Guesses for Book 7 (Assume **spoilers** for all previous 6 books!!)

[Lenny]

I don't know if anyone else has picked up on this, but as you read through the series the style of writing seems to become older.

The Philosophers Stone is for all ages, really, and the book reflects that. Same with Chambers of Secrets.

Then you get to a darker Prisoner of Azkaban. Whereas it might still be a book the younger readers can read and enjoy, it's starting to slip into an older age group.

The same thing happens with Goblet of Fire, and the Order of the Phoenix (also, would you expect a 10-13 y/o to slog their way through a book the size of OotP, or even GoF? I know I at that age was content with books that were around 400 pages long - "Look at me mummy, I'm a brilliant reader! A whole 400 pages! Ooooh!"), both of which continue to get darker.

Then we get to HBP. The book, compared with the others, is the darkest book, dealing with more adult themes than the 5 (would you have expected to chance across Harry + Ginny, or even Ron + Lavender in the first 3 books, maybe even the 4th?). Heck, one of the characters everyone loves is mudered in cold blood.

Whilst you might still be getting 10-13 y/os reading these (my mum is a teaching assistant at my old primary school, and one of the things she does is literacy. You know, the kid goes away, reads part of a book every night, and comes back each following day to see if they've understood it and can remember it. The typical age group my mum works with is about 8-10. And she has children, who should still be on the little books with the green stickers, coming in with GoF, OotF, HBP, and saying that they've read it. I don't know about the rest of the country, but children in these here parts don't understand half of what happens in these books), I doubt that they'd take as much in, and understand as much as you, I, and everyone else on these boards would.

Quick recap: you can think of the books maturing with Harry, with PS aimed at 11 y/os, CoS at 12 y/os, and so on. If she continues this trend then DH will be aimed at the older Young Adults, 17, 18. 19 y/os. As a result I believe that the ending will be something that doesn't dip back into the 10-13 age range, simply because it will carry on as the book does.

To be perfectly honest I'd see it as an insult to older readers if the conclusion of the Harry Potter series is written as PS was, for early teens.

That being said, however, she can't exclude her first intended audience, so the ending might be written as such that it can be enjoyed by all, yet interpretted a lot deeper by the older readers.

[HoopyFrood]

The wider the audience, the more people who will buy her book, thus more money for her!

Sorry, I'm cynical...But yeah, HP certainly has got darker as the series progressed. But it could be for a number of reasons...
- JK improving as a writer. (There! I said it...shocking, no? )
- More people were getting into the series and so JK is attempting to appeal to her widening audience.
- It's just the natural progression for the series...it is your usual tale of good vs evil, there's got to be highs and lows, trials and tribulations...

And etc, etc.

[MOUNTAIN THAT READS]

The ending was supposed to have been written before she had such a wide audience, I don't think she could have anticipated this kind of global appeal when she first started. Unless her ego was HUGE!!! Thus my prediction is they live happily ever after. Of course I have read George R R Martin and he kills all my favorite characters so what do I know.

[BookStop]

I think the 8-10 years olds who are reading HP are mostly capable of catching what all is necessary to understand the books - not everything maybe, but that's what re-reading is for. The HP series is one people, young and old, re again and again. I know I figure things out and see clues about future happenings to the HP gang when I go back and re-read. It's not insultng to kids or grown-ups for the books to have such a wide appeal. I love nothing better than to have intellegent conversations with young kids - I am always surprised at what we have in common

I am glad the series has been getting darker as it progresses - who could stand to read books all day that give you warm fuzzies.

[Riker]

I think the person who dies in book 7 will be Ginny. The spell put on the Dursley's house that protects Harry expires when he turns 17 meaning he will no longer have that protection. I think that Voldemort will attempt to kill Harry but Ginny will step infront much like Lily did and this will protect Harry from Voldemort killing him. And I'm in the 'Snape is on the side of good' crowd, and he will turn out to be a big help to both the Order and Harry.

[Joel007]

I always thought the books turning darker is supposed to reflect the Readers getting older each book. (Although Rowling may not have appreciated how quickly some of even the youngest kids can speed through a book)
Also, the danger must be greater each book, and as Harry ages, his challenges must reflect his new abilities and confidence. Can't have the hero getting complacent eh?

[WafflesMcDuff]

I think that Dumbledore is alive and I have logic to back it up:

Rowling RARELY mentions something for no reason. I believe that the reason that Harry has to brew the draft of living death in the early parts of the book in order to win the Felix Felicis (luck potion) is to establish its existence. Not to mention that Polyjuice potion keeps popping back up. I believe that what really happened is this:

Dumbledore saw Draco as a potential Death Eater recruit what with Lucius being a death eater. So he prepared a polyjuice potion of himself and malfoy. When a weakened Dumbledore told the young Malfoy that he could change the future he may have actually convinced him.

