SPOILERS: Who is the excerpt talking about?

[Aseldar]

MAJOR SPOILERS, the excerpt from the open door here. Don't read if you don't already know or don't want to!

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.

The "old lion" comment sounds like a clue. Maybe she's refering to the heir of Gryffindor, or the HBP?

[GredAndForge312]

i may be totally wrong on this... but i think it's aberforth, dumbledore's brother... didn't he have tawny hair and stuff

[siriuspudding]

I'm trying to think of other characters it may be, but my mind keeps circling back to Godric. Maybe we see him alive because he tied his life force to an objest that's still around today. His sword, perhaps?

[Knight Bus]

Maybe this is the new DADA teacher? And one of those new names could be his. Or this is the first description of the HBP?

[groikleflit]

The excerpt makes me think of cats, but the only cat-type characters are Crookshanks, Mrs Norris, Mrs Figg, and Godric Gryffindor

[Adalbert Waffling]

It can't be someone we've met, only someone we've heard about, or maybe a new character altogether. If we have already met him, JK wouldn't have described him like that.

[WitchyKim62442]

Recently JKR removed the DO NOT DISTURB sign from the door! After all the codes are broken .....blah blah blah.... the little piece of paper reads....

". . . 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 . . ."

I personally have many theories about the possibilites of who this person might be! It could be....


The new Minister
Godric Gryffindor (Hello "like and old LION'')
Someone returning from Animagi form
Nicolas Flamel
The Half Blood Prince
or the new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher
????????

Whoever this man might be he definately will most likely be very signifigant throughout the 6th and 7th books!
No matter how mysterious this person is he is most likely wise. He clearly has a powerful presence and deserves respect!

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

I like the Aberforth theory. And since the language used to describe him isn't ominous or dark, we can probably assume he's on our side (well, that we know of). So the new DADA teacher sounds about right, or perhaps a new member of the Order.

EDIT:

i may be totally wrong on this... but i think it's aberforth, dumbledore's brother... didn't he have tawny hair and stuff
Aberforth was never really described. In chapter 9 of OotP, Moody only says (in reference to the photograph he is showing Harry) "That's Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, only time I ever met him, strange bloke..."

[Kazza]

Godric Gryffindor! GODRIC GRYFFINDOR!!! As soon as I saw the word Lion, *bingo!* it has to be him!

[siriuspudding]

Ooooh, I don't know how, but I never even thought of Aberforth as the new DADA teacher. It makes perfect sense. After a long string of failures, why wouldn't DD choose someone who he could really trust.

[Antipodean]

It sounds like how I picture Godric Gryffindor, but I can't think of why/where he would be described... maybe in a dream of Harry's? I seriously doubt it's Nicholas Flamel. He died, didn't he? He had enough elixir to set his affairs in order but then he died. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is completely feasible, as is a new minister.

[vegeta]

wat do u hav to do on the puzzle to see this?

[Kelfa21]

Is this the official thread where this topic is being discussed?
Did you guys do a search first? I havent, I just came across this thread now.

Anyway...I have a strong feeling that this is Godric Gryffindor himself..."He looked rather like an old lion."
Wouldent it be plausible that Godric Gryffindor and the rest of the house founders were animagi and transformed into their respective house animals?
Or...we know that Slytherin spoke Parsletougne and had "snake-like" qualities...Godric may have Lion like qualities as well.

[Aseldar]

wat do u hav to do on the puzzle to see this?

Check the JKR's Official Website thread in the common room. It's also on the-leaky-cauldron.org.

I'm trying to think of other characters it may be, but my mind keeps circling back to Godric. Maybe we see him alive because he tied his life force to an objest that's still around today. His sword, perhaps?

I like this theory. The word "graceful" makes me think of royalty for some reason. Though, I do wonder if we will see him alive. Maybe he's in a large painting, or maybe it's his heir?

[Chatmandu]

I don't think Godric Gryffindor would be wearing spectacles, since they had not been invented 1000 years ago. I am thinking the new DADA teacher, or Minister of Magic. There are MANY people in the wizarding world Harry does not know about.

[MinervaM]

It does sound like a description of GG, so maybe it is the new DADA teacher who is a descendant of GG and is the HBP.:lol:

[Aseldar]

This is already being discussed at: Spoilers: Who is the excerpt talking about? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=32792)

[Demetri]

The excerpt described the character with some malice it seemed, like him having wire rimmed glasses and yellow eyes. I certainly hope that it isnt referring to Godric Gryffindor because I assume him to be a bit more dumbledore like.

Could someone do a favor for me though...

Could someone check their harry potter dvds for extras (especially the scene with the pictures in dumbledore's room) and see if there is anything that matches the description?

[McLagan]

I could be just making this up, but it doesnt seem like Aberforth and Dumbledore keep in contact... they could be upset with eachother for some reason...

[aluminium]

It could be McClaggan. I have no way to back that up, but just a thought. All we know is that (s)he is is a new character in Book Six, and the person being described most probably is too.

[Elanora]

How do you get past the door?

[Danluver182]

I think it's the new DADA teacher. Maybe this ones a keeper?

[Elanora]

How do you get past the dartboard :s

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

Ooooh, I don't know how, but I never even thought of Aberforth as the new DADA teacher. It makes perfect sense. After a long string of failures, why wouldn't DD choose someone who he could really trust.

Somehow I doubt this. (I know it sounded like that was the point I was trying to make but it really wasn't, I just like both those theories.) I mean, if Aberforth isn't exactly the brightest crayon in the box, why would Dumbledore make him DADA teacher in the midst of all the dark activity going on? I personally think Dumbledore himself would do well teaching the subject, but I don't think he's got enough time at all.

Sorry for straying, just trying to make sense of this stupid clue :p .

EDIT:

How do you get past the dartboard :s
Check out TheDarkLord.net (http://www.thedarklord.net), they have useful screenshots.

[Memnoch]

It's Gryffindor. Gotta be. If it's not then it's one of his descendents. Words like Lion, and mane aren'tthere by accident. As for the Glasses, they have then NOW, maybe he went and got some when they were invented.

[Aseldar]

We've alreday had aberforth described for us in book 5, and he looks different than that-also, he had no limp. And I don't think she threw in the words "like an old lion" for no reason. Lions represent royalty, but they also represent Gryffindor.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

Where was Aberforth described? I just thought Moody described him as "strange." (See my post above.)

[Antipodean]

i may be totally wrong on this... but i think it's aberforth, dumbledore's brother... didn't he have tawny hair and stuff

I'm not sure if this spoils anything, but isn't the barman at the Hog's Head Aberforth? I can't remember if he's described with tawny hair or not... See the new Newspaper article on JKR's site.

Anyway, I'd like to think it's Godric Gryffindor, but I don't see a way it could be. x.x His heir is a good theory. It could be the new DADA teacher, too. ^^

[Evilrabbit]

The Godric Gryffindor theory sounds awesome! I like the idea of his life being attached to an object (especially the sword) but there's also the possibility that he's not actually in Harry's presence, but that Harry's watching a portrait of him, or is watching him in a memory (like a pensieve or something similar to Tom Riddle's diary.) There's even a remote possibility Harry has gone back in time to meet Godric, (JKR did say "I'm not telling" when asked if Harry would time travel again.) but that's a bit far-fetched. It could also be the new DADA teacher, he even sounds a bit like Moody! So much to think about!

It can't be Aberforth Dumbledore, JKR just confirmed he is the Hog's Head barman, and he is described when the kids are in the Hog's head: pg 300 U.K. version

"He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long gray hair and a beard. He was tall and thin and looked vaguely familiar to Harry"

Tawny is sort of yellow-brown, isn't it, and that's very different from gray.

Or it could be McLagan! So many possibilities, can't wait for book six!

[Elanora]

Can anyone answer me? I don't have time to figure it out and I want to know how to get past the dartboard.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

I'm not sure if this spoils anything, but isn't the barman at the Hog's Head Aberforth? I can't remember if he's described with tawny hair or not... See the new Newspaper article on JKR's site.

He is never confirmed to be the barman. That's just a theory.

[MonicaG]

JK confimed that we were actually right about something- Aberforth IS the bartender in the hogshead, so I doubt that this discription has anything to do with him.

I would lean to thinking this is the description of the new DADA teacher. But, it really could be anyone. The reason I'm thinking new DADA teacher is becuase that would fit the pattern we've seen in all the previous books. THe DADA teacher has always been a new character that Harry hears about briefly, or meets briefly before he gets back to school and sees that that person was the new DADA teacher. This means the description would be very early in the book, and thus a more likely thing for JK to reveal this early. (also, she has only written half, meaning this description has to be found in the first half- the more polished part, she wouldn't want to reveal something from a chapter that might still be subject to change)

[Elanora]

Can anyone answer me? I don't have time to figure it out and I want to know how to get past the dartboard.

[Elanora]

??? please?

[maritoy]

After re-reading the passage, there are a lot of lion imagry. His mane of hair, his keen, yellowish eyes, and his grace. I originally thought it was McClaggen, but now I'm convinced it has to do with either Godric, or an important Gryffindor character.

