Next Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA) Teacher?

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The next Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher will be a woman. This is true according to JK Rowling who mentions this in one of her interviews.

The Merger of Two Worlds

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"Dull but 200% reliable," as one newspaper described him, Jan Peter Balkenende has won widespread public affection with his plain-spoken manner and his good humoured acceptance of the nickname "Harry Potter".

It stuck me as interesting how JK Rowling brought the Prime Minister of England into the six book showing her readers how the problems of the magical and "muggle world" are interconnected.

Was JK being prophetic or was it just a coincidence?

As they say life can sometimes imitate art. And with time at least in the Netherlands JK Rowling may replace Trelawney as professor of Divination at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Why is Harry a Parselmouth?

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It is clear that Harry can speak to snakes and Dumbledore can understand some parseltongue too:

The ability to speak Parseltongue is extremely rare, and is something for which Salazar Slytherin was famous (hence his nickname of "Serpent-tongue", and the choice of a serpent as the symbol of Slytherin House). Tom Riddle inherited this ability from Slytherin, and used it to control the basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets. Harry acquired the ability to speak Parseltongue from Voldemort during Voldemort's attack on the Potters. Harry used the ability unwittingly to speak to a boa constrictor in the zoo and to a snake conjured by Draco Malfoy at the Duelling Club.

Parseltongue is the language of snakes. It is in the common mind associated with Dark Magic (although Albus Dumbledore himself has denied it to be in any way evil), and those possessing the ability to speak it ("parselmouths") are very rare. It appears to be a skill acquired not through learning, but through genetic inheritance (or by use of Dark or dangerous Magic). Harry Potter is a Parselmouth: it is speculated at various points in the series that his acquisition of this skill was one of the many by-products of Lord Voldemort's attempt on his life when he was a child.

Other known parselmouths include: Salazar Slytherin and his descendants, including the Gaunts (Marvolo, Morfin, Merope), Lord Voldemort, and Herpo the Foul. Albus Dumbledore seems to be able to understand Parseltongue in one instance in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, when he repeats Morfin Gaunt's words "the big house over the way", which were spoken in Parseltongue. This means that either he himself is a Parselmouth or that he had previously viewed that memory with a Parselmouth who translated the conversation for him. It is unlikely to have been Morfin who did so: Dumbledore claims that, "apparently, ["He'll kill me for losing his ring"] was all he ever said again."

Ginny Weasley is not a parselmouth, despite the fact that at points in Chamber of Secrets she appeared to speak in parseltongue: she was at the time being possessed by the spirit of Tom Riddle, who was himself a parselmouth.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book Cover (US)

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The cover of the last book is here!

What does Deathly Hallows means?

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Jo is not telling us because according to her it would give away too much of the plot in the last book.

Any clarification of the meaning of 'Hallows' would give away too much of the story - well, it would, wouldn't it? Being the title and all. So I'm afraid I'm not answering.

So I guess well will have to be patient about what it means. But there is always room for speculation.

deathly:
1. Of, resembling, or characteristic of death: a deathly silence.
2. Causing death; fatal.
hallow:
1. To make or set apart as holy.
2. To respect or honor greatly; revere.

My interpretation?
deathly hallow = a self-sacrifizing death that only resembles death but is not.

>What do you think?

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J.K. Rowling says "Deathly Hallows is my favourite"

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

"I'm almost scared to admit this, but one thing has stopped me collapsing in a puddle of misery on the floor. While each of the previous Potter books has strong claims on my affections, 'Deathly Hallows' is my favourite, and that is the most wonderful way to finish the series." -JK Rowling.

Imagine taking 17years to write a book. Thinking about it and perfecting it. Now imagine having the imagination and skill of JK Rowling. The result should be an incredible book. A masterpiece even.
I understand the feeling of woe and emptiness knowing that it will be the last book. I felt depressed after finishing any of the previous books. But the consolation always was that there would be another book coming out. What will console the readers this time?

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Tom Riddle

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Tom_Riddle.