As Snape raced up the stairs with Avada Kadavra on the tip of his tongue, Draco and dumbledore downed their potions and switched their robes. The potion that malfoy downed however was laced with the draft of living death. As Snape uttered the curse, "Dumbledore" fell. But as he was already in a deathlike state, perhaps the curse was ineffective. So it was that "Draco Malfoy" went off to join the death eaters on the heels of Snape. In reality, it's dumbledore as a wonderful infiltrator (hope he has plenty of polyjuice).
We see Draco hesitate, but I believe that that was Dumbledore having trouble leaving the school behind in this hour of need. But he realizes he has no choice and is commited. So he follows snape.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy is protected from Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy by the fact that neither one knows that he is actually sleeping away a simulated death in Dumbledore's crypt.

Now some may say that the portrait of Dumbledore appearing is proof of his death. I say that there is no documentation of how enchanted talking moving portraits are made. The fact that McGonnigal is ACTING headmistress only proves further that Dumbledore will be back if he has anything to say about it.

[PTeppic]

Some interesting points, the first being (in my eyes) the most relevant. I have read a number of pieces/books on script/book writing and one of the key points is about keeping things pertinent. Don't include stuff that has no purpose to the plot.

[dobby]

i love harry but somehow i think jo will break our hearts and kill our favs off i.e Harry, Hagrid and Hermione (3 h's)?????

[dobby]

Originally Posted by WafflesMcDuff

I think that Dumbledore is alive and I have logic to back it up:

Rowling RARELY mentions something for no reason. I believe that the reason that Harry has to brew the draft of living death in the early parts of the book in order to win the Felix Felicis (luck potion) is to establish its existence. Not to mention that Polyjuice potion keeps popping back up. I believe that what really happened is this:

Dumbledore saw Draco as a potential Death Eater recruit what with Lucius being a death eater. So he prepared a polyjuice potion of himself and malfoy. When a weakened Dumbledore told the young Malfoy that he could change the future he may have actually convinced him.

As Snape raced up the stairs with Avada Kadavra on the tip of his tongue, Draco and dumbledore downed their potions and switched their robes. The potion that malfoy downed however was laced with the draft of living death. As Snape uttered the curse, "Dumbledore" fell. But as he was already in a deathlike state, perhaps the curse was ineffective. So it was that "Draco Malfoy" went off to join the death eaters on the heels of Snape. In reality, it's dumbledore as a wonderful infiltrator (hope he has plenty of polyjuice).
We see Draco hesitate, but I believe that that was Dumbledore having trouble leaving the school behind in this hour of need. But he realizes he has no choice and is commited. So he follows snape.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy is protected from Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy by the fact that neither one knows that he is actually sleeping away a simulated death in Dumbledore's crypt.

Now some may say that the portrait of Dumbledore appearing is proof of his death. I say that there is no documentation of how enchanted talking moving portraits are made. The fact that McGonnigal is ACTING headmistress only proves further that Dumbledore will be back if he has anything to say about it.

some very smart logic ther ... neva woulda thought of that... i agrree but how did u ever pick up on that... somehow... even though we would all LOVE to see Dumbledore back i cant see the story going like that???? does anyone beleive snape is good... o i HATE greasy slimey severus snape killer of dumbldore

P.S welcome to the chronicles.... WafflesMcDuff... have fun and always check the threads you post to for replies to your post

[dobby]

Originally Posted by WafflesMcDuff

I think that Dumbledore is alive and I have logic to back it up:

Rowling RARELY mentions something for no reason. I believe that the reason that Harry has to brew the draft of living death in the early parts of the book in order to win the Felix Felicis (luck potion) is to establish its existence. Not to mention that Polyjuice potion keeps popping back up. I believe that what really happened is this:

Dumbledore saw Draco as a potential Death Eater recruit what with Lucius being a death eater. So he prepared a polyjuice potion of himself and malfoy. When a weakened Dumbledore told the young Malfoy that he could change the future he may have actually convinced him.

As Snape raced up the stairs with Avada Kadavra on the tip of his tongue, Draco and dumbledore downed their potions and switched their robes. The potion that malfoy downed however was laced with the draft of living death. As Snape uttered the curse, "Dumbledore" fell. But as he was already in a deathlike state, perhaps the curse was ineffective. So it was that "Draco Malfoy" went off to join the death eaters on the heels of Snape. In reality, it's dumbledore as a wonderful infiltrator (hope he has plenty of polyjuice).
We see Draco hesitate, but I believe that that was Dumbledore having trouble leaving the school behind in this hour of need. But he realizes he has no choice and is commited. So he follows snape.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy is protected from Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy by the fact that neither one knows that he is actually sleeping away a simulated death in Dumbledore's crypt.

Now some may say that the portrait of Dumbledore appearing is proof of his death. I say that there is no documentation of how enchanted talking moving portraits are made. The fact that McGonnigal is ACTING headmistress only proves further that Dumbledore will be back if he has anything to say about it.

some very smart logic ther ... neva woulda thought of that... i agrree but how did u ever pick up on that... somehow... even though we would all LOVE to see Dumbledore back i cant see the story going like that????

