Unfogging the Half-Blood Prince Cover Art

I like the theory of that potions book (UK Adult cover) and that thing that Harry and DD are looking into (on the US Cover) coming from Malfoy's basement and belonging to Voldemort. Remember in Chamber of Secrets when Dobby or Draco hinted that Lucius Malfoy had some dark arts stuff in his basement or something? I have always thought that the dark arts stuff might belong to Voldemort.

hmmmmm

It could be, but I personally don't think that those are Dark Arts things. If they were, I think Dumbledore would confiscate them, since he is the one who hates them. But now that I think about it, it could be, since the green light...maybe it is the night that Harry's parents died, but we are seeing it through Voldemort's pensieve..instead of getting the memories through Harry..

I like either idea. I just think that it is likely that there isn't anything left in the Malfoy's basement since he wanted to get rid of it all so there weren't any traces of him being a Death Eater.

The potions book...I think that may have come from the library. It is a very old book and sixth and seventh years are allowed in the restricted section...I think it said that in the first book... But I think that Harry is going to become an Auror, and that book is going to be one of the things that he needs to take..Advanced Potions..

I'm not making a point am I? :)

I seriously doubt that Grandpre's only job is to draw covers for Scholastic....


:sigh: Yea, I get to repeat myself yet again: It has been confirmed that Mary Grandpre read Book 6 before designing the cover. The links to the articles have been posted in this thread. ;)
.


no....I realize she reads the book...I also know it was confirmed already (several times....once by me on somewhere on this board)...What i was arguing was that someone post that although she gets a chance to read the book, that she just reads it quick to find something interesting to draw...I was saying that she had plenty of time to read it read it, and not just skim through it.

I was saying that she had plenty of time to read it read it, and not just skim through it.
So sorry I misunderstood. I agree that she took her time reading the book (and if she's even close to being the kind of fan that we are, she read it more than once!).

But I would like to see what people thought of the statements Grandpre made about the HBP cover.
Originally Posted by Scholastic, March 8, 2005
"In creating the Harry Potter artwork, I try to bring a certain amount of realism and believability to the characters and setting, but still add an element of wonder and the unknown," said Mary GrandPre. "For the cover of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the mood of the art is truly eerie. I wanted the colors to be strong and I chose upward lighting and dramatic shadows to convey a kind of surreal place and time. It is an honor to illustrate for such an amazing writer as J.K. Rowling. She gives me, as an illustrator, so much to work with."

Surreal place and time makes me think pensieve....

Grandpre chose color for dramatic emphasis, it isn't surprising that the color from the basin isn't silver, if the basin is a pensieve.

Yes the colour green is supposed to relax a person when stressed, so you say that Dumbledore might use to pensieve to finally relieve some of the tension Harry has had to endure over the past 16 years. The lightening effect could be a moment of enlightenment, a realization of what happened perhaps on the night and coming to terms with events in Harry's life. The dark shadows though still remain around him, Voldemort is still present and even though the past is put to rest, the future still remains dark and clouded (sounded like a certain Professor there). The irony of the colour is that the killing curse also emits a green and yet green is meant to represent on of the healthiest colours around.

I too have come to the conclusion that it is probably the pensieve though. What clinched it for me was the descriptionA shallow stone basin lay there, with odd carvings around the edge; runes and symbols that Harry did not recognize.There are runes around the edge of the stone basin on the book cover but can anyone see what the symbols are around the stone basin on the book cover. Above it states that there where other symbols that Harry had never seen before, other symbols that where not rune in origin.

I am wondering what it is. My gut tells me it is a pensive, but didn't the silver mist swirl in it and not out? There isn't a vapor coming from either DD or HP's heads. Maybe it is a dramatic effect the Grandpre wanted to give.

Perhaps the colour of the swirl depends on who left the memory. I have an idea about this but I could be wrong; what if this is the other secret in the chamber made by Salazar. What if this is Salazar's pensive, it would explain where Tom got all his knowledge from and the reason why the second book was title The Chamber of Secrets, suggesting more than one secret hidden with in. The pensive holds all a person secrets stored with in so it would fit the title. Also this would connect with the green mist seen in the chamber of secrets, Harry describes a green glowing mist, and perhaps it was coming from this pensieve. If Salazar left his memories in the pensieve could Tom being the possible heir of slytherin not place those memories and all the knowledge left by Salazar into his head? It is a long shot but if that is the pensieve then it is not kept in a glass cupboard but it could be in the chamber somewhere.

Towering stone pillars entwined with more carved serpents rose to support a ceiling lost in darkness, casting long black shadows through the odd, greenish gloom that filled the place.Maybe I am reading into this too much but there greenish gloom is there and the shadows as seen and described by the artist is mentioned in the description of the chamber of secrets. Where is the green gloom that filled the chamber coming from, this object perhaps.

I am wondering what it is. My gut tells me it is a pensive, but didn't the silver mist swirl in it and not out? There isn't a vapor coming from either DD or HP's heads. Maybe it is a dramatic effect the Grandpre wanted to give.

The silver thing comes out when somebody is putting a memory inside it. The greenish glow that is coming out of it now is (what most people assume) from the memory inside..that is being viewed. :)

But I have to go now I am going to miss church and I still haven't dryed and straighened my hair. :D

The silver thing comes out when somebody is putting a memory inside it. The greenish glow that is coming out of it now is (what most people assume) from the memory inside..that is being viewed. :)

But I have to go now I am going to miss church and I still haven't dryed and straighened my hair. :D

At least you are going! I am sitting at home! Thanks for putting me on the same page!

wow...i am like , itching with anticipation....couldnt they like, give us a sneak preview, like 30 days before the book comes out?? nothing that gives away anything, just maybe a page at the most...to get us ready? lol

I thought I would bring in the Chamber of Secrets to the discussion because if that is a pensieve then it sits on a pillar. In the Chamber of Secrets JKR describes the pillars as supporting the roof of the chamber except for one, the one Fawkes was sitting on. This pillar was lower than the rest and not supporting anything so why was it there? Could the pillar Fawkes was sat on be the image on the US cover?

It might not belong to Salazar I could be really wrong with that idea but it could be the pillar Fawkes was sat on and might explain why Tom was afraid to see the phoenix there. If you look at the pattern carefully on the stone pillar it is that of a bird, in fact it looks like a phoenix.

the stone pillar on the u.s. cover...ok i'm gonna google it. :P be right back ... i'll see if i can see it or not

QUOTE:

If you look at the pattern carefully on the stone pillar it is that of a bird, in fact it looks like a phoenix.


ok ok, so maybe i'm blind, but i'm just not seeing that..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/yarrow/head.jpg

Try looking at the Mugglenet image, it is bigger and I took this cut from it.

Edit: Look inside the square box, there is a beak, eye and the distinct quill at the back of a phoenix head. The image is better on Mugglenet though as it is a lot larger.

thanks. yes, i could see where it would resemble a phoenix..

do you think that has some sort of significance in the story, or there is some reason why they might be using that particular pillar?

The other day I was rereading OOTP (Okay, thats everyday for me but this is a PARTICULAR day I was reading) and I jumped up and down because I think I may have found a possible source of the green wisps of smoke on the cover. Who remembers in OOTP when Harry is escorted down to Dumbledore's office after witnessing Aurther Weasley getting attacked in the Ministry? Thought so. But does anyone remember the "fragile silver instrument" that Dumbledore uses shortly after Harry explains? I didn't until just now. The paragraph is as follows:

The instrumenttinkled into life at once with rythmic clinking noises. Tiny puffs of PALE GREEN SMOKE issued fom the miniscule silver tube at the top. DUmbledore watched the smoke closely, his brow furrowed, and after a few seconds, the TINY PUFFS BECAME A STEADY STREAM OF SMOKE THAT THICKENED AND COILED IN THE AIR...a serpent's head grew out of the end of it, its mouth opening wide.

So everyone...the description seems pretty accurate. Oh gosh.

Posted by the very excitable Riccy

"fragile silver instrument" that Dumbledore uses shortly after Harry explains?
And where in the cover art do you find the delicate instrument? :huh:

cud be a pensive or sum kinda potion??????????

Try looking at the Mugglenet image, it is bigger and I took this cut from it.

Edit: Look inside the square box, there is a beak, eye and the distinct quill at the back of a phoenix head. The image is better on Mugglenet though as it is a lot larger.
I think it looks more like a snake's head....
ANd I always thought of it being a pensieve...

cud be a pensive or sum kinda potion??????????


it has already been discussed that there is the possibilty of a potion, or a pensive where the memory in view has a flash of green light.

Thought I might make the image look a little clearer by altering the colour, the green was not allowing the features to stand out very well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/yarrow/head1.jpg

Can not rule out the idea of a potion being in there, it would fit the reason for the adult book cover showing an advanced potion book.

I've started re-reading the books (American edition) to refresh my memory before HBP comes out. I've only got SS and CoS with me right now but I'm wondering if the trend will follow that the cover represents a scene from the end of the book.

Judging from the other covers being about ends near the end of the book (not sure of 4 and 5 since I don't have them handy) but I think the scene on the book cover is Dumbledore and Harry watching Harry's memory of the night his parents died.

p.s. I didn't have time to read every post so if someone else posted this idea then I'm just seconding theirs

I've started re-reading the books (American edition) to refresh my memory before HBP comes out. I've only got SS and CoS with me right now but I'm wondering if the trend will follow that the cover represents a scene from the end of the book.

Judging from the other covers being about ends near the end of the book (not sure of 4 and 5 since I don't have them handy) but I think the scene on the book cover is Dumbledore and Harry watching Harry's memory of the night his parents died.

p.s. I didn't have time to read every post so if someone else posted this idea then I'm just seconding theirs

Yeah, it has been duscussed before, but no reason to put it behind! :p

Book 1 was just a quidditch match..couldn't pick out a certain one, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't at the end of the book.

Book 4 cover wasn't at the end of the book, it was just a general idea of the triwizard tournaments, and Harry was just standing in the front of the book...sort of reminded me of a movie poster...

I think the argument is that the scene won't be at the end of the book, since not every cover did that.

..but! I do think that it is something that they are looking at the night Harry's parents died, since the green light and it is a very old pensieve, being maybe Voldemort's (as somebody said before), but then I think it might be Godric Gryffindor's for some reason... I don't know..

But yes, I think that it might be at the end of the book since the majority of them were and I think that they are looking at the night that Harry's parents died. :)

Yeah, it has been duscussed before, but no reason to put it behind! :p

Book 1 was just a quidditch match..couldn't pick out a certain one, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't at the end of the book.
if your talking about the american version like the person before, then no its not just a quidditch match...it also has other parts of the story added.

Book 4 cover wasn't at the end of the book, it was just a general idea of the triwizard tournaments, and Harry was just standing in the front of the book...sort of reminded me of a movie poster...

I think the argument is that the scene won't be at the end of the book, since not every cover did that.


they all had at least a part of the main last action scene included in them. The first had Fluffy hiding. The CoS had the door to the chamber and the group hanging on to the pheonix's tail as they left, PoA had Harry and Hermione riding on Buckbeak, Gof had the maze scene included, OotP had the Department of Mystery in it. There is at least something of the end of the book in each cover so far.



I

The other day I was rereading OOTP (Okay, thats everyday for me but this is a PARTICULAR day I was reading) and I jumped up and down because I think I may have found a possible source of the green wisps of smoke on the cover. Who remembers in OOTP when Harry is escorted down to Dumbledore's office after witnessing Aurther Weasley getting attacked in the Ministry? Thought so. But does anyone remember the "fragile silver instrument" that Dumbledore uses shortly after Harry explains? I didn't until just now. The paragraph is as follows:



So everyone...the description seems pretty accurate. Oh gosh.

Posted by the very excitable Riccy

Isn't that the "in essence divided" statement???? I still can't figure that clue out. But, yeah, I thought of those things in DD's office, too.

The Jury is out, just 12 more weeks to go, though!

Isn't that the "in essence divided" statement???? I still can't figure that clue out. But, yeah, I thought of those things in DD's office, too.

The Jury is out, just 12 more weeks to go, though!

