omgsh a DRAGON! Check it out, y'all... Harry's pimped his ride.

Ok, 1. This is an awesome cover. Makes me queasy just getting ready for the book to come out. 2. To make this clear to everyone who doubts it. They have already said that the three on the animals back are Ron, Harry, and Hermione. So it's not Draco, no matter what you say. Also, it's a Dragon, not a thestral. Quit being dumb and read what the guy from Scholastic had to say about it. It's that simple. 3. I kinda like that idea of it being Moody or Draco. But it's not Dumbledore..atleast not Albus. He's dead. Bottom line. No second chance for him. But otherwise, I'm ready for the book to come out. I gotta call my bookstore and have my order switched soon so I can get the deluxe one.

After carefully studying the cover art and consulting with FB I've come to the conclusion that the dragon is an Opaleye. The scales might not be as pearly as I would have imagined them to be, but from the looks of it the dragon is old, so they might have lost some of it's luster. Some of you have been saying its a fireball, but in FB it says that fireballs like to eat humans...so how are the trio riding it and not being eaten?? Not to mention, the fireballs are scarlet and have a fringe of golden spikes around its face. Also, the UK childrens edition cover, it looks as though there are flames in the background. The opaleye 'produces a very vivid scarlet flame'. Plus the opaleye dwells in valleys, so maybe the dragon at Gringotts sent the trio to another one. FB also says that the opal eye is native to New Zealand, and has been known to migrate to Australia, so maybe the trio is somewhere there horcux hunting... That's my theory...or theories...agree? disagree?

I hope the dragon isn't Draco or Moody. That would be....weird. I think it's just a dragon, and I don't think it really matters what breed it is, just where are they going. I think that the village is Godric's Hollow because someone commented earlier that a hollow is between two mountains. And it would be weird if they were in New Zealand or some random country like that.

Would you like to know my initial reaction? well, i'll tell you anyway. *stares at computer screen* *image pops up, takes a few seconds before the image is registared in brain* Then, in a dull, lost voice: "They're riding a dragon. Oh God." Soo, now i am completely confused, what with Harry wearing Slytherin's locket, the trio falling through the archway, and lots of gold... and now, a dragon. But, this is all really starting to sink in for me. I mean, it is a MONTH away. can you remember what happened last month? i can; it wasn't that long ago. In a little over 6 weeks, we will have the book, and with it, the opprotunity to know everything. im scared to death, but it is a rather exciting fear to have. this cover art is one step closer!!! I don't really have any thoughts on it; I'll have to sleep on it. Heart, Heir (wow, a bit of a longer post than I anticipated...)

Okay, first of all to the LOTR people: ever heard of the Hero's Journey? OF COURSE there's tons of similarities between LOTR, HP, Star Wars, Eragon, etc. its called ARCHETYPES. second-The dragon. It is not a thestral, as we all know, thestrals are BLACK. It is not a Chinese Fireball; they are RED. It is EITHER a Welsh Green (based off the colour of its' scales) that is Imperiused, OR it is an Antipodean Opaleye. It could possibly be an animagus, or by my quirky theory, Abraxas Malfoy (Draco's granddad), who got dragon pox as an old man. third- yes, hollow is generally geographically a location in a valley. however, historical investigations in regard to Godric Gryffindor (of wild MOOR) and the actual St. Godric suggests that the hamlet of Godric's Hollow is in fact located on or near a moor and/or heath (does rowling like hardy? i don't remember) The fact that Bowman Wright, the inventor of the snitch, lived in Godric's Hollow tells us that the village/hamlet is at least a few hundred years old, and supports the idea of a marsh/moor/heath, seeing as that is the ideal location for a Quidditch arena (see Quidditch Through the Ages). fourth- I was unaware that Rowling had said DH only takes place in in Great Britain. Since I personally was/am not aware of that, I think it is highly plausible that they could be somewhere on the Continent. I actually thought that what she said was something like 'They don't leave the continent'...and if the entire HP series takes place only in the UK there's a slight problem: Ron has been to Egypt (I like all the Egypt theories), Hermione has been to France, Hagrid has been to France, Dumbledore has been all over the world (or at least all over Europe), Charlie Weasley is in Romania, Krum lives in Bulgaria, etc

