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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

-- Annotated With Results --

We all know that J K Rowling and her publishers tightly guard the upcoming storylines of the yet un-published Harry Potter Books. That said, we've read five of the seven books and by now should have at lease some clues (and opinions) about what type of things "need" occur in the upcoming books. Much of the activity will involve answering the questions and resolving the conflicts on the table.

What keeps us anxiously awaiting the next sequel is the masterful way Ms Rowling "fleshes out" Harry's world. In fact is it Rowling's mastery of her craft that enables us clues to future events. She uses careful research (except sometimes for dates) for places, things and characters; and has always meticulously chosen where and when to introduce them as they flow through the story line.

She has a penchant and "feel" for the styles of antiquity. She has explained her choice of names, use of characters, and even the types of wood used in the wands. It appears that she has set up a chiasmic story line of seven books as is the classic form of many books of antiquity. The terrible restoration of evil Lord Voldemort occurred in the central book four.

Using the chiasmic rise and fall would place book six as the compliment to book two where the ancient animosity between Gryffindor and Slytherin was introduced and Slytherin's heir was revealed - and defeated. Harry was advised that he was a true Gryffindor as "only a TRUE Gryffindor" could have produced and wielded the sword."

Ok, after a couple of readings I must admit that I don't see much chiasmic plot tracking; however, Dumbledore did "telegraph" the intent of the book within the first few pages- if we had only known. After dealing handily with the Dursleys, Dumbledore spoke quietly and resolutely to Harry saying: "And now Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."  Unfortunately, for us, he had already previously defined "death" as "the next great adventure."

-- So what will did happen in book Six? --

• What summer break discomforts will the Dursleys inflict on Harry this year? None described. In fact, Dumbledore seemed to flummox them when he visited to retrieve Harry.
• What effect will LVs and HPs "connectivity" have on the "family blood protection spell" that has protected Harry? LV is using occlumancy to "shut off" the connection and Dumbledore arranged for Harry to come to the Dursley's "one more time" until his 17th, coming of age, birthday in July.
• Will Ms Rowling deal with Harry's new understanding of Mrs Dursleys role and relationship with Dumbledore? Nope, not yet.
• JKR has said his summertime visit will be short - what event will cut it short and where will he go? Dumbledore came to remove Harry to the Burrow where he could be monitored more closely from a visit by the new Minister of Magic, also to assist in convincing Professor Slughorn to return to Hogwarts.
• The "brainwave" connection between Harry and LV hasn't gone away and Harry will need to overcome it - either with occlumency or some other method. Snape won't teach Harry, will Dumbledore? Dumbledore would have but it isn't needed any more aparantly as LV is doing the occlumancy himself.
• What kind of closure will Harry have with Serious and his estate? As Serious' only "close to kin" will he have claim to anything? Yes. Sirius left everything to Harry including the house, gold, Kreatchur and Buckbeak.
• Kreatchur will have to be dealt with as Serious' home is used for the Order. Number 12 Gimmald Place closed up due to the unknown status' of all the Black family curses on the house. Harry gave Kreatchur an order to see if the magic attachment had actually passed on to him, and it had, so Kreatchur went to work with the other House Elfs at Hogwarts.
• Will the "two way mirror" get repaired, how and what will it be used for? Nope, not in this book. JKR implied, however, that it would be used in the future so it must be in book seven.
• Fudge will undoubtedly be ousted - who will replace him? Rufus Scrimgeour former head of he Aurors took over. He kept Fudge on as a consultant along with Delores Umbridge and Percy Weasley.
• The captured Death Eaters will need to be dealt with, Azkaban isn't secure anymore, will the "death chamber" be used? Nope, amazingly Azkaban is used, but must be a nicer place for Malfoy and his company without the dementors.
• Draco will probably escalate his brazenness against HP as well. That's an understatement! He has learned that LV isn't above threatening death to get his way. Aparantly Draco is a Death Eater (at least he could get through the barrier designed for those with a dark mark)
• We probably won't hear again of Delores (just as we haven't heard much from Gilderoy). Well we didn't hear much, but unfortunately she's still around in the new ministers staff.
• In fact who will be THIS YEARS Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher? Severous Snape finally made it! A former professor of Potions (Slughorn) was brought out of retirement to replace Snape.
• Harry will find out more about both the "death chamber" and the locked door "Love Room" in the Ministry of Magic. Nope, not in this book; except that it is there and holds the key to the power that Harry has which LV "knows not of."
• Massive amounts of Muggle Baiting and mayhem will occur at the hands of LV and his death eaters. It could be that the Dursley's are safe but I won't hold my breath after book 6 as they are most likely expendable to the plot. Still to be seen after Harry leaves next year.
• LV will recruit others into his circle to replace those he's lost. Percy, in his adolescent embarrassed self-justification may be a likely candidate. He's stubbornly still self estranged from his family but not above using his presence to manipulate his parents in the use of the Minister. Ripe for being "Imperioused"
• At least another major character will die, possibly several. Who will it be? Wow, - read the book! I can't even say it.
• An heir of Godric Gryffindor will be revealed. Who will it be? He (or she) will most likely be killed. Was a mile off on this one - Snape is the "Half-blood Prince" as he is half-blood with a muggle father and his mother's maiden name was "Prince."
• We will probably learn more about Harry's genealogical background - even perhaps about the continual references to "his eyes" being those of Lilly's. Maddeningly this was mentioned again but not explained. Nose shapes were however, aparantly the more pure the wizarding lineage the longer and pointy'er the nose.
• Harry will struggle to discover and develop the "power he {LV} knows not." Not at all - Harry only was told again that Love and the ability to do so was the power but nothing else was mentioned.
• Neville will play an increasingly greater role. Not yet.
• Sometime we will need to find out just what Dumbledore means when he frequently says he's "watched Harry more closely than he knows." Still don't know about this either.
• And we will find out how it is that Dumbledore can "preemptively" act to head off problems - seeming to be able to "set up" actions and preparations beforehand. Nor this! He does, however, show Harry that he possesses a vast amount of magical knowledge and powers that Harry doesn't come close to posessing at present.
• Grawp will play a continued role, perhaps even a "last minute" unexpected rescue as he has done in the past. JKR did say that he would appear again but he's moved into a cave that Dumbledore made for him in the mountains. He did come to the funeral and acted consolingly to Hagrid.
• We will probably get a more intimate view of the professors living quarters and maybe even families. Well, would have been nice but not this book.

Ah, well... there's always next year!