Yes it is. I don't think we can "figure that statement out" yet. there are a lot of theories on this website about it though. Its just a nothing hint of something so that when JKR finally lets us in, we'll be like " oh, right. that makes sense now, and of course that was what she meant by 'essense divided".

As far as thinking that's whats on the cover...
There really isn't a snake's head(which is what the cloud turned into) with its mouth openning up or anything like a silver instrument in the picture.

Shoot. and I thought I was being smart. [just another indication of my paltry vocabulary ;) ] {added} Wait, whaadaheck?!!? Why does my post always end up somewhere different from where I'm readin?!?!?! :huh:

obviously don't deserve the :rave: since I'm too stupid to figure this out!!!

here are the versions of the cover i've heard so far.

-it is a pensive, but a special one, because of the green light.
-it is a pensive and the memory inside of it is producing green light, possibly a death curse.
-it is something that is related to a pensive but is a new object that can roughly see into the future but wont tell everything that is happening, only give a glimpse.
-it may be voldemort's pensive, and the memory being shown is the night harry's parents died.
- the thing in the picture is something of voldemort's recovered from the malfoy's basement.
- the green light on the cover is emphasized simply because the illustrator chose the color green.
- the entire thing that harry and dumbledore are looking at is a pillar from the chamber of secrets, with a phoenix etched into it. possibly the pillar fawkes sat on in the chamber.

any other ideas, post em please so i can add them! also if there are any changes you want me to make, let me know.

Thanks bballplaya, that was a very good synopsis!

Now about that video in your sig, is that from the opening of POA or something or really footage from GOF/Yule ball?

Are Dan and Emma holding hands? Is that JKR standing by Dan? I want to see that video in full how can I?

here are the versions of the cover i've heard so far.

-it is a pensive, but a special one, because of the green light.
-it is a pensive and the memory inside of it is producing green light, possibly a death curse.
-it is something that is related to a pensive but is a new object that can roughly see into the future but wont tell everything that is happening, only give a glimpse.
-it may be voldemort's pensive, and the memory being shown is the night harry's parents died.
- the thing in the picture is something of voldemort's recovered from the malfoy's basement.
- the green light on the cover is emphasized simply because the illustrator chose the color green.
- the entire thing that harry and dumbledore are looking at is a pillar from the chamber of secrets, with a phoenix etched into it. possibly the pillar fawkes sat on in the chamber.

any other ideas, post em please so i can add them! also if there are any changes you want me to make, let me know.

Not that I believe this, but there is the "Dumbledore and Harry are brewing a potion" theory going around as well. Nice work rounding up all these theories though! :tu:

Not that I believe this, but there is the "Dumbledore and Harry are brewing a potion" theory going around as well.
I could possibly see them allowing some potion to dry or congeal in the basin shown on the cover, but brewing they are not. There are no flames. I, for one, would be hesitant to stir a potion in the basin on the cover--we have seen what splatters can do, and the results are not pretty. One would have to be pretty careful, that crack looks like a good place for spillage!

Thanks bballplaya, that was a very good synopsis!

Now about that video in your sig, is that from the opening of POA or something or really footage from GOF/Yule ball?

Are Dan and Emma holding hands? Is that JKR standing by Dan? I want to see that video in full how can I?

It can't be from the Yule Ball becuse they are in normal clothes and Dan doesn't have his glasses. Yes, that is JK Rowling, but I think it's just from either the PoA opening or just something else. Yeah, they're holding hands, but I think it's just because they are co-stars and they all do that. :D

That smile they are giving is the same ones we give to our friends..like HI...or Heh...but yeah, I don't know why I am doing this...

Dan and Emma are so cute...but Harry and Hermione aren't :D

here are the versions of the cover i've heard so far.

-it is a pensive, but a special one, because of the green light.
-it is a pensive and the memory inside of it is producing green light, possibly a death curse.
-it is something that is related to a pensive but is a new object that can roughly see into the future but wont tell everything that is happening, only give a glimpse.
-it may be voldemort's pensive, and the memory being shown is the night harry's parents died.
- the thing in the picture is something of voldemort's recovered from the malfoy's basement.
- the green light on the cover is emphasized simply because the illustrator chose the color green.
- the entire thing that harry and dumbledore are looking at is a pillar from the chamber of secrets, with a phoenix etched into it. possibly the pillar fawkes sat on in the chamber.

any other ideas, post em please so i can add them! also if there are any changes you want me to make, let me know.

I don't think that it's from the Malfoy's basement, because they were getting rid of all that stuff in CoS, and now since Voldemort is back, I think they are going to try to get rid of EVERYTHING. But I do think it is either Voldemort's pensieve or his memory...maybe his own if it is his pensieve and they store memories, or his pulled from Harry's mind...maybe he was trying to make Harry relive that and to make him all angry and stuff now that i think about it..


I don't think that it's from the chamber. The chamber doesn't have that much of a significance in the book. I don't think they would go back there..

And I don't think that Grandpre..I think that's how you spell it...I don't think that she just chose that color. She does read the books and the color green has always played a big part..pr at least sounded like it will..in past books. We have heard alot about that color and..well...why shouldn't it be in this book too?

Anyway..good job! :tu:

I could possibly see them allowing some potion to dry or congeal in the basin shown on the cover, but brewing they are not. There are no flames. I, for one, would be hesitant to stir a potion in the basin on the cover--we have seen what splatters can do, and the results are not pretty. One would have to be pretty careful, that crack looks like a good place for spillage!


I don't think they would be leaning over it either!...or Harry holding his wand for some reason..

I think that they are looking..somehow..into Voldemort's thought of the night Harry's parents died..and Harry withdrew it from his head.. :D

That's about the millionth time I've said that on this thread. :p

here are the versions of the cover i've heard so far.

-it is a pensive, but a special one, because of the green light.
-it is a pensive and the memory inside of it is producing green light, possibly a death curse.
-it is something that is related to a pensive but is a new object that can roughly see into the future but wont tell everything that is happening, only give a glimpse.
-it may be voldemort's pensive, and the memory being shown is the night harry's parents died.
- the thing in the picture is something of voldemort's recovered from the malfoy's basement.
- the green light on the cover is emphasized simply because the illustrator chose the color green.
- the entire thing that harry and dumbledore are looking at is a pillar from the chamber of secrets, with a phoenix etched into it. possibly the pillar fawkes sat on in the chamber.

any other ideas, post em please so i can add them! also if there are any changes you want me to make, let me know.


I agree that it's a penseive and that the memory coming from it is emitting the green light. Could the green light be Harry's memory of when his parent's were killed? I think it might be. It could be Voldemorts penseive and the Malfoys were keeping it. If the MOM raided their home and found it then it could possibly explain how they got it. Or could it be the Malfoys and it might be showing them using the Aveda curse on someone else?

We could take this another direction and guess that it might have been used by the HBP and maybe he is Snape and the memory coming from it was his, before he came over to the good side. ;)

I think this charm we can see at the cover of the UK-Edition is the same Charm Dumbledore made to protect Harry and himself from Voldemort..Isnt it?
Perhaps its also the same scene?

I think this charm we can see at the cover of the UK-Edition is the same Charm Dumbledore made to protect Harry and himself from Voldemort..Isnt it?
Perhaps its also the same scene?
Dumbledore did that charm when Harry was placed with the Dursleys. It is very hard to tell what is being done. The one thing I can say for certain is that Dumbledore will be very important in this book.

Dumbledore did that charm when Harry was placed with the Dursleys. It is very hard to tell what is being done. The one thing I can say for certain is that Dumbledore will be very important in this book.

I think pantera means in OotP while they were in the MoM...
The UK one does look like DD is defending Harry from something in it...maybe they revisit the scene through a pensive (so Harry can see what was going on whil Voldemort was in his head). It could also be a scene from near the end of book 6 with DD and Harry side-by-side. Maybe DD's going to train HArry alilttle himself.

I think pantera means in OotP while they were in the MoM...


Yes this was what I meant. What kind of magic do you mean genesis?

My first thought (foolishly) was that the figure on the right was a mermaid (but they aren't that good-looking, so...).

I don't think that's foolish at all (although that may be because I had the same idea). True, the merpeople in the lake don't look like this woman, but remember the mermaid whose portrait was in the prefect's bathroom (GoF)?

Or ... what if Lily was an animagus mermaid? Something HUGE is supposed to be revealed about her - wouldn't that qualify?

I don't think that's foolish at all (although that may be because I had the same idea). True, the merpeople in the lake don't look like this woman, but remember the mermaid whose portrait was in the prefect's bathroom (GoF)?

Or ... what if Lily was an animagus mermaid? Something HUGE is supposed to be revealed about her - wouldn't that qualify?

Yeah, but I think that by saying that "something huge is going to happen", that means something that has a really big purpose for the book...and not so much, something huge that would just be a big shock because we didn't know people could turn in to anything but animals known to muggles. I have a feelings that "something huge" is connected to her(and Harry's) green eyes and her charms abilities.

I have a feelings that "something huge" is connected to her(and Harry's) green eyes and her charms abilities.

Yeah, me too. I think that it has something to do with her eyes and Harry's because JKR said that Alfonso foreshadowed something that gave her chills when she saw it..and I'm guessing that it might be that. :eyebrows:

But yes, I think I read somewhere about someone thinking about her charms ablilites coming into play because JKR said somethinng..or..didn't say something about it..

But I might just be making that last part up in my head..my mom thinks I tend to do that alot... :p

Oh, everyone's always so sensible in these forums .... I mean, wouldn't it be way cool if Lily could turn into a mermaid?

But of course you're right - we'll see some connection in which her eyes are important. I think it has something to do with joining James' power, drive and leadership with Lily's compassion and gentle spirit. And that's reasonable and logical and etc. .... but wouldn't it be way cool if Lily could turn into a mermaid?

There's something, I think in the first book, about her wand being good for charms, and James' for transfiguration, by the way.

Or ... what if Lily was an animagus mermaid? Something HUGE is supposed to be revealed about her - wouldn't that qualify?
Oh, everyone's always so sensible in these forums .... I mean, wouldn't it be way cool if Lily could turn into a mermaid?
First, :welcome: HotForSeeker!

JKR said we will find out more about Lily in two parts: something in Book 5, and something really important in Book 7. So, whatever is revealed about Lily in Book 6 will not be as significant as what we found out in 5 nor as big as what is coming in 7...

Some people are serious, some want to "think outside the box"...and some are--other...So I am pretty sure you would get plenty of responses from each type if you started a thread about Lily having a mermaid for an animagus state (but I am not advocating that you do so :no: ), even though we have not seen a single animagus that is anything but a normal creature (rather than some magical creature or beast). And basing the hypothesis on the rather flimsy evidence of the US HBP cover.... :td:

At least we did suggest the mermaid connection for the figure on the right of the pedestal in the promotional stand, in case it is true! ;)

So, whatever is revealed about Lily in Book 6 will not be as significant as what we found out in 5 nor as big as what is coming in 7...

Somehow I think that she's pushed the information that was planned for Book Five to Book Six, I know that she hasn't said as much (but then she's a busy woman!) but the information about Lily in Book Five wasn't significant to the storyline at all. All we learned was that she thought that James was concieted and dated him in the seventh year. Not "significant" at all (exept we found out that she had a strong personality and disliked injustice).