If it is Godric, where would this discription come in? Would it be in a pensieve, possibly Dumbledores? Or is it present, and Godric is somehow alive? Or the far fetched version, Godric is alive, and is teaching DADA, though I'm not sure why...

[HermWeasley]

It's definately Godric Gryffindor! It all makes sense, there's no one else it could be. And I'm completely convinced that he's the Half-Blood Prince, too. :p

[WitchyKim62442]

How do you get past the door?


J.K. Rowling's Official Site v2

Common room! Read first thread.

[attackthbloo]

well, it has to be someone that has already been metioned cause JK says she's not introducing any new chars in this book.

I dont know who it is but the hints that its godric gryffindor is very high.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

Whoops, sorry, didn't know it was confirmed. I think that if this character were the new DADA teacher, that would be a bit obvious. But then again, so was the Aberforth thing :p .

ELANORA:

www.thedarklord.net

[HermWeasley]

I think it's definately Godric Gryffindor. It all makes sense.

[Elanora]

Thank you thank you thank you!

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

No problem, Elanora.

Do you think it's possible that Harry sees Godric Gryffindor in a Pensieve? Dumbledore's perhaps?

[Aseldar]

I am pretty sure JKR basically said yes to that. "I was rather fond of that clue." sounds like a yes to me.

To continue, no, it can't be Aberforth anyway, he doesn't strike me as someone who would be graceful from the way he is talked about by others in the books.

[Evilrabbit]

well, it has to be someone that has already been metioned cause JK says she's not introducing any new chars in this book.



No new characters at all? Now that is not something easy to believe, there are always a whole host of new characters in each book, to have absolutely none in this book would be totally un-JKR-like. I do remember her saying something like she wouldn't have so many new characters anymore, or that they wouldn't be all that important, but of course there will be new characters, otherwise how do you explain McLagan?

[Veritaserum_]

Well, when I first read it, Aberforth was the person who immediately sprung to mind. Though it won't surprise me at all when I read it and it's someone completely different, lol.

[Barty]

SPOILER about the Edinburgh Reading Event this weekend!

Aberforth was never really described. In chapter 9 of OotP, Moody only says (in reference to the photograph he is showing Harry) "That's Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, only time I ever met him, strange bloke..."Actually, He IS described more thoroughly...
JKR Did confirm at the Edinburg Reading that the Hog's Head barman is in fact Aberforth Dumbledore, and that barman is described like this: "He was a grumpy-looking old man with a great deal of long grey hair and beard. He was tall and thin and looked vaguely familiar to Harry." (Ooth p300, Bloomsbury ed.)

I am almost sure the man from the excerpt from JKR's website.

[MinervaM]

I think it is a description of the HBP - sounds like maybe the heir of Gryffindor. In COS we had the heir of Slytherin, perhaps she was going to put the heir of Gryffindor in there and then decided that story really did not fit any more. So she made Lockhart the DADA teacher in COS and moved the HBP to Book 6 as the new DADA teacher.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

Yeah, someone told me, sorry, didn't know. But the descriptions sound so different from one another. Unless there was some kind of time travel involved and Harry sees a younger version of Aberforth in a Pensieve or something, and we find out how he changed from graceful to "strange." Or, Harry could see Godric himself using time travel or a Pensieve.

[caindo]

I thought Godric was dead? Wizards only live to be a couple of hundred years old. I was reading the transcript from Jo's recent interview, and she mentioned a name that she grew quite fond of (I'm too lazy to go back and look it up lol). Maybe that's the new character? Or, by a FAR of way but it could be interesting, perhaps it's Luna's father? I seriously doubt it. But I'm trying to keep doors open.

[SarahF]

MAJOR SPOILERS, the excerpt from the open door here. Don't read if you don't already know or don't want to!



The "old lion" comment sounds like a clue. Maybe she's refering to the heir of Gryffindor, or the HBP?

My vote goes to the new DAtDA teacher, whomever that may be.

[Antipodean]

Or, by a FAR of way but it could be interesting, perhaps it's Luna's father? I seriously doubt it. But I'm trying to keep doors open.

Luna's father is a good one! It could be... though he strikes me as much like his daughter, and not very graceful at all. x.x

[Tane]

i may be totally wrong on this... but i think it's aberforth, dumbledore's brother... didn't he have tawny hair and stuffThat was the first thing I thought about but then someone mentioned Godric Gryffindor and due to the old remark and the eyes being so different to Dumbledore's blue ones I can not help but think that it is Godric. Then again would Godric Gryffindor appear scruffy looking, he was one of the most powerful wizards of his time who had a sword of some caliber so I am going to bounce back on my choice to say that I prefer to think Aberforth. Wonder whether the yellow eyed man is any relation to Madam Hooch who also has yellowish eyes I think.

[stormcat_5000]

Notice that he wears glasses! and has yellowish eyes (hmm maybe he got jaundice aka yellow fever)

[woop]

it can't be Gryffindor. Gryffindor lived a thousand years ago. Nobody wore glasses a thousand years ago.

i think it's definitely the hbp. who else could it be? why would she describe anyone else?

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

it can't be Gryffindor. Gryffindor lived a thousand years ago. Nobody wore glasses a thousand years ago.
Huh?

Wizards can make flying cars, turn ordinary metal into gold, and increase their life spans. They can't invent glasses?

[nandu]

i think it could be gryfindor's heir as godric would be over 1000 and voldemort as the heir of slytheran has snake like eyes and this guy has lion's mane type hair anyone with me?

[Baron_G]

It's not Aberforth who has been confirmed as the barman. Aberforth also has long grey hair and that's different from the description we've been given.

godric Gryffindor? No, not unless this is a description of a portrait. His heir? Possibly. The yellowish eyes seem to be similar to Madam Hooch's although this person is described as being lion-like while Hooch's eyes are compared to a hawk's.

It could be the new DADA professor. It could be the HBP. It could even be a DE or a ministry official come to supervise 6th years as they learn to apparate outside Hogwarts. It could be any combination of the above mentioned guesses. We just don't know enough yet.

[maritoy]

it can't be Gryffindor. Gryffindor lived a thousand years ago. Nobody wore glasses a thousand years ago.
Well, nobody in the muggle world...Besides, it doesn't have to be 1,000 years ago. Didn't JK say somewhere that wizards have a longer life expectancy than muggles? So if this was from a Pensieve, it doesn't have to be from 1,000 years ago. Besides, who said that Godric isn't alive today? Maybe he has his own Sorcerer's/Philosopher's stone type thing. Maybe he can live forever, or a really long time.

[Serpentine]

"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."-J.K.R???

I don't know, to me it sounds somewhat similar to Remus' description... maybe an elder werewolf? His father, or the recently bitten guy at St Mungo's? Godric Gryffindor, the bearer of the "lion" crest? (Though I find it hard to see how Harry'd meet him, after 1000 years... is Dumbledore hiding Godric's portrait in his office? :huh: )

Though the Hooch reference would be interesting too... maybe her husband, who is teaching either Runes or Muggle Studies? We haven't been told a thing about these two unknown teachers... :evil:

But to be honest, if there were NO new characters at all in books 6 and 7... I hope this isn't true. :( If she were to do that, she'd at least have to flesh out quite a few "sideways mentioned" characters. (Hopefully Florence and the Boneses too!)

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

godric Gryffindor? No, not unless this is a description of a portrait. His heir? Possibly.
Why not? What about time travel, pensieves, and other devices?

[SarahF]

Huh?

Wizards can make flying cars, turn ordinary metal into gold, and increase their life spans. They can't invent glasses?

It'd be a bit selfish not to share them with Muggles, no? Besides, they can't "make flying cars", they can merely enchant a Muggle-made car :)

[Swimushnik]

it could be dumbledore's animagus

[caindo]

I still think Luna's father would be more entertaining LOL. Hm... We should make a list of possible people.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

it could be dumbledore's animagus
Why would an animagus wear glasses?

[FoxyDoxy]

Maybe it's Mclacan or whatever his name was. Though he did sound a little like moody to me.

[woop]

no way man. whoever it is it's not in a portrait. he walks with a limp and well, unless he's going between paintings or he's in a really big painting, there's no way of knowing. this is describing somebody who is alive now. btw, didn't dumbledore have sort of red hair when he was younger.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

It'd be a bit selfish not to share them with Muggles, no? Besides, they can't "make flying cars", they can merely enchant a Muggle-made car :)

Yes, but in book 1 when Harry asked Hagrid about muggle-wizard secrecy, Hagrid told him that muggles would be wanting all sorts of magical solutions to their problems and that magical people are best left alone.

[Swimushnik]

i don't know, because the person didn't remove them?
mcgonagall's cat had markings like glasses and so did rita, maybe the lion is still nearsighted

[FurryFace]

I'm thinking Godric Gryffindor. There are numerous ways this could happen, which have already been discussed.

One other idea I thought of is that it is Harry's Grandfather. JKR said we'd hear about his Grandparents (she did say they wouldn't be too important though, which hurts this theory) in the upcoming books, so it could be. Either he or his son (James) would probably be HBP, leaving Harry to be heir of Gryffindor as much evidence suggests.

