Unfogging the Half-Blood Prince Cover Art

Yea i do think we are looking a bit too critically at the picture. You do see my hook though right?? heh

It's in the woodgrain of the desk to the left of the book. The adult cover has loads of images.

But what is it supose to be?

Yea i do think we are looking a bit too critically at the picture. You do see my hook though right?? heh

I think that's just the shadow of the hook-shaped flame.

It's in the woodgrain of the desk to the left of the book. The adult cover has loads of images.

Ah, I see.

What makes you think it's Flamell? The age?

Or Flamel?

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21203

Good catch!

Or Flamel?

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21203


I still don't see what we're suppose to be looking at...

Harry's glasses?

Or Flamel?

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21203
:huh:

That bit of tape at the top of the book looks like a scene with two DEs advancing on a lone figure.

This is probably old news, (I can't keep up!) In the UK children's version, I'm pretty sure that the fire is coming from Dumbledore's wand. The black thing in the corner looks like Dumbledore's robe, and the fire seems to have swooped in a circle, up to the point where his wand is at the top of the page.

Harry's glasses?

His glasses aren;t that thick, and in order to have them stretch out like that, they would need to be broken flat, and they would have to be scorching hot in order to leave an engraving, or mark on the desk.

But I still respect your theory...

I think it is just a burn, or left over erosion from a spilled potion...

...you're good whizbang121 :wow:
but I think this is just a random texture on the book :p

:huh:
There is a clear face with something that may be a mustache and a wide brimmed hat. The hand is raised in front of the face.

Makes me think of a Rembrandt.

I did some research on the name on the potions book, Libalius Borage, and I don't think it's anything more than a creative name. In Latin, Liba means "life"--"Libalius" is a name form of the word. Borage is most commonly a spice. From these, I guessed that Libalius Borage is a way of saying "the spice of life", an appropriate name for a chemist, and is not significant. What I did find interesting is that it is an Advanced Potions book, which signifys a few things. It indicates that Harry did well on his O.W.L.s and will start his preparation for becoming an Auror. Also, it is important that it is a potions book, pointing at Snape, and it is purple, a royal color. Since there is so much hubub surrounding Snape, such as finding out WHY Dumbledore trusts him and why so many people suspect him to be the HBP. I concluded that this is because Snape is the HBP. Dumbledore trusts him because he is a half-blood in Voldemort's service and his nobility has some effect on him. Now that I considered this possibility, I realized there is evidence for Snape being the HBP. He is the head of Slytherin (irony), he has a snobby, pompous, and princely attitude, and we do not know much about his past, but we can assume that his status as a prince from a supposedly pure family would give Voldemort no doubts about accepting Snape as a Death Eater. Now that I'm done, I sure hope someone reads this.

That bit of tape at the top of the book looks like a scene with two DEs advancing on a lone figure.

Look at the spine of the book too.

At the top of the spine, there is a darkened splotch. But if you look at it's shape, it looks like a man whose facing the end of the spine, looking up, as if gazing at the stars or something.

I definitely can't see the face in the wood! This thread is getting crazy!

Anybody else think they see Fawkes's face in the fire?

Anybody else think they see Fawkes's face in the fire?
Yes, I saw that too.

Why does Harry's scar look so distinct in the UK children's version? Maybe we have some proof that they are indeed fighting Voldemort! Also Harry is scared, not in pain, so maybe he's mastered occlumency to block Voldemort out of his head. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to be thinking too clearly without the pain anyway.

I can't see any faces in the fire. Maybe you're reading a bit too much into it.

I did some research on the name on the potions book, Libalius Borage, and I don't think it's anything more than a creative name. In Latin, Liba means "life"--"Libalius" is a name form of the word. Borage is most commonly a spice. From these, I guessed that Libalius Borage is a way of saying "the spice of life", an appropriate name for a chemist, and is not significant. What I did find interesting is that it is an Advanced Potions book, which signifys a few things. It indicates that Harry did well on his O.W.L.s and will start his preparation for becoming an Auror. Also, it is important that it is a potions book, pointing at Snape, and it is purple, a royal color. Since there is so much hubub surrounding Snape, such as finding out WHY Dumbledore trusts him and why so many people suspect him to be the HBP. I concluded that this is because Snape is the HBP. Dumbledore trusts him because he is a half-blood in Voldemort's service and his nobility has some effect on him. Now that I considered this possibility, I realized there is evidence for Snape being the HBP. He is the head of Slytherin (irony), he has a snobby, pompous, and princely attitude, and we do not know much about his past, but we can assume that his status as a prince from a supposedly pure family would give Voldemort no doubts about accepting Snape as a Death Eater. Now that I'm done, I sure hope someone reads this.
I did. But why do you think this is Snape's book? It looks older than Snape to me. Maybe Tom Riddle's? Dumbledore's? Nicolas Flamel's? I wonder if the HBP is someone who exists in a pensieve memory.

I definitely can't see the face in the wood! This thread is getting crazy!I saw it before it was even explained. But yes, the thread is going crazy :p

According to Veritaserum (http://www.veritaserum.com), the name is "Libatius Borage." Borage is a plant (http://www.answers.com/borage). I'm not sure about Libatius - the closest seems to be what MakkaMalooga said. Although I was thinking about "labiates" because they both have to do with flowers. This would make sense because JKR names her authors after their subject, many times. Phyllida Spore, for example.

I did some research on the name on the potions book, Libalius Borage, and I don't think it's anything more than a creative name. In Latin, Liba means "life"--"Libalius" is a name form of the word. Borage is most commonly a spice. From these, I guessed that Libalius Borage is a way of saying "the spice of life", an appropriate name for a chemist, and is not significant. What I did find interesting is that it is an Advanced Potions book, which signifys a few things. It indicates that Harry did well on his O.W.L.s and will start his preparation for becoming an Auror. Also, it is important that it is a potions book, pointing at Snape, and it is purple, a royal color. Since there is so much hubub surrounding Snape, such as finding out WHY Dumbledore trusts him and why so many people suspect him to be the HBP. I concluded that this is because Snape is the HBP. Dumbledore trusts him because he is a half-blood in Voldemort's service and his nobility has some effect on him. Now that I considered this possibility, I realized there is evidence for Snape being the HBP. He is the head of Slytherin (irony), he has a snobby, pompous, and princely attitude, and we do not know much about his past, but we can assume that his status as a prince from a supposedly pure family would give Voldemort no doubts about accepting Snape as a Death Eater. Now that I'm done, I sure hope someone reads this.

Nice research and theory there.
I was thinking along the lines with the adult cover that Harry must have done well on his OWLS to be moving on to Advanced Potions. But had yet to bring my thoughts together. Perhaps this is hinting at him progressing to an Auror. Or could he possibly have to use a potion for something?

I guess we have all come to the conclusion that it is Dumbledore on the front cover(Children's versions) with Harry. Which I think means that whatever battle is coming Dumbledore is with Harry helping him.

In the American Version it looks like Harry and Dumbledore are looking into some kind of pensive.

Dumbledore is with Harry in both children's versions - that is Dumbledore in the British edition, isn't it? It seems as though Dumbledore were helping Harry in both covers. In the American, I thought they were making a spell. I guess it could be the Penseive (sp?) also. I always thought it was smaller and just a basin, while this is more of a column/basin thingy. I'm not sure if this is making much sense....

Yes, I did see the Phoenix face in the fire. I also saw the face in the wood - it looked like it was wearing a hat. There's also something dark at the bottom, right corner of the British edition. Probably just a shadow or part of DD's robes.

I wonder if Harry and Dumbledore are fighting together in the British cover. Dumbledore seems to be protecting Harry, who is terrified. Maybe Fawkes is saving them.

I wonder if Harry and Dumbledore are fighting together in the British cover. Dumbledore seems to be protecting Harry, who is terrified. Maybe Fawkes is saving them.There's something desperate about the whole scene. Like they're looking into the face of some terrific danger that is rushing upon them all at once. I wonder what it could be..

gosh this thread moved fast! I was here this afternoon and y'all were on page 4.

anyway, I'm mostly interested in the UK kid's version because the characters are very animated. A few things stick out to me, first off is that both Dumbledore and Harry look scared. DD looks angry but frightened, and Harry looks almost shocked and petrified. They appear to be on the defensive.The fire seems to be coming from DD's wand, but Harry is in the foreground, not behind DD as you might expect someone to be if they were being protected. Looks like Harry is placing himself between Dumbledore and danger, but why? because he can't be hurt? because he's brave? Because the danger is coming for Dumbledore, and not him?
my overall feeling from the 2 children's covers is one of increased equality and partnership between Harry and Dumbledore, anybody else agree?

I don't want to claim anybody else's ideas as my own, so here's the URL:
http://www.livejournal.com/community/unplottables/35280.html?view=520912&style=mine#t520912

This poster had the idea that the object is a Penseive, and that it belonged to Voldemort (hence the green light, hence the wand out, hence the guarded look...)

Whoever this person is, I think the theory is plausible. At least as plausible as any other.

A few things stick out to me, first off is that both Dumbledore and Harry look scared. DD looks angry but frightened, and Harry looks almost shocked and petrified. They appear to be on the defensive.The fire seems to be coming from DD's wand, but Harry is in the foreground, not behind DD as you might expect someone to be if they were being protected. Looks like Harry is placing himself between Dumbledore and danger, but why? because he can't be hurt? because he's brave? Because the danger is coming for Dumbledore, and not him?
my overall feeling from the 2 children's covers is one of increased equality and partnership between Harry and Dumbledore, anybody else agree?I agree. You're right about Harry being in front of Dumbledore. Maybe they were ambushed? Maybe Harry was walking behind Dumbledore and someone/something sneaked up on them; Dumbledore spun around and summoned Fawkes to protect them! It must have been something horrible, form the looks on their faces. Could it be Voldemort? I don't think they would have that face if it were. It seems something stronger. Maybe Voldemort is much, much more powerful or has gathered Dark creatures. Something really, really evil.

Or maybe Dumbledore's looking at Harry? I can't really tell if he's looking ahead or at Harry. Voldemort possessed Dumbledore and made him trap Harry in a circle of fire. Meanwhile Harry is looking around, desperate for a means of escape!

Edit: Now that I've looked closer at the British cover, the dark thing at the bottom right corner is Dumbledore's robe :blush: (Nothing to do with this post, but I had posted something a few dozens posts behind.)

I agree. You're right about Harry being in front of Dumbledore. Maybe they were ambushed? Maybe Harry was walking behind Dumbledore and someone/something sneaked up on them; Dumbledore spun around and summoned Fawkes to protect them! It must have been something horrible, form the looks on their faces. Could it be Voldemort? I don't think they would have that face if it were. It seems something stronger. Maybe Voldemort is much, much more powerful or has gathered Dark creatures. Something really, really evil.

Or maybe Dumbledore's looking at Harry? I can't really tell if he's looking ahead or at Harry. Voldemort possessed Dumbledore and made him trap Harry in a circle of fire. Meanwhile Harry is looking around, desperate for a means of escape!

good call wraith, but voldemort posessing Dumbledore? sacrilage! haha
it almost seems as though their eyes are directed towards the ground, or at least DD looks that way. I have the impression that they're fairly close together, though I could also see it as DD is sort of throwing the Fawkes fire out around Harry like a large lasso. Hey, anybody notice that harry's scar is rather glowing?

We can tell by the covers that the Prince is a slythernin that is why there is so much green. I dont want to believe it but I also agree that the HBP is indeed Snape.

