HP6: The Half-Blood Prince

Hermy - Jul 11, 2005 2:56 pm (#1201 of 1448)
Gina,

Thanks for the information but I have already decided to start with page 1 of HBP. Last time I read the book jacket and then regreted it so I am really going to try to start on page 1 savor everyword until the end. Then go back and look for clues.
Thanks,

Hermy

- - - - - - - - - -
Penny Lane. - Jul 11, 2005 3:07 pm (#1202 of 1448)
Liz - the Sun is unreliable. Even if you had read the headline/article, you don't know for sure. They offered up no actual proof anyway that Dumbledore dies. The only "proof" that article had was that said character had more votes in the area where the book was being printed. People have been speculating that that particular character was going to die since book 3 or so. Furthermore, if I remember correctly, the numbers didn't even show a major fluctuation around the area where the book might have been leaked.

People are just spoiler happy. That's all. If I had bought one of the books that have already been sold, I would read it, return it, get my free stuff, and feel happy that I had the information long before anyone else. But I wouldn't tell people unless they asked for it.

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 11, 2005 4:54 pm (#1203 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
Edited Jul 11, 2005 5:58 pm
Mugglenet has shown in a picture from the Amazon warehouse that the cover image from Scholastic's HBP shows Harry wearing a ring on his wand hand while looking in the glowing bird bath with Dumbledore.

*Edit: I checked back on Mugglenet and checked the other pics from the Amazon Warehouse. Mugglenet says the thing that looks like a ring seems to only be in the one picture. After checking the other pics I agree. Sorry if I over-reacted. All the pics in question are on Mugglenet if you want to see for yourself.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ludicrous Patents Office - Jul 11, 2005 5:02 pm (#1204 of 1448)
I agree Liz, it ticks me off when people try to ruin it for everyone. Constant Vigilance!! I'm looking forward to getting my copy and reading it straight through before I talk to or see anyone.

I am amazed though at how few spoilers there are. Think about the number of people that handel the books. If I remember correctly the first edition printing is over 10 million books. A lot of people are involved in making, storing and shipping those books. Sigh, I like Penny's idea. Read the book return and say nothing. LPO

- - - - - - - - - -
Herm-own-ninny Weezly - Jul 11, 2005 9:46 pm (#1205 of 1448)
I just wanted to drop a "thank you" to Penny for using invisible text on the character rumored to die. I have successfully managed to avoid that bit of information since it came out, and I visit this forum very often. I suppose that shows how much respect people on this forum have concerning spoilers (and everything in general), so I guess I should be thanking everyone!

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 11, 2005 10:34 pm (#1206 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
I was inspired by Ann's post to inventory the front and back covers to see what clues we might gleen from the HBP covers.

SS-- (scholastic)Front cover; Harry, unicorn, Fluffy,Golden Snitch and the castle. ----Back cover; An Owl, hooded wizard, bludger and a key. A short review. (hard cover,) --------(Soft cover), on back is a hand holding a lighted candle behind a curtain. Three paragraphs of text.

PS--cover-Harry, Hogwarts Express, platform 9 3/4, ---back, Dumbledore with Light PutOuter, short paragraph of text.

CoS-- cover-Harry and Fawkes in the Chamber ---back, Ron and Ginny and a cat in the Chamber Three short reviews.

PoA--Harry, Hermione, Hippogriff and Prisoner ---back cover; Dementors, black dog and Whomping willow, only text is title.

GoF, sorry can't locate my copy

OoTP- (Scholastic) Harry in circular room in DoM ---back cover; Sirius, Tonks, Lupin, Moody. Only text is title.

(Bloomsbury)--Fawkes raising from the flames. --back cover; the statutes from the MOM lobby, 3 paragraphs of text.

Conclusion: The back cover does contain important information. This info is often critical to the plot.

Can any of you get anything thing else that i have missed. I feel that there I have missed something.

- - - - - - - - - -
The giant squid - Jul 11, 2005 11:57 pm (#1207 of 1448)

Raincoast also announced that it would reward the small number of consumers who had inadvertently purchased at the store in question an early copy of the book, if they returned their copy to Raincoast immediately.

Um...the way that's worded, it looks like they're rewarding people who bought the book with..an early copy (which they already have). Someone on TLC needs to brush up on their grammar skills.

--Mike

- - - - - - - - - -
Snuffles - Jul 12, 2005 2:43 am (#1208 of 1448)
Olivia
Well I think you should be congratulated on your restraint Gina. I'm not sure I could have stopped reading it if I had been sent the email. I don't want to read any spoilers, but if it was handed to me on a plate........ I'm just not sure I could resist!

- - - - - - - - - -
jose043 - Jul 12, 2005 3:54 am (#1209 of 1448)
Hi All

Even in Perth, Western Australia we have an embargo on the new Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It get released in Perth at 7.01am this Saturday and the supplier cannot unpack the boxes and process the books until this time. As my daughter works for the State Library of Western Australia. She is hangout for her five copies that she has ordered. They will be sitting on her desk when she arrives at work on Monday morning.

Josephine

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 12, 2005 4:17 am (#1210 of 1448)
Been away for a while - busying myself with one thing and another

On my re-read of OOTP before THIS WEEKEND (Yay!) and something in ch36 leaped out and made me think of the cover of HBP. Here's a quote: "...Dumbledore had drawn back his wand and waved it as though brandishing a whip. A long thin flame flew from the tip; it wrapped itself around Voldemort, shield and all. For a moment, it seemed Dumbledore had won, but then the fiery rope became a serpent, which relinquished its hold on Voldemort..." Sorry to those who have noticed/posted/read about this in recent weeks, only I don't remember reading a comment about this anywhere.

Maybe the long thin flame coming from Dumbledore's wand on the new cover is the same spell, and rather than being some kind of binding (as it seems to be in the MOM) it is something like a forcefield which cannot be crossed in either direction. The cover art could show the same spell being used to protect Harry and DD from hostile spells. In the MOM it could have been used, not as a binding to hold LV but to restrain spells cast by LV. In the end, LV didn't counter the spell, he changed it (makes me think of Maleficent's curse on Sleeping Beauty being changed by the fairy Merryweather).

Incidentally, the early purchasers don't get a free early copy. I just heard on the news they will be rewarding the honest early purchasers with Jo's autograph in the book if they take it back to the shop.

Good to be back, albeit temporarily as I'll be busy from Saturday! (Yay again!)

Aurora x

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 6:31 am (#1211 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Welcome back, Aurora! I thought the same thing about the "forcefield" effect on the cover of HBP, but I couldn't think of the proper term, so Yay! thanks! I had forgotten about that part at the end of OoP -- I'm currently re-reading and just about to get to that part. I think you're right; I definitely get the feel that it's something "protective" that Dumbledore is creating.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 12, 2005 6:56 am (#1212 of 1448)
I just watched Jim Dale on The Today Show and I was a wee bit disappointed that he didn't do an excerpt from HBP, He did one from OoP.He did say that HBP was the best Jo has ever written and at the end of it you ask yourself "where will she go from here?"Anyways,thought I'd share that tidbit.It made me that much more excited about the book we've been waiting so long for.

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 7:15 am (#1213 of 1448)
I am so mad! I just got an email from Walmart stating that the arrival date of HBP has changed until July 20!!!!!!!!

Anyone else had this problem?????????????

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 7:28 am (#1214 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Grindylow, I would be very suspect of that e-mail. Sounds like a spam to me. Did you telephone them?

- - - - - - - - - -
Snuffles - Jul 12, 2005 7:30 am (#1215 of 1448)
Olivia
I've ordered mine from Amazon, but you have me so paranoid now, I have just sent them an email checking that I will have my book delivered on Saturday. If not I will have to go out and get another copy!

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 7:33 am (#1216 of 1448)
Madam Pince-I did call them and they said the Manufacturer changed the release date and that it was out of their control. I am trying to cancel that order and am going to go to a store of some sort to get one on Saturday......

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

EDIT: I am sorry if I have made anyone paranoid....I checked Amazon's site and they are saying shipping date of July 18th. That may be just for people who order now...though it does still say "Pre-Order"

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 8:33 am (#1217 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Hmmmmm... smells very fishy to me, although I can't see what possible advantage it would give them. A manufacturer can't change a release date, can they? They can change their shipping date or something if they encounter unexpected manufacturing difficulties, I suppose, but I can't believe any retailer would shoot themselves in the foot like that over something as hyped as this book's release date -- I mean, all their customers will just do exactly what you're doing and go somewhere else. Surely the books have all been manufactured and shipped by now? Any bookshop owners or retailers out there in our Forum membership?

I placed an advance order at my local Barnes & Noble, but I didn't have to pay anything, just give my name. Did you have to pay to reserve your copy at Wal-Mart? If not, if I were you I wouldn't even bother trying to cancel my order -- just get it wherever you please. That's what they get for being shortsighted....

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 8:38 am (#1218 of 1448)
It was taken at walmart.com. They took payment for sure! I wish there was another place I could go to and order it online and have it here by Saturday without paying any extra HIGH shipping costs.

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 12, 2005 8:49 am (#1219 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
Grindylow - I'm so sorry for you and so angry at Wal-Mart for you as well. If I were you I would get my money back for the prepaid one and check with other retailers in your area like, Target, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-a-million, whatever is around you and see if you can still reserve a copy with them. The Amazon interview yesterday on the Today show I think said that to guarantee arrival on the 16th you had to order from them yesterday. I hope you can find a solution that will get you your book by the 16th. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 8:53 am (#1220 of 1448)
Thanks GryffEndora.....My daughter is not going to be happy!

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 12, 2005 9:12 am (#1221 of 1448)
How about joining a queue at one of the shops that will be opening at midnight?

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 9:15 am (#1222 of 1448)
Aurora......I did that. I had bought a ticket to one book store and tried to save a little money and ordered a second from Walmart. I just called the bookstore, and they allowed me to buy another ticket for the second copy! WOO HOO!

WAL-MART NEVER AGAIN!

- - - - - - - - - -
Ydnam96 - Jul 12, 2005 10:03 am (#1223 of 1448)
You should call your credit card company and tell them to stop payment, as the contract you agreed to (a specific delivery date) is not being met. They should be able to do that. That's one good thing about using credit cards.

So excited. I didn't even bother with the ordering online. I wanted my book as close to midnight as possible so I'm gonna be in line with all the kiddies at 6pm with my nice colored wristband.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 12, 2005 10:44 am (#1224 of 1448)
I just called my Walmart and I'll be able to pick up at midnight as planned.*Whew*I did have a copy at Borders on reserve though,just in case.Glad you got your copy reserved Grindylow.

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 12, 2005 10:52 am (#1225 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
I just came from my local WM. They have big signs up announcing a party prior to the release with games, costume contest, food etc. They also have a big display right up front with all the books and movies for sale.

Edit: TLC is reporting that the WM emails were sent in error and those expecting the book on the 16th should receive it as scheduled

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 10:59 am (#1226 of 1448)
Thanks guys. This taught me not to order from walmart.com again......

I think I will call my credit card company and get that charge stopped. Great thinking!

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 12, 2005 11:06 am (#1227 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
Grindylow, as Denise P. said, the message was wrong. Check out the Leaky Cauldron News page for the latest story. If you ordered the book before Monday you will receive it on the promised 16th.

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 11:10 am (#1228 of 1448)
Thanks for the info guys~! If Wal-Mart hasn't already cancelled my order I will now have 3 books!

HAHAHAHA........more is better than none!

- - - - - - - - - -
So Sirius - Jul 12, 2005 11:22 am (#1229 of 1448)
I'm starting to really believe that DD will be the HBP and the character described by her early on, will also be DD, that limp will be caused by that fight that caused that scar on his leg. Perhaps it's either a vision of him early on or a vision of him after his death, as a ghost or something. I also believe DD will die in this novel and spark something in the Wizarding world, thus making him ultimately, the HBP. Anyway, that's my latest prediction. I can't believe how long a week has been.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 12, 2005 12:11 pm (#1230 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Dumbledore used to have auburn hair, not tawny.

