Unfogging the Half-Blood Prince Cover Art v2.0

I think that the hands are Harry and Dumbledore's because the fire appears to be the same kind that's on the front. The outfits are also the same, so I'm thinking that both of the pictures of Harry and Dumbledore. The artist just may have made Harry's arm a little smaller just to show that Dumbledore is still older and more wise than Harry.

Edit: and Harry described as pretty scrawny isn't he?

true that celeste...
I have to agree with silver ink pot, that its a wedding picture, and that thing is something like a wedding band or smth of the sort...The hand is indeed very smooth, which lead me to believe that its a womans arm

BtW: I have to split. I'll be back on tomorrow; I'm hoping some people reply to my posts. Maybe someone will have my back on something. Luv ya'll. G'night.

since when do wiser wizards have thicker arms?

since when do wiser wizards have thicker arms?

Are you implying that Goyle and Crabbe aren't the wisest wizards of all ;)

Celeste, totally. The scar is about all that has changed about Harry's appearance in the illustrations. It's more so for the American versions.

since when do wiser wizards have thicker arms?

:rotfl: In a artistic or symbolic sense. Dumbledore's arm is more muscular and worn, showing that he is stronger, more powerful and wise.

Edit: Plus the more muscular arm is showing the inside of the arm, which looks more muscular because you can see the tendons and veins. The back of the arm always seems smoother because it's more fleshy.

Does anyone else see this face thing on the platform that the pensieve is on? I saw it and ignored it and then I jsut thought I would bring it up to see what you guys thought..

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24489&stc=1

And what lightning bolt are you guys talking about on what ring? Or whatever.. :D

Dumbledore's arm is more muscular and worn, showing that he is stronger, more powerful and wise.

i understood what u meant :p

if you read the description of voldemort carefully, it says that he's like a skeleton, as in he's very skinny..
The thing with wizards is that they don't really need to have muscular arms...they use their wands primarily..In fact, I would think that Harry's arm should be thicker that others, because he plays quiddich alot...
It's just a theory, but I still think its a woman's hand on the picture :p

hermioneluvsron, are you talking about that small red cross thats is in there in the place of the picture? yes...It's very informatuive indeed...yes..

It could be a womans hand..maybe Hermione and someone else. Maybe its something in the pensieve about Lily and James. I don't know, just coming up with ideas..

Just thought I would add this little smiliey face I found in the flames ;)

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24490&stc=1

The bigger hand looks a little tan to me. It could be just shading, but if not it cound't be Snapes hand. Snape was always shown as pale and vampirish. Maybe the bigger arm is Harry's and the younger persons hand is a woman...or Harry and Dumbledore..or all the other endless possibilities..

Isn't Harry suppose to be, uh, "husky" now? It said somewhere in OotP that he fit comfortable into Dudley's old jeans/pants/sweats.

I ... really don't think it's a woman. If the smoother, younger-looking arm belongs to Hermione or Lily or any other woman in the series, who does the worn-looking one belong to? I highly doubt it's Harry, Quidditch-strengthened or not. Even the fingers look like those of an old man. And if it's not Harry but it is a woman, well ... why is she on the cover with Dumbledore or whoever the other person is? I would've thought any bond or truce or [insert procedure in which the particpants clasp hands here], on the cover of a Harry Potter book, would sort of ... y'know, involve Harry.

As for the pensieve and the boat: wild speculation here, but judging by the copious amount of green and the reptilian-like bottom of the pensieve (and the snake (?) on the ring) ... perhaps wherever this place is has something to do with Salazar Slytherin? Maybe ... a secret underground river leading from the Chamber of Secrets? (The colors on the cover are almost the same, after all.) Maybe it has something to do with the lake? (I'm sure I read an editorial on Mugglenet speculating that all the lakes -- Gringotts, Hogwarts, etc. -- are connected...?)

And the ring ... hmm, well, aside from the fact that it seems to have a snake or possibly a lightning bolt on it, there's not really much we can go on. The stone -- if it is a stone -- appears black in color, and it looks pretty princely ... but other than that, it's just a ring slapped on a book cover.

Well, Bloomsbury. I'm certainly intrigued.

(P.S., I apologise if all this has already been said; I haven't got time right now to go through the rest of the discussion.)

Ok I am starting to think that we are being led on a wild goose chase.

Remember the the Order of the Phoenix cover art?

http://www.international-books.de/Europa/England/harry_potter_order/harry_potter_order_phoenix_gross.jpg
Yep that one my friends. There's a Phoenix and flames on the front. From what I remember, there was no actual Phoenix or flames in the book!
Then on the side there's a feather.
http://www.shujaka.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/journal/hp/hp2_small.jpgThen there's the back, with the fountain of magical brethren...it wasn't actually that important, but ya I know that they aren't going to give away too much.
That's all I have to say about that.

Good point about the OOTP cover. Phoenixes rise from flames so it could have meant that the order rise again blah blah just like a phoenix.
The two wands connecting representing the connection of their minds just like their wands. Very metaphorical. If that's the case with HBP we probably won't get anywhere.

I'm with thepatchworkcat on the arms. Harry is going to be the most important on the cover, not a woman. I still think it's the artwork. It's not like we are seeing master art here. Arms are often badly done anyway. :)

Ok I am starting to think that we are being led on a wild goose chase.

Remember the the Order of the Phoenix cover art?

http://www.international-books.de/Europa/England/harry_potter_order/harry_potter_order_phoenix_gross.jpg
Yep that one my friends. There's a Phoenix and flames on the front. From what I remember, there was no actual Phoenix or flames in the book!
Then on the side there's a feather.
http://www.shujaka.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/journal/hp/hp2_small.jpgThen there's the back, with the fountain of magical brethren...it wasn't actually that important, but ya I know that they aren't going to give away too much.
That's all I have to say about that.Actually, there was a phoenix and flames in the book---Fawkes...a phoenix appears and disappears in a burst of flames...Fawkes also carried messages to Dumbledore with a feather. "We will need," said Dumbledore very quietly to the bird, "a warning."
There was a flash of fire and the phoenix had gone....
There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the office, leaving behind a single golden feather that floated gently down to the floor.This also explains the single feather on the side cover.Then a burst of fire in midair illuminated the dirty plates in front of them and as they gave cries of shock, a scroll of parchment fell with a thud on the table, accompanies by a single gold feather.As for the Magical Brethren, the final battle at the MoM--when Fawkes gives his life to save Dumbledore's--is another clue that the book cover pointed to.

In the back of the british HBP it looks like Harry and Dumbledore are combining their powers, by joining their hands. Next to that their is a basin and a boat, but I have no idea what that is about.

Actually, there was a phoenix and flames in the book---Fawkes...a phoenix appears and disappears in a burst of flames...Fawkes also carried messages to Dumbledore with a feather. "We will need," said Dumbledore very quietly to the bird, "a warning."
There was a flash of fire and the phoenix had gone....
There was a flash of flame in the very middle of the office, leaving behind a single golden feather that floated gently down to the floor.This also explains the single feather on the side cover.Then a burst of fire in midair illuminated the dirty plates in front of them and as they gave cries of shock, a scroll of parchment fell with a thud on the table, accompanies by a single gold feather.As for the Magical Brethren, the final battle at the MoM--when Fawkes gives his life to save Dumbledore's--is another clue that the book cover pointed to.
Ok, yes I should have remembered that. Still it wasn't anything too important, just sort of something that happened on the side and wasn't too important to the plot. So once we get the actual book, we might find out that everything on the cover really isn't important...but it looks like this new book might be different.

In the back of the british HBP it looks like Harry and Dumbledore are combining their powers, by joining their hands. Next to that their is a basin and a boat, but I have no idea what that is about.
I think that basin is the pensieve that's on the front of the American cover. 's what it looks like to me.

Feminine? Maybe. Or a young boys arm? Like... Dennis Creevey? (JUST a thought.)

Maybe a marriage, but then, why dress in black? Kind of morbid for a wedding.

I think the romance part is that they're 16, ya'll. They'll do... sixteen-year-old-ish-things. Plus, you have to think of Ginny/Harry Herm/Ron. o.O

But a wedding is possible. But again... WHY BLACK?!

Maybe it isn't a wedding, but an engagement and those are Dress Robes?

These people wear robes and not flowery dresses, ya know.

I don't understand why all the pictures have to be Harry and Dumbledore. There are always 15 subplots in all these books. And we know that Harry isn't the HBP, anyway, according to JKR.

In the American Editions, Harry is on the front and other people are on the back. So why can't that be the case here? Actually, I think this is the most interesting British cover I've seen.

About the two hands, i´m almost shore that the younger one is from Harry, but i disagree with those who said that the older hand was from Dumbledore, because i can´t remember, at any book that, jkr said that dumbledore had a scar on his left hand.
On his knee, not on his hand.

SIP- Do we have the back of the Scholastic cover? If so, I must have missed it! I'll go look.............later.
Anyway, there is so much speculation going on here- I love it! Gives us all something to do:) My take-
There seems to be another underground chamber at Hogwarts, probably Godric's(who could be the HBP); it may be accessable only from the forest, across a bridge and through a watery cave; it then could contain a 'pensieve' left by him for his heirs- of which are both Dd and HP (possibly through Lily and back several generations). Harry and Dumbledore are approx 5 generations apart, it is entirely conceivable that they are distantly related-especially since Dd has had positive relations with Muggles (and could well also be the HBP). The relationship would not be close enough for it to be beneficial for Harry's security, but enough that they would both be 'heirs' of Gryffindor. The magic therein could then join his heirs in power or transfer some magic to or between them. This magic was probably known by Dd, but is dangerous, dark, or more than an underage wizard could handle; and thus he did not want to use it until necessary.
But then I could be wrong;)

It's a narled older arm linked with a smoother boy's arm. Given that Harry and Dumbledore are on the cover surrounded by fire, it's not much of a stretch to asssume they are on the back cover also surrounded by fire. I really don't think a marriage would be on the back cover, since it will be a tangential event.

But I do have to believe it's a Pensieve and it is important since it is on both the American and UK covers. If so, then it's a good chance that's how we see the Lion Man who is most likely the HBP. And who else would be a Lion Man, but Gryffindor.

The green light could mean a lot of things. It could symbolize the memories of the dead since AKs are green and take life. It could be showing a green spell being cast, like the AK. Or it could just be artistic licence.

ok my 2 cents...

The basin on the cover is most likely the same one as from the American cover, also most likely a penceive. The background indicates that the basin is indoors and surrounded by water, my thoughts being it is in some kind of secret chamber because, that is classicially where these ancient relics are kept.

Really randomly, maybe Harry had to witness something from the distant past that is in the penceive (like Godric Gryffindor's memories) and he knows it's important to find out, so they go on this quest to find Gryffindor's secret chamber (as opposed to slytherins) and look into his memories. And Dumbledore comes as a mentor and passes on his power to Harry...and Gryffindor is the half-blood prince...

ok, that got a little far-fetched.

I do think that arm belongs to Dumbledore though, and the other arm to Harry, although I would like to think it had romantic connections, the practical part of me just doesn't believe it's true.

Artistic License CBW? Surely you don't REALLY believe that! Perhaps green IS a lighter, warmer color than the blue of OoP.......Hmm.............

yea..I think that The cover doesn't mean much..not THA much at least..It will show some parts opf the book etc, but not the main parts, and certainly not who the hbp is...
the first book, for example, had the picture of the hogwarts express on it...it wasn't that important in the whole book..
I think people just can't help thinking of whats gonna happen in the book, thus make up stories....oh, well, here's my story :
I think hbp is dubledore, and that he will die in this book

Has anyone noticed that on the back wall of the cave (behind the boat) looks like it spells a word? I can't get it clear enough when I enlarge it to tell what it says....Can anyone else?

Artistic License CBW? Surely you don't REALLY believe that! Perhaps green IS a lighter, warmer color than the blue of OoP.......Hmm.............
The scene is at night in a dark cave. If you look directly in the basin, it is silvery, but as the light continues upward and fades into the night it turns yellowish green. That might have more to do with representing lighting in limited moonlight than anything else.

It does harken back to the description of the Lion Man having yellowish eyes. In my definitive argument about Gryffindor (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=1248453&postcount=237), I suggest that Harry finds out he is the heir of Gryffindor because he has the same green eyes. But then the Lion Man is described as having yellowish eyes (not yellow, by the way). If the light (which looks quite yellowish) was playing tricks with the Pensieve (making the eyes look less green), then this would be a way to conceal the revelation about Harry being the heir.

