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The Library > Future Book Rumors
Rumors often have some link to facts, and sometimes they do prove to be true. I scoured the 'Net and found these rumors about the upcoming books. I also include a Book 4 rumor list and compare it to the actual book.
Release Date: Who on earth knows now?
The guesses have been all over the map. The New York Times says 2003, according to a reader who e-mailed me in May 2002.
Christopher Little, Rowling's literary agent, said "mid-2002," which would have been summer. That never happened. Apparently Rowling was still working on the manuscript in spring 2002, with those close to her dismissing rumors of writer's block!
Yet another report from the Manchester Guardian (England) is that Bloomsbury may move it up to September 2002. The Guardian report added that as of December 2001, she still had not turned in her manuscript, nor gave Bloomsbury a completion date. Other reports contradicted this -- Rowling has finished the book and is reviewing the manuscript before turning it over to publishers.
In December 2001, Scholastic also had not been officially confirmed as the U.S. publisher, but Little says they want the firm to continue in this capacity, according to The New York Times.
BOTTOM LINE: Expect the book by summer 2003 -- with Bloomsbury as United Kingdom publisher, and Scholastic as U.S. distributor. That will be THREE YEARS after The Goblet of Fire.
J.K. Rowling revealed the book title in October 2000 in several interviews.
The "order" of the title is a group dedicated to preventing the spread of the Dark Forces, especially embodied by You-Know-Who. They will probably the UK's most senior sorcerers, such as Dumbledore and McGonagall.
There’s a chance that Beauxbatons student Fleur Delacour will return to Hogwarts as a teacher.
Reflecting the rumor above, Hogwarts may get a female Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, and Fleur may be her.
In September 2002, Rowling confirmed the DADA teacher WILL be female, but gave no names. She told BBC Newsround, "Professor Moody wouldn't want the job again, having been locked in a trunk for a year! It's a woman this time."
There may be a character named “Icicle.” She was originally rumored for The Goblet of Fire.
Hermione may visit Viktor Krum in Bulgaria during the summer.
Hermione and Ron may become an item and finally start to date. “Hermione and Ron, sitting in a tree ... K-I-S-S-I-N-G...” (That’s an American schoolyard chant -- sorry.)
Rowling herself seems to dismiss this. Harry, whose passion to date has been Quidditch, may soon have a change of interest to Hermione instead.
In December 2001, Rowling said in the British Broadcasting Corp. show Harry Potter and Me there will be "more boy-girl stuff, inevitably. They're 15 now, hormones working overtime."
Remus Lupin will return in this book; he may have a major role.
The real Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody also may have a major supporting part in the novel.
Ginny Weasley also may have a major role in this story.
More biographical information will be included about Lily Potter, including her maiden name (Rowling has already said it is Evans in interviews). One rumor is that she may have been a Death Eater! Rowling added in her December 2001 BBC show, "Harry finds out a lot more about his past."
Hermione will become a prefect. Typical path for overachievers at Hogwarts (see Percy Weasley).
Rowling will reveal why Harry must keep living with the Dursleys. Apparently Dumbledore put a charm on them when the toddler Harry was dropped off on their doorstep. Dumbledore also may have established a "charm field" around Privet Drive as well to keep Voldemort away from Harry. And, he placed Mrs. Figg as a guardian (see below). The charm area probably extends at least two streets over, because Mrs. Figg lives there. We also will learn more about this Arabella Figg.
The reason why Lord Voldemort killed James and Lily Potter will be explained. This may have to do with their jobs for the Ministry of Magic.
WRONG: The book will not be as long as The Goblet of Fire. In September 2002, Rowling said she was still writing, and "it's already passed Azkaban, so I think yes, we are looking at Goblet of Fire length."
Hagrid learns he can perform magic, and without getting Dumbledore’s permission. He learns this by overhearing a conversation between Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.
Harry may finally escape the Dursleys and live with Sirius Black. Therefore, Black’s name may be cleared, and Peter "Wormtail" Pettigrew may be captured in this book.
Rowling hinted to the BBC in September 2002 that Mundungus Fletcher may have a greater role in the story.
She added that of course the Sorting Hat will do a new song.
More rumors of a close friend or fan of Harry being killed off. In fact, the death of Cedric Diggory is just the beginning. Rowling said to the BBC in December 2001: "More people are going to die. And there's at least one death that's going to be horrible to write." Could it be a certain Hogwarts headmaster or beloved gamekeeper?
Serious Tragedy Alert: Dumbledore may actually be serving the dark side! One of the worst of the rumors. At the end of The Goblet of Fire, Dumbledore gets a certain odd look in his eye when discussing Voldemort.
Possible Titles: Harry Potter and the Pyramids of Furmat; Harry Potter and the Green Flame Torch; Harry Potter and the Dark Witch.
A note on that first one: There's a good chance this is the book's (and future movie's) name. AOL Time Warner Entertainment registered this name with the United Kingdom Trade Mark Office for use in entertainment related media and merchandise. A fan discovered it, along with the other title listed on Book 7 below. The name has an Egyptian sound to it, and the green torch is supposed to be from that nation's ancient time.
