NORBERT!!! NORBERTNORBERTNORBERT!!! The exact same thing happens in the Chronicles of Prydain-- Taran saves a fledgling gwythaint in the first book and all the characters think it's a mistake because gwythaints are vicious dragon-birds employed by the evil King Arawn, but in the last book the now grown-up gwythaint comes back and saves Taran's life/mission at Mount Dragon. The Chronicles also had Inferi ("Cauldron-Born") and a creepy dude with a Horcrux. All these fantasy books draw on myths and have similar motifs. I still love 'em, though!

I wonder why we are speculating about the dragon/thestral when we should wonder what is in extra 32-34 pages in the book? I really don't thinkj that if it is a dragon that it is Norbert. Why is hermionie laying down. Is hermione really hurt? Why is ron and hermione wearing black robes and harry a wierd brown jacket? Where are they and why are they there? There is so many mnore questions. "Note to self: only 42 days, 42 days, 42 days, i can't wait anymore. Jo why so long?

The cloak is interesting... maybe the dragon has to abruptly go down, and her cloak caught wind before the others? It does look like the others are about to move a different direction. Also, I don't think someone is coming after them. That happened in the past 6 books, but I would love to see Harry going after the bad this time, like the tables turning, y'no? And they seem to be flying into the fog. Ironic if it is... the past six years of his life trouble came to him, now he's mature enough to realize that he has to go to trouble!

harry wearing the same yellow cloak as he's in that arena against voldy from the main page cover art...they are goin to that arena i wonder...!

I don't think it's Hogsmeade. There's some farmland and a lot of water and stuff, which doesn't sound like Hogsmeade. I think it's either Godric's Hollow or possibly Little Hangleton. However, if it is G.H. one would think that this would be the begining of the book since Harry said he wanted to go there first. It looks like they've been through a lot already, so that kinda makes me doubt it's G.H. Could it be the town in the country where young Voldy went? Near the cave? We've already been there though, so I think it's purpose has already been served. Or maybe it could be the town where the orphanage was. It could also maybe be the town near where Ron lives. I don't know why the'd fly over a muggle town with a dragon though. Or maybe the town near Snape's house? Or maybe that's just me wanting more Snape. I love Snape! My favorite character. ACK! Can't wait till the 21st!!!!!!!!!

Lookss great !!!!! been waiting to see this !!!!! whos with harry on teh dragon!?!?!?!?

OH MY GOD OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I am so excited! Dragons?!?! 42 days.

Hmm... I just enlarged the picture, and specifically Harry, on paint, and the necklace is not visible, and there doesn't seem to be a lump in the collar of the shirt. But who's to say that it's not there? The necklace may not be making a lump. Yes, I do have too much free time on my hands... =)

My first thought was that the dragon was blind So I looked closer and the dragon has "light blue eyes" (sound familiar) and they are looking bak at the trio.

OMG OMG OMG OMG TIMES 111OOOOOO....i think it is norbert.. they are riding... do you think we will find out the 12 uses of dragin blood then.. i don't think that this is an anamagus or anything.....i am torn between whether it is ron or draco on the back behind hermione... i mean the hair isn't that red.. it looks more blond to me.... they are looking up at something....hhhmm and does harry have something on his cheek??? it might just be my computer......it looks liek the dragin is imperused cos of the eyes are white and cloudy.. but i don't think that would be possible..well i dunno..you can't really tame dragins can you...OMG OMG OMG OMG

i THink they are after a battle in which someone died or maybe SNAPE was involved and harry is determined to find him who knows what his intentions would be? I also thnk that they are in Gordrics Holllow it seems to fit the desctription well and it looks somewhat like the way that i envisioned it? 42 days

My bad, gryffindor is from Wild moore not valley broad but whatever.

WHat if it is DRACO behnd hermionie and RON DIED!! I hope not please tell me he doesn't die. Deep breathing

I would love it if Ron died. Best death since Sirius.

