Percy's Defection: Lots of people out there are saying that Percy has the potential to stray to the Dark Side, especially after his actions in OotP. He was a big jerk, I'll admit it, and he did prove to be extremely power hungry, even going so far as to denounce his family in order to improve his position in the Ministry. Further evidence of his ambition includes Ron's statement in GoF that he didn't think Percy would be above turning in his family because he is so ambitious. While Percy has been shown to be power hungry, however, I don't believe he would ever join forces with Voldemort. More than likely, his desire for power would lead him to become a Barty Crouch/McCarthy type, and even then I doubt he would ever turn against his family unless he was certain they had joined Voldemort. We have to remember two things here: first, that Percy never turned his parents in for joining the Order, even though he knew of its existence, and second, that he was in Gryffindor. In each book the sorting hat has become more important, and the fact that Harry was chosen for Gryffindor has been a major issue throughout the series. If Percy were ambitious and power-hungry enough to betray his family to save himself, or so attracted to power he'd join forces with Voldemort, he'd have been put in Slytherin.

Priori Incantatum: The importance of Harry's wand become extremely clear in GoF, and I believe it will play a larger role in future books. We know his wand and Voldemort's share the same core--a tail feather from Fawkes the Phoenix. If the wand chooses the wizard, as Mr. Ollivander claims in SS, then why would a wand containing a tail feather from Dumbledore's own Phoenix be destined for his greatest enemy, Voldemort? Obviously some trick of destiny is at work here, tying Dumbledore, Voldemort, and Harry together through the Phoenix. The Phoenix is obviously important symbolically: Voldemort fears death above all else and has been reborn, while the phoenix is immortal, constantly being reborn from its own ashes. But moving back to the wands... they don't work properly against each other. One has to wonder what will happen in the final confrontation. Neither can live while the other survives, so there must be a duel. Will Prior Incantatum happen again? Can Harry use that to destroy Voldemort? Which leads us to...

The Prophecy: For those of you who don't remember its exact wording, let's use my skills as a U of C grad with an English degree and do a bit of close reading, try to see into the soul of this prophecy. And besides, its the only use my degree has been to me.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches...Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

So here's what I think this means. Lots of people are wondering if the prophecy could be referring to Neville, rather than Harry, but several things point to it being Harry. For one thing, as Dumbledore points out, the prophecy states that Voldemort will "mark him as his equal." Harry has been marked both literally and figuratively, with both a scar, and by being singled out time and again by Voldemort as his ultimate enemy. Neville, on the other hand, has never been marked, unless you count the attack on his parents, which was done by the Lestranges and Barty Crouch Jr. after Voldemort had fallen. The first part of the prophecy has already come true, that Harry has been marked, has had power Voldemort didn't know about (the protection his mother gave him with her sacrifice), and has vanquished him. This last bit worries me. Harry has already vanquished Voldemort once...what if that was all the prophecy was pointing toward, and now Harry must die at Voldemort's hand, because neither can live while the other survives. Then again, think about the words used there, "live" and "survive". Voldemort isn't technically alive, is he? But he does survive. This leads me to believe that in order for Voldemort to truly live again, he must kill Harry. The word "vanquish" seems important as well. It doesn't say Harry has the power to kill Voldemort, but to vanquish him. Merrium-Webster claims that "vanquish" means "to overcome in battle : subdue completely; to defeat in a conflict or contest; to gain mastery over (an emotion, passion, or temptation)". The phrase "subdue completely" seems hopeful--it seems to imply that in order for someone to be vanquished, they cannot rise again. Therefore perhaps the prophecy is not referring to the first fall of Voldemort, but to a future possibility in which Harry has the power to defeat Voledmort for good. Let's hope so, anyway.Updated! More thoughts on this. Recently I've been hearing a theory that the prophecy really points to both Harry and Voldemort dying at the end. That would certainly solve the "neither can live while the other survives" bit...

Neville's Memory: I believe Neville's extremely poor memory has something to do with his parents having been tortured. Their brains were fried to the point where they can't recognize their own son anymore. This makes me wonder if perhaps Neville experienced some of the torture as well, but maybe not as much as his parents, so instead of having completely lost it, he just can't remember anything. His parents were apparently really good wizards, so it seems to me there needs to be some explanation as to why Neville sucks so badly. Maybe Neville simply witnessed the torturing of his parents and his brain did a sort of memory charm on itself, the way people who've experienced traumatic events often block them out, repress them.

Behind the Veil: So what's behind that veil in the department of mysteries, and is Sirius really dead because he fell through it? Luna thinks there are dead people back there, or that she can here the whispers of dead people back there. This seems to be a huge theme running throughout the series--what happens when you die, can death be prevented, etc. The veil seems to be a symbol of that theme, an embodiment of all those questions that run through the novel. I, for one, believe that Sirius is really and truly dead, and that he won't be coming back as a ghost or anything else. However, the mirror does seem to be important in some way. Why have Sirius give Harry the mirror, then Harry (painfully for the reader!) forget all about it in his attempt to contact Sirius to see if he's being tortured, if not for the mirror to become important in some way later? I can't believe Rowling would add the mirror bit in there just to torture her readers. I'm not sure I can believe that Harry will somehow be able to contact Sirius through the mirror either, though, no matter how much I want Sirius to be back in the story somehow.Updated! On Rowling's website, she claims that the mirror Sirius gave Harry in OotP will become important later on in books six and seven. Iiiinteresting.

