Welcome to the last Gryffindor Tower before the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. With less than a week to go, IÂ’m sure that the tension is almost unbearable for all of us. As I said last week, this column will be about my predictions on what will happen in OotP. But before I do that, there is something IÂ’d like to say very quickly.

If you havenÂ’t noticed, I am no longer the only columnist on MuggleNet. I have been joined by Josh Smith, a journalism student at UMass Amherst, and his column, The Pensieve. This week he explores the reason why we are fortunate to be living in the best time to be HP fans. ItÂ’s a great read, and I hope that you all give him the same love youÂ’ve given me. As for myself, I just want to welcome you, Josh, and I know that youÂ’ll do a great job for MuggleNet. Good luck!

One more quick thing. If any of you live in Northeastern PA, I really need your help. I am running the Dickson City Borders HP5 Release Party this Friday night, and I need volunteers to help run events with the kids. If you could help in any way, contact me here. Thanks!

And now to the topic at hand. Just so you all know, I have never seen a copy of OotP, nor do I have any more info than the next HP fan. These are simply my answers to the topics brought up by you, the readers. And I must thank you all for emailing me with the topics youÂ’d like me to discuss. Each one will also have a level of confidence percentage after it, marking how likely I think it is to happen. First, IÂ’d like to address all of the topics you guys have asked me about.

MikeOP asked, “If you would be able to, I would like you to be able help shed light on the importance of Harry's eyes, and everyone else's eyes. Lily had green eyes and Voldemort had green eyes.” Well Mike, as far as everyone else’s eyes, I haven’t given it much thought. And I’m almost positive that Riddle had green eyes, but I’m not sure. But if you’re right, then here’s my prediction: Lily is an heir of Slytherin, making Harry the heir of Slytherin.
Level of Confidence: 50%

Kim wrote to me, asking a lot of questions. She asked me about the circulating theory about Snape being a vampire; she asked me what I think Ginny Weasley's "larger part" will be…romance with Harry…act of bravery…something else; since Lupin will be back, do I think that Pettigrew will try to kill him with his silver hand; what my theory is on Mrs. Figg; and finally, what role will the real Mad-Eye Moody play in book five. Well Kim, I think that if Snape is a vampire, then it’s gonna create a world of trouble. After all, he leaked out the information about Lupin being a werewolf, which made Lupin leave. If Snape is a vampire, you’d think that somebody who went to school with him, like Lupin or Sirius, would have told Harry. I have heard all the arguments, but I don’t think he’s a vampire. Ginny Weasley will probably play a larger part in one of two ways: if Mrs. Weasley is the one to get the axe, then Ginny will probably have to become much more independent, probably helping Harry and friends in their fight against Lord Voldemort. Pettigrew, in my opinion, will try to kill Lupin in any way possible! He’s a crazy fool, but I think we need to remember that one, he owes a life debt to Harry, and two, as Pettigrew’s blood now flows through Voldemort (the blood of the man who is in Harry’s debt), what will that mean for Voldemort? Arabella Figg will probably be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and will probably let us in on Lily’s life before Harry was born. And for Moody? I have absolutely no idea, unless he teaches the kids how to hunt down Dark Wizards (á la an Auror). Level of Confidence: 60%

Elaine K. asked me why Voldemort killed Lily and James Potter. HereÂ’s my guess: first, we know that Lily didnÂ’t have to die. Why not? I have two ideas, either or both of which may be true. Lily may have had a romantic fling with Tom Riddle before he became Voldemort (I know the age thing seems crazy, but it could have happened), and/or she may have been a Death Eater. But why did James HAVE to die? I think he was the second last heir of Godric Gryffindor, making Harry the last. If so, and you take my idea from above, then I am saying that Harry is the heir of both Slytherin and Gryffindor. Yes, that is what IÂ’m saying. Level of Confidence (in Harry and James being Heir of Gryffindor): 85%. Level of Confidence (in Harry being Heir to both): 60%

Anosheh asked me what role Sirius and Lupin will play in book five. My guess on those two is that they will be leading the hidden movement against Voldemort from outside Hogwarts. Remember, the Ministry of Magic cannot find out that there are any movements being led against their actions, i.e. DumbledoreÂ’s attempts to rid Azkaban of the dementors, to reach out to the giants, etc. On a similar level, I really hope that we see Arthur Weasley get to the top of the Ministry of Magic. Level of Confidence: 70%

BSheeley asked me who I believe the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain will be. ThatÂ’s a good question. Fred and George are possible, but picking one would create a rift, which I just canÂ’t see happening. IÂ’m not even sure if Angelina, Katie, and Alicia are still there, but I think they are, and if I had to pick one, IÂ’d say Angelina. Harry would be a good captain, but technically heÂ’d only have three years experience (as there was no Quidditch in year four), so my guess would have to be Angelina. Level of Confidence: 30%

Bobby said to me, “A topic I think you should use for the next article is Percy's role in the future. The Weasley's are obviously going with Dumbledore and "against" Fudge... I personally feel Percy will never stand for that…he will betray his family in order to keep his name secure.” Melvin also asked a similar question. I agree with both of them. Can you say Barty Crouch? Melvin even pointed out something that I, and I’m sure many of you, noticed. When Hermione says that Percy would never throw any of his family to the dementors like Barty Crouch did, Ron says that he doesn’t know, and that Percy is really ambitious. I think that Percy will cause many more problems than what he’s worth, but I also see him coming around in the end. However, if Mrs. Weasley is to die, I definitely see Percy as the main cause. Level of Confidence: 55%

Hannah C. asked me about the role of Susan Bones in future books, pointing out that Hagrid mentioned how the Bones family was one of those families killed by Voldemort. Also, think about it, Steve Kloves put her into the movies for a reasonÂ…what reason, though? HereÂ’s my opinionÂ…sheÂ’s probably an orphanÂ…maybe sheÂ’ll start to have feelings for and get together with another orphan whose parents were killed by VoldemortÂ…Level of Confidence: 70%

LilyFan asked me about the theory that James and Lupin switched bodies before James was killed. My problem with this is that, IÂ’m not sure if I want it to happen or not, so to have an opinion is very strange indeed. Lupin does act a strange way when Harry mentions his father, but if my best friend died, and I was talking to his son, IÂ’d act the same way. I honestly donÂ’t know about this, and I have no level of confidence.