Or maybe Dumbledore's looking at Harry? I can't really tell if he's looking ahead or at Harry. Voldemort possessed Dumbledore and made him trap Harry in a circle of fire. Meanwhile Harry is looking around, desperate for a means of escape!

Dumbledore doesn't seem to be possessed. If possession is like the Imperio curse, I'd imagine that Dumbledore would look less vicious. He looks like he's ready to kill whatever is attacking them.

Notice Harry's scar though, it seems much more distinct than usual, even if it is being illuminated by fire. His scar is illuminated by green misty light in the US version, and doesn't seem nearly as dark. I think this is proof that they are indeed fighting the Dark Lord. Also the fire may not be a "circle of protection", it may be wrapping itself around Voldemort (and we are looking through the Dark Lord's eyes), the same spell Dumbledore used in Book 5.

Edit: Yes Toast I noticed the glowing scar too, see my post on previous page. It's gotta be proof of something, Voldemort I think.

Snape Snape oh it's Snape. Busted, Busted

If HBP is Snape then he'll het on good terms with Harry. What do you guys think?
Or is Snape always going to be evil?

and..Snape the Prince... somehow these two words don't fit together. :D

Look at the spine of the book too.

At the top of the spine, there is a darkened splotch. But if you look at it's shape, it looks like a man whose facing the end of the spine, looking up, as if gazing at the stars or something.Yeah that's a nice one.
I see several owls, people on broomsticks, witches hats and capes, but a lot of them are so small that I after I've cut them, they've so small it's hardly worth posting them.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/Lumos121/hbpadultcrop2.jpg

I think there's a pentagram between the left top of the spine and going into the letters. Is advanced potions another term for alchemy?

Snape Snape oh it's Snape.


Reminds me of this (http://thefifthdistrict.com/potter/). :rotfl:

Harry does have green eyes. We're still waiting to find out the significance of this eye color.

Dumbledore doesn't seem to be possessed. If possession is like the Imperio curse, I'd imagine that Dumbledore would look less vicious. He looks like he's ready to kill whatever is attacking them.

Notice Harry's scar though, it seems much more distinct than usual, even if it is being illuminated by fire. His scar is illuminated by green misty light in the US version, and doesn't seem nearly as dark. I think this is proof that they are indeed fighting the Dark Lord. Also the fire may not be a "circle of protection", it may be wrapping itself around Voldemort (and we are looking through the Dark Lord's eyes), the same spell Dumbledore used in Book 5.

ooh, what if we *are* looking through the dark lord's eyes? that'd be awesome. but one of the strands goes behind DD, and another passes in front of Harry, so it looks like they're the ones enclosed.
The scar thing is telling. It is very pronounced, which implies that it must be hurting, but Harry isn't showing signs of pain.

I like the American Cover, GrandPre is an amazing illustrator...what a job! How lucky is she to get to read the books in advance!!!

Dumbledore doesn't seem to be possessed. If possession is like the Imperio curse, I'd imagine that Dumbledore would look less vicious. He looks like he's ready to kill whatever is attacking them.

Notice Harry's scar though, it seems much more distinct than usual, even if it is being illuminated by fire. His scar is illuminated by green misty light in the US version, and doesn't seem nearly as dark. I think this is proof that they are indeed fighting the Dark Lord. Also the fire may not be a "circle of protection", it may be wrapping itself around Voldemort (and we are looking through the Dark Lord's eyes), the same spell Dumbledore used in Book 5.

But it's behind them and in front of them. It looks like it's circling them. In the American version, they're also encircled but by green mist. You're right, they do seem to be looking down in the British cover (well, in both of them..). Dumbledore looks so much like Gandalf in the British cover.

In the American cover, Dumbledore seems to be doing something, and Harry's waiting for that something to happen (his wand's out). Funny how both the covers are so different. The British is so scary, firey, and desperate. The American is eerie, hazy, and calm.

Seems to me like the HBP is Snape. Maybe it's time to re-read The Prince (haven't read it since college) by Machiavelli.

I think that DD and Harry are both looking into a Pensieve in the US cover. Maybe DD has shown Harry how to take his memories of that night at Godric's Hollow out of his brain and put it into the Pensieve so they (and we) can all see what happened.

The ring of fire on the UK cover looks to me like a ring of protection that DD has thrown around himself and Harry.

Alas, I've always believed that DD had to die before the end of the series, but I hope JKR has waited until Book 7 to kill him off.

Re. the green light...didn't Harry recall seeing a green light when his Mom was killed (as he did w/ the Dementors...)? Perhaps, he is using the pensive to reveal more about that memory?

oh, and his wand could be out because he would need it to remove his memories from his head to the pensive.

The green light appears from Avada Kedavra.

I like the UK picture better, but I like the US colors better.

ooh, what if we *are* looking through the dark lord's eyes? that'd be awesome. but one of the strands goes behind DD, and another passes in front of Harry, so it looks like they're the ones enclosed.
The scar thing is telling. It is very pronounced, which implies that it must be hurting, but Harry isn't showing signs of pain.

He's either able to block the scar, including the pain (meaning that he's finally mastered occlumency) or he's too afraid to be in pain. If that sounds like a bad reason, sometimes when people go into shock they don't feel things, it's a medical fact.

I know that one strand goes behind them, but the first thing I thought of is Dumbledore's spell in the Ministry duel in OotP, and how many "rope of fire" spells do we know? I know I'm probably wrong, but it still reminds me of Strand of Fire from OotP.

Ah, then again, how many Rope of Fire spells does Dumbledore know, that is the question...

Reminds me of this (http://thefifthdistrict.com/potter/). :rotfl:

This thing has been stuck in my head for months! :)
off topic :)

You know what I don't lilke about the American Cover?
How do purple and green go together??
I think it would have been much better if the title was another shade of green, ot even the same. It could have been silved too like in book 5.

Here's a picture from the chapter "The Pensieve," GoF.
http://xs19.xs.to/pics/05103/pensieve.gif

I personally don't think that's what's on the American cover. I'm probably wrong.

Here's a picture from the chapter "The Pensieve," GoF.
http://xs19.xs.to/pics/05103/pensieve.gif

I personally don't think that's what's on the American cover. I'm probably wrong.

No, I agree. The pensive gives off silver light, and Dumbledore looks like he is throwing stuff into the bowl, or he just threw something in the bowl that gave off a huge blast of mist. The Adult cover is of a potions book, maybe Snape refuses to teach Harry NEWT potions so Dumbledore is giving him some private lessons.

Or maybe Dumbledore is just giving Harry the extra training he's needed for so long as he's the One With The Power To Defeat The Dark Lord.

Re. the green light...didn't Harry recall seeing a green light when his Mom was killed (as he did w/ the Dementors...)? Perhaps, he is using the pensive to reveal more about that memory?

oh, and his wand could be out because he would need it to remove his memories from his head to the pensive.
Good one."This? It is called a Pensieve," said Dumbledore. "I sometimes find, and I am sure you know the feeling, that I simply have too many thoughts and memories crammed into my mind."

"Er," said Harry, who couldn't truthfully say that he had ever felt anything of the sort.

"At these times," said Dumbledore, indicating the stone basin, "I use the Pensieve. One simply siphons the excess thoughts from one's mind, pours them into the basin, and examines them at one's leisure. It becomes easier to spot patterns and links, you understand, when they are in this form."

He's either able to block the scar, including the pain (meaning that he's finally mastered occlumency) or he's too afraid to be in pain. If that sounds like a bad reason, sometimes when people go into shock they don't feel things, it's a medical fact.

I know that one strand goes behind them, but the first thing I thought of is Dumbledore's spell in the Ministry duel in OotP, and how many "rope of fire" spells do we know? I know I'm probably wrong, but it still reminds me of Strand of Fire from OotP.

Ah, then again, how many Rope of Fire spells does Dumbledore know, that is the question...

I've got the passage, something else interesting shows up in it, too.

Dumbledore had drawn back his wand and waved it as though brandishing a whip. A long thing 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 upon Voldemort at once and turned, hissing furiously, to face Dumbledore. Voldemort vanished. The snake reared from the floor, ready to strike- There was a burst of flame in midair above Dumbledore just as Voldemort reappeared, standing on the plinth in the middle of the pool where so recently the five statues had stood. "Look out!" Harry yelled. But even as he shouted, one more jet of green light had flown at Dumbledore from Voldemort's wand and the snake had struck- Fawkes swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his beak wide, and swallowed the jet of green light whole. He burst into flame and fell to the floor, small, wrinkled, and flightless." -OOTP, The only one he ever feared.
Ahh, so Fawkes shows up at the same time as the rope of flame, eh? didn't some people say they could see Fawkes' head in the flames? Hmmmm. The only thing is, these ropes are thick, not thin.

I think harry may have mastered occlumency after all. Maybe DD decided to teach him.

Love the American cover...

But then I always do, however I really like the new color schemes that Grande Pre has come up with for OOTP and HBP.

Dumbledore has never looked so tired and so wise.

Anyhow My guess:

Harry and Dumbledore are looking into the pensieve with Harry's memories of his parents' murder.

Harry in HBP will have to face up to that fact that he needs to know more about the event in order to defeat Voldie.

I think the covers explain loads. The pedastal thing is probably a pensieve. Although I question that because Harry is holding his wand looking ready to fight. However, with the "Potions making Cover", I believe that Snape is the HBP. I believe we are about to learn about dear old Snape and his involvement in the Potters life and with Voldemort. I'm so eager to find out what's what. :clap: I'm so excited to see these. They always give away so much of the story. Just with out the details of course.

Because the adult UK version of the Half-Blood Prince has a picture of a potions book on it, the idea has arose that Snape might be the half-blood prince. Personally, I feel that there is NO WAY that Snape could be the Half-Blood prince. First of all, Snape was a Slytherin. Slytherins are all pure-bloods. Salazar Slytherin did not trust people with Muggle heritage, and he would therefore not take anyone that was not a pureblood. The only exceptions (that I know of, correct me if I'm wrong) are Voldemort and Harry. Voldemort had Slytherin's own blood in him, and that made him a Slytherin. Voldemort passed on his powers (ie, parseltongue) to Harry, and the sorting hat saw the Slytherin in Harry and therefore thought him a likely candidate for Slytherin. Second, there are very few Death Eaters who are not pure-blood, and we know that Snape was once a Death Eater. Third, in the Order of the Phoenix, Harry saw Snape call Lily Evans a Mudblood. Why would Snape insult someone for having Muggle parantage if he was a half-blood? It does not make sense. Fourth, JK Rowling would never allow the rumor to get loose if it was actually true. I think the Snape being the Half-Blood Prince was just a way to increase interest in the sixth book (not that there isn't enough already!).

This thing has been stuck in my head for months! :)
off topic :)
Yes, but I couldn't pass it up. :(
You know what I don't lilke about the American Cover?
How do purple and green go together??
I think it would have been much better if the title was another shade of green, ot even the same. It could have been silved too like in book 5.
I kinda like the purple and green together. :shrug: But maybe that's because those were the team colors of the baseball team where I grew up.

To address the Penseive issue, I think that you could possibly make a Penseive out of any sort of container with the proper spells put on it. If the Penseive on the cover is not the one belonging to Dumbledore (i.e. Voldemort), then this would make sense.

