I'm thinking Dean Thomas is the HBP (Harry Potter)

[XemaSab]

"Dean Thomas is actually a half-blood whose father was a wizard who got himself killed by death eaters after refusing to join them. His story was sacrificed for Neville's — which is more central to the plot."

From http://www.madamscoop.org/themes/neville.htm

[Pithy Cherub]

1. The HBP is the shift to tie everything together for Book 7.

You are correct that it was info deliberately pulled. JKR left it out because she said the last two books would be about answers not more clues. Dean is a character with a past but it is largely unknown.

This month's SWAG for me is the Half Blood Prince is Snape. Next month I could do a double reverse with a soaring high dive and go back to Dumbledore. :think: :party:

[XemaSab]

2. I'm still sticking with Dean

Snape is a Slytherin. Slytherins are pure-bloods. Ergo, Snape is a pureblood, and cannot be half-blooded.

There is of course the possibility that the HBP is not himself half-blooded, but merely the prince of the half-bloods.

If the book is about answers and not more clues it has to be someone we already know. The process of elimination may be helpful here.

Hermione, Ron, Snape, Draco, and all the other Slytherins are purebloods.

Harry, Hagrid, Voldy, and Dean are half-bloods, but JK has said that it's not Harry or Voldy.

We don't know about many other people, including Dumbledore.

The HBP is ostensibly male, which would eliminate Hermione, Loony, Ginny, McGonagall, Madame Maxime, and all the other women.

My first vote is Dean, with Neville my second vote. (Hmm... shades of the primaries?)

But yeah, I want to see a lot of Snape in the next book. :evilgrin:

[Pithy Cherub]

3. Voldemort is a Slytherin and NOT pureblood. (COS)

Hermione is muggle born. There are hints (OOtP) that Snape may be a halfblood. Goin' with "Snivellus" right now. But yep it could be shades of the primaries. LOL!

All of the purebloods are also related...No one, absolutely no one has come forward to claim kinship with Snape... :9

[XemaSab]

4. This is true

Voldemort isn't a pureblood, so not all Slytherins are pureblooded, though I swear at one point it says they mostly are... Salazar was the one who only wanted to admit pureblooded students, and it caused a schism in Hogwarts. I think that's where I got that idea from.

I included Hermione as a pureblood, because she's 100% Muggle, and not a half blood, but I guess that's a misappropriation of the term.

I've read analyses before that say that Snape should have been on the family tree at Sirius' house, but wasn't, but there were quite a few additional people who weren't mentioned, if all the wizarding families are related.

I can't wait until the book comes out!

I was so thrilled with OOTP, it was actually my favorite, which most fans don't agree with, and let's hope the next one adds more good stuff.

(All the stuff about Snape made OOTP for me, and it was astonishing to realize that what seemed like throwaway lines in the first 2 books were very, very prescient: Snape CAN read minds!)

[Pithy Cherub]

6. OOTP is very sophisticated and causes the most arguments. lol!

Sirius has some part yet to play. Still dead though... I think Snape holds the key to what are the secrets of the 'veil'. Maybe, gulp, just maybe, Sirius and Snape are related. Sirius' batty mom could have and would have zapped him off the curtains too when he stopped being a Death Eater.

Sirius was a Gryffindor and the rest of his family were Slytherins. Including the former headmaster in the picture in Dumbledore's office and in the bedroom Ron & Harry used.

Big Conclusion (based on thin air and my wand is in for repairs): Snape and Sirius related and that is what generated the serious animosity...

Hopefully, Harry will get the hang of the reading minds and read Snapes. I loved OOTP too.

[XemaSab]

9. Everyone will have a part to play

But I agree, Sirius will still play a part from beyond the grave. Harry's probably going to spend some time at his house.

I think Dumbledore's the one who knows about the secrets of the veil, and I think the animosity between Snape and James' gang has more to do with James et al being bullies than with any relationship. That being said, Snape and Sirius are for sure related, but it won't play a part in any revelations.