James and Lily: There are a lot of rumors flying around about Harry's parents, some of which are simply ridiculous. One claims that Lily was a Deatheater, and that's why Voldemort didn't find it absolutely necessary to kill her until she got in his way (of getting to Harry). If she was a Deatheater, why would she have "thrice defied him"? Also, she wasn't a pure blood wizard--Snape calls her "Mudblood" in OotP. Voldemort wouldn't have taken her even if she's wanted to be a Deatheater. I'm not sure why she was asked to "stand aside' at first, rather than Voldemort just killing her, but I don't think it was because of some special bond between the two of them. Another rumor going around is that Lupin is really James, that they've switched bodies somehow. I think this is rubbish. James and Lily are dead and Rowling has said we will never see a "live" James or Lily. Maybe we will see them again during a Prior Incantatum and they will help Harry out again that way.Updated! Again on JKR's website, she claims that at the end of Goblet of Fire, during the Priori Incantatum effect, Lily was supposed to emerge from the wand before James. It's different in different versions (UK to American), but this is JKR's say on the matter. Which doesn't make sense from what we know about their deaths. Everything we know points to James having died first, then Lily, as it was her sacrifice that saved Harry. If the Priori Incantatum shows the spells in reverse, logically Lily should emerge last, because James was killed before her. Unless everything we know is wrong...

Snape's Past: I was hoping to learn a bit more about Snape's past in OotP, and to find out exactly why Dumbledore trusts him so much. At first I thought it was simply because he'd turned spy during Voldemort's last reign, but then the question kept coming up in OotP, so I have to assume there's more to the story. Hopefully we'll learn the exact reasons for Snape turning spy and Dumbledore trusting him. Maybe it has something to do with important information Snape passed on, perhaps he was the one that alerted the Order of Voldemort's search for the Potters. On a different note, I believe that Snape's Occlumency lessons will become important in later books, just by the fact that he's learned a lot more about Harry and his awful homelife than he would have ever learned before. Perhaps the lessons will give both Snape and Harry a deeper insight into each other's characters, allowing them to get on better. Maybe someday soon Snape will realize that Harry is not his father, and judge him based on his own actions rather than on James's. My final question about Snape is, will he ever get the DADA job? He's been gunning for it for so long, I'd like to see what he does with it.

Essence Divided? Right after Harry has that dream/vision of the snake attacking Mr. Weasley, there is a scene in Dumbledore's office, in which Dumbledore fiddles with one of his silvery objects and it emits some smoke which takes the shape of a serpant, then splits in two. Dumbledore then says, "But in essence divided?" (or something like that, its not an exact quote). Is Dumbledore referring to the fact that Voldemort can still possess people and animals, despite having a body, or is he wondering about something else? If he is referring to possession, does anybody notice what happens to Voldemort when he possesses Harry at the end of OotP? I *think* he dissolves into a puddle or something, I was never quite clear on that. It makes me wonder what does happen to him though, if perhaps he is divided in some way, neither completely in his own body nor in the one he's possessing. If so, could this be a weakness Harry may use to his advantage?

Was Sirius Set Up? We all know Snape is supposedly reformed, but after reading OotP for a third time, I have to wonder if he didn't use his knowledge of Voldemort's plans for Harry to set Sirius up the same way Sirius once set him up. Snape constantly goads Sirius, says he isn't doing anything useful for the order, and that if it were him he wouldn't be following Dumbledore's orders like a good boy. He even implies Sirius is obeying Dumbledore out of fear, using it as an excuse to hide at Grimmauld Place. He sets Sirius up to feel even more like a coward than he already does, even more useless than he already does. This goading is one of the reasons Sirius goes to the Department of Mysteries with the rest and ultimately gets himself killed. In addition to this, Snape's not a very good occlumency teacher. Granted, Harry doesn't work very hard at it, but it would certainly be easier for him if Snape didn't piss him off so much by calling him weak and stupid. I'm sure Snape was genuinely enraged when Harry looked at his memory, but if he really cared about the Order and keeping Harry alive and well, he would continue teaching him no matter what the provocation. As well, he must know Harry's place in the whole matter, and yet he tells Harry that he is insignificant and not important or special. All this may just be stemming from Snape's bitterness over an obviously horrible childhood--an abusive father, awful time at school, all that--but it could be something more. I still think he's on Dumbledore's side, but he's also letting his personal feelings overcome the greater cause.

Rumors and Facts

Facts:
• The release date for the Prisoner of Azkaban film is June 4, 2004.
• Gary Oldman of Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead fame will be playing Sirius Black--does anyone else thing he and Alan Rickman (despite him being the best Snape I could ever imagine) are a bit too old to be playing these characters?
• Oliver Wood will not appear in this film--how is that possible? They're supposed to win the quidditch cup, and quidditch (and Oliver's obsession to win) are what lead Harry to take dementor lessons...
• The last word of the series is "scar" according to Rowling herself, although she says that may change during the editing process.
• Many people have been wondering what house James was in. While rereading OotP, I noticed that Ron reminds Harry of another Gryffindor quidditch player who once ruffled his hair to look as though he'd just gotten off a broom. Which James did, so I'm thinking Gryffindor. Update: in the March 4th chat, Rowling confirmed that all the marauders were in Gryffindor.