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 12, 2005 12:12 pm (#1231 of 1448)
Ok...now I have 3 copies coming. I called the 800 number and they say it will arrive here on Saturday.

Oh well!

I think the HBP will be someone new, or someone we will see in a "new" light...

- - - - - - - - - -
kj09 - Jul 12, 2005 12:26 pm (#1232 of 1448)
Has anyone been able to blow up that picture of the full HBP cover and make it legible? I have a friend currently trying to do so and said he should have it this afternoon. He had to get a better program that should work. Would anyone be interested in seeing it unless it's already been done.

Matt

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 12, 2005 1:42 pm (#1233 of 1448)
I think the HBP to be Dumbledore also for many different reasons.As for the "lion man" I initially thought it was Dumbledore but the tawny hair dont quite fit in.

- - - - - - - - - -
Finn BV - Jul 12, 2005 4:46 pm (#1234 of 1448)
Me kayaking, Niagara River, August 2006. I have been likened to Reepicheep in this photo.
If anybody watches Scholastic's cool video of JKR signing the book (the one with the music) stop it just as you can see her signature. The illustration on the title page appears to be the same sort of thing as that "Potions" book on the cover of the UK Adult edition. Usually, this illustration is fairly important. It is, completely, a goblet (or a globe?) and a tattered old book. A coincidence? I think not.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 5:15 pm (#1235 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Finn, that's verrrrry interesting! (Since we're on a Hogan's Heroes kick around here lately!)

By the way, is Finn's info a spoiler? Seems to me that it's fair information -- the video was released by JKR's publisher. So it's akin to our discussing the cover art or one of JKR's interviews or something, correct? Can we discuss it without highlighting?

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 12, 2005 5:24 pm (#1236 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
You can discuss without highlighting...it doesn't provide any concrete details about plot.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ag Hart - Jul 12, 2005 5:57 pm (#1237 of 1448)
Good observation, Finn. When I first saw the cover of Bloomsbury's adult edition, I wondered what its significance was. Sure it might indicate that Harry indeed takes Advanced Potions (although it looks more like a rare reference book, perhaps indicating private lessons), but what is its relevance to the Half-Blood Prince? Of all the images Bloomsbury could have chosen,why that one? Why is Advanced Potions so symbolic of the title or so instrumental to the plot? It must be something more than Harry needs the course to become an auror. Unfortunately, all I have are questions--no answers. Anyone care to speculate?

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 6:29 pm (#1238 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
I haven't been able to see the video for myself (***stupid computer***) but if Finn is correct and it shows a goblet, then that makes me think of a potion. And the UK cover shows a Potions text.

So perhaps there's something to do with defeating Voldemort that involves creating a special potion? Maybe a good part of the book deals with obtaining the ingredients for that potion? Maybe Voldemort is trying yet again to make himself immortal (I'm assuming he's all mortal again now, after the whole Vapor-Mort and then re-birthing and all), and he does this by some special sort of potion? Could our dear Severus be involved in the creation of that potion ("stopper in death" whichever way you want to take it)?

Lots of speculations -- no answers!

- - - - - - - - - -
Astragynia Winifred Posy Miranda Yseult Cawdor - Jul 12, 2005 6:37 pm (#1239 of 1448)
Perhaps the book isn't Harry's textbook, but instead is something more important in itself - something along the lines of Riddle's diary? See, I even managed to tie this into CoS! Maybe it does/tells us something that Riddle's diary was originally going to do (as if releasing a young Dark Lord to terrorize the school wasn't enough)...

Edit: Oh, Madam Pince, I like your find-the-potion-ingredients idea... though I admit my mind jumped to needing blood from a prince, but then that would be dark magic, wouldn't it?!

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 6:44 pm (#1240 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Well, if Voldemort was preparing the potion....

I like the way your mind works, Astragynia! Blood from a prince... Let's see, that's one cup of newt's eyebrows, one-half cup of blood from a prince, or...wait...is that one cup of blood from a half-prince? Oh, I knew I should've paid closer attention in Professor Snape's class!

- - - - - - - - - -
Ag Hart - Jul 12, 2005 6:45 pm (#1241 of 1448)
Good ideas. So maybe the Potions book is a clue as to why Voldemort didn't die? I like that. I also like the idea that it might be another forbidden book. JKR did say we would finally be getting answers.

If what we think is a pensieve is not one, is it a special bowl for a special potion? Are Dumbledore, the weathered Potions book, and the "bowl" connected to some major revelation?

- - - - - - - - - -
Hermionefan(#1) - Jul 12, 2005 7:03 pm (#1242 of 1448)
missing my picture!!!!! *cry cry cry*
Mark Evans is the half-blood prince!! Well I have like no proof or anything I just like that idea. My friend thinks its Lupin. So that's just our opinions.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ludicrous Patents Office - Jul 12, 2005 7:27 pm (#1243 of 1448)
I got an email today from Borders about my HBP reservation. It had a audio clip from Jim Dale "reminding" me to pick up my book after midnight on the 16th. As if I need reminded! LPO

- - - - - - - - - -
S.E. Jones - Jul 12, 2005 7:50 pm (#1244 of 1448)
Let it snow!
If anyone would like to see the pic fbv is talking about, it's here.

EDIT: It appears to be a candle sitting next to the book.

A slightly clearer picture.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 12, 2005 7:53 pm (#1245 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Oooooo, thanks Sarah!

Yep, looks like a goblet to me, with some active "potion-ing" going on inside it. Or, I suppose it could be one of those really fat candles on a candlestand, but not so much as the goblet. Or it also looks a bit like the thing on the front cover that we've been calling a Pensieve, but the size is out of proportion with the textbook. (I only thought of that when I saw Sarah's cool avatar above!)

- - - - - - - - - -
Ludicrous Patents Office - Jul 12, 2005 8:31 pm (#1246 of 1448)
Thanks Sarah. I don't know if it is good or bad, Advanced Potions, Yuk! LPO

- - - - - - - - - -
Ann - Jul 12, 2005 8:36 pm (#1247 of 1448)
I agree that it looks like the 'pensieve' on the cover. If you look at the cover again, the perspective may be distorted to make the cup look larger (as if you were looking at Harry and Dumbledore past the cup, and your eyes are very close to the cup). The fact that one of the FAQs on Jo's site was whether the thing on the cover was a pensieve may also be a clue. I don't believe she's going to answer any of those questions now, so perhaps the questions are clues in themselves to the contents of the book? The means of communication would then play an important role in it, and also Harry's study of Occlumency.

- - - - - - - - - -
S.E. Jones - Jul 12, 2005 8:44 pm (#1248 of 1448)
Let it snow!
From watching the video, I'd say that it's a fat candle on a candle holder, as Mad. Pince suggested....

- - - - - - - - - -
TwinklingBlueEyes - Jul 12, 2005 11:51 pm (#1249 of 1448)
"Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking"
Ok, taking bets! All paid either in Leprechauns gold or stoat sandwiches!

Think one of those potions in HBP may be Draught of the Living Death?

And if so, giver / receiver? Or maybe the Draught of Peace? May-haps the Confusing & Befuddlement Draught?

...toddles off elsewhere...

Edited for redneck dialect.

- - - - - - - - - -
Phelim Mcintyre - Jul 13, 2005 1:21 am (#1250 of 1448)
If you follow this link you will be able to see and compare the US and UK covers. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Grindylow - Jul 13, 2005 3:49 am (#1251 of 1448)
Edited Jul 13, 2005 4:46 am
I just watched the video and I believe it to be a candle...

EDIT: I can't view the video feed for the Katie Couric-Jim Dale interview, but I have read excerpts....does anyone want to comment on anything he said?

I would put it in white,in case someone considers it a spoiler, but I don't know how....

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 13, 2005 7:31 am (#1252 of 1448)
I had written a small note on the interview in post #1212.I want to appologize if anyone considered it a spoiler,I really hadn't considered it being one at the time I posted.Sorry.

- - - - - - - - - -
Nathan Zimmermann - Jul 13, 2005 8:45 am (#1253 of 1448)
A thought occurred to me on who the Half-Blood Prince might be. This is speculative on my part.

Is it possible that Ted Tonks nay actually be the Half-Blood Prince? First, Ted Tonks is a muggle-born wizard making him a half-blood. Second, he married Andromeda Black an heiress of the Black family, a family that in OotP is called the Ancient and Noble House of Black, The marriage between Andromeda and Ted could possibly result in some people derisively calling Ted the Half-Blood Prince

Cheers Nathan

- - - - - - - - - -
Penny Lane. - Jul 13, 2005 8:50 am (#1254 of 1448)
Speculation doesn't have to be in white.

That does make some sense - he was mentioned and all. But I think, in this case, half-blood refers to the offspring of a Muggleborn and wizard born

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 13, 2005 9:04 am (#1255 of 1448)
Hi Everyone! I am rereading GoF, in an effort to pass the time quickly, I came across something that I didn't remember...

Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the kitchen talking with Dobby and Winky. They tell Winky that they have seen Mr. Crouch (her old master) and Hermione says that Mr Bagman is at Hogwarts too. "Mr. Bagman comes too?" squeaked Winky, and to Harry's great surprize (and Ron and Hermione too) she looked angry. "Mr Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My Master isn't liking him, oh no not at all!" "Bagman- Bad? asked Harry. "oh yes!" Winky said nodding her head furiously. "My Master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying...Winky- Winky keeps her masters secrets..." I am totaly at a loss... did we find out why Bagman is bad? And do you think that Winky is talking about Ludo or Otto? I'm guessing I just missed something and knew I could turn to you all for help.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 9:07 am (#1256 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I just finished GoF last week. Winky is talking about Ludo's trial where he was brought before court because he was passing secrets to Death Eaters. He claimed that he didn't know he Rookwood was a Death Eater, he was a family friend. He gets left off, which makes Crouch very angry, so he probably told Winky about it.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 9:13 am (#1257 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Winky is talking about Ludo's trial where he was brought before court because he was passing secrets to Death Eaters. He claimed that he didn't know he Rookwood was a Death Eater, he was a family friend. He gets left off, which makes Crouch very angry, so he probably told Winky about it.

Well, that's what we assume it was, anyway.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 9:19 am (#1258 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
True, probably should have mentioned that.

- - - - - - - - - -
veraco - Jul 13, 2005 9:22 am (#1259 of 1448)
Hello everybody!

It's been a while since I post anything but be sure I have been having fun reading all your posts and theories.

I just wanted to let you all now, in case no one knows, that scholastic just released the FULL cover art of the deluxe edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

I will just say it makes you wonder even more about what JKR has in store this time around for Harry and for all of us.

I'm not very good with links but this is the site where you can found the image, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] a site I'm sure a lot of you know already, and bellow is what I hope is the link to the actual image.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Have fun!

Only 2 more days to go!

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 13, 2005 9:29 am (#1260 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
Did any one else watch the interviews with the illustrator for the UK Childrens cover? Basically he has not read the book, he was told to draw specific things and he might have read a snippet from a scene but he says he didn't read the book and even he doesn't know what the green light is. He was told to draw it. He also says that Harry & Dumbledore are frightened and something bad is coming their way on the cover, but he doesn't know what is coming.

You can watch the interviews Here

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 9:32 am (#1261 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
WOW! The link worked perfectly! The knife has me most afraid. It's not covered in vines, so it must be new. I wonder if this means someone is behind Harry and Dumbledore, trying to off them. I wonder who the house belongs to. Jeez, this opened so many more questions!

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 9:40 am (#1262 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
And who is that walking towards the house? Is that the 'lion man'? He has a walking stick, and the 'lion man' walks with a slight limp, so I reckon it must be. But where is that house and who does it belong to and why are they going there??? I don't think it can be the Potters' house because it was destroyed.