Somehow I think that she's pushed the information that was planned for Book Five to Book Six, I know that she hasn't said as much (but then she's a busy woman!) but the information about Lily in Book Five wasn't significant to the storyline at all. All we learned was that she thought that James was concieted and dated him in the seventh year. Not "significant" at all (exept we found out that she had a strong personality and disliked injustice).
You could be right about the info being moved. This interview is even prior to GoF:
Hi, I really like the books and we already learned a lot about Harry’s father and I was wondering ‘Are we going to learn a lot about his mother?’
JKR: Yeah, you will. It’s ---- yet again ---- you won’t find out ---- OK, in Book 3 you’re absolutely right. You find out a lot about Harry’s father. Now the important thing about Harry’s mother, the really, really significant thing, you’re going to find out in 2 parts. You’ll find out a lot more about her in Book 5, or you’ll find out something very significant about her in Book 5, then you’ll find out something incredibly important about her in Book 7. But I can’t tell you what those things are so I’m sorry, but yes, you will find out more about her because both of them are very important in what Harry ends up having to do.
And then, on her website more recently:
Section: Extra Stuff
The Opening Chapter of Book Six
I have come close to using a chapter very like this in 'Philosopher's Stone' (it was one of the discarded first chapters), 'Prisoner of Azkaban' and 'Order of the Phoenix' but here, finally, it works, so it's staying. And that's all I'm going to say, but when you read it, just know that it's been about thirteen years in the brewing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
©2005 J.K. Rowling. All Rights Reserved.
Site By Lightmaker And if that chapter is about events at Godric's Hollow, I will most definitely agree that the significant part about Lily was moved! :agree:

You could be right about the info being moved. This interview is even prior to GoF:

And then, on her website more recently:
And if that chapter is about events at Godric's Hollow, I will most definitely agree that the significant part about Lily was moved! :agree:

You beat me to the quote... Yeah, I would say that this book is going to give us just about everything we need to know except that one little bit that will finally come into light in the seventh book that makes Harry realize how he can beat Voldemort. It seems that we may get to see a little more of what happened that night...perhaps the attack itself or what happened afterward(missing 24 hours :tu: )

You guys are right about OotP. There wasn't anything really revealed about Lily we didn't already know. We knew she was muggleborn, that she was good at charms, that she was killed by Voldemort...And that quote is enough for me to believe that she changed her mind bout when to reveal something abut Lily.

You beat me to the quote...
:elaugh: Only by 5 1/2 hours or so! :elaugh:

Anyone hear anything new on the UK artists? Did they get to read HBP? Or were they merely directed like they were for OotP? The adult UK covers have previously been photos of something depicting the title--what can the potions book say about the HBP? Is Libatius Borage the HBP? The potions teacher is the HBP (will that be Snape or someone else for Harry?)? The HBP owns the tattered book on the cover?

[QUOTE=Nicole
Anyone hear anything new on the UK artists? Did they get to read HBP? Or were they merely directed like they were for OotP?[/QUOTE]

I remember reading an article where it said that only mary grandpre was allowed to read the book beforehand. lucky woman...

I remember reading an article where it said that only mary grandpre was allowed to read the book beforehand. lucky woman...
Can you locate that article?

Jo said that the fact that harry has his mother's eyes is very important, and his eyes are GREEN, the advarda kedavra is GREEN, and the main colour in the background is GREEN. Im not sure what this might meen, but it's a connection, so someone out there might come up with a theory.

yeah, and green is the colour of the Slytherin house...
it's the colour of death and poison; opposed to the red, colour of life (gryffindor). I think the thing harry and dumbledore are looking in on the cover isn't the pensieve : we know that it's kind of a big cauldron, and that it's got some runes signs on the sides... Knowing the adult cover, I make this theory :
Harry and Dumbledore try to make a poisonous potion for Voldemort...
could it be possible ?????

i think this book is going to give us a lot of information maby even most of the remaining questions will finally be answered and 7th year will be more focused on the final battle.

I think the thing harry and dumbledore are looking in on the cover isn't the pensieve : we know that it's kind of a big cauldron, and that it's got some runes signs on the sides...

A pensieve isn't a big cauldron. Its shallow dish bowl shaped and has some runes around the outer edge. IMO a lot like the picture on the US cover.

A pensieve isn't a big cauldron. Its shallow dish bowl shaped and has some runes around the outer edge. IMO a lot like the picture on the US cover.

really? I always thought it had the form of a cauldron...but it's something that can be transported easily... :upset:
I didn't imagine it that way . sorry !!

Can you locate that article?

I don't know how to go back and locate the article, but I believe I read it on MSN around the time that the book cover art was released. I have MSN as my home page when I log on, saw the picture of the bookcover and the headline and clicked on it.

Grande Pre gets an advance copy of the books and does read the book before she does the cover artwork.

Grande Pre gets an advance copy of the books and does read the book before she does the cover artwork.
Yes, but did the UK artists get to read HBP before making those two covers? I read the article you mentioned and it didn't say Grandpre was the "only" one of the three artists to read the book...We know the same two artists designed the UK covers for OotP without reading the book--did the same thing occur for HBP? (The ultra-secrecy factor. :lol: ) And if so, who told them what images to use (either time?)--JKR? Bloomsbury? Both?

Yes, but did the UK artists get to read HBP before making those two covers? I read the article you mentioned and it didn't say Grandpre was the "only" one of the three artists to read the book...We know the same two artists designed the UK covers for OotP without reading the book--did the same thing occur for HBP? (The ultra-secrecy factor. :lol: ) And if so, who told them what images to use (either time?)--JKR? Bloomsbury? Both?

That's a really good point. I mean, for OotP it wasn't that hard to decide on what the cover should be (they were both phoenix pictures ...though one was a statue...right?). But for HBP...there's not much to go on. I wonder if they get like a synopsis of the book…kind of like a book jacket description that you see on the inside of a lot of hard back covers.

With the way the American cover looks, I would assume that Harry is getting ready for a battle of some sort. It looks like Dumbledore is just stirring up the contents of the basin. I am assuming that this is a pensieve. I'm wondering if maybe Harry has to face some things in his past that he needs to beat to move on to face Voldemort. Can't have any fears when fighting the most evil wizard in the recent history of the wizarding world, can you?

That's a really good point. I mean, for OotP it wasn't that hard to decide on what the cover should be (they were both phoenix pictures ...though one was a statue...right?). But for HBP...there's not much to go on. I wonder if they get like a synopsis of the book…kind of like a book jacket description that you see on the inside of a lot of hard back covers.I just found a reference here (http://www.harrysscrapbook.co.uk/hs.php?s=art&p=jasoncockcroft) that says the OotP artist was not allowed to read the book and instead was told what sort of image to produce. If that's what happened with the British covers this time then the image is probably from the text and has been chosen by Rowling or her publishers to be exciting and pertinent but not to give too much away.

I think the adlut one with the potion book is because Harry recieves his OWL's this summer and he gets to choose weather or not he wants to take potions again for his NEWTs. I think maybe he does according to this cover. That would make sense anyway..."advanced" potion making...it would be an advanced class after all.

I think the adlut one with the potion book is because Harry recieves his OWL's this summer and he gets to choose weather or not he wants to take potions again for his NEWTs. I think maybe he does according to this cover. That would make sense anyway..."advanced" potion making...it would be an advanced class after all.

Yeah, I think that's what most people think on here..like me. :D

But yeah, I think that he does get to take Advanced Potions for his NEWTs. I think that has kind of been agreed on and that's why its one of the less discussed books. Either that or it means something about Snape.

But Harry would have gotten a brand new book. That book is far from new...

In the book, there will be a very important potion to use as a tool to fight Voldemort. Just like Polyjuice Potion, it's not readily available in Standard book of Potion.

But Harry would have gotten a brand new book. That book is far from new...

Well, then maybe he's taught outside the classroom. Like maybe its someone else's old copy and Harry is taught from it.

The light is green, Harrys eyes are green, The Slytherin house colour is green, Salazar Slytherin built the CoS -

Salazar Slytherins pensieve?

I'm leaning towards the notion that the adult UK book cover is a clue to us that Snape will play a significant role in the book. Primarily because he is the potions master and the book is titled "Advanced Book of Potions".

The light is green, Harrys eyes are green, The Slytherin house colour is green, Salazar Slytherin built the CoS -

Salazar Slytherins pensieve?
lol. Avada Kedavra gives out a green light, Rita has a green ink, Lockhart was wearing green, there is too much green in the story to relate it with any confidence. BTW, we only heard about ONE pensieve. Even a wizard so accomplioshed and from such an old family as Snape has to borrow it. Were would Slytherin's come from? Tom surely did not have it, ansd HE is the only heir...

ikuko wrote:Even a wizard so accomplioshed and from such an old family as Snape has to borrow it.

There no proof in the books that Snape was accomplished or from an old family. Snape is an ex-DE and potions master at Hogwarts, that doesn't seem like what people would consider accomplished. In Prisoner of Azkaban, he was nearly salivating at the thought of being in the "Merlin Class" (that seems a whole lot more accomplished). The Malfoys are part of an old family and how many flies do you think Draco got to shoot down in his bedroom?

And a pensieve is described generally as a stone basin with runes around the edge. Am I wrong in thinking that using runes is a pretty ancient form of doing magic? I always had thought runes were used mainly by the Druids. Hogwarts was build somewhere around a thousand years ago. How do we know Slytherin didn't have a hand in helping to create pensieves?

ready, set, go..........

Ashe

lol. Avada Kedavra gives out a green light, Rita has a green ink, Lockhart was wearing green, there is too much green in the story to relate it with any confidence. BTW, we only heard about ONE pensieve. Even a wizard so accomplioshed and from such an old family as Snape has to borrow it. Were would Slytherin's come from? Tom surely did not have it, ansd HE is the only heir...

BTW... don't wear green on Thursdays...

Maybe the green light is just coming from a potion... but I also agree that Snape will be bigger in this book...

BTW... don't wear green on Thursdays...

Maybe the green light is just coming from a potion... but I also agree that Snape will be bigger in this book...


But we really don't see anything potiony in the American cover. The main candidates are, 1. a memory of Lily, 2. Avada Kedavra.
What potion that we know of makes everything around it green?

Hi all first post in the thread so here goes (hope i'm the first to mention it :cool: )
In the uk children cover we see Dumbledore and harry creating two circles of fire which serround them..it has already happend once, or so I believe, in the chapter "The only one he ever feared"-the battle between voldy - DD

Dumbledore had drawn back his wand and waved it as though brandishing a whip. A long thin flame flew from the tip; it wrapped itself around Voldemort, shield and all. For a moment, it seemed Dumbledore had won, but then the fiery rope became a serpent, which relinquished its hold on Voldemort at once and turned, hissing furiously, to face Dumbledore.

Do you think it's the same spell as me?(one casted by Dumbledore the other by harry)
In this confrontation it appears as offensive spell but can't it be form of defensive spell as well?
and about the same picture isn't is strange that Dumbledore wear purple robe! :evil:
(he wear purple alot through the books if u noticed it) I too think he is the half blood prince...
btw is it me or harry's scar is little glowing too (maybe because of the fire:huh: )??
ok that's for now.

mugpurehalf you have a good point there... I think that it could be an offensive spell. I think that Dumbledore's favorite color is purple...

to became an Auror Harry needs Owls in Potions... but we know he isn't very good in this subject, expecially with Snape. Most potent potions are certainly those who can transfigurate him as polijuice and also the antidote for the werewolves, but for an Auror the first thought is to stop the dark forces: some defences would be too feeble, I think altough that could be some :huh: benefic charms or vitalizing potions that can change not the nature of the malefic people but the conditions to liberate the good gifts of the people.
i remember that everyone chooses his way, liberty is the first rule, so potions don't constrict, but help

It seems to me that Professor Snape has a lot to do with how Harry will do in Potions for his examinations and move on to be an Auror. Perhaps Snape will called somewhere else to serve the Order of the Phoenix or maybe he dies? Perhaps he is a spy for he can cloud his mind to Lord Voldemort and to Headmaster Dumbledore.

It seems to me that Professor Snape has a lot to do with how Harry will do in Potions for his examinations and move on to be an Auror. Perhaps Snape will called somewhere else to serve the Order of the Phoenix or maybe he dies? Perhaps he is a spy for he can cloud his mind to Lord Voldemort and to Headmaster Dumbledore.