[Crazihors]

Originally Posted by WafflesMcDuff

I think that Dumbledore is alive and I have logic to back it up:

Rowling RARELY mentions something for no reason. I believe that the reason that Harry has to brew the draft of living death in the early parts of the book in order to win the Felix Felicis (luck potion) is to establish its existence. Not to mention that Polyjuice potion keeps popping back up. I believe that what really happened is this:

Dumbledore saw Draco as a potential Death Eater recruit what with Lucius being a death eater. So he prepared a polyjuice potion of himself and malfoy. When a weakened Dumbledore told the young Malfoy that he could change the future he may have actually convinced him.

As Snape raced up the stairs with Avada Kadavra on the tip of his tongue, Draco and dumbledore downed their potions and switched their robes. The potion that malfoy downed however was laced with the draft of living death. As Snape uttered the curse, "Dumbledore" fell. But as he was already in a deathlike state, perhaps the curse was ineffective. So it was that "Draco Malfoy" went off to join the death eaters on the heels of Snape. In reality, it's dumbledore as a wonderful infiltrator (hope he has plenty of polyjuice).
We see Draco hesitate, but I believe that that was Dumbledore having trouble leaving the school behind in this hour of need. But he realizes he has no choice and is commited. So he follows snape.

Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy is protected from Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy by the fact that neither one knows that he is actually sleeping away a simulated death in Dumbledore's crypt.

Now some may say that the portrait of Dumbledore appearing is proof of his death. I say that there is no documentation of how enchanted talking moving portraits are made. The fact that McGonnigal is ACTING headmistress only proves further that Dumbledore will be back if he has anything to say about it.

some interesting points, but it doesn't completely convince me.
1. JKR said herself that Dumbledore was DEAD!!! (face facts people!)
2. Fawkes. the phoenix has a very close bond with his master, and would probably know if he was dead or not.
3.the portrait. it says somewhere in one of the other books (OotP or GoF) that the portraits only appear on the walls when the current headmaster/mistress has died. i doubt (like the marauders' map - remember Barty Crouch?) the portraits can be fooled by polyjuice potion. the marauders' map in itself is a piece of evidence, being that 'Draco' would be labelled as 'Dumbledore' after the whole lightning struck tower incident.
4. It says something about the petrificus totalus spell being broken when Dumbledore was killed, but Harry was under the invisiblilty cloak and Malfoy wouldn't have known that.
5. I watch too much CSI, but you need motive, opportunity, and means. We have the means, the polyjuice potion, opportunity is a little iffy, seeing as though Harry was there when the two would have had to drink the potion, and JKR did not mention anything that looked like a transformation. and motive? it's Harry's job to get Voldie, isn't it? Dumbledore wouldn't get in the way of that, would he?
6. I read an interesting article somewhere on MuggleNet | The ULTIMATE Harry Potter Site - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, JK Rowling, rumors, news, forums, images, video, and more! (on the North Tower editorials that are now non-existant as far as i know). was about Hermione getting her comeuppance because since the first book she has grown more vindictive and more set for personal gain. PS/SS she was a brat, but helped out; CoS she was alright, helping Harry and Ron figure it out where the Chamber was; Poa she helped save Sirius; GoF she starts getting personal, she was only hell bent on Rita Skeeter because she was personally humiliated by her, not because of Harry; OotP she curses Marrietta for betraying the DA. For that reason, i think that Dumbledore is DEAD. He was making a few too many 'old man's mistakes' to live. If you want to believe that.

I suppose we'll find out in 38 days time......

[Crazihors]

I have some theories: first off, it's Dumbledore's fault James and Lily died, reasons for this include:
1. the continually shifting blame for the death of Harry's parents: PS/SS it's simply Voldemort, PoA it shifts twice from Sirius to Wormtail (am I the only one who refuses to call him Peter? He doesn't deserve it), then in OotP it becomes some sort of spy, and in HBP it transforms again into Snape (who is not good or evil, he's just a more gutsy version of Wormtail.
2. He is forver mentioning his 'old man's mistakes' in OotP and HBP
3. why else is Dumbledore so concerned about Harry's safety? JKR said they aren't related, so it's probably guilt.
4. when they're getting the 'horcrux', Dumbledore drinks the potion and starts screaming 'it's my fault, it's all my fault, kill me!' or something to that effect.

[PTeppic]

Although I think #1 is normal story-telling, revealing a key point a bit at a time, from different perspectives, the rest does make for an interesting theory.

We know thee must be more to Dumbeldore - "I don't need an cloak to make myself invisible" and his almost precognitive sense about what Harry will be doing and able to do each year suggests a very powerful powerful wizard. So some of the things he's done, like the above, appear to defy logic.

[Tabasco]

The problem with the Dumbledore theories is actually Lord Voldemoort. Old Voldy has to be on a level similar to Dumbledore, otherwise why even bother with Harry? I think it would 'Dumb' down the story if they brought him back, unless Voldemoort says in the beginning of the last book, something along the lines of, "Dumbledore is not dead." Why? Because a wizard comparable to Dumbledore would know if a powerful nemesis died.