I think the covers explain loads. The pedastal thing is probably a pensieve. Although I question that because Harry is holding his wand looking ready to fight. However, with the "Potions making Cover", I believe that Snape is the HBP. I believe we are about to learn about dear old Snape and his involvement in the Potters life and with Voldemort. I'm so eager to find out what's what. :clap: I'm so excited to see these. They always give away so much of the story. Just with out the details of course.

I really hope Snape isn't the Half-Blood prince. Now all the surprise will be ruined :grumble: Spoiling cover art.

That si a good point, Snape was a death eater apart from being in Slytherin and calling Lily a mudblood. Clearly he is a Pure Blood wizard and therefore cannot be the half blood prince.
On the other hand, potions must have a major role in this book and i also have a feeling that Snape may be the latest victim of Voldemort.

i think its a potion on the american edition and on the childrens english cover i think dumbledore is protecting harry from voldemort.

i think its a potion on the american edition and on the childrens english cover i think dumbledore is protecting harry from voldemort.
Yeah, I thought Dumbledore was teaching Harry how to make a potion or something on the US cover. It doesn't look like a Pensieve to me. Dumbledore has his hand over it and is saying something. Wouldn't he have his wand over it without saying anything if it were a pensieve?

I don't think you can exclude the basin from being a penseive because the light coming from it is green rather than silver. Remember we have only seen one penseive. Who's to say they're all the same?

OK, I think the US cover bowl thing is a pensieve. Maybe it's the first one ever made (which is why it looks so old) and is on a pedestal in a museum or on display in the MoM or something. Sorry, it's late & my brain is a little fuzzy...
My daughter says it's very old so maybe it is Godric Gryffindor's & maybe he's the HBP & that's how he will appear. She is also tired, though, so don't listen to her... J/K!

(Sorry to anyone who's already done this, I haven't read all the posts...)Okay, everyone... I have a little experience with graphics and stuff, and I'm rather intrigued by the author of "Advanced potion-making". Working off Mugglenet's pic, I played with zoom, as well as the negative, solarisation, emboss etc. to try and find something where the name was clearly readable, and have narrowed most of the letters down to 1 or 2 possibilities.

I'll start with the surname, because that was the easiest part. Almost all of it was clear, threres only two possibilities: Borage and Boruge, and I'm leaning towards the latter, as shape wise it is similar to that of the U in the first name. The last letter could almost have been a "c", but Boragc/borugc are pretty unlikely really ;)

And now the given name. This was a little harder, I'll go through letter by letter, cause that's how I had to do it.

1: L or T, graphically I'm leaning towards the L.

2:i. There's not a lot of leeway for error on this one; it's either an "i" or an "l", and the double L at the beginning of the name (it is possible, think Lleyton, for example) doesn't quite fit with the rest of the name, which sounds latin-ish, not that I'm an expert on languages. But an 'l' as the second letter is unlikely at best.

3:b. This one is about the clearest on the entire first word. A possible 'h', but graphically I just don't see it, really. I'm convinced it's a 'b'. (I just checked on the filters again, and under equalisation it looks more like a B.

4:a, probably, slim chance for u, but again I'm fairly convinced for an 'a', which is cemented (well, in semi-dried cement, anyway :S:P) by the difference in shape between the letter I'm almost certain to be a 'u' further on in his name.

5:t or l. It's a bit sketchy, but judging by the slight pale smudge (visible more when you zoom it)to the left of the vertical bit of it, where the horizontal bit of a T would go, I reckon it's a higher chance of being a t.

6:i. Though this I is clearer than the first and, in all fact, puts slightly mroe credibility in letter 2 being an "l", as there is a considerable gap between the i and it's dot in this letter, though in letter 2 there is less of one, to the point of it being merged. but hey, it's a bad quality photo of a bad quality book, beggars can't be choosers.

7:u, almost without a doubt, this one is fairly clear.

8: s, again it's fairly obvious in this letter.


So his first name is likely to be...


Libatius (possible Llbatius, but as I said I doubt that one!, possible Lihatius, again pretty doubtful. Oh and Libalius, but that sounds a bit off, somehow. Also possible are Tibatius (the second most possible), Tihatius, Tibalius,Tlbatius(yeah right, but I have to say it, i guess)) [/U]



[/B]The Final verdict?[B]

I'd put money on

Libatius Boruge

Also highly possible are Libatius Borage and Tibatius Boruge/Borage.



Whew, that took a while ::dies::

I still think its a potion

put money on

Libatius Boruge

Also highly possible are Libatius Borage and Tibatius Boruge/Borage.

come on! see the u on libatius that it's not like the one in the surname is an a Borage

and its a plant

The US version does have Harry with his wand out and dumbledore looking pretty surprised. I think that DD is actually using harry as a spy. I think that Voldy's mind is actually more suceptible to harry than, harry's is to him. No doubt DD had Harry continue his lessons and with DD teaching and Harry's natural apetitude he will learn in no time. Harry is also protected by that love thing. I think that Harry is actually peering into Voldy's mind in this scene, with DD's help and him being around to sever the connection if things get serious. Harry and DD look like they've found something they don't like.

In this picture (http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=hbpadult.jpg), it looks pretty clear that it says "Libatius Borage." other possibilities are Llbatius - you can't even pronounce that. Or Libalius.

come on! see the u on libatius that it's not like the one in the surname is an a Borage

and its a plant


-shrugs- no need to jump down my throat; to my eyes, however, the left-hand vertical bit of the a/u/whatever is too perfectly vertical to be like the a, where the leftermost bit curves more to the right to joint up with the right-hand side's vertical line. But I'm not infallible, I'll admit that as much as anyone.

This is the first 've heard about any plant, but as I said I haven't read every post.

I loved the artwork for all three books. Although, I keep wondering, is that a pensieve? Why on Earth is there a picture of a book about potions in the adult version of the book? ! I think Dumbledore looks kinda creepy in the British version.I can't wait until July 16th!! :clap:

other possibilities are Llbatius - you can't even pronounce that. Or Libalius.

I know, I was showing that despite the fact that some of the letters alone looked like that, together they couldn't be. I said that in the original post.

On the other hand, potions must have a major role in this book and i also have a feeling that Snape may be the latest victim of Voldemort.
nope, not possible. snape is too much of an antagonist to be killed off before the last book. other than draco, what opposition does harry have at hogwarts? only snape, and there's no way he would be eliminated so soon. ...i hope.

Remember we have only seen one penseive. Who's to say they're all the same?
i bet they're NOT all the same! good thinking!

we've got smart smart people here today. and i'd like to point out that i've read a least two lines of EVERY POST in this thread. yeehaa for me! :wow:

Here's my $.02 about what is depicted on the cover.

I believe this is most definitely a pensieve, but I don't think it's Dumbledore's pensieve. I believe that pensieves may have different colors of mist/light depending on who owns it OR how old they are. The biggest giveaway for this being a pensieve are the runes on the rim, visible on the hi-res large image at Mugglenet.

JK never decribed DD's pensieve as having cracks in it, though. Or sitting on a pedestal, for that matter. The pedestal implies this pensieve is an object of great importance, holding very important knowledge. Could it be that it belonged to one of the Hogwarts founders? Is it in a place of special honor in the school? Could the green light in it be from an Avada Kedavra curse? Are they witnissing the first "war of the houses" when Slytherin first caused discord at the school?

Also, it makes me remember the "excerpt" from HBP that JK revealed behind the office door. It describes someone who looks like an old lion. Is he seeing Godric Gryffindor in the school pensieve?

I believe Dumbledore is revealing a critical event in the school's history that bears direct relevance on the war with Voldemort.

Then again, I could be full of ****.

On HPANA they have blow ups of the three covers and on the Scholastic cover you can tell that it is a Pensieve. But whose Pensieve?

I know, I was showing that despite the fact that some of the letters alone looked like that, together they couldn't be. I said that in the original post.
Sorry! Didn't mean to be rude :)

i heard from another thread that the bowl on the american cover is the green flame torch.
Green Flame Torch Part Of HBP?!? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=47062)

i dont agree though

Of course not. JKR already said that the green flame torch was nothing but a rumor. I think it to be a coincidence or maybe something in the book has to do with green (avada kedavra, slytherin ?). i think it is Dumbledore's pensieve just moved onto a pedestal.

I think Dumbledore looks kinda creepy in the British version.I think Dumbledore looks a little creepy in the Scholastic version too. Like a madman. However, I'm not complaining. I like it. I kinda like the purple and green together. But maybe that's because those were the team colors of the baseball team where I grew up.I like them too. They were my wedding colors! Everyone thought it was absurd, but it works. Purple for royalty, green for that snaky Voldemort.

I believe this is most definitely a pensieve, but I don't think it's Dumbledore's pensieve. I believe that pensieves may have different colors of mist/light depending on who owns it OR how old they are. The biggest giveaway for this being a pensieve are the runes on the rim, visible on the hi-res large image at Mugglenet.

JK never decribed DD's pensieve as having cracks in it, though. Or sitting on a pedestal, for that matter. The pedestal implies this pensieve is an object of great importance, holding very important knowledge. Could it be that it belonged to one of the Hogwarts founders? Is it in a place of special honor in the school? Could the green light in it be from an Avada Kedavra curse? Are they witnissing the first "war of the houses" when Slytherin first caused discord at the school?

Also, it makes me remember the "excerpt" from HBP that JK revealed behind the office door. It describes someone who looks like an old lion. Is he seeing Godric Gryffindor in the school pensieve?

I believe Dumbledore is revealing a critical event in the school's history that bears direct relevance on the war with Voldemort.

I like your theory. I went and looked at the cover again and the pensieve does seem a bit old. It probably does belong to one of the founders- maybe Godric Gryffindor? So perhaps, not only is he the 'lion man' but the HBP as well...

Has anyone noticed, in the US version, that the "and the Half-Blood Prince" seems to be in Dumbledore's handwriting?

We saw Dumbledore's handwriting for the first time in PS/SS, in that cursive-like, thin, slightly messy handwriting. When I saw the OotP cover (US) (http://www.bookjackets.com/JKRowling/images/OrderPhoenix.jpg) I noticed that it looked like Dumbledore's handwriting. I thought nothing of it. But we later learned that Dumbledore is the head and secret-keeper of the Order of the Phoenix. I don't know, but the American HBP cover and the OotP cover seem to be in Dumbledore's handwriting to me.

i think it might be Godric Gryffindor's pensieve now

In the US cover, Harry has his wand out, Dumbledore doesn't...maybe Harry is using the pensieve to remove/retrieve memories he had as a baby about VM's attack on him and/or Lily. Some of it came to him during the dementor attacks, but Harry doesn't seem to be able to fully recall those memories on his own. And perhaps that's where we all learn more about Lily.

July 16, where are you?

Well until then I'll just have to hypothesize...

The book covers present some interesting clue, many that have been already mentioned. However, there might be a few odds and ends I could add. I'm not a big fan of Geometry but I did notice the repetition of the circle idea w/in two of the covers. Whether just a smart artistic move or not I don't know but a circle represenst movement...in the American edition a circle of smoke is enveloping Dumbledore as he looks into what has been speculated as the Pensive with an awe filled, possibly frightened face, it is clear power is in the smoke seems to be transferring to Harry with a more determined stature making me think that book 7 may reveal a major transfer of power to Harry. This speculation is support by the fact that Harry is standing in front of Dumbledore within the British children version. Whether this makes a bit of sence at all I don’t know what is clear from all this is I think the characters Harry, Dumbledore, and Snape will be intertwined much more in the Half Blood Prince *hears frantic music playing in background* :p

Oh my god!!! I love it, I love it!!!! Interesting that there's a Pensieve on the cover...I haven't read back yet to see all your good theories, but I will right after this! It's great! I love the monochromatic look of books 5 and 6...I was hoping HBP would follow the pattern of OOTP, and I am so pleased to say that it does, and very nicely!