I think that Snape does have something to do with the book..a more important role. I don't know about anything else, I just believe because of this potions book, that we will either be seeing more of Snape..or something else. :D

I think that Snape will begin to let go of his grudge against Harry and James. What happened was bad... but if Harry doesn't do well in potions he can't become an auror, and I think that Snape will realize that this is something that Harry will be good at.

ohh I can't help myself i'm addicted I have to post another one :blush:
It's about the American cover i'm sure its Pensieve it got a stand its not cauldron why to make a potion with a stand + no fire underneath & not deep enough + McGonagall promised harry to help him in potion if he's needed(no?) no Dumbledore +it got ruins as mention about the Pensieve in book four we never have been told about ruins in cauldrons. :p
In conclusion (mine :cool: ) it's Pensieve nothing else, the green light I believe is by seeing avada kedavra being casted... you ask about the silver/white light in book 4 simply put its the action in the memory that direct the exact color (like a fog in a dream it light reflexing the flash of the image) and In book four the memory holder wasn't close enough to the flash of magic (maybe not strong enough light) thats why the original color of the Pensieve fog, white, appeared.
anyway I hope you got it I'm not very good in explaining stuff.

ohh I can't help myself i'm addicted I have to post another one :blush:
It's about the American cover i'm sure its Pensieve it got a stand its not cauldron why to make a potion with a stand + no fire underneath & not deep enough + McGonagall promised harry to help him in potion if he's needed(no?) no Dumbledore +it got ruins as mention about the Pensieve in book four we never have been told about ruins in cauldrons. :p
In conclusion (mine :cool: ) it's Pensieve nothing else, the green light I believe is by seeing avada kedavra being casted... you ask about the silver/white light in book 4 simply put its the action in the memory that direct the exact color (like a fog in a dream it light reflexing the flash of the image) and In book four the memory holder wasn't close enough to the flash of magic (maybe not strong enough light) thats why the original color of the Pensieve fog, white, appeared.
anyway I hope you got it I'm not very good in explaining stuff.


I have to admit I wasn't quote following that...I had to read it a couple of times and I still don't fully get it but..

I think you are saying about the silver/white stuff is when the person who is inserting the memory is actually putting in the memory..

Now you've got me confused on explaining :D

But I'm just saying that, yes, I do think that the green light is coming from the Avada Kedavra curse, and I think that is definately a Pensieve...I think that is mostly agreed on. Harry has his wand anyway...
And the silver/white light comes out when the person is putting in a memory or a thought. I think that Harry got the memory from Voldemort's thoughts coming from his head. I also think that maybe it is actually Voldemorts Pensieve and the thought came from there but then why does Harry have his wand? Whatever I have to go my mom needs on and she is reading all this over my shoulder...:D

Well putting what some of you have said together... perhaps Harry is putting the memory of his parents death into a pensieve???

Well putting what some of you have said together... perhaps Harry is putting the memory of his parents death into a pensieve???

Exactly what I think...but I think that it is VOldemort's memory and Harry got it from his own head somehow because of that little connection. :D

No i didn't meant the light thread when putting a memory i mean this :

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 Harry had ever seen before. He could not tell whether the substance was liquid or gas. It was a bright, whitish silver, and it was moving ceaselessly; the surface of it became ruffled like water beneath wind,and then, like clouds, separated and swirled smoothly. It looked like light made liquid - or like wind made solid - Harry couldn't make up his mind.

No i didn't meant the light thread when putting a memory i mean this :

I think that is just the original light that it gives off. I was trying to come up with an acceptiable comparison..and I came up with a light bulb...not all that great but hey...

So a light is yellowish. But why you put something over it..such as a peice of paper, it will turn a different color or put the color out...It alters it.

..I told you it wasn't a good comparison.

Anyway, I think that the light may have came from it just because that is the light that it gives off, or that that light is simply coming form that memory, or maybe it was the fog on the outside...like...circling the memory.

But yeah, I think that the thing on the cover is a pensieve..I mean, what else would it be? Think obvious people! :p

A pensieve would make sense... because its been something that has been highly relevent in the past.... Snapes memory at school and Dumbledore's at the trial...

The pensieve can be used to extract Ginny's blank memories (the time that Tom Riddle occupied her), so Dumbledore and Harry can see how Voldemort thinks, what he feared and what he was doing in the Chamber of Secrets. Yes, it's Secrets (plural) not Secret (singular). So far, we only know one secret: the basilisk. Jo would have to correct the spelling if there is no more secrets in there.

The pensieve can be used to extract Ginny's blank memories (the time that Tom Riddle occupied her), so Dumbledore and Harry can see how Voldemort thinks, what he feared and what he was doing in the Chamber of Secrets. Yes, it's Secrets (plural) not Secret (singular). So far, we only know one secret: the basilisk. Jo would have to correct the spelling if there is no more secrets in there.

If Ginny's memories are blank, then what good would it do them? I don't see it helping them if there is nothing for that time period. I think it'll have something to do with either the Founders, or Harry's parents.

maybe the potions book on the uk adult cover is actually ron's? ron did say he wanted to be an auror too, but i think he felt overshadowed by harry and so didn't talk about it that much. it would make a lot more sense as to why the book looked so battered - the weasleys would buy him a second hand one.

For the first time, the British Artwork beats the Scholastic version.


British childrens artwork is always the best!

Seems to me like having Harry still do potions was just too nice an idea for Rowling to give up on! He really liked the idea of being a Auror, and as we see when he's doing his OWLS, he did better 'without snape breathing down his neck', so it's possible that he got the requisite grades.

For the stone basin, and the question as to whether it's a pensive, it seems too BIG for me. The colour as has been pointed out doesn't really matter if it's a memory. However when we see Dumbledore with it in the OotP, He's able to pick it up and swirl it around, meaning it's not as big as the one on the cover.

As for the american cover art, I would have to say that that may be the 'power the dark lord knows not', behind the locked door at the ministry. I haven't read the whole thread so sorry if this has already been said.

Also, just realised that the colour scheme for British (and Irish!) Edition, is the same as it was for COS. First time it's been repeated, could tie in with what Rowling said about them being linked.

Does anyone have a link to the picture of the cover for the american one? I know that was less then a line but... forgive me?

For the American version, the green vapour surrounding dumbledore and harry might have something to do with the "spindly instrument" in ootp that dumbledore uses after harry has the vision about Mr Weasley.

its seems likely as the meaning of the specific shapes that the greeeeeeeeeeen smoke took was not revealed to us. Perhaps the cover suggests we will be getting answers to these question as a central theme to the hbp!!!!!

In OOTP, Harry assumes that Snape is using Dumbledore’s pensieve during the Occlumency lessons. But it would seem to me that a pensieve would be a very personal item. The Muggle equivalent would be a diary or a journal. I can’t see something that personal being shared by wizards. I think that some wizards have a pensieve and some don’t. Just like some Muggle’s have diaries and some don’t. It is likely that all pensieves are basically stone basins with runes around the edges.

I think that it is a pensieve on the US cover. It fits the description of a pensieve. I don’t think it is Dumbledore’s because it looks older. Someone suggested that maybe it is in the MoM and is used to view historical events. I like that idea. It could also be Salazar Slytherin’s pensieve recovered from the COS. There are many possibilities.

Dumbledore is showing Harry something important. The green mist or light surrounding them suggests the Avada Kedavra curse so maybe Harry is seeing what happened when his parent’s died. We saw in OOTP that when you view a memory in a pensieve that it is very detailed. Some of the things that Harry witnessed, Snape couldn’t possibly have witnessed. Like seeing James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter before Snape walked up. Snape wouldn’t have known what they were doing or saying before he got there.

Harry was present when his parent’s died and, while he has no conscious memory of the event, he has remembered hearing their voices, Voldemort’s laugh, and a flash of green light. So, Harry could be viewing his own memory of that night. Using a pensieve would allow him to see all the details of what happened. The pensieve could belong to his parents! I just thought of that. Maybe that’s why it is cracked. It was damaged in the explosion.

As far as the other covers, it would appear that Dumbledore and Harry are going be involved in a confrontation with Voldemort and/or the Death Eaters. The UK adult cover shows the Advanced Potion Making book, which could mean different things. It is possible that Harry will have to make a complicated potion. I think it is a given that Harry will be in NEWT potions because JKR is not going to get rid of the interaction between Snape and Harry and Harry will need potions to become an auror. Hermione will definitely be in it and I think Ron might as well because he also expressed interest in becoming an auror.

hmm mayb but i still think that JK Rowling left the meaning of the green smoke in ootp taking the shape of two serpents, to be elaborated on in a future book. oh well we'll find out in 73 days

But it would seem to me that a pensieve would be a very personal item. The Muggle equivalent would be a diary or a journal.
Why? It's only a temporary storage device. Thoughts are put in and later taken back out. They don't stay in there...So as long as it is emptied first, there is no harm in loaning it out.

hmm mayb but i still think that JK Rowling left the meaning of the green smoke in ootp taking the shape of two serpents, to be elaborated on in a future book. oh well we'll find out in 73 days

Isn't that the "In essence divided" thing??? I have always wondered exactly what that statement meant. I think that is an option here that we are overlooking...

I re-read that chapter not long ago and thought that the item the smoke came from could have been what was on the cover, but now looking at the cover again. . . i'm not so sure.

Why? It's only a temporary storage device. Thoughts are put in and later taken back out. They don't stay in there...So as long as it is emptied first, there is no harm in loaning it out.

In GOF, when Harry sees the pensieve for the first time, Dumbledore's memories are still in it. I guess it could be emptied and loaned out but I still don't think that Dumbledore is the only wizard who has one. It is possible that Snape has his own and Harry just thought it was Dumbledore's. It is also possible that the pensieve on the cover of HBP belongs to someone else. It could be Salazar Slytherin's recovered from the COS. It could also have belonged to his parents. We'll find out when the book comes out.

Isn't that the "In essence divided" thing??? I have always wondered exactly what that statement meant. I think that is an option here that we are overlooking...

I've always wondered what it meant, too.

Here:

essence:

Noun
1. The intrinsic or indispensable properties that serve to characterize or identify something. 2. The most important ingredient; the crucial element. 3. The inherent, unchanging nature of a thing or class of things. 4. a. An extract that has the fundamental properties of a substance in concentrated form. b. Such an extract in a solution of alcohol. c. A perfume or scent. 5. One that has or shows an abundance of a quality as if highly concentrated: a neighbor who is the essence of hospitality. 6. Something that exists, especially a spiritual or incorporeal entity.
Idioms
in essence By nature; essentially: He is in essence a reclusive sort. of the essence Of the greatest importance; crucial: Time is of the essence.

What can we make from this definition? What could "..in essence divided" mean? And the snakes?

In GOF, when Harry sees the pensieve for the first time, Dumbledore's memories are still in it.
That incident appeared to have been a result of bad timing. Dumbledore had put his memories of those trials in the pensieve in order to contemplate them, but before he could do so, he was interrupted and merely put the container in the case. When Harry viewed Snape's memory it was only because Snape was called away to deal with a Slytherin stuck in a toilet. At the end of at least one Occlumency lesson, Harry sees Snape retrieving memories from the pensieve. [Now, if Harry had seen a Dumbledore memory in Snape's office...then we would have some evidence that once placed in the pensieve the memory might remain, possibly even after 'retrieval', but that didn't happen. Would have been dull to revisit the trials or Bertha, wouldn't it?! :lol:]

Note that in both cases where Harry looked into the memories of others, the person placing the memories in the pensieve was drawn away from it before having a chance to retrieve their memories.

And I am not saying the pensieve could not be used for long-term memory storage. But I am saying we haven't seen it used that way. Since we haven't seen the pensieve used as a 'permanent' storage device, I don't see how it makes any difference where the one on the cover came from (Slytherin, Voldemort, Gryffindor, the Potters, etc.). It matches the description of the one in Dumbledore's office--it has runes (or at least markings that could be runes) around the rim and a visible crack. It is shallow (especially compared to a cauldron) and Dumbledore and Harry are both staring at something in it, or something happening at its surface.

I think that it is a potion as a lot of this seems to focus on potions and I doubt it is a pensieve. One of the uk covers has the guide to advanced potion making so that seems to backup this theory.

That incident appeared to have been a result of bad timing. Dumbledore had put his memories of those trials in the pensieve in order to contemplate them, but before he could do so, he was interrupted and merely put the container in the case. When Harry viewed Snape's memory it was only because Snape was called away to deal with a Slytherin stuck in a toilet. At the end of at least one Occlumency lesson, Harry sees Snape retrieving memories from the pensieve. [Now, if Harry had seen a Dumbledore memory in Snape's office...then we would have some evidence that once placed in the pensieve the memory might remain, possibly even after 'retrieval', but that didn't happen. Would have been dull to revisit the trials or Bertha, wouldn't it?! :lol:]

Note that in both cases where Harry looked into the memories of others, the person placing the memories in the pensieve was drawn away from it before having a chance to retrieve their memories.

