see http://photo2text.com/

Righteous!

cool!

Okay. I agree with Emerson and Ben, the dragon is probably Norbert. When I got home I decided to see if I could find anything to support their theory in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I looked at the descriptions of all the dragon breeds and was able to narrow down the possibilities: - NOT the Antipodean Opaleye, because the Opaleye has iridescent, pearly scales and multicolored eyes -- and besides, it lives in New Zealand or Australia, and the landscape on the book cover definately doesn't look like either of those. - NOT the Chinese Fireball, because the Fireball is scarlet colored with gold spikes. - NOT the Welsh Green, because the Welsh Green is, well, green. - NOT the Hebridean Black, because the Hebridean Black is supposed to have an arrow-shaped spike on the end of its tail, which the dragon on the book obviously doesn't. - NOT the Hungarian Horntail, because the Horntail has yellow eyes and bronze horns. Besides, it is highly unlikely that the trio would be riding a Hungarian Horntail, as Horntails feed on, "whenever possible, humans." - PROBABLY NOT the Peruvian Vipertooth, because the Vipertooth is highly venomous and likes to eat humans; besides the dragon on the cover art does not look smooth scaled and copper-coloured to me. Also, why would the trio be in Peru? - NOT the Romanian Longhorn because the Longhorn is green. - NOT the Swedish Short-Snout, because the Short-Snout is Blue. - NOT the Ukranian Ironbelly, because the Ironbelly has deep red eyes and particularly long talons. The only breed of dragon left is the Norwegian Ridgeback, which looks similar to the Hungarian Horntail but has black ridges on its back instead of spikes. This description readily fits the dragon on the Deathly Hallows cover art.

YAY!!!!! SO glad the guy at the store talked me into buying the deluxe version!

I've been reading and enjoying, I love all of the comments. They satisfy my soul--while I wait for MuggleCast to do their thing. There should be some sort of MuggleCast Alert for Emergency Muggle Casting. Envision a little revolving red light with a little siren going off. Thanks for keeping me sane, people --Love you all, Grannie.

I am sooooooooo excited for the book to come out its not even funny...and I agree, the comments and questions have been keeping me sane. I think that the dragon is Norbert and that they could be flying over Hogsmeade(?). But I really hope that they go back to Hogwarts, I'm not ready for it to be over. I'm still getting over Dumbledore. And thanks to HalfBloodPrincess for researching the dragons. Can't wait!!! -39 days- xxoo- fred_georgeLOVE

WOW!!!!!! The dragon has got to be Norbert; remember how fast he was growing in the first book; he has to be at least that size after six years. But, I'm wondering how the trio got him, he was supposed to be in Romania. Mabye he escaped. SO many questions. I WANT THAT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my first comment ever.. haha, but this is the coolest art ever!

WHY IS THIS NOT BIG NEWS?!?!

things ive picked up on , line in movie that rowling said would give something away , im not sure but i think the fact that draco calls harry saint potter might have been it , which leads me to believe that hallow might be the literal sense as in holy person or saint. Also the other thing ive noticed about the cover art for the US edition is the fact that Harry's left eye is clearly brown , which leads me to believe that the thing about having his mothers eyes may also have been literal and he had to do something to his eye for one reason or another , please let me know what you think.

Now we know that Hermione and Ron aren't dead yet..... Is that Norbert? Where are they flying.......

DRAGONS!!! Omg, YES!

I

yah know, i wouldn't be surprised if the dragon was norbert all grown up, i mean i know this is no proof but the picture looks exactly the same as the baby norbert in the movie version of SS, but that could just mean its the same species...

Is this a Norwegian Ridgeback? A Norwegian Ridgeback has a) bronze horns (Dragon in the picture has white horns) b) Black Scales (Awfully bright scales for black) c) and jet black ridges on black (those don't look to be jet black or any other kind of black). Also, a dragon does not necessarily have to be from Great Britain in order to be found there. Norbert was a NORWEGIAN Ridgeback. I might not be right about the dragon being an animagus (Aberforth or Ollivander), but I am confident that the dragon on the cover does not resemble a Norwegian Ridgeback. It most closely resembles JKR's description of the Antipodean Opaleye. I don't mind if it turns out to be Norbert, but I would consider the art to be somewhat misleading.

