12 Grimmauld Place: Theories/Editorials

On Submitting Theories/Editorials

If you have any theories/single editorials you want posted here, feel free to e-mail them to us at No12GrimmauldPl@netscape.net and we will post them here.

Theories

1. Harry is the heir of Gryffindor....(by Kat)
The evidence...
Number 1. In the Chamber of Secrets, Harry pulls Godric Gryffindor's sword out of the Sorting Hat.
Number 2. Godric Gryffindor was a huge enemy of Slytherin, and Harry isn't so well off with any in that house (well, neither is anyone else.)
Number 3. Harry's wand shot up the colors of Gryffindor when he first received it in Ollivander's.
Number 4. He lived in GODRIC'S Hollow.
Number 5. Harry is Sorted into Griffindor by the Sorting Hat.
Number 6. His father (James) was a pure blood for a LONG time. Also, he inherited his fortune (most of it). Wasn't Godric rich???
Number 7. his birthday is on July 31, wich falls under the astrological sign of Leo, the lion. The lion is the house symbol for Gryffindor.
Number 8. It was predicted that the heir to Gryffindor would bring down the heir to Slytherin, which explains why Voldemort wanted to kill him and his father.

2. Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus’ brother is the barkeeper at Hog’s Head Pub…(by Kat)
The evidence...
Number 1. Harry mentioned that the barman was a “grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long gray hair and beard. He was tall and looked vaguely familiar.” The description seems very similar to Dumbledore and he did look vaguely familiar.
Number 2. It is mentioned that the bar smelled like goats and Dumbledore mentioned that Aberforth was prosecuted for performing illegal charms on goats in GoF.
Number 3. Aberforth is an anagram of "for the bar".
Number 4. Dumbledore mentions that he has spent time in a room at Hog’s Head.
Number 5. When looking for Dumbledore in OotP, Hermione is told that he wouldn’t be sitting in Hog’s Head, Umbridge tells her: “Idiot girl - Dumbledore won't be sitting in a pub when the whole Ministry's looking for him.”
Number 6. When Dumbledore explains to Harry about Trelawney’s first prediction he say’s it took place in the Hog’s Head Pub. and that “Our one stroke of good fortune was that the eavesdropper was detected only a short way into the prophecy and thrown from the building.” In a pub with Hog’s Head’s reputation for shady characters who would be able to kick out someone - the barkeep. Also, it’s kind of hard to kick the barkeep out of his own pub.

3. Ron and Hermione are in love…(by Kat)
The evidence...
Number 1. Ron was extremely jealous of Hermoine’s relationship with Viktor Krum. He went from Krum fan #1 to angrily calling him “Vicky” once he showed interest in Hermione. He continues to be jealous when he learns that they are pen pals in OotP.
Number 2. When Malfoy called Hermione a “mud-blood” and said he wished she had been murdered by the Heir of Slytherin Ron always gets angry and jumps to her defence (Harry usually holding him back). "Let me at him," Ron growled as Harry and Dean hung onto his arms. "I don't care, I don't need my wand, I'm going to kill him with my bare hands.”
Number 3. Hermione is upset with Ron in GoF because he didn’t ask her to the yule ball and Ron is upset because she went with someone else.
Number 4. Little did Harry know that Ron and Hermione had been secretly practicing the Leg-Locker curse (so apparently the two are getting together without Harry).
Number 5. He faces his greatest fear of Spiders by following them into the forest to try to save Hermione.
Number 7. They fight like they’ve been married for centuries. They even remind Harry of Mr. & Mrs. Weasley in OotP.
Number 8. Ron sticks up to Prof. Snape for her in PoA.
Number 9. In PoA she cried on his shoulder because he tells her that he’ll be there to help her.
Number 10. Harry tells Hermione that she thought he’d want to go to Hogsmead with Ron and she blushes. "What about Ron, though?" he said. "Don't you want to go with him?" "Oh...well..." Hermione went slightly pink. "I thought we might meet up with him in the Three Broomsticks..."
Number 11. When Fleur kisses Ron after the first triwizard trial Hermione looks furious.
Number 12. Hermione kisses Ron on the cheek in OotP.
Number 13. Ron gets Hermione perfume for Christmas. It is a very feminine gift and also a much more personal one than a book.

Single Editorials

The Prophecy
By Kat

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..."