Release Date: 2003-05
The second title refers to a torch that Harry may find with great healing powers and the ability to destroy evil. Perhaps he will go after Lord Voldemort with it? The “green flame” apparently refers to an ancient Egyptian spell found in The Book of the Dead, and may mean “I have not stolen food.” The torch itself is from the old city of Memphis in Egypt.
The newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher may be Remus Lupin’s brother. His name might be Romulus. The legendary founders of ancient Rome were the twins Romulus and Remus, who were supposed to have been raised as babies by a female wolf.
Snape may be a central character, and important background info about him may be provided.
Harry and Cho Chang may date.
Harry tries to kill Lord Voldemort but cannot. Ron may join him, and Hermione may be unable to join them because she is injured.
Harry may play on the Quidditch English national team.
Hogwarts may play another school for a Quidditch Cup.
Peter “Wormtail” Pettigrew (Prisoner of Azkaban) may return.
Serious Tragedy Alerts: One of Ron Weasley’s brothers may die, or Colin Creevey, or Albus Dumbledore (see below, too).
Possible Title: Harry Potter and the Chariots of Light; Harry Potter and the Fortress of Shadows. (Again, the first title was registered as a trademark in the UK by AOL Time Warner and may be the title of the seventh book and its movie adaptation.)
Release Date: 2004-06
Lord Voldemort will be destroyed for good. The Green Flame Torch may return and have a part in fulfilling the dark master’s end.
Harry’s eyes, inherited from his mother, may have some important role in his powers or resistance to dark magic.
Harry may be the last heir of Godric Gryffindor.
Bumbling Neville Longbottom may become a teacher!
Hermione is named Head Girl, and Harry may be appointed Head Boy.
There may be flashbacks of Severus Snape falling in love with Lily Evans during their Hogwarts school days. Snape also may do something heroic and redeem himself (although his loyalty to Dumbledore in Goblet of Fire should already be noted!)
Lupin may also be in this book and may have a major role.
An unlikely pairing of Harry and Draco Malfoy may occur to battle a dark force. This one is surprising and ironic, considering how happy Draco is that his father, Lucius Malfoy, is a Death Eater. Draco would have to decide not to follow his dad's dark path.
Wormtail may return.
A shocking secret may be revealed about Lily Potter. (She was a Death Eater? She was married to Tom Riddle?)
The reasons some people become ghosts and others do not will be explained (based on Rowling interviews).
The last word of the book may be “scar.” At one point, Rowling had written Chapter 1 of Book 1, and the last Chapter of Book 7.
On the BBC show aired in December 2001, she showed fans a copy of Book 7's final chapter.
"This is it. ... This is really I'll wrap everything, it's the epilogue and I basically say what happens to everyone after they leave school, those who survive -- because there are deaths, more deaths coming."
AND...
Serious Tragedy Alert: Albus Dumbledore may die!
After Book 7, Rowling may not be done with Harry and his wizarding world. She told the BBC in the December 2001 interview: "I'm not going to say I'll never write anything to do with the world of Hogwarts ever again.
"Because I have often thought that (if I wrote) Book 8, I think it would be right and proper that it should be a book whose royalties go to charity entirely.
"It could be the encyclopedia of the world (of Hogwarts) and then I could rid myself of every last lurking details, but no not a novel."
The source of James and Lily’s fortune – and, in turn, Harry’s – will be revealed.
The dementors, the flying Ford Anglia, Aragog the Spider or Dobby the House Elf may return.
The Sorting Hat may be more than just a house selection tool. (Recall that it once belonged to Godric Gryffindor.)
The Grey Lady, Ravenclaw’s house ghost, will have her background more extensively revealed.
Professor Sybill Trelawney’s first major prediction will be disclosed.
Harry will not become an Animagus, nor will he ever join the dark forces.
Harry may be expelled from Hogwarts but be readmitted later. He will graduate.
Arabella Figg (whose name graces this site!) will return. Mrs. Figg is mentioned at the end of Book 4, and J.K. Rowling has confirmed she is the same woman who lived on Privet Drive and babysat Harry before he went to Hogwarts.
This section quotes rumors from assorted HP sites that appeared in 1999 and 2000 before The Goblet of Fire was published. Each rumor is answered with a "yes" or "no" and explanation.
“Why is Voldemort Voldemort? We shall find out...”
Yes, we did find out. The dark wizard’s life was extensively discussed, including his father, Tom Riddle, and an unnamed witch who gave birth to him. Tom Jr. killed his father and grandparents with the Aveda Kedavara spell as revenge. As Voldemort, his father’s remains helped him regenerate, with Wormtail’s help. Voldemort discusses his life before the assembled Death Eaters in the graveyard near the end.
“The book may be over 700 pages long.” Yes -- the Scholastic USA hardcover is 734 pages.
“The ending will be definitely horrifyingly scary...” Yes! Cedric Diggory is killed ... Voldemort rises again ... the Death Eaters gather around their master ... Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody is Bartemius Crouch Jr., a Death Eater using Polyjuice Potion ... there are some frightful moments here.