Harry's probably going to get into the hang of mind reading and learn some things via THAT neat little trick. I also what to know what else was in Snape's pensieve (but don't we all!). Hopefully Snape's secrets will be revealed by the end of book 7, cause I heart Snape, but JK doesn't seem to share my feelings.

[Pithy Cherub]

12. The mega hate between Snape and the 'recently' departed Sirius,

is beyond jealousy.

Having barely passed the History of Magic - here is the thin veneer of a theory - Snape potentially knew they were related and expected to have one familiar relative when arrived at Hogwarts. They end up in different houses and it just descends from there. Snape may have had a secret thing for Harry's or Neville's mom. Could Snape have known that Wormtail did the betrayal and let Sirius go to Azkaban because Dumbledore needed Sirius safe? Ouch...

Still thinking Snape is the HBP - a bludger attack could change my mind. The Half Blood Prince doesn't mean something good necessarily... Sorceror's Stone - lots of trouble. Chamber of Secrets - definitely snake bad. Prisoner of Azkaban - Good guy that later bought the farm. Goblet of Fire - death, destruction and resurrection
Order - hormones and hell

The matching mirror that Sirius gave Harry has yet to be explained. The suspense is killing me slowly... :P

[XemaSab]

13. Your idea is starting to grow on me

There's definitely something there about how Sirius was supposed to be a dark wizard, and wound up (supposedly) being a good guy. There's also a lot more about James and Lily that has yet to come out.

[Pithy Cherub]

15. We all have our pet theories that as time goes by

get blown to smithereens ultimately by JKR. I like making guesses. JKR likes to go online and read the theories - alot! We have to watch when she schedules interviews over the next two months that will give us more clues.

July 17th marks the date when we all go into depression combined with anticipation as we try to figure out how it all ends... :toast:

[XemaSab]

16. Other theories?

Hermoine and Ron are for sure going to hook up.

Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are going to come back into the plot.

At least one other person will be outed as a dark wizard, someone we don't suspect.

Hagrid will somehow save the day. Ditto for Neville.

A Weasely will die (but not Ron).

Draco won't die, but he will do something TRULY awful, not just petty nastiness.

Harry will not find true love. Harry will spend a lot more time at Sirius' house and will dicover many things there.

Snape, well, we're all going to be surprised at the end. ;)

That's all I got tonight.

[Pithy Cherub]

19. interesting and thoughtful list... Mine (revision 1096)

Harry & Ginny Weasley most definitiely. After she dumps Dean.

Ron, (A future Apprentice contestant) will have a lapse to the dark side because of his love of Big Green, The Almighty Dollar $$$$$

Ron & Herminone - Book 7, more couple sniper fire in Book 6

Dumbledore dies dramatically because of another betrayal.

Neville becomes really magical. (He will be a professor of herbology when Professor Sprout retires)

Lilly well see the other thread...

Harry & Draco have to team up on something then battle at the end. Draco follows his father lead and starts to become a Death Eater.
His mom & Snape have an affair...just wanted to see if you were paying attention. :P

[Mist]

20. Ginny sees Harry more as a brother now

I think Harry, if he IS to have a relationship, will hook up w/someone else-maybe Luna? I'm surprised how many think Dumbledore will die--I'd rather not think of that!

[Pithy Cherub]

22. Ms. Lovegood will probably get Ginny's leftovers: Dean

Ginny gave up on Harry - not stopped liking him. Harry is picking up on girl vibes a tad better. Harry will want Ginny and she will be directed elsewhere. Like father like son.

Poor Dumbledore :cry: but that is easier to take than Hagrid or Ron or Hermione. :cry: more...

[XemaSab]

23. Sounds pretty dialed

I especially like the Neville/Herbology lead.

Harry and Draco are for sure heading for something.