I personally think that not only is Gryffindor the HBP, but the reason why that is important is Harry as his heir.

:rotfl: In a artistic or symbolic sense. Dumbledore's arm is more muscular and worn, showing that he is stronger, more powerful and wise.

Edit: Plus the more muscular arm is showing the inside of the arm, which looks more muscular because you can see the tendons and veins. The back of the arm always seems smoother because it's more fleshy.

Er, Dumbldore is 150 years old. Looking closely at the picture attatched on the previous page, I see that the right hand arms is muscular and somewhat older (veins popping out). However, the arm still isn't wrinkled, and I'd expect Dumbledore's to be wrinkled by now.

I'm keeping with Snape, for the moment at least.

Can someone tell me who McLaggen is? I keep seeing his name on this thread, but i don't know who that is. Fill me in please.

McClaggen is just a name tossed out by JKR. She said she liked the name so much she made it a character in HBP. The speculation went from there and was reinforced by the publisher the other day in an interview as one of the few things he said about the book. It could be as important as Umbridge or as throw-away as Mark Evans!
OK CBW- you were speaking as an artiste! I agree that the HBP has something to do with Gryffindor (and the lion man)

edit- who's to say Dumbledore isn't the Jack LaLanne of wizards?;)

I'll say that Dumbledore must have made a huge improvement in the time between OOTP : Harry thought he looked old and warn out.

Has anyone noticed that on the back wall of the cave (behind the boat) looks like it spells a word? I can't get it clear enough when I enlarge it to tell what it says....Can anyone else?
I've been trying for an hour. But I see them too. Also the arm on the right appears to have a mark on it, like a bow.

In my sig is a link to Beneath the Surface. Interesting in the light of this back cover.

Er, Dumbldore is 150 years old. Looking closely at the picture attatched on the previous page, I see that the right hand arms is muscular and somewhat older (veins popping out). However, the arm still isn't wrinkled, and I'd expect Dumbledore's to be wrinkled by now.
I agree. The arm and hand look to be that of a man in middle-age, not an elder of over a hundred. My great uncle lived to be 102, despite being a fit and still strong man his arms were thin and knobbed, deeply grooved and wrinkled.

McClaggen is just a name tossed out by JKR. She said she liked the name so much she made it a character in HBP. The speculation went from there and was reinforced by the publisher the other day in an interview as one of the few things he said about the book. It could be as important as Umbridge or as throw-away as Mark Evans!
OK CBW- you were speaking as an artiste! I agree that the HBP has something to do with Gryffindor (and the lion man)

edit- who's to say Dumbledore isn't the Jack LaLanne of wizards?;)
I took it to mean you were agreeing with me, but I thought it would help for others to see what I meant. I'm glad we agree.

If you people think that arm on the right belongs to an old person, then you've never seen an old person before. That arm could belong to someone from age 16 to about 40, depending on how fast the person ages. The arm has perfectly smooth skin and no age spots. Yeah, there are veins popping out, but that's what happens when you tighten your arm muscles. That's what my boyfriend's arms look like on the inside of the forearm, and he's 23.

The arm on the left isn't necessarily a girl's/woman's because it may appear to look smoother. The veins on that person's arms could be popping out as well, but we just can't see it. Harry is always described as being scrawny. Don't any of you know skinny guys? I know a guy that's 19 who's arms look like the one on the left.
And men don't always have dark hair on their arms. In fact, I've met many men with lighter arm hair than me (and I'm female).

Anyway, here's a screenshot of the ring per the screensavers distributed by Bloomsbury. Click on it to see it larger.

I don't mean to go off topic here... SInce you guys are discussing the arms entwined and all... But am I crazy to think that the pensive or whatever that is that looks like a marbled birdbath is in the Chamber of Secrets? I can't remember exactly, but it was mentioned somewhere that this book is related to CoS. Maybe that pensive is in the Chamber of Secrets? The background really looks like it's underground.

I think the arms are supposed to be symbollically represent the fact that people have arms.

there is a reflection in the water of someone in the boat, it could be harry under the invisibilty cloak , but the water in the pond reflects images, even when people are invisible...

I think the arms are supposed to be symbollically represent the fact that people have arms.


Was that the wittiest remark you could think of?

Actually the arm looks like kind of gnarled and old to me. I suggest looking at the fullscreen picture.

Actually the arm looks like kind of gnarled and old to me. I suggest looking at the blown-up picture.


Blowing up a picture only distorts it. I suggest looking at the proper-sized picture.

Next, I want to ask you to flex your own arm. Or, take something in your hand and grip it tight. Doesn't your vein pop out in the same way? Mine does. And if Dumbledore is 150, I haven't even reached 1/5th his age.

I want to know more about the boat,where will Harry go in it,or
could that be one of the boats to take first years up to the castle?,
if it is then what would be important about a first year?. I think
it might be the HBP thats a first year.

I also thought that the arms were Dumbledore's and Harry's. And with the little flame/lightening thingy it looks like Dumbledore could be giving Harry some of his own powers. But i'd see this happening only if Dumbledore dies.

Well in my humble opinion I dont think its an arm of an old man. Definitly not a teenager but perhaps someone more middle aged who is a bit weathered. I think its Snape's. He makes lots of potions, who knows what the fumes and such do to the skin. On top of that it doesnt have age spots, its still relativly elastic.

Now that I have seen the big picture of the ring; the symbol on the ring, beneth the lightning bolt shaped crack, looks sort of like Voldy's shield, from the us version of OotP chapter art for: "The Only One He Ever Feared". hum...

Well when you compare the veiny hand on the back to Dumbledore's hand they look the same. Dumbledore is griping his wand on the front and we see veins also on both hands the fingers look big. And the material matches up pretty well. I say that it's Dumbledore's hand gripping Harry's hand. As for the wording on the wall, it looks maybe like it could be spelling out slytherin. The first letter looks like a capital "S". Maybe they went back into the Chamber of Secrets(if that is the chamber). If they did that and the pedestal looking thing is pensieve then why is it in the chamber?

I want to know more about the boat,where will Harry go in it,or
could that be one of the boats to take first years up to the castle?,
if it is then what would be important about a first year?. I think
it might be the HBP thats a first year.

That makes lots of sense Mikedemort, it could quite possibly be one of the boats used to escort the first years to Hogwarts for their very first time, and therefore the HBP could quite possibly be a first year. For whatever reason, I feel that the boat, and it's destination is within Hogwarts Castle and feel that we haven't seen the last of the Chamber of Secrets. I'm positive that J.K. specifically added the "S" to the end of secrets, hinting at plural secrets the the chamber, which is something that holds something, is containing. Could there be more monsters like the basilisk:huh: ?


I happen to like my theory about Salazar Slytherin leaving insturctions for his heir to find, something like a blue print that contained the answer to "the muggle-born question". I don't believe that there was any other wizard as powerful as Lord Voldemort when it came to the Dark Arts except for Salazar Slytherin, and if you think about it, he had to learn it somewhere, who better than from Salazar himself:evil: ?

Also, when you look in the water at the reflection of the boat, it looks as if someone is crouching down in the boat, but when you look at the boat there's no one there.

Was that the wittiest remark you could think of?

Yes...

well, to be honest,I didn't actually think of it. It's kind of a rip-off of a Woody Allen joke.

Blowing up a picture only distorts it. I suggest looking at the proper-sized picture.

Next, I want to ask you to flex your own arm. Or, take something in your hand and grip it tight. Doesn't your vein pop out in the same way? Mine does. And if Dumbledore is 150, I haven't even reached 1/5th his age.
Sorry mine don't do that and I'm 1/3 his age (yes I'm that old). And the color on the arm is mottled and other veins are visible. I am quite certain that it is Dumbledore, especially since Harry and Dumbledore are surrounded by fire together on the cover. Who else would be together surrounded by fire on the back cover?

BTW, Dumbledore isn't going to look like someone who is 150 since wizards live longer. I didn't mean blowing it up beyond full size, but some displays are showing a smaller version that you can enlarge by clicking on the arrow (which shows up if you point to the lower corner) to expand them to full screen.

Here's my theory of the full cover.

Well, the boat and the basin look to be in an undergroud lake. Possibly under Hogwarts? The only thing that is lite is the boat and the basin, a theory is that the boat is attracted to that location, like a compass or something (kind of like Jack Sparrow's compass to the island).

I also think it is Ddore's hand with Harry's. My guess is that he is awakening Harry's power and teaching him to harnes it. Harry is obviously going to have private lessons with Ddore. From the look of the power behind what he is being taught, it would be best to do it far away from others.

Did you guys see the HBP book jacket???? Anyway this is the way i see it:


the hand clutting Harry's is definetly Ddores since it wrinkly...but what the hell is the gold thing?? The thing that scares me kind of is the way they're clutting hands it could either mean Ddore is sacreficing himself or that they are uniting and the gold thing is their combined power!


I was so sure the thing in the US cover was a pensive...so much for that now. I'm guessing the fountain looking thing in this picture is the same object...its way too big to be a pensive and it's FULL of GREEN liquid. Then there is the green glow surrounding it...

What is with the boat...it's also glowing GREEN. But why would Harry and Ddore use a boat at all, I mean portkeys and floo powder or even Fawks would be much more convinient. Or maybe it's not theirs... I'm really spooked out now, so I'm gonna end it right here. Tell me what you think.

I've been trying for an hour. But I see them too. Also the arm on the right appears to have a mark on it, like a bow.

In my sig is a link to Beneath the Surface. Interesting in the light of this back cover.

Yeah, I've been trying to get a better outline of it and turn it different colors in Photoshop, but I don't seem to be having any luck. It definitely looks like writing though, doesn't it?

Sorry if somebody's already brought this up, but does anyone have any suggestions as to what the little squiggly thing in the middle of the ring is? A snake, perhaps? Beats me...

Yes Goldberry I have seen....

Has anyone noticed yet that the 'ring' seems to have some sort of 'Scar'/Mark/symbol running through the centre?

It just made me think of Harrys own scar for some reason...

Perhaps the ring is a way to channel the power gifted to him by Voldemort.
Like a focusing tool? And maybe what Dumbledore and Harry were doing with their hand was just an extension of that.

IE Dumbledore is making Harrys power greater.
(I havent really thought on the effect to Dumbledore for this though)

Hmm, it might just be a ring he happens to wear. Perhaps a wedding band (JKR did give us a hint that some of the Prof. are married but she cant tell us for some reason who are) I hope sincerly that if this ring has any importance that its not something like LOTRs. Those are just my hopes. I stand by that its a wedding band

The Leaky Cauldron had a link to Bloomsbury to download a screensaver of all the British children's book covers. So I downloaded it and installed it, and it is a really nice screensaver. :tu:

What's great is the way they've edited these cover pictures! The very last picture on the screensaver is the clasping hands, and the ring appears in between the arms and then becomes very large and detailed! It looks as if there is a big indentation in the middle, as if something is missing or it has been damaged. :huh:

Try downloading it for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Go to this link, and where it says "Back Jacket Art Revealed," go down to "download here." What you want is the "Children's Jacket" screensaver. I would direct link, but that doesn't seem to work on that website - it just links to the main page:

http://www.bloomsbury.com/harrypotter/default.asp?sec=4

Yes Goldberry I have seen....
Has anyone noticed yet that the 'ring' seems to have some sort of 'Scar'/Mark/symbol running through the centre? Yes, actually another poster compared the center of the ring and whatever is inside it to one of the US chapter pictures "The Only One He Ever Feared"...See for yourself...http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/shield.jpg http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/Hpring.jpg

Wow... Very interesting stuff...

Alright, I think we can conclude that the thing we thought was a Pensieve isn't a Pensieve. Or atleast not Dumbledore's. My thought is that it's a secret Pensieve, something hidden perhaps, beneath Hogwarts, like the CoS. Maybe even left behind by one of the founders...