I am getting so excited now!!

Edit: Gasp! I just looked at the picture again and look at the door of the house! It has a snake on it! And there's someone inside the house. You can see their silhouette at the window.

Edit #2: Darn, Doris Crockford posted before I did my first edit.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 9:45 am (#1263 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I didn't even notice the walking stick. Great find, Liz!

- - - - - - - - - -
Chemyst - Jul 13, 2005 9:45 am (#1264 of 1448)
"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." A.A. Milne
I agree with those who think the chapter title list suggested (by following the clues) in post #326 by David V sound bogus.

I found two misspellings, None of the titles seem to make puns for any of the items we've seen on the covers. The two that, if you really, really stretched it, might be potion ingredients, still don't sound like JKR-style ingredients. I don't think the plot will be sluggish, and the pacing suggested by some of the chapter titles seems out of order.

And thanks for the link to the cover, veraco. That picture makes the title list seem even more phony.

And thanks for your link too, GryffEndora. The one new thing I learned was that the flames (on the Bloomsbury children's cover) protect Harry. I was always in doubt as to if they were defense or offense. **

- - - - - - - - - -
Doris Crockford - Jul 13, 2005 9:45 am (#1265 of 1448)
I had only seen the part with Harry and Dumbledore standing together before, so that picture really scared me! The bats, the ivy all over the house, and the broken roof gives me the creeps. The knife scared me, too, especially with the suspicious way Dumbledore is looking at it. It looks like a snake has been carved on the door to the house, bringing to mind maybe Salazar Slytherin's house, or just the house of any dark wizard. I wonder who the other people are, both the guy walking toward the house (in what looks like muggle clothing to me), and the guy looking out the window.

- - - - - - - - - -
Penny Lane. - Jul 13, 2005 9:47 am (#1266 of 1448)
Oh! The cover art for the deluxe edition is intreging! I want to know what house that it - my first thought was Hagrid's, but his is more of a shack, and that doesn't seem right. The house in Little Hangleton, maybe? Or maybe a house in Godric's Hollow?

59 hours left!

- - - - - - - - - -
Ginerva Potter - Jul 13, 2005 9:51 am (#1267 of 1448)
What I don't understand is, why don't Harry and Dumbledore have their wands out? It can't be all that dangerous, maybe it's in the Pensieve? Or something? I don't know it seems if they were in danger they would have their wands out. I can't wait anymore!!!! Ahhh, It's killing me! All this anticipation

Ginny

- - - - - - - - - -
So Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 9:52 am (#1268 of 1448)
I have to retract what I stated about DD being that man in the description when HPANA is showing the full art work and DD and Harry are following the man in question. He must be the one in the description. Long hair, cane (assuming there's a limp). I wonder if that house is Spinners End (the big S on the door, albeit backwards or like looking in a mirror) sort of suggests that. To me it looks like the two of them are in the pensieve. It looks like they're almost secretly following him. Definitely some sort of memory, like when Harry followed Riddle, he was in pajamas then too.

- - - - - - - - - -
Nathan Zimmermann - Jul 13, 2005 9:53 am (#1269 of 1448)
I wonder if the house is located within the Forbidden Forest.

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 13, 2005 9:56 am (#1270 of 1448)
I saw the picture of the book and candle inside the cover. The book looks like the potions book (the book that was on the ecard) So, my thought is this... Snape will play a large role in this book. I think one of the three missing Death Eaters that we taked about is Snape. It would be a huge plot twist to have Snape be the Faithful one. I don't think he is but it would be a major twist. And maybe the pensive we are seeing on the cover is the pensive from Snape's office? I just think that it is a clue to have the potions book be involved so much.

- - - - - - - - - -
Stringer - Jul 13, 2005 9:56 am (#1271 of 1448)
On the Huge version of the cover art picture posted on mugglenet, the house seems to have eyes. If you look at the roof, there seems to be eyes. They don't look like dormer windows, unless they have collapsed..

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 9:59 am (#1272 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Huh, it does almost look like the house has eyes. I thought they were just holes in the roofing.

Actually, I've just looked again and I noticed that the snake on the front door is shaped like an S, as though for Slytherin. Maybe it was Slytherin's house! That gives me a theory actually - maybe they are in the Forbidden Forest, and Slytherin had a hut there as well as the Chamber. Or maybe he lived there at some point, perhaps after he left the school, without the other founders knowing, so he could keep an eye on them for his own purposes.

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 10:08 am (#1273 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
Has anyone noticed that knife in the tree over Harry's head? Anyone want to speculate Godric's Hollow? Wait no the door has that "S". It probably can't be Godric's Hollow. Oh well.

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 13, 2005 10:09 am (#1274 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
Here are some of my thoughts about the new artwork. I have whited them out in case you wish to avoid the artwork. I agree with Stringer that the small windows on the roof look like eyes, together with the curve of the roof over the door it almost has a snake-like face, almost a nose or fangs. I definately see a snake on the door in what appears to be the shape of an S. The man DD and Harry seem to be following has a walking stick and there is someone inside the house. I wonder if this house is where Wormtail has been? The knife seems to me like someone was using it to cut through the forest.

- - - - - - - - - -
Stringer - Jul 13, 2005 10:10 am (#1275 of 1448)
It also looks as if there is someone inside, you can see an outline of a person in the left window. There seems to be a knife in the tree by Dumbledore's arm, though I don't know the significance of it.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 10:16 am (#1276 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Hmm...this must be a very significant house if someone is inside, someone is going to get inside, and Harry and DD are following him. I agree that this seems to be a scene from a Pensieve, mostly because Harry is in pyjamas. Perhaps, Harry still hasn't done well with Occulmency, and this is a dream he has. Perhaps he put it in DD's pensieve, and now they are examining it together.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ginerva Potter - Jul 13, 2005 10:18 am (#1277 of 1448)
Is the Slytherin S backwards and I've never noticed? The S on the door is backwards.

Ginny

- - - - - - - - - -
So Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 10:19 am (#1278 of 1448)
That knife is curious. I doubt it's DDs or Harrys. Wouldn't imagine DD needs a knife nor would carry one. Perhaps someone threw it at them and missed. OR it was there prior and as I said, this is a memory they're following this person in. I see what looks like an eye in the house and the silhouette of someone in the window. I think this is Spinners End and Harry and DD are learning something useful that happened here.

- - - - - - - - - -
The Wandless Wizard - Jul 13, 2005 10:31 am (#1279 of 1448)
When wands are outlawed, only outlaws will have wands.
I wonder if a pensieve shows a reflection of what a person saw. Therefore, everything would be seen backwards. That would explain why the S on the door is backwards, if it was a memory from a pensieve. I doubt it, but it is a thought. Did Harry get a good look at the writing on the O.W.L papers in Snape's memory in OotP? If it is a pensieve scene, which isn't proven, whose is it? I would guess the man with the walking stick, since you have to be near the person to see what they saw. Hmmm, this post doesn't seem very helpful, huh? Lots for me to ponder before I come to any conclusions.

-TWW

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 10:43 am (#1280 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Unless Harry follows the person alone, and then later Dumbledore goes into Harry's memory. I don't think it could be the other way around because Dumbledore is behind Harry. If Harry was following Dumbledore he wouldn't surely be able to stand that close in front of him for fear of Dumbledore walking through him or something.

- - - - - - - - - -
So Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 12:04 pm (#1281 of 1448)
I had a thought. That guy, Frank Bryce, who was the gardener or something for the Riddles and was injured badly and had to limp, which book was he discussed in and do you think this is the old Riddles house and that's Frank, in a memory? Although i'm really keen to believe it's the guy in the description, perhaps one in the same.

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 13, 2005 12:07 pm (#1282 of 1448)
I'm rereading GoF and I found this passage. Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the kitchen talking with Dobby and Winky. They tell Winky that they have seen Mr. Crouch (her old master) and Hermione says that Mr Bagman is at Hogwarts too. "Mr. Bagman comes too?" squeaked Winky, and to Harry's great surprize (and Ron and Hermione too) she looked angry. "Mr Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My Master isn't liking him, oh no not at all!" "Bagman- Bad? asked Harry. "oh yes!" Winky said nodding her head furiously. "My Master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying...Winky- Winky keeps her masters secrets..." Did I miss something...Did we find out why Bagman is bad? Do you think she is talking about Ludo or Otto?

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 13, 2005 12:13 pm (#1283 of 1448)
Has anyone noticed the window furthest to the right in the huge version on Mugglenet? The shutter in hanging off it,the window is half opened and there appears to be a mist/vapor coming out of it.I've got goosebumps.

- - - - - - - - - -
Joanne R. Reid - Jul 13, 2005 12:17 pm (#1284 of 1448)
Edited by S.E. Jones Jul 13, 2005 2:25 pm
HI,

With just days to go, I jumped at this opportunity to glean legitimate information about the future by downloading the latest scholastic cover. Here are my thoughts:

All is dark, heavy with deep blues and greens.

The only bright objects are the faces of Harry and Dumbledore.

Both are wearing robes. Harry is wearing a white shirt with an high collar, open at the neck.

The white shirt extends downward to his feet, as though it was a nightshirt.

They are passing through a broken down fence in wild, wooded area.

Neither are holding wands.

Dumbledore is pushing aside an overhanging vine.

Harry seems happy and eager to proceed.

Dumbledore is alert, perhaps wary, but not afraid or angry.

A knife is sticking out of the tree just ahead of Harry, to his right at about eye level.

A man, wearing a fedora and leather-appearing jacket with a walking stick in his right hand, is walking along a flagstoned path leading towards a delapidated 1-story house, overgrown with ivy.

The house is small and appears to have been abandoned.

The attic window in the short wall nearest Harry is damaged, as though its shutter had been torn outward.

The roof, badly in need of repairs, contains two small, rounded dormers, one to each side of the front door.

A flagstoned walk ascends to stoop and two stairs at a front door, adorned with large, snake-like question mark.

Two windows are to the left of the door.

A dark shadow is in left most window.

One window is to right of door with shutter hanging partly off.

A mist emanates from window.

A chimney pokes through the roof at the far end of the building, either through the crest or through the opposite side.

It's a dark and scary scene. My guess is that this is Harry's parent's house in Godrick Hollow. I have no idea who the other man is. I'm guessing it's Mad-Eye, but that's strictly a guess.

The shadow? Voldemort?

The snake on the door? An alternate version of the Dark Mark?

It's Wednesday. I need my Time Turner! Accio! Half-Blood Prince!

Thanks,

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 13, 2005 12:23 pm (#1285 of 1448)
Madame, I noticed the window as well. It reminded me of LV floating through the forest in book one. Wandless Wizard, that is good point to ponder. I too wonder if it is an S backward because of the pensive. I love this site!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Reading muggle - Jul 13, 2005 12:30 pm (#1286 of 1448)
Joanne, we can't be sure they are not holding wands, as you can only see one hand on each. AND, the hands NOT seen are the wand hands of the children's cover.

- - - - - - - - - -
azi - Jul 13, 2005 12:32 pm (#1287 of 1448)
Photo borrowed from Ardent Photography
Joanne R Reid - excellent overview of the picture! I also guessed the man with the walking stick could by Mad-Eye Moody. It also crossed my mind that it could be the man described in the extract we were given from JKR's site. However, the description does not say he had a walking stick, just a limp.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 12:50 pm (#1288 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
I didn't notice the mist coming out of the window! Good observation!

- - - - - - - - - -
mike miller - Jul 13, 2005 12:59 pm (#1289 of 1448)
aka The Barmy Old Codger
The house can't the Riddle House as it can be seen from the graveyard where Voldemort regained his physical body. It doesn't look like this house could be seen from more than a couple of hundred feet.

I don't think it's the Potter's house in Godric's Hollow either. As a viewed memory (say in a penseive) I would guess it would not look so run down; and if it was after the attack it would be a pile of rubble.

