn.





>
> If Harry survives (which currently I’m erring on
> the side of he won’t) I wouldn’t at all begrudge
> him a happy ending


I think it would be a HORRIBLE way to end the seven books! People all over the world have come to love "The Boy Who Lived". It would be a travesty if he suddenly became "The Boy Who Died"!

Anthony

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him think.