Not sure about the boat, but I doubt there's much relevance to it. Probably just a way so that whoever wants to get to that little island with the Pensieve doesn't get wet. :p

As for the hands clamping together, I'm almost a 100% that it's Dumbledore and Harry: if you check to the right and look carefully, you'll notice that the arm has exactly the same robes that Dumbledore wears on the cover. The thunderbolt/stuff surrounding may be some sort of spell, binding them together. Or Harry and Dumbledore are just grasping hands in a "Let's do this!"-moment and they're so powerful that electricity comes appears. Weird idea, I know. :cool: Got no clue about the ring though... Some sort of magical artefact? A One Ring? Nah, not that, but it probably has some significance.

My theory on the ring:
I'm brain farting here, but when I saw the ring the first thing I thought of was the gold ring with the Black family crest on it, which we see in OotP. The stone in the ring in the picture appears to be broken or cracked, but under the gash is a shape that could be the crest JK mentioned. Like many of the family's keepsakes, the Black ring could have survived Sirius' purge [ albeit not without being damaged ]

here's the bits i'm looking foward to finding out about:

1) the ring at the top of the spine. the picture at that location usually has some reasonable significance. rings do not always signify a 'power' thing, as in Lord of the Rings type, but royalty (like Aragorn's ring actually). my bet: look out for the first character wearing/inheriting/in general possession of a ring, coz he might now a thing or two aboot the HBP.

2) Harry and Dumbledore (apparently) in combat. Jo has said that the wizarding world is at war in this book, and we all know how desperate ickle voldykins is to give Harry the chop. perhaps a chance to see just how powerful harry becomes?

3) the pensieve. we've been told that fairly soon we'll be getting the full backstory (in bits and pieces is my guess) so maybe we'll see some more close accounts of various past events.

4) the boat, coz i like boats!



just over a month now my friends.............. (w00tify!)

Just a few of my thoughts.

That ring on closer inspection has a lightning bolt crack/engraving on the gemstone itself. What kind of gemstone has that sort of smokey grey colour?

The colour and style of the "fire" around the hands looks different from that of the fire surrounding Harry and Dumbledore on the front. The 'edges' of the handshake fire are jagged whereas the edges of the fire surrounding the pair are curved. The handshake fire is also lacking the extra deeper/darker red colour of the fire on the front cover.

The hands in the handshake are quite interesting. The lighter, smoother looking hand I'm almost certain is Harry's. The other hand looks slightly darker, a bit older and a lot more "worn" and "ragged". I don't think Dumbledore has that kind of wear and tear on his hands. I think that hand belongs to the character described in that extract from JKR's site a while ago. Remember this one?
(He) looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles and a certain rangy, loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp.
On a final note, that whole cover to me screams LOTR. Even that fountain thing looks a lot like Galadriel's basin...

Not sure if this has been posted, since I didn't get around to reading every single post here, and I apologize if this is just a rehash, but do you guys believe that they could be in the process of creating some very difficult potion, or possibly just summoning something?

Taking into account the adult cover, the wand in Harry's hand in the US cover, the hand holding, and the green light, it's possible that they might not be standing over a pensive, and instead, creating something that can be only created in this specific basin.

Just a wild thought straying from the general opinion of them observing over a Pensieve.

I think the fence on the special edition with Albus is either to Azkaban, Godric's Hollow, or a new place we don't know about but have heard of. I am not too sure it is Godric's hollow, maybe Azkaban, a forest leading up to the actual prison, but why would Albus and Harry be going there cautiously? So...I dunno...

I really believe that there is someone in the boat. If you look at the reflection of it in the water you see the person, it's like they are leaning forward or hunkered down or crouching or something. Does anyone else see it? I cant post the picture and outline it so i hope someone else noticies this to. I also think there is writing on the wall.

About that ring... I suppose it could belong (or have belonged) to the HB Prince.
The ring. Is it just me, or does it appear to bear a lightening-bolt/Ehwaz rune symbol?

It's not Ehwaz : the "Ehwaz" rune is shaped like a "M".
The rune "Eihwaz" is more the shape of a bolt of lightning, the rune "Sowilo" too... But neither is exactly that shape.

Does anyone else think the symbol on that ring is a snake ?

That could be a major clue ! An indication that the HBP is in some way associated with the Slytherin House... Or with Salazar Slytherin...

Not sure if this has been posted, since I didn't get around to reading every single post here, and I apologize if this is just a rehash, but do you guys believe that they could be in the process of creating some very difficult potion, or possibly just summoning something?

Taking into account the adult cover, the wand in Harry's hand in the US cover, the hand holding, and the green light, it's possible that they might not be standing over a pensive, and instead, creating something that can be only created in this specific basin.

Just a wild thought straying from the general opinion of them observing over a Pensieve.

Excatly. And we still don't know if the pensieve can survive its owner.... there are many theories going around about it being Godric's or Salazar's pensieve but can your thought "survive" when your're dead??? the only penseive we've seen was from people alive and they just ended putting their thoughts in their. We don't even know if you can keep your thoughts for a long time in the pensieve!

Plus, the fact that JK put in the FAQ poll of her website the question about it being a pensieve or not makes me think she was just planing to answer : "No, it is something else..." and let us speculate!

--Perhaps Dumbledore and Harry's entwined hands with the fire is some sort of transfer of power? Dumbledore knows now that he can't exactly baby Harry any more, and with the war about to explode on them he's obviously going to need to train Harry. But Harry has only had 5 years of school up to this point, and we know he's got his own special abilities but those can only take him so far. There's a reason that Voldemort fears Dumbledore, so maybe Dumbledore is trying to give Voldemort a reason to fear Harry as well.


A thought just sprung to me. Has JK dismissed the idea of Dumbledore as the new DADA teacher? Coz that would be the obvious choice. These kids need defence, and they need it good!

okay, here's my take on the ring at least.

the ring's gemstone, i'll bet, is an amethyst. due to it's purple color. purple is the color of royalty. under the crack on the gemstone you can see what looks to be a shield, probably the coat of arms for the royal family. the crack symbolizes the introduction of dirty blood to the pure royal line.

i take it the ring is the half-blood prince's family ring. perhaps the prince is an illegitimate child and was still given the ring? or maybe the ring on the cover is just illustrated symbolism.

then again, the gemstone only LOOKS purple to me. purplish gray. so it could just be gray and my eyes are playing tricks on me and my theory means nothing.

OK, I have a pretty strong hunch about this so just read on:

The basin on the pedestal is green; Lily's eyes. JK said herself we're going to learn something BIG about Lily, and its been conjectured (I think even said by JK) that there is GREAT importance in Harry having Lily's eyes.

The green basin is what Harry needs to defeat Voldemort, and can only do so, respectively (as he is gryffindor) with the support of friends: dumbledore (as seen) ron, etc.

This also ties in to the HBP plot, but that really is to foggy to conjecture about; but I'm POSITIVE that it's symbolic or historical, NOT an actual modern person like Dean Thomas BECAUSE there is no romance/idealism in that...it's just too boring!

I hope you guys read this and tell me what you think!!!!!

I have a theory about the basin on the platform on the back cover of the UK HBP. It's like this, maybe it's Salazar Slytherin's pensive (green-slytherin) located somewhere (Chamber of Secrets or somewhere else). I was thinking Harry could see the old lion man in the pensive, him being Godric Gryffindor. It seems resonable because they are inside Slytherin's memory and he knew Gryffindor. That makes me wonder if maybe Salazar Slytherin is the half-blood prince?
I think that the two hands are Harry's and Dumbedore's because one is old and the other is new. I think the are joining they're forces.

In the recoloured writing images - I get Wormtail 'Saved'...

After reading a few theories about the boat I've compiled a sort of idea. The boat and it's setting sort of gives you the whole Underworld/Hades vibe. I'm starting to think that this area is probably near the school (Underground harbour) or the Department of Mysteries. I'm thinking that this place might be the "graveyard" that Jo was referring to! It might house the memories, souls, or essence of the dead rather than their bodies (we are talking about the wizard world after all). Maybe the basin is a "window" that Harry could look into to communicate with the dead, or to simply look in on them or their memories.

About the ring now. After seeing the close up shot of the ring, I'm pretty sure that it's the Black family ring. The crest is clearly visible behind the snake/lightning/crack thing. I guess the only question left is why is there a mark in the center of the ring now, it wasn't described before?

Suddenly, when looking at the boat, the water, the cave, a memory of an old thread popped into my mind, please take a look at this and tell me if it could have any significance, I definitely think we could be on the right path with the theories on this thread:

(And also tell me if the photos remind you of something)

http://www.cosforums.com/cosarchive/showthread.php?p=1010477#post1010477

Suddenly, when looking at the boat, the water, the cave, a memory of an old thread popped into my mind, please take a look at this and tell me if it could have any significance, I definitely think we could be on the right path with the theories on this thread:

(And also tell me if the photos remind you of something)

http://www.cosforums.com/cosarchive/showthread.php?p=1010477#post1010477
Brilliant! I do remember Majorca being mentioned in the books and I wondered what this place was! It's all coming together now!:evil:

I think the pensieve (if thats what it is) belongs to either


-Sirius
-Either of Harry's parents
-Voldermort

Does anybody think it's a dragon blowing the fire? Well I do! If you look, there's a tiny bit of wing in the corner, and it looks more like a stream of fire than just a campfire, so maybe Voldemort has something to do with a dragon, my theories are:
-he got the dragons controlled and on his side somehow
-He has a pet dragon (crazy huh?)
-A dragon is playing host for him (Lik Quirrel was)
-He did somehting to Charlie Weasley??

If you ahve any more theories on that and if you see it tell me!

Adn now for the pensieve, because the dragon could jsut be Dumbledore's robes, but maybe its ignifies something. I agree with the above, it either belongs to those or Dumbledore...

Suddenly, when looking at the boat, the water, the cave, a memory of an old thread popped into my mind, please take a look at this and tell me if it could have any significance, I definitely think we could be on the right path with the theories on this thread:

Cave's of Dragon: Hmmm... On the Cover it show's what appears to be a cave and a Dragon pedestal. I think we are on the right path. Good work.


I think the ring could have belonged to Lucius and now Draco has it. If you look at the ring you can see two snakes on either side of the gemstone. You can take a closer look at what I mean here: http://photobucket.com/albums/y202/Coverart/?action=view&current=ringfaces4.bmp


I'd still like to think it belongs to the Black's, but I'm trying to keep an open mind.

I agree with the thread, ambye someone dies int he caves? Or that's where Harry meets Voldemort next. I don't know.

Harry and DD's hand. Seems to symbolize great power b/w the two of them. Maybe this book focuses more on those two?

That's what I think it might be, or it just symbolizes strength and untiy among MOST of the wizards at Hogwarts...

After reading a few theories about the boat I've compiled a sort of idea. The boat and it's setting sort of gives you the whole Underworld/Hades vibe. I'm starting to think that this area is probably near the school (Underground harbour) or the Department of Mysteries. I'm thinking that this place might be the "graveyard" that Jo was referring to! It might house the memories, souls, or essence of the dead rather than their bodies (we are talking about the wizard world after all). Maybe the basin is a "window" that Harry could look into to communicate with the dead, or to simply look in on them or their memories.


I mentioned the possibility of it being the Department of Mysteries or the graveyard before. I agree that it is a very plausible idea, for it could be either of them.

If it were the Department of Mysteries could it be related to that room that holds the power that Harry possesses in so much quantity? You know, the one that wouldn't open? We know that the Department of Mysteries is underground, so it's possible that there are steps from the door leading down to an underground lake.

Also, because green is commonly associated with death in the HP series could it be a room where the dead are disposed of? Sort of like a crematorium?

In my opinion the basin looks nothing like a pensive. We've already had a description of a pensive in GOF.

This needs more thought.

~Luned

Suddenly, when looking at the boat, the water, the cave, a memory of an old thread popped into my mind, please take a look at this and tell me if it could have any significance, I definitely think we could be on the right path with the theories on this thread:

(And also tell me if the photos remind you of something)

http://www.cosforums.com/cosarchive/showthread.php?p=1010477#post1010477

That is fascinating, Harry Potter! I've never seen that before. We have a cave with an underground lake here in Tennessee less than 100 miles from where I live. It's called the Lost Sea, and when I saw the little boat on the cover, I was thinking about that yesterday.
http://www.tennesseeoverhill.com/images/lake.jpg
Isn't Majorca mentioned by Petunia, when she is imagining owning a home there? Doesn't her friend go vacationing there in Book One, and that is why she can't babysit Harry?

"What about what's-her-name, your friend--Yvonne?"

"On vacation in Majorca," snapped Aunt Petunia.