To me, the key is who is the person Harry and DD are apparently following. The person's identity would shed light on the location. Who could he be?

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 13, 2005 1:14 pm (#1290 of 1448)
Were the Potter's hiding out in their own home or in a house located in Godric's Hollow? If it is latter,perhaps it is a pensieve memory of what happened on Halloween that night.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 1:20 pm (#1291 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I've always assumed latter. I think it'd be really stupid to hide in your own house. Maybe it is the actual Potter house if it is the former.

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 1:21 pm (#1292 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
To the right and bottom of the picture, there is a tree. In front of the tree there is a big dark shadow, it looks like there is a hand froming from it, wait, it is in fact distinctly a hand. You can see the sleeve at the wrist. If you look at it closely, the rest of the dark stuff could be someones hair, as if the person were spinning.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ag Hart - Jul 13, 2005 1:28 pm (#1293 of 1448)
Edited Jul 13, 2005 2:15 pm
Other than the walking stick in the unidentified person's hand, the two things I notice is that the visitor is wearing muggle clothing and is short and heavyset. Such clothing would require that the wizard know something of proper muggle dress. Weight and height wise the characters that come to mind are Wormtail and Umbridge (in disguise). Of course it could be Vernon (lol), he already has muggle clothes.

Seriously, it could be a muggle or new character. Could the shadowy figure be Snape (he is a Slytherin) or even a woman?

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 13, 2005 1:41 pm (#1294 of 1448)
Ooh..I was trying to locate the hand Mrs.Sirius, and while doing so I found a huge bat..It is about midway up the trunk.Its body is in front of the trunk and its wing spans each side of the trunk and to the right of the bat there appears to be another one in flight.Creepy..

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 1:43 pm (#1295 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I just found the mist. That, too, is going in an S shape. How odd...

Wow, I just found the hand. That is really scary Probably because I was searching for it, then I all-of-a-sudden found it.

So now the question is: Why are there three people here, with Harry and Dumbledore bringing up the rear? Whether they are physically there or because of a pensieve.

- - - - - - - - - -
Delightful Task! - Jul 13, 2005 1:44 pm (#1296 of 1448)
Guess what happened to me today... I was shopping at the nearby supermarket, here near Paris, preparing my holidays in the UK... (we leave on Saturday!!!), and guess what they were selling... Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!! I couldn't believe it!!! And what I can't believe is that I didn't buy it! I didn't even have a look at what was inside! Nobody really seemed to care, I couldn't find anyone to tell them perhaps they were not allowed to do that, and obviously, they had already sold one or two copies anyway... Well, I suppose you cannot control everything... I only hope there won't be too many spoilers...!

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 13, 2005 1:51 pm (#1297 of 1448)
Edited Jul 13, 2005 2:40 pm
Now that I've seen the bat,I wonder if this could be Snape's memory?When someone asked Jo if Snape was a vampire she answered.."Um..,no," I think she lied.

You have good self control,Delightful Task.I would have snatched it up(how Slytherinish of me) but I wouldn't spoil it for others.

- - - - - - - - - -
Steve Newton - Jul 13, 2005 1:56 pm (#1298 of 1448)
Librarian
Am I just strange or do the lumps on the roof of the house look like eyes?

Yes, everyone, I already know that I am strange.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 1:58 pm (#1299 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I was thinking that, too. I want to know why the window on the side is bent so oddly. Is it supposed to be like that? Also, is there any chance that the thing flying behind the bat could be an owl. It makese sense for it to be a bat, I know, but they don't look alike. Except for the winglength.

Sorry I'm putting so much in my post, I'm afraid I'm soon going to run into my post limit.

- - - - - - - - - -
Steve Newton - Jul 13, 2005 2:06 pm (#1300 of 1448)
Librarian
Star Crossed, did you mean thinking they were eyes or that I am strange?

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Madame Pomfrey - Jul 13, 2005 2:10 pm (#1301 of 1448)
Star Crossed,I think you may be right.It looks more like an owl.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 13, 2005 2:12 pm (#1302 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Former, about the eyes. Good, I'm not crazy then.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 2:29 pm (#1303 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Delightful Task - OMG, what on earth is going on?! A shop in Canada was selling them too early, a shop in New York was selling them too early, and now a shop in Paris is selling them too early??? This is ridiculous! We have seen pictures of the books being shipped in boxes, and the boxes all have on them - "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - DO NOT OPEN UNTIL JULY 16th" How could these book stores be making the mistake?

My advice to you is don't buy it. It's being sold illegally, so buying is is illegal too, and you'll just be made to give it back, anyway, as soon as the publishers get wind of it. It's not long left to wait, anyway!

- - - - - - - - - -
lilysmom - Jul 13, 2005 10:46 am (#1304 of 1448)
Edited by S.E. Jones Jul 13, 2005 2:33 pm
I know this isn't about Rowling's site...but did you guys see that Scholastic released the full cover art for the book! Very intriguing!

->I moved this from the 'JKR's Official Site' thread.<- SE Jones

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 13, 2005 2:33 pm (#1305 of 1448)
I printed the picture to see if I could see the hand. (no luck yet) I do see the bat and the owl. I am wondering if this cover is like the GoF cover with several different things from the book all together. On the tree closest to Harry the top leaf clump has several branch like things coming out but the other clumps do not. It looks to me like the branches seem to be reaching twords Harry. I would agree that it looks like the F.Forest. Did anyone say that the S on the door looks like it is upsidedown? (sorry if you did) Maybe I have been looking at the picture to long and are seeing things. I can not think of what the knife would be about. I will say (again) that I think Snape is very involved and could very well be the HBP.

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 13, 2005 2:55 pm (#1306 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
Steve Newton - someone else earlier said that the windows look like eyes and I agree. Also, if you look at the "eyes" then down to where the roof curves over the door, the way the roof is coming apart there looks like fangs to me. So, in answer to your second question, yes your probably strange, but no stranger than I am.

I definately see the bat and would not be surprised if the second winged creature is a bat also. A bat and an owl flying together sounds odd to me. Anyway, I still don't see the hand but I'll keep looking. Did someone already point out that the curtains are blowing out of the upstairs window on the Left side of the house?

If I had seen the book for sale early , I would have bought it, called the publisher to turn it in and hoped for an autographed copy like the Canadians will get.

- - - - - - - - - -
Chemyst - Jul 13, 2005 3:20 pm (#1307 of 1448)
"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." A.A. Milne
Don't miss! I just saw the Scholastic Video of the first signed book making the transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary. It is a hoot! All the porter/security guards are dressed in scarlet coats and caps just like the doormen (doorgoblins?) at Gringotts! There is a ridiculous padlocking and the doors to the cargo hold start closing. And the music is... is... befitting an old comedy movie.

- - - - - - - - - -
Astragynia Winifred Posy Miranda Yseult Cawdor - Jul 13, 2005 3:26 pm (#1308 of 1448)
I definitely get the impression that what we're seeing is Dumbledore and Harry inside a Pensieve. Look at the light on the two of them - it seems too bright compared to the surrounding forest. Now, this could just be the artist's way of drawing focus to them, but more likely it is a stylistic choice to show that they are not really a part of the surrounding scene.

I'm really not seeing this hand, though. Are you sure it's not a Bowtruckle trying to fool you?

Dumbledore may or may not be brushing aside a vine; it looks to me more like he's pointing towards the house and/or explaining something. Which strongly suggests that this is HIS memory that we're seeing - if so, then a younger Dumbledore ought to be somewhere nearby. Perhaps the figure with the walking-stick is Dumbledore in disguise?

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 13, 2005 4:13 pm (#1309 of 1448)
I've just watched the clip of the first signed copy for America and all i can say is 'What a load of twaddle!' Not so much Warner Brothers as Disneyland, in my opinion.

Aurora xx

- - - - - - - - - -
Veritaserum - Jul 13, 2005 5:15 pm (#1310 of 1448)
Go Jays!
Okay, I disagree with whoever said that Dumbledore was looking at the knife suspiciously. I think he is looking past the tree to the person approaching the house. I do not think this person is the man mentioned in JKR's description, because he was tall and loping, and this person appears short and stumpy (of course, that could be a disguise). My first thought was Mundungus Fletcher because he looks a bit dodgy. Good point, whoever observed that he is wearing Muggle clothing. The only people I can think of who've worn Muggle hats before were Fudge and Moody. Wait a minute, what if Moody is the HBP? That would be weird. Still more weird if it were Dung.

I also agree that the roof of the house looks like it has eyes and the top of a nose, as it curves upward towards the middle.

Whatever this is a picture of, it looks like we're in store for all kinds of juicy things in Book 6!

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 5:15 pm (#1311 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Everybody thinks it's a penseive memory. I'm going to laugh if it's not.

I think I saw the hand. I've put a circle around the part of the picture that I think it is. The picture's here.

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 5:20 pm (#1312 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
Yup, Liz that's it. And if you keep looking, you'll see what looks like a person in robes, the bottom blue robe and in the dark area above, it looks like a face in profile.

- - - - - - - - - -
Veritaserum - Jul 13, 2005 5:25 pm (#1313 of 1448)
Go Jays!
I forgot a couple of things. When I first saw that knife, I wondered if it was there to help Harry. I was reminded of GG's sword. But who put it there, and for what purpose?

Secondly, I don't think it's a pensieve memory. That has been used rather frequently, and I think it would be more exciting to actually be there instead of just seeing it.

Hey, wait, (contradicting myself)-- if it is a pensieve memory, maybe the mystery man is Wormtail walking up to Voldemort's secret hideout to tell him that the Potters have just made him their secret keeper!

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 13, 2005 5:33 pm (#1314 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
I think I see the blue cloak, Mrs Sirius. I've updated the picture to circle it too. The profile face I can't see.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ponine - Jul 13, 2005 5:53 pm (#1315 of 1448)
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
I am thinking that maybe Veritaserum is on to something - We only know two people who wear a fedora - Fudge is short and round, is he not? The stick could be something the man only picked up on his way through the bush... What if Fudge will play a bigger role? If we will see a new minister of Magic, Fudge will more than likely be quite unhappy about his 'dethroning', and maybe he is willing to make some new friends to get it back....? And by the way, I STILL can't make out any arms, hair or robe...

- - - - - - - - - -
Dragonesss - Jul 13, 2005 6:16 pm (#1316 of 1448)
Edited by Jul 13, 2005 6:18 pm
I don't think it's a pensieve memory. If it is Slytherin's house in the Forbidden Forest there must be a tunnel from there to the Chamber! Chamber is just perfect place for Voldemort to hide his DE after they break out of Azkaban. They could hide there and plan an attack on DD and DA and Slytherins would help them and spy for them. Chamber doesn’t show on Maradeurs Map and even DD doesn’t know what’s going on there.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 13, 2005 6:23 pm (#1317 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...

****Is dancing up and down holding her hand over her mouth****

Ooooo, ooooo! Some of the theories you guys are throwing out are fitting just beautifully with the list of alleged chapter titles that Gina got from some e-mail! ****jumps up and down more***

Of course, Gina didn't post her list since we're not supposed to, but I asked her for it and I must say it sounded pretty good, and now today after seeing this cover art and hearing some of your theories, well....it's fitting together rather well!

Did Harry get a good look at the writing on the O.W.L papers in Snape's memory in OotP? --Yes, remember he saw James doodling "L.E." on the papers. So unless James was dreaming about Ethel Longbottom instead of Lily Evans, I don't think a Pensieve scene reverses the letters.

***Is practically smothering herself with hand over mouth****

- - - - - - - - - -
Finn BV - Jul 13, 2005 6:33 pm (#1318 of 1448)
Me kayaking, Niagara River, August 2006. I have been likened to Reepicheep in this photo.
Now seriously Madam Pince. Control yourself!

And would you mind emailing me that list of chapters? Thaaaaaaaaank you.