And I am not saying the pensieve could not be used for long-term memory storage. But I am saying we haven't seen it used that way. Since we haven't seen the pensieve used as a 'permanent' storage device, I don't see how it makes any difference where the one on the cover came from (Slytherin, Voldemort, Gryffindor, the Potters, etc.). It matches the description of the one in Dumbledore's office--it has runes (or at least markings that could be runes) around the rim and a visible crack. It is shallow (especially compared to a cauldron) and Dumbledore and Harry are both staring at something in it, or something happening at its surface.

I was agreeing with you. I hadn't thought about the fact that Dumbledore and Snape were called away both times Harry looked into the pensieve. However, Dumbledore's pensieve is not described as having a crack in it. That makes me think it belongs to someone else. I was just saying that I don't think that Dumbledore is the only wizard who has one. I think it would be cool if the pensieve on the cover belonged to Harry's parents and he is looking at some of their memories. It could have been cracked in the explosion. That probably won't happen but it would be cool.

Who the pensieve belongs to only matters if the memory being shown belongs to someone other than Dumbledore or Harry. They are both shown looking into it. Because of all the green mist I am inclined to think that they are looking at Harry's memory of the night his parents died. In that case it would probably be Dumbledore's pensieve. But, if it is Dumbledore's pensieve, where did the crack come from?

It may not be a pensive, it looks more like a basin, and the light from a pensive is described as silvery, not green.

It may have something to do with potion brewing, and that would link with the UK adult edition, where you see a copy of advanced potion making.

The pensieve may belong to Salazar Slytherin, found in the Chamber of Secrets, after they vend off Voldemort's attack to Hogwarts. Ginny may be the guide to the pensieve after Dumbledore extracts hidden information from her mind (when Tom Riddle possessed her). I believe Salazar left something for his heir to use to be the ultimate master of Hogwarts.

I agree, being a potion it would tie well in with the adult version of the cover, plus alot of speculation about the potion subject and snape in the next book.

Also, what is the significance of the title (American) being handwritten in, I assume, ink? I heard this book is taken from the original draft of CoS, in which handwriting is part of the main theme (the diary and toms memory)... any thoughts?

Is Slytherin good in potion? Voldemort seems to know how to make elixir to prolong his life. Snape from House of Slytherin is Potion Teacher?

Well Voldermort dosent know how to make the elixir of life otherwise why go to all thr trouble to steal it in PS, and Snape is only Potions Master because Dumbledore wont let him teach Defence against the Dark arts.

He just knows what works to keep him alive. He definately can't make any Elixir. :)

Is Slytherin good in potion? Voldemort seems to know how to make elixir to prolong his life. Snape from House of Slytherin is Potion Teacher?

I don't think that he was really too sure what it was that allowed him not to die when Harry was a baby. Voldemort carried out several experiments that transformed him in hopes of reaching immortality. I beleave that it was said that one or more of them must have worked...so basically he lives because of reacher he did, but none of it has reached the level to actually prolong his life as the SS can do...which is the reason for him wanting it.

It would make since that Slytherin would be able to do well in just about all magical areas...transfiguriations, potions, charms. He was one of the four most powrful wizards of his time. On the other hand, you have to wonder what spells, curses, charms, etc. have only been invented since Slytherin's death...we're talking over a 1000 years. I don't think he had any potions for being immortal anyway (DD and Flamel came up with the SS).

I haven't read all of the posts, so I apologise if this has been mentioned. On the UK cover, Dumbledore and Harry are surrounded by a ring of fire, which reminded me of Dragons. Maybe we'll be seeing Dragons again, maybe Charlie too. Of course it could be Dumbledore conjuring some sort of shield of fire or something. Just an idea.

This is the way I see it: on the adult version, it says "Advanced Potion Making." Half Blood Prince has a tie to Chamber of Secrets. In Chamber of Secrets, the Polyjuice Potion is obviously considered advanced.

See where I'm going?

I believe that this is the tie between the two books. Something is going on with the Polyjuice Potion, Moste Potente Potions (the book in Book 2), or something similar. Maybe not, but that's the way I see it.

Thanks,
Jilli

This is the way I see it: on the adult version, it says "Advanced Potion Making." Half Blood Prince has a tie to Chamber of Secrets. In Chamber of Secrets, the Polyjuice Potion is obviously considered advanced.

See where I'm going?

I believe that this is the tie between the two books. Something is going on with the Polyjuice Potion, Moste Potente Potions (the book in Book 2), or something similar. Maybe not, but that's the way I see it.

Thanks,
Jilli

I don't know. I think the polyjuice potion got it's chance to shine in GoF. It was pretty important in that book, and to put another lagre focus on it again would seem played out to me...But of course, this is just my opinion, and you could be totally right.

[/QUOTE]I believe that this is the tie between the two books. Something is going on with the Polyjuice Potion, Moste Potente Potions (the book in Book 2), or something similar.[QUOTE]

The other potions mentioned when they browsed "Moste Potente Potions" include "a man who seemed to have been turned inside out and a witch sprouting several extra pairs of arms out of her head." These are pretty gruesome...I hope they aren't included in Book 6 :shrug:. Btw, this is from page 164 COS ppbk.

I agree; polyjuice has indeed had it's time to shine. :agree:

I triend to start a new thread on this but I was redirected here. Does anyone know if the UK HBP (kids) cover is by a new artisit, it's similar to the old ones but there's something different about the style. Thanks

I triend to start a new thread on this but I was redirected here. Does anyone know if the UK HBP (kids) cover is by a new artisit, it's similar to the old ones but there's something different about the style. Thanks

No, I think it is the same person, but I forget her name for some reason. Someone else knows it from the top of their head, so I'll look for it but they willprobably get there faster than me :p

Wow, everyone here is so observant. I wish I could help in the least bit, but everything that I've seen or predicted has already been pointed out.
Maybe this could help, I didn't read anyone else talk much about it. On two of the covers for book six there are swirls, one of the swirls are green, the other red like fire. Is it possible the swirls are important?

This is the way I see it: on the adult version, it says "Advanced Potion Making." Half Blood Prince has a tie to Chamber of Secrets. In Chamber of Secrets, the Polyjuice Potion is obviously considered advanced.

I believe that this is the tie between the two books. Something is going on with the Polyjuice Potion, Moste Potente Potions (the book in Book 2), or something similar. Maybe not, but that's the way I see it.
I think the link is in the Mandrakes that were mentioned in CoS, not so much the Polyjuice Potion because as someone mentioned earlier, it has been done already in GoF.

The reason why I say the link is in the Mandrakes is because I believe a transfigured character will be restored to their original state in HBP (I'm a strong believer that Trevor the Toad is a transfigured half-blood prince...can't find my long post about it at the moment though :upset: )

The quote is:
"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," said Hermione, sounding as usual as though she had swallowed the textbook. "It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state." Bloomsbury, Paperback, pg. 72
I think this ties up the Advanced Potions Making book on the UK adult edition, CoS and HBP quite neatly as restoring a person is clearly advanced potions.

I don't think that he was really too sure what it was that allowed him not to die when Harry was a baby. Voldemort carried out several experiments that transformed him in hopes of reaching immortality. I beleave that it was said that one or more of them must have worked...so basically he lives because of reacher he did, but none of it has reached the level to actually prolong his life as the SS can do...which is the reason for him wanting it.

It would make since that Slytherin would be able to do well in just about all magical areas...transfiguriations, potions, charms. He was one of the four most powrful wizards of his time. On the other hand, you have to wonder what spells, curses, charms, etc. have only been invented since Slytherin's death...we're talking over a 1000 years. I don't think he had any potions for being immortal anyway (DD and Flamel came up with the SS).

Actualy, Flamel came up with it on is own.... He is something like 500 years old so he would'nt have lived long enough to meet DD if he hadn't created the stone alone...

and for the elixir to prolong life, we have no evidence that this is particularly difficult to make. We know the only one that has created a STONE is Flamel but once you have the stone, making the elixir could be very easy...

Actualy, Flamel came up with it on is own.... He is something like 500 years old so he would'nt have lived long enough to meet DD if he hadn't created the stone alone...

and for the elixir to prolong life, we have no evidence that this is particularly difficult to make. We know the only one that has created a STONE is Flamel but once you have the stone, making the elixir could be very easy...

man...I knew I posted something dumb like that on one of these threads...oh well...good of you to correct me...
just so no one gets confused by my mistake, I'll clear up what they did do (as my own punishment :p ):
Fammel created the stone.... DD did the 12 uses of dragons blood...together they worked on some Alchemy(whatever work it was that they did...which is unknown).


As far as creating the elixir goes, it might be easy, but probably not known. What would be the point in knowing how to make the elixir if you can't use it? Making popcorn in a microwave is easy, but if the instructions aren't out there because no one can grow corn... then there's still some difficultly involved.

Hi everybody !

Well I don't know if you guys have already (i'm terribly sorry and embarrass if you have already discussed it) spotted the Scholastic's "edition deluxe" cover of HBP

Once again Mary GrandPre Make appear Harry and Dumbledore Together, this time on their way to do something....

After seeing the first ones (both english an american) covers it was already clear that Dumbledore and Harry will work together...but man is it the forbidden forest they are in ?

I'm getting more and more excited each passing day.......(Seriously i'm in agony....give me that book already !!!!!!!)

I don't know if i can post the link...anyways you can all see it on veritaserum

I have only seen the brithish version, can anybody give me the link for the american cover? the one that is allready in this thread did not work ( stupid PC :( )

Well I don't know if you guys have already (i'm terribly sorry and embarrass if you have already discussed it) spotted the Scholastic's "edition deluxe" cover of HBP
Once again Mary GrandPre Make appear Harry and Dumbledore Together, this time on their way to do something....


Just saw this, too! Looks like the forest to me, too.

Hopefully you can see my signature, but here's a cropped link:
http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23582
And a bigger size (even bigger than veritaserum, I think):
http://products.ruggedelegance.com/cgi-bin/amazon/amazon_products_feed.cgi?Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=0439791324&myOperation=Image

I agree, this must be the forest... maybe something important is going to happen there, maybe Grawp totally freaks out

Okay it seems obvious that Dumdledore and Harry are going to be working together a lot in this book! And I'm starting to get neverous about DD survial :(.

I think they are trying to contact the Centaurs, perhaps the Centaurs are the guardians of the Penseive that we see in the regular cover??? Or are they going to contact Aragog, like Ron and Harry did in the CoS... Okay I'm truely excited!!!

...... And I'm starting to get neverous about DD survial :(.

......


Tell me about it ! i'm really really afraid that Harry may have to go on without Dumbledore help !

It would be so terrifying without Dumbledore....
(Oohh I just can't wait for HBP to come out!)

For those of you who haven't see the cover yet here you is a link! (http://www.veritaserum.com/galleries/displayimage.php?album=184&pos=2) And here is a picture. :D http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23585&stc=1

The new delux cover is nice looking. It's the most intriguing to me, probably because I can look at it and know what it is (well, what is possibly is - it could easily be somewhere else).

But now I almost feel like I've been spoiled on something - isn't that strange?

These little hints are excruciating. I wanna read HBP so bad!! I think Harry and Dumbledore are in the Forbidden Forest on their way to meet Aragog. As CoS and HBP seem to be connected:

Certain crucial pieces of information in book six were originally planned for 'Chamber of Secrets', but very early on (first draft of Chamber) I realised that this information's proper home was book six. I have said before now that 'Chamber' holds some very important clues to the ultimate end of the series. Not as many as six, obviously, but there is a link. (JK Official Site)

And since Aragog was a big part in CoS and JK said we'll be seeing him again so maybe this is it? Anyone know how Hagrid got aragog in the first place?