"You could just leave me here," Harry put in hopefully (he'd be able to watch what he wanted on television for a change and maybe even have a go on Dudley's computer).

I agree with Luned, this needs a lot more htought, what I wisht though was hat we didn't ahve to think and could just read the book, but ah well... So, here are my theories on the whole UK children's cover(the one I'm getting):

the hands: Signify Untiy, or Dumbledore and harry joining forces, Dumbledore training HArry in occlumency and extra DADA to defeat Voldemort?

The so-called Pensieve: That is a definite pensieve, if you look, it's got liquid in it, but if the hands signify teaching occlumency, the pensieve makes sense then, maybe it's something else we haven't heard of yet? *** bottom is dragons claw looking, more support to my theory above this post.

The boat: Note, the above where they talk about underground caves and Majorca. Any of that is possible, but note, there's a full moon! Lupin! More about werewolves?

*** broken Fence: Very vague, but the images seen in it could mean something, and then ambye it signifies the wizarding world broken apart? It has some connection with the boat ad pensieve, because it glows in the same color.

The color of the cover: Signifies Lily? HEr green eyes, she did say we would find something big out!

The fire and front cover pretty much: It makes me think of dragons. (see post above) This is far from the truth, but the fire could just mean war and nothing else, although I doubt it. Harry looks scared (semi) and Dumbledore looks brave and surprised. Hmmmmm...

Okay- these are my two cut out pics from the HBP cover US deluxe Edition. Maybe you can see better the wolf and man I am talking about. It is kind of small, so if you compare it to the enhanced version on the third site, you will at least have an idea of where to look on the cover. It is YOUR bottom right, not the books.



http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/starrbryt/halfbloodprincecover2.bmp

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b28/starrbryt/HBPcover.bmp

Deluxe Edition link
http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/img/hbpcover-deluxe.jpg

Hmmmm, I actualy see it now, Like I said, the full moon also gives it all in the UK edition...

That is fascinating, Harry Potter! I've never seen that before. We have a cave with an underground lake here in Tennessee less than 100 miles from where I live. It's called the Lost Sea, and when I saw the little boat on the cover, I was thinking about that yesterday.
http://www.tennesseeoverhill.com/images/lake.jpg
Isn't Majorca mentioned by Petunia, when she is imagining owning a home there? Doesn't her friend go vacationing there in Book One, and that is why she can't babysit Harry?Yeah, the island of Majorca appears mentioned at least three times (if I remember well) throughout the HP series, and it is curious the coincidence with the underground lake, the boats, the name "Drach caves" means "Draco, Dragon caves" and the dragon foot pedestal for the Pensieve/Basin/Whatever

The legend about these caves talk about King James I, a dragon guarding a treasure hidden somewhere in those caves against intruders

Those caves are composed by three chambers, called "Black Cave", "White Cave", and "Luis Salvator Cave"

It is also curious that to acceed those caves you have to go through the "Sa Calobra" (The Snake) road (The photos are on that same thread I've linked on my former post)

Maybe it means nothing, but it is so curious nevertheless

That's exactly right, Mafic! We can look closely and see just an arm with veins.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/sip44/HBPBritishBackCoverKnotenlargement.jpg

And for anyone here who thinks that is Snape, a little reminder. It could indeed be Snape, or it could be anyone. But the problem with saying you see a dark mark is that the DEs have the marks on their left arms, and that is clearly someone's right arm, due to the way the hand is turned.

But I agree with Mafic that there is no scar!

And that nearest arm sure looks feminine to me. Harry is nearly a fully grown man at almost 16 years old in Book 6. I don't think his arm would look that smooth. I think that is a woman's arm.

I'm sticking with the idea that it is a wedding picture. :agree: :love: Remember the other day there was an interview at Book Expo America and some said this: (CAUTION Spoilers! Scan to read!)
This one, he said, “has more romance in general.” And then he and marketing VP Jennifer Pasanen, who was sitting in, started humming “Love is in the air.” Well, it’s a clue. <--

And this whole idea of "Dumbledore passing power to Harry" seems to be taking on a life of its own. While I hope Harry does become as powerful someday as Dumbledore, I don't think that is what the picture shows.

you´re wright, that isn´t snape´s hand, however i´m shore that there´s a scar in that hand

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, sorry if you have, but on the US delux edition if you look between the Y in Harry (there is only 1 y, but anyways) there seems to be a face or something. It just looks out of place in all the branches and stuff. I don't really know what it is, and I don't have the link right now so I can't post that. It's like in the Y.

has anyone noticed that the lake in HBP US child edition somehow boils ?

Some really great theories coming from this book cover

My two knuts follow:

From the looks on their faces the front cover seems to show Harry and DD facing something dangerous/shocking/unexpected etc, they are both 'at the ready' so to speak and DD seems to be conjuring the fire around them, or deflecting the fire around them as his wand is alight.

The joined hands seem to be one old and one young, we assume DD and Harry but maybe Harry and the HBP - many possibilies there

The basin gives the impression of being pensive like but why would you keep a personal item like that in a cavern? Something similar perhaps.

The ring (is it purple looks more black on my screen) definately has a slytherin like symbol at the back of the scar shape - SS ring anyone?

Well thats my lot for now - going to watch Dr Who

Okay- these are my two cut out pics from the HBP cover US deluxe Edition. Maybe you can see better the wolf and man I am talking about. It is kind of small, so if you compare it to the enhanced version on the third site, you will at least have an idea of where to look on the cover. It is YOUR bottom right, not the books.
I see the face on the bottom right, but got distracted by your red circles and captions. On the spine, I still see what appears to be the head of a lioness, where the tree sticks out, and now I see some faces in a row underneath that. Very frustrating.

Has anyone seen the close-up of the ring just posted on mugglenet? When I first saw the ring, I thought that royalty always wears a ring like that ... a signet ring. Then the close-up shows a face split by what looks like a lightning bolt. That says "disunity" to me, but the hands clasped and tied together says "unity" as my first instinct.

It could also be as simple as Bill and Fleur's wizard wedding.

Edit: Just wanted to add that I don't think that's a pensieve on the back. It looks more like a chalice to me, again indicating royalty.

I've had a thought!
ok, I don't know if anyone's said this, but when I looked at the cover art of the book, and I saw the two hands united (one was young which I assumed was harry's and one was old which I assumed was Dumbledore's), and the fire surrounding them which seemed to be coming form the ring on Dumbledore's hand, well, this thought suddenly popped into my head:
What if Dumbledore is the Half-Blood Prince??:eyebrows:
I also saw the picture that was taken from the Bloomsbury screensaver too, which showed the wizened old hand (again, I assumed it was Dumbledore's) wearing a ring. And you know how princes always wear their coronation ring or whatever, the ring that is passed down throughout the royal family. It might have special powers in this book, hence all of the fire, flames, etc. It might be a dumb idea, but hey....tell me what you think!

I don't have time to read much of this thread, but here are my thoughts on the full uk children's edition cover:

Dumbledore, Harry and fire (main cover):
I have no idea if anyone has already said this, but the flaming rings appear to be coming out of Dumbledore's wand. Neither he nor Harry appear to be overly wary of this fire (their poses) so my guess is that it is an advanced 'shield' spell. Also, if you look in the bottom right hand corner, a jet of fire seems to be shooting off out of the rings towards something. An offensive defence, maybe?

The bondage bracelet (hands and fire):
I'm not so sure that these are Harry's and Dumbledore's hands, it seems too obvious. Also, the hand on the right does not looks old to me, instead it looks as though that person is straining, either to hold on or to defeat the other in a battle of wills, or complete the spell, or whatever. The first thoughts that came into my head were: 'Two people joining forces...' and '...Or one saving another's life'.
It may not be relevant, but the smaller hand seems to be missing a thumb. Could it be Pettigrew, and a stupid artist? (Thought that it was a thumb he was missing, not a finger)

The 'pensieve' (back cover):
This also seems too obvious to me. I can't think of anything it could be, but in my opinion the pensieve has served it's purpose in the series, and I do not think any future appearances will be significant enough to give a pensieve a place on the back cover. Although it may look similar to a pensieve, there are a few differences. Dumbledore's was not on a pedestal (although if this is an older one, differently designed, then I shall happily eat my words with ketchup and a side of chips). Jo also describes the thoughts as being silver, many times, comparing it to the colour of Dumbledore's hair, or clouds, or mist made solid (I can't find quotes right now). These contents are clearly a greeny-gold, so aren't the right colour.
I'm still open to thye idea of it being a pensieve, I haven't dismissed that entirely, I just don't think it's too likely.

The boat and reflection (back cover):
The boat is probably real, an not an apparation as it seems, because of the reflection and because of the way it is positioned- it appears to be the only way of reaching the 'pensieve'. The reflection is puzzling me no end! I even went as far as to flip that portion of the picture upside down, in an attempt to see the reflection more clearly, but it didn't work! To me, it looks a little like someone lying in the boat- if you look at the lumpy additions to the reflection and see the smaller one as the head and the bigger one that is like two stuck together as knees then that's how I mean. It is easier to see if you flip the picture upsidedown, but still not too clear.

The writing on the wall (above the boat):
Wow.
I can see so much here. When I was first looking at the cover, I saw the word 'pity' glaring at me, as bright as any day! I went and defiled that section, going over the lines, and found more and more! A creature, standing on a grassy hill, a sad face...
if anyone feels like explaining to me (in very simple terms, I'm a very simple person!) how to put a picture in a post then I will, or owl me and I'll email it to you if you want.

The ring (spine):
I do not think this is Harry's scar, as it is going in a different direction to the one on Harry's forehead on the front cover. I thought it could be a symbol of royalty, but I haven't actually given it too much thought.

Phew, that was a lot! I don't think I've ever posted so much on here put together before now!

~Smantie~

im not quite sure im seein the person between the Y....? i just see branch...

?

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, sorry if you have, but on the US delux edition if you look between the Y in Harry (there is only 1 y, but anyways) there seems to be a face or something. It just looks out of place in all the branches and stuff. I don't really know what it is, and I don't have the link right now so I can't post that. It's like in the Y.

Cave's of Dragon: Hmmm... On the Cover it show's what appears to be a cave and a Dragon pedestal. I think we are on the right path. Good work.


I think the ring could have belonged to Lucius and now Draco has it. If you look at the ring you can see two snakes on either side of the gemstone. You can take a closer look at what I mean here: http://photobucket.com/albums/y202/Coverart/?action=view&current=ringfaces4.bmp


I'd still like to think it belongs to the Black's, but I'm trying to keep an open mind.

I guess you didn't see the detailed version yet.
http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=/hbp/ring.gif
No human faces or snake faces to be seen.

Edit: I personally don't think that there are hidden pictures on these covers other than the knife which is clear and most definitely there. What you see is what you get.

I think the ring is something to do with werewolves.

The crack in the centre jumped out as a person seen from the side. The lines coming from the midriff could be some signs of the transformation taking place and in the top right hand corner of the stone there is circle which stands out as the full moon (perhaps surrounded by cloud)

Perhaps the ring can be used to trap people (ie- Lupin) or has some kind of werewolf healing powers.

On the other hand it couldd just be a cracked black gemstone.

No human faces or snake faces to be seen.
Now that I look at the ring again, it looks like there's a shield on the face of it and it's definitely cracked.

Now that I look at the ring again, it looks like there's a shield on the face of it and it's definitely cracked.
Agreed. That's how it looks to me in the close up. A family crest of some sort, and the stone is now cracked/broken. The crest is vary vague though. Hard to make out what may have been on it.

This may be a lame theory but maybe the ring is passed down to Harry. Since Harry isn't a Black, the ring is cracked because the "line" of Blacks it has been passed down through is now broken. Or the ring could have taken on Harry's "crest", the lightning bolt, over top of the crest.

or it could be refelcting his scar. what do you think?

Regarding the flames on the UK Children's cover...remember we have seen Dumbledore cast a spell of flames at Voldemort during the duel in the Ministry of Magic. On page 814 of the American hardcover book, Dumbledore draws back his wand, brandishing it like whip and sends a long thin flame which wraps around Voldemort. Of course, Voldemort turns it into a serpent and the fight goes on, but we have seen the spell before.