And I must say, I'm having a hard time finding this blue cloak and hand, even with Liz's circles.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 13, 2005 6:41 pm (#1319 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Edited Jul 13, 2005 7:47 pm
Done and done.

Fudge wears a bowler, doesn't he? This looks more like a fedora to me. I'm guessing the man is the "lionlike" new guy. (Felix somebody, of course.)

I can't quite see the hand, either. I can't bring up the original link, because it says something about a bandwidth problem. I'm guessing the entire world is trying to download it or something. Can't imagine why.

**OK, now I can get the picture on TLC. HPANA is still stuck***

Has anybody speculated yet about why or how the fence might be broken? (right next to Harry and Dumbledore) It looks like the bottom rail is broken from the bottom up, as if something crawled under the fence, and the top rail is broken from the top, as if something crawled over the fence. Hmmmm.

My impression when I saw the knife in the tree was that it was some sort of directional marker -- somebody was leaving a trail / signal for someone else who would be following after, pointing the way to the house.

I don't think the house is the Riddle house -- this looks more like a cottage rather than a mansion.

I can't shake the feeling that I've seen that snake-S symbol from the door somewhere else before. I've been flipping through the chapter art of other books to check GrandPre's other stuff, but I don't see it. The snake on the door of 12 Grimmauld Place in OoP is entirely different -- at first I thought maybe it was a Black family symbol and this could be Sirius' house that his uncle gave him, but it's not the same symbol. But I swear I've seen that symbol before somewhere.

- - - - - - - - - -
I Am Used Vlad - Jul 13, 2005 7:05 pm (#1320 of 1448)
I Am Almighty!
I can see the hand, but it seems to be too large to match up with the cloak or face.

As for the guy in the hat, I'd guess Moody.

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs Brisbee - Jul 13, 2005 7:47 pm (#1321 of 1448)
Is that something carved on the first step a shield? It looks a bit like the Hogwarts crest but its a bit blurry and might just be indentations in the stone. If you look halfway up that guy's staff it's just to the right.

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 13, 2005 8:25 pm (#1322 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
Yes Liz that's the robe in your second circle. The face is just above and to the left of your top circle, it's a blue on dark blue silhouette facing to the right. But alas, I do think that the face is in the wrong proportion to the robe and hand.

- - - - - - - - - -
Nathan Zimmermann - Jul 13, 2005 8:30 pm (#1323 of 1448)
Madam Pince I too am curious to see those titles would you mind sending them to me as well.

Cheers, Nathan

- - - - - - - - - -
MickeyCee3948 - Jul 13, 2005 9:05 pm (#1324 of 1448)
Avatar courtesy of Gwen
I can't see the hand or the person standing in the shadows. I think that the bat is a Owl or perhaps a Phoenix flying away from Harry and DD towards the house. I also noticed that Harry does not have on the ring that everyone was speaking about yesterday.

Mickey

P.S. Damn I think my clock has stopped. Is it Friday yet. I am getting a headache and can think of nothing else. With the book on CNN almost hourly and all of the constant updates on my computer. I am going crackerssssss.

- - - - - - - - - -
Dragonesss - Jul 13, 2005 10:11 pm (#1325 of 1448)
Madam Pince, would you please please please email me that list of chapters? And anything else about HBP?

- - - - - - - - - -
popkin - Jul 13, 2005 11:59 pm (#1326 of 1448)
mother
I wonder if the house on the cover of the deluxe edition is the house Snape grew up in. It is small, and has never been the home of a wealthy family. I can imagine it being the dark home in which young Severus is listening to his father yelling at his mother. It also looks like everyone living in it would end up with grey underpants.

- - - - - - - - - -
Snuffles - Jul 14, 2005 1:44 am (#1327 of 1448)
Olivia
While watching PoA (Again!) I noticed a scene where Snape is teaching the kids DADA and how to notice a werewolf. Malfoy sends a piece of paper Harry's way and for the first time I noticed quite a big ring on Malfoy's finger. I was wondering if this is what gave JKR goosebumps as a foreshadowing of future events. On the new book Harry is now wearing a ring. Could these 2 things end up connected?

Probably not, this is my thoughts afterall!

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 14, 2005 4:28 am (#1328 of 1448)
You won't believe this Snuffles, but whilst looking at my PoA wall planner (trying to book holidays), the picture for July shows Draco and Pansy Parkinson chatting about Draco's, erm, 'fatal' wound. I clocked the huge silver ring! I've tried looking at it really closely with my son's magnifying glass but it isn't very good. I jumped up and down and bounced over to my computer to let you guys know and I see post #1327!!!

This is incredible!!!

35 and a half hours...ooh! Ooh!

Aurora xx

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 14, 2005 5:33 am (#1329 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Edited by Denise P. Jul 14, 2005 6:36 am
Bloomsbury have released the blurb on the back cover of the UK kids edition and it sounds sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo exciting! For those who want to read it, highlight below:

Edit Sorry Liz, no spoilers of this type are allowed on, even with it in white text. People can email you for copies or check the Bloomsbury site for the text. Thanks in advance. Denise P.

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 14, 2005 5:35 am (#1330 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
Wohooo just saw that. What's that text list at the bottom. I wasn't able to open them all.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ginerva Potter - Jul 14, 2005 5:53 am (#1331 of 1448)
How exciting!!! I think that if Bloomsbury is releasing the back text, Scholastic will probably release the text. So, maybe we'll get another snippet, too.

I can't wait!! This is killing me! Ahhhh! I just don't know what I'm going to do with myself for the next 39 hours!

Ginny

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 14, 2005 6:25 am (#1332 of 1448)
Edited by Denise P. Jul 14, 2005 10:53 am
Oooh..Thanks for the info Liz.I cant help myself,If I see HBP for sale early somewhere I will snatch it up. I know that on Saturday I'll read it way too fast(I always do)then the second time around I take my time and absorb everything. I can't wait!

- - - - - - - - - -
KWeldon - Jul 14, 2005 6:52 am (#1333 of 1448)
I have avoided the forum purposely for the last few days to avoid spoilers, so forgive me if this is a repeat, but as I suggested recently I propose that with such little time to go we all just post one word answers for who we think the HbP is (in addition to our regular posts; please don't let those come to a screeching halt!).

I'll begin:

Godric Gryffindor

- - - - - - - - - -
Snuffles - Jul 14, 2005 6:54 am (#1334 of 1448)
Olivia
I can't decide.Hmmmm Dumbledore or Remus Lupin.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 14, 2005 7:06 am (#1335 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
This isn't one word, but: The lion-like man (who will be Felix-somebody)

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 14, 2005 7:07 am (#1336 of 1448)
Dumbledore

- - - - - - - - - -
Chard11 - Jul 14, 2005 7:33 am (#1337 of 1448)
Hagrid.

By the way, I didn't understand why Liz Mann's post (#1329) was a spoiler because what she direced us to doesn't actually say anything except what happened in OotP... unless i read the wrong thing.

- - - - - - - - - -
azi - Jul 14, 2005 7:34 am (#1338 of 1448)
Photo borrowed from Ardent Photography
Dumbledore.

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 14, 2005 7:54 am (#1339 of 1448)
Snape or Godric

Also, Can anyone tell me about Bagman? Did we find out why he is a bad wizard? Sorry if I missed something!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 14, 2005 8:03 am (#1340 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
L2T, go back to Post #1256 in this thread (by StarCrossed) and I think Bagman's issue is covered.

I added the link to StarCrossed's post. - Kip

Edit: Bless you, Kip.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 14, 2005 8:15 am (#1341 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
By the way, I didn't understand why Liz Mann's post (#1329) was a spoiler because what she direced us to doesn't actually say anything except what happened in OotP... unless i read the wrong thing.

It tells us more than just that. It says what's going on at the beginning of this book and tells a little bit about the plot.

Sorry, Denise!

The half-blood prince - a new character.

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 14, 2005 8:21 am (#1342 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
No problem Liz. It is readily available for those who want to see it. Just mosey over to Leaky Cauldron to see it.

It is considered a spoiler because it did contain plot points. I would consider it minor but everyone views it differently.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ginerva Potter - Jul 14, 2005 8:29 am (#1343 of 1448)
I think the HBP will be a new character.

Now that I have read the back cover, I really can't wait to get my hands on that book!!!

Ginny

- - - - - - - - - -
Chard11 - Jul 14, 2005 8:33 am (#1344 of 1448)
I apologise Denise P. I read completely the wrong thing and now see how it could be a spoiler.

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 14, 2005 8:44 am (#1345 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
No need to apologize I err on the side of caution right now regarding spoilers, even when I don't really think it is a spoiler or remotely accurate.

- - - - - - - - - -
Joanne R. Reid - Jul 14, 2005 9:03 am (#1346 of 1448)
Hi,

Back to the cover. Although I see the bird-like/bat-like shape at the right, I had discounted it as a limb of the tree furthest to the right. I did so because of the oddly shaped limbs that seemed to be at odd angles to each other.

I've also studied the area of the hand. I've done all the usual tricks to increase the resolution and sharpness of the area. I don't think it's a hand.

Yes, the man wearing the jacket and fedora with the walking stick is a bit of a mystery. He's short and stocky. I don't feel that's a proper description of Mad-Eye, but I have no better guess at this time.

I still suggest that neither Harry nor DD are holding their wands. We realize that Harry is right handed, but that the artist always portrays him as left-handed. But, neither of them appear to be readying for action, so to speak.

The two things that I find of extreme interest are the knife and the shadow. The knife is large ... more like a dirk and not a kitchen knife. It is not rusty, and the blade gleems in the blue-green light. And, there is no reason to stick a knife into a tree, especially that high off the ground.

The shadow in the window seems to be "facing" outwards and towards Harry and DD. It is at the opposite end of the house from the misty window and furthest from the door. Although it looks foreboding, it doesn't look as dangerous as it should, if you know what I mean. I'm wondering if the person is a friend or acquaintance that arrived earlier and is just waiting for the three? I guess what I'm really saying is that if the shadow person were really dangerous, it would look more fearsome rather than just mysterious.

Finally, thank you, Denise. I have shunned all my usual haunts, avoiding any kind of contamination. Thank you for your diligence.

Thanks,

- - - - - - - - - -
Ludicrous Patents Office - Jul 14, 2005 9:29 am (#1347 of 1448)
Denise I understand after reading Kip's post on Questions for the Host that things will be changing in the next 35 hours. He made it clear no more questions so I'm bugging you... Since we have a spoiler from Bloomsbury may we start a separate Half-Blood Prince thread to discuss the text? LPO

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 14, 2005 9:32 am (#1348 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
LPO, I am sorry but no. The text contained spoilers and we are not allowing spoiler discussion until the book is actually released. This includes text in white. Once Kip has things in place, you may discuss it but until then, no spoilers of any kind are allowed.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ludicrous Patents Office - Jul 14, 2005 9:37 am (#1349 of 1448)
OK Thanks Denise! LPO

- - - - - - - - - -
Nathan Zimmermann - Jul 14, 2005 9:38 am (#1350 of 1448)
I am inclined to think that the nan leading Harry and Dumbledore is the lion-like man described in the excerpt of text that J.K. Rowling released on her website some months ago.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

veraco - Jul 14, 2005 9:55 am (#1351 of 1448)
Well, I have reached my bottom point. I guess it's because I will not be able to have my copy of the Half-blood Prince until July 20 or 22 (long story). So,I have fallen into temptation.

I have read the article about the HBP leak in the USA Today... and the back cover of the UK edition... and the list with the "possible" titles for each of the chapters in the HBP.

Now I'm more relax, I have to admit it. I just felt like when I saw OoP for the first time and new what was going to happen with just looking at Mary GP art work (US Version).

Don't get me wrong, I'm still going nuts with so much waiting and what to read the book more than ever, but I strongly advise to any of you who does not like to have ANY sneak peak into the story to avoid these news, because when you finish with them, and put one and one togherther, as only we Potter fans can do it, you get a very clear picture of what might be happening in the book.