Rumors:
• The release date for Book Six is rumored to be June of 2005. I've also heard June of 2004, but I think it more likely it will be at least two years from the release of OotP before we get a new installment.
• Rumored title is "HP and the Green Flame Torch," the torch being some sort of magical weapon that "kills all evil and heals all good." The big rumor in connection with this is that Harry will have to choose between using the torch to kill Voldemort or heal one of his friends. I don't think any of that is true, although the title might be. Updated! The title of book six has been confirmed by Rowling at J.K. Rowling's website as Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. According to the website, the half-blood prince is neither Harry nor Voldemort. Keep in mind that it was the original title for CoS.
• House Elves will become more important in the war against Voldemort
• There will be a new DADA teacher. Rumor has it that Lupin's brother Romulus will be it, I've also heard Fleur Delacour and Tonks as possible candidates, but I think it will be a completely new character.
• DA meetings will continue.
• We will see more of Nocturn Alley.
• Dumblebore will be killed at the end of the book.
• In an interview, Rowling said: "Key things happen in book 2. No one knows how important those things are...yet. There is a lot in [the movie], and I know how difficult it was to get it all in there without drawing too much attention to the clues." Someone reread CoS and look for clues!
• Voldemort: If you break the name down its vol de mort, or theif of death, in french. Possible meaning--escapes death.
• I read the March 4th chat, and Rowling said some very interesting things in it. For one, that the infamous mirror Sirius gave Harry will reappear. How, I'm not sure, as it was smashed at the end of OotP. She refused to comment on ships (pairings) except to say that a lot of the fansites have it right. Which doesn't help, as the fansites range in ships is huge, everything from Hermione/Ron to Snape/Giant Squid.

Comments and Opinions

Margaret Olsen, currently of Lehi, UT writes:

"I looked at your Harry Potter webpage. You are officially the biggest dork at U of C. Don't feel too guilty about dressing up though, I talked to some people and they said EVERYONE dressed up here. I think you should put people's responses to your theories on your page."

MJ Markle from the great state of Pennsylvania writes:

"I'm at the part where Harry gets detention from the frog lady (Umbridge). Why's Harry being such a whiny brat? I'd punch him...if I were violent."

More comments from MJ Markle as she continues to read OotP:

Snape's worst memory is messed up...it makes me feel bad for him and who wants that? umbridge is a bitch...those detention scenes were painful. i still think harry is being a tool. why does he have to yell at cho? come on, harry...be nice..she likes you. get your hormones in check...and sirius is kind of pissing me off too. there i said it.

Links and Fanfiction

Here are some enjoyable links to Harry Potter sites and to my fanfiction as well as other stories I think are great:
• J.K. Rowling's amazing, beautiful, and fun website. There are tons of hidden goodies, including the title to book 6 (which I've already given away, but it's fun to find for yourself.) She updates monthly, giving news on progress for HBP, answering questions from fans, and discussing rumors.
• The Harry Potter Lexicon: The most complete and amazing reference to the wonderful world of Harry Potter. Has everything from spells to artwork to atlas to bestiaries.
• "Harry Potter and the Watcher's Council," by Phabala (aka, Me): Suspicions run high during Harry's sixth year when the gang discovers the existence of the Slayer, dementors attack Hogwarts, and Harry suspects a traitor in his inner circle. Will Harry discover the traitor's identity before its too late to save his friends' lives? And what does all this have to do with the mysterious new Defense professors? A Harry Potter/BTVS crossover.
• Phabala at The Sugar Quill: Check out my fics at the Sugar Quill, which is one of the best fanfic sites out there. It also has forums for OotP discussion. "Draco's Wish" is a pardoy of the BTVS episode "The Wish": what happens when Draco makes a wish to a vengeance demon and finds himself at a Hogwarts without Harry Potter? Also there is "The Life and Times of Pureblood Witches," a story based on The Nanny Diaries.
• 

  Memoria in Aeterna: "Tom never left you, not completely. He’s just been… dormant all these years. Waiting for his chance. Hurting you in whatever way he could. Tom was a memory, right? A memory trapped in a diary. Now he’s a memory trapped in you, and he won’t let you forget.” Draco/Ginny. Rated R for suicidal ideation and sexual themes.

• Unredeemed: "Redemption is overrated"--a site dedicated to Draco Malfoy, including fanfiction, fan art, and discussion forums. Because everyone loves a bad boy.
• After the End: A story by Arabella and Zsenya, of the Sugar Quill. One of the best post-Hogwarts stories I've ever read.

If you'd like to respond to any of the above theories, ideas, opinions, etc, please email me at amgolden@bust.com. Well, that's all for now. I'll be adding more as I get the time, and as people email me with their own ideas, or responses to mine.