Harry Potter: final predictions

[hexagonian]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Then again, just because Harry and Snape don't meet until the end doesn't mean we won't see Snape throughout the book.

Actually, this will also keep readers in the dark about Snape's real intentions until the end of the book. A good thing too...

The one knock I had about book 6 was that Rowlings tipped her hand too early in the book about Snape. Once he took on the Unbreakable Vow, you kinda figured that Snape would be locked into something despicable - and that it involved Dumbledore as the target.

[Solver]

So you think we'll have more chapters that are not written from Harry's perspective?

IIRC, that has only been done in opening chapters (chapter 1 of PS and GoF and chapters 1 and 2 of HBP) - with the narrative never switching away from Harry once it started.

[Will9]

What was chapter 1 of GoF? I forgot.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Sandman


How could someone on the 'good' side not have noticed that Harry was shocked as well (and indeed was empathising with Snape)?

Very, very easily.

Jon Miller

[hexagonian]

Originally posted by Will9
What was chapter 1 of GoF? I forgot.

Voldemort/Pettigrew

[Will9]

Originally posted by hexagonian

Voldemort/Pettigrew

Wasn't that a dream of Harry's or was that just in the movie?

[lord of the mark]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by Sandman

Yes, but as I said, the Malfoys were initially warm towards Harry. And in this section, Snape is admitting quite freely not being 'loyal' to Voldemort, but to dark magic in general.

1. Yes, the explanation Snape gives could well be true. If it werent possible, it wouldnt be persuasive to LeStrange and Narcissa, let alone to us.
2. However its not "free" LeStrange has just challenged his loyalty, based on his not helping Quirrel. he has to give a reason for that. What reason would you have given her?
3. He may well still like dark magic in general. He was interested in dark magic before the first Voldemort war, and having an interest in dark magic doesnt seem to automatically make you a death eater, or why would the ministry allow "knockturn alley" and its shops to exist? Again, the question isnt if he is interested in dark magic, but if hes still loyal to the death eaters.

How could someone on the 'good' side not have noticed that Harry was shocked as well (and indeed was empathising with Snape)?

Because he was more focused on his own feelings, and didnt much care to get empathy from Harry.

[b etor]

Spoiler:

Chuck Norris kills Harry Potter in the seventh book.

[self biased]

hah. i warn everyone that clicking the spoiler in my post will lead to actual spoilers. so if you don't want it spoiled, don't go.

Spoiler:

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/7/d/1/7d178d4391524e665bdfc8c087f332f7.jpg

[Japher]

The one knock I had about book 6 was that Rowlings tipped her hand too early in the book about Snape. Once he took on the Unbreakable Vow, you kinda figured that Snape would be locked into something despicable - and that it involved Dumbledore as the target.

So, are we assuming that the Unbreakable Vow was to kill Dumbledore if Draco couldn't? I don't recall that ever being said, though implied, which could be a mistake to assume. It was said that Voldy did want Draco to kill Dumbledore, but it was never said that this was the task that Narcissa swore Snape to.

Why did Snape step in and kill Dumbledore when Draco couldn't? To win himself back into the good graces of the Death Eaters, since Dumbledore's death was inevitable at that time.

Snape obviously has some intention more than just winning himself back into the Death Eaters.

Why did Snape not allow the Death Eaters to try and kill Harry after Dumbledore's death? Why did Snape get obviously annoyed and angry with Harry for using Snape's own spells on him and trying to harm attack him? The emotions Snape was showing was not one that an enemy shows for their foe, but one a parent might show when mad at their child (IMO).

I'm thinking that Snape's anger towards Harry may lie in his lack of desire to practice the dark arts that Harry would probably excel at. It may be that Snape had some relationship with Harry's elders (maybe even with Petunia) that causes Snape hurt and he sees too much of that in Harry. However, the actions that we have seen thus far in Snape is that he, personally, doesn't intend to harm Harry. Though that doesn't mean he won't lead him to harm... Still, IMO, I don't think that is the case. I think Snape honestly believes that the only to kill Voldy is through Harry, and that Snape wan't Harry to kill Voldy so that Snape will then be, at least in his mind, the most powerful dark wizard in the world... Lord Snape.

[Drogue]

Re: Harry Potter: final predictions

Originally posted by Guynemer
Ron Weasley: Perhaps a more likely candidate than his sister, given that he doesn't appear to be as magically skilled as her.

Bellatrix Lestrange: This mad old bint (as Laz may call her) will almost certainly end up back in Azkaban, as opposed to six feet under. Her tenuous grip on sanity will be her ultimate downfall.

Peter Pettigrew: To me, he--not Snape--is the character I most wonder about in regards to whether or not he will redeem himself. If not (as I predict), expect Lupin to track him down and send him to Azkaban. If so, expect him to be killed by Voldemort or one of the Death Eaters.

I can't see any of these three making it. One of the main characters has to die, and I'm pretty sure it won't be Hermione. However I have a feeling it won't be Harry either. It's too easy. Also the prophecy suggests one of Harry and Voldemort has to die, so I can't see both of them biting it.