I just wanted to say this for you to have in mind in case you feel tempted, because I know I will still enjoy the book but also that many of you won't if you read all this articles.

After all Half-Blood Prince it's only 1 day and a few hours away (at least for most of us Potter fans).

So, hang it there and brace yourselves for the ride!

PD: sorry if this kind of post it's meant for another tread. Please, fell free to move it if that's the case. I just feel this might be the best place to post it, but I can be wrong.

- - - - - - - - - -
veraco - Jul 14, 2005 10:12 am (#1352 of 1448)
I forgot who, but someone was asking if the the shape in the door of the house in the deluxe cover of the us version seems familiar to some of us, and I have to say that yes, it looks familiar.

Actually it looks a lot like some old stickers of the WBros I have with the crest of all the Hogwarts houses, more specifically like the Slytherin house crest.

But then again, I might just be seeing things.

- - - - - - - - - -
Potterhead - Jul 14, 2005 10:42 am (#1353 of 1448)
Godric Gryffindor, I think.

The knife looks like it was thrown, possibly at someone, but missed its mark. Perhaps someone we cannot see threw it at the hobbling stranger? Another reason why I think this is a pensieve scene or something like it. Harry and DD do not look nearly wary enough given the foreboding feel of the rest of the scene.

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 14, 2005 10:49 am (#1354 of 1448)
veraco...why no book until the 20th?

I will avoid spoilers as I want the FULL EXPERIENCE of reading HBP without knowledge of what is going to happen. This is the first time I have been involved with a release of one of JK's books. When I started the Potter series, all five were out, so all I had to do was pick up the next one....

I will savor this book!!!!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 14, 2005 11:08 am (#1355 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Good for you, Grindylow!

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 14, 2005 11:16 am (#1356 of 1448)
Thank you for the help with Bagman! In the excitement of the book cover I missed the post. We are getting very close now!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 14, 2005 11:26 am (#1357 of 1448)
Thanks Liz.....

- - - - - - - - - -
Ida-ho-Potato - Jul 14, 2005 12:34 pm (#1358 of 1448)
The Holloween Hag/Witch
I know what you mean. I did myself did not start reading the series until after Book 5 was out. The suspense is awful. I am glad I did not have to wait for all the other books.

I have a Question. Didn't JKR mention in her Web site that Mark Evans is the Half Blood Prince? I have not read all of the post to this thread. Thanks Ida

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 14, 2005 12:35 pm (#1359 of 1448)
Not I that I have ever read. Mark Evans was a fake Poll question she put up a while ago.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 14, 2005 12:59 pm (#1360 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Well, it wasn't really a "fake" poll question. The question about the significance of Mark Evans won her FAQ poll on her website, and you can read her answer to it there, Ida. Basically she said Mark Evans is a nobody -- just a name -- just a filler character. She said she didn't even notice that his last name was the same as Harry's mother's maiden name until her fans got all excited about it, and then she felt badly because she could see how we all got misled. But, unless she was fibbing to us when she answered the poll (which she said she wouldn't do,) then Mark Evans is not the HBP. Nor is Harry, Voldemort, or Tom Riddle (she also denied them in an interview.) I think those are all that she's definitively eliminated, aren't they?

- - - - - - - - - -
veraco - Jul 14, 2005 1:58 pm (#1361 of 1448)
Grindylow:

I do not live in the US or UK, actually my native language is Spanish, and although I live in Spain, when the books come out I will be visiting my family in Venezuela.

Sadly, in Venezuela there are not many book stores that will sell the book, because it's too expensive (money exchange) and there are not many costumers that can really afford it, or read it at least until the book is translated. It's all about world economics really, but it affect little things like getting the book you so desperately want when you want it.

To actually get a book I had to be put on a waiting list and since the book is an import, and not a big one because the book store only orders the number of books that are on the waiting list, the store will not have the books in the country until the 18, and can not assure me that I will get my book until 20 or 22 because of customs.

A similar problem arise if I try to buy the book in the Internet, but this time the mail service is to blame and as result I have to wait a bit longer to get Harry.

- - - - - - - - - -
Choices - Jul 14, 2005 4:41 pm (#1362 of 1448)
*Completely Obsessed With Harry Potter*
I just read the USA Today article about the two guys who supposedly bought the book and one said he was about to read chapter 18 and gave the chapter title and it is not the same as the chapter 18 title on the list Gina got. Curious!! We'll know for sure soon.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 14, 2005 4:45 pm (#1363 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Yes, I saw that too Choices. The title seemed a bit strange for that late in the book, although I can't see why he'd fib to USA Today and be totally exposed to the world as a liar in two days.

I like Gina's list better. (said Madam Pince stubbornly)

Can't wait to see for sure!

- - - - - - - - - -
Choices - Jul 14, 2005 4:53 pm (#1364 of 1448)
*Completely Obsessed With Harry Potter*
I agree Madame - it was real late for that title. I like Gina's list better too. Will Saturday never get here? Arrgghhhh.

- - - - - - - - - -
Chemyst - Jul 14, 2005 5:04 pm (#1365 of 1448)
"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." A.A. Milne
Edited Jul 14, 2005 6:26 pm
I saw the same USA Today thingy. "Surprise" was spelled correctly there, but not on the list I saw. I guess someone at USA Today knows how to use a spell-checker! ~ just speculation, of course.

I haven't seen Gina's list, but since I know she is adept at using a camera phone, and since she knows people who work where they get early copies of the book, and if they have camera phones too, it makes sense that someone could copy the table of contents pretty quickly and not get in trouble. ~ just speculation, of course.

- - - - - - - - - -
Veritaserum - Jul 14, 2005 5:42 pm (#1366 of 1448)
Go Jays!
HBP: A. Dumbledore (but which one?)....

- - - - - - - - - -
S.E. Jones - Jul 14, 2005 5:51 pm (#1367 of 1448)
Let it snow!
Let's not tempt fate (or kipendo) by discussing the list of possible titles that Gina received, or what was read in HBP-related articles. Let's just leave the discussion up to speculation....

- - - - - - - - - -
Molly Fox - Jul 14, 2005 6:42 pm (#1368 of 1448)
All I have to say is: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow Tomorrow

Ok... hyperventalating... easy there girl...

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 14, 2005 6:44 pm (#1369 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
Scholastic has just put up the art work with a magnifying glass. You can look at any spot you like. If you use it to highlight the areas that Liz Mann circled, I would say yes the is certainly a person hiding behind (¿in front of?) that tree. With the magnifying glass it shows just the top of the head.

- - - - - - - - - -
Finn BV - Jul 14, 2005 6:48 pm (#1370 of 1448)
Me kayaking, Niagara River, August 2006. I have been likened to Reepicheep in this photo.
Hooray, now I see the person everybody was talking about. I guess I had figured the hand was the person's left hand, and they were more to the right end of the photo. Now I see that the person is at the bottom. Thanks, Scholastic!

Molly Fox, I'm sure we all share you enthusiasm.

- - - - - - - - - -
GryffEndora - Jul 14, 2005 6:59 pm (#1371 of 1448)
Our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff, for now they're bare and full of air, dead flies and bits of fluff
HBP - Godric Gryffindor (at least that's my guess today, I have a list of possibilities that keep fighting for top position)

- - - - - - - - - -
S.E. Jones - Jul 14, 2005 7:05 pm (#1372 of 1448)
Let it snow!
I'm more and more convinced that the guy heading toward the house might be Moody. At the end of OotP, when he's waiting for Harry at the station, his appearance is described as "looking quite sinister with his bowler hat pulled low over his magical eye... his gnarled hands clutching a long staff, his body wrapped in a voluminous traveling cloak". That seems to describe the figure in the pic pretty well.

Here's the way GrandPré depicted him at the end of OotP.

- - - - - - - - - -
I Am Used Vlad - Jul 14, 2005 7:34 pm (#1373 of 1448)
I Am Almighty!
The walking stick is in the right hand of the guy on the cover, and the left in the picture of Moody. Not that this means anything, as Harry often appears to be left-handed in the art work. I agree that it is probably Moody.

As for the identity of the HBP, I'll go with Draco.

Now off to Scholastic.

Edit: I can still see the hand and what could be a face, but maintain that the hand is too big. I've fallen for the gag about your hand being too big for your face that ends up with you getting your hand smashed into your nose many times in my life, but I still can't see a person with normal sized appendages.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 14, 2005 8:14 pm (#1374 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Edited Jul 14, 2005 8:47 pm
Maybe it's a troll. Don't they have little tiny heads and great big hands and feet?

OK, I'm just loonier than Luna now....it's almost less than a day to go!

Edit: I'm still not seeing the person behind the tree that everyone's talking about. I can see what I think people are saying could be the hand & arm, but that's it. All I see around it is tangles of tree limbs. I think the picture on TLC (the one marked HUGE) is bigger than the one on Scholastic even with Scholastic's magnifying glass, for what that's worth.

- - - - - - - - - -
Hem Hem - Jul 14, 2005 8:26 pm (#1375 of 1448)
The house definitely looks like it's Voldemort's. But as to whether Harry and DD are there in real time or they're reliving a historical scene, I'm totally unsure. Remember Harry's dream about Voldemort and Rookwood in the dilapitated room with the spidery furniture? It would match the decor of this house Perfectly.

Other than the Snake elements of the house, it looks like a similar setting to the way I've imagined Godric's Hollow. Perhaps this is some sort of Salazar's Hollow?

HBP= Godric, or another historical character

- - - - - - - - - -
Chemyst - Jul 14, 2005 9:00 pm (#1376 of 1448)
"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." A.A. Milne
Harry and DD don't seem too alarmed by the knife in the tree, the ghost floating out the window, a bat taking flight (maybe chased by an owl,) or the mystery man with the walking stick. If the reason for their seeming lack of caution is because they are walking through a Pensieve memory, then that man could be someone who is dead in real-story time. I'm inclined to think that is indeed a rear view of the Half-Blood Prince.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 14, 2005 9:04 pm (#1377 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Ooooo! Could it be James, returning to the house where Lily and Baby Harry are in hiding, on his way to being attacked by Voldemort?

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 14, 2005 10:13 pm (#1378 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
I'm more for it being Wormtail. But that well could be because I am obsessed with the idea that Harry has to go back to Godric's Hollow.

I don't believe this would be the Riddle house because Tom Riddle's grandparents, with whom Tom's father lived, were muggles. They would not have had a "Slytherin" symbol on their house. I also am not inclined to believe this to be Moody. Although as an Auror (retired) he is likely to be or have been anywhere, (Godric Hollow on that October 31?) I don't think that as the former Defense Against Dark Arts teacher he will be a character central to the plot again. So far the DADA teachers have been central or pivotal only in the book in which they taught. JK so far has chosen to move on. I think this is a new character.

- - - - - - - - - -
karebear811 - Jul 14, 2005 10:14 pm (#1379 of 1448)
So I was just on mugglenet.com looking around, and I saw a link to the back of the bloomsbury cover. It gave a description of what is to come that I found very interesting. I wont say what it said, for those who dont want to know, but if your interested in a quick back of the book description of events to come, go over there and check it out! I must say, I'm intrigued and very excited for tommorow! Can you believe its really here!

- - - - - - - - - -
Ann - Jul 14, 2005 11:04 pm (#1380 of 1448)
Okay, I've been looking at the cover now, too. (Not easy, with a very slow connection.) I agree that the hand and robe seem to be there, but I think the person's head is behind the tree. The silhouette doesn't seem to suit Grandpre's style; and I thought for a bit I saw two dark rimmed eyes just to the right of that, but the face would be too small. (Human beings have a tremendous ability to recognized faces in practically any random bit of lines and splotches--even if they aren't there.) I think the person is there but his (her?) head is behind the tree.

The snake on the door that looks like a backwards S is, I think, a Dark Mark. You can sort of see the shape of the face it's coming out of behind it.

I thought the fat man might be Pettigrew, but looking at the upper left hand corner of the cover, it seems to me that there's a brown rat in one of the trees, which would rule that out. Or do rats climb trees? Maybe it's just a squirrel.

The knife in the tree seems to me completely weird. It can't have just been thrown at them, since they don't look alarmed, and it is so high that I can't imagine the thrower would be very dangerous in any case--lousy aim. It looks to me like Harry has missed it and Dumbledore is reaching out to take it down.

I agree with everyone who thinks Albus Dumbledore is the HBP--my other guess was Godric Gryffindor, but I would expect to see some reference to him (or his time) on the cover if it were him.

Come on--just a few more hours!

- - - - - - - - - -
S.E. Jones - Jul 14, 2005 11:08 pm (#1381 of 1448)
Let it snow!
Mrs. Sirius, so you are assuming that the guy on the cover is the new DADA teacher? I was assuming he was someone else, that's why I suggested Moody. Moody appeared a good deal in OotP, even though he wasn't what you might call central to the plot. Also, we don't generally get the DADA teachers on the covers....

- - - - - - - - - -
TwinklingBlueEyes - Jul 14, 2005 11:09 pm (#1382 of 1448)
"Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking"
My take is house where Snape grew up, a Pensieve memory. I think one of Harry's biggest roadblocks is his mistrust of Snape. Since it seems Dumbledore is more forthcoming with Harry in this book, and thus resolving questions in this book, we may well find the answer as to why DD trusts Snape. Dumbledore may figure out that all of his plan may not work because of the anomiosity between Snape and Harry so it may be time to let Harry in on some more answers. He has already told Harry he has shouldered more burdens than most wizards.

...toddles off with gut feeling...

Accio Friday night!

Edit: Notice Moody, who suspects everyone, has not said a woed against Snape?

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 15, 2005 12:16 am (#1383 of 1448)
Just had word that the owl is on its way from Amazon! I'm practising my curse spells just in case The (UK) Royal Mail intercept the delivery. I've yet to hear if my 'just in case' order from Bloomsbury has been despatched...

Happy reading one and all!

Aurora xx

- - - - - - - - - -
Elanor - Jul 15, 2005 12:25 am (#1384 of 1448)
LOL Aurora! May I copy your post and replace "Royal Mail" by "La Poste" (French post office) and "Bloomsbury" by the name of a bookstore in a town next mine? Because that's exactly what I'm living! I am so excited that I can't help laughing aloud from time to time thinking of tomorrow!

Happy reading everybody too!

Audrey

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 3:30 am (#1385 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
The hand in the corner of the artwork looks like it's wearing a dark rubbery glove to me (like what Dracken wears in Kim Possible ). Hmmm... wearing gloves because they don't want to leave fingerprints, perhaps?

- - - - - - - - - -
Phelim Mcintyre - Jul 15, 2005 5:29 am (#1386 of 1448)
One of my local bookshops has a large poster of the UK adult cover. The initials in the top right hand corner appear to be R or A L. Remus Lupins book?

- - - - - - - - - -
Chemyst - Jul 15, 2005 5:46 am (#1387 of 1448)
"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." A.A. Milne
Now that Jo has updated the FAQ on her website I have a new theory about that mist leaving the far window - it could be a communication patronus.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 5:55 am (#1388 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Ooh, that's an idea Chemyst! You could well be right.

- - - - - - - - - -
mike miller - Jul 15, 2005 6:03 am (#1389 of 1448)
aka The Barmy Old Codger
Honestly, I think we are reading (seeing) much more into the artwork than is really there. I seem to remember reading somewhere that Mary Grandpre is often given very little information about what she is do draw. If she does not have the "inside information" it would be difficult to place so much "hidden" information into the pictures.

The key points, in my opinion, are:

Who is the man? I'm not sure, maybe Wormtail. I don't think it's Moody, he wears a "Bowler" and this hat looks like a "Fedora".

Who's house is it? It could be Voldemort's, that would fit with the man being Wormtail. It could be Wormtail off to tell Voldemort he's been made the Potter's secret keeper. This would fit with the idea that this is a pensieve memory of what happened that night at Godric's Hollow. However, What if the house is Lupin's? or Sirius'?

Who's in the house? That really depends on who's house it is.

Well, only 15 hours to go!!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - -
The Mad Muggle - Jul 15, 2005 6:45 am (#1390 of 1448)
Well, This happy day has finally arrived, time has been creeping like it must for a 6 year old at Christmas. After months, scratch that, years, of longing and wondering and lusting for this book, our desires will be satisfied tonight.

My plans for today, as these last long slow hours tick by, are to take my wife and 2 children to the Potter Party at our local bookstore, que up for my copy (already bought and paid for), head home and stay up all night reading. If at all possible I am not sleeping until I've read it through once.

Happy reading and best wishes!

The Mad Muggle

- - - - - - - - - -
Ida-ho-Potato - Jul 15, 2005 7:16 am (#1391 of 1448)
The Holloween Hag/Witch
I just read the back cover from the HBP and I am even more curiose than ever to read the book. The cover was a teaser and that was all.

The waiting is closer and closer with every minute.

- - - - - - - - - -
Sconie Girl - Jul 15, 2005 8:25 am (#1392 of 1448)
I thought Mary Grandpre actually got to read the book, but the British illustrator was just told what to draw. How else would she be able to illustrate all the pictures at the start of every chapter?

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 8:29 am (#1393 of 1448)
Today is the day! YEA! I can not wait! I will be going to the Potter Party at the local store so I can pass the time quickly. I too read the back cover it only made me more excited! Did anyone check out MSN.com? Be warned there are spoilers! Very intersting points though. What amazes me is that there will be millions of very tired but very happy people tomorrow! I'm so glad I am one of the millions and am looking forward to a sleepless night! Happy Reading!

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 8:52 am (#1394 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
I thought Mary Grandpre actually got to read the book, but the British illustrator was just told what to draw. How else would she be able to illustrate all the pictures at the start of every chapter?

That's what I heard too, at least with OotP.

And can I just say, that supposed title for chapter eighteen - people have been saying it doesn't make sense that far through the book, but it does if it's not Harry, but Ron.

- - - - - - - - - -
Cezar Salem - Jul 15, 2005 8:59 am (#1395 of 1448)
o my gosh..ive just read the first tow chaps, and its definatly not a fanffic....its amazing!! im not sure i can post the link here..dont want to get banned!can someone tell me if i can? or if u want i can send it to email, with the link..i wasnt going to read ANY spoilers, but as i was looking throu orkut(i dont know if its as popular in the USA as it is here in brasil, but its a place were u can add freinds, and creat comunities..i was in the hp comunitiy and there was a topic like this: 1 and 2 chapsters, spoiler alert..so I enterde just to see if it was true..and after seing the first page i just knew it was! tehn i thought..well i will have the book in my hand in laike 15 hours, and since its not like the ending, or reading the middle of the book, there will be no harm done... so I read, and now I just NEED to read the rest of it..ITS AMAZING! i have to talk to someone about it lol! well...ther ya go..i feal better !!! sorry for my english, its sencod langueage to me..well if anyone wants to see for theirselfs, tell me if im alowed or post theri email...

- - - - - - - - - -
Saralinda Again - Jul 15, 2005 9:11 am (#1396 of 1448)
My Patronus is a Crumple-Horn Snorkack
No. You are absolutely not to post what you're reading, nor may you post a link. There will be no spoilers, and we must honor JKR's wish that nobody know what's going on until they have a legal copy of the book in their paws.

- - - - - - - - - -
Nathan Zimmermann - Jul 15, 2005 9:23 am (#1397 of 1448)
Mike Miller, there are only four ways Dumbledore could have learned of Peter's activities that day, First, Snape was present for Peter's report to Voldemort and relayed the information to Dumbledore. Second, Dumbledore kept watch on Peter on that day. Third, Snape was not present for the meeting with Peter but, Voldemort told Snape because, he gave Snape an assignment related to that night. Fourth, the nature of Peter's betrayal became apparent to the Potters and one of them sent a message to Dumbledore to that effect.

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 9:29 am (#1398 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Cezar - There are some VERY good fanfics around that sound A LOT like J.K. writing. (Trust me, I've read a LOT of fanfiction!) I doubt it's the real thing. And if it is, the website printing it is breaking the law, because not only have they obviously gotten hold of the book ahead of time somehow but they are telling others. J.K. has been to court to make this illegal.

If it's only the first two chapters then someone has probably read the blurb on the back of the UK kids book online, and then written their own version based on it, and are passing it off as the real thing.

Let us know after you've got the book if it was genuine, though.

- - - - - - - - - -
Cezar Salem - Jul 15, 2005 9:42 am (#1399 of 1448)
It is tehe original, it isnt like a word document, its on a site that host pictures, and there are sreencaps of someone holding the pages , u can see the cover in the bacjround. The first page is just the dedication page, with the copyright thing and were it was pirnted and all that stuff, i only saw that first, just to know if it was real, if u want u cans see only that..i chose to go on, becasue i knew it was the first chapter, it would make no real diference wheater i read now or not

- - - - - - - - - -
Cezar Salem - Jul 15, 2005 9:44 am (#1400 of 1448)
it is DEFINATLY real..i have read fanfics two..but this has pics of the actual book, its rowling stile, and it fits what she has said the first chap would be like

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Gina R Snape - Jul 15, 2005 9:49 am (#1401 of 1448)
"The world isn't split into good people and death eaters"
Y'know, at this point I can really wait the few hours. I expect to be hearing JKRowling herself reading at Edinburgh (via live simulcast) in 6 1/2 hours.

btw, Cezar, you might be taken more seriously if you followed the forum rules regarding posting and capitalization of words. i.e. the word I is capitalized and the word "you" has THREE letters, not one.

Happy Potter Day, everyone!

- - - - - - - - - -
Saralinda Again - Jul 15, 2005 9:49 am (#1402 of 1448)
My Patronus is a Crumple-Horn Snorkack
Cezar Salem, if that site has the actual text (which is unlikely) it is violating a restraining order issued by JKR's publishers, and cheating JKR herself. It is therefore both illegal and unethical. Please do not talk about it anymore on this Forum.

- - - - - - - - - -
Saralinda Again - Jul 15, 2005 9:51 am (#1403 of 1448)
My Patronus is a Crumple-Horn Snorkack
Gina, pardon my ignorance, but how does one access the simulcast?

- - - - - - - - - -
mike miller - Jul 15, 2005 9:53 am (#1404 of 1448)
aka The Barmy Old Codger
Nathan - On the surface you're absolutley correct. However, based on one of my theories related to DD's Puter-Outer and it's link to his watch, I believe that DD has some kind of personal memory of the events at Godric's Hollow. Unfortunately, he could not react fast enough to prevent the Potter's deaths, but it would explain how Hagrid was able to get there so quickly.

My guess is that the first chapter is either information about the night Harry's parents were murdered; or even further back in time, relating to the split between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

- - - - - - - - - -
Nathan Zimmermann - Jul 15, 2005 10:00 am (#1405 of 1448)
Mike Miller the idea of a link between the Put Outer and Dumbledore's watch is most fascinating.

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 10:01 am (#1406 of 1448)
Cezar, I understand the thrill and wanting to share it however, it is wrong. We are all big fans and can not wait to discuss the book with other fans. JKR has taken great steps to assure that we the true fans are protected so we can enjoy the whole book. I am sure we would all be more than happy to discuss the book after we have read it. Until then please don't tell us anything. I would recommend that you alert the publishers to the website so action can be taken.

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 10:03 am (#1407 of 1448)
I too would like to watch the reading. Could someone share how we do it?

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 10:04 am (#1408 of 1448)
Mike I too would agree that DD had a sence of what happened or was happening.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ida-ho-Potato - Jul 15, 2005 10:08 am (#1409 of 1448)
The Holloween Hag/Witch
Yea, I am going to a Harry Potter Party tonight. This will be my first. I better take a nap. I am leaving the site till I have read the book. Everybody have a fun and safe Harry Potter HBP night of fun. See ya. Ida

- - - - - - - - - -
Gina R Snape - Jul 15, 2005 10:14 am (#1410 of 1448)
"The world isn't split into good people and death eaters"
Saralinda, I don't know if you can access it online. But the Barnes & Nobile in Union Square, NYC, happens to have contracted to simulcast it. So I will be there!

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Kulich - Jul 15, 2005 10:32 am (#1411 of 1448)
I went to my first HP party today at the local library. I took my four-year-old daughter. I can't tell you how excited I am that the book is coming out tonight! She is just old enough to enjoy it with me and that is so wonderful. I saw so many young kids there having such a great time and celebrating the release of a book! What a great site to see! All the kids got to vote on who the HBP was, and my daughter voted for Hagrid, although the majority vote was for a new character.

- - - - - - - - - -
Cezar Salem - Jul 15, 2005 10:35 am (#1412 of 1448)
love 2travel, i understand, and thats why i didnt post ANYTHING whatsosever, I only shared my wxperience about what happend to me, and didnt post any spoiler, because i would have hated to have seen one myself, without chosing to do so...I had avoited seing anything till now, including a page that some pepole said was of like page 600 or something, I am SO glad i didnt see, because THAT would spoil the book...I just had to let it out of my sistem, becase once we all hae read the book, you will see that the first 2 chaps are the best two in all of hp history lol!scpecialy the second. if the book continues this way, boy o boy..what a happy day for hp fans! 10 more hours!!!

- - - - - - - - - -
mike miller - Jul 15, 2005 10:41 am (#1413 of 1448)
aka The Barmy Old Codger
Nathan & Love2Travel - I've posted al little more on this theory over on the Dumbledore's Watch thread, not recently though. I think DD has been watching over Harry since the beginning. The Puter Outer was used at both #4PD and #12GP, places where Harry was and DD was not. Harry has been more closely watched than he could ever imagine.

- - - - - - - - - -
nu9p - Jul 15, 2005 10:41 am (#1414 of 1448)
o happy day

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 15, 2005 10:49 am (#1415 of 1448)
I CANNOT WAIT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks to the mods for not allowing spoiler info on the forum! YOU GUYS ROCK!

Accio HBP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grindy

- - - - - - - - - -
azi - Jul 15, 2005 11:02 am (#1416 of 1448)
Photo borrowed from Ardent Photography
"Thanks to the mods for not allowing spoiler info on the forum! YOU GUYS ROCK!"

I agree completely! Now is the time I avoid any spoiler which threatens to come my way...as well as getting excited! Just cannot help jumping around my room randomly and I *still* have half of OoP to read.

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 15, 2005 11:05 am (#1417 of 1448)
Azi......I wish I could jump....they would think I went NUTS here at work!

Ooooh...a friend of mine is coming tonight and is buying the audio version....I will definitely need to borrow that!!!!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 11:21 am (#1418 of 1448)
I would agree 100% that he has been watched more than he knows. And I think that more of that will come to light. I have a question. Where do you think the Orders headquarters will be now?

- - - - - - - - - -
KTO - Jul 15, 2005 11:35 am (#1419 of 1448)
you know what is terrible I already cannot wait for book seven, seriously, I feel that we will be left hanging and it will drive me bonkers

- - - - - - - - - -
Saralinda Again - Jul 15, 2005 11:43 am (#1420 of 1448)
My Patronus is a Crumple-Horn Snorkack
I hear you, KTO. Part of me is thinking, "In 10 hours I'll have the book in my hands."

Another part is saying, "Yeah, and in 20 hours I'll have nothing to do but start waiting for Book 7."

Talk about bittersweet!

- - - - - - - - - -
Gina R Snape - Jul 15, 2005 11:52 am (#1421 of 1448)
"The world isn't split into good people and death eaters"
Naaaah. In twenty hours you'll have the forum to start hashing apart everything we've learned in the new book!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 11:57 am (#1422 of 1448)
oh think of this... What will we do after book 7? Makes me sad...I'll just think of the joy of book 6!

- - - - - - - - - -
Joanne R. Reid - Jul 15, 2005 11:58 am (#1423 of 1448)
Hi,

Just over 10 hours left! I'm about to jump out of my skin!

Everything's coming together. My wand is almost completed (12-inches, Oak with a Dragon's Heartstring Core). My hat isn't all that great, but it'll do. I'll wear a full, black skirt; short black boots; and a blue and green striped T-Shirt. It should be a such a great mismatch the cognoscenti will recognize the witch-in-a-muggle-skirt disguise.

I was having trouble with my wand, so I made a long pouch. I think I'll hang it from a long string over my shoulder or something. I haven't quite worked it out.

Regardless, I'm ready to stand in line with a bunch of children! "Ravenclaw, dear, and, thank you for asking so politely. What's your house?" Yes, one must have one's alter-ego thoroughly prepared!

OOOH! I can hardly contain myself.

Well, this is it. I'll sign off now. See you next week. By then, I'll know who is the Half-Blood Prince, who died and who is Harry's love interest.

Accio! Book Seven, whatever your name is!

Thanks,

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 12:50 pm (#1424 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Cezar - Thanks for not telling us anything. What you said about the first two chapters being the best in HP history has made me even more excited!! I would, however, echo what someone has already said and advise you to alert the publishers, or better yet J.K.'s agent, to the site. They are breaking the law and should be stopped.

If you go to the Harry Potter section of Bloomsbury's site, you'll see a link titled 'enquiries'. They have an email address for her agent Christopher Little which is for copyright and rights queries. That should be the right place to go.

3 hours, 9 minutes!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Veritaserum - Jul 15, 2005 1:45 pm (#1425 of 1448)
Go Jays!
Okay, I don't think I'll be getting on again until after I'm done with the book...well, we'll see. Tootles!

- - - - - - - - - -
Grindylow - Jul 15, 2005 1:56 pm (#1426 of 1448)
I, too am signing off until the book is finished!

ACCIO HBP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 15, 2005 2:16 pm (#1427 of 1448)
I am off too. I called and there will be 300 people waiting. Well 299 + me. YEA! Be safe everyone and enjoy! Talk to you all on Monday after I have read it twice.

- - - - - - - - - -
Madame Pomfrey - Jul 15, 2005 2:27 pm (#1428 of 1448)
See yall! 7 more hours cha-cha-cha.7 more hours cha-cha-cha.7 more...

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 2:30 pm (#1429 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
1 and a half hours! Woo hoo! In fact, one hour until I leave to get my copy!

Edit: I am getting ready now to leave and get my copy. See you all soon!

- - - - - - - - - -
Cezar Salem - Jul 15, 2005 3:27 pm (#1430 of 1448)
liz man, it ist a person, its on one of those sites that end ind photobukst or something like that. And I dont want to tell about the person who only told were to go(im not sure if it was that person or not..but he was canadien) I dont know if you guys know ofg what im talking about..have any of you hear about orkut? well im leaving now to wait in line! and i dont think its worth the trouble anyways..today it all ends! YAY!!! congrats to all of us!

- - - - - - - - - -
Saralinda Again - Jul 15, 2005 3:41 pm (#1431 of 1448)
My Patronus is a Crumple-Horn Snorkack
5 hours. 5 hours!!

I haven't been this excited since I was a kid!

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 15, 2005 3:58 pm (#1432 of 1448)
It's the ad break on ITV and any minute now we'll be hearing an extract from The Half-Blood Prince. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Aurora xx

- - - - - - - - - -
Aurora Gubbins - Jul 15, 2005 4:12 pm (#1433 of 1448)
WOW! That was Brilliant!!! And if anyone wants to know what Jo read...I don't know if I'm allowed! Lets just say it was an extract from Chapter Six.

I am positively itching with excitement. I don't know how I'll sleep

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 15, 2005 4:20 pm (#1434 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
Saying Chapter 6 is fine, any more is not. There is a specific HBP folder set up where spoilers CAN be posted. Please post any details there.

- - - - - - - - - -
Star Crossed - Jul 15, 2005 5:05 pm (#1435 of 1448)
Ever wonder what happened while the Marauders were at Hogwarts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
12 more hours, 12 more hours!! *curses the person who decided that the bookstore shouldn't open till 8*

- - - - - - - - - -
Liz Mann - Jul 15, 2005 5:13 pm (#1436 of 1448)
Join us for the Philosopher's Stone Watch-A-Long
Just popping in quickly to say... I'VE GOT THE BOOK!

That is all.

- - - - - - - - - -
Ludicrous Patents Office - Jul 15, 2005 5:15 pm (#1437 of 1448)
Happy reading Liz, I envy you. LPO

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 15, 2005 5:18 pm (#1438 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
Oh, oh, oh! Barnes and Noble had a link to JKR reading a teeny bit. It is incredibly brief but it was worth going there to listen (and see).

- - - - - - - - - -
Mrs. Sirius - Jul 15, 2005 5:34 pm (#1439 of 1448)
Mom of 4 in serious lurker mode.
Ohhh, congratulations Liz! I envision you reaadiiing......

- - - - - - - - - -
Madam Pince - Jul 15, 2005 5:49 pm (#1440 of 1448)
The eyes are the windows to the soul...
Thanks for the heads-up about Barnes & Noble, Denise! It was worth it!

(***kicks self for having forgotten about us getting to see "that" happening -- of course I knew it would be in this book but totally forgot about it!***)

- - - - - - - - - -
Ginerva Potter - Jul 15, 2005 6:25 pm (#1441 of 1448)
Me, too, Madame Pince. I don't know how we could have forgotten. I guess we had other things to think about.

Ginny

- - - - - - - - - -
Suspero - Jul 17, 2005 7:57 am (#1442 of 1448)
Professor
Took me 10 hours, but I finished it yesterday. Great!

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 17, 2005 5:03 pm (#1443 of 1448)
Me too, I am done! Can not wait to start talking about it tomorrow. When I signed in there was a post about posting but I couldn't get anything to open (I used a shortcut to get here) can someone tell me what it said?

- - - - - - - - - -
Kip Carter - Jul 17, 2005 5:12 pm (#1444 of 1448)
co-Host with Steve on the Lexicon Forum, but he has the final say as the Owner!
Love2Travel, According to my record, this is your first post since this past Friday the 15th. A lot has changed since you last posted. Please look at the banner area on the main page of the Forum and especially read the -- New Guidelines for Posts (In Effect Until This Message is Removed) - Please Read!thread.

I hope this helps!

- - - - - - - - - -
Love2Travel - Jul 18, 2005 7:55 am (#1445 of 1448)
Thanks Kip!

- - - - - - - - - -
MickeyCee3948 - Jul 18, 2005 5:32 pm (#1446 of 1448)
Avatar courtesy of Gwen
Well, I got my book at 12:01 Saturday and finished it Sunday at 4:45. First read. Will start my second read tomorrow and will start posting my thoughts in the appropriate threads when it is allowed. Loved it and am starting my countdown for the last book. If I live that long.

Mickey

- - - - - - - - - -
Denise P. - Jul 27, 2005 8:08 pm (#1447 of 1448)
Ravenclaw Pony
I moved a post made by Ben McQuade to the HPB Spoiler Folder, the thread titled RAB - Your Thoughts? Please remember that any and all details from HBP are considered spoilers and should be placed in the appropriate thread in the spoiler folder.

- - - - - - - - - -
Kip Carter - Aug 2, 2005 11:37 am (#1448 of 1448)
co-Host with Steve on the Lexicon Forum, but he has the final say as the Owner!
This thread was closed down somewhat during the sixteen day period surrounding the release of Book Six. It is now opened for posts.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]