[QUOTE=metis]

[/B]The Final verdict?[B]

I'd put money on

Libatius Boruge

Also highly possible are Libatius Borage and Tibatius Boruge/Borage.
QUOTE]
How about Tiberius Boragi?

I love the monochromatic look of books 5 and 6...I was hoping HBP would follow the pattern of OOTP, and I am so pleased to say that it does, and very nicely!

I liked the monochrome with OOTP, but I dunno about this one. green and purple? (I know, I know, technically not monochrome if it's 2 colors) I'm not a huge fan of the combination, so I'm hoping for some real good symbololology to warrent this. :evil: Really though, whatever floats her boat, it's her masterpiece!

Its not a pensieve or a potion its the top of 'The Pillar of Storgé'

Its not a pensieve or a potion its the top of 'The Pillar of Storgé'

:rotfl:

Its not a pensieve or a potion its the top of 'The Pillar of Storgé'Finally a rational explanation!

HPANA (http://www.hpana.com) has huge pictures (http://hpana.com/news.18529.html).

Mary GrandPre: I get to show the reader the essence of the book without giving anything away. I kind of tempt the reader to keep moving on through the book.
(From here (http://hpana.com/news.18528.html))
Yup, and then the fans get to speculate everything to death....I really should stop coming here; sooner or later, someone will get something right, and then the whole ending will be ruined. Anyway, I like the American cover best.

^ Lol ^ :rotfl:

Hi! I'm excited more because of the idea that the release is closer than for the actually cover :p , However, I do like the cover, the green ehh wind (I don't know how to call the smoke) looks great and like usually makes you think and revalorate a thousands theories which I'm looking foward to see and discuss right here...

It's quite possibly the largest book cover I've ever seen before in life.

I liked the monochrome with OOTP, but I dunno about this one. green and purple? (I know, I know, technically not monochrome if it's 2 colors) I'm not a huge fan of the combination, so I'm hoping for some real good symbololology to warrent this. :evil: Really though, whatever floats her boat, it's her masterpiece!

Maybe I'm just weird, but I like the green and purple together; it looks kind of whimsical. Whereas OOTP was kind of "wooo, mystery," this one's kind of "yay, wild!" Haha, I don't know...it makes me happy, anyway. ;o)

The Bloomsbury adult cover is either a huge clue or a red herring the size of Moby Dick.

I wonder what Jo thinks of this thread! Boy give us a treat and we go crazy!

I just happened by chance to watch the Today show this morning and caught a glimpse of the new cover (American version). Of course I found the others online this evening, so that was fun too. Regarding the American version, my first thought was that it was a pensieve. Still feel that way. The liquid inside is supposed to be silvery, but when they peer into, they don't see silver, they see a scene. So, my guess is that whatever they are looking at has something to do with green light...which leads me to think of the night Harry got his scar.

Another thing about pensieves...we don't know what the silver stuff is. Perhaps the liquid itself is a potion? Maybe Harry tries to create his own pensieve? Hmmm, July is still such a long way off!

I'm glad we finally got some kind of update. It feels like ages since we have had any new HP book news. I thought that the American cover art was great as usual. I am kind of dissappointed that we have so little information from it though. I enjoyed the first 4 books having so much on them.
The British children's cover told no more than the American cover. I did find it odd that Dumbledore and Harry were on both though. Hopefully, this means Dumbledore isn't trying to avoid Harry as much.
The British adult version was interesting. I'm guessing that Harry will receive his OWL in potions. No shock here though. I never doubted that he wouldn't. He has to have interaction with Snape. The HP world would be a more boring place without it!! I have heard quite a few people who think that Snape is the HBP as well. I'm not so sure about this idea though. I can't really see it. I'm going with the idea that the cover is refering to Harry's OWLs.
Now if only July 16th would get here so we could stop speculating and start reading!!!!!

What? 16 pages already? The Today Show interview just came out this morning....reading, reading....what, 17 pages? Hey, it's midnight, for cryin' out loud!
...must keep reading... pant... pant... when will it end...?
...ah, ha! Page 14, the end is in sight... keep going... huff... puff... must not stop....

The Bloomsbury adult cover is either a huge clue or a red herring the size of Moby Dick.I've been trying to blind myself of clues and instead come up with nonsense theories. The first impression I got when I saw it was "Oh, poor Harry; he's going to have to study so many potions if he want to be an Auror." If you look at all the other adult covers, they don't reveal too much either. (book 1 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574472.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 2 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574480.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 3 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574499.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 4 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574502.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 5 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747570736.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg))

If you look at all the other adult covers, they don't reveal too much either. (book 1, book 2, book 3, book 4, book 5)
But in a way they really do. They all have to do with the main plot of the book.
Book 1 - the sorcer's stone. This is the reason why Harry had his first encounter with Voldemort since knowing what and who he really is.
Book 2 - the 2 serpents. The chamber of secrets had a lot to do with snakes so this fits.
Book 3 - Sirius ecapes from Azkaban.
Book 4 - the goblet of fire is what took Harry to Voldemort.
Book 5 - the ootp is what saves Harry in the end.
So, I think that the adult cover might actually tell us a little something more. Perhaps Snape is going to be more important in this book than we think?? How is a potions book going to be important to the main plot of HBP?

i looked at the UK adult cover version...
what's with the advanced potion-making book??
do you think it's got to do with using potions to kill voldemort or it's got to do with snape and perhaps lily potter????????????

and also the UK children cover version...

what's it got to do with dumbledore????is he going to fight voldemort side by side with harry???

the US cover version,is it that dumbledore and harry are looking at a pensieve or the thing is a portkey???????????????????

If you look at all the other adult covers, they don't reveal too much either. (book 1 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574472.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 2 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574480.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 3 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574499.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 4 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747574502.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg), book 5 (http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0747570736.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg))

That's what really makes me think, though, is that the other five books are so obvious and plainly related to the title. Like for Philosopher's Stone the cover is a big stone, for Goblet of Fire it's a goblet, etc. If you follow that logic, when I see an Advanced Potions Book and the words "Half-Blood Prince," I immediately jump to conclusions and think that Snape, being the person associated with Potions, must be the HBP. But then (of course!) the mind games set in. It couldn't possibly be that simple - this is HP we're talking about! Or is the complexity of the situation caused by the fact that it really is that simple, but our minds just don't want to believe it? Trouble is, unfortunately, there's absolutely nothing to support any theory about this, or not yet, anyway. Shoot, this'll drive me nuts until July!

Shoot, this'll drive me nuts until July!
I think it is going to drive everyone nuts until the book comes out! So do not fret, you will not be alone!!! :rotfl:

Lol, yep, at least I'm happy in the knowledge that there are zillions of other people just like me thinking about this very same thing at this very same moment. Shame we can't reach any conclusions, though, even with thousands of minds working on it. ;)

But in a way they really do. They all have to do with the main plot of the book.
Book 1 - the sorcer's stone. This is the reason why Harry had his first encounter with Voldemort since knowing what and who he really is.
Book 2 - the 2 serpents. The chamber of secrets had a lot to do with snakes so this fits.
Book 3 - Sirius ecapes from Azkaban.
Book 4 - the goblet of fire is what took Harry to Voldemort.
Book 5 - the ootp is what saves Harry in the end.
So, I think that the adult cover might actually tell us a little something more. Perhaps Snape is going to be more important in this book than we think?? How is this book going to be important to the main plot of HBP?Yeah they do have to do with the title, but they don't give away big things.
Book 1 - We know how the stone looks, erm...ok.... We don't know anything about how Harry defeats Voldemort or about Quirell.
Book 2 - We know how the door to the Chamber looks, but we don't know who the heir of Slytherin is, how he came back, what the monster is, or how Harry would defeat him
Book 3 - We know how Azkaban looks, but we don't know that Sirius is the prisoner, that he's not guilty, that Harry and Hermione will have to use a Time-Turner.
Book 4 - Once again, we know how the Goblet looks, but we don't know what it does, who the champions are, that the whole Harry-as-a-champion is a trap.
Book 5 - We know how a Phoenix looks, but it doesn't give clues as to what the Order of the Phoenix is.

Overall, those covers seems to be as vague/clear as the titles of the books themselves. This is why I don't think something so big as Snape being the Half-Blood prince would be revealed. Maybe Harry will have to study potions - study a lot of potions, which will help him somehow. I hope Snape doesn't turn out being the Half-Blood prince. *Sigh* I want a surprise :(

@ tarachristwen,


I agree. While the chilldren´s edition always shows us something from the storyline, the new adult version of Bloomsbury always shows us an item (sorry dear Phoenix).

It´s always the subject of the plot of *** story!

Book 1: Philosopher´s (Sorcerer´s Stone) Stone.

Book 2: entrance to the Chamber of Secrets (the snakes)

Book 3: the prison (bastille/stronghold) of Azkaban itself

Book 4: the Goblet of Fire

Book 5: the Phoenix (order)

Every item is connected to several persons.

PS/SS to Nicolas Flamel

CoS to Salazar Slytherin

PoA to SIRIUS BLACK!!!

GoF to Fake Moody (Barty Crouch Jr.)

OoP to members of the Order and Dumbledore, of course

HBP Seveus Snape????

Greetings

Yeah they do have to do with the title, but they don't give away big things.
I wasn't saying that they go into great detail about what is going to happen. They just have something to do with the main point of the book. I was just thinking that perhaps this potions book will have something to do with the main plot.

Hello Ladyofthepensieve!!!
I didn't actually mean that it doesn't give away anything big. I reworded it to what I did mean though!!

Oh dear I forgot to mention book 6 (sorry)


Book 6: the Advanced Potion-Making book by Libatius Borage

Hi LexiBack,

the items on the adult covers always gives away big things!
It´s always about the plot!

My guess with the name is Libatius, like libation, which is another word for a potion/liquid. Thats what came to my mind anyway, and it really doesnt look like a T to me.

As for the meaning, all previous adult UK covers have related DIRECTLY to a word in the title. I mean, heck, for the third book its actually a picture of Azkaban. So I would surmise that that potions book directly relates to the Half-blood prince. I admit, my first thought was that it meant Harry would take potions, but now I am not sure. Something about the potions book=half-blood prince. Maybe that means its snape, maybe a potion in that book brings the half-blood prince to life or something who knows. Harry may be the one to use the potion, so maybe he is studying the subject some how, but I dont think we can draw any solid conclusions. Fun to speculate though :)

As for the other 2 covers, all I can say is, I predict this is it for Dumbledore. I predict he plays an enourmous role in Harry's life this year, training him to face Voldemort, teaching him about important past events, imparting all the knowledge he has that Harry needs. Once that happens, he has to be out of the way so Harry can take on Voldemort alone, so he will unfortunately die. Or at least be seriously incapacitated. I hope for the latter.

I like the covers! But I think the UK Adult cover is a red herring. The other (adult) covers all give little insight to the actual things going on in the books. Example, #3:Azkaban Prison, only mentioned, not a Big part of the story.

Libatius is suggested from libation and I think Borage is derived from Borgia as in the famous family known for poisoning people.