#667...couldn't leave it at 666.

This couldn't possibly be Norbert, if for no other reason than that there was never any mention that Norbert had the opal-type eyes we see on this dragon. Also, if they are riding this dragon to escape Gringott's, it's unlikely it would be Norbert because I doubt the goblins would accept a dragon who had been rescued from Hogwarts. They wouldn't want to be that closely linked to any one place or set of people.

I like the ideas of the dragon being an animagus (for Alberforth, especially), but I also think it's possible it could be Draco PURPOSEFULLY TRANSFIGURED, perhaps by Snape. No one would suspect this dragon as Draco, right?? If Mad-Eye can turn him into a ferret, why can't he be transfigured as a dragon?? Just a thought. (Especially since Sirius = Dog and Draco = Dragon) No way Voldemort could kill him if he couldn't find him, since he's now a dragon. Love all of the posts! And the theories!

HalfBlood_Princess - Where did you hear Ben and Emerson say that they think it's Norbert? I thought he was too, but now I think that ut may be another Dragon that they got from Charlie Weasley. It says in book 5 that Charlie is doing work for the Order in Romania, and he's a character we haven't seen in the series. Maybe they go to Ron's older brother to get a Dragon, or to learn about Dragons for some reason, and he tells them about the Dragon we see them riding on, or he gives them the Dragon, and we just see Norbert while they're talking to Charlie. Who else that's in the Order knows more, or has more contact with, Dragons? He could easily let them use borrow one, or tell them where to find a domesticated one. I really like this Theory, moreso than the other one I came up with (Comment 514). This makes alot of sense, anyone else think so?

Also, I think that if you look hard enough into the eye of the Dragon, you can see it's Pupil. this could VERY easily be my eyes playing tricks on me, but I thought it's worth mentioning. If you can see it's pupils, maybe it just has bad eyes, or it's the way the light is hitting them? Like when the light hit's a Cat's eyes just right, they reflect it so that it looks like it's eyes are glowing. Also, it's eyes could just be glazed over for some reason. None of the descritptions of all the known types of Dragon fit this creature. Maybe it's a Hybrid, or a type of Dragon Voldemort made to protect one of his Horcruxes, or maybe Gringotts create breeds of Dragons that can be controlled to guard the money, but have a spell, or safe word, or something, that turns them docile and friendly. The possibilities are virtually endless!

SO many people believe that this scene must take place right before or right after the scene on the normal US cover because of the sky. This may be true but I do not believe the sky is a great indication. on the front of the UK cover, within the archway behind the trio there appears to be a sky the same colour as that seen on the US cover. Now, that said do we really think they came across loads of gold, found a dragon that was friendly or blind and then faced voldemort all in one day... think of things in everyday life that cause a reddish sky. fire, sunset, lots of smoke... etc. there is a war. on the back of the UK cover, the forest seems to be dead or burnt. There is lots of smoke. on this cover, more fog or smoke is visible. If its hogsmeade below then the fog or smoke may be coming from hogwarts - from the forest... or yes - dementors breeding... urgh!

as for the animagus theory: People are saying the dragon looks old; People keep hoping events of book 1 will come back into play... This is a really crazy thought and I apologize if people think its stupid. but what is Nicholas Flamel is still alive? He was a great friend of Dumbledore's and we know he is one smart cookie (I mean the philosophers stone - BIG invention!) Nah - sounds too crazy and spontanious. I think Draco is a good candidate. The eyes are grey - not necessarily blind or old. and the sirius = dog, draco = dragon is just way clever really. And we know Malfoy is gonna need to hide somehow. It would be a pretty good way to go so!

I think it could be Norbert. Or just some random dragon. I thought Norbert was going to reappear in the first task of the Triwizard Tournament in book four. *tear for Hagrid*

OH MY GOD thats looks so good but ron and hermione and the dragon look like thy are looking up at something but obviously harry isnt because maybe hes controlling the dragon??????? also suggesting theyre being chased after the so called battle which is why there cloak is in tetters. well happy reading (when it comes out)

I have to say that Aberforth probably isn't the dragon because he doesn't seem the kind of person which turns into something incredible like that. Animagi mimic the personality. Draco is an unlikely candidate because I think he will turn good right at the end of the book, not half-way trough it. Now, Ollivander is a good thought because nobody knows what happened to him and it wouldn't we written if it had no meaning. But i have another question. IF Snape turns out good don't you think by the time he and Harry meet again (which will be a HUGE moment) Snape will destroy at least one Horcrux, i think that if he is good he will, he is really strong. I can't think of any other way to make Harry believe him that he is good if he doesn't show him let's say The Cup, broken. What do you think?

the dragon seems Dumbledore to me... I mean, look at the "beard" and the "hair"... I dunno...