This may be a lame theory but maybe the ring is passed down to Harry. Since Harry isn't a Black, the ring is cracked because the "line" of Blacks it has been passed down through is now broken. Or the ring could have taken on Harry's "crest", the lightning bolt, over top of the crest.
Didn't Sirius throw out the family ring when they were cleaning out 12GP? I seem to remember a description. *delves into OotP*

US Paperback, Page 117. " ... When Sirius wrestled a large golden ring bearing the Black crest from his grip, Kreacher actually burst into furious tears and left the room sobbing under his breath and calling Sirius names Harry had never heard before."

"It was my father's," said Sirius, throwing the ring into the sack. "Kreacher wasn't quite as devoted to him as to my mother, but I still caught him snogging a pair of my father's old trousers last week."

Then on Page 504 when Hermione's leaving Kreacher's present under the boiler. "In a far corner glinted small objects and coins that Harry guessed Kreacher had saved, magpielike, from Sirius' purge of the house ..." So Kreacher might have salvaged the Black family ring.

On the screensaver it zooms in towards the boat and the writings on the wall. Could anyone post a screenshot? I would but my photobucket isn't working, unfortunately. :upset:

Also the ring definately looks like it's cracked. Could this be a symbol of the Half-Blood Prince? Because a 'Pureblood' is whole, complete, one of something and a half-blood is, as it suggests only half?

Edit to add: I like the theory posted above, also. Definately a possibility.

The marriage thingie is very possible but whose, James and Lly or Tonks and Lupin ^^ , ...

Also if it is APWBD hand and HP , it may be a transferring of power, a teaching of something or maybe like you see in like witch movies that they hold hands to increase their powers so they can provoke/summon something they alone could not, so it is more like a jointventure to do something, they cant do it alone, they need each other to be strong enough and not like so many said that APWBD transfers power to HP, but merely that they work together.

I agree with the theory above, but for some reason i think that the hands have more symbolism in them. They both have Hogwarts robes (by the looks of it), but one seems to be struglling more than the other. The right hand looks older to. MAybe the flames surrounding it means its Harry+Voldy. (Now I'm really heading into the abyss with this one but stick with me here) Maybe Voldy enrolss as a new student. Instead of a teacher like in the first one. Must look into...

Erebni

The ring sure looks BLACK to me (haha, Sirius). Who else but the Black family would choose to have a black stone in their ring? I think it is the ring Sirius tried to throw out. There seems to be a crest behind the crack. I would say the whole family tree thing we saw wasn't just further exposition - but an important link somewhere. Who knows whether the ring is linked to the half-blood prince, or what (the cover of Order of the Phoenix wasn't really about the order, but about the room they were guarding).

I just wonder if the ring was cracked already before Sirius tried to throw it away... I don't think its coincidence that the crack is in the shape of Harry's scar. Just how to fit the pieces together...

He mentioned it was his fathers, and Kreature didn't really care for Sirius' father in the same way - he mentioned it was strange that Kreature would care about something like that. Especially because he burst into tears. Seems understandable that maybe K was just at his wits end, but that sounds just like an egg JKR planted.

Though it seems logical that the hands on the back are Dumbledore's and Harry's, I first wondered if it was Harry and the HPB. That arm kind of fits the description JKR gave of him - wild, but strong. That would explain why the arm looks older, but not as old as Dumbledore would be. (He is already over a hundred years old.) I know others have suggested that, but that is just my 2 cents.

Well, I've read some of the posts, but I'm too lazy to read them all xD

I'm most curious about the fire or spell surrounding Dumbledore and Harry, the interlocked hands with... energy, is it?... running around them, and the ring. The ring appearently has a lightning bolt shaped crack in it, and I'm somehow thinking it belongs to either someone in the Black family, or Voldemort himself... Or maybe to the Half-Blood Prince (Who I'm convinced ISN'T anyone young, or a student at Hogwarts), as it is rather aged, and the stone... The stone is pretty mysterious.

As for the flame, spell, energy, WHATEVER it is (I can't wait to find out), I think it is some kind of magic Dumbledore is trying to teach Harry, some kind of defensive magic, appearently. As for the basin, I don't think it's Pensieve anymore, which chucks out my old theory that it was a Pensieve in the cemetary where Lily and James are burried (Possibly the same cemetary where Voldemort rose back to power?) and contains the thoughts of the dead.... But I do think Harry and Voldemort are on their way to it when they are walking through the woods.


-stares obsessively at the special edition cover-

I don't see Remus OR Snape.... And I've been looking at it with intense concentration.

I'm most curious about the fire or spell surrounding Dumbledore and Harry, the interlocked hands with... energy, is it?... running around them, and the ring. The ring appearently has a lightning bolt shaped crack in it, and I'm somehow thinking it belongs to either someone in the Black family, or Voldemort himself... Or maybe to the Half-Blood Prince (Who I'm convinced ISN'T anyone young, or a student at Hogwarts), as it is rather aged, and the stone... The stone is pretty mysterious.

As for the flame, spell, energy, WHATEVER it is (I can't wait to find out), I think it is some kind of magic Dumbledore is trying to teach Harry, some kind of defensive magic, appearently. As for the basin, I don't think it's Pensieve anymore, which chucks out my old theory that it was a Pensieve in the cemetary where Lily and James are burried (Possibly the same cemetary where Voldemort rose back to power?) and contains the thoughts of the dead.... But I do think Harry and Voldemort are on their way to it when they are walking through the woods. The flames sort of reminds me of the spell DD used in OoP... ...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.So we have seen DD do a similar spell to the one we see on the cover of HBP...the spell seemed to be some form of magic bonds---of which LV had a time breaking...could the spell wrapped around the two wrists be binding the two together?

Ok, here is the picture I meant to include in my previous post (Finally worked out how to do it! *feels like a genius*)

I have traced over all of the possible writings on the wall, in different colours for what I take to be each word of section. So can anyone see the unhapy face and random animal and the word pity, or is it just me? *Worries about own sanity*

As the the big picture of the ring- I thought it looked like a scorpion.


~Smantie~

Kingwidgit- Good point. That makes me more convinced that it's some kind of defensive magic, probably ancient magic of which is rarely used and can only be mastered by powerful wizards, and that'd fit perfectly with Dumbledore's choice of spells and defenses and his ability...

Ok, here is the picture I meant to include in my previous post (Finally worked out how to do it! *feels like a genius*)

I have traced over all of the possible writings on the wall, in different colours for what I take to be each word of section. So can anyone see the unhapy face and random animal and the word pity, or is it just me? *Worries about own sanity*

As the the big picture of the ring- I thought it looked like a scorpion.


~Smantie~

Wow...what do all the words say though? I can only make out pity. Do you think you could enlarge it at all?

I know I'm randomly jumping in here and just posting but I'm still working out my interpretation of the cover. I'd definately say the hands look like they belong to Harry and Dumbledore though-especially because of the fire since the two are surrounded by fire on the front cover. That and the robes look identicial-both black on the cover and on the side.

Other than that-I don't have much else to say at the moment.

The first time I saw the two hands, I thought it was Snape and Harry's hand. Sounds weird I know but I just think it's true..

With the new release of the US deluxe cover art, we are given four fascinating and different covers for Jo Rowling’s upcoming sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”. Judging by past covers, we could assume that these new covers must as well be scenes or objects from the story, revealing possibilities.

Let us begin with the last cover art to have enticed my curiosity. The US deluxe edition shows Dumbledore and Harry gazing forward from under a forests’ dark green canopy. What forest should we think it to be? Is it the forbidden forest, on the Hogwarts grounds, that houses Grawp, while someone teaches him English? There are large broken branches in front of Harry, showing some tree trauma of late. The expression on Harry’s face is one of comfortable recognition, having a wry smile, while Dumbledore peers pensively forward. Could it be that Dumbledore wants Harry to introduce him to Grawp? Maybe they’re watching Hermione give English lessons to Grawp. But where would Hagrid be? Off with Madame Maxine on more embassy missions? Maybe back in the mountains looking for a girlfriend for Grawp. I also doubt if we’re dealing with centaurs here because Harry wouldn’t be so relaxed. As for any other forests, I don’t have a guess. I do believe this scene turns out to be a lighter moment in the book.

Secondly, we come to the regular US cover. A bit more meat on the bone here. Do we agree that we are looking at Dumbledore and Harry staring into an ancient pensieve, completely rimmed with ancient runes and mounted on a short column as thoughts swirl around? If so, let us study the positions of Dumbledore and Harry. Dumbledore has his right hand over the center of the pensieve, mouth open in astonishment or speech. Yet Harry holds the wand and is farther back. Harry looks resolute as though he is seeing something that he accepts. Is Dumbledore looking at Harry’s memories? Could it be the one of the resurrection of Voldemort in the graveyard on the night of the third task in the Goblet of Fire? This is something I could see Dumbledore wanting to see. It would be invaluable strategically speaking. This leads us to another cover.

The third cover is the UK adult cover, which lays a copy of Advanced Potion Making, by Libalius Borage on an old desk or tabletop. Probably a library book or a gift, but not standard text for everyday class. Students buy their texts and this one doesn’t look fresh off the press from Flourish and Blotts. If my idea about Dumbledore examining Harry’s memory is true, it could have been for the purpose of identifying Wormtail’s particular brew of resurrection potion or finding a counter potion to the resurrection potion. This book may be pivotal for the plot. It might be related to something that happens in Snape’s class or to Snape himself as well. It could be that Snape has been kept as potions master all these years to teach an important libation just for book six. Or maybe he is killed by Voldemort because his occlumency bad karma bit him in the *** and he was revealed as a traitor. Certainly it would balance the loss of Sirius. Maybe Harry makes his own verataserum to give to Malfoy after his detour, extracting intelligence (the military type) from the newest Death Eater, Draco. Something brews.

Finally we come to the fourth cover, which is by far the most action packed: The UK children’s cover. Dumbledore stands clearly defending Harry by encasing the two of them in a coil of fire. But what goes on here? Is it Dubledore’s patronus of phoenix fire saving Harry from the inevitable dementor attack? Is Dumbledore casting a spell more complex and yet unheard-of for some other unknown reason? Remember the department of mysteries battle where Voldemort’s snake was burst into flames at the last minute by the good professor. Or perhaps this could this be the force Voldemort is unable to use (locked door, DoM style)? Otherwise what creature would be off put by coiled flames? This cover is difficult. A patch of green is between Harry and Dumbledore, but outside the coiled flame is dark. Is the scene further on from the forest scene? I think not. It is most likely near the climax of the book, if I’ve got my children’s cover thinking cap on.

The covers are inspiring. It seems as though we can safely assume one thing about book six: Harry and Dumbledore are going to be together more often than in the Order of the Phoenix.

Cenzonico

it could quite possibly be one of the boats used to escort the first years to Hogwarts for their very first time, and therefore the HBP could quite possibly be a first year.
I knew it. Mark Evans is the HBP.

Megan- Sorry, I've only very recently (i.e. in the last 20 mins) figured out how to get a picture in a post. Maybe you could save it to your computer and zoom in on paint or similar?

cenzonico- I like your theories on the potions book! I really hadn't thought much about it, other than 'I guess Harry must've passed potions then...'!


This picture is the boat, upside down. in the reflection (now at the top) it looks like a head on the left and knees on the right, like someone is lying in the boat... but the picture is VERY tiny, so a zoom is advised!

~Smantie~

I agree. The arm and hand look to be that of a man in middle-age, not an elder of over a hundred. My great uncle lived to be 102, despite being a fit and still strong man his arms were thin and knobbed, deeply grooved and wrinkled.
My eight year old just reminded me that the prophesy says, "Either must die at the hand of the other."

Could the hands be Harry's and Voldemort's?

Or is it a symbol of a magical bond? Who does Harry have magical bonds with? Pettigrew ... anyone else?

My eight year old just reminded me that the prophesy says, "Either must die at the hand of the other."

Could the hands be Harry's and Voldemort's?

Or is it a symbol of a magical bond? Who does Harry have magical bonds with? Pettigrew ... anyone else?
I thought of that too when seeing the hands, but I've discarded both Snape and Voldemort due to the colour of their skin (Voldy: Extremelly white, Snape: sallow) and the lenght of the fingers.

I still think it belongs to dumbledore, the skin looks old (not just because of the veins, the overall looks definitely older than the young/female hand)


This picture is the boat, upside down. in the reflection (now at the top) it looks like a head on the left and knees on the right, like someone is lying in the boat... but the picture is VERY tiny, so a zoom is advised!Definitely I see a person there, and a light... it is curious... magic waters, perhaps?