So the name would be one of JKR's names that are really a joke since it could be mean "drink poisoner" or "poison drink" a funny name for a potions expert.

I wasn't saying that they give away big things. They just have something to do with the main point of the book. I was just thinking that perhaps this potions book will have something to do with the main plot.I am in a state of denial. JKR can't do this to us! The illustrators can't do this to us! :upset: It can't be so obvious - can it? I'd rather go with Snape having a half-brother who also teaches potions and is a half-blood, who also wanted to marry Lily....

In the American covers of the books, it seems that most of the time, they contain the final scenes.

Book 1 - Ok, well not in this one.
Book 2 - Harry, Ginny, and Ron escaping the Chamber with Fawkes.
Book 3 - Harry and Hermione freeing Sirius with Buckbeak.
Book 4 - It looks to me as though Harry were in the Maze (due to all the green walls/shrubs around him and the crowd looking down).
Book 5 - Harry in the Department of Mysteries.
Book 6 - Maybe something towards the end of the book?

Edit:Libatus is suggested from libation and I think Borage is derived from Borgia as in the famous family known for poisoning people.

So the name would be one of JKR names that are really a joke since it could be mean "poison drink" a funny name for a potions expert. Ah, I was wondering what the names could mean. Maybe he is the Half-Blood Prince.

...I pop out for just a second to look at the book covers again....gee!
As for all the other theories, I either A. agree, B. disagree, C. both agree and disagree (yes, I've been reading long enough to change my mind -- several times!)
Great thread!

U.S. cover: It's a pensieve. No argument there. Harry and Dumbledore are checking something in the past.
Green is a crutial clue! It's either showing the time Harry's parents were killed (the Avada Kedavra curse causes "a flash of blinding green light" GOF, pg 216) or it may even be Lord Voltemort's own pensieve. After all, it's not the first time that Lucius Malfoy has had suspicious items at his home.

British children's cover: Harry and Dumbledore again, either protecting themselves with a fiery circle, or being menaced by fire (a dragon? a spell?) Here we go with another slam-bang fight scene. And it bodes ill for the Headmaster -- can you say Ol' Ben Kenobi?

British adult cover: Advanced Potion Making by Libatius Borage. Now this has got people speculating about Snape, but I think not. This isn't S. Snape and the Half-Blood Prince.
What if this book belonged to Tom Riddle, and was part of the spell that turned him into Lord Voltemort? The Clue! The key to eliminating him!
Yeah, maybe this is how the potions master got involved with him all those years ago, but that's not good enough to put this tattered volume on the cover of HBP.

Thanks, Mary Grandpre, and I look forward to seeing the artwork within the chapters!

@Wraith of Truth,

even we get clues by the adult cover art we simply doesn´t know the context to the storyline and plot.

On the other hand. We discuss intensively the books. Wouldn´t it be strange if we were unable to put two and two together? After such a long time of HP duscussions?

Greetings

I am in a state of denial. JKR can't do this to us! The illustrators can't do this to us! It can't be so obvious - can it? I'd rather go with Snape having a half-brother who also teaches potions and is a half-blood, who also wanted to marry Lily....
I don't really believe that Snape is the half blood prince either. I just don't see that happening. I think that the potions book might play another role though. I have no idea what yet... haven't had enough time to ponder about it.

could that be a Pensieve?

I guess so. That's what I thought when I first saw the Amrican cover of HBP... And Dumbledore is there... what does it mean?

Well,

the book does not necessarily mean that Severus Snape is the Half-Blood Prince. Not at all.

But Potions seems to be VERY important. In book 2 (CoS) we learned that Slytherin built the chamber while Voldemort affirmed he is Slytherin´s heir.

That could mean there is a connection between the HBP and Snape maybe (well, Potions). It doesn´t say Snape is the prince.

Greetings

I think it is going to drive everyone nuts until the book comes out! So do not fret, you will not be alone!!! :rotfl:

i will go nuts till July!!!

can't wait!!!! :eyebrows:

I really doubt that the pensieve belonged to Voldemort since, unlike the diary which was a copy of Riddle's memories, the memories in a pensieve ARE the memories. I don't think he'd leave them lying around for others to peek into.

I also don't think it shows the night at Godric's Hollow only because it would be a very limited memory. Harry was in his crib and would only have seen the final confrontation between Lily and Voldemort. I suppose they might have wanted to see in greater detail what happened when Voldemort became Vapormort, but I just can't see Dumbledore subjecting Harry to that horror. And frankly I don't think it would reveal all that much to them since it happened pretty fast. Voldemort threw the AK and Lily died and Voldemort vaporized. It would still just be a lot of noise and a flash of green light. Harry already knows that and probably has it seared in him memory from his Dementor flashbacks.

This is a fancier pensieve on a pedestal than Dumbledore's which was just a basin, so I think it is someone else's pensieve--most like the HBP who I do think is Gryffindor.

I know that adult book cover with the Advanced Potion Making book could just belong to a student. The book could belong to Ron Weasley because it looks old or second/third/fourth hand and the Weasley are well known for getting hand me down equipment. Then again it could just be the book that Snape uses all the time for Advanced Potion Making in there sixth year.

Who knows but I can not wait to find out what all those covers mean.

British adult cover: Advanced Potion Making by Libatius Borage. Now this has got people speculating about Snape, but I think not. This isn't S. Snape and the Half-Blood Prince.
What if this book belonged to Tom Riddle, and was part of the spell that turned him into Lord Voltemort? The Clue! The key to eliminating him!
Yeah, maybe this is how the potions master got involved with him all those years ago, but that's not good enough to put this tattered volume on the cover of HBP.Good theory. even we get clues by the adult cover art we simply doesn´t know the context to the storyline and plot.

On the other hand. We discuss intensively the books. Wouldn´t it be strange if we were unable to put two and two together? After such a long time of HP duscussions?Well, that's true. I Just want to hope that JKR is three steps ahead of us and will always surprise us.

I really don't see Snape as a Half blood (I just realised I've been including the hyphen in nouns ><). He was in Slytherin (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/faq_view.cfm?id=62), even though this doesn't mean he was a Pure blood, but it's a hint. I just can't see Snape as a prince or as a half blood. Although this might explain more why he dislikes Sirius and James so much. I believe they were pure bloods?

i'm still thinking that the Half-Blood Prince is NOT going to be an actual halfblood member of royalty. it's just a little too literal for me, and i know how fond of twists + turns jk is!

edit: and yes. both james + sirius were purebloods.

well my guess is harry is looking at the pensieve about the night his parents died. Perhaps Dumbledore is the half-blood prince. I found the British adult cover interesting, so harry must have an "O" on his potions owl or Snape forced into teaching him potions....Hmmm, Dumbledore is more of a magician than potion maker, I don't think he is giving Harry lessons.

Could the pensieve be someone else's. Someone from the past.

Hmmm. Well, maybe they're going back into Dumbledore's memory to return to the memory of Prof. Tellawany (sp? I haven't reread it in awhile..) giving her first oracle.
Normally the cover has something to do with the climax of the book, so maybe they need to go to the past to find something.
I wonder if Dumbledore will be the character who dies in this book, because it seems fitting that he'd appear in both covers (I truly hope not, I always thought he'd live until book 7.)
At least the good news is that Harry passed his Potions OWL. (The adult book covers were never the ones to be climactic.)
Oh, but speaking of, maybe the adult cover has to do with the author. Or maybe it's one of those: it LOOKS like a book, but it's something else. (I know it sounds silly, but you never know what to expect.)
I dunno, I know Snape will be important in this book. But I don't think he's like, worthy of having the 6th book named after him. Or maybe..he is. My gut instinct tells me that Snape being the HBP is TOO obvious. I have a feeling it may be a new character or an unsuggested character.
If Snape WAS the HBP, then it would tie in well to it being the title of Book 2.. but how?

The book on the adult cover looks too old for being Harry´s "new" NEWT potions book.

I think the interpretaion is goodhearted, but too simple.

The book gives us a clue for the plot of the story. Even Harry will have potions with Snape it doesn´t mean automatically the potions owl for Harry is the most important thing in the book.

Greetings

i think the book is ron's

To be honest, I'm trying not to read too many comments. I had OotP spoiled for me, so I'm attempting to steer well clear of any speculation, theories, or alleged "excerpts". Apologies if anyone feels grievously injured by my attempts at isolation.

I will, however, contribute this: Harry looks very orange on the Bloomsbury children's edition. It's been a strange progression of Harrys on the Bloomsbury covers, so orange Harry is the latest incarnation, I suppose. ;) Overall, I really like the effect of the Bloomsbury children's edition and think it's a great improvment on the phoenix for OotP. Dumbledore looks rather...un-Dumbledore-ish, but it's reassuring to see he's alive. Woo.

I like the Scholastic cover too -- it's very atmospheric and is a beautifully balanced picture.

The Bloomsbury adult picture is certainly interesting, but perhaps unsurprising. Two years without Snape is virtually unthinkable!

Anybody else think this resembles Fawkes?;

Or maybe a Lion..

Well I'll give my two cents:

I think that time-travel is going to reappear in this book. Jo's given some obvious hints to it. Perhaps there is a potion that will let Harry go back or forward or where ever he might go. That would explain the basin if it isn't a pensieve, and why Dumbledore and Harry have those looks on their faces. I'm probably reading too much into it, but it's plausible.

Re: Libatius Borage - nice idea that Borage could be related to Borgia, but sadly I think it probably isn't. Borage is a well-known herb in the UK (it has blue flowers, edible leaves and is in no way poisonous)
It is a medicinal herb used for all sorts of things (thus a good name for a potions author) and has been said either to bring courage and happiness, or to cause absolute forgetfulness...
You can find more out about it here: http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/borage66.html

~ Yorkshirelass ~

I know that adult book cover with the Advanced Potion Making book could just belong to a student. The book could belong to Ron Weasley because it looks old or second/third/fourth hand and the Weasley are well known for getting hand me down equipment.

Maybe Harry isn't taking NEWT level Potions, but Ron is, and his book helps make the potion which Harry and Dumbledore are staring at in the US Cover.

I just have to say the covers are amazing - the British and the American!!! Sorry that was a random post, just had to say how much I loveeee them and wish it was July 16th!!!! :)

US cover
does anybody notice that dumbledore blowing the green smoke?
cos i see the direction comes from his mouth
or maybe he's blowing the smoke that covered the column?
the question is, what's is inside that top of column?
that's why we have to wait until july

for the UK adult
i think that book belong to voldemort
maybe that book is the one that teach him how to bring him alive again
at the end of GoF, peter was making potion try to help voldemort to get into his body again
that's just a theory

I'm not sure you can read much into the adult book covers. I have a UK version that is different from those mentioned for PS. It is just a black and white picture of a steam train...nothing significant at all.

To be honest, I'm trying not to read too many comments. I had OotP spoiled for me, so I'm attempting to steer well clear of any speculation, theories, or alleged "excerpts".

How was OOTP spoiled for you Rotsie?? Am intrigued! Who got it right??!

My impressions:
I believe that what Dumbledore and Harry are looking at on the American cover is a potions. Whatever we're looking at is also green (Slytherin). So I think Snape is going to be very involved in this story, and we'll find out why D keeps him as the Potions teacher. We also see on the adult cover of the UK version a book called "Advanced Potion Making." Another reference to Snape.
Either Dumbledore and Harry will be spending more time together, or they'll involved in the big event together, since they are both depicted on two of the three covers.