Whoever he is, he probably has at least some relation to both the heir of Gryffindor and the HBP.

[atherella]

I'm thinking it is a description of whoever the HBP is going to be. JKR thus far has only given away (behind the door) the name of the book. Seems like an appropriate place to give us a slight description of him. :)

[woop]

the description says he's wearing "wire rimmed glasses". it's not an animal, it's a person!

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

no way man. whoever it is it's not in a portrait. he walks with a limp and well, unless he's going between paintings or he's in a really big painting, there's no way of knowing. this is describing somebody who is alive now. btw, didn't dumbledore have sort of red hair when he was younger.
What about a pensieve? You can observe people who lived in the past in a pensieve. And yes, Dumbledore's hair was auburn when he was younger.

[Swimushnik]

i agree, she didn't show us a lion for nothing, he is definitely related to griffindor

[HBShayne73]

It sounds exactly like Godric Gryffindor or some type of heir. It has alot of traits of a lion so it most likely has to do with Gryffindor.

[woop]

no way it's Gryffindor. in my mind, the fact that he's wearing glasses convinces me that he's not Gryffindor.

also, has anyone noticed that harry's never had to buy new glasses? i mean he's grown and all. needs new robes at the start of poa. but never gets new glasses!

and aren't his glasses wire rimmed too?

[MMELevrier]

I don't think it's Godric Gryffindor, who's been dead for centuries, nor do I believe it's Dumbledore's brother, who's been described fairly deprecatingly (there's a reference to goats, and it struck me as slightly bent--funny, amusing, but slightly bent).

I think the speculation that it's the new DADA instructor is closer; and I will speculate that I think it's a contemporary of James, Lily, Sirius, Lupin and Snape, possibly one of their classmates who's been mentioned in passing.

Even though it's just a scrap, there is much in that excerpt that reminds me of the first description of Aragorn, in the Fellowship of the Ring. So maybe the HBP IS the new DADA instructor.

Happy to have found that *&)$ switch,

[Baron_G]

Why not? What about time travel, pensieves, and other devices?
Time Travel over a thousand years? Would take a lot of turns on a Time Turner to achieve that. I'm not saying it's impossible, just highly unlikely. Time and space matter in magic, remember? It could be a Pensieve memory but even Nicholas Flamel couldn't have a memory of something from so long ago. And what's with the obsession with having Godric Gryffindor meet Harry anyway? Can't a character written for a backstory remain there? I mean you might as well have Merlin and his holy beard pay Harry a visit.

A person from our time-frame is always going to be a more plausible candidate. Any new character, McClaggan just as likely if not more so.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

no way it's Gryffindor. in my mind, the fact that he's wearing glasses convinces me that he's not Gryffindor.

Why?

Time Travel over a thousand years? Would take a lot of turns on a Time Turner to achieve that. I'm not saying it's impossible, just highly unlikely.
What about other methods of time travel? There was a whole room devoted to the subject in the DoM.

[woop]

could be in a pensieve, that's true.

[muggleme]

I am on the Godric side - if You-Know, Oh OK, Voldemort can preserve himself in a diary then so could Godric, right??

[woop]

LESTRANGEMUSTDIE, because he's wearing glasses!! nobody had glasses a thousand years ago!!

the colors of the guy's hair are roughly the gryffindor colors, so maybe it is the hbp. is the hbp the new dada teacher? could be.

[SarahF]

Yes, but in book 1 when Harry asked Hagrid about muggle-wizard secrecy, Hagrid told him that muggles would be wanting all sorts of magical solutions to their problems and that magical people are best left alone.

Yeah but that's always bugged me. If Wizards found a cure for cancer, would they share it with Muggles? They seem to have far more advanced medicine than Muggles and it bothers me that they are effectively letting people die whilst they give their own the best treatment available. Meh.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

LESTRANGEMUSTDIE, because he's wearing glasses!! nobody had glasses a thousand years ago!!

How do we know that? These characters are wizards, and the author is J.K. Rowling. ANYTHING is possible!

Yeah but that's always bugged me. If Wizards found a cure for cancer, would they share it with Muggles? They seem to have far more advanced medicine than Muggles and it bothers me that they are effectively letting people die whilst they give their own the best treatment available. Meh.

I think that if they found anything significant they would share it. Like in PoA when they warned the muggle Prime Minister of Sirius' escape.

[unicuber]

i may be totally wrong on this... but i think it's aberforth, dumbledore's brother... didn't he have tawny hair and stuff

Yep, you are totally wrong. We've already seen Aberforth, he runs the pub in Hogsmeade where everyone met for the DA the first time.

I think it's the new character JKR was talking about, McGwhatever.

[SarahF]

Yep, you are totally wrong. We've already seen Aberforth, he runs the pub in Hogsmeade where everyone met for the DA the first time.

I think it's the new character JKR was talking about, McGwhatever.

McClaggan

[atherella]

Yep, you are totally wrong. We've already seen Aberforth, he runs the pub in Hogsmeade where everyone met for the DA the first time.

I think it's the new character JKR was talking about, McGwhatever.

I don't believe it is going to be the new character. From the way the new character was described, he sounds rather inconsequenstial. Like he will simply be a background character. JKR said that it was a name that was simply too good to pass up on, and as we know, this story has been planned for over a decade.

[HBShayne73]

This excerpt has to do wit an important character like the HBP or the new DAdA teacher or else she wouldnt have given us this clue. Could the Dada teacher be the hbp?

[SarahF]

could be in a pensieve, that's true.

Pensieves are full of people's memories though...who would rememberb having met GG?

It's not him. Wishful thinking people.

[woop]

LESTRANGEMUSTDIE there's nothing really modern about the wizarding world. there's nothing in the wizarding world that is in any way more modern than in the muggle world. putting a pair of wire rimmed glasses on anyone a thousand years ago is a real stretch. that's like saying it's ok to have a car in the 17th century.

[LESTRANGEMUSTDIE]

Pensieves are full of people's memories though...who would rememberb having met GG?

It's not him. Wishful thinking people.
Well Dumbledore IS pretty old... Just kidding :cool: .

But we don't know how long pensieves last. Do the contents disappear once the person who put them there is dead? Lots to ponder there.

LESTRANGEMUSTDIE there's nothing really modern about the wizarding world. there's nothing in the wizarding world that is in any way more modern than in the muggle world. putting a pair of wire rimmed glasses on anyone a thousand years ago is a real stretch. that's like saying it's ok to have a car in the 17th century.
I'm just saying that anything is possible, and no theory should be disregarded because of little things like that.

[woop]

Pensieves are full of people's memories though...who would rememberb having met GG?

It's not him. Wishful thinking people.


i'm not saying it's him. i said befoe that whoever it describes, it describes someone who is alive in the present. that means that it's either right now or in a pensieve. there's no way its gg.

[HBShayne73]

very good observation but who says he can't be the heir?

[Leefy]

It's either Godric, Aberforth, a new DADA teacher, or a new character. That pretty much sums up my theory :p

[Tane]

It's not Aberforth who has been confirmed as the barman. Aberforth also has long grey hair and that's different from the description we've been given.

godric Gryffindor? No, not unless this is a description of a portrait. His heir? Possibly. The yellowish eyes seem to be similar to Madam Hooch's although this person is described as being lion-like while Hooch's eyes are compared to a hawk's.

It could be the new DADA professor. It could be the HBP. It could even be a DE or a ministry official come to supervise 6th years as they learn to apparate outside Hogwarts. It could be any combination of the above mentioned guesses. We just don't know enough yet.Could be McLaggan (maybe the old character Pyrites who JKR kept trying to place into the books according to another member on here). Pyrites was an Aristotle and would walk with a loping grace, perhaps the limp can be explain due to the fact that he was a death eater and could have sustained an injury, and he was going to be Voldemort's right hand man and roughness to the core.

No I love the idea of this being Godric either in a portrait as all the headmasters portraits are supposed to be stored in Dumbledore's office so the founder who became headmaster would have his portrait there. The penesive is also a great place to see Godric though that would require someone like Dumbledore to bring up the thought like he did in GoF with the trial.

[SarahF]

Well Dumbledore IS pretty old... Just kidding :cool: .

But we don't know how long pensieves last. Do the contents disappear once the person who put them there is dead? Lots to ponder there.

Yeah, it's true we don't know what happens if someone keeps memories in a pensieve and then were to die before putting them back in (pensieves strike as being intended only for the temporary), but I would think that the person's memory would die with them. If not...well, what would people do with a bowl full of a dead person's memories? Down the drain? :D It strikes me as rude to poke about in there uninvited, even if that person is dead.

[woop]

dumbledore and magonigall need their glasses to read. it's only harry and rita skeeter that wear glasses because they're farsighted or something like that.

lions have yellowish eyes.

[Madame Pomfrey]

I like the Gryffindor theory.
ETA: Harry is nearsighted which means he can't see far. Farsighted people can't see near, such as a book and need reading glasses.