The Riddles were a family of privileged and well off gentry in the fictitious village of Little Hangleton.

The most prominent residents there, they owned large tracts of land and a fine manor house, that overlooked a cemetery and a church.

They were, however, notoriously unpopular among the Little Hangleton villagers, as they were snobbish and rude. Though Tom, the son of the family, mixed with them sufficiently to be aware of village gossip concerning the Gaunts, a local — secretly magical — family. LINK.

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Possible Remaining Horcruxes?

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Tom_Riddle's_Diary.

the soul may temporarily absent itself from the body without causing death. Such temporary absences of the soul are often believed to involve considerable risk, since the wandering soul is liable to a variety of mishaps at the hands of enemies, and so forth. But there is another aspect to this power of disengaging the soul from the body. If only the safety of the soul can be ensured during its absence, there is no reason why the soul should not continue absent for an indefinite time; indeed a man may, on a pure calculation of personal safety, desire that his soul should never return to his body. Unable to conceive of life abstractly as a "permanent possibility of sensation" or a "continuous adjustment of internal arrangements to external relations," the savage thinks of it as a concrete material thing of a definite bulk, capable of being seen and handled, kept in a box or jar, and liable to be bruised, fractured, or smashed in pieces. It is not needful that the life, so conceived, should be in the man; it may be absent from his body and still continue to animate him by virtue of a sort of sympathy or action at a distance. So long as this object which he calls his life or soul remains unharmed, the man is well; if it is injured, he suffers; if it is destroyed, he dies. Or, to put it otherwise, when a man is ill or dies, the fact is explained by saying that the material object called his life or soul, whether it be in his body or out of it, has either sustained injury or been destroyed. But there may be circumstances in which, if the life or soul remains in the man, it stands a greater chance of sustaining injury than if it were stowed away in some safe and secret place. Accordingly, in such circumstances, primitive man takes his soul out of his body and deposits it for security in some snug spot, intending to replace it in his body when the danger is past. Or if he should discover some place of absolute security, he may be content to leave his soul there permanently. The advantage of this is that, so long as the soul remains unharmed in the place where he has deposited it, the man himself is immortal; nothing can kill his body, since his life is not in it.

Horcruxes.
KNOWN HORCRUXES: Tom Riddle's diary, Marvolo Gaunt's ring.

REMAINING HORCRUXES: Salazar Slytherin's Locket, Helga Hufflepuff's cup, Nagini (the snake).

AND? The final Horcrux is not know yet. Anybody have any guesses? LINK.

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What is an "Horcrux"?

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Of the Horcrux, wickedest of magical inventions, we shall not speak nor give direction - Magick Moste Evile, Hogwarts library (HBP18)
The term "Horcrux" is used to refer to any object in which a person has concealed a part of his or her soul. The object need not be inanimate; according to Dumbledore, a living creature can be used as a Horcrux, although it is risky to do so since the Horcrux in such a case is something that can move and think for itself, independently of the implanted fragment of soul.LINK.

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Severus Snape: The Half Blood Prince

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I believe that Snape will be the tragic hero in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Book. I think he is a double agent working for the Order of the Phoenix and not a traitor.

Severus Snape was born to Tobias Snape, a Muggle, and Eileen Prince, a witch, making him a half-blood wizard...
Snape is undoubtedly one of Rowling's most complex and intriguing characters. The development he has undergone over the span of the series, as well as his ability to be both intensely loathed and adored by readers, has caused him to be regarded as one of her best. Rowling has described him as "a gift of a character".

In the Harry Potter films, the character is played by actor Alan Rickman. LINK.

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He is the Only Wizard Lord Voldemort Ever Feared

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Dumbledore was played by Richard Harris, who died in 2002 of Hodgkin's disease. Michael Gambon took on the role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), and is filming for the role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which is under production for release in 2007. LINK.

Personally I believe Patrick Stewart would make an excellent Dumbledore.

*What is the shape of Hermione's Patronus?*

Harry Potter Deaths

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These are intended to be humorous.