Just my opinion :)

I don´t know even why i quoted this, but it was the post I was reading when I got my theory :
1) No one wanted to be DADA last year, so i guess no one will want to be DADA this year.
2) Dumbledore will assign Snape as DADA.
3) DD will teach potions. that is why we have him in 2 covers and the book in the other.
4) That is not a pensieve, it is a cauldron, used to make potions.
5) Harry and DD will work together to solve this book puzzle.

What do you think?

No, it's a penseive,

End of discussion...

I don´t know even why i quoted this, but it was the post I was reading when I got my theory :
1) No one wanted to be DADA last year, so i guess no one will want to be DADA this year.
2) Dumbledore will assign Snape as DADA.
3) DD will teach potions. that is why we have him in 2 covers and the book in the other.
4) That is not a pensieve, it is a cauldron, used to make potions.
5) Harry and DD will work together to solve this book puzzle.

What do you think?
I don't think that is a cauldron because the way JK describes a cauldron in the book. And that looks more like some ancient stone pillar used for something other than potion making. I wouldn't think Dumbledore would be teaching potions and he isn't going to let Snape teach DADA if he hasn't in 5 books. I do think Dumbledore and Harry will be spending a great deal of time together because he'll want to start preparing Harry for the final battle and he'll probably will be the one to finish teaching him Occulemency.

I don´t know even why i quoted this, but it was the post I was reading when I got my theory :
1) No one wanted to be DADA last year, so i guess no one will want to be DADA this year.
2) Dumbledore will assign Snape as DADA.
3) DD will teach potions. that is why we have him in 2 covers and the book in the other.
4) That is not a pensieve, it is a cauldron, used to make potions.
5) Harry and DD will work together to solve this book puzzle.

What do you think?

1) Now that Voldemort is in the open I think it is inevitable that the appointment for this years DAtDA post is an Auror or Dumbledore. Personally I think it will be Moody - judging by his performance in the battle at the DoM, he may have to retire from fighting.

2) No. I don't think Snape will ever be the DAtDA teacher. Dumbledore has refrained from appointing Snape for 16 years, nothing is going to change that. Who else could replace Snape as Potions Master anyway?

3) Harry is also with him. I think both covers indicate closeness between the two; the UK Children's cover looks like Dumbledore is protecting Harry from something / someone.

4) It is not an ordinary Pensieve, put it that way. It could belong to Voldemort or Godric Gryffindor.

5) Book Puzzle?

yeah, having a beter look now, I am quite sure it is a pensieve too...

No, it's a penseive,

End of discussion...
It's Not a penseive. I don't see Dumbledore picking that big thing up and sitting it on his desk or being able to fit it into a small cupboard.

when I said " Book puzzle" i meant the main plot of the book. Like in the first they had to discover what was the PS/SS.
In 2nd book what was the Chamber of secrets etc.

I think I will throw in my own thoughts now, to add a new point of view.

1. The US and UK children covers are showing closely related events

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it before, but it seems important to me how they are related. They are clearly showing different events, the US having DD and Harry watching the basin, with seemingly no outside disturbance, while the UK version has them in the center, looking outside at someone/something. I highly doubt that there would be two equally important scenes involving DD and Harry in the book, it should have something to do with the climax of the story. My guess is that the basin-watchig happens first, whith unexpected results, leading to the flame-action scene.

2. The basin is not the pensieve

I have two arguments to support this:
First, the covers (I'm discussing the US ones here) tend to depict new caracters/animals/locations, which are also important for the main storyline. We have seen the pensieve already, and while it was of course important, providing background info, I don't really see how it could become active action-wise.

The second is my favourite theory (not mine, read here in the forums I think) as to who the HBP might be. I think it is imortant that DD doesn't use his wand (which he used to activate the pensieve before), he is likely to perform some wandless magic, with incantation and/or potions, on the contents of the basin. And the content is.... (what I can't get out of my head since I saw the cover, and makes me laugh all the time) TREVOR, the toad!
.... ok, it' out now, you can laugh! XD
I know it might not be the most popular theory, but I can't really see any current caracters revealed as HBP, and unless it is a new one, I choose Trevor. The colors of the cover go well with toads, and the scene could show how the magical transformation goes, from toads to princes ( kissing involved is a muggle distortion of it :) ). Just imagine Trevor tremling and blinking up from the depths of the basin....


Don't take all this very seriously, as all of us are just guessing here, but guessing on the fun side is sooo enjoyable!

I think I will throw in my own thoughts now, to add a new point of view.

1. The US and UK children covers are showing closely related events

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it before, but it seems important to me how they are related. They are clearly showing different events, the US having DD and Harry watching the basin, with seemingly no outside disturbance, while the UK version has them in the center, looking outside at someone/something. I highly doubt that there would be two equally important scenes involving DD and Harry in the book, it should have something to do with the climax of the story. My guess is that the basin-watchig happens first, whith unexpected results, leading to the flame-action scene.

2. The basin is not the pensieve

I have two arguments to support this:
First, the covers (I'm discussing the US ones here) tend to depict new caracters/animals/locations, which are also important for the main storyline. We have seen the pensieve already, and while it was of course important, providing background info, I don't really see how it could become active action-wise.

The second is my favourite theory (not mine, read here in the forums I think) as to who the HBP might be. I think it is imortant that DD doesn't use his wand (which he used to activate the pensieve before), he is likely to perform some wandless magic, with incantation and/or potions, on the contents of the basin. And the content is.... (what I can't get out of my head since I saw the cover, and makes me laugh all the time) TREVOR, the toad!
.... ok, it' out now, you can laugh! XD
I know it might not be the most popular theory, but I can't really see any current caracters revealed as HBP, and unless it is a new one, I choose Trevor. The colors of the cover go well with toads, and the scene could show how the magical transformation goes, from toads to princes ( kissing involved is a muggle distortion of it :) ). Just imagine Trevor tremling and blinking up from the depths of the basin....


Don't take all this very seriously, as all of us are just guessing here, but guessing on the fun side is sooo enjoyable!
Now Trevor being the HBP would be some off the wall stuff but it would be funny if he was. Could you imagine the look on nevilles face? :rotfl: Nice theory though. I guess anything is possible but I highly doubt that is :cool:

I agree that it is unlikely, but it is waaaay too funny to dismiss!

I bet Neville is lurking on the back cover, all worried for Trevor. :))

Snape and Dumbledore might be very important in this book.
Could one of them be the half blood prince? I think Dmbledore could. I think Snape is pure blood (remember his insult to Lily in "snape worst memory")

The other picture shows a very old book. What do you think it will do? The adult edition always have an image of the main thing inside

Snape and Dumbledore might be very important in this book.
Could one of them be the half blood prince? I think Dmbledore could. I think Snape is pure blood (remember his insult to Lily in "snape worst memory")
Yeah, I believe it'll be DD or new MoM because it wouldn't hurt to have a HBP as new MoM to bring everyone in the wizarding world together. But I'd rather see DD as HBP :rotfl:

It's Not a penseive. I don't see Dumbledore picking that big thing up and sitting it on his desk or being able to fit it into a small cupboard.

What the...

The penseive is resting upon the pillar!

The pillar itself, isn't the pensieve!

The pensieve is the bowl, that has runes along the edge of the rim, and it's resting upon the top of a pillar/collumn...

http://tinypic.com/220wt0

What the...

The penseive is resting upon the pillar!

The pillar itself, isn't the pensieve!

The pensieve is the bowl, that has runes along the edge of the rim, and it's resting upon the top of a pillar/collumn...

http://tinypic.com/220wt0
mmm... Now that I look at it better it could be resting upon the pillar/collum but then again it still could just one big pillar/collum

1. The US and UK children covers are showing closely related events

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it before, but it seems important to me how they are related. They are clearly showing different events, the US having DD and Harry watching the basin, with seemingly no outside disturbance, while the UK version has them in the center, looking outside at someone/something. I highly doubt that there would be two equally important scenes involving DD and Harry in the book, it should have something to do with the climax of the story. My guess is that the basin-watchig happens first, whith unexpected results, leading to the flame-action scene.

Word. I like this idea.

Or what if what they're watching is actually the fire scene? Though that would get into Divination of some sort, perhaps, and Dumbledore doesn't seem too keen on Divination.

I don´t know what it is, but it doesn´t look like a pensieve (at least not the way I imagine them)
If it is a pensieve harry is the only one who has a wand so maybe thay are looking to one of harry´s memories and analizing it.
The green reminds me of a potion. When they add a new ingredient it changes its colour and a lot of smoke comes out. It looks like green smoke. (the pensieve do not produce smoke, right?)

Do you think they'll ever show us the back of the book? I mean look how much speculation went around just from the front. the back will be like a whole other thing. I WANT TO SEE IT! ^-^

I don´t know what it is, but it doesn´t look like a pensieve (at least not the way I imagine them)
If it is a pensieve harry is the only one who has a wand so maybe thay are looking to one of harry´s memories and analizing it.
The green reminds me of a potion. When they add a new ingredient it changes its colour and a lot of smoke comes out. It looks like green smoke. (the pensieve do not produce smoke, right?)
Finally someone agree's it's not a pensieve. Thank You :rotfl: . Nice theory too

I think we all agree that the Advanced Potion Making book wouldn't be on an HBP cover if it wasn't important in some way. So I think it contains information about a potion that will become very useful somehow in HBP.

I have no idea what that potion could be, so I'll speculate on possibilities for where the book came from:

--Harry passes his OWL, takes NEWT level potions w/Snape, and this is his textbook (or a book that Snape specifically gives him)
--Harry doesn't pass his OWL, or Snape won't let him in his class for some reason, so McGonagall or Dumbledore teach him Potions, and give him this book
--A combination of the above: Harry takes Potions again w/Snape but is given the book from DD or McG or someone else
--Hermione, our favorite little bookworm, is researching and finds an important piece of information in this book (like w/the basilisk in CoS)
--Harry needs to look up something and he finds this book in the library
--The book belonged to the HBP
--The book belonged to one of Harry's parents
--Maybe this is Snape's book and they steal the book from Snape to look up something important
--Harry finds/gets the book somewhere else :p the possibilites are endless!

I just think it's letting us know that Harry made it into Snape's potions class. But I guess all them possibilities are possible

Am I the only one who finds it really strange that, up until now, the first 5 books of both the UK children's and adult covers have had the same things on them: the Hogwarts Express, the Weasley's car, Buckbeak, the dragon, and Fawkes?
And now, with the sixth one, the UK children's one is of Harry and Dumbledore, and the adult one is of a book. How could these things be related, and why did the illustrator suddenly decide to change the formula they've been using up until now?

I don´t know what it is, but it doesn´t look like a pensieve (at least not the way I imagine them)
If it is a pensieve harry is the only one who has a wand so maybe thay are looking to one of harry´s memories and analizing it.
The green reminds me of a potion. When they add a new ingredient it changes its colour and a lot of smoke comes out. It looks like green smoke. (the pensieve do not produce smoke, right?)

Excerpt from page 583 of the american GOF:

He looked around for the source of the light and saw a sliver of silver-white shining brightly from within a black cabinet behind him, whose door had not been closed properly.

<small snip>

A shallow stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge : runes and symbols that Harry did not recognize. The silvery light was coming from the basin's contents, which were like nothing he had ever seen before. He could not tell whether the substance was liqiud or gas. It was a bright, whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly; the surface the surface of it became ruffled like water beneath wind, and then, like clouds, seperated and swirled smoothly. It looked like light made liquid -- or like wind made solid -- Harry couldn't make up his mind.

http://tinypic.com/220wt0

Given that description, that bowl looks like a penseive to me!