[SarahF]

i'm not saying it's him. i said befoe that whoever it describes, it describes someone who is alive in the present. that means that it's either right now or in a pensieve. there's no way its gg.

Yeah I know you're against the GG theory, I was more aiming the latter part of my post to others.

[C8H10N4O2]

... is Dumbledore hiding Godric's portrait in his office? :huh: )
I have been wondering for awhile where, if anywhere, are the portraits of the Hogwarts founders. Why not in the common rooms? Or in the Great Hall? At the very least, shouldn't Dumbledore have portraits of them somewhere?

I think it is GG, and I believe we will encounter the portraits. The other, most likely alternative would be the HBP, but half-wizard, half-what, exactly?

[atherella]

I have been wondering for awhile where, if anywhere, are the portraits of the Hogwarts founders. Why not in the common rooms? Or in the Great Hall? At the very least, shouldn't Dumbledore have portraits of them somewhere?

I think it is GG, and I believe we will encounter the portraits. The other, most likely alternative would be the HBP, but half-wizard, half-what, exactly?

It would make a lot of sense if DD not only had a portrait of GG, but if he also had portraits of all 4 of the founders of the school, even if they are hidden somewhere. What school wouldn't have portraits of its founders?

[Libertine]

yeah now that i think about it, the absence of the four founders' portraits is conspicuous, although of course we don't know how far back the tradition goes of keeping past headmasters' portraits in the office. and we don't know which of the four was the headmaster when the school was first founded.

since harry goes to boarding school, most of the adults he encounters are teachers (or members of the order or death eaters). so i put my money on this lion-ish guy being the new d.a.d.a. prof. and he does sound very moody-ish.

[thrushcross]

The lion reference convinces me that this person must be somehow affiliated with the Gryffindor house, but I don't think it could be Godric himself. The spectacles would be a blatant anachronism in the 10th century when the Hogwarts founders were in their prime. Eyeglasses were simply not invented until the 13th century. And the first models certainly wouldn't have been wire-rimmed. I think J. K. Rowling has been pretty good about avoiding wizarding explanations for Muggle stuff thus far; I'd be surprised if she attributed the invention of eyeglasses to wizards three hundred years before they actually appeared historically.

As much as I would like to believe that this is a description of Godric (I've been pulling for him as the HBP), the spectacles clinch it for me. Furthermore, I wasn't expecting to see Godric alive in the sixth book; I thought that his involvement as the HBP would be more along the lines of backstory and explanation of the initial conflicts between the houses. This excerpt seems too present-tense.

I don't think this could be describing something seen through time-travel (How many turns on a Time Turner would it take to get back to the 10th century? And how would you manage to get back to the 20th afterward? We haven't seen anyone move forward in time with a Time Turner... I'm guessing that anyone who went back farther than their own lifespan would be essentially lost.) or a Pensieve (because of the eyeglasses anachronism... and not even Flamel was old enough to remember the founding of Hogwarts). I think the best guess is that this is a new character, and following the tradition of the previous books, he sounds like a new DADA teacher who's seen a lot of action.

Whoever he is... how exciting! :)

[SlazarGrif]

Now please don't hold this against me or anythign because im sure im way off but what if it's Dumbledore? Dumbledore's hair could have been like Aberforth's and we don't know as much about Dumbledore as i would like. Especially whether or not he is an animagus. Plus the spectacles that the lion was wearing would work with it as well because dumbledore wears them. This is pretty far out but i just wnat to know what everyone thinks. oh and couldn't dumbledore maybe be the half blood prince?

[woop]

The lion reference convinces me that this person must be somehow affiliated with the Gryffindor house, but I don't think it could be Godric himself. The spectacles would be a blatant anachronism in the 10th century when the Hogwarts founders were in their prime....


Whoever he is... how exciting! :)

i totally agree with you! the glasses are the clincher.

[HP4dummies]

I know this is probably unlikely, but after reading the description, the first thing that I thought of was Crookshanks. a lot of the descriptive words have been used to describe him.

[Aseldar]

Why would we need another thoroguh description of Dumbledore? Afterall, he's been around for the past 5 books. lol Besides, it doesn't sound like him.

[crookshanksGuy]

How about this? He's all of your theories rolled into one - He the heir of Gryffindor, whose name is McClaggan, and he's the new DADA teacher. And McClaggan, a name which JKR said she liked beacause it was a good name for the character, certainly sounds lion-ish and warrior-ish. It can't be Gryffindor, he lived a thousand years ago, and he couldn't have had glasses. Anyway, it sounded like the description of Moody in GoF as he was moving down the Great Hall, so we could see another Moody like inrtroduction of another character.

[MinervaM]

Also in COS Dumbledore was described as having auburn hair and I am pretty sure his eyes are blue.

[pegoheart144]

I can't make up my mind of whether it is GG or that it's this new character McClaggan. Or maybe he's the heir of GG and his name is McClaggan.

[azdf]

i'm sure i'm way way way off with this, but who knows. the very first thing that popped into my head when i read this was that it could be a different form of a person we already know well. sort of like gandalf going from gray to white. it could be a number of people if this is the case (which i very highly doubt, but again, who knows)

[phoenix_002]

I have a feeling that the Godric Gryffindor theory is something that she expects people to come up with, as the lion imagery seems to point directly at him, and i think that JK Rowling would be a bit more subtle with her descriptions- perhaps we are thinking along the wrong lines, and it is a description of someone on a poster or a picture is a book that Harry could be looking at or something.

Or perhaps it is someone in the distance walking past that caught one of the character's eyes.

Or maybe someone in a pensieve memory?

Or the result of a polyjuice transformation?

I'm trying to think of different possibilities, rather than the ones that spring to mind straight away, but i may be barknig up the wrong tree!

Also, look how the beginning of the sentence is cut off...this suggests to me that the beginning is something that JKR doesn't want us to read just yet.. it definitely doesn't start with 'He' or we would read it typed rather than handwritten..hope that makes sense, it did in my head!

[SiriusWeasley]

I think it might be that McClaggan charahcter she mentioned at the Edinborough book festival, either that or Godric Gryffindor, the HBP

[phoenix_002]

Just me again, with a random thought:

" Standing infront of the trio was no longer Crookshanks. He had transformed from a bandy-legged ginger cat and now 'looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his tawny maneand his bushy eyebrows.......walked with a slight limp.'

Ron, Harry and Hermione stared in wonder.

The man laughed. "Well, my animagus form could hardly be a lion, that would be far to exotic for a students pet."

I didn't mean to turn this into a fanfic or anything, but i'm just trying to give an example of how it seems to be a snippet from something more than it looks!

[HP4dummies]

It sounded like she was going to write in a McClaggan character just because she heard that name and liked it. The description for this person sounds like a person who will be around in the story. I don't think the new McClaggan will have a big part in the rest of the books. Just a surname of a student.

Also, that was what made me think of Crookshanks. It sounded like some of the descriptions we had of him.

[Anul_13]

maybe a new character, could be the new DADA teacher. Though the lion makes me believe that it could be someone else.

[Scarlet Tears]

Excellent post Thrushcross. I completely agree with your assessment.

I absolutely love how Rowling uses animals to provide a visual description of her characters, and I noticed that there were numerous references to lions in this description (besides the most obvious one!) Here are some of them:

Mane: an obvious allusion to the mane of a male lion

Tawny: often used to describe the color of a lion's coat. The dictionary definition is "A light brown to brownish orange; Of a dull yellowish brown color, like things tanned, or persons who are sunburnt; as, tawny Moor or Spaniard; the tawny lion. ``A leopard's tawny and spotted hide.'' --Longfellow."

Yellowish eyes: similar to the color of a lion's eyes

Rangy: this sort of gives the impression that this character has a "lionish" aura, especially when combined with the word "loping." The dictionary defines rangy as "Having long slender limbs; Inclined or able to range, or rove about, for considerable distances."

Loping: the dictionary defines it as "To run or ride with a steady, easy gait."

As many have stated, these references to lions immediately brings Godric Gryffindor to mind. Although the real Godric Gryffindor is dead (as far as we know...), this character is likely to have been related to him, or perhaps even be his heir. The idea of him being the new DADA teacher is certainly plausible, especially because of the reference to his slight limp, though I am inclined to believe that he might also be a member of the Order for the same reason. And of course he could easily be both.

Here is some information I found about characteristics associated with people who have the lion as their totem animal: (http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:Zp-Z4OyrSBcJ:www.planetstarz.com/ezine/sept02/totem.htm+animal+totems+lion&hl=en&ie=UTF-8)

"If one of your animal spirits happens to be a lion, then you also have pure energy, power of the female sun, assertion of the feminine, ferocity. Lion people attract many spirits who have negative energy, because the Lion energy is so strong and pure, you actually become the prey, and you find yourself in many unwanted situations, because these spirits want all the energy, they'll do anything to deceive you, try and take it and run.