They must have been in some kind of a fight because their clothes are tattered, and maybe they used the dragon to escape. I think that this is directly before the US cover, and maybe after the UK Children’’s. Here’s my theory. The trio heads to Gringotts, to fetch something important. (maybe there’s a horcrux in a safe or something) The meet a bunch of escaped Death Eaters, there’s a battle beneath Gringotts in the tunnels. (In book 1 Harry thinks that he sees a burst of flame from on of the side tunnels.) Well, I think that they somehow get help from the dragon (maybe Harry convinces it too, because a dragon is a form of serpant, and maybe he, Harry, can speak to it.) So I think that with the UK YOUTH book, the trio is shown escaping either into or out of a vault. Then, the deluxe US version shows them escaping. I personally think that the village is Hogsmeade, though I’d be fine if I were wrong. I think that the only reason why Harry isn’t in robes is because he hasn’t had time… battle’s before school aren’t a really bright idea to me, I think… About the regular US YOUTH cover, I guess I’ll put my theory down too… I think that it is behind (or maybe through) the VEIL in the death chamber. I think that the VEIL/DAIS have been destroyed. And Harry and Voldy are fighting for something… not sure what. my reaction?? you don't realy want to know.

wait!!!!dragons cant be tamed.how are they moving so nicely with the dragon?

Hello Mugglenet viewers. My first thought besides a squeal and goose bumps when I saw Harry and the rest of the trio on the deluxe cover is that I have to have that. Some theories that Ive heard on here are quite amazing. I particulary dont think the dragon is norbet, maybe if some one showed me some proof with direct quotations from books would I believe. I read one theory about the UK Childrens edition about the symbol and King Solomon and I also did some research. The triangle / circle symbol seemed to represent an object which contained demons that could be summoned when needed which quite similar to a horcrux and a soul. Also in different languages and cultures the practice of Goetia (the triangle circle symbol invoacing is derived from a yonq which means "howlings". Very similar to Hallows. And During the renoncence this Goetia was assosiated with black magic. Very Percuilar indead . I cant wait to read the book to see if this is true. Check it out for your self @ http://en.wikipedia.org/w iki/Goetia peace

om it all makes sense! well, except for the dragon. I've always thought that the death eaters will come to bill & fleurs wedding. this is why harry, ron, and hermione's clothes are probably torn up is because of the fight with the death eaters at the wedding. it looks like they are flying over the burrow, since there is a lot of rural land. it could have been right after the wedding. the dragon looks like a chinese firebolt(was that the name?). and wasn't the chinese firebolt fleur's dragon in the triwizard tournamant for the first task...could that be a clue?

"Set during a highly dramatic sunset, Harry, Hermione, and Ron--clothes in tatters--cling atop a flying dragon in this astonishing artwork created by Mary GrandPré for the deluxe edition. As mist creeps down towering hillsides to a village below, questions arise about where the trio is headed and what has led them to this spellbinding moment."----------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ------------------------- ----------------SO, THAT MEANS THAT IT *IS* THE TRIO (not draco), IT *IS* A DRAGON, AND THAT *IS* MIST, NOT CLOUDS!!!!

I think the dragon might be a thestral, remember that dragon like shape mentioned at OoTP? and they could be flying over Little Hangleton couldn´t they?

I have one thing to say: O M G. SO glad I pre-ordered the deluxe edtion (when you pre-order from Borders the cost actually only comes out to be $4 more than the regular- a bargain!)! Wow.. Now I'm even more excited - if that's even possible - for book 7!!!!! *glee spasm* *glee spasm again*

@Harrys_princess: Yeah, it was me who said it! Glad that people are liking my theories!:) And if you didn't notice when the trio are falling through the archway, they are in a triangular position. Anyways, I found something interesting. Look at the UK Cover, you can see Nagini in the ball. In the Celtic calendar wheel and how the holidays correspond to the events in the novels. On certain dates of the celtic calendar, the veil between this world and the otherworld is at its thinnest. One is the summer solstice or St. John’s eve. According to one source “this was also the night when the serpents of the island would roll themselves into a hissing, writhing ball in order to engender the ‘glain’, also called the ’serpent’s egg’, ’snake stone’, or ‘Druid’s egg’. Again, this is just a theory but I think it is plausable.