The ring sure looks BLACK to me (haha, Sirius). Who else but the Black family would choose to have a black stone in their ring? I think it is the ring Sirius tried to throw out. There seems to be a crest behind the crack.I can't see that crest, I just see a crack (lightning bolt shapped, and some shattered parts around it) Who knows whether the ring is linked to the half-blood prince, or what (the cover of Order of the Phoenix wasn't really about the order, but about the room they were guarding). I think probably it is related, it appears in both the book jacket, and also in the screensaver, I think they wouldn't show it there if it was not specially importantI don't think its coincidence that the crack is in the shape of Harry's scar. I agreeThough it seems logical that the hands on the back are Dumbledore's and Harry's, I first wondered if it was Harry and the HPB. That arm kind of fits the description JKR gave of him - wild, but strong. That would explain why the arm looks older, but not as old as Dumbledore would be. (He is already over a hundred years old.) I know others have suggested that, but that is just my 2 cents.It could be a possibility, definitely

On the screensaver it zooms in towards the boat and the writings on the wall. Could anyone post a screenshot? I would but my photobucket isn't working, unfortunately. :upset: You can upload it to the Forum, just click on "Manage Attachments"

This may be a lame theory but maybe the ring is passed down to Harry. Since Harry isn't a Black, the ring is cracked because the "line" of Blacks it has been passed down through is now broken. Or the ring could have taken on Harry's "crest", the lightning bolt, over top of the crest.
This theory makes sense...

I have also thought that perhaps the "Marking him as an equal" from the Prophecy could be related to this shape, what if the Ring belongs to Voldemort? (Ok, now this is a stupid theory)

Everyone keeps saying that the huge basin on the American and British covers is a pensieve. They talk about it like it's confirmed it's a pensieve. Is it? Did someone confirm it, or are some people just assuming it's one?

To me, it doesn't seem like a pensieve at all. Wasn't Dumbledore's in a cabinet? And Snape's was just in his office so it must have been rather small too. And the chapter illustration (http://www.mugglenet.com/books/chapterpics/images/gof/originals/_gof30.jpg) for 'The Pensieve' chapter in GoF has the pensieve looking like a rather small bowl. It just seems too huge to be a pensieve. Maybe pensieves have different sizes and that one's like this massive amazing pensieve that exists but I don't know.

When I think about the British adult cover, with the Advanced Potion Making textbook, and then see that huge basin with the greenish glowing stuff in it (weren't the pensieve contents liquidy-silvery-white in Dumbledore's and Snape's pensieve?), I think that those two illustrations are related, and the thing in basin is an advanced potion.

Well, I see a fish on the bottom right of the adult cover.

See this enlarged pic here.
http://www.akwolf.com/HRC/bookfish.jpg

okay, here's my take on the ring at least.

the ring's gemstone, i'll bet, is an amethyst. due to it's purple color. purple is the color of royalty. under the crack on the gemstone you can see what looks to be a shield, probably the coat of arms for the royal family. the crack symbolizes the introduction of dirty blood to the pure royal line.

i take it the ring is the half-blood prince's family ring. perhaps the prince is an illegitimate child and was still given the ring? or maybe the ring on the cover is just illustrated symbolism.

then again, the gemstone only LOOKS purple to me. purplish gray. so it could just be gray and my eyes are playing tricks on me and my theory means nothing.
It looks like amethyst to me, too. Good interpretation of the ring. :tu: Can't wait to find out.

Ok, since several people have attempted to see what the writing is, I took a stab at it myself, with PictureIt! 9 & paint....it's about as clear as mud, but oh well...This one is I just played with the contrast, to see if I could see the writing more clearly. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/hbpcover.jpg Here, I traced the letters--as they appeared to me,anywho--with paint...http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/hbpcoverpic.jpg

Ok, since several people have attempted to see what the writing is, I took a stab at it myself, with PictureIt! 9 & paint....it's about as clear as mud, but oh well...This one is I just played with the contrast, to see if I could see the writing more clearly. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/hbpcover.jpg Here, I traced the letters--as they appeared to me,anywho--with paint...http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/hbpcoverpic.jpg
It is curious... I was seeing as letters the spaces between the darker lines, and I had not noticed the shape of the dark lines themselves... good catch! :tu:

The symbol on the ring doesn't look like Harry's scar on the front cover, which looks decidedly like the sowelo. Although If I remember correctly from previous threads on runes, they can be read frontwards or backwards, and sowelo is one of the few that have the same meaning in either direction.
http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24522&stc=1

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was check*ing the boats as people climbed out of them.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
I don't think this "underground harbor" has been described again in the books.

The symbol on the ring doesn't look like Harry's scar on the front cover, which looks decidedly like the sowelo. Although If I remember correctly from previous threads on runes, they can be read frontwards or backwards, and sowelo is one of the few that have the same meaning in either direction.
http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24522&stc=1That's really interesting.

I've researched to know about the meaning of Sowelo, and this is what I found:

http://www.africangold.co.za/images/Runes_graphics_jpg/Meanings%20Sowelo.htm

Sun = Leo = Harry = Gryffindor = Mysterious lion alike character
S sound = Slytherin = Snakes = Parseltongue"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was check*ing the boats as people climbed out of them.

"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
I don't think this "underground harbor" has been described again in the books.I don't remember having heard of it besides of there, it is one of those details that are usually forgotten, perhaps that "harbor" is also used to communicate with other underground harbors.

That's really interesting.

I've researched to know about the meaning of Sowelo, and this is what I found:

http://www.africangold.co.za/images/Runes_graphics_jpg/Meanings%20Sowelo.htm

Sun = Leo = Harry = Gryffindor = Mysterious lion alike character
S sound = Slytherin = Snakes = ParseltongueI don't remember having heard of it besides of there, it is one of those details that are usually forgotten, perhaps that "harbor" is also used to communicate with other underground harbors.

I think The meaning of Sowelo has to do with the next book because of the war that´s coming, assuming that it is a Sowelo in the ring. :tu:

On the screensaver it zooms in towards the boat and the writings on the wall. Could anyone post a screenshot? I would but my photobucket isn't working, unfortunately. :upset:

Also the ring definately looks like it's cracked. Could this be a symbol of the Half-Blood Prince? Because a 'Pureblood' is whole, complete, one of something and a half-blood is, as it suggests only half?

Edit to add: I like the theory posted above, also. Definately a possibility.

Luned: On the screensaver, it seems as if there is a close up of the boat, and there almost is, but as soon as the boat comes near the whole screen darkens. I took two screen captures of it, but I don't see any "writing on the wall" or anything like that." These pictures may have been edited from the originals, though.

Sowelo is the Sun, the energy of the Sun, the life force of the individual. This is why I believe that Harry's scar is the location of Voldemort's life force. That's why Harry has Voldemort's transferred powers.

The stuff hanging behind the boat almost looks as if it could say "summons"

Sowelo is the Sun, the energy of the Sun, the life force of the individual. This is why I believe that Harry's scar is the location of Voldemort's life force. That's why Harry has Voldemort's transferred powers.

No! jkr said that the scar was a way that harry and voldemort were connected (however i can´t remember where i read this).
And about the powers, after voldemort retur to his form he didn´t realise that he had access to harry´s thougths, so i think that you´re theory about the powers is wrong.

To me it looks like there are two people on the ring. One has something on their head, a crown maybe? I can see eyes mouth, beard and all. I was looking at the larger picture of the ring: http://www.mugglenet.com/viewer/?image_location=/hbp/ring.gif

OK so I was playing around with inverting the colours of the cover and noticed something a little odd about the glowing green blob of light above what basically looks like a bird bath, and the stuff in said basiny thing.

http://img81.echo.cx/img81/6003/hbpcover2qf.png

There is definately something there I think, or it's just shading and I have an overactive imagination! :D

Anywho I'm pretty sure I see a hand in the cloud part at least, and it almost looks like there's faces in it too. Weirdness.

Definate over-active imagination on that one. There's nothing there.

That would be such fun! Majorca! hmmmm... But note how the boat is all golden and glowy, I wonder why. And the basin/pensive has a weird clawed base. The interlocked hands usually symbolize unity, but these are bound together by... something... so a unity by ?? need?

I don't think that the symbol on the ring is anythink Harry's scar or a snake..... It really looks like the ring is broken. And there seems to be an other symbol inside, like a school house's symbol (Gryffindor's?... :) )

That is fascinating, Harry Potter! I've never seen that before. We have a cave with an underground lake here in Tennessee less than 100 miles from where I live. It's called the Lost Sea, and when I saw the little boat on the cover, I was thinking about that yesterday.
http://www.tennesseeoverhill.com/images/lake.jpg
Isn't Majorca mentioned by Petunia, when she is imagining owning a home there? Doesn't her friend go vacationing there in Book One, and that is why she can't babysit Harry?

It is mentioned again in the 3rd book (I think) that the Dursleys wanted to get a vacation house in Majorca but Harry didn't care either way, they would be just as horrible in Majorca as Privett Drive.


To the comment above: It would be rather difficult for a stone to just gain a fault like that. I seriously doubt that it would be placed in that gold setting if it had it to begin with so I believe that it is some sort of a symbol or crest, not necessarily for the Blacks.

Kay hii people i'm new here and I'm mel.
Ok but thats not the point now!
Wot im dieing to tell is that in the ring the pensieve thingy shows. Don't u see it?

Just read the posts above. You are a new baby to the intrigue of HP covers. LOL. :welcome: Have fun here!

I don't think that the symbol on the ring is anythink Harry's scar or a snake..... It really looks like the ring is broken. And there seems to be an other symbol inside, like a school house's symbol (Gryffindor's?... :) )

That's what I think too, although I'm more inclined to say the symbol appears to have an 'S' on it-as in Slytherin. It's definately a crest of some kind and the stone looks cracked, perhaps symbolizing the loss of power? I'm thinking it could belong to someone who would need a signet ring to symbolize their power (Half-Blood Prince perhaps?) and perhaps the fact that its cracked symbolizes that that person dies. It's probably a significant part of whoever owns it, although not necessairly to the story as a whole.

Didn't Sirius throw out the family ring when they were cleaning out 12GP? I seem to remember a description. *delves into OotP*

US Paperback, Page 117. " ... When Sirius wrestled a large golden ring bearing the Black crest from his grip, Kreacher actually burst into furious tears and left the room sobbing under his breath and calling Sirius names Harry had never heard before."

"It was my father's," said Sirius, throwing the ring into the sack. "Kreacher wasn't quite as devoted to him as to my mother, but I still caught him snogging a pair of my father's old trousers last week."

Then on Page 504 when Hermione's leaving Kreacher's present under the boiler. "In a far corner glinted small objects and coins that Harry guessed Kreacher had saved, magpielike, from Sirius' purge of the house ..." So Kreacher might have salvaged the Black family ring.

So then this could be the ring that appears on the cover art. This really is a good possibility since we might find out more about the Black family. The thing that drives me away from this theory of it being a ring belonging to Sirius' father is that the picture of the ring on the cover appears with those two hands with the circle of fire. They might have put that ring to show that it was used in the process of some transfer/sharing of power. If that was the case, could it still belong to the Black family?

What if the ring belongs to the half-blood prince? That wouldn't agree with all the theories about the ring belonging to Sirius' father. Unless his father was royalty. Remember when Sirius was talking about his father and how his parents thought that having their surname/being a pure family made them "practically royal"? I think Sirius didn't really mean that literally. I guess he used royal metaphorically speaking.

Just read the posts above. You are a new baby to the intrigue of HP covers. LOL. :welcome: Have fun here!


Ty, lol =)
Did someone already said that? Cause i was scanning and i didnt saw anything bout it...

OK I was staring at the 'writings on the wall' as it were and I started to try and make sense of it and I think it might say "Halfbreeds not worth pity" because you can make out a 'half' and 'pity' fairly well and there and you can almost see 'worth'. Could also be "halfblood" though, but I definately get the feeling its almost some sort of graffiti scrawled across the wall of the cave.