OMG GO UNTO THE LEAKY CAULDRON & LUK AT THE HIGH RES IMAGE OF THE ART, AT THE END OF THE DRAGONS TAIL GO DOWN TO YOU REACH THE GROUND AND GO ACROSS A BIT THERE IS A PATCH OF LAND THAT IS ORANGE/RED COULD THIS B FIRE CULD A BATTLE HAVE JUS BEEN THERE THIS WULD EXPLAIN THE ROBES BEIN RIPPED (ALSO LUK AT THE DRAGONS FRONT PAW (?) IT LUKS LIKE A HAND

AHHHHH!! I can't believe this! And I love the idea that the dragon is Norbert!! I didn't think of that until the comments. And at first I didn't know if it was Ron, but I guess the description clears that up! Yay!! I'm so happy and excited for this one!!!!

Its NORBERT!!!! ^_^ Squee!!

omg that picture is so interesting! i'm not sure I like the whole "riding a dragon" thing, it's a little too eragon for me.

Oh My Goodness! I literally screamed out loud when i saw this!! =] I. Cannot. Wait. I love the lead up to the book when we get clues, but I just want to read it now!!!!! It looks like it's going to be AMAZING. I'm so excited!

OMG!!!!!!!! I knew there would be a dragon in this book! It's got to be Baby Norbert, all grown up now!

I don't think it is too important to think about what kind of dragon it is on the cover. I think it is more important to consider where they are. We can tell by the color of the sky that it is around the same time of the normal DH US cover. I believe it is before, sometime around the start of sunrise on the deluxe edition, and very early morning on the normal version. Also, I know a lot of people are thinking the place is Godrics Hollow, which is what I initially thought, but after looking at the picture closer, I now think that it is Hogsmeade or somewhere near Hogwarts. If you'll notice, there is a spot in the bottom half of the picture that resembles a graveyard. Around the time the 3rd Harry Potter film was released on DVD, one of the extra features videos had an interview. It said that Alfonso Cauron wanted to place a graveyard at one place in the movie, but JK wouldn't let him because she said it would be somewhere else later in the series. Also, does that mean a graveyard will come into play in this book, because we haven't seen one yet. What do you guys think?

If you look at the back of the Half Blood Prince cover you see Ron, Hermione, and Ginny looking up at the Dark Mark. If you compare the two boys, Ron on the back of HBP (American version) and the boy behind Hermione on the Dragon, the faces are exactly the same, regardless of the hair. GrandPre' has said that she does everything on the covers for a reason (as she should). I'm sure they discuss they covers extensively, and what this kind of artwork will lead the fans to believe. I don't think Grandpre' would misslead fans to believe that this boy isn't Ron. The fact that the two figures have exactly the same face wasn't a mistake, or laziness, or lack of variety. She wants us to know that this is the trio.

OMG!!! It's Norbert!!! Well, maybe it's Norbert!! I wonder how he comes into play in the final book?? Can't wait for the book!!

My question is this: I see Harry. I see Hermoine. I see Ron. But who's the shadowy figure riding beside Hermoine????

OH MY! That dragon looks a bit eastern to me, I dunno. Now, Both rivers seem to come from a lake that could be behind the mountain (which, by the way, looks a lot like Machu Picchu) The little town looks very europeean, could it be Godrics Hollow? and why are their robes so tattered, where are they comming from? and again, Harry's robes look different than Ron and Hermione's. And why isn't the dragon throwing them out or trying to kill them? Maybe it IS Norbert and he just recognized them or something.... oooo, let the speculation continue.

i know what type of dragon that is! its an Antipodean Opaleye! it dwells in valleys rather than mountains, is non-aggresive to humans, and has trademark pupil-less eyes, hence the name. it is said to be the most beautifil dragon. i found it in my copy of Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. that is awesome!!!

OhmyGosh! I cannot wait!!!! Where are they going? Why are they on a dragon? Where did the dragon come from? The eyes make me think that it's an Antepodean Opaleye but the coloring is wrong for it. At least we know that they're together!!!