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! OK...OK...SO RON HARRY AND HERMIONE GET A DRAGON (NORBERT?) AND THEY FLY OVER HOGSMEADE GOING TOWARDS HOGWARTS... AS FOR THE DRACO IDEA...ACOULD DRACO BE AN ANIMAGUS???? I DOUBT IT BUT... IT'S A DEFINITE POSSIBILTY! ACTUALLY NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT, DO WE REALLY THINK THAT DRACO WILL BE AROUND THIS LONG??? ISN'T VOLDY SUPPOSED TO KILL HIM??? I DOUBT THAT A FEEBLE WIZARD LIKE DRACO COULD HIDE FROM VOLDY WITHOUT HELP FROM BUMBLEBEE(DUMBLEDORE). ALTHOUGH SNAPE MIGHT... ANYWAY... WOW! I THINK IT'S DEFINETLY HOGSMEADE ALTHOUGH IT'S WEIRD THAT YOU CAN'T SEE HOGWARTS? DON'T THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN THEY GET NEAR HOGSMEADE STATION THEY CAN SEE HOGRWARTS MANY TURRETS AND TOWERS ETC... I ALSO THINK IT'S RON...I MEAN... WHY WOULDN'T IT BE...J.K. CAN'T KILL RON, BUT SHE CAN PUT HIM IN DANGER... WELL...NOW I GET TO SPEND AGES STARING AT THIS PICTURE UNTIL I FIGURE IT OUT... Thanks for putting up with the caps i'm just so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!! Oh god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 41 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! please excuse me while i go have a mental breakdown................ ......................... .........................

*Phew* I just read every single post. I feel special.--------------My Thoughts.......... 1. Def. a dragon 2. Def. Ron 3. Type of Dragon doesn't matter 4. Likely that it is an animagus because dragon's can't be controled (which includes by the imperius curse, otherwise, JKR wouldn't say that) 5. As for who the dragon is, Draco, Aberforth, and Moody are good guesses. 6. I think it's spinner's end because of the river and stuff

Ok... Copy and Paste the pic into word...go to print preveiw and zoom around! It made me realize that in all the pictures we've seen, the event shown is... well... during the sunset or sun rise...Does anyone know which way the sun rises and sets???? It might be important, because... unless the trio does a lot in ONE evening/morning, most of the events seem to be taking place in the mornings or evenings... Does that make since? i stink at writing. well anyway... Just b/c Harry isn't wearing robes doesn't neccasarily mean that he didn't go back to hogwarts... And i don't think that Hermione and Ron would bother to go to hogwarts if they're planning to help harry...Who can imagine harry abandoning his horcrux hunt temporarily to get ron and hermione from school. PLUS that would mean that harry would have to do most of the journey by himself b/c the school year is about 9 months, and harry doesn't want to wait much longer... he's determined....(Sobbing Loudly) our little boy is all grown up, and riding dragons...fighting dark lords!!! (sobs more) i just couldn't bear to lose him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (more sobbing) Thanx xoxoxoxo

I think that dragon isn't Norbert. It looks too old. And about the question of Ron Harry and Hermione going back to Hogwarts, I think they are. I mean, take a good look at Ron and Hermiones clothes. They're with the Hogwarts uniform. Interesting news.

i just had a thought while looking at the picture again: Ron looks kind of awed. Hermione looks frightened. And Harry has this very determined look in his eyes... Just like Dumbledore did flying on the broomstick toward Hogwarts when they spotted the Dark Mark. Maybe they've spotted the DArk Mark... or some sort of death which made Harry act very much like Dumbledore ("dumbledore's man through and through." more than what we thought before?). Furthermore, I'm liking the idea that the dragon is Aberforth. we don't really know a lot about him except i think I've read somewhere that he's kind of crazy. But Dumbledore has been described as crazy and off his rocker many times, so that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Plus if Dumbledore is aligned with a Phoenix it would make sense that his brother is aligned with a dragon. Or the dragon could be Aberforth's familiar (like Fawkes was Dumbledore's and Nagini is Voldemort's) which is why it is acting very un-dragon-like. Either way, I hate to agree that the species really is irrelevant. I would also like to point out that there is no possible way to fit a fourth person on the back of that dragon without there being some obvious sign. Like an obvious sign that you would be able to notice without zooming in, not necessarily eye-catching obvious. And has anybody put any thought into why the nose looks kind of snout like? personally, it makes me think of a horse nose or a pig's nose. What do you think?

what do you think Harry is wearing?? it looks like a feathery/wolly type shirt. for some reason, i'm reminded of Hargid trying to look nice in book 4. i dont know why, but it reminds me of that. but anyways, why is Harry wearing this????

Oh... I completely forgot to check "Fantastic Beast"! Thanks for the reminder. Anyway, I can't help coming back to check out the picture again, and hoping to find a high-res one soon. Dragons cannot be domesticated... that is true, but these creatures can be on Harry's side by choice will right? There are so many so-called "beast"s in the story so far who have shown intelligence and nobility, and fighting evil in their own free will rather than due to their subordination to the good wizards. I think the dragons will be their key to victory against very powerful dark creatures close to Voldemort...Nagini perhaps? Afterall, snakes and dragons are highly associated in form but are, in essence, divided.. not unlike the relationship between Harry and the Dark Lord/ (and incidentally, I think Draco will become a reluctant assistant of the Light for the exact reason - the dual meaning of his name defines him as one confused boy! :) ).