I think we can safetly assume it's a penseive...

I don´t think little things, like the pensieve having cracks or standing on a pillar, matter. That´s artistic freedom. I had no doubt that this is a pensieve from the moment I saw the cover. I don´t think the content of the pensieve is necessarily green, it´s just the light at the moment in this room or whatever - artistic freedom.

Also the potions book being old must not be taken too literally. I have the feeling that a very old, very .... obscure potion will be important for the plot, but that´s just a feeling. I don´t think we can exspect that an shabby looking book itself will be a important item, just because there is one on the cover.

When you look at the adult cover of PoA, that was quite misleading, wasn´t it? You would have thought that Harry will visit Azkaban, at least see it. The cover had nothing to do with the book.

edit:
Am I the only one who finds it really strange that, up until now, the first 5 books of both the UK children's and adult covers have had the same things on them: the Hogwarts Express, the Weasley's car, Buckbeak, the dragon, and Fawkes?
And now, with the sixth one, the UK children's one is of Harry and Dumbledore, and the adult one is of a book. How could these things be related, and why did the illustrator suddenly decide to change the formula they've been using up until now?There is also an adult version of PS with a Philosopher`s stone on it. So it´s not that knew.

If it is a pensieve then it makes me wonder who or what memory their looking down upon and what would it have to do with the plot

It could be that Dumbledore is making a potion to release that power Harry has inside of him. The power he mentioned in OoTP. And the U.K. Adult version is showing the book they use, the U.S. version is showing is showing them making the potion to release the power, and the U.K. childrens version is showing that power being released and harry having to harness the power.:) I don't think I've heard anyone say that theory yet

In relation to the UK HBP children's cover, i think the scene it portrays could be close to the end of the book, as Harry an' Dumbledore look to be in the middle of a fight.

EDIT:HBP Adult cover: Did'nt JKR say that when she was writing the book, she wanted a name for a new potion beginning with X? Maybe this is a helpful potion to do with protection for Harry in some way?

If it is a pensieve then it makes me wonder who or what memory their looking down upon and what would it have to do with the plot


Yea, me too.

JKR said that HBP involves something that Harry discovered in the chamber at some point.

I'm thinkin, that's what the pensive is. It's either Salazar Slytherin's or Thomas Riddle's.

That would also explain the green tint of the cover. Dumble's and Harry go back down to the chamber and discover the pensiev upon some pillar, and look at it. That would explain Dumbledore's look of hesitance or apprehension, and Harry's look of curiosity and anxiousness.

Do you think they'll ever show us the back of the book? I mean look how much speculation went around just from the front. the back will be like a whole other thing. I WANT TO SEE IT! ^-^

I really wish they gave us the back too, looking at the covers of the previous books (US versions) it seems the backs give the same, if not more, amount of info about the books (this is of course noticed in hindsight).

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I suppose dozens of people wrote this before me, but anyway: on the cover of the American Chamber of Secrets we saw the entrance of the Chamber itself; on the cover of the Prisoner of Azkaban we saw the shadow of the prisoner himself; on the cover of Goblet of Fire we saw the Goblet itself and on the cover of the Order of the Phoenix we saw few members of the Order. All of the American covers featured Harry too.

Book 6 is entitled Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Harry's on the cover and Dumbledore. Could DD be the HPB?

I could be wrong, but I think she has already said somewhere that he wasn't.

JKR said that HBP involves something that Harry discovered in the chamber at some point.

I'm thinkin, that's what the pensive is. It's either Salazar Slytherin's or Thomas Riddle's.

That would also explain the green tint of the cover. Dumble's and Harry go back down to the chamber and discover the pensiev upon some pillar, and look at it. That would explain Dumbledore's look of hesitance or apprehension, and Harry's look of curiosity and anxiousness.

My thoughts exactly. The color of the "thought wisps" might be different to each wizard. To DD they are silver. Snape's wisps were black (I think). So maybe Slytherin's or LV's is green. Upon looking into the pensieve Harry would naturally be curious, while DD would be apprehensive about what they were witnessing.

I'm thinkin, that's what the pensive is. It's either Salazar Slytherin's or Thomas Riddle's.

I can't remember if it's just the movie, but doesn't the Basilisk come out of the mouth of the Salazar statue? I think that was just the movies though. When you said this I thought it might be in the place where the Basilisk slept, like the Basilisk was the guardian of Salazar/Tom's pensieve?

I can't remember if it's just the movie, but doesn't the Basilisk come out of the mouth of the Salazar statue? I think that was just the movies though. When you said this I thought it might be in the place where the Basilisk slept, like the Basilisk was the guardian of Salazar/Tom's pensieve?

Your right. The basalisk came out of the mouth of a really tall statue of salazar slyterin.

Ginny was at the feet of the statue.

I read a fan fiction that kind of gave me the inspiration for that idea. Inside the chamber was a kind of room that Tom Riddle had stuff in. Letters, dark books, parsletongue stuff.

Maybe there is a room within the chamber that has the pensive in it, or maybe it just has some of salazar/Tom's stuff in it...

Hey everyone
I am bothered by the "potion book" cover, personally. The book is tattered and old, yet we know fully Harry has the means to get new schoolbooks. And why the *** would the artist decide to put Ron's book? (except for just the fun to draw an old book :p )

So... Is Harry once more getting access to some of the dangerous potions "recipes" (cf. COS, since it seems that the HBP has much in common with it), that'd be in that old tatterd book, and that'll be an important part of the plot?

Or am I overanalyzing? :angel:

Your takes on that? Fire on! :tu:

The book on the adult cover looks too old for being Harry´s "new" NEWT potions book.

I think the interpretaion is goodhearted, but too simple.

The book gives us a clue for the plot of the story. Even Harry will have potions with Snape it doesn´t mean automatically the potions owl for Harry is the most important thing in the book.
I thought it was a library book, probably from the restricted section. Many of the titles there had 'peeling letters'. Besides, the adult edition covers generally do not relate to the most important things in the book. PS - the train - not as important as the Stone itself. CoS - the car - not very important. PoA - the hippogriff was quite important but not as important as Sirius. GoF - the Goblet of Fire - not too important. OotP - a bronxe pheonix statue - didn't exist in the book. Etc. etc.

EDIT:HBP Adult cover: Did'nt JKR say that when she was writing the book, she wanted a name for a new potion beginning with X?

She did say (at the EBF) that she was trying to think of a new potion name, and after sitting there for ten minutes she just typed 'X' and moved on with the story because she couldn't think of one at the time.

That doesn't mean the potion name starts with 'X.' I just assumed she meant that she typed the X as a placeholder so she could come back to it and replace it with the real potion name later. That doesn't mean the potion name can't start with X, though :)

No idea!

She did say (at the EBF) that she was trying to think of a new potion name, and after sitting there for ten minutes she just typed 'X' and moved on with the story because she couldn't think of one at the time.

That doesn't mean the potion name starts with 'X.' I just assumed she meant that she typed the X as a placeholder so she could come back to it and replace it with the real potion name later. That doesn't mean the potion name can't start with X, though :)

Like when you do dumb maths questions and it says something like 'Mr X bought 5 carrots at 12p each and then he bought 6 cabbages that were £2.38 in total. How much did Mr X's cabbages cost each?'

At least, that's how I thought she was using the letter X

She did say (at the EBF) that she was trying to think of a new potion name, and after sitting there for ten minutes she just typed 'X' and moved on with the story because she couldn't think of one at the time.

That doesn't mean the potion name starts with 'X.' I just assumed she meant that she typed the X as a placeholder so she could come back to it and replace it with the real potion name later. That doesn't mean the potion name can't start with X, though :)

It's fun to know that outside of the Love Thread, us Chocolaters and Harmonians can get along...

It's a nice feeling...

okay, enough with me being off-topic, Discussion on! :tu: :D :tu:

I've just read the British tabloid, the daily mirror, and it had a small piece about the H-BP cover. It really amused me. It said Harry and Dumbledore where brandishing fire sticks. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. The idiots. They think they are holding sticks that are on fire. Didn't they know Wizards use wands?

I could be wrong, but I think she has already said somewhere that he wasn't.

The only two she has ruled out is Harry and Voldemort (which includes Tom Riddle).

My inclination when I first saw the cover was the chamber since we know there is something in there that is due to play at least a small part. However, from reading CoS I get the impression that most of the columns in there have some sort of serpent carvings on them and this pedestal does not seem to so I'm not so sure it is from the chamber.

What! People actually think that's in the chamber? Isn't it Dumbledore's pensieve! I thought that was obvious.


Unless Salazar had a pensieve in the CoS as it was his little solitude place where he could hang out with the Basalisk. But we are only told he built the Chamber, we're not told he spent a lot of time there, hmmm, confusing.

Maybe he left it there to help the heir? Or maybe it was just DD's pensieve, yes, i think it is :).

Stupid Theory Alert!!

:You Have Been Warned!:

US cover, well, we've all decided that it's a Pensieve. Some (including myself) think that perhaps this Pensieve may be in the Chamber of Secrets, and may belong to Salazar/Tom Riddle. Personally I reckon it belongs to Tom.

UK Kids' cover, I think this scene shows Harry and Dumbledore at the Pensieve, but after they've looked into it. To me, they have the looks of those who have been caught red-handed! Caught in the act! They seem to be turning from something (the Pensieve), looking behind at the person who has interrupted. But who has discovered them? Voldemould perhaps?? I think someone earlier asked whether Dumbledore was making the fire, or if they were caught in it. I think Dumbledore is making it (look at the tip of his wand, it's glowing the same colours) to protect himself and Harry from whoever/whatever has found them looking into the Pensieve.

Only problem is how Voldemould got back into the chamber, the only way we know of getting in is through the sink in Myrtle's bathroom. Maybe there's another way in?

Hmmm, interesting.


I agree it is a pensieve, but i think it's Dumbledores. I think he allows Harry to use it, and they both brace themselves to look in and discover what really happened that night in Godrics Hollow.

In the British cover, i think Dumbledore's animagus is a phoenix. I think as he is in phoenix form he can appear anywhere at will in a burst of flame, just like real Phoenix's can. I think this is why he seems to be materialising from the fire, and why the fire surrounds both he and Harrty. I believe he appears somewhere when Harry is in danger in the nick of time and saves him, but dies doing so :(.

There is an interesting version of the cover art in this (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=47037) thread. ;)

There is an interesting version of the cover art in this (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=47037) thread. ;)Clever anabel - on topic and yet getting the pitch in there! To clarify - anabel's link is to a thread supporting Comic Relief - definitely check it out!

There is an interesting version of the cover art in this (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=47037) thread. ;)

:lol: Anabel, have you ever thought of a career in politics?

In the British cover, i think Dumbledore's animagus is a phoenix. I think as he is in phoenix form he can appear anywhere at will in a burst of flame, just like real Phoenix's can. I think this is why he seems to be materialising from the fire, and why the fire surrounds both he and Harrty. I believe he appears somewhere when Harry is in danger in the nick of time and saves him, but dies doing so :(.
Even if Dumbledore was an animagus and could turn into a pheonix, how could he be in two places at once? The flame is around Harry and Dumbledore, so if Dumbledore was in pheonix form at that point, then he couldn't have been in human form.

You misunderstand. What do you mean two places at once?