Yeah after looking at the new deluxe cover for awhile, I definitely think it is taking place in the Forbidden Forest. Lets see, that makes 3 covers with Harry and Dumbledore working together. It looks as though those two will be doing a lot in the next book. That will be a nice refresher since in the last book they hardly spoke to one another until the end.

I wonder if there is something important in the forest that they are searching for. I understand that it could just be to talk to Aragog (sp??) or maybe even Grawp, but maybe there is something more. Maybe the centaurs are guarding something or know something that is important for the future of the wizarding world.

I'm also thinking back to the British version that has Dumbledore and Harry with wands raised and a ring of fire surrounding them. Maybe that scene is the big climax of the book and it takes place in the forest. Just a thought. Either way, with all the pictures of Dumbledore, I hope nothing terrible happens to him at the end of this book. I always thought he would die in the series, but not until the 7th book.

Gee Dumbledore and Harry together on yet another cover. I cant wait to see them working together. I hope Dumbledore takes it upon himself to train harry in this book because I'm not sure if Dumbeldore will be around much longer :(

I thought that Harry and Dumbledore were in the Forbidden Forest too. But what would they be doing there together. OH I can't wait for the HBP! Hurry Hurry!

And since Aragog was a big part in CoS and JK said we'll be seeing him again so maybe this is it? Anyone know how Hagrid got aragog in the first place?
Ask and ye shall receive...

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets Chapter 15 Aragog pages 277 & 278
"And you... you didn't come from the Chamber of Secrets?" said Harry, who could feel cold sweat on his forehead.
"I!" said Aragog, clicking angrily. "I was not born in the castle. I come from a distant land. A traveler gave me to Hagrid when I was an egg. Hagrid was only a boy, but he cared for me, hidden in a cupboard in the castle, feeding me on scraps from the table. Hagrid is my good friend, and a good man. When I was discovered, and blamed for the death of a girl, he protected me. I have lived here in the forest ever since, where Hagrid still visits me. He even found me a wife, Mosag, and you see how our family has grown, all through Hagrid's goodness...."
bolded by me...
personally though, I think the clue to the end is the fued between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Riddle's heritage is learned in Chamber and Harry's quality was shown in chamber, yety like Dumbledore says here
Chapter 18 Dobby's Reward page 333 & 334
"It only put me in Gryffindor," said Harry in a defeated voice, "because I asked not to go in Slytherin...."
"Exactly," said Dumbledore, beaming once more. "Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Harry sat motionless in his chair, stunned. "If you want proof, Harry, that you belong in Gryffindor, I suggest you look more closely at this."
Dumbledore reached across to Professor McGonagall's desk, picked up the blood-stained silver sword, and handed it to Harry. Dully, Harry turned it over, the rubies blazing in the firelight. And then he saw the name engraved just below the hilt.
Godric Gryffindor.
"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat, Harry," said Dumbledore simply.
I think Harry's heritage will be revealed too, I do not think it's an accident that there's a prophecy, concerning a Dark Lord, related to Slytherin, who shares a wand core with a boy, who is a True Gryffindor and said Wand core comes from Dumbledore's Phoenix. Too many coincidences...
Curious
:tu: :huh: :tu:

I love the new cover for the Deluxe Edition.

Hmmmm.. Could it be a different forest? Maybe the forest near where Voldemort has been in his fathers house? Or the Forbiddin forest?

I wish we could see the whole picture on the jacket.

I'm sure someone has said this..but it looks like they are at a fence...at the bottom you see it. They are most likely in the forest..and I think someone probably said that too...so where are they...what are they looking at? :p

Yeah after looking at the new deluxe cover for awhile, I definitely think it is taking place in the Forbidden Forest. Lets see, that makes 3 covers with Harry and Dumbledore working together. It looks as though those two will be doing a lot in the next book. That will be a nice refresher since in the last book they hardly spoke to one another until the end.

Or all three covers show the happenings of one chapter. We cannot assume that Harry Dumbledore will be walking side-by-side for the whole book.

Is it July yet?

Gee Dumbledore and Harry together on yet another cover. I cant wait to see them working together. I hope Dumbledore takes it upon himself to train harry in this book because I'm not sure if Dumbeldore will be around much longer :(

Did anyone ever read A Day No Pigs Would Die?

It's about this kid who is supposed to be becoming a man all throughout the book, and his father is teaching him all these things, and then one day his father tells him that he has "an affection". He means infection..but it was like..back in the twenties or something. I haven't finished the book yet, because we are reading it in school and we can't take it home..

Earlier in the book, they were looking at the sunset and the kid, Robert, says to his dad that the sunset is probably his favorite sight, and his father says: "...and I reckon it's a good place to go." I knew this was some find of foreshadowing of his death, because..it just is..:D

But then in this chapter that we are on now..well..I read ahead..he tells Robert that he has that infection and that he is only going to live through the winter. He is telling Robert all this stuff throughout the book about how to make a good farm and things.

So the connection: Maybe if Dumbledore is going to die anytime soon, he is going to hint it to Harry and teach him all he knows. I know I don't want it to happen at all..because I think I might just cry..but maybe that is why he is spending so much time with Harry. Maybe he is teaching him all that he knows?

..Just a thought. :sad: I couldn't stand to see Dumbledore go...

Or all three covers show the happenings of one chapter. We cannot assume that Harry Dumbledore will be walking side-by-side for the whole book.

Is it July yet?

..I wish. :p

But how do we know that it is all the same chapter? I can't remember all the other covers, but they can't have all been from the same chapter..

But then again, I don't remember :D

--
And I might just be over-analyzing, but it looks like Harry has PJ's on. :D

Or maybe not PJ's, but it doesn't look like and robes or muggle clothes or anything...

I think Harry and Dumbledore will be in contact many times throughout the book. A trip in a forest, a gaze into a pensieve, and, from what I gather from the UK cover, a battle, all at once or in a short time frame, seems kind of squished.

Hmmm... I thought it was the forest at first too, but what looks like a fence kind of throws me off of that idea. Harry and Dumbledore going to visit the old home in Godric's Hollow came across my mind, but I doubt it. Just the forest and broken fence gave me the impression of something abandonned and long forgotten.

I must say though, the forest just seems to be the more possible idea.

Edit: HermioneLuvsRon, your right! It does look like Harry is wearing pajamas, with a house coat (bathrobe?) over top.

i havent read the whole thing so im not sure if this has been talked about but if u notice, on every other book, the ending (climax) of the book is depicted on the books cover. Maybe Harry and Dumbledore go into the Forest at the end of the book?

i havent read the whole thing so im not sure if this has been talked about but if u notice, on every other book, the ending (climax) of the book is depicted on the books cover. Maybe Harry and Dumbledore go into the Forest at the end of the book?

Well...it's been discussed alot, and alot of people argue that point. I think that for this..some reason..isn't at the very end of the book..but towards the end. The part on the childrens British cover, I think is at the end of the book, and the American cover I think is between those two. I'm weird.. :D

Oh yeah..and I think you're only allowed one pic in your sig. ;)

I think Harry and Dumbledore will be in contact many times throughout the book. A trip in a forest, a gaze into a pensieve, and, from what I gather from the UK cover, a battle, all at once or in a short time frame, seems kind of squished.

Hmmm... I thought it was the forest at first too, but what looks like a fence kind of throws me off of that idea. Harry and Dumbledore going to visit the old home in Godric's Hollow came across my mind, but I doubt it. Just the forest and broken fence gave me the impression of something abandonned and long forgotten.

I must say though, the forest just seems to be the more possible idea.

Edit: HermioneLuvsRon, your right! It does look like Harry is wearing pajamas, with a house coat (bathrobe?) over top.

Ha, doesn't it?

But how do you guys know that it's all in one chapter? Or is just an assumption? It could be within a couple or maybe not even the same time at all...Or did JKR say that somewhere? :p

I think they could be going into the Black Forest, it's mention alot in the books.

I've been reading some of the posts in here and I saw a few mention how they think DD and Harry are gonna go visit Godric's Hollow, and they are saying its unlikely... Though why would that be? The minute I saw the delux version cover, I thought of Tarzan. Has anyone seen the disney version of it? When Tarzan gets older and finds out ther eare humans out there like him, his 'mother' takes him to the hut she found him in when the cheetah killed his parents, and Tarzan walks through all the broken trinkets and sees the blood from the Cheetah's paws and everything. Why would it be unlikely something like that would happen in the book? I could see Harry going to the reckage of what use to be his home when he was younger, and perhaps finding James' pair of extra glasses or something. DD would probably want to bring him there so he can face what Voldemort did to him in his past, so he could truely get over it. I believe it would be emotial for Harry, but perhaps esentail so he knows what he's dealing with. Though then again, maybe I don't know J.K.R.'s style that well, and maybe she wouldn't do that right after the death of Sirus.

Orginally posted by HermioneLuvsRon
Did anyone ever read A Day No Pigs Would Die?

I've read that book and your quite right about what you said.. though I really am going to miss Dumbledoor if he leaves us.. I'd rather it be Hagrid. o_O

I think they could be going into the Black Forest, it's mention alot in the books.

If it's mentioned alot..why don't I know what it is? :p

I think they could be going into the Black Forest, it's mention alot in the books.

perhaps you mean the Forbidden Forest :tu:

I've been reading some of the posts in here and I saw a few mention how they think DD and Harry are gonna go visit Godric's Hollow, and they are saying its unlikely... Though why would that be?

I'm wondering the same thing, since that is the first thing I thought of when I saw the cover. I doubt that JKR is going to split the main plot off into all kinds of directions with the last two books, but instead answer a lot of questions, with a few more mysteries thrown into the mix. I don't see what the Black Forest has to do with things, but you never know. I have a feeling they are venturing into a part of Harry's past somehow and that it has to do with Godric's Hollow and Dumbledore filling in some gaps with visual aids. I could be wrong, though...

Someone earlier mentioned that the events seen on the cover seem to be squished as far as the plot goes and how many pages are in the next book. Does anyone think these images on the covers (pensieve and the forest) occur in the first few chapters? Maybe even the first one? Do you think maybe since Harry looks like he is in pajama's that Dumbledore gets him from the Dursley's that soon? But then again...JKR said Harry is leaving the Dursley's quickly and going somewhere pleasant, so now I'm even more confused.

Oooh maybe Harry and Dumbledore go to talk to the Centaurs!

Oooh maybe Harry and Dumbledore go to talk to the Centaurs!

Can they even talk?!

Centaurs can talk.

Can they even talk?!

Umm can Centaurs talk?:sigh: Is that what you mean?:no: Yes, yes they can.:huh:

Can they even talk?!
they talk to firenze and he's the divination teacher (for now) at hogwarts so I say, yes, centaurs can talk :cool:

I also think it's Godrics Hollow. In the press release it refers to the area Harry and DD are in as a "forested glen". The definition of a glen is "A small, secluded valley" according to Dictionary.com

I also looked up Hollow and under its many meanings "A small valley between mountains" popped up.

A valley is between mountains and so is a hollow so I think its Godric's Hollow

My earlier doubt of it being Godric's Hollow was probably due to that persistent little voice in my head that says, "You're wrong! You're wrong, and WAAAAY off!"

But now that I've seen that others have had the same impression as I (admittedly, I didn't read the whole thread, so if someone stated that it could be Godric's Hollow earlier, I must have missed it)


Madeye55, I like your idea about how the special edition cover could depict Dumbledore taking Harry away to show him Godric's Hollow (if that is what is on the cover. I'm speculating like mad here). Although I don't exactly see how that could be very pleasant, I guess it could be nicer than having to be ushered away from the Dursley's to attend a hearing, or right after a dementor attack. I think the scene on the american edition, the one with the pensieve, might take place somewhere in the middle of the book. This is just a hunch. I don't have anything to back this up with. On the UK edition... final battle, yes, I definitly think that one takes place during the final battle of HBP.

Well, thats all I have to say for the time being.

Is that a knife above Dumbledore's hand under the 'r' in Potter?

Is that a knife above Dumbledore's hand under the 'r' in Potter?

Good pickup! It certainly looks like it. Hmmmmmmmm.....