I NEED THAT BOOK....THIS COVER ART IS FRIGGEN CRAZY!!! AS IF A COLLOSIUM THING WASN'T ENOUGH, BUT TREASURE? HARRY, RON AND HERMIONE RIDING A DRAGON?!? THIS DOESNT EVEN SOUND LIKE HARRY POTTER ANYMORE. I'M GUNNA DIE IF I DON'T GET THAT BO-- lol, i pretended to die.

"Harry pimped his ride" lol, LOVE that comment NoDayBut2Day

i dont think thats supposed to be a feathery shirt, the ripples look more like harry's sexy muscles ; ) lol

yo yo yo I dig this cover

oh my goodness!

Hey look its Norbert....that would be so typical of JKR...can't wait for the book 41 days!!!

OMG, OMG, I'm dying, I'm dying.................... ......................... ......................... ..*died*

HermioneForever your awesome! I dont think half these people are on your level arguing if it's Malfoy or ron Lmao ... the description says it is. Good Work

The dragon looks liek Norbert, but I'm not positive. Oh well, it looks awesome! I want it now!

On Amazon.com it still says that the book 784 pages, not 816 (or whatever the Deluxe Edition is supposed to be). Can someone please help me with that? email me at 2funnysw@optonline.net

I don't entirely like the artwork ....i dunno it just looks strange...different anyway on to my first speculations on it.... first, the dragon they're riding looks blind..it has no pupils ( maybe they saw Bill, i think, in romania and got a dragon from him?) and secondly, is harry the only one not wearing robes? that's interesting. this whole summer's gonna be exciting but wierd...IT'S THE END!

The dragon looks like its blind..or maybe I'm the one who's blind. I dunno... I can't load the bigger version of the pic... Anyways, it looks awsome! most likely, I can't get this version, but all the same, it is very impressive to see this aspect in the story... =]=]=]=]=]=]=]= ]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=] =]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]=]

chillcat, excellent observation. looking at it again, it does look like it could be blind. which may make that piece of information the most significant of the whole artwork. it also is very reminiscent of viktor's eyes when he was under the cruciatus curse in the 4th movie, so maybe someone very powerful put it under a curse so that it would transport the trio safely? if it is blind, why would it be blind? and the eye could also be the 'analogous' part (or whatever the word i'm looking for is) from mad eye moody. which would be interesting.

This artwork seems to raise more questions than it answers. Certainly, the three individuals are the trio, David Saylor confirmed that. I don't, however, necessarily feel that this means all three of them survive. Illustrating the survivors on the cover gives away the end of the novel, which J.K. would never approve of. THINK! They're securing these books with steel chains! I don't think they would give away the ending on the cover. Nonetheless, I did find it fascinating that Hermione's cape is blowing in the wrong direction. If the dragon was flying forward, obviously the wind would be blowing her cape back, but for some reason, it appears to be moving forward as well. An error, perhaps? Or a symbolic statement?

Um... Can anyone please tell me why the dragon has fingers instead of claws? Thanks.

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this possibility yet, but that dragon does have spikes on the tail. Could it be a hungarian horntail?

Okay. I think it could be Aberforth. Dragons eat goats. Aberforth smells of goats. :] Oh man. That sounds stupid. Anyway, in my opinion I think the dragon is most likely imperiused. If you look closely, it looks as if Harry is clutching his wand. While that doesn't prove anything, it is rather interesting.

Whatever else it might be, the dragon's not blind. I doubt it would make too much sense to take a ride on anything that might have a chance of running into one of those high hills. It fits the description of the Antipodean Opaleye. Here's an interesting note: In geography, the antipodes (from Greek anti- "opposed" and pous "foot") of any place on Earth is its antipodal point; that is, the region on the Earth's surface which is diametrically opposite to it. Two points which are antipodal to one another are connected by a straight line through the centre of the Earth. In Britain, "the Antipodes" is often used to refer to Australia and New Zealand, despite the fact that neither Australia nor New Zealand actually overlap the antipodal points of Britain. Of course the Opaley is said to be found in Australia or New Zealand, which would be the antipode of Great Brtain. If it is an animagus (I think it is), then the person is probably transforming into an Opaleye rather than some other kind of blind dragon. Also, if it were Norbert (which would have been interesting), he should have prominent jet-black ridges on its back. They just don't look jet black. About Harry . . . Could his distinct clothing have been provided by Fred and George to provide some protection against jinx and curses? They did offer him some gear in HBP. I figured it would come into play in Book 7, since it was not used in Book 6.