Harry's scar do you mean? Yes, a lightning bolt scar

Does anyone else think that the London Underground could possibly be linked with the Gringotts Underground? Do you think that JKR mentioned the fact that Dumbledore has 'a scar above his left knee which is a perfect map of the London Underground'? for no particular reaon at all, or because it's going to play some sort of part in HBP or Book 7? (Quote from U.K. PS, Chp 1, Pg 17)

I found this nearer to the beginning of the thread and thought it was an excellent idea! :tu: :tu:

And the way Dumbledore said that scars often come in handy makes me wonder...

OK I was staring at the 'writings on the wall' as it were and I started to try and make sense of it and I think it might say "Halfbreeds not worth pity" because you can make out a 'half' and 'pity' fairly well and there and you can almost see 'worth'. Could also be "halfblood" though, but I definately get the feeling its almost some sort of graffiti scrawled across the wall of the cave.I thought the same when I enhanced the photo with paint...http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y130/kingwidgit/hbpcoverpic.jpg

Here is a link to one of the threads with a discussion about Majorca and things being underground in general: Beneath the Surface (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=54393&page=12&pp=20) . I found it very interesting. It focuses on the repetitive mentions of underground areas important to the series.

Very interesting thread...I go along with the theory of the hands art signifying some sort of wedding symbolism. Nymphadora seems to translate (Latin) into a bride (or maiden) won by an act of bravery, so I have been thinking Tonks will marry...

Very interesting thread...I go along with the theory of the hands art signifying some sort of wedding symbolism. Nymphadora seems to translate (Latin) into a bride (or maiden) won by an act of bravery, so I have been thinking Tonks will marry...

Interesting theory. I have to ask though, since weddings are supposed to be joyful occassion of celebration and what have you, why would those being married wear black? Granted a number of men's tuxedos are black, but still, I highly doubt a woman would wear black on her wedding day. Even if she wasn't going to wear white I think she'd still wear a bright colour. People make jokes about how marriage is a trap etc etc, but it's really about love and all that good stuff.

Just a question though-who do you tihnk Tonks would be marrying? I know a lot of people picture her with Charlie, or even Lupin, but if your theory holds true who do you think it is?

Was that the wittiest remark you could think of?
Don't disparage him!!
We are looking at DRAWINGS! NOT photographs. I am not familiar with the artist that does the UK cover but, as with Mary Grand Pre, it is ONLY an artist conception! I am almost 50, not in particularly good shape and my veins do not pop out! My mom is 86, and hers are starting to, My husband is 45 and exercises and his kind of pop out..... who's to say? Wizards age differently from Muggles, it could be Dumbledore... it could be Lupin... it could be Godric Gryffindor for all we know!
I Can't Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the writing on the wall looks like it is spelling Sarcophagus.

I definitly think that someone is in the boat. But we can only see this person in the reflection, I dont know why. Isn't there a lake down in Gringgotts? Maybe this is that place.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v387/smudgeoffudge/th_ron.gif
I was playing in adobe photoshop and I did a kind of thing called smudgestick and then I got this. Now that I look back at the writing on the wall and think about seeing the black letters I can see it. It either says RON or RUN I can't tell..

Thanks for the screensaver shots, silver_ink_pot! My eyes and I are infinitely grateful to you! :D

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24524

Right now I'd say it could be one of these two options:
- It doesn't say anything at all
- It says "SAVEHOWL" and under it, "SPOIL" :huh:

Clearly there is something or someone on the reflection of the boat

The basin, Pensieve or whatever doesn't look like stone, it reflects the pedestal, it looks more like silver or any metal

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/smudgeoffudge/ronpity.gif

Either my eyesight is going or you guys have really vivid imaginations! Or both:)

Isn't this a bit like finding "sex" in the sky when watching The Lion King? Maybe it's a meaningless inclusion from the artist?

I might get tarred and feathered for saying this ,but I don'tthink the writing on the wall is meant to be read. Well maybe it is in the book but not the drawing. It's probably just there to show that there is writing on the wall in whatever scene that wall (or whatever it is) comes up.

Clearly there is something or someone on the reflection of the boat

It looks like two people, or someone that's lying down with his/her kness up. But then why isn't there anyone on the boat itself? Obviously, they could be invisible but would invisible peopel still be reflected in water?

Actually the word can be seen in the Lion King, if you go frame by frame :lol:

Yes, I need to get a life so badly :nc:

I have just thought of other theory, this time related with the broken ring, and the famous Harry's discovery in CoS, from where the history of the HBP would start.

The Ring belongs to Salazar Slytherin. The discovery is that Rowena Ravenclaw, Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin were the founders of Hogwarts, and that at a point, due to problems between them due to the prejudices of blood, Salazar Slytherin left, abandoned the school leaving it in hands of the other three Founders.
What if the ring was a symbol, in the same way as the Pope, or other personalities wear a golden ring that symbolizes their authority, their charge, or other special characteristic, and when Slytherin left, his ring was broken?

Something even more far-fetched: What if the Half-Blood Prince lived in those times, back in the past, when all of what mentioned before happened, and he had something to do with Salazar's decision of leaving? Let's not forget that the HBP doesn't have to be the main character of the book, it could just have a secondary significance, not something that affects directly the plot

I've cropped and flipped the picture and you know what? I think I can see the word "Potter" on the wall.

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24537&stc=1

It looks like a sentence running from top to bottom. "If [something] to Potter."

I'm going mad! :lol:

It looks like two people, or someone that's lying down with his/her kness up. But then why isn't there anyone on the boat itself? Obviously, they could be invisible but would invisible peopel still be reflected in water?
Maybe we're beyond the veil? :eyebrows:

Wow! Thanks for the enlargement.

I tried squinting my eyes and to me it looks like a crowd of people like from the mirror of Erised or something.

I, too, think there is a reflection in the water (probably enchanted) from the boat. Maybe someone is in the boat wearing a invisibility cloak and the water reflects the person anyway.

As I was looking at the pedestal I noticed it had a claw foot like a bird. Could the basin be the pensieve of GG? Also, notice the green on the platform under it. It looks as if it is spilling onto the platform.

The ring looks like a column that has split. The split looks like the scar on Harry's head so it could be a link to VM. Maybe the ring is VM's and ring is the family crest. Maybe it is the crest of the house of Riddle and the split symbolizes the division inside of VM. Anyhow, I think the thing on the column is a crest of some kind.

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

Weren't the Slytherins wearing rings in the PoA movie? Didn't JKR say that Alfonzo "foreshadowed" things that were upcoming in future books?

The (Cracked) Ring of Black; The possibilities about the Ring and the Black Family.

Possibly part of the Black family?

This would support the theory that Regulus Black is the Half-Blood Prince. Easy as that. Oh, wait. One tiny problem.


Jo herself has confirmed that Regulus Black is dead. Or is this possibly what she wants us to believe? The way Sirius describes his death is very vague, and the time of his death is just perfect. JK wants us to know when he died. "(Some fifteen years previously)". But, since Jo herself has confirmed it true, there is no other way to look at it: Regulus is dead. So unless the book proves it wrong, and it proves Jo was trying to make us believe he was dead just so we wouldn't expect it (which I don't think she'd do), I will remain convinced he is dead.


Now, what about Sirius' father? We haven't heard much about him, now, have we? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall hearing too much about Mr. Black, do you? I am not suggesting he is the Half-Blood Prince, as Phineas said "The LAST of the Black family". So, he must be dead, right? Yet, I somehow feel he has something to do with the Ring.


So, the question is, does the ring itself even belong to the Black family? We must know this before we can speculate on these theories. So, let us concentrate on the ring itself.

It is gold, with a black stone, it looks to me as if it's a black onyx. Especially the way it's cut, it is very common to see an onyx cut in emerald step/cushion/radiant cuts (It looks to me as a mixture of the three, I can't really decide, so I shall post the possibilities). I pulled up black onyx on Google, and you'll be surprised (I certainly was) at what an onyx represents.





Black onyx is believed to be one of the most powerful protection stones. Its way of protecting is to absorb and transform negative energy. Because of this quality, people find it helpful in relieving stress and for emotional stability.

It's one of the first (root chakra) grounding stones; as such,it encourages connection to material goals and to determination in realizing them.

In much crystal literature black onyx is strongly associated to Saturn, and it is said that this stone works most positively for those with a strong Saturn in their natal charts. Although this may include people born under the sign of Capricorn, it's not limited to them.

I mention the above because it's part of the lore about this stone; however, black onyx has another characteristic which can make it valuable to anyone.

It has been said that in India it was commonly worn to cool the ardors of love. It may be very helpful for people who can't let go of past relationships (sometimes even long after they're over.)

The same can be true of any belief which no longer serves one - and they can be as hard to let go of as past relationships. Onyx can help to bring us into contact with our actual realities, and assist us in gradually releasing all that is not in harmony with our present lives.






VERY interesting... Sirius, anyone? Look at the bit about love and past relationships... Curious, very curious... Even more? The oh-so-famous crack in the Ring everyone says quite mysteriously resembles Harry's scar... Harry/Sirius connection... Again. More evident it becomes... The color of the stone itself. Black. Need I say more?

There is more to the crack than you might think... The Black family is a very old family that no longer exsists. Sirius was the last remaining Black (Well, actually, the last male black, there's still Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa. But he was the last remaining Black that could carry the name. I think Narcissa may have more to her than we know (JK says we will see more of her in HBP).) The relics and remains of the family are old, as we see in OoTP. Most of them damaged, torn, and cracked. This furthers my theory that the Ring belongs to the Black family.


Now, what more can I say? We won't know until HBP is released whether or not the Ring belongs to the Blacks, or if it even has anything to do with them.

Anyone care to share their views/opinions/theories?

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

Weren't the Slytherins wearing rings in the PoA movie? Didn't JKR say that Alfonzo "foreshadowed" things that were upcoming in future books?

I think you're on to something! Perhaps Draco starts his own DA club in HBP and they wear rings to communicate.

I've cropped and flipped the picture and you know what? I think I can see the word "Potter" on the wall.

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24537&stc=1

It looks like a sentence running from top to bottom. "If [something] to Potter."

I'm going mad! :lol:


Maybe we're beyond the veil? :eyebrows:

Where do you see "Potter"? I totally can't see it at all, but then again my eyes are pretty bad and glasses/contacts can only do so much unfortunately.

As for being beyond the veil...didn't JKR say something about how we'd find out more concerning it?

Maybe the crest on the ring is the crest of Hogwarts. That would explain why it is broken, with the whole divided houses thing...

It looks like a sentence running from top to bottom. "If [something] to Potter."

I see it too,but it's upside-down, to me. That means the writing's upside down to anyone looking at it from the boat or the area around the basin thing.:shrug:

What if the Half-Blood Prince lived in those times, back in the past, when all of what mentioned before happened, and he had something to do with Salazar's decision of leaving? Let's not forget that the HBP doesn't have to be the main character of the book, it could just have a secondary significance, not something that affects directly the plot

Kind of like a fifth "founder"? For some reason I can see that more easily then it being one of the Founders themselves. What that makes me wonder about is whether or not the HBP is "good". Then again, the world isn't divided into good people and Death Eaters. So now I'm just typing what i'm thinking. :sigh:

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

Weren't the Slytherins wearing rings in the PoA movie? Didn't JKR say that Alfonzo "foreshadowed" things that were upcoming in future books?
Yup, that's right, I had mentioned it here:
http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?p=2384864#post2384864

I'm glad someone else noticed about that detail, too :eyebrows:

Where do you see "Potter"? I totally can't see it at all, but then again my eyes are pretty bad and glasses/contacts can only do so much unfortunately.The letters are made out of the dark lines in that case, personally I see "POTTTER", with three "T" :huh:

The Slytherins' rings could be a pure-blood thing. They (their families) are obsessed with knowing who's who. Kind of reminiscent of Nazi Germany...

Where do you see "Potter"? I totally can't see it at all, but then again my eyes are pretty bad and glasses/contacts can only do so much unfortunately.
I've highlighted it using my amazing Photoshop skills:

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24538&stc=1

Maybe it says: "If you can read this, you've been reading too much Harry Potter"?

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

WAIT!!

Weren't the Slytherins wearing rings in the PoA movie? Didn't JKR say that Alfonzo "foreshadowed" things that were upcoming in future books?

Wow.......um I feel like I missed something now cause I never noticed that. Anybody have a screenshot handy to show me?

Wow.......um I feel like I missed something now cause I never noticed that. Anybody have a screenshot handy to show me?