The lion being your spirit guide, gives you awareness, an inner sight, stronger sense of detection, because Truth and Honesty is very important to you, and you can see beyond the outcome of the situation, and also read between the lines. The Lion also guides you out of unpleasant situations, Lion's don't fight for the sake of fighting, you avoid confrontation, and will walk away from danger.
Lion's are extremely Passionate, Sensual, Show Signs of Jealousy of the female mate, If he is challenged he will act aggressively.

Lion people have the ability to be well balanced leaders, but need to keep Jealous Tendencies under control. You also have a lot of strength, nobleness of spirit, Courage, vigor, luck, prosperity, self confidence, and radiant power. Variety of energies and is never what it appears to be. Very strong Family ties, and is very protective."

With this in mind, it sounds like this character will end up being a very courageous, noble person and an interesting addition to the cast of characters in the series.

[SarahF]

I really don't think "McClaggan" is going to be anyone important, probably just an incidental character like someone in the Ministry.

[supernatural]

I really think it's Godric the excerpt is talking about- sure it may be "too obvious", but it has been said by JKR that COS and HBP are linked somehow- COS was really about how Salazar fitted into everything, so I'm thinking HBP will be letting us into how Godric fits into everything.
I reckon we'll be getting a lot more back story of the founders and maybe even their heirs.

[Charlatan]

I agree Supernatural.We learned about Salazar,now its Gordric's turn to show how he fits into everything.And yes it may be obvious,but sometimes the answer to a problem is the most obvious thing in the world.She could just be trying to throw us off track by making it sound so obvious,and let us think up other characters.
If its not Godric,it has to be either the Half Blood Prince,or the new DADA teacher.

[HJP]

He could be the heir to GG, and if he is he may also be the HBP

[potterbrain]

LESTRANGEMUSTDIE there's nothing really modern about the wizarding world. there's nothing in the wizarding world that is in any way more modern than in the muggle world. putting a pair of wire rimmed glasses on anyone a thousand years ago is a real stretch. that's like saying it's ok to have a car in the 17th century.

Just throwing in my two cents here, I've seen a couple different people say the description can't be GG because of the glasses. 1000 years ago would put us in the early 1900s, Ben Franklin who lived 1706-1790 is often pictured wearing what I would consider wire-rimmed glasses. Just thought I'd throw that out there. :p

[FreyaCrescent]

About the Crookshanks theory: I could have sworn JKR said he wasn't an animagus. Then again I might have been imagining it. But I know for sure he's part Kneazle. Can an animagus form be part Kneazle? Sounds doubtful to me.
------------

"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."

When I first read the description I immediately thought "Godric Gryffindor". It would be fitting, considering the symbol and colours of Gryffindor house. Salazar Slytherin had snakelike qualities, I think JKR might continue the trend of describing the Hogwarts founders in terms of their houses. I wonder what others have though - how might Harry see Godric? I considered a Pensieve, but who in Harry's time might have seen Gryffindor? And there's also the 'spectacles' question... thrushcross made a good point about how it might be someone related to the Gryffindor house, but not necessarily Godric himself.

I am not convinced about it being the mysterious "McClaggan" though. JKR, at the Edinburgh Festival, said she'd found the name "the other day". This doesn't suggest to me that'll it'll be an important character. I think she's planned the important characters from Day One, and wouldn't change the name at this stage just because she thought it sounded nice. But I suppose that's edging into another thread :D

I also considered a relative of Lupin's - I think the "streaks of grey" in his hair made me think about that.
Just throwing in my two cents here, I've seen a couple different people say the description can't be GG because of the glasses. 1000 years ago would put us in the early 1900s, Ben Franklin who lived 1706-1790 is often pictured wearing what I would consider wire-rimmed glasses. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Wouldn't the early 1900's be 100 years ago, not 1000?

[GodricHollow]

It can't be Aberforth, he can't read or write.

[potterbrain]

About the Crookshanks theory: I could have sworn JKR said he wasn't an animagus. Then again I might have been imagining it. But I know for sure he's part Kneazle. Can an animagus form be part Kneazle? Sounds doubtful to me.
------------

"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."

When I first read the description I immediately thought "Godric Gryffindor". It would be fitting, considering the symbol and colours of Gryffindor house. Salazar Slytherin had snakelike qualities, I think JKR might continue the trend of describing the Hogwarts founders in terms of their houses. I wonder what others have though - how might Harry see Godric? I considered a Pensieve, but who in Harry's time might have seen Gryffindor? And there's also the 'spectacles' question... thrushcross made a good point about how it might be someone related to the Gryffindor house, but not necessarily Godric himself.

I am not convinced about it being the mysterious "McClaggan" though. JKR, at the Edinburgh Festival, said she'd found the name "the other day". This doesn't suggest to me that'll it'll be an important character. I think she's planned the important characters from Day One, and wouldn't change the name at this stage just because she thought it sounded nice. But I suppose that's edging into another thread :D

I also considered a relative of Lupin's - I think the "streaks of grey" in his hair made me think about that.

Wouldn't the early 1900's be 100 years ago, not 1000?

opps, my bad. Appears a long day of work has fried my brain and I no longer have the capacity to subtract properly! :blush:

[Rapunzel]

Could be the description of the new DADA teacher arriving in the great hall during the opening banquet. Shouldn't he have already been in his seat at the staff table? I wonder why he was late.

[Nicole]

Is this another Metamorphmagus? Tonks said they are rare (and the description includes "grace" so it isn't Tonks in disguise). Could this be the new Minister of Magic?
Personally, I think it describes the new DADA teacher (who has always been someone new despite Snape supposedly wanting the job). It would not surprise me to find out that the new DADA teacher is the Half-Blood Prince.
JKR has confirmed that Crookshanks is merely part cat, part kneazle (kneazles have "the tail of a lion"), so it is not him.

[gred&forge4ever]

I don't think it is Godric. Here is why:
1. We know that wizards live longer than muggles, but he would be over 1000, wizards are not immortal
2. Flamel was 666 in PS. He invented the Exlir of life, so Godric would have been 300-plus when that was invented, and despite the long life span, I don't think it is possilbe
3. With all the Heir of Slytherin stuff, If Godric WERE alive, I think he would have resurfaced earlier and kicked the snot out of Voldy-poo.

My guess is: The new Dada teacher or Flamel if he isn't dead, DD could have just said the stone was destroyed.

[zen110]

i personally think that its the new DADA teacher...but i think we can als safley assume that harry is meeting this person somewere were the lion guy is walking, scence we have the line about the limp, so we can eliminate that the first time he see's him is at the staff table at the start of tearm feast

when i first read the word lion the first thing i thought of was the sphinx thing in the final chalange of the trywizard tournamet

[atherella]

My guess is: The new Dada teacher or Flamel if he isn't dead, DD could have just said the stone was destroyed.


Ohhh, I like the idea of "meeting" Flamel. We know a bit about him, and DD did say he had enough time to put his affairs in order, but no amount of time was specified. I'd love to see him come back!!!! Seeing a 600+ year old wizard kicking some DE butt!!! :rotfl:

[burningphoenix]

I know this is probably unlikely, but after reading the description, the first thing that I thought of was Crookshanks. a lot of the descriptive words have been used to describe him.
:wow: I think... this might work. Think about it. The colors, I believe, match crookshanks...Yellowish eyes... did Crookshanks have Yellow eyes? "...loping grace even though he walked with a slight limp" <-- Doesn't "Crookshanks" itself mean something about having problems with your legs?

I know I'm going to get ripped apart here, but I think this should be considered as a possibility.

I still think it's Gryffindor or a relative though :p !

[ornjbreezy]

I don't know, to me it sounds somewhat similar to Remus' descriptionThat's exactly what I was thinking! And that would tie in nicely to this:

([Name Edited]) LUPIN IS THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE [Much more blatant; it came very early in the [Name Edited] saga, back when noone realized [Name Edited] could be/is JKR]This is NOT CONFIRMED to be JKR, but it certainly is suspicious. This was supposedly from a day that she was in mugglenet's chat rooms, and she posted this. Supposedly, someone who was keeping close eye on the chat in case she showed up again, thought this was her. Later, he pm'd her and it sure sounds like it. But, like I said, this is NOT CONFIRMED in any way by any person. If you want to know more about this, it's in the "Do You think JK looks at Mugglenet" thread in the Common Room. (Sorry, I don't really know how to link.)

Anyway, even if that is unconnected, it still sounds like a description of Remus Lupin, or at least a werewolf.

I think we can safely assume that this is a real excerpt from HBP, so I think we can also assume that we have yet to be introduced to this character (unless in passing) as I don't think JK would bother to describe someone that we've already met (and the description sounds like no one we know, anyway.) It seems like too much of a coincidence to me that JK happens to slip us a seemingly unimportant name, and then the next day reveals an excerpt about a mysterious 'he.' I think she's setting us up to think that it's McClaggan. There is no way we can guess who this is based on what we have. (Even though the lion part is a bit unsettling...)

[GodricHollow]

Unless your trying to say something like Crookshanks is a long term Animagus, (like Wormtail) your totally out of it there, Crookshanks is CONFIRMED as PART CAT AND KNEASZLE ONLY, no half wizard in him.