Funny Ways Harry Potter Dies in Deathly Hallows
11. Gets very drunk on butterbeer and has one-night stand with Dementor. Finds out its "Hump of Despair" is way worse than its "Kiss of Death."
10. Scar actually a time bomb set by Voldemort, making Harry's head explode in a bloody mist.
9. Luna Lovegood provides Harry with some bad acid. While tripping, Harry thinks he can fly without his broom and dies jumping from window in astronomy tower.
8. Heart attack from high cholesterol brought on by a lifetime of eating sausages.
7. Murdered by Ron after Hermione gets caught holding Harry's wand.
6. Smothered by Veela breasts.
5. Disgruntled Snitch frees a bunch of Bludgers and sends them after Harry.
4. Decapitated by Hogwart's Express in game of "chicken" with Draco Malfoy.
3. Trampled by a mob of liberated house elves.
2. Becomes Animagus. Turns into mouse. Gets eaten by Hedwig.
1. Harry becomes paralyzed when thrown from back of Centaur. Inspires wizarding community with inspirational struggle towards recovery, but dies from bedsore infection. LINK.

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Dumbledore is Alive?

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photo credit.

I am of the opinion that we have not yet heard the last of Dumbledore either.

Let me start by saying that I am one of the many who are convinced that Dumbledore is not dead. JK Rowling gave way too many clues that would suggest his demise was created to trick the Death Eaters. Here are a couple quotes thanks to the help of Beyond Hogwarts:

The door burst open and somebody erupted through it and shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Harry's body became instantly rigid and immobile, and he felt himself fall back against the tower wall, propped like an unsteady statue, unable to move or speak.LINK.

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"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe in Equus

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Wow! The days of innocence are a thing of the past Daniel Radcliffe has grown-up hasn't he?

By John Nathan

Daniel Radcliffe and Joanna Christie star in the West End revival of Equus.
photo by Uli Weber

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe begins previews Feb. 16 in his first leading role in the West End with the London revival of Equus. Peter Shaffer's disturbing classic officially opens at the Gielgud Theatre Feb. 27.LINK.

LINK.

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will hit theaters nationwide on July 13th 2007.-AH.

photo credit.

With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts. Dumbledore's Army (DA) is formed with Harry as the instructor. LINK.

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Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) on Girls and Money

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Daniel Radcliffe is your typical child actor about to inherent millions. He is about to grow up real fast. -AH.

When he turns 18 in July, he'll have access to a fortune estimated by the magazine at around $35 million – so he knows he has to be wary of fair-weather friends. "Obviously you have to watch a bit," he says, "and I'm sure there will be a lot of girls – well, I hope there will be a lot of girls who are just trying to get stories!"

But the single star ("I've not got a girlfriend at the moment," he says. "I have had probably two I suppose what you call serious girlfriends") has learned to trust his gut when it comes to dating: "I'd rather take the chance if I really like someone. I think I'd generally be able to tell. I've got quite a good instinct for people."LINK.

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The Harry Potter Race

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I always wondered how the books were translated to other languages. Did the translators get an early look at the plot? Now I know thanks to this article by Daniel Hahn.

The moment Rowling's publisher Bloomsbury put out its press release announcing that the author had delivered book seven and the publication date had been set, more than 60 translators across the world - from Europe to South America, Africa to Asia - started sharpening their pencils.

When that first published copy appears, their race will begin. In certain countries, where the quality of second-language English is very high, it's a race to get the book published in (say) Norwegian, or Danish, before readers decide not to wait for the translation and read it in the original.

In some cases, it's also a race against unofficial translators.

In China, where enforcement of international copyright law leaves something to be desired, intellectual property rights flaunters churn out shoddy renegade versions more or less with impunity. LINK.

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JK Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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For Rowling this is a culmination of a journey that began aproximately 13 years ago with a magnificent story of a boy wizard that mesmerized the world. This is the last book of a seven book series.

So what is next for JK? Such a talented writer would likely have another great story to share. But too her fans the story of Harry Potter will be like a first kiss, always memorable.