The rings are visible on both Crabbe (?) and Malfoy in this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39541000/jpg/_39541561_draco.jpg) picture. Right hand. :)

I've highlighted it using my amazing Photoshop skills:

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24538&stc=1

Maybe it says: "If you can read this, you've been reading too much Harry Potter"?

:rotfl: Probably! I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if that was the case, but I hope there's something more to it than that.

The rings are visible on both Crabbe (?) and Malfoy in this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39541000/jpg/_39541561_draco.jpg) picture. Right hand. :)

Thank you kindly! :)

Hmmm.......interesting indeed. it's definately small and seems insignificant - almost as though the costume department just thought it would add to their costumes but its odd. I mean, not a lot of my guys friends wear rings so it seems out of place to me. I don't know, maybe it's because of my personal experience but yeah I agree that it could mean something.

I remember reading an interview with Alfonzo where he said they made up a backstory to the rings. Apparently the boys decided that the rings were a gift from Lucius Malfoy.

Not sure if that's of any significance ... ?

Here's my guess about the hands. I think that the students from Dumbledore's Army may well start their own handclasping ritual as a show of solidarity.

I like the Ring of Fire concept that was brought up before for the UK youth edition. Although it could be simply a wizard's duel that we are getting a glimpse into the middle of - of course, if the rumors are true, it could be Dumbledore's last moment of life judging by the look on his face.

The ring, I think was Voltemorts passed down from Slytherin. I think this because the marking on the ring and the marking of the scar are too close to just be coincidence. JK did say that the reason for the scar and how Harry got it were going to be part of this book. It seems to me that the ring may hold powers, some of which were transfered to Harry upon the reversal of the curse.

And, yes, I think that it is a pensive within the chamber of secrets. I think that is why the aura is green. I think that it belongs to Salazar Slytherin. Anyway, we will find out next month, won't we?

Although it could be simply a wizard's duel that we are getting a glimpse into the middle of - of course, if the rumors are true, it could be Dumbledore's last moment of life judging by the look on his face.
Blasphemy!! Dumbledore will not die.

*blocks ears and sings*

Kidding. :)

Good points there, Sybill. We haven't got too long to wait, so we shouldn't tie ourself up in knots about the cover.

:welcome: to CoS.

Here is a snapshot of Draco and his ring:
http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24539&stc=1

And this one, just to show something that look like horns or a snake (Or even the shape of Draco's ring :lol: ):
http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24540&stc=1

And this one, just to show something that look like horns or a snake (Or even the shape of Draco's ring :lol: ):
http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24540&stc=1

What's with the red markings on the picture?

What's with the red markings on the picture?
The red marks are nothing, I was just outlining the main dark borders of the "letters", the snake-horns-something I was talking about is the area inside of the white markings :)

The red marks are nothing, I was just outlining the main dark borders of the "letters", the snake-horns-something I was talking about is the area inside of the white markings :)

Ah, got it-cool.

I'm trying to think os something new to say but my brain is almost toally fried. Aside from thinking that there's something in the reflection of the boat and there appears to be something swirling around int eh Peniesive-like basin I don't see much else at the moment.

Someone was mentioning earlier though that the flames encircling the hands on the spine of the cover were coming from a ring but I couldn't see it. Am I actually that blind?

I dunno if I can stand much more of this suspense-I NEED THE BOOK NOW!!!!!

It looks like the ring has a crack in the middle, and not a bolt shape. It's probably some thing to do with the past and explaining everything to Harry.

I've cropped and flipped the picture and you know what? I think I can see the word "Potter" on the wall.

http://www.cosforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=24537&stc=1

It looks like a sentence running from top to bottom. "If [something] to Potter."

I'm going mad! :lol:


Maybe we're beyond the veil? :eyebrows:
well... Let's see... There is a chinese/japanese sign "middle" right in the centre. Along it's top edge, right to left, goes Hebrew word "peace"
Below, left to right, "brotherhood" in Russian...
I need more sleep or another drink to figure it out...

Now, I can't see any of those hidden pictures or words, never have. But I do dig your photoshop skills, Rosiepots :lol:

The Slytherins' rings could be a pure-blood thing. They (their families) are obsessed with knowing who's who. Kind of reminiscent of Nazi Germany...
We know the Blacks apparently had a family ring, it could be the same with other purebloods.

From what I can see I think it says "GOLD to Potter"

At first I thought it was a lightning bolt on the ring. but then I thought, what if it's supposed to be a snake. The stone is black in color so perhaps it's Sirius' family ring?
The word on the wall I think is saying Slytherin.

Anybody's thoughts on what I think is the Dark Mark circiling the basin/penseive? Is it the Dark Mark? What does it mean for the book?

Anybody's thoughts on what I think is the Dark Mark circiling the basin/penseive? Is it the Dark Mark? What does it mean for the book?I didn't notice the Dark Mark. It looks like your standard green-ish glow to me.

hi, i juz wanna suggest tt we cud be over-reading.
e sypnosis at e back of e books were removed 2 prevent spoilers, thus we can safely assume tt any possible spoilers on e covers have been edited or r not shown...

There's more than a green glow. There's definitely a snake thing that I'm fairly sure is the Dark Mark about halfway up to the left side of the Pensieve. We had a blown up cover in our bookstore that shows it.

There's more than a green glow. There's definitely a snake thing that I'm fairly sure is the Dark Mark about halfway up to the left side of the Pensieve. We had a blown up cover in our bookstore that shows it.
Do you have a picture you can show me? Because I'm absolutely pants at spotting these things.

I'm with WoodenCoyote. I'm staring my squinty little eyes out trying to spot a Dark Mark but coming up with nada.

The wall is speaking to me again! It's saying, "I will kill. [What a] pity."

It's a sign! We should stop looking.

Okay, you're right. I google imaged the cover, and its not there as far as I can tell. But it is assuredly on the Harry Potter countdown cutout that Scholastic has provided to booksellers. Its basically a four foot tallish cutout of an apparently expanded version of the cover with a tearoff countdown of the days until HBP comes out.

Okay, you're right. I google imaged the cover, and its not there as far as I can tell. But it is assuredly on the Harry Potter countdown cutout that Scholastic has provided to booksellers. Its basically a four foot tallish cutout of an apparently expanded version of the cover with a tearoff countdown of the days until HBP comes out.
Ah, you mean the promotional stand. Yes there's a whole thread about the images and symbolism of that.

Okay, you're right. I google imaged the cover, and its not there as far as I can tell. But it is assuredly on the Harry Potter countdown cutout that Scholastic has provided to booksellers. Its basically a four foot tallish cutout of an apparently expanded version of the cover with a tearoff countdown of the days until HBP comes out.Your talking about the promotional stand art, correct? This is the actual thread (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=48667&highlight=HBP+promotional+stand) with a link to that art....

Bloomsbury and Scholastic are doing such a fantastic job releasing tantalising hints while revealing next to nothing. It's great that we can speculate away without having enough information to pinpoint exactly what these pictures are pointing to. Good job, publishers!

Along those lines, I'm bothered a bit by the apparent arm-wrestling pic. When it comes to it, I doubt that anything will be settled by something as brute as a test of arm strength. Even with the obvious magical field around the hands. I've noticed that one of the hands and arms seems a great deal smaller and younger than the other--something which has probably already been pointed out.

I find the cracked signet ring nearly irrestible. There's definately a crest of some kind under the crack, but the shape of the crest doesn't match the Hogwarts crest. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is the Black family crest, cracked, representing a broken house.

I do think that the underground chamber is part of the Chamber of Secrets. There's more to see in the Chamber, and it would only make sense if the graffiti scribbled on the wall is something like "Half-[something] not worth pity." This is, after all, a school. But it begs the question: if there's graffiti on the wall, and it's not recent, is it possible that in the distant past, other students (besides Tom Riddle) had access to the Chamber of Secrets? If it is recent, and it includes the name "Potter," who and when wrote that on the wall? Could it be that there is another entrance besides the one requiring Parseltongue and some Slytherins with connections found out about it?

Wild, rampant speculation. What a rush.

The red marks are nothing, I was just outlining the main dark borders of the "letters", the snake-horns-something I was talking about is the area inside of the white markings :)

Those look more like bull/cow horns to me! Or could they be antlers? "Prongs"?

What if James did enter the Chamber of Secrets when he was at school? That would be quite a plot twist, but the foreshadowing would be the entire Marauder's Map plot point. Total speculation festival, though, lol.

All of this is really interesting. I especially like the pictures of the rings in the PoA movie. They look like snake spirals to me.

hi, i juz wanna suggest tt we cud be over-reading.
e sypnosis at e back of e books were removed 2 prevent spoilers, thus we can safely assume tt any possible spoilers on e covers have been edited or r not shown...

I'm going to guess what you are trying to say in that post..."I just want to suggest that we could be over-reading. The synopsis at the back of the books were removed to prevent spoilers, thus we can safely assume that any possible spoilers on the covers have been edited or are not shown..."...is that what you mean to say?

If so, do we know that the synopsis was actually removed before showing the cover, or is this the cover art before the synopsis was even put onto the back of the book?

And just because the synopsis isn't on the cover, it doesn't mean the cover doesn't hint to some big spoilers inside...what would be the point of putting things like the boat and the pensive on the back of the cover, if they don't matter to the story?

And just because the synopsis isn't on the cover, it doesn't mean the cover doesn't hint to some big spoilers inside...what would be the point of putting things like the boat and the pensive on the back of the cover, if they don't matter to the story?
Space fillers, perhaps? :p

Anybody have a picture of the Slytherins rings from PoA that I keep hearing about?

OK so I was playing around with inverting the colours of the cover and noticed something a little odd about the glowing green blob of light above what basically looks like a bird bath, and the stuff in said basiny thing.

http://img81.echo.cx/img81/6003/hbpcover2qf.png

There is definately something there I think, or it's just shading and I have an overactive imagination! :D

Anywho I'm pretty sure I see a hand in the cloud part at least, and it almost looks like there's faces in it too. Weirdness.Is it just me, or does anyone else see the Dark Mark inside the basin?

I'm going to guess what you are trying to say in that post..."I just want to suggest that we could be over-reading. The synopsis at the back of the books were removed to prevent spoilers, thus we can safely assume that any possible spoilers on the covers have been edited or are not shown..."...is that what you mean to say?

If so, do we know that the synopsis was actually removed before showing the cover, or is this the cover art before the synopsis was even put onto the back of the book?

And just because the synopsis isn't on the cover, it doesn't mean the cover doesn't hint to some big spoilers inside...what would be the point of putting things like the boat and the pensive on the back of the cover, if they don't matter to the story?

I doubt they edited any images to remove spoilers because images aren't technically spoilers in the same way as they are mostly left up to interpertation.

I for one can't make much out of anything.
It could be a chalice, pensieve, birdbath or something else.
I'm stumped. :(

If you look at the picture in rotsiepots signature you can see the man in the relfection of the boat. Also it's easier to tell on the upside down picture that she posted on page 19. ANy thoughts on who it could be?

If you look at the picture in rotsiepots signature you can see the man in the relfection of the boat. Also it's easier to tell on the upside down picture that she posted on page 19. ANy thoughts on who it could be?
You're right, there is something reflected in the water that you can't see in the sitting in boat. It doesn't look like a man exactly, but its something.

This is concerning the full cover of the HBP UK children's edition:

The hands are DEFINITELY Harry's and Dumbledore's. One hand is young and the other is old. Simple. As for the Pensieve on the pillar, it is Gryffindor's. To get to it you have to take a special "golden" boat. Gryffindor's Pensieve is somewhere way below the school, like Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets. The Pensieve will reveal the past of the Founders. See, CoS and HBP are parallels, with GoF being the Mirror. 1 & 7, and 3 & 5 are the same. In CoS, we learn about the past of Hogwarts itself. We will learn even more about this subject in HBP.

Gryffindor is the HBP, though. Not really sure why, but I have a gut feeling on this one. And I definitely know that Dumbledore will die (most likely protecting Harry in some way). Well, those are my thoughts . . .

maybe it's an animal standing in the boat. perhaps a lion, maybe the character description released is that of someone who's animagus form is a lion. But why is it only visible in the reflection? It seems like it should be the other way around to me, visible in boat, but casting no reflection on the water.

The hands look (to me) suspiciously like blood brothers, if anyone knows what I mean, just the way the hands are clasped, the fire string thing, in want of a better word, seems to be binding them.