[davidinalameda]

27. Snape being related would have been mentioned

Sirius made a big point of showing the tapestry off in OOTP

He would have mentioned it if Snape was releated

[Pithy Cherub]

28. Secrets within secrets...

Sirius didn't tell Harry alot of things. Dumbledore was in communication with Sirius privately and because of the Order oath, Sirius had to be circumspect about what to tell or share with Harry.

It suited their purposes to not tell Harry why Snape is a trusted member of the Order. Snape, the Weasleys, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Shackleford all trust Snape for a reason that is a mystery. My guess is that is has something to do with Sirius and Sirus's brother.

July 16,2005 will be an interesting day...;)

[davidinalameda]

5. would you claim Snape as your relative?

think about it

[Pithy Cherub]

7. Dumbledore's long lost son...

:P Just kidding. Something wicked this way comes...

Have to start rereading everything now... you too? :pals:

[XemaSab]

8. Definitely before July

n/t

[davidinalameda]

10. I don't have book 2

I have to buy it before I re-read everything in preparation for book 6

[Pithy Cherub]

11. My copies bought new this summer for the 1st time

now resemble salvage from the Goodwill reject pile. Will have to invest in a new set plus Book 6. Which is better go to the store on July 16th or have Amazon deliver...

Of course, ALL muggle electronic communication things and the wizard wireless will have to be turned off the day before and the day of so that my self-induced magic bubble is not compromised by spoilers.

[davidinalameda]

14. I have 3 copies on order

one to read; one to put away and one for my ex's niece

[Pithy Cherub]

17. following your lead! thanks

:thumbsup:

[Matilda]

18. If he looked like Alan Rickman, I wouldn't mind.

Sorry, being flippant.

But I have this feeling that Snape is more sad than bad - mainly
because Dumbledore has faith in him. Or does he just want him
where he can keep an eye on him?

My head starts spinning when I try to second-guess the outcomes -
JKR is too clever by half.

[Mist]

21. Rickman's hot - Snape really isn't

except in AU fan fic! Snape IS bad sometimes-persistantly unfair to Harry in potions class. There's a lot of bile in Snape, and we'll probably find out why in next book (James' picking on Snape couldn't have caused ALL of Snape's ill-humor).

[DinahMoeHum]

24. OOTP suggests that Snape was abused as a child.

Perhaps that's part of the reason.

:evilfrown:

[Pithy Cherub]

25. were those his 'parents' or was snape adopted?

abused then, abusive now he is... ;)

[XemaSab]

30. Snape?

No way. :P

[intheflow]

31. Xema,

you're killing me, resurrecting these old threads! :rofl:

[Matilda]

26. But if JKR scuttled Dean's story, why revive it now?

Especially as after OoTP, Neville's power is clearly growing, and
his story is obviously going to take off in the next book, so I'm
inclined to think that Dean will still be sidelined.

I'm rather leaning towards Snape - I know I've read an interview
somewhere where JKR said he's not muggle-born, but implied that he
does have muggle blood. Although he was so disdainful of Lily when
he called her a mudblood in a sneering way, that could be a case
of pot and kettle, just like Voldemort, who is also not pure-blood,
but is disdainful of half-bloods like himself. And we know we have
much to learn about Snape's background, so it must be dealt with
in HBP, so everything can be wrapped up in Book 7.

[Pithy Cherub]

29. Interesting point. Gryffindor Dean may be on his way

to having a "Cedric" moment. Neville is going to loom large in the story. JKR may actually have multiple deaths, Dumbledore (logical, but really heartbreaking choice) to emphasize that the Wizarding World is really at War. Though, Book 7 may be when Dumbledore actually goes, so Book 6 deaths could be really shocking. Also, Dumbledore still has much to teach Harry. Ok - that was hope speaking and a modicum of faith in JKR...

[CBHagman]

32. It's interesting to see what came true and what didn't.

I was just reading this thread for the first time last night (!), having only read HBP in the lead-up to DH, and it's fascinating to see how people were thinking.