What I lie about the Animagi theory because if that is a real dragon then how did they tame it? we saw in GoF that they need it about 20 wizards just to stun one, and Jo has said that no matter what Hagrd says, Dragons can't be domesticated, so riding a dragon would be extremelly dangerous. All I can think of is how jelous Hagrid is going to be!! Going back to the Animagi Theory, are we sure that people can turn into magical creatures? because we have only heard about people turning into common animals, like a cat, a dog, a stag, a rat and a beetle! Nothing like a dragon, which is a magical creature, and it's so massive!!! I just can't see someone being a Dragon animagi, but at the same time I can't imagine Harry, Ron and Hermione taming a dragon! This is so exciting, just a little drawing can tell us so much about the book!! I can't WAIT to read it!!

I don't think it's Draco.. I mean he hates Harry.. he just wouldn't let harry ride him.. common.. and I doubt Snape it's good.. I mean if he was good he just wouldn't have killed Dumbledore and he wouldn't have looked at Dumbledore with so hate in his eyes..... And the thing that Harry has one eye brown and one green is very weird... but maybe we are just making it up... and there are 2 green eyes... but i don't know...and he has slytherin locket at his neck.. that means his met R.A.B ... wonder how he got it

Regulus Arcturus Black could easily be the Dragon. We've never seen him, but we know that everyone believes that he is dead. A Dragon would be a great disguise, but I don't really know if he could pull it off. Maybe he is an Animagus, and he turns into a Dragon. When Harry finally finds him, he might learn information that makes him have to travel somewhere far, with no means of Tranportation. Maybe Regulus then beecomes the Dragon, and let's Harry ride him. This is just a Theory of how it could happen, the main point I want to get across is that Regulus could be the Dragon Animagus.

I JUST LOOKED AT THE US COPY AND NOTICED SOMETHING! theres a bag around harry's neck!!!! could it contain the horcrux?!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!? !??! xxoo- fred_georgeLOVE

Ok..i can't give an opinion because of my increasing anxiety about the end of the harry potter series...we're the generation that are REALLY living the all harry potter dream and i'm sure that 's gonna last forever. omg omg 38 days! from Portugal with passion *

i am soo excited and this definitely just heightened the suspense! can't wait until midnight the 21st ... im definitely getting a copy of this!

That's cool but where can I get one? I'm going to be on al ong car trip so I have only a few moments to run into Costco and grab Deathly Hallows, so will it be sold there? Please say yes!

I thought I'd throw this in. Look at the word "Diagon" from Diagon Alley. The letter "i" is the ninth letter in the alphabet. If you replace it with the ninth letter from the end of the alphabet ("r"), you get Dragon. Could this suggest the name "Dragon Alley"? It may be a stretch, but interesting nontheless . . .at least to me.

whoa i just looked at what fred_georgeLOVE said about the us cover and there is something around harrys neck like a bag or something!!!! could it be a horcrux!! maybe thats what voldemort is reaching out for on the back cover

I don’t buy the dragon being an Animagi, but if it is, then it’s has to be someone who wasn’t around the first time LV was in power. This dragon seems a bit griffin-like to me somehow. Going back to the UK cover art- perhaps the treasure was this dragon? Slithern had the basilisk guardian; perhaps this is the Gryffindor pet. I suppose it would be interesting if Harry was the heir to Gryffindor and being the heir was the only one who could control the Gryffindor beast. So they set out, with Dobby’s help and the Gryffindor sword (“Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Harry�) to ask for this creatures help. So off they go to fight LV and his army.

Ugh... it's really cool to see to the artwork but I am SO depressed... I preordered the normal book literally a day before we got this news... gosh, I would do well with the Inner Eye, wouldn't I? =)