Teens Predictions on the 7th and Final Harry Potter book #3
By
Temima M.
Grade 12
The big question left open from book six is, to quote McGongall: “ought Hogwarts to remain open?” However, it seems wrong to close a school when learning is what is needed. Indeed, Dumbledore’s belief in the vitality of education is evident by his thrice refusal of the position of Minister of Magic. However, Harry, Ron and Hermione will not, nonetheless, attend their final year. All being of age they will set off on the quest to destroy Voldemort.
Assuming that Dumbledore’s guesses are correct, there are six horcruxes: the destroyed diary; the destroyed Slytherin ring from the Gaunt house; Slytherin’s locket in the caves, destroyed by R.A.B.; Voldemort’s snake; the Hufflepuff cup and the Ravenclaw/Gryffindor artifact not yet known. The cup’s location is unknown, yet seeing that Dumbledore does not mention anything without a purpose, we may assume that the memories shown to Harry conceal the clue. The other hiding places- the Gaunt house, the seaside caves, and in the possession of a classmate to be smuggled into Hogwarts- all reveal a pattern of Riddle’s past. According to the memories and this pattern, the cup should be hidden in the orphanage.
The last horcrux is an object belonging to either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Looking at the other objects shows an immediate connection between them and their owners. Slytherin possessed a locket and a ring- symbolizing power. Hufflepuff owned a cup: “My cup overflows” as King David phrased the contentment Hufflepuff’s are known for. Gryffindor’s possession- a sword- symbolizes the characteristic bravery of his house. Therefore Ravenclaw’s object shall be a symbol of wisdom. Indeed, perhaps the diary was not a “muggle diary,” but rather Rowena’s? Perhaps, then, there is another Gryffindor object- perhaps hidden at Godric’s Hollow, the Potter’s home, where Voldemort marked Harry as his equal?
One thing is for sure- Harry will go to his parents’ home as he planned. However, Pettigrew remains as the Secret-Keeper of Godric’s Hollow’s location and therefore, but for Harry’s intervention, it would have died with Pettigrew. This shall give Pettigrew the opportunity to repay his life debt. In addition, this point strengthens the theory of Godric’s Hollow being the sixth horcrux’s hiding place, for it allows Voldemort a confidence in its inaccessibility.
But the big question remains unanswered- the question which has haunted readers since book one: is Snape good or evil? I am inclined to believe the former, mainly because, like Dumbledore, we all prefer to “believe the best of people,” as Snape says, but also for other reasons. Dumbledore’s pleading with Snape may be interpreted as begging Snape to kill him. Snape’s hatred etched in his face might have been self hatred. In addition, during the last encounter between Harry and Snape, the latter seems intent on protecting the former from any harm. But the biggest proof lies in the hesitancy Dumbledore showed during his confrontation with Harry over Snape’s allegiance, before confirming his trust in Snape. This hesitation must be the same ironclad proof of Snape’s remorse which Dumbledore debates relating. Dumbledore is not easily fooled, as proven by his constant and silent mistrust of Riddle.
Snape ran away with Malfoy, running to Voldemort, where Draco will learn the hard way what it means to be the Dark Lord’s henchman. Perhaps he’ll learn the very same reasons which caused Snape and Regulus Black to leave the Death Eaters.
This brings us to the mystery of R.A.B.’s person- the destroyer of the locket horcrux. The answer will be Regulus Black (maybe his middle name was after his uncle Alphard), for much evidence points his way. First of all, Regulus, being a Black grew up wallowing in a house of dark magic, allowing him the possibility of acquiring knowledge about horcruxes in addition to other dark arts. Regulus, we shouldn’t forget, was Sirius’ brother and perhaps not his “idiot brother” as Sirius terms him. Perhaps he resembles Sirius’ passionate drive for revenge. Regulus certainly meets the requirements. He has a motive- that which made him leave the Death Eaters- and the ability to destroy the locket- his magical powers coupled with his intense desire and maybe- Kreacher? To recover the locket alive requires an accomplice, and who would be better than a house elf sworn to obey and of non-wizard magical abilities? The locket would have found its way to the Black house- the very same unopenable heavy locket Molly throws out while cleaning the house. Or perhaps Regulus simply perished there by the hands of the Inferi. However, the main proof lies in the fact that Rowling, like Dumbledore, never mentions anything without a purpose, and Regulus rated a page length conversation!
In all the previous books much information has been gathered about James Potter, though very little has been gleaned in reference to Harry’s mother. Rowling has stated that there is more to Petunia than meets the eye and that we’ll learn the meaning of Harry’s green eyes. Green eyes like Lily’s eyes. Green eyes that, incidentally, Tom Riddle also had. Green eyes that might perhaps run in the Slytherin line? Could Lily be related to Salazar? Will this be Petunia’s revelation?
Harry, aided by Hermione’s knowledge and Ron’s backing, will be able to destroy all the remaining horcruxes till the climatic the meeting with Voldemort at Godric’s Hollow, thanks to Pettigrew’s repayment. And there, at the Hollow, we will meet the hallows. A hallow is the rite of consecrating an object. What the ritual is and its purpose is unknown- though we know it is deathly! However, the ritual rings of an association with the process of creating a horcrux- a ritual requiring a death.
There is no doubt that Harry shall face Voldemort, and hopefully good shall triumph over evil. That will allow Harry to court Ginny and apply for the job he has shown talent for- the previously cursed occupation of the Dark Arts teacher. Ron and Hermione will become engaged, Ron going into the honourable profession of protecting muggles from what is, as we muggles all agree, the despicable act of muggle baiting (such as shrinking keys). Hermione will become a spell analyst. And they will all live happily ever after- well, ‘til the next evil guy comes along.
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