Although I don't exactly see how that could be very pleasant, I guess it could be nicer than having to be ushered away from the Dursley's to attend a hearing, or right after a dementor attack. I think the scene on the american edition, the one with the pensieve, might take place somewhere in the middle of the book. This is just a hunch. I don't have anything to back this up with. On the UK edition... final battle, yes, I definitly think that one takes place during the final battle of HBP.

That's why I was confused and am still confused about the plot of the book. It doesn't seem pleasant to me either, so it doesn't seem like it would happen near the beginning. Then I wonder when all the scenes from the various covers will occur. It seems like the book is going to be very crowded! :)

Is that a knife above Dumbledore's hand under the 'r' in Potter?


I think that it's shading, or trees, otherwise he would be gripping his hand instead of having it right open.

I think that it's shading, or trees, otherwise he would be gripping his hand instead of having it right open.

No, you're missing it. The knife's point is embedded in something off to the right of the picture image. The handle begins BEHIND the lower portion of the letter "e" and continues down BEHIND the "R" where the handle becomes the blade.

It's unmistakeably a knife.

Well, Ive been following this conversation all day and have decided to add my two knuts. Very simply I think that while the new delux edition cover offers us new things to wonder about (as in what the heck is the plot going to be about.. I really dont have a guess yet) and it undoubtly is a masterful piece I really dont care for it. Im partial to the collages of the other US edition books. It just has a different feel than the other book covers.


As for my speculations of what Dumbledore and Harry are doing, I think it is in the Forbidden forest a) visiting the HBP (perhaps he lives in the forest) or perhaps the HBP is dead but he has a grave or left something behind for Harry to find b) they are on some kind of rescue mission. I would think that for anything important R/Hr and perhaps Neville, Ginny and even Luna would want to be included. I find its odd that Harry is spending so much time with DD and we dont see any sign of the others.

HOLY MOLY! THAT IS A KNIFE! Right on lemondrop! To really see it, go to the previous page and there is a link that someone has posted to get a full screen version. WOW! Hmmm.....Dumbledore seems to be looking straight at the knife, but Harry doesn't seem to notice!

Oh no! Dumbledore is going to kill Harry! Just Kidding! All this speculating is getting to my brain! Haha. By the way, I think that they are in Godric's Hollow as many have said, but I have no idea why. Possibly an emotional therapy consultation? (Just Kidding)

No, you're missing it. The knife's point is embedded in something off to the right of the picture image. The handle begins BEHIND the lower portion of the letter "e" and continues down BEHIND the "R" where the handle becomes the blade.

It's unmistakeably a knife.

Lol sorry. I see it now!! It looks like it could be stuck in a tree or something. Very weird! I just wish I had a clearer picture. I wonder if it means anything. It does look very much like a knife...I don't know what else it could be.

OK, well this is my take on it.

I think the delux edition cover offers quite a lot of clues, particularly when put in context of the other covers and the story.

My goodness... where to begin?

I guess we have to remember that JKR is developing the story very much along the lines of the traditional, mythological "Hero's Journey" which also defines the outlines of such myths as Merlin/King Arthur, Gandalf/Frodo, Obi-Wan/Luke,

In these, in various form, the young hero is introduced to the mysteries of his new powers, but is then forced to face his own weaknesses and demons (usually in a dark place) before being able to come forth and defeat the great evil.

In Tolkien we see this with Gandalf teaching Frodo about compassion in Moria and various challenges in Mordor while Aragorn has a similar test going into the paths of the dead to convince the oath breakers to follow him into battle at Pelenor Field. (Excuse my spellings here, I'm not refering back to any of the books while writing this.)

But the greatest comparison to the delux cover must be made to Luke going through that same transition while being trained by Yoda on the jungle planet.

While Luke was initially trained by Obi-Wan, he needed to go into the dark place with Yoda to face his inner demons and fears to realise his true potential.

Similarly, we have seen Harry trained at school, most notably by Professor Lupin, but he (and no-one else) is magically in the same league as Dumbledore and Voldemort... Harry has a lot more to learn to face that challenge. Therefore, I think we are now at the stage of the story for the mentor Dumbledore to take the hero Harry to the next phase, take him to the dark place of initiation where Harry has to face his own demons.

This sequence could, or should, be the key to the penultimate book of the series, and why the cover image/s deal with it.

The delux edition cover clearly shows us Dumbledore leading Harry through a dark place (very reminiscent of Yoda and the jungle planet) and note how Harry is literally "breaking down barriers" before him as they go forward.

So I predict that this cover is showing the important event of Dumbledore leading Harry to the next plane of understanding.

OK... so this leads me to some more supposition.

My strongest guess is that the scene on the delux edition, is from within the pensiev of the other covers. Harry and DD are within a memory of Dumbledore's and DD is showing Harry something very important... and I think it is at Godric's Hollow (the branches and vines in the picture making a vague "G" and "H" hint vaguely as well).

As Harry's greatest demon, I believe, is the doubts about his father and the death of his parents at the hands of Voldemort, perhaps this is what he needs to have exorcised out of him. If Dumbledore had arrived at Godric's Hollow at the final moment to witness the murders but too far away or unable to do anything about it, such a view from the pensiev would be very powerful.

So my guess is that the dexlux edition picture is of DD and Harry in the pensiev, taking Harry to Godric's Hollow (and symbolically breaking down barriers), where Harry sees the betrayal of his parents (symbolised in the picture by the stabbing knife behind the letter "R".)

But that's just a theory. :)

-Andos

I think the green colors tell us a lot.

Harry's and Lilly's eyes are green.

In High Churches, where green vestments are used, Green = Hope.

In Irish culture, Green = Life

But green is the color of slime, and a chlorine cloud. So could green = the beginning and the end?

I guess we have to remember that JKR is developing the story very much along the lines of the traditional, mythological "Hero's Journey" which also defines the outlines of such myths as Merlin/King Arthur, Gandalf/Frodo, Obi-Wan/Luke

In these, in various form, the young hero is introduced to the mysteries of his new powers, but is then forced to face his own weaknesses and demons (usually in a dark place) before being able to come forth and defeat the great evil.

I like this theory. It does go along with what we're starting to see for all the Book 6 cover artwork. By now, we all know that Dumbledore's going to play a huge role in this book. In some ways, the art does seem to convey a message about Dumbledore training Harry or teaching/showing him something. The story does seem to be going into a teacher and student phase. I agree that Harry will learn more about facing his weaknesses through Dumbledore. I wonder what they're looking at in the Deluxe Edition cover art? Perhaps, the infamous Hogwart's graveyard ? :huh: However, it might not be since the setting seems to be in the Forbidden Forest and the graveyard is supposed to be on another side of the castle. Although having the graveyard in an area full of trees would also explain why no one had stumbled upon it.

I don't know if this new Deluxe Edition cover art has anything to do with their pensieve (if it is, indeed a pensieve) scene on the cover artwork of the American Edition cover. It looks like a different scene to me. I think the Deluxe Edition art is showing them going into the Forbidden Forest. If they were in the Pensieve, I think their images or surroundings would have been blurry to show that it was a memory. So I doubt they are in a pensieve.

I think the green colors tell us a lot.

Harry's and Lilly's eyes are green.

In High Churches, where green vestments are used, Green = Hope.

In Irish culture, Green = Life

But green is the color of slime, and a chlorine cloud. So could green = the beginning and the end?

I think it said somewhere that we will be leaning more about the eyes thing going on..it's either that or JKR said nothing about it..which is pretty much the same thing :D

And she said something about foreshadowing that gives her the chills in the third movie..and I think that is all the references to the eye resemblence. :)

I don't know if this new Deluxe Edition cover art has anything to do with their pensieve (if it is, indeed a pensieve) scene on the cover artwork of the American Edition cover. It looks like a different scene to me. I think the Deluxe Edition art is showing them going into the Forbidden Forest. If they were in the Pensieve, I think their images or surroundings would have been blurry to show that it was a memory. So I doubt they are in a pensieve.

Well, another reason I think it is inside the pensieve is because neither have their wands out. They wouldn't if they knew they were inside a memory, but they would if it was a "real" event.

- Andos

Well, another reason I think it is inside the pensieve is because neither have their wands out. They wouldn't if they knew they were inside a memory, but they would if it was a "real" event.

- Andos
You mean outside?

On the new cover - there appears to be faces in the tree trunk and the green spot appears to be skull. Maybe the dark mark? I dont know but they are pretty distint looking. Also that is definitely a knife or its a stick that is really good at looking like knives.

The lack of wands makes me wonder where they are and the knife, or 'stick-knife' does also... Their wandering makes it look like they are in a memory rather than live action. Can two people go into a pensieve at once and see the same memory together? That's an interesting thought.... Perhaps their wands are in the hands we can't see, but isn't Harry's wand-hand his right?

hpfttl: are you talking about the white-ish colored shape in the corner of the spine? I can't make out what that is...

You mean outside?

lol! No, inside-outside is a bit confusing. What I mean is that the delux cover image is of a scene where Dumbledore uses the pensieve to take Harry into one of his (DD's) memories, like when DD joined Harry inside the pensieve memory of Barty Crouch Jr's trial in GoF.

Both Harry and DD are inside the memory which is why they don't need to take out their wands.

Edit: Madeye55, yep, two can be inside the same pensieve memory at the same time. Remember when Harry was between two DD's in the wizengamot trial of either Crouch Jr or the Lestrange, one was the memory and one was "real"?

Um, don't mean to be rude or anything, but what are you guys smoking?
where is this knife?
can someone highlight it for me, i looked where you guys said, but I can't see anything other than branches/twigs etc.

Oh, i just saw it, i was looking just below it before and didn't see it.

****, that does look like a knife. It seems too perftect to be a branch. Very ominous.

There are broken branches in the bottom part of the cover, maybe they are looking for Grawp??

I just looked at, but not to good and my first thought was that they were wandering around the Forbidden Forest, but if so....WHY???? Are they going to look for the centaurs or Aragog or what? I'm gonna have to look at it again.

If I had to go with a theory at the moment, they pensieve idea is a good one.
A few people speculated when the original HBP cover came out, that they are looking into the pensieve, and probably looking at Godric's Hollow. So maybe that's what they are looking at. But who's memory? I doubt it would be Voldies, so maybe Wormtails. He still owes Harry for sparing his life, and we didn't hear anything about him in OoTP.

Well I dont konw about anyone else but thouse broken logs to me looked like perhaps they were once part of a fence. Does anyone else think that?

If I had to go with a theory at the moment, they pensieve idea is a good one.
A few people speculated when the original HBP cover came out, that they are looking into the pensieve, and probably looking at Godric's Hollow. So maybe that's what they are looking at. But who's memory? I doubt it would be Voldies, so maybe Wormtails. He still owes Harry for sparing his life, and we didn't hear anything about him in OoTP.
Couldn't it be Harry's? He's mentioned a few times that all he remembers is loads of green light. And Dumbledore could show him how to use a pensieve.

Couldn't it be Harry's? He's mentioned a few times that all he remembers is loads of green light. And Dumbledore could show him how to use a pensieve.

I think this is a REAL possibility. I know a lot of people will point out that Harry doesn't remember all that much and maybe couldn't see all that much, however he seemed to remember a lot more aurally (sound-wise) the more he faced the dementors. Also, if we think about Snape's penseive memory that Harry saw, Harry was able to witness much more than the Snape character in place would have. Recall that the young Snape was madly writing his exam answers yet Harry could see over his father's shoulder to see him write and cross out "LE".

So there is potentially much more to penseive memories than we have seen so far.

As I said in my post on the previous page of this thread, I believe DD has to help Harry exorcise his demons and one of those (if not the biggest) is the events in Godric's Hollow. (This being similar to Yoda helping Luke exorcise his demons on the jungle planet in "Empire Strikes Back" so Luke can realize his own potential.)

And I now think the delux version cover shows Harry and DD in Harry's memory at Godric Hollow that night. Neither Harry or DD have their wands out, Harry is symbolically "breaking down barriers" in front of him, and I think the knife is a symbol of his parents' betrayal.