People should seriously read the article before making statements. It is not a thestral people. The boy in the back is not Draco, it's Ron. Also, I don't know who keeps saying there is a fourth person. It's not. It's part of Hermione's robe. People keep saying to zoom in... if you zoom in it gets pixelated, so it's bound to look something is there that isn't. There is not fourth person.

Well.. After seeing the cover, i was ..well..jumping n down,ofcourse First i thought i has to be Norbert, But right now im agreein with others that it has to be an opaleye... About whats the village down below.. I think that it might be Spinner's End.. remember.. Narcissa andbellatrix had to cross a ridge over water.. and you can see it in the cover.. plus it was always misty,that place.. so itcanexplain the mist.... and again i agree with others that Ron adn Hermione must have atended Hogwarts.. Harry would have somehow convinced them to go to scholl by telling them that someone has to be there for any more clues.... and in the us cover.. that pouch around harry's neck, might also be the DA coin..to come for help, if he needed any..... Some horcrux might be in hogwarts itself.. wedont properly know what he did around that time. he would have made a horcrux while still at school...

After more staring I've come to think some new things. 1. As I said before, I mistook something for an arm, there is no arm there. 2. The village could be little hangleton, except why would they ride a dragon over a muggle town. Muggles aren't that blind, they could spot a dragon. It must be an extreme emergency. 3. The species doesn't really matter, unless we want to determine if it's Norbert or not. 4. The dragon looks very old, so it couldn't possibly be an animagi form of Draco. 5. it could be Aberforth, I like that theory. Maybe that's what he got in trouble for with goats, but we'd need to know more about his personality, to see if it's dragon-like. 6. I don't think any of the trio will return to hogwarts, Ron and Hermione would be to stubborn to let Harry leave them behind. Let me check to see if those look like the actual Hogwarts robes, or not.

My guess is Norbert or a present from Charlie. Look at the pictures of young Norbert and that dragon. Very similar

6. continued. Ron and Hermione look like they're just wearing black cloaks. The question is what is Harry wearing. 7. Judging by the way Ron and Hermione's cloaks are blowing, it looks like they're swooped down. Perhaps they are reaching their destination, or avoiding something. 8. Harry is holding his wand, but I think it's because they're going to need it for self-defence. Harry seems alert and determined, perhaps, as some peple suggested, they're facing dementors. 9. But it doesn't match with Ron's facial expression, it looks more awed. Hermione looks frightened, and they're all looking at the same thing. Does anyone have a theory on what that thing might be?

*they've, typos.

Look at the Uk child cover... see the hand that its grabbing harry's shoulder then look at harry's back.. i think that's dobby or Kreacher..... and whoever it is its having a sword.. can it be the sword of godric gryffindor??

can the dragon be... if it is an animagus... can it be R.A.B. ??? just a guess

I've just had a thought...could the dragon be an animagus? Look at its front paws (if thats what u call em), they look like human hands. Is this why the trio are able to ride it? Because it let them? Also, it kinda has a beardy thingy which reminds me of Dumbledore and his brother Aberforth. It can't be Dumbledore cause he's definitely dead, but...i don't know. As for the rest of it, i think they're over Godric's Hollow and have just come out of a fight or something because of their tattered robes. Also, I'm, probably reading too much into this, but on the UK children's cover art, the one where the trio are falling through the vault, there are blue glass containers with dragon sculptures on top of them...there may be more to dragons in this book than meets the eye!!! Can't wait till the 21st!!!!!!

Look at the UK Cover, you can see Nagini in the ball. In the Celtic calendar wheel and how the holidays correspond to the events in the novels. On certain dates of the celtic calendar, the veil between this world and the otherworld is at its thinnest. One is the summer solstice or St. John’s eve. According to one source “this was also the night when the serpents of the island would roll themselves into a hissing, writhing ball in order to engender the ‘glain’, also called the ’serpent’s egg’, ’snake stone’, or ‘Druid’s egg’. Again, this is just a theory but I think it is plausable. See? Harry could be wearing this....it would protect him quite well and the jacket does look scaly, it is probably from Nagini.

The dragon's eyes make it look like its been Imperiused....