“It is supposed to be out around July [2000] or so.” Yes – see the heading.
“We meet Bill and Charlie Weasley.” Yes. In Harry’s stay at the Burrow before going to the Quidditch World Cup, he finally gets to meet the two oldest boys in person. (He originally saw them in a moving Daily Prophet photo in Book 3.)
“Harry will be in touch with Black.” Yes. Harry sends several owls to Sirius. Sirius first speaks to Harry through the flames of the Gryffindor common room fire. He later appears in dog and human form near the end as the Hogwarts crew faces off against the Dark Forces.
“We meet new creatures.” Yes. New creatures include leprechauns, veelas, blast-ended skrewts and merpeople.
“Return of the Maurader's Map!” Yes. Harry uses the map to keep track of Hogwarts personnel as he sneaks down to the prefects’ bath in order to solve the riddle of the golden egg.
“We see how sensitive Ron is about the Weasleys' poverty.” Yes. Ron refuses financial help from Harry. Harry does give his thousand galleon prize to Fred and George to start their joke shop, and after a lot of convincing, they accept it.
“There will be a nasty female character in Book 4. That's a first. :)The rumor is that her name will be Icicle. Oooo, nice name for a cold character.” No. But the Icicle character may appear in a future book.
“We will meet a nasty female character in book 4!” These "nasty character" references may also be to Rita Skeeter, the nosy, ambitious, tabloid-style reporter filing stories with The Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly. This quill-toting sorceress' lack of conscience and obsession with getting the story lead to hurtful experiences for Harry, Hermione and Hagrid.
“The new DADA (Defense Against the Dark Arts) teacher is, according to Ms. Rowling herself, a 'scary character,' very impressive, and will ‘take Malfoy on’ (finally, a teacher who won't let Malfoy get away with being the snotty kid that he is!) Also, he has a ‘magical eye’; sounds interesting!”
Yes – Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody did have a magical eye. He is scary, due to his heavily scarred face, loud, fierce voice, and independent, magic eye. He did teach Draco a lesson, briefly turning him into a white ferret for harassing Harry. (The only problem is, this isn’t the real Mad-Eye.)
“As we know, there are other schools other than Hogwarts.” Yes – Introducing Beauxbatons and Durmstrang.
“Hormones will kick in for our three favorite fourth years. And they're supposed to fall in love with the wrong people.”
Yes. Ron and Hermione are a likely future match throughout Books 5-7. But in Book 4: Harry likes Cho Chang. Ron is the best match for Hermione, But they end up with the Patil sisters at the Yule Ball. Hermione is sidetracked by Viktor Krum. Ron is enamored with Fleur Delacour, whose grandmother was a veela, an otherworldly female creature with incredible powers over men.
“Some say the fourth book will be called Harry Potter and the Quidditch World Cup..." "Its title is Harry Potter and the Doomspell Tournament.” No to both!
“The Dursleys will face financial hardship!” No. Nothing changed at the Dursley household in the book, except that Dudley got so fat he had to go on a diet. Vernon was still running Grunnings, and business seemed to be the same.
“There will be a lot of deaths, but luckily only one ‘you'll really (care) about,’ as Ms. Rowling said. No way is it going to be Harry. Probable not Snape, Hagrid or Hermione.”
Yes. The dead were Frank Bryce, a Muggle and Riddle estate gardener; Bertha Jorkins, scatterbrained Ministry of Magic witch; and Cedric Diggory, Triwizard competitor. Cedric is the one you'd tend to "really care about."
“We will see the Quidditch World Cup – Ireland Vs. Bulgaria! JK Rowling says England was knocked out by Transylvania and Scotland lost to Luxembourg!” Yes. The World Cup is a major plot section in the book, as the Dark Mark is released, and Death Eaters play “Muggle Levitation.” Bulgaria and Ireland do play each other, and Ireland wins, despite Bulgaria catching the Golden Snitch.
“A teacher will die.” No. But a teacher, Alastor Moody, was held hostage in his own storage trunk for months while an imposter, Bartemius Crouch Jr., took his place.
“We'll find out more about the Malfoy family ties to the dark side.” Yes. Lucius is among the Death Eaters who obey Voldemort’s summons and come to the church graveyard at Lower Hangleton.
“Hermione will get a date!!!” Yes. Viktor Krum at the Yule Ball.
"1. The Flight From Number Four.
2. The Grangers.
3. From Knockturn Alley To The Burrow.
4. The Quidditch Final.
"Oooh, goodie. We know the chapter names. Um, anyway, does anyone think Harry may be staying with the Grangers at least a FEW nights - by the chapter names, if they're true?”
No, not quite the chapter names! They really are:
1. The Riddle House
2. The Scar
3.The Invitation
4. Back to the Burrow
Harry spent a night at the Weasley, not Granger, household, before going to the Quidditch World Cup final match. Using Floo Powder, the Weasleys did arrive at 4 Privet Drive, and Dudley was tempted by the very bad Ton Tongue Toffee.
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