Harry Potter Complete Book Spoiler Thread

[cadburysmom]

Question... in the Pensieve memories when the Gaunts and Riddle are speaking in Parseltongue... how does DD understand what's being said between them? Or does he understand? Does he just surmise?

My first guess was yes....I know he speaks Mermish as well as another language Harry didn't understand. But just edited to add I think that is wrong. At first I thought he did speak Parseltongue, but if he had, wouldn't he have heard the same "voices"(Basilisk) as Harry in Chamber of Secrets?

 

[ophie]

I know he speaks mermish and other languages. I was under the impression that he had to learn those like we learn other languages. But, first, DD never said he could speak Parseltongue. It's not been mentioned at all. Second, all we've been told about Parseltongue is that it's a gift. It's an animal language. Can they be learned like other languages? Does no one learn Parseltongue because of the stigma? Or might it be very difficult?

 

[cadburysmom]

I know he speaks mermish and other languages. I was under the impression that he had to learn those like we learn other languages. But, first, DD never said he could speak Parseltongue. It's not been mentioned at all. Second, all we've been told about Parseltongue is that it's a gift. It's an animal language. Can they be learned like other languages? Does no one learn Parseltongue because of the stigma? Or might it be very difficult?

I think you're right that it's a gift and cannot be "learned" like other languages...and Harry only acquired it through Voldemort's attack.

 

[TwingleMum]

I don't believe DD speaks or understands parseltongue. I think he is familar with that particular memory and had made some educated guesses as to what transpired. He told Harry that they were venturing into the area of theories and not facts. So I'm guessing myself that he didn't understand the language but took what he saw in that memory plus the others he had and his own experience with Tom Riddle as a youth and made an educated guess. I was under the impression that he was familar with all the memories and even had a very good idea what Prof Slug's memory would show.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't believe DD speaks or understands parseltongue. I think he is familar with that particular memory and had made some educated guesses as to what transpired. He told Harry that they were venturing into the area of theories and not facts. So I'm guessing myself that he didn't understand the language but took what he saw in that memory plus the others he had and his own experience with Tom Riddle as a youth and made an educated guess. I was under the impression that he was familar with all the memories and even had a very good idea what Prof Slug's memory would show.

 

[ophie]

So if he didn't know Parseltongue he just guessed that Merope Gaunt cherished a secret burning passion for Tom Riddle, Sr? Or it doesn't matter that he doesn't know what was said because his other research taught him that they ended up married and he came back claiming bewitchment?

 

[tone.def]

8:00, Saturday July 16th. I was grumpily awoken by the very large, and heavy, 6th Harry Potter book being thrust on my bed by my mother who had already been to the grocery store this morning. I dive into it, barely having time to put on my glasses so I can even see this glorious book. 70 pages in, and all I can say is WOW.

I feel pretty bad at the thought of Malfoy dying though, he should be punished for what he does, not because he-who-must-not-be-named is mad at his father.

I was also really confused at the thought of Voldemort drinking Harry's blood, when did this happen

I finally finishing the book today!!!

So here I am waiting for Malfoy to die when facing Dumbledore and then our ot no where Snape comes and kills Dumbledore.

I'm dumbfounded. Literally. Never expected Dumbledore to die.

 

[Figment22]

I finally finishing the book today!!!

So here I am waiting for Malfoy to die when facing Dumbledore and then our ot no where Snape comes and kills Dumbledore.

I'm dumbfounded. Literally. Never expected Dumbledore to die.

Wow! How did you manage to stay spoiler-free for all these months? It would seem to me that the news was everywhere about Dumbledore. Good for you for doing it.

 

[tone.def]

Wow! How did you manage to stay spoiler-free for all these months? It would seem to me that the news was everywhere about Dumbledore. Good for you for doing it.

I even managed to do with the the finale of Sex in the City. On HBO in the States, the episodes used to air 2 weeks before up here in Canada and I manged to do it as well.

Block it out, you're not talking to me...

I saw this thread on the day I got my book as well and I refused to read it...

Glad I did!

 

[pdchris]

I even managed to do with the the finale of Sex in the City. On HBO in the States, the episodes used to air 2 weeks before up here in Canada and I manged to do it as well.

Block it out, you're not talking to me...

I saw this thread on the day I got my book as well and I refused to read it...

Glad I did!

But the debate here is: did Dumbledore really die?

BTW, Iknow what you mean. I can't get Smallville here so I'm only watching it on DVD. So, I have no idea what's happening in season 5 (And don't anybody tell me either!)

 

[tone.def]

But the debate here is: did Dumbledore really die?

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... good question!

My first thought is yes because Harry was released from the charm... but Dumbledore is going to plan a role in the next book, I bet!

 

[dismom9761]

Wow! How did you manage to stay spoiler-free for all these months? It would seem to me that the news was everywhere about Dumbledore. Good for you for doing it.

I managed to stay spoiler-free also.Though a small heads up may not have been a bad thing.My son recently started the series so I decided to read them.I read all six in 7 days.I am definitely hooked.
Btw-I don't think Dd is dead.May be wishful thiking.Did someone say there are years between books?