I personally dont think they are in a memory. Just b/c we dont see a wand doesn't mean it's not there. Dumbledores' right hand is not seen which could be holding his wand, and Harry's left hand can not be seen which could be holding his wand (Madeye55, Perhaps Harry is Ambidexterious {able to use both hands} Although if Harry is, then i think it would have been mentioned before b/c i think this kind of skill is rare). The broken pieces of wood do look like fence slats, but i think they are just broken branches. I think they are in the Forbidden Forest(what is this Black Forest someone mentioned? i dont remember reading about it at all) either going to talk to Aragog or the Centaurs. If they are going to the Centaurs maybe they are going to see if they will help in the war w/ Voldemort or else ask what they see in the Future for Harry and Voldemort. If they are going to talk to Aragog, then perhaps they are going ask for his help against Voldemort. The thing above Dumbledore's hand does look like a knife, perhaps it belonged to a centaur?? I can't really find the skulls in the tree or the green spot that is supposed to look like the Death Mark. Also, Wasn't Godrics Hollow the village that Harry and His Parents lived in? If it is, then would it not be better to walk through the village instead of creeping through the woods, and why would Harry even want to go back? There is nothing there for him. No family, Friends, or House. Are you refering to the greenish looking thing on the spine at the bottom being the Dark Mark? I thought it was like a little stream or creek or something.

And I now think the delux version cover shows Harry and DD in Harry's memory at Godric Hollow that night. Neither Harry or DD have their wands out, Harry is symbolically "breaking down barriers" in front of him, and I think the knife is a symbol of his parents' betrayal.

That's a very interesting thought, that they're in one of Harry's memories.

I think i just had some sort of weird imagination moment because it looks kinda like a cat's face in the middle of the tree trunk but i think its just a coincidence like my brain is just playing tricks on me or something. But the white-green thing on the spine still looks sort of skull shaped i dont know the dark mark was just the first thing that came to mind. Im really starting to wish i had the box and book right now to see what everything really is. Anyway forget the face thing. it was lame. im still confused about the bottom of the spine though...

by the way i really like the pensieve theory that they are in a memory. Also someone mentioned that it might be at a beginning of the book and i was starting to get the same impression. Its just a kind of gut feeling or something. Anyway...

Hey hows this for a wacy theory,

DD and HP are in the forbidden forest to meet up with grawp who, with hagrid, have rounded up some giants who are gonna fight against Volde uniting under harry as their leader. DD is going with HP b/c all the creatures in the forest fear or respect him and thats why they dont have their wands out.

And about the Godric's Hollow, i think thats unlikely, as they would go through the village not through some wood. Or they could even be following some one through a memory in the pensieve, through the wood into the Hollow.

I think they could very likely be in the pensieve as in the orignal USA cover they look like there gonna jump in.

I've seen the Philosopher's Stone movie long ago, but I think in the flashback scene (where Voldemort approaches the Potter house) the Dark Lord was walking in a forest first, then he arrived in front of the house.

I know that's in the movie and not in the books, but don't forget: JK Rowling wrote that scene herself.

Ok I just looked at the US cover and at the deluxe edition cover and Harry seems to be wearing the same clothes(which resemble PJ's). This fits in with the pensieve theory. Who did the artwork for the deluxe edition?

Okay the thing at the bottom left side of the spine looks like some sort of statue to me. Maybe a Tombstone?

The thing on the spine does kinda look like a skull, but I may be imagining it(just wishing so it would make thinks clearer). My sister sais the knife looks like a branch, and I'm overreacting.

Hmm...Now I think that they're at Godric's Hollow. Because if you look carefully at the picture (see the hi res one) it looks like there is a broken fence in front of Harry. It would make sense if the Potters ruined house and compaund be boarded up or fenced in. Could Harry have gone back to his original home? I think so. Also, the press release said this about the cover :

“...layers of mystery unfold in a forested glen, where we find Harry Potter and Dumbledore peering through dense branches."

According to Dictionary.com "glen" is a small, secluded valley and "hollow" is a small valley between mountains. Therefore maybe "glen" is referring to "hollow". If that is the case then I think Harry and Dumbledore could very well be in Godric's Hollow.

ETA - Is the forbideen forrest a glen? I don't think so. It's a pretty huge forrest isn't it?

already posted this on another similar discussion. i find, on a slightly different theme, is interesting to see that harry is in front of dumbledore and not the other way round. anyone any thoughts on this or is it just me not seeing the wood for the trees, haha

I don't see any knives, skulls, tombstones or anything. Just Harry and Dumbledore walkin' trough the forrest. Maybe we're just getting desperate for new info here?

And DD7, I think that's probably because they're either going to see Grawp or Aragog and Harry knows wich way they should go because he's been there before...or the artist just wanted Harry in front. I dunno.

Wel... we don't have that many clues on that picture to say if it is or isn't the forbidden forest (the fence could very well be some kind of jail Hagrid built for Grawp...). And we know we will learn some very important things on HBP so this could has well be godric's hollow or some oter place we don't know yet.... who knows! :huh:

but I like the idea that they are in the forbidden forest going to see Aragog. We know the plot of HBP is liked to the plot of Cos (where we see Aragog). Would this spider have something else to tell us? I've always wondered why Hagris asked Ron and Harry to follow the spiders.... What was he expecting? Even if Aragog would have told them the monster was a basilik (and Hagris must know they are as afraid to pronounce its name as the wizzard are to pronounce Voldemort's name) what would that have changed? So there must be something more about Aragog...

Besides, if the covers shows us H and DD giong to Godric's Hollow, why are they going by foot? Why don't the use their broomsticks or a portkey?... or is it what happens when they are in the pensive (if it is really a pensive) we see on the other cover...

After putting the two US covers next to each other, I do have to agree with those who say Dumbledore and Harry are wearing the same clothes for both covers. I also agree that the deluxe cover is very reminscent of pajamas for Harry, but I didn't have that image for the regular cover art until I saw the deluxe cover...

So why would Harry be gallivanting around in his pajamas and bath robe? Was he caught wandering the corridors after hours (couldn't sleep, out of bed to follow something, hunting for 'clues'...)? I would think that if he was deliberately meeting Dumbledore for some purpose that Harry would get dressed in regular clothes...

I don't see any knives, skulls, tombstones or anything. Just Harry and Dumbledore walkin' trough the forrest. Maybe we're just getting desperate for new info here?...

I didn't really notice the knife until I looked at the HI RES version over at the leaky cauldron web site.


Well I dont konw about anyone else but thouse broken logs to me looked like perhaps they were once part of a fence. Does anyone else think that?

It could be a fence. But they kind of look hairy. Could it be a spider? The knife is in the body and all we see are the legs? Does anyone know if Mary GrandPre did picture of Aragog to compare?

but I like the idea that they are in the forbidden forest going to see Aragog.
There wasn't any mention of a broken fence (or even one in good condition) in CoS when Harry and Ron visited Aragog. Also no mention of fencing for Grawp (he was tied with ropes). The fence on the deluxe cover is broken in a very odd way, too. Notice how the bottom slat is broken upward, as if something tried to crawl under it. The top rail must have a very strong support (that we can't see) on the left of the picture to remain so straight even after its link to the next support (another one we can't see on the right of the picture) was snapped in the middle. It has what looks to be a very heavy vine across it, too, and that should put pressure on the rail to make it tilt (yet it doesn't). Very strange.

ETA - Is the forbideen forrest a glen? I don't think so. It's a pretty huge forrest isn't it?

Could a glen be in a bigger forest? Like, could there be a glen within the Forbidden Forest?

To me, the word "glen" sounds very Scottish, which makes me think the forested glen is somewhere near Hogwarts.

A glen means a deep, narrow valley. In Scotland, there is "the great glen" that cuts across Scotland in the east-west direction. (Loch Ness is in The Great Glen).

Well, villages use to be situated in valley very often. But ususally these valleys aren´t covered with a primval wood. Hmm dificult.

if the bottom rail of the fence is broken maybe a certain very large snake crawled that way....perhaps?

if the bottom rail of the fence is broken maybe a certain very large snake crawled that way....perhaps?
Good thought!

The picture made me think of the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. The castle where the princess slept was surrounded by a hedge of thorns that overgrew for a hundred years, and many had tried and failed to hack their way through.

I wonder if the local forest overgrew the Potter's home in Godric's Hollow.

Good thought!

The picture made me think of the fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty. The castle where the princess slept was surrounded by a hedge of thorns that overgrew for a hundred years, and many had tried and failed to hack their way through.

I wonder if the local forest overgrew the Potter's home in Godric's Hollow.
Thjats what I've been thinking aswell. There was no mention of what became of the house when it was blown up, and it was most likely left alone because of what happened there. So that makes about 15 years for it to be just sitting there, plenty of time for things to grow ontop of it. You just can't stop nature.

Have any of you seen Spirited Away? Its a movie about a 9 year old little girl that gets sucked into the spirit world for about a year, and her parents are turned into pigs. Well when they finally come out, their car is covered with dust and leaves and vines and the growing of the forest took it over. The same thing could have happened to GH.

I like the theory that the scene is in a pensive. But then that raises the question of /why/ its covered in leaves and everything if it were the night that Harry's parent's were murdered. I think perhaps that Dumbledoor some how shows Harry the night his parents were murdered, and perhaps previously, DD returned to the site at the present, and got memories of what it looked like 15 years later, so he could show that to Harry aswell. Someone said that theres more about how the memories work then we know, specially with the whole Harry seeing the LE thing. So if DD did do this, Harry would be free to wander around the site of the attack 15 years later freely without worrying about attack.

Well it looks like DD is looking at the knife, which looks like it has been there for awhile. Kinda makes me think that maybe they did go through the Pensieve, but then I thought duh! if it was Harry's memory of THE NIGHT the site would not appear to be so overgrown . The first time I viewed the cover I thought that maybe they were going to visit the Centaurs; they might have an old fence bordering their territory. The knife could be from an earlier time (maybe one of them threw it at Umbridge and missed?
I have read that some you all see Hogwarts (?) in the backgound-can someone point me to that-I just do not see it..

Can anyone please give me a link to the hi resolution HBP Delux cover. :sigh:

yea i can't really see but i think its at the top (hogwarts)

i think its most likey that they will duel with voldermort there (forbidden forest) maybe the knife cuts voldermort hurts him badley and he scatters?

cover art:

http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=hbpdeluxe.jpg

Hogwarts reference might be to what appears to be a spire and tower between 2 trees under DD's Raised hand. I was thinking that this might be the cemetary on Hogwarts grounds. That or it is Godrics Hallow from a pensive venture.

Mercer

Thanks lovin_harry. :)

It looked at the supposedly Hogwarts that you can see in the distanceand as hard as I tried... it just lookes to my like a vine. A weirdy-shaped one, but just a vine. And the fence is broken in a very weird way. It is a miracle(to me) it is still standing.

yeah on the higher resolution images it appears to just be branches and vines, but its hard to tell what the intent of the artist was.

Mercer

While looking at the Deluxe edition cover zoomed in (Which can be found here) (http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/img/hbpcover-deluxe.jpg), am I the only one that think that in the bottom right corner, that it looks like there is another person?(Circled in red) (http://img185.echo.cx/img185/8180/hbp66jc.jpg)

While looking at the Deluxe edition cover zoomed in (Which can be found here) (http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/img/hbpcover-deluxe.jpg), am I the only one that think that in the bottom right corner, that it looks like there is another person?(Circled in red) (http://img185.echo.cx/img185/8180/hbp66jc.jpg)
I see a different face there, just at the right of the circle you've marked, like some kind of sleeping creature, I'll try to mark it and attach it here

Hogwarts reference might be to what appears to be a spire and tower between 2 trees under DD's Raised hand. I was thinking that this might be the cemetary on Hogwarts grounds. That or it is Godrics Hallow from a pensive venture.

Mercer

I can't remember, where is the reference to a cemetary on Hogwarts grounds? When I enlarged the picture from itunes I could not see towers, it really lookes like vines too me. I will look again and see if I can see a spire & tower. I really can not wait to read this book. All of the covers are very tantilizing-I still wonder about the Adult cover. I wonder if the potion that goes into the pensieve is in the advanced potions book, hmmm just kinda thought of that.