Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: A Survey of Speculations

If you are reading this article, chances are, you have read all the Harry Potter books, and you probably already have your copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reserved. You may have already reread the sixth book to make sure you didn't miss anything, and you will probably reread the whole series again before the seventh book comes out, just so you are up to date. You love Harry Potter, and you love discussing what the last book will have in store for Harry and his friends, but there are so many theories out there!

Now there is a place where you can share your own ideas, as the countdown to the seventh book approaches. I will give you my ideas about the following questions, but I hope you will answer them as well! If everyone who reads this article responds to at least one question, we will all have an excellent forum for discussing the different theories of what is to happen to Harry. If you have not read all the books and you don't want to read spoilers... don't read this article!

1. Will Harry return to Hogwarts?

Some think that Hogwarts will not open next year, and Harry states at the end of the sixth book that even if it opens, he won't go. However, many of the books have suggested that Hogwarts might have to close, and it never has. But with Dumbledore gone, would it be safe? I think that the school will still open. A realistic solution would be that the school will open under the leadership of Dumbledore's brother, who is only slightly mentioned in other books. However, they may offer correspondence classes for students whose parents do not wish to send their kids away in a time of such danger. I think that Harry will be encouraged to resurrect the D.A. as an official student group that will train in the defense against the Dark Arts and have many adventures. He will have to go back when he realizes that so many of his friends are basing their decision to return on his. He will stand by Hogwarts, but will still do what is necessary to do to hunt down the remaining Horcruxes.

2. Will Hagrid be the next to die?

Based on the theory of Alchemy, which J.K. Rowling has described as giving a strong logical basis to the story, Hagrid is next in line to die. If you know more about this theory, please share. Basically the idea is that for Harry to reach his full potential, he must lose many of the adults he depends on to help him and give him advice. Alchemy is the process by which the sorcerer's stone is made, and there is a different color in each step of the process. The color pattern is Black (Sirius Black), White (Albus Dumbledore; albus is latin for white), and Red (Rubeus Hagrid; rubeus is latin for red). Although I hope nothing bad happens to Hagrid, evidence seems to point to his imminent death.

3. Harry and Ginny: Will they get back together?

Although Harry broke up with Ginny during Dumbledore's funeral, saying that he didn't want to put her life in danger by associating herself with him, many readers hope that they will decide to rekindle their relationship before the series is over. It seems that Rowling spent too much time developing this relationship to let it end so quickly. Even if they have to date secretly, I don't think that they will be able to keep their feelings hidden from each other.

4. Whose side is Snape really on?

Some say it is obvous that Snape is loyal to Voldemort because he killed Dumbledore. However, that may not be the entire story. He is playing a double agent, it is very hard to tell what he would have to do to keep up appearances on either side. When he made the unbreakable vow, he swore to help Draco, and he may have done the deed only to spare a young student from committing such a serious act. Personally, I have a hard time believing that Snape is good. I think he truly is a double agent, and the only one he is loyal to is himself. He plays both sides so that no matter who is in power, he will have protection. I have a theory that the reason Snape hates Harry so much is because he was actually in love with Harry's mother. Why else would he have gone to Dumbledore when he found out that Voldemort had murdered her? But Harry looks just like his dad, who Snape would have hated with a jealous rage. Snape definitely has ulterior motives in what he does. Dumbledore may have trusted him, but Dumbledore also had a tendency to want to see the good in people. I think Snape is selfish, but he might still protect Harry if it comes down to it.

5. Wil Harry become an auror?

I think that Harry will be able to reach his goal of becoming an auror. Maybe with all the dark wizards afoot, the auror department will decide to take on a few seventh year interns to help them as they train! I would really like to see Harry get involved with them, but I am not sure if Rowling will address this until the end of the book. Regardless, Harry will be fighting dark wizards on his own, with or without the auror status.

6. Will the D.A. return to kick some Dark Wizard tail?

Yes! I was hoping that Harry would bring back the D.A. all throughout the sixth book, but the way the most loyal of them returned in the end to fight the Death Eaters will show everyone that they are not too young to join the fight. They may not be inducted into the Order of the Phoenix, but they will be recognized as a force against Voldemort that cannot be ignored. Only this time, they will not be training for their OWLS and NEWTS, but for their lives and the lives of those they love. The name "Dumbledore's Army" takes on a new meaning after the death of their namesake. There will be all-out wizard war by the climax of the seventh book, and the D.A. will not be left out.

7. Will Harry survive?

I hope he will, but there are many who think that Harry is actually one of the Horcruxes that must be destroyed for Voldemort to die. The prophecy from the fifth book says that "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..." This could be taken many different ways, but I hope that Harry will be able to destroy the Dark Lord without dying. I think he will come close, but I hope he wakes up in the hospital wing as he does after climaxes in other books.

The seventh and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released on July 21, 2007.