Take it to the bank:

1. Dumbledore stays dead.

2. Snape is on the side of good.

3. The big three (Harry, Ron, Hermione) live happily ever after

3. Sirrius makes a comeback (but not unitl the real action is over)

4. Ron and Hermione get together

Bookmark this post and save it for when the final book comes out.

She and that kid she told who had cancer and passed away.

I don't agree that Dumbledore's dead- I think the sleeping portrait and Fawkes' absence are two big clues to the contrary. I don't think it's wishful thinking on my part: either she's gone to a great deal of trouble to throw in so many red-herrings, or Dumbledore is going to pull a Gandalf. Remember, he worked with Nicholas Flamel for many years and if anyone knew how to get past death it was Flamel. Also, like Harry's mom, he sacrificed himself out of love and that is supposed to be the greater power.

I hear ya. But there's also that aveda kerdava thing. Only one person has ever survived it and that's Harry.

I guess I am coming at this from a different angle. Dumbledore had to die for the same reason James, Lilly and Sirius all had to be disposed of. In the end, Harry must stand alone to face Voldemort. As soon as JK started using lines like "Don't you see, nothing bad can happen to Harry while Dumbledore is here" it was clear Dumbledore had to go, and not just off on some errand. As long as Dumbledore was around Harry would feel safe but that's not his future. He has to become a man and face the future on his own terms.

'Alone' also means w/o Ron and Hermione. :eek:

Oh did she? Well, that's really wonderful of her to do that. Sad, but very make a wish kind of cool thing to do.

I'll try and dig up a link for you...

Here it is.

I remember Rowling, in an interview with Stephen Fry (who sympathized with Snape) not to like him too much. Apparently she planned for him to do something pretty awful. So she kept her promise in Book 6. I also remember her saying something about Snape doing something terrible before he could redeem himself, but I think I'm making that up...or putting a self-serving spin on it, since I *want* Snape to be working for Dumbledore this whole time. She's brilliantly written his character to go either way without betraying anything she's already done.

I do think Harry's scar is the last horcrux, and that this will be Voldemort's undoing. I do not, however, think Harry will die. At least, I don't believe he'll stay dead...phoenix rising from the ashes, and all that jazz.

I really, really loved the 6th book. It's probably my favorite next to Azkaban. The 4th was a lot of fun, but it was mostly the side stories that interested me. As plots go, the 4th had the most ridiculous, I think. Why didn't Barty Crouch Jr., in disguise, just hand Harry a portkey earlier on? Why go through all the trouble of rigging a contest. I get that it's FUN. And I get that it would be fun, especially, for kids to read. But the plot holes in Book 4 were glaring. Still, I LOVE the read. It's got so much going on that's great. I find that the movie, because it really does pare it down to the main plot, is not one I can rewatch numerous times without feeling restless and bored.

I agree on these. Although now that I'm rereading the post, I realize that I do somewhat think Dumbledore comes back ;)