[accioinsight7]

I think it's definitely Godric Gryffindor, maybe a memory of him like Tom Riddle...I don't think it is actually Godric Gryffindor in the flesh.
I read somewhere that Crookshanks IS NOT an Animagus, though the description is somewhat similar (bandy legged is the term used to describe Crookshanks, though I'm not quite sure what that is exactly).
It could be Flamel, and maybe he is a descendant of Gryffindor, but i think that we have virtually heard the last of Flamel, since there as of yet has been no reference to any connection between SS and HBP, not that there isn't one.

[burningphoenix]

Unless your trying to say something like Crookshanks is a long term Animagus, (like Wormtail) your totally out of it there, Crookshanks is CONFIRMED as PART CAT AND KNEASZLE ONLY, no half wizard in him.

Well... I guess in theory, Crookshanks could be an animagus. I mean, it recognized Sirius for what he was right away...maybe because Crookshanks is one too...

And like I said earlier, I just think the description fits. I don't really think that Crookshanks is who the exerpt is referring to. It just fits. A little :)

[nextsuperhero]

The excerpt is about the Half Blood Prince! how could it be about anybody else?

[madamepomfrey]

It sounded like she was going to write in a McClaggan character just because she heard that name and liked it. The description for this person sounds like a person who will be around in the story. I don't think the new McClaggan will have a big part in the rest of the books. Just a surname of a student.

Also, that was what made me think of Crookshanks. It sounded like some of the descriptions we had of him.

Just b/c she said she just heard the name "the other day" everyone is ruling it out as a main character, she could have gone back and re-named a character she had already written. Do you really think she would just write a brand new character b/c she like the name? She has had these books planned too long. She also said that if seh is having trouble coming up with a name for a potion she puts "X" then comes back later when she has a name, who is to say that she doesn't do this with characters also?

I think this is referring to McClaggan and I think he will be the new DADA, but this is JMHO.

[Captain_Emily]

As much as I would love to see Godric Gryffindor make an appearance in book six, I seriously doubt it will happen. Nor do I think that this sliver of text describes him. I'm also intrigued by the comment that someone made which mentioned Riddle keeping himself alive through the diary. But as much as I'd love for Godric to appear, I doubt he will.

This could very well be a description of the new DADA teacher, the Half-Blood Prince, or both. But I can't really say that for sure at the moment.

But what I really wanted to comment on was the statement that someone made about this man being a contemporary of Lily and James. He's described as being an "old lion" with gray hair. This leads me to believe that he is much older than the Marauders.

Referring to him as a "lion", however does lead me to believe that he was once in Gryffindor house.

However, what caught my attention most of all was the "slight limp". Now this could be a mere result of old age, but I don't think so. More than likely, this limp came from an old injury of some sort. One look at Moody's war-torn body tells us that not all injuries can be completely healed by magic, so perhaps this is the case with our mystery man.

Now, I've pointed out that the man is old, and that he was probably injured at some point. But how was he injured? This question may seem almost impossible to answer, but I'm not so sure it is. Perhaps this man was injured in a battle at some point. If this man is indeed as old as I believe him to be, perhaps he is in fact a contemporary not of the Marauders, but of Dumbledore himself. This would make the man old enough to have been a veteran of the war against Grindewald, which might begin to explain the injury and subsequent limp.

Continuing on this train of thought, many of the sudent are behind in DADA now thanks to Umbridge's "no wands" policy. Therefore it is likely, especially with the coming war against Voldemort, that Dumbledore would choose someone he knows and trusts to fill the position. A man that he's fought beside against Grindewald would be the perfect candidate.

Also, I believe there is ample evidence to support the idea that this man could also be the Half-Blood Prince. But first, as far as I know, there has been no confirmation that the HBP and the Heir of Gryffindor are one and the same, so they may in fact be two different people.

But as I was saying, the imagery used to describe our mystery man does invoke the image of the lion. This does admittedly bring to mine the image of Gryffindor house. However, when one sets aside all magic for a moment and returns to the muggle world, we realize that the lion is not only the symbol of Gryffindor, but also the 'king of beasts.' Granted, we are searching for a prince and not a king, but royalty is royalty, is it not?

Adding to that is the man's "grace", despite the fact that he also has a limp. If the man is royalty of some kind, then one might expect him to have a regal manner.

Finally, someone described this man as being "scruffy", and yet I see no evidence in the passage to support that statement. True, the man is said to have "bushy eyebrows", but this is to be expected in an elder man that doesn't take any steps to thin them out. (And come on, how many men do you know that wax or tweeze their eyebrows?) Other than that, his "mane of tawny hair" might be squeaky clean and brushed to a perfect shine, and his clothes perfectly pressed and neat. However, I realize that there is also no real evidence to support the idea that he is not scruffy, but it does fit in better with the idea of our mystery man being the unknown prince.

Then again, perhaps I'm over analyzing this, and this is just a description of someone Harry passes by in Diagon Alley. I can't help myself. It's the English major in me.


Edit:
As far as the connection between CoS and book six, I'm guessing that the next book will further explore the characters of Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor, and what the events of their time have to do with Harry and Voldemort.

[Aseldar]

Lions symbolize not only Gryffindor, but Royalty as well, so that could indeed indicate that he's the HBP, even if he has nothing to do with Gryffindor.

The limping reminds me of Mad Eye Moody, but I doubt there's a connection.

I also thought about the Sphinx from GoF and Madame Hooch, but again, I doubt there is any connection.

[fabulouskirsten]

I reckon it's probably an Order member, or the new Defense teacher. Hermione and Ron thought there were 20+ members in the order, but we weren't introduced to all of them, so it stands to reason that Harry didn't meet all of them. For reasons discussed already I think he could be the new defense teacher, but I doubt he'd make his entrance in the same way Moody did, with the bursting into the Great Hall et al. Would she really give us a description of the Half Blood Prince just like that? Only if it is him it kinda spoils the surprise a little being that nobody we've met yet has been described like that yet.

[gottaloveLupin]

Lions symbolize not only Gryffindor, but Royalty as well, so that could indeed indicate that he's the HBP, even if he has nothing to do with Gryffindor.

The limping reminds me of Mad Eye Moody, but I doubt there's a connection.

I also thought about the Sphinx from GoF and Madame Hooch, but again, I doubt there is any connection.

And the colour of his eyes make me think of Hr's cat.
But I don't think that there is a connection.
Hey, it may very well be both the HBP and the new dADA teacher and that guy mclagan

[Serpentine]

I really think it's Godric the excerpt is talking about- sure it may be "too obvious", but it has been said by JKR that COS and HBP are linked somehow- COS was really about how Salazar fitted into everything, so I'm thinking HBP will be letting us into how Godric fits into everything.
I reckon we'll be getting a lot more back story of the founders and maybe even their heirs.

I'm hoping for more Founders backstory too, but I honestly don't think that this description necessarily is Gryffindor's. We've never seen Salazar Slytherin in person in CoS or any of the other books, have we? And this description seems to be of a quite alive person. It could be one of his descendants, or a relative of Lupin's - or another but elder werewolf, like e.g. the guy at St Mungo's. Maybe the new DADA teacher, maybe a teacher of Hermione for another subject we haven't seen so far (Runes, Muggle Studies). But not Godric Gryffindor. :no: Unless it's a full-body portrait that Dumbledore has hidden somewhere... where are all the Founders portraits anyway? :huh:

Crookshanks?! :wow: Please tell me you're not serious. He's been with Hermione from PoA onwards, for heaven's sake. I'd MUCH rather have him be a (half-)kneazle than an animagus. :scared:

Edit: Thanks for the hint, ornjbreezy! :tu: It sure sounds interesting. I'll go have a look there... but not now. Bedtime. :lol:

[Ashkins]

I am thinking it is going to be the DADA teacher. As he walks into the classroom on the first day.

[Lavender Brown]

I thought that this could be the heir of Gryffindor with all the lion imagery. I don't see how a description of Godric could come in (unless perhaps that is the opening chapter that she has speant so long writing, which actually would make some sense). We always think of the heir of Gryffindor as Harry, but a character like that would be unpredictable, which is J.K. usual style. Perhaps it is someone related to Dumbledore though (other than Abberforth) not because of the lion, but because of the spectacles. I associate the two. It is kind of amusing that the passages givin from OOtP before its release and this passage both had spectacles mentioned.

[Angharad]

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.

I don't think this is Gryffindor (anachonistic glasses are a little too much for me to swallow), but there is definately leonine symbolism here!

OK, if you assume that this is a contemporary person, it sounds like he is of the same generation as Hagrid and Voldemort by the "streaks of grey" in his hair. Lupin is graying too, but the book says that is premature.

And the tone is positive overall, an image of strength and grace; someone you would trust beside you in battle.

I hope this is the description of the new DADA teacher. The kids desperately need someone competant.