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JK Rowling Relieved and Finally Done Writing - Harry Potter Book 7

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Who can you trust with a secret this big? Your husband? Your publicist? How about the printers? How do you keep them from spilling the beans? I wonder....

J.K. Rowling said on Tuesday she was both heartbroken and euphoric about wrapping up the long-awaited final book in the "Harry Potter" series, but gave no clues about the boy wizard's fate.

On her Web site, Rowling side-stepped speculation that the beloved Harry would be killed off in the seventh book, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," saying fans would still have plenty to argue about at the book's end. The final instalment is due out July 21. LINK.

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Harry Potter Questions

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I do not envy JK Rowling’s task as the Potter Series comes to an end. With this seventh and final volume, she must bring to a close everything. Yes, every question raised from previous books. For example,

> Why did Dumbledore have to die?
> Why did Dumbledore trust Snape so much when no one else did?
> Why does somebody else need to die? And, who will it be?
> Why is Harry Potter the chosen one: "The boy who lived" instead of Neville?
> When Voldermort came to Hogwart's to see Dumbledore in book 5 he was after something, what is it?
> What is the meaning of the lightning scar on his forehead?
> Why is it shaped like a lightning bolt and not a star or a broomstick for example?
> From previous books we learned that the scar confered some powers to Harry Potter are there more powers in the scar we do not know about?

And, other less obvious questions that come to mind.

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Harry Potter Star Daniel Radcliffe on Baring It All for Play

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Daniel realizes that he can't be Harry Potter forever and at some point he is going to have to move on or suffer the slow painful death of other child star actors. I applaud his courage to show a "different side".

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The English actor, who has risen to fame playing the boy wizard in the successful franchise, has defended his decision to strip down for his stage debut in London.

The 17-year-old actor is performing in the iconic play "Equus," in which he appears completely naked.

However, the actor has said the choice was made because he is a serious actor.

He said, "I'm fine about it. 'Equus' is an iconic play. The nude scene is part of it. I can't do it with my pants on. That would be rubbish. We've done the scene a couple of times in rehearsal. I had no particular qualms. There's nothing that would stop me getting my kit off if that's what the work demands."

To get ready to bare all, the former child star spent time in the gym, getting a body Harry would be proud of. LINK.

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Harry Potter Theme Park in Florida?

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Harry Potter theme park may be available by 2010 according to some sources.

According to the source, Universal's creative wizards plan to substantially change one of the park's five islands and re-theme it to the stories and characters of one of the most popular children's franchises.LINK.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)

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The seventh, and final, Harry Potter book is already topping the charts at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com, and a deluxe edition of the book is second despite a price tag of $65.
You can pre-order a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Deluxe Edition) here.(affiliate link)LINK.

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harrypotterbooks

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Did you mean "Harry Potter Books."

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Harry Potter Books

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Here is a list of the Harry Potter Books with their release dates.
1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (June 26, 1997) (titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States)
2. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (July 2, 1998)
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (September 8, 1999)
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (July 8, 2000)
5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (June 21, 2003)
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 16, 2005)
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (July 21, 2007*)(*future release date)
LINK.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Release Date Announced

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We have a date appearently. July 21st 2007 for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows book. You may pre-order Book 7 now.LINK.

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Harry PotterOrder of Phoenix

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Did you mean: Harry Potter Order of Phoenix. LINK.

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MOODY'S MAGICAL EYE GAME

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Another fun one but its tricky so watch out.
LINK.

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HARRY POTTER KNIGHT BUS DRIVING GAME

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Here is another fun game.

LINK.

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Harry Chest

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Seventeen-year-old British actor Daniel Radcliffe, best known as the lovable boy wizard in the series of Harry Potter movies, is baring all on the London stage in a revival of Peter Shaffer’s controversial play “Equus.”
And the newly ripped Radcliffe, who plays troubled stable hand Alan Strang in the play about a young man’s troubling fascination with horses, has a nude sex scene on stage with co-star, Joanna Christie! LINK.

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