Peg is keeping everybody's brains from freezing, with her fresh posts daily, along with this one:
#399 - Anita says: "While Harry's actions and thoughts will always be a central point in the novels, aren't the causes of his actions and thoughts just as important? Doesn't a person's environment have an effect on his temperament and character?"

Oh, I agree absolutely. And the fact that there are so many characters, each with their own agendas, increases the complexity and consequences of Harry's decisions. It means that everything matters more that much more, that the stakes keep rising.

I certainly don't deny that other characters affect Harry, in both his actions and thoughts. I don't think he could possibly have made it as far as he has without Dumbledore, Hagrid, Sirius, Ron and Hermione. What I was trying to explain is that the climax of the action depends entirely on what Harry decides and does.

Let's take our example from the book we're reading here and look at the two key decisions (Harry's) upon which the climax rests. Now, Barty Crouch, Jr. undoubtedly considered himself the hero of the book. When we hear his confession, we discover that he has been very busy indeed, setting things up.
But he is not the hero of the book because his plan depends entirely upon waiting for someone else (Harry) to do something. If Harry hadn't acted as he had, Mr. Crouch Jr. could have waited forever and the climax would never have happened. Harry refused Cedric's refusal to take the cup and suggested that they take it together and share the glory for Hogwarts.

I particularly admire J.K. Rowling's skill in setting this up, and what it means for Harry. What irony and pathos! This is one of Harry's noblest moments--and look at what this decision directly leads to--disaster. Cedric's death and his own terrifying confrontation with Voldemort. That's what nearly breaks Harry down in the hospital wing, in the scene that moved me to tears myself: "I told him to take it with me."

Voldemort, too, has to wait for Harry's actions to face him. He is the reactor; Harry is the actor at the climax.

Similarly, the second part of the climax turns on Harry's decision, to stand and try to defend himself, even if it is hopeless, rather than crouch at Voldemort's feet. This leads to the astounding scene with the duel and the revelation of what it means that Harry and Voldemort share wand cores.

So--everything at the climax turns on what Harry does. And his decisions--very admirable ones, both of them, I think--lead to consequences which will resound in his development for all the books onward.

I hope analyzing this example gives you a better idea of what I'm talking about.

Peg

Mikey, a few posts later, has earned the title of Long Winded Runner-Up! Take a look at this runner-up post material:
Wow, okay... I mean.. Well, thats great! Anita, I love the new theory. Snape didn't say that James' confidence in Black had led to his downfall, what he'd said was that James was too arrogant to believe he may have been mistaken in Black. Well, close enough..
Also, while looking through book 3 (I like to have my references handy, I'm looking through it right now) that Snape says a few things that I believe point in the direction of 'the theory':
' "KEEP QUIET YOU STUPID GIRL!" Snape shouted, looking suddenly quite deranged. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" '
What exactly is so important that Hermione wouldn't understand.. also: ' "Vengeance is very sweet," Snape breathed at Black. "How I hoped I would be the one to catch you..." '
This one points to some conflict between Snape and Sirius. Possibly (In theory) that Snape partially blames Black for Lily's death?

At this point, before I continue, I'd like to apologize for, once again, discussing something related to the Snape-Lily theory. Well, I said I'd bring it up later, and technically it is later.. besides, I think it's a really good theory.

Now, I see only one thing curious with Anita's newest theory. If Voldemort had told Snape to kill the Potters, and Snape had not done it, and instead told Dumbledore, then wouldn't Voldemort have known that Snape was not one to be trusted? True, it would explain why Dumbledore trusts Snape, but it would also give reason to believe that Snape would not be able to return and spy on Voldemort, because Voldemort would not longer trust him, and would most likely try to kill him.

Peg, I know that Harry is the hero, and the story is about him, and his life, and his troubles, etc etc etc. But his life involves the people around him. Besides, they're alot more fun to theoriorize(is that a word?) about. Let me try a bit with your writing teachers tip.
Okay, as we saw in the Mirror of Erised (hey, Erised is desire backwards... Cool! .. of course, I'm probably the last person to notice that..) what Harry wants most, is his family. But, since his Mother and Father are dead, whats the next best thing? It's obviously not the Dursleys. What else can you consider family? Think for a moment. I don't know about you, but my answer: Friends. Colleagues. The people you trust most.
Now, what does Harry fear most. To quote Peg, "Dementors, or perhaps more generally, all the forces of evil that ally with Voldemort (not to mention Voldemort himself). "
The final step, lets imagine how he can not have one without facing the other. Perhaps Voldemort will kidnap, capture, or in some other way imprison the people Harry cares about most. Ron, Hermione, Sirius and maybe even Dumbledore. Perhaps even Fred and George? Ginny? Possibly Cho Chang, if she isn't killed off...
Well, think about it.. What can come of this? Or, perhaps I'm entirely off my rocker, and the ending will be entirely different. I guess it may depend on weither of not J.K. Rowling knows the tip Peg's writing teacher suggested.. But Rowling is a brilliant writer, and whatever the ending is, even if it skips over some of the brilliant theories we've seen on this discussion board, I know it'll be worth it all.

~Mikey
P.S. Is it just me, or did that ending I wrote sound entirely too much like an inspiration speech?
P.P.S. I think I may have earned the title of "The Long Winded One: Runner Up".

In the early 400's theories are flowing well. Anita Skeeter, Mel, Peanut, Rayline, Eri, and Louise Black are keeping the conversation going. The posts are normally shorter now, only a few paragraphs at best, but there is plenty to talk about. Snape and Quirrel seem to have the discussion spotlight, with theories flying around like: "Did Snape's Dark Mark burn when Voldemort was inside Hogwarts?" and "How did Dumbledore know to come back to Hogwarts when Harry was getting the Sorcerer's Stone?" Another popular idea is why did Dumbledore make Harry come to the Dursley's first before going to the Weasley's? All of these are good to think about.

Liz Malfoy first started showing herself as a regular in the 430's. Liz Malfoy is one of the co-editors of the Daily Prophet (online, of course) and posted as a regular for some time, until she got too busy or something like that, and we haven't seen her for the longest time.

Oakwood is back, and ready to re-claim the title of Long-Winded. Here is his return post:

473

~Oak

Anita Skeeter has many famous and popular theories resting on her shoulders. She first coined the Lily-loves-Snape theory, and also the And that Colin Creevey is BAD to the BONE theory, which was the start of a highly-praised fanfiction written by her, called My Greatest Friend: Harry Potter. Or, it's common name is Colin Creepy.

A list of the regulars in the 400's are:

· Padfoot
· Eri
· Mrs. Weasley
· Louise Black
· Rayline
· Oakwood
· Elizabet
· Fleur Delaour
· Mel

Post number 500 was taken by Louise Black.