Rachel asked me how FudgeÂ’s decision will affect the outcome of book five. This leads me to one of my theories. First, Fudge was a royal jerk to Harry at the end of book four, nothing like how he acted to him previously. This can be for one of two reasons. One, the thought of his political standing is scaring him so much that heÂ’s become a jerk, or two, Fudge is dead, and this Fudge is an imposter. Level of Confidence: 60%

Sammie wrote to me, “I would like you to touch on what will happen to Rita Skeeter with her new knowledge of Sirius and her knowledge of what else happened in the hospital wing. Or what will Hermione do with her.” If I wasn’t so much against killing, I would say that I hope Hermione squashes her like a bug (no pun intended). However, I think that Skeeter will definitely go public with Sirius being alive. Level of Confidence: 45%

Rachel G had a few questions for me. First, she wanted to know who the three people on the OotP promotional sticker is. Second, she asked why Dumbledore didn’t want Harry to go to the Weasleys’ right away. Third, she wants to know who I think will side with Dumbledore, and who will side with Fudge. Fourth, she asked me about the now-famous audio excerpt that I’m sure you’ve all read. And finally, what will Dumbledore tell Harry. Well, I think that one of the people in the OotP sticker is definitely the real Moody. The other two, I think the kid may be Ron, and as for the other adult, either Lupin or Gilderoy Lockhart. I think that Dumbledore wanted Harry to stay at Privet Drive because, as Voldemort told the Death Eaters at the end of GoF, Harry was protected there by magic. At the Burrow, Voldemort could just come and kill him. Hmm…who will separate in the “Parting of the Ways”…my guess is that all former Death Eaters and Dark Wizards will go with Fudge, knowing that he is either too incompetent to rival Voldemort, or as I said above, he’s dead and this imposter is a servant of Voldemort. As for the excerpt, I’ll address that later on. And finally, as for what Dumbledore will tell Harry, I think that it will be much more to speculate, but will include any of the heirs that he may possibly be. Level of Confidence: 65%

Finally, Nick asks me what will happen if any of the trio are made prefects. I think that Hermione has a great shot at becoming a prefect, but Harry doesnÂ’t have a snowballÂ’s chance in Hell, in my opinion. Level of Confidence: 70%

I also have a few theories of my own. The biggest one that people have asked me, of course, is the death. Here are my ideas. First, it’s obvious that Hagrid and Mrs. Weasley are the forerunners, with Colin, Neville, Dumbledore, and others behind him. Hagrid seems most likely, because of Robbie Coltrane’s recent comments about his character in the movies, and Mrs. Weasley seems second most likely. However, I have two other theories. First, Snape. I should tell you all, I love Snape. He’s one of my favorite characters. Snape has, in my opinion, treated Harry badly since he first met him for his own safety. I think he really likes Harry, or at least, definitely doesn’t hate him as anything more than a troublesome student. Think about it…Snape’s been in contact with Lucius and has Draco in his class, so he always has to be mean to him. But why? In my opinion, Lucius doesn’t know that Snape was a spy for Dumbledore, and Snape is trying to act like he’ll be ready to go back to the Death Eaters. It’s a dangerous job, and I think Snape may kick the bucket. Second…I’ve heard that JK Rowling said that this would be a horrible death to “rewrite”…which opens up a lot of possibilities. Fudge, if he’s dead, the recollection of the Potters’ deaths, etc. Or the death of Moaning Myrtle. I’m sure that I just raised a lot of eyebrows just there, but don’t worry, I’m getting to my Myrtle theory.

The audio excerpt has caused a lot of waves for all of us, of course, and hereÂ’s my guess. Dementors showed up at Privet Drive, Harry cast a Patronus, got a letter from the Ministry saying he had an expulsion trial for breaking the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Sorcery. As for where they areÂ…hmmÂ…maybe itÂ’s an old Dark WizardÂ’s house that the Weasleys are using as headquarters for Arthur and those sympathetic to Dumbledore and against Voldemort. Level of Confidence: 65%

Ok, my Moaning Myrtle theory. HereÂ’s what I think: the Evans family, all Muggle, had a daughter named Myrtle, who was invited to attend Hogwarts. She died there, and the parents, distraught, didnÂ’t have another child for many yearsÂ…until they had two more daughters, Lily and Petunia. All three daughters, of course, were named after flowers, and it seems that only two were witchesÂ…or were all three? For Lily to be descendent of Slytherin when her parents were Muggles would be very hardÂ…unless there was a long line of Squibs before Lily, Petunia, and Myrtle. I really donÂ’t know if this is right, but I hope so.

Thank you all, as always, for reading. Just to be safe, since I donÂ’t know if every one of you will have or finish OotP by next Sunday, my column next week will be quite lighthearted, just about what happened when I will have run the Borders Release Party. That being said, take care of yourselves, and see you next Sunday.

Oh yeah. One more thing, and I truly mean this from the bottom of my heart. For everyone who will be doing what IÂ’ll be doing in less than a week, I really hope you all enjoy the newest addition to the world of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Have fun with it guys, and I hope itÂ’s all that you expected, and more.

6/15/2003

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