Anyway, i'll make myself clearer. He turns into an Pheonix, teleports in a burst of flame, appears in a burst of flame, quickly transforms so he can save Harry. Thje fire wouldn't fade immediately if he had only just transformed if that's what you mean.

I think that they are looking into Slytherin's Pensive. Maybe Dumbledore had it kept away. That would explain the green light. And maybe while looking into Slytherin's memories, they see that Godric Gyffindor is the Half-Blood Prince. Just my humble thoughts.

You misunderstand. What do you mean two places at once?

Anyway, i'll make myself clearer. He turns into an Pheonix, teleports in a burst of flame, appears in a burst of flame, quickly transforms so he can save Harry. Thje fire wouldn't fade immediately if he had only just transformed if that's what you mean.
Fire doesn't last long enough for him to get into position beside Harry, look fierce and cast a spell.

Nah, i think the green light is Voldemort doing Avada Kedavra. I think Harry put his thoughs in Dumbledores pensieve to se what happened at Godrics Hollow when he was a baby.

I think Dumbledore looks cautious as he loves Harry, and knows what he sees will hurt him. I think Harry looks determined because he knows he has to look.

Fire doesn't last long enough for him to get into position beside Harry, look fierce and cast a spell.

You've seen how quick Dumbledore can be in OotP, he knocked a few people out, and disapeared somehow. And I think he looks scared or shocked, not fierce, if you think he looks fierce i think you need glasses.

Also, if you think JK is going to redraft her work around the pyhsically possible, then i'm afraid you're sadly mistaken, haven't you noticed the books aren't possible anyway, magic and spells! I think the fact that fire doesnt last that long woul;d hold JK back.

she said he wasn't the Half Blood Prince.... that has nothing to do with the fact that it could be his pensieve that harry and dumbledore are looking into ;)

You've seen how quick Dumbledore can be in OotP, he knocked a few people out, and disapeared somehow. And I think he looks scared or shocked, not fierce, if you think he looks fierce i think you need glasses.
Dumbledore is not faster than the speed of light. Does anyone else think Dumbledore looks more angry and fierce than scared?

How would they access the Godric's Hollow scene via a pensieve, though? Of the ones who were there:
two were dead dead dead dead dead right after (James and Lilly)
one was a tad too young , Harry (or Dumbledore would already have performed whatever is needed to examine that memory, to understand better what happened)
And one... well, I don't see why and how Voldie would have taken the time to get this memory out of his brain and into a pensieve.

Unless Dumbledore is showing Harry what he /thinks/ happened that night. But what interest would it be? Unless he is still holding secrets from Harry, something I think highly improbable after the heart-to-heart chat at the end of OOTP.

US cover, well, we've all decided that it's a Pensieve. Some (including myself) think that perhaps this Pensieve may be in the Chamber of Secrets, and may belong to Salazar/Tom Riddle. Personally I reckon it belongs to Tom.
That would certainly explain why Harry appears to be holding his wand in his left hand (the reflection would make it look that way). Why draw the Pensieve at that angle though? It should surround the image if it's a reflection - artistic licence, I suppose. It would be a bit careless of Tom Riddle or Salazar to leave a Pensieve full of thoughts lying around though.

Only problem is how Voldemould got back into the chamber, the only way we know of getting in is through the sink in Myrtle's bathroom. Maybe there's another way in?
It has been suggested that the secret passage behind the mirror on the 4th floor (pointed out by Fred and George in PoA when they gave Harry the Marauders' Map) may well go through the Chamber of Secrets. It caved in between Winter in the CoS and Christmas in PoA - the right timescale for it to have happened during Harry's visit to the Chamber of Secrets.

That would certainly explain why Harry appears to be holding his wand in his left hand (the reflection would make it look that way). Why draw the Pensieve at that angle though? It should surround the image if it's a reflection - artistic licence, I suppose. It would be a bit careless of Tom Riddle or Salazar to leave a Pensieve full of thoughts lying around though.

True, the 'carelessness' of Tom (I'm going with Tom here) is a bit kinda iffy, forms a hole in the plot, but when you think back to the Chamber scene in CoS, Tom believed that he was going to win, that Harry would die. It obviously didn't cross his mind that he ought to sort his Pensieve out in case he lost the 'battle', because he seriously thought that he could not lose.

It has been suggested that the secret passage behind the mirror on the 4th floor (pointed out by Fred and George in PoA when they gave Harry the Marauders' Map) may well go through the Chamber of Secrets. It caved in between Winter in the CoS and Christmas in PoA - the right timescale for it to have happened during Harry's visit to the Chamber of Secrets.

Ooh, I had not seen that suggestion. It makes sense, I mean, I doubt Tom would have wanted to use the entry in the Girls' Toilet everytime he wanted to go to the Chamber of Secrets. A little degrading for Mighty Old Heir of Slytherin, aye?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/Lumos121/Red%20Nose%20Day/Dumbledore.jpg

Dumbledore says follow the link in the sig to help Mundungus Fletcher help Comic Relief. :tu:

It has been suggested that the secret passage behind the mirror on the 4th floor (pointed out by Fred and George in PoA when they gave Harry the Marauders' Map) may well go through the Chamber of Secrets. It caved in between Winter in the CoS and Christmas in PoA - the right timescale for it to have happened during Harry's visit to the Chamber of Secrets.

1. Fred and George said that they had used that before it caved in. I highly doubt they were making routine trips to the chamber of secrets...

2. Whem talking about it, I beleive it mentioned that fred was tracing the path of the caved in tunnel off the map towards hogsmeade...

1. Fred and George said that they had used that before it caved in. I highly doubt they were making routine trips to the chamber of secrets...

2. Whem talking about it, I beleive it mentioned that fred was tracing the path of the caved in tunnel off the map towards hogsmeade...

Well that poops on what I was thinking. Oh well, I obviously need to read all the books again!

Look in the uppermost top-right corner of the British Cover. I can make out something that resembles a face of a phoenix or maybe a lion. Follow the flame that goes around the back of Dumbledore's head....it looks like a long neck of something; leading to the face.

here is the lion qoute:

On August 16th, the door on JKR's site opened giving us the following excerpt of book 6, which describes the Half-Blood Prince:(mistake, this is how it is on mugglenet under Book 6 FACTS, but it is wrong in saying that it describes the HBP., there is no official ruling on who the character is...lol, only JKR knows!)

(He) looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp.

and here is the pic of the lion:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Blue_Rubies/hbplion.jpg

and here is the pic with arrows pointing it out:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Blue_Rubies/Presentation1.jpg
the nose curves along the left border, and you can see an eyebrow, and an eye. along with a nostril, and below that what appears to be a claw...AMAZING!!!

maybe the lion man(who i think is McClaggan) is not a man, but a creature that transforms back and forth from man, to fire lion?
lol
idk,...but it is THERE!

here is the lion qoute:

On August 16th, the door on JKR's site opened giving us the following excerpt of book 6, which describes the Half-Blood Prince:

(He) looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp. Sorry if I'm wrong here but... I don't think that quote was ever confirmed as being a specific character - either the HBP or the new DADA teacher.

and here is the pic of the lion:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Blue_Rubies/hbplion.jpg


I see it!!

ill correct it

(just so u know, i copied and pasted the qoute from mugglenet. its under Book 6 facts, thats exactly what it says.

and here is the pic of the lion:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Blue_Rubies/hbplion.jpg

the nose curves along the left border, and you can see an eyebrow, and an eye. along with a nostril, and below that what appears to be a claw...AMAZING!!!

Huh? I've stared at this for a really long time but I don't see anything like a lion. Where exactly am I supposed to be seeing it?

ill add arrows so u can see it lol

About the UK adult cover:

Most people have pointed out previous book covers had a picture of something in the title. I'm guessing that the author of the Advanced Potions book is HBP (I think someone mentioned this earlier in this thread).

Or a HBP is not a person as such but a description of a condition. Maybe the book contains a potion on how to become a HBP. Maybe a HBP is a person/creature who is the combination of two different powerful species (think Wizard and ... House Elf?!). Ok I'm rambling now but its an idea...

ill correct it

(just so u know, i copied and pasted the qoute from mugglenet. its under Book 6 facts, thats exactly what it says.No problem - I could easily be wrong! Just my memory was that the quote appeared on JKR's site with no additional explanation. It just seemed to be a torn bit of paper. Logic says that it's a new character, logic also says there are at least two possible new characters: the HBP (if it's a new person) and the DADA teacher (ditto) so those are the top runners. But it could also describe Godric Gryffindor in a flash-back, Tonks in one of her morphed phases... but then again, who am I to argue with the almighty mugglenet?

Looks just like fire to me, mate.

I'm surprised at the number of people who seem to have forgotten Dumbledore's ropes of fire in OotP at the Atrium. Didn't he rope Voldemort with fire? Couldn't that be the same tactic depicted on the UK Children's edition?

As for the spiky black writing on the US edition... more fuel to the Snape fire... I don't know how often Snape's writing is mentioned in the books but in OotP it's "miniscule and cramped" on his OWL examination... and Harry receives a "spiky black D" on his potions paper at some point. The title looks rather spiky to me.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the Advanced Potions book is on the Adult edition either.

The sixth task in PS/SS was Snape's. Potions, or Snape, or both will be important for Harry to move forward toward facing Voldemort.

no, mugglenet is wrong lol.
i remember opening the door and seeing it on a torn bit of paper.
i just hadn't read the qoute when i posted it, i know it by heart lol.
they are wrong in saying that it describes the HBP lol

How would they access the Godric's Hollow scene via a pensieve, though? Of the ones who were there:
two were dead dead dead dead dead right after (James and Lilly)
one was a tad too young , Harry (or Dumbledore would already have performed whatever is needed to examine that memory, to understand better what happened)
And one... well, I don't see why and how Voldie would have taken the time to get this memory out of his brain and into a pensieve.

Unless Dumbledore is showing Harry what he /thinks/ happened that night. But what interest would it be? Unless he is still holding secrets from Harry, something I think highly improbable after the heart-to-heart chat at the end of OOTP.
Agreed .
After this friendly chat i doubt very much DD has anything more to say to Harry .Unless now DD thinks his time has come( :sad: ) and before he dies he needs to give his powers to Harry . just my 2 cents.

How would they access the Godric's Hollow scene via a pensieve, though? Of the ones who were there:
two were dead dead dead dead dead right after (James and Lilly)
one was a tad too young , Harry (or Dumbledore would already have performed whatever is needed to examine that memory, to understand better what happened)
And one... well, I don't see why and how Voldie would have taken the time to get this memory out of his brain and into a pensieve.

Unless Dumbledore is showing Harry what he /thinks/ happened that night. But what interest would it be? Unless he is still holding secrets from Harry, something I think highly improbable after the heart-to-heart chat at the end of OOTP.

It has nothing to do with Voldemort. I think Dumbledore doesn't know about what happened at Godrics Hollow and i think he thought Harry was too young before. Also, it would be better for Harry to get rid of these memorys in his head, like releasing a burden. Also, Harrys age doesn't matter. It is still a memory he has, even if he was a baby. He could see his own birth with a pensieve. Also, Harry sees some of what happened that night in dreams, so he hasn't forgotten.



Dumbledore is not faster than the speed of light. Does anyone else think Dumbledore looks more angry and fierce than scared?

I don't recall syaing he was, i do recall saying he is faster than the time it took for the fire to fade away though, which has nothing to do with light.