I think either Bellatrix or Neville has to die. I can't see there not being a confrontation, and I can't see both of them surviving it. Yet as you've said, I also can't believe Rowling would kill Neville. Much as it seems a bit far fetched, I think Neville's got to win. No idea how she'll make it believeable though, unless it's just a surprise spell or something from the wings.

I think Pettigrew, rather than Snape, will redeem himself. Firstly because it's easier to redeem a character who started off good, but turned evil, than one who has always been morally dubious. And secondly, as others have mentioned, because of his blood debt to Harry. If he does turn good, or indeed do anything redeeming, Voldemort will kill him. Or perhaps Bellatrix. Could explain how Neville would kill her - she attacks Pettigrew and is weakened.

Snape is the interesting one. I'm going to be contraversial and say I don't think he's redeemable. I think Rowling will make the point that while he may have started off of a mixed morality, how he's been treated has left him with the evil side looming larger. Being good isn't so much about doing good, as not doing evil, and Snape's done plenty of evil. Plus he hates Harry. I think the only good things he's done have been because of a necessity to - his blood debt to James for example. However, I also don't think which side he ends on is the main thing about Snape. We've been told that Lily Potter is a very important character, and there's lots we don't know about her yet. She was the one always standing up for Snape, so I think there's a link there we don't know about. Indeed, I think we may find Snape is related to Harry. This would explain Snape's resentment of Harry yet still saving him earlier in the series, James' teasing but saving of Snape, and a somewhat similarity between Snape and Harry in their desire to be secretive, to fight their demons alone and Dumbledore's trust in them both. The latter of these I think's because deep down Dumbledore knows there's something binding Snape to Harry, despite the animosity on the surface. Indeed, many family members seem to dislike members they're similar to, so I think this makes it somehow fit to how we perceive reality. At one point I thought Lily might have had an affair with Snape, as while James was the flash one, Harry clearly has some tortured genius in him too. However now I think it's more that Snape could be related to Lily, as the way she sticks up for him is more sisterly or cousinly. Still a bit of a long-shot though.

I can't see Snape surviving, but all the way through he's been a very mixed-morality character, and I can't see that changing. He'll do good and bad actions in the final book. I can see him redeeming himself to Harry somewhat, but not in the general sense of being good. More in the general sense of being like Harry, and Harry realising he's a tortured soul, somewhat like him.

I really want to see what having his mother's eyes means for Harry though. It's clear in the prophecy, and from Harry's comments to Voldemort later, that the power he posseses that Voldemort doesn't is love, as he pities Voldemort for not being able to feel it. Considering Harry was saved before by his mother's love, perhaps Voldemort dies because of Harry's love for his mother. Though perhaps Snape comes in somewhere here.

[b etor]

Originally posted by self biased
hah. i warn everyone that clicking the spoiler in my post will lead to actual spoilers. so if you don't want it spoiled, don't go.

Spoiler:

http://content.ytmnd.com/content/7/d/1/7d178d4391524e665bdfc8c087f332f7.jpg

'
wooooah. those are major spoilers.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by b etor
wooooah. those are major spoilers.

Grrrr! Don't tempt me!

[b etor]

you will hate yourself if you read them.

[hexagonian]

Originally posted by Japher
So, are we assuming that the Unbreakable Vow was to kill Dumbledore if Draco couldn't? I don't recall that ever being said, though implied, which could be a mistake to assume. It was said that Voldy did want Draco to kill Dumbledore, but it was never said that this was the task that Narcissa swore Snape to.

The implication was so strong that it was almost impossible to take it any other way. This was one time where Rowlings was practically screaming out what was going to happen, and unfortunately, it was at the beginning of the book.

Later in the book, Harry tells Dumbledore his suspicions about Malfoy's intent and collusion with Snape, and Dumbledore basically said 'Don't worry about it, it's under control.'

Dumbledore has also said in the past - 'There are much worse things than death,' so we the reader know that he did not fear to die.

By taking Harry on the search for the Horcrux, and by telling him all he knew about Voldemort and those Horcruxes, Dumbledore has given Harry the tools he needs to defeat Voldemort. Dumbledore may be valuable, and ideally, he would like to be there to continue to help, but once Harry has the information, Dumbledore is no longer needed to defeat Voldemort. It has always rested on Harry's shoulders to be the one who will untimately defeat Voldemort.

The only question was whether Snape actually was ever going to be put in a position to have to do it - and Dumbledore had foreseen this very possibilty coming up. So he tells Snape that he will have to kill him if the situation dictates, because it will accomplish one very important thing. It will remove any doubt in any of Voldemort and his followers about Snape's supposed loyalty to Voldemort. Snape thus gets into the prime position of Voldemorts most loyal servant. Voldemort does not truly trust anyone, and he rules by fear, but he will give those servants who do serve him loyalty great responsibilities.

When Dumbledore came back to the castle, he was greatly weakened. Dumbledore's modis is to always try to redeem people (love), and he did that right to the end with Malfoy. He knew he was not going to survive because he was surrounded by Death-Eaters who were about to pull the tigger. Dumbledore chooses who will kill him (Snape) because the trade-off gets the most payback for the surviving members of the Order.