[Scarlet Tears]

While looking over this thread, I started wondering about possible names for this character. We know that Rowling likes to use names that reflect the character, so here is a list of some names I found associated with lions:

LEANDER: Greek name meaning "lion man" or "strong and brave as a lion." Variants include Ander, Leandre, Leandro, Leandros, Lee, and Leo.
LEO: Latin name meaning "lion." Variants include Lee, Leon (Greek), Leontios, Lev, Lion, and Lyon.
LEONARD: From French form of Old German name meaning "bold as a lion." Variants and diminutives include Lee, Len, Lenard, Lennard, Lennerd, Lennie, Lenny, Leo, Leon, Leonardo, Leonerd, Leonhard, Leonid, Leonidas, Leonides, Lonnard, and Lonny.
LIONEL: Latin name meaning "young lion." Variant, Lionello, exists.
LLEWELLYN: Welsh name meaning "like a lion." Variant, Llewellen, exists. Diminutives include Lynn and Llew.

Personally, I think Leon or Leonard fits the description of the character more than the others, but that is just my opinion :)

[Epiphany]

I don't know - the way I read it, it screams Gryffindor, but still, I noticed a bit of malice in the character, from the way it was described. Yellow eyes and all.

So I don't think it's Godric Gryffindor himself.

But what about a direct descendant? Not the Heir, but if you follow the blood lines and family trees, he would be the great great great great(etc) grandson of Godric Gryffindor?

Wouldn't stop him from being the new DADA teacher, wouldn't it?

I don't think it is the McCloggan character - I mean, she wouldn't reveal that name to us and then show us something like this if it was him...

Or would she?

*is confused*

[DuFF]

The lion reference convinces me that this person must be somehow affiliated with the Gryffindor house, but I don't think it could be Godric himself. The spectacles would be a blatant anachronism in the 10th century when the Hogwarts founders were in their prime. Eyeglasses were simply not invented until the 13th century. And the first models certainly wouldn't have been wire-rimmed. I think J. K. Rowling has been pretty good about avoiding wizarding explanations for Muggle stuff thus far; I'd be surprised if she attributed the invention of eyeglasses to wizards three hundred years before they actually appeared historically.

As much as I would like to believe that this is a description of Godric (I've been pulling for him as the HBP), the spectacles clinch it for me. Furthermore, I wasn't expecting to see Godric alive in the sixth book; I thought that his involvement as the HBP would be more along the lines of backstory and explanation of the initial conflicts between the houses. This excerpt seems too present-tense.

I don't think this could be describing something seen through time-travel (How many turns on a Time Turner would it take to get back to the 10th century? And how would you manage to get back to the 20th afterward? We haven't seen anyone move forward in time with a Time Turner... I'm guessing that anyone who went back farther than their own lifespan would be essentially lost.) or a Pensieve (because of the eyeglasses anachronism... and not even Flamel was old enough to remember the founding of Hogwarts). I think the best guess is that this is a new character, and following the tradition of the previous books, he sounds like a new DADA teacher who's seen a lot of action.

Whoever he is... how exciting! :)

I couldn't have said it better myself, but I would like to add to it:

Aberforth was described as having "a great deal of long grey hair and beard." This alone is enough for me to personally rule him out. I don't know why JK would bother explaining him in so much detail again.

Others seem to think that this mysterious person must be McClagan, a name JK mentioned yesterday at the Edinburgh Festival. But I think most people are overlooking the fact that she said she found the name "the other day." JK has been planning this book for ages and I am sure that she pays EXTREMELY close attention to the naming of her MAIN characters (Remus Lupin comes to mind). His name will be mentioned in Book 6 (JK said it would) but I highly doubt it will be more than a minor ministry worker, a first year or some other minor character mentioned only once.

This leaves me with 4 guesses:
1.) The new DADA teacher. This seems most probable to me because we have met a new DADA teacher every book. The description also seems reminicent of the way she described Lupin and Moody.
2.) A member of the Order. It's possible that this is a new order member or an old one we haven't been introduced to yet. (Most likely old, he has a limp.)
3.) Someone from the Ministry. The new minister? (Actually, I believe the new minister will be Amelia Bones...) Maybe a Head of Department we haven't met yet?
4.) The Half Blood Prince himself! This one I doubt the most just because I doubt she would give his description away before the book is finished, but it's still a possibility.

[ornjbreezy]

That would really be oh-so-happy if it was the DADA teacher. You're right, Angharad, the kids need a real teacher!

I'm convinced that the 'lion' description wasn't just thrown in without thought. She meant to use that wording. And she meant to give us an excerpt with the word 'lion' on it so that we could make a humongous number of theories to satisfy us until the next tidbit of information that we get. It goes like this:

JKR: LION!
Fans: She said lion! As in Gryffindor! As in Heir of Gryiffindor! As in Royalty! As in Prince! This guy is the Half Blood Prince, without a doubt!

:lol: I think it's funny how we like to jump to conclusions!

Ornjbreezy: *Jumps* to Conclusions.

[Serpentine]

Scarlet Tears, you just gave me an idea... The main star of the constellation Leo is called Regulus, "the little king".

[aberforthriddle]

i don't know if this has been said already within this forum (i'm working on a time limit here, can't read it all), but JKR never actually totally confirmed that aberforth riddle is the hogshead barman. she just said she was proud of one the clues: I read it like she was confirming it at first, but then I began to wonder if she was just leading us on, making us think the clue meant what we thought it did as opposed to what it actually shows (of course i still kinda doubt this, but its possible....)

so, although i like the Godric Gryffindor theory a lot, and would love it to be true, I don't think aberforth should be totally ruled out just yet.....as i said somewhere else on the forums, you only have to look at my choice of name to know that i think there's more to aberforth than meets the eye..... :huh:

however, if anyone can prove me wrong, feel free......its a complex theory & i'm still working on it. I'll let people know (on an aberforth related thread) where i end up on this one, in due time :tu:

[Aryana_Weasley]

sorry if this is a stupid question but who is McClaggen?

[annex0083]

i personally think its an Evans....but thats just my opinion.

[urquhartfay]

i've gotten through everything, but when i click on the piece of paper it goes flying past me so i can't read it, and then the page is stuck? any suggestions?

[HarryPotter]

I'd say it is the Half Blood Prince...

[DuFF]

sorry if this is a stupid question but who is McClaggen?

Read this (http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/news_view.cfm?id=80).

[Rita Skeeter]

i think its mclaggen, the new defence against the dark arts teacher .. or just the defence against the dark arts teacher .. but i doubt its describing aberforth .. i think that jk rowling really did just put aberforth there for kicks, nothing special

[phoenix_002]

Scarlet Tears, this reminds me:

LLEWELLYN: Welsh name meaning "like a lion." Variant, Llewellen, exists. Diminutives include Lynn and Llew.

There was a quidditch player called Dai Llewellyn - a ward named after him is in St. Mungo's, but i can't remember if he died or not.

If he was still alive, perhaps Harry meets him?!

Serpentine - great point!!

- Little king- a prince
- Leo - lion theme
- Regulus - Regulus Black

...but he's dead. And he isn't half blood. And then the rest of the Black family would have to be involved.

I'm hoping that i've gone off on a tangent from your idea, because otherwise i've killed that idea :sad:

[jordmundt6]

Okay ladies and gents--this can't be Aberforth. We've already had a description of him as the Hogshead Barman and he doesn't look like this. His hair is straight gray and his face and nose are like his brother's. So it's not him. My guess would be that this is either the new DADA prof (and I really hope it isn't) or the Half Blood Prince. Now I can see with almost TOTAL certainty that this isn't Godric Gryffindor because he has specs and specs weren't invented a millennium ago.

[vitacus]

I've got that same problem. The whole window goes dark as if waiting to load something but nothing loads after the paper flies down and away. Can't do anything at all.

Could be ithe site is too busy.

[voldemolt14]

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.
This lion quote is strange to say the least it bears all the right connotations of a link with griffindor but consider this perhaps this quote is taken from a much later scene in the book...A scene where perhaps Harry has already found out who(or what) this person is.

'Yellowish' eyes have most of the time been reguarded with natural superstition this means that chances are the person is a character that is at some point in the story portrayed in a negative way this opinion may hold true with Harry (although harry may be mistaken.. we know hes done that plenty of times).

Dumbledore has i think been described with wire rimmed gasses (if not i apologise) which i'm sure Jk has employed purposefully so as to keep our guesses going, it could be that aberforth had a similar pair we know harry has seen something familiar in aberforths appaerance however i find this unlikely because dumbledore informed us that aberforth could not read...Therefore why would Aberforth even need glasses? if we are to assume that he Aberforforth is long sighted ( i think) like dumbledore- who is desribed many times as peering over the top of his half moon sectacles- (because things like long sightedness are usually generic) so that puts a sort of stop to that character being aberforth for the moment....

'Grace' is often associated with one of high stature traditionally(i like that word..)and we have never reall seen someone who would act this way save for Voldemort or perhaps lucius(or another death eater) thus grace could also entail someone of nobility a prince perhaps?(or in my opinion a founder..don't ask why..)

The limp is a useful quote for anybody that believes this person is d.dumbledore depending on which leg the limp was on it could show signs of dd beging to sufer pain produced by his scar....

so what do you think?