Mystery and intrigue surround this crucial prophecy, which was reveled to us in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Year 5). Hogwarts’ divination professor, Sybll Trelawney, gave this prophecy prior to Harry’s birth at the Hog’s Head Inn in Hogsmead. Luckily there were very few witnesses and the only eavesdropper was removed before the prophecy was completed, thus giving Lord Voldemort part of the prediction and allowing his downfall.

What has always interested me about the prophecy is the “one”. In the first line there is mention of “The one” and at the end there is another “one”. As we can tell by the punctuation the Prophecy consists of several sentence strung together by Professor Sibyl Trewlany during her trance. This leads me to wonder if, perhaps, there are actually two “ones” who will be born “as the seventh month dies” instead of one.

If this were true then Neville would be a much more important part of the story. Neville, the child without the mark, would be “the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord” and would have to work side-by-side with Harry, the first “one” to achieve this. While it has been much debated by Harry Potter fanatics there is a possibility that Harry is neither of the “one’s mentioned in the prophecy.

“The One with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...”
Neville was born to Alice and Frank Longbottom, a pair of Aurors who had also thrice defied Voldemort.

“...the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...” While Harry does has a very distinct mark we must not forget one very important thing: that marks are not always visible such as Harry’s scar, some (as Dumbledore states) are internal such as the mark of love that Lily left on Harry before she died. We have never been informed of whether or not Neville carries a mark. Perhaps he was marked internally when Death Eaters tortured his parents. If Neville did have power then Voldemort, like us, would be completely astounded.

But…Dumbledore told Harry that it was him! True, but all people make mistakes (even Dumbledore) and this might be one of them. Or perhaps it is a lie is to conceal the truth; however, I can’t see him intentionally lying to anyone. While it is just speculation and I am not even sure if it is correct, it does open the doors for a million amazing possibilities. Think about it.

Wands
By Kat

In Harry Potter, Mr. Ollivander, the owner of Ollivander’s Wand Shop: Makers of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C., tells Harry that the wand chooses the wizard. This made me wonder whether or not the composition of the wand had something to do with its choice of wizard. The two wand that I found the most interesting were those of Harry Potter and Tom Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort.

Wands are distinguished by four features: the type of wood they are made of, the magical substance that gives it is magical properties (core), the specific quality of motion when they are waved (properties), and the length. Harry’s wand, for example, is an “unusual combination, holly and phoenix feather, 11 inches, nice and supple". Voldemort’s wand was yew and phoenix feather, 13-1/2 inches, and “very powerful.” Harry and Voldemort’s wands have one thing in common: that they both have a core of phoenix tail feather from the same bird (whom some theorize is Fawkes).

The reason for this similarity in core may be due to the fact that when Voldemort attacked Harry as an infant he “marked him as his equal” and “he transferred some of his own powers to you (Harry) the night he gave you that scar.” I believe that this is probably the most accurate reason. However, it was the rest of their wand attributes that I found most interesting. While there are no properties that have been associated with Voldemort’s wand (other than that it was powerful), there are still two important qualities: the length and wood.

The longest wand mentioned in the series is 16 inches and belonged to Rubeus Hagrid. The smallest mentioned was 9-1/2 inches and belonged to Fleur Delacour. We are not given a clear chart of what varying lengths mean in the series; however, the most common length of wand was between 10-1/4 and 12-1/2 inches. Harry’s wand, being exactly 11 inches I found interesting because it was such an average length. I do not believe that the length of the wand indicates the amount of power. Lily (Evans) Potter’s wand was “willow, 10-1/4 inches, swishy, and excellent for charm work”; yet her charm spell to protect Harry was far more powerful that Voldemort’s use of the Avada Kedavra spell (and his wand was 3-1/4 inches longer than hers).

I think that wand size is more related to height than anything. In Ollivander’s a magical measuring tape sizes up Harry before he is given a wand. Harry’s height, as well as his wand length, is similar to his parents. James Potter’s wand is “Mahogany, 11 inches, pliable, and good for transfiguration.” Lily’s wand was only ľ inches smaller than that. Also, in the series, Hagrid has the longest wand and is also the tallest character and Ron, who is taller than Harry, has a 14-inch wand. This is unconfirmed but my best guess.

The wood that is used in both Harry and Voldemort’s wands are what I find the most intriguing. Harry’s wand is made of holly, which is associated with life. The Holly tree (Ilex aquifolium) is a symbol of goodwill, peace, health and happiness. It is also a symbol of Christmas, which is not only the birth of the Savior for Christians, but the time when the amount of sunlight in the day starts to lengthen. As a Magical herb, Holly brings clear wisdom and courage. It is also useful for dream Magic. All of these characteristics relates to Harry Potter. He is a symbol of goodwill and considered a savior for his defeat of Voldemort as a child. He is also a Gryffindor and therefore very courageous. Dream magic brings a strong connection to Harry as well due to his visions in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in which he was able to see through the snake’s eyes in his sleep.

Pliny (Pliny the Elder AD 23-79, was a Roman naturalist, his “Historia naturalis” was an encyclopedic study of plants and animal life, and was for a long time a standard authority) tells us that if Holly is planted near a house or farm, it would repelled poison and defended it from lightning and witchcraft. The idea of protection against lightening has basis in fact, as it has been shown that the spikes of Holly leaves act like miniature lightening conductors, granting immunity to the trees (http://www.controverscial.com/Holly.htm).

Voldemort’s wand is made of yew (Taxus baccata). Most parts of the tree are considered poisonous. Yew berries are poisonous, yew wood is the natural composite that made the English longbow so deadly, and Tex and Molly in the Afterlife, a novel on neo-Pagan culture by Richard Grant, says that yews are planted in graveyards because they 'thrive on corruption' (rotting corpses). The yew is considered to be the tree of death. 19th century naturalist Gilbert White described the trees as "an emblem of mortality by their funereal appearance." A dark-canopied grove of yews was often regarded as a place to be shunned, and a bough brought into the house foretell of a death in the family. Voldemort is considered to be a lord of death and thus the yew tree represents his perfectly.

The yew's reputation is also due to the unique way in which the tree grows. Its branches grow down into the ground to form new stems, which then rise up around the old central growth as separate but linked trunks. After a time, they cannot be distinguished from the original tree. This in particular reminds me of Voldemort because the yew tree when destroyed from it’s original stemming place will not die but live on through it’s various branches. His followers remind me of these branches, which hide their roots to the main sources underground. These branches also share nourishment and the main trunk will often suck the other branches of their life to support it’s own.

The wood of the Holly is hard, compact and close-grained. Its color is of beautiful white ivory that can be buffed to a very high polish, it is often used to make piano keys. White is symbolically a color of purity and goodness. Yew, in contrast with Holly, is a hard, fine-grained wood with a yellowish-brown tint. Yellow is symbolically a color for mourning in Egypt and actors of the Middle Ages wore yellow to signify the dead. Similarly, brown is also associated with death, as the fall leaves turn brown when they die and many fruits also turn brown when rotten.

At first glance, the yew and the holly trees look very similar. They are both evergreen trees and shrubs. Evergreens are associated with immortality because they bloom in adverse weather conditions. Holly trees bloom well in most seasons and yew trees bloom best in cold temperatures. This similarity reminds me much of Harry and Voldemort because they both had similarly negative childhood experiences and yet grew to be very powerful wizards.

However, the persons whom they grew into were very different. Holly trees have bright red berries, which are edible and even sweetened up by the winter frost. Much like Harry is probably much more humble and sweet because he grew up in the muggle world instead of the wizarding world, where he was famous. Yew’s do not have berries; instead, they possess bright red cones that resemble berries. The"berry" (technically called an aril) is grape-sized, juicy, and bright scarlet, with a hole in the end that makes it look cup-like. Yew berries are very poisonous and considered fatal. As a matter of fact “sudden death” is listed as the only symptom of eating the toxic berry. These berries, while pretending to be cups are, like Voldemort, deadly. I found it intriguing that while they are so similar in appearance and color that one of these trees is a harbinger of death while the other one is a holy sacramental plant. Even the name holly derives itself from the word “holy.” I do not think that it was a coincidence that J.K. Rowling used these two plants that are so similar and yet so different for Harry and Voldemort.

What’s In a Name?
By: Kat

After reading all of the Harry Potter books to date I have begun noticing themes and links in all of the names J.K. Rowling chooses for her characters. Many of her names remain job related, such as Prof. Sprout the Herbology professor and Phyllida Spore author of One Thousand magical Herbs and Fungi; however, although those names seem to dominate the population of witches and wizards who are non-central to the plot those much closer take on much more symbolic and interesting names.

The most popular name is Harry Potter. While this name may not seem emblematic or interesting at all as compared to names like Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, it is very important and symbolic. Harry, as Vernon Dursley tell us in chapter one of the Sorcerer’s Stone is very “common” and Potter is also a common name, such as Smith or Brown. This is very important because it shows that Harry is just an ordinary boy and also it invokes imagination of readers to envision himself or herself as an ordinary person who becomes a great wizard. It is a great way Rowling connects the reader to the story and also it gives us an inside look at Harry from his perspective.

There are a lot of different flowers used as names in Harry Potter. Almost every flower has some sort of symbolic meaning. Petunia’s (Aunt Petunia) stand for resentment and anger, Poppies (the first name of Hogwart’s school nurse who always makes her patients rest or sleep) stand for eternal sleep, Narcissus (Malfoy’s wife) stands for egotism and formality, Poppy (Madame Pomfrey, the School Nurse) is one of the oldest medicinal plants, and Lily (Harry’s mother) stands for many things including happiness, humility, and purity (The Potter Paradox). Each of these flowers represents the personality of the character it is given to.

Likewise, many characters are named for constellations. Sirius, for example, is named after a star that is part of the constellation of a large dog, and that is the animal that Sirius turns into. Draco is a constellation as well and is translated as a dragon, snake, or serpent. This suits Draco well as he is a Slytherin and also very “snake-like.” Draco was the name of a cruel Athenian lawmaker. His harsh legal code punished both trivial and serious crimes with death. Another name is Lupin, a name closely connected with the moon, just as Lupin himself is closely connected with the moon and it’s phases.

Mythological connections can be found as well. Hermione was a Greek goddess who was loved by two men, as Hermoine is loved by loved by two men in the series. Hers is also a name for the god of speed and good luck. Remus Lupin is named for a Roman mythological man who was raised by wolves and he himself is a werewolf. There's a Hindu mountain-goddess named Parvati. She is the sister of the goddess of the Ganges river, Padma. Minerva (McGonegall) was the roman goddess of wisdom, so perfect for Prof. McGonegall as a paragon of that particular virtue.

It is interesting to know and recognize all of the names which Rowling chose to use it her stories because it gives her stories much more depth and meaning. Perhaps some characters, such as Regulus Black "the black lion king" or Sibyll "prophetically-inspired" Trelawney, will play larger roles in upcoming books. Even if not, it is important to see the connection between names and actions in the novels. They play a significant part is showing true character and plot development.

For more Harry Potter name meanings try www.theninemuses.net/hp

The Half-Blood Prince, Who He Could Be, and Who He Really Is
By: Delaney
(I would like to say that I wrote this before J.K. denied that Tom was the HBP and before she said that it might not be a character from the COS, so please bear with me.)

There are many theories supporting that different people could be the Half Blood Prince. Most of them support Tom Riddle. If everyone knows the same J.K. Rowling as I do, they know that J.K. likes the element of surprise, and having Tom Riddle be the Half Blood Prince, would not be very surprising, since everyone is convinced its him. I however, think that the Half Blood Prince could be a number of people, but two are very significant compared to the rest.

This is the list of most likely Half Blood Prince’s:

Albus Dumbledore
Seamus Finnegan
Godric Gryffindor
Rubeus Hagrid
Remus Lupin
Tom Riddle
Dean Thomas
New Character

Now, we must eliminate.

Tom is likely and very unlikely at the same time. He is the most probable, but that is why he might not be it. J.K. likes surprises.

Dumbledore, for some reason, doesn’t seem very probable, making people think it is not him, but maybe J.K. did that for a reason and it really is him, though I doubt it.

Lupin isn’t in the Chamber of Secrets at all and J.K. says that COS plays a major role in the Half Blood Prince.

Seamus could be the Half Blood Prince but he really doesn’t have a very big role in the COS.

It very well could be Godric Gryffindor, but so far I see no evidence supporting or against this theory.

Do you really think that J.K. would spring a new character on us a time like this? Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I TOTALLY doubt that.

Now, to our last and most important people; Rubeus Hagrid and Dean Thomas.

Dean is very probable, but not as probable as Hagrid. Here is my reasoning. Dean would’ve had a part on the COS, but it was taken out by J.K. (or maybe her editor?) because it wasn’t important enough, meaning that it was probably not needed. That info would’ve been needed if he was the Half Blood Prince.

Hagrid, on the other hand, was framed for opening the Chamber, making him have a big role in COS, and maybe leading to a big role in the HBP. We know hardly anything about his family, only that his mother was a giant, his dad; a wizard (is that right?). We could use more info on his heritage or past, and what happened to his dad, like how he died. A main point here is, what if Hagrid’'s dad DIDN'’T die. There is no proof for or against this theory.