OMG this is so exciting!!! did anyone else notice that there are two rivers that merge around the town that they're flying over? could it be that they're in the middle east over mesopotamia?? isn't that where hagrid got Norbert in the first place anyway? crazy, i know, but that's okay. =]

Oh my gosh! what are they doing on that?!? I can't wait for the book and OOTP movie!!!!!!! :)

um... i wonder why they are ridding on a dragon. brings questions many questons. but it's going to be an amazing book and next month couldn't come anysooner becuase i just can't wait to read it

Some other points that should be mentioned are those wispy clouds that fog the picture. Could be similar to the smoke and fog that dementors bring, which could account for Harry's expression (determination to fight the effect Dementors have on him), not to mention Ron and Hermione's terrified looks. Also, Ron and Hermione's faces are clearly looking at something specific. They have the same expression on their faces, and they are both looking in the same direction. Harry could be flying them into the fight. There is a reason that Ron and Hermione's gazes are so fixed. And what is with that weird sweater Harry is wearing? I don't think that was on accident either, becuase its such a distinctive, weird looking piece of clothing. It looks like fur...or scales.

Hey if you guys look at the whole box picture in full size you can see the dragons head close up and harry riding on it. If you look closely at the dragons eye you can see its pupil. It is looking ahead and it looks like a bright red to me.

Well, they must be abroad, because that's not like anywhere in britain. hmm, dragon looks like it's got cataracts. maybe it can't see the trio so that's why it's not eating them....

i doubt that it is a chinease fireball though it does share some charicteristics, the fireball is said to prey mainly on pigs and humans. it also said the antipodean opaleye lives in new zealand and will sometimes migrate to australia. maybe thats where the last horcrux is!!!

Old Dragon=Dumbledore!!

PS-Maybe they tickled the sleeping Dragon...

One obvious clue is that a dragon is reptilian...could be considered serpent-related...could the dragon be a horcrux? It might explain why Harry would have it. The valley to the right of the image where the sunset can be seen looks almost like the movie-depicted valley where Hogwarts can be found. That could be the lake.

DRAGON!! NORBERT!! I KNEW YOU'D COME BACK!!! I LOVE YOU!!! KILL THAT DARK WIZARD VOLDEMORT!!! SET HIMM ON FIRE!!! EAT HIM!!!!

...I am SO glad I preordered the delux edition now. :3

Wow thats awesome. I wonder where there going. but wherever they are going they dont looked to thrilled.

If the dragon fits only parts of some descriptions, couldn't it be a mixed breed? Could Hagrid or someone breed dragons? Also, I don't think Hermione is laying down, she's just holding on to the dragon at an awkward angle. I really like the theory that the dragon is Draco, though. His name means dragon!

This is probably the best cover yet! I can't even venture a guess about which type of dragon it is, but my fingers are crossed for Norbert! Or perhaps the Horntail, that'd be interesting. Opal-eye is another good guess...

I don't think they are over Godric's Hallow... The mountains are way too high...

i think it must be a chinese fireball. Look at the eye again. It DOES have a pupil. it likes a bright white/red color. its hard to see on the artwork picture . you have to look on the boxart picture. the pupil is looking ahead. so i think it is a chinese fireball. although it would be awesome if it was norbert

I was looking at the picture and that "dragon" looks like a thestral. The glowing, murky white eyes really gave it away. Because in the Harry Potter books I just can't see anybody "riding" on the back of a dragon. We have, however, seen people riding on thestrals. Just an idea...

cmon guys tell me what you think of the pupil. IT HAS A PUPIL. YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BOXART PICTURE FULL SIZE!!!!!!!. its a redish white pupil looking straight ahead.

Wow!

I like how people keep saying the dragon's wings are red...they aren't red. That's the sunlight shining through them.

has anyone else but me seen its pupil ??????? cmon look at the boxart picture full size!. it HAS to be the box art picture. its the only one thats close up enough to see the pupil. its not that dragon you guys were talking about with the pupil less eye

Reminds me of Little Hangleton.