 

[sjh801]

I. too, finally finished HBP and I stayed spoiler free! Loved it! I avoided this board like the plague. Keeping busy has left me only enough time to read slowly. I also wanted to make it last since we have to wait so long for the next book.

As to whether or not certain people are dead, I have watched soap operas for too long to buy supposedly "pat" answers. We shall all see.

 

[Jen D]

.Did someone say there are years between books?

Expect Summer 2007.

 

[Hercules10]

OK, I just finished the book (yeah took me a while ).

I think Dumbledore is not dead. His whole demise was too well orchestrated. He advertised his exit from Hogwarts a little too much. The Horcrux they found had already been found and I think Dumbledore knew this becasue he already knew about the hidden archway and the boat, etc. He put too much emphasis on Harry getting Snape on their return and then in turn Snape was the one to kill Dumbledore. Just too many things that make me go "Hmmmmmm".

I think this is a ruse to get Voldemort to expose himself more because now the one person he was afraid of is gone (supposedly).

BTW I also think it was Sirius's brother who originally found the locket.

 

[Disney-Kim]

I saw the GOF movie last month and decided to read the 5th and 6th books for fun. I really enjoyed the Order of the Phoenix. It had lots of action, suspense, and all kinds of things going on. I read the HBP immediately following. (finished both in 7 days ). I found the HBP to be slower and a "setup" book for #7. IMHO. I knew DD died becuase I had read these boards earlier in the summer. so not surprised....but felt it was rushed and not enough detail. I didn't know Snape was the HBP...guess I am slow.

I can't believe I have to wait 2 yrs to read the final book. It better be a big one...because she has a lot of explaining to do. The OOTP was a much longer more enjoyable read for me.

I agree with most of you that DD/Snape...more to it, at least I hope.

I am so bummed to have to wait sooo much longer. but the next movie should be really good if its as good as the book.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Does anybody know why Lucius Malfoy walks with a cane? Does he need a cane for some reason? I'm wondering if that cane is a horcrux. It would make sense that Voldemort would trust a horcrux to Lucius since Lucius is one of Voldemort's most faithful servants. And I can see an interesting battle for book seven if Harry and friends has to fight Lucius to gain control over the horcrux. I guess it just seems to me that there is no real reason for Lucius to even have the cane. Does anybody else think it could be a horcrux?

Another question that comes to mind; in Goblet of Fire, Voldemort came back to life. Wouldn't he need a horcrux to get back to power? If so, doesn't that mean that one of the three objects he used was a horcrux? Perhaps his father's bone?

I'm leaning against Harry himself being a horcrux because if the goal is to acheive immortality, then why would he instill a horcrux into something that is mortal?

 

[becker1123]

I hadn't noticed about Lucius walking with a cane. Don't know what that means. As for DD ... I do believe he is dead, but I'm bothered by the fact that Snape killed him. If DD is the most skilled wizard of all time, why didn't he see that Snape was a double agent, especially when everyone else seemed to think he was bad. DD always defended him. I couldn't find a good reason why he did this. Harry mentioned that it had something to do with Snape feeling guilty about Harry's parents dying after he told LV about the prophecy he overheard. That just doesn't wash ... Snape hated James and Lily, so why would he care?

No, I'm sure there is another reason that DD trusted Snape, one we don't know yet. I do think DD knew he was going to die and either pre-arranged it with Snape to help Snape keep his cover in the best way or knew deep down that Snape was a double agent and allowed this to happen as part of the larger plan. Remember, his hand was black, maybe that was just the beginning of a mortal injury, and he knew he only had a little time left. Who knows.

Also, I do worry about HP's ability to fight LV. How can he take over for DD when he is so inexperienced? HP has natural skill, but he hasn't even completed his studies. He needs to gain more experience.

Can't wait for the last book. Previous posters are right, JKR has a lot of loose ends to tie up.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Although it was a given that SS hated James, he did not hate Lily. In the SS's pensieve vision, Harry saw Lily chastising James for belittling SS. Remember, this would be SS's memory, a vision of Lily in which she "protected" him. I believe the love of SS for Lily and the great remorse over her death was the reason that DD trusted SS. JKR has stated Lily's profession would be important: Were she and SS both potion makers, working together? Could it also be that SS had made LV vow not to harm Lily (thus, the reason LV actually asked her to step aside, rather than just killing her) and that vow was part of the reason LV required his "experiments" (we know now they were the horcruxes, but in GOF when he stated this we didn't) to reincarnate him; the love that killed LV was also SS's love of Lily, as well as Lily's love of Harry?

JKR has already alluded to the importance of a Phoenix member that has not been much of a player in prior books, an important part in the final book. I think that will be DD's brother, Abner.

Sharon

 

[va32h]

Lucius doesn't have a cane. It's a holder for his wand. I doubt that it is a horcrux, because Lucius was already given a horcrux, the diary.