[morgiana]

Ok I am at the door - I have all my eggs (8). The door opens and it's black inside. Peeves came. now i'm back here confused.

[pegoheart144]

I was able to access it without a hitch. It did take a few moments for the scrap of paper to be readable.

[Selene Sedai]

I'm not so sure about this, I just tried to open the door on JKR site, and all it showed was pitch black. I think I'll waite until JKR confirms this.... No ofence meant, of course. Though if this is true, it describes every aspect Mr. Ollivander in the first harry potter movie. However, that is just the actor John Hert's features. The reall Ollivander has silvery misty eyes. I looked it up in Sorcerers Stone just recently. Page 82 "Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy" . Though JkR may have intended that to read as gleaming eyes, but used the more descriptive word 'silvery'. Page 83 "Harry could see himself reflected in those misty eyes." But you never know, yellow eyes could be misty. Though the bushy eyebrows part reminds me of Vicktor Krum, but I'm not certain his hair would be graying just yet... :)

If this is true, the tawny hair part of the discription fits Barty Crouch Junior quite well. Tawny means "of light brown to brownish orange color" and Barty Junior is described throughout Gof as having straw colored hair. This is the only description of Barty Junior that I could find, and incedently it matches.

[atherella]

Ok I am at the door - I have all my eggs (8). The door opens and it's black inside. Peeves came. now i'm back here confused.

There's a whole thread about JKR's site over in the "Common Room". Here's a link (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=32803). Hope that helps. For quick reference though throw the darts to 713, then on the safe, type in 302723. All you will get once you get in though is what is being described in this thread. (the description of the mystery person :)

[Haider Malik]

I am having the same problem. The page flies away and the room gets dark. Nothing is active in the window except the help button... and the page stucks.

[aberforthriddle]

Originally posted by jordmundt6:

Okay ladies and gents--this can't be Aberforth. We've already had a description of him as the Hogshead Barman and he doesn't look like this. His hair is straight gray and his face and nose are like his brother's. So it's not him.

just cos he's described that way before, doesn't mean he looks like that now - what if he's a metamorphagus? I don't think it's aberforth either, but i also think we shouldn't be jumping to such conclusions...however, the Maclaggan (sp?) theory intrigues me, although I'm not convinced that this Maclaggan person will be a major character....yet.

[Auror Borealis]

Did anyone else notice the gum behind the door? My attention was immediately drawn to the wrappers and how they may relate to Neville and his parents... Remember when his mother gave him gum wrappers, and we were made to believe taht it was the action of a woman who has lost her mind. What is the significance of the gum? Any ideas?

[Chanel 5]

It says that he has yellowish eyes, and in the first movie Mme. Hooch has yellow cat-like eyes...

[daftie]

Well, the second I read it I thought of McClaggan. The description just sounds like a McClaggan. I know that sounds crazy, but that's how I felt.

It's definitely not Aberforth. I don't even think the descriptions are close to being similar.

Even if the description is not McClaggan, I think it is desribing the DADA teacher. He sounds like a teacher, with the glasses and everything. He sounds like an intellectual type to me.

So all this leads me to believe that McClaggan will be the new DADA teacher, which I already suspected anyway.

[Rictusempra90]

Isn't there someone else we know with wire-rimmed spectacles? :huh:

[biggerbaps]

"Yellowish eyes"
In 'Fantastic Beasts and where to find them' the two main beasts that were described as having 'yellow eyes' were the Hungarian Horntail and the Basilisk. Both of which have tried to hurt Harry.
"lion"
The tail of a Kneazle is 'like a lions' and a Kneazle is 'intelligent' and can 'interbreed with cats' Crookshanks is not an animagus i know, but is half Kneazle. What if C bred with Mrs Norris? (*I know i dont know wher im going with this either! it's late! lol)

"He looked rather like an old Lion"
Worn out? Sad eyes? once a magnificent hunter?
"There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair"
aged -which we know from the reference of 'old lion'
"and bushy eyebrows"
Dumbledore have bushy eyebrows?
"He had keen yellowish eyes"
enemy to harry? or threat reduced because they're only yelloISH
"behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles"
Dumbledore? Prof McG?
"and a certain rangy,loping grace"
certain? been seen before? recognisable?
"even though he walked with a limp"
an 'old lion' not as fast and fit as he once was? arthritus?

Like i said i dont really know where im going with this its just me generally analysing things.
The basilisk though, that appeared in CoS, will it reappear as the "foreshadowing event" that will occur in the 6th? And if it was Godric's sword that was used to kill it, will it be Godric himself/ghost of Godric/Heir of Godric that will defeat the foreshadowing thing?

[katiekake]

It seems as though a lot of people are thinking that the person described has to be either/or one person or another. It sounds to me like this person is probably a couple of people rolled up into one. I definitely don't think that lion descriptor is unimportant, so I think that the man is probably the heir of Gryffindor (not Godric himself). It is also quite possible that the heir of Gryffindor has become the new DADA teacher. Why not? Tom Riddle, the heir of Slytherin, was kind of a nobody before he got to Hogwarts. The heir of Gryffindor could just be a normal kind of person.

[JasmineFlower]

Because of all the lion-like references (lion, bushy, tawny, mane, loping, etc.) both my sister and I think it's very likely that the person described is Godric Gryffindor. Unless it's the new DADA professor who's somehow an heir of Gryffindor... :eyebrows:

[juliweasley]

To AberforthRiddle-we can't read your post, please change the color!
I like the Dangerous Dai Llewellyn idea- He would definitely walk with a limp!!!:) I'll have to go check if he is still alive- although it could be a portrait. I doubt a ghost because they seenm to be grey, but maybe...
Anyway-this is just another teaser to get us talking! Just give us the bloody book Jo!

[morgiana]

ok with help I got there.

The light switch is just below the window sill and in line with the beginning of the R in Rowling

Dart board code 7 1 3

safe Code 302723

[phoenix_002]

juliweasley Please post on here if you find out if he's dead or alive, i'm desperate to know and i don't have a clue where to look!!

I hadn't thought of the limp connection, but it's very likely!!

Oooh, lets hope we are onto something here!!

[woop]

Just throwing in my two cents here, I've seen a couple different people say the description can't be GG because of the glasses. 1000 years ago would put us in the early 1900s, Ben Franklin who lived 1706-1790 is often pictured wearing what I would consider wire-rimmed glasses. Just thought I'd throw that out there. :p

potterbrainless!! 1000 years ago would put is in the year 995 or so, not 1900's. that's even before william the conqueror conqueror arrived in britain and became the first king of england!!

[HogwartsSpirit]

The old lion thing might be a clue but it looks as though she cut out the begining of that sentence and just stuck in the "he".
....(He) looked rather like an old lion.
So maybe JK is just pulling our chain and making us believe it is Godric Gryffindor. :evil:

[SnorkackCatcher]

"Yellowish eyes" seem to be associated with werewolves in fanfics ... Lupin's dad maybe. :)

We can definitely rule out it being Crookshanks-as-an-Animagus:
(Rumour)Crookshanks is an Animagus.

No, he's not, but he's not pure cat either. (goes on to say here and elsewhere that he's half Kneazle)So unless JKR is directly lying here, this one's a non-starter.

Let's assume this is going to be a significant character in HBP (if it wasn't, there wouldn't be much point in putting it up on the site). I'd vote for him being the new DADA teacher (which has always been a previously completely unknown character), although I'd say the new Minister of Magic would be a reasonable shot as well

Godric Gryffindor isn't likely either, because the glasses are way out of period (OK, JKR does get anachronistic sometimes, but never before that badly), and the lion imagery does seem overdone if it's a clue (mind you, JKR does sometimes make things that "obvious" - "Remus Lupin" as a name, for example).

It ain't Dai Llewellyn, either. He was eaten by a Chimaera while on holiday in Mykonos (while still playing professionally, by the sound of it).

It could just conceivably be a younger Aberforth Dumbledore, I suppose, seen via some kind of flashback. His brother didn't say specifically that he couldn't read, just "of course I'm not entirely sure he can read", half-jokingly. And the glasses aren't said to be reading glasses, are they?

An off the cuff speculation: how about Luna Lovegood's father? It's quite possible that he'll play some role in HBP, and the description wouldn't be too implausible given his daughter's description.

[woop]

if it's true that there's something in cos that foreshadows what happens in hbp, then i wonder if this description or this character has anything to do with cos. i tried to think about it, but i couldn't come up with anything.

[ramones]

I think it has to be either:
1)New DADA teacher
2)Godric Gryffindor
3)Half Blood Prince

It can't be anyone else, it just can't!!!

I really think it's GG. Problem is, this isn't just a description of a picture or something like that, he is actually moving. How could Harry see GG walking? People move in their portraits, right? Maybe Harry finds a portrait of GG?

Actually, I don't know why I think this description is from Harry's point of view. It could be someone elses memory, perhaps DD's.

[toryvic]

Loved the Dangerous Dai Llewellyn idea, however it does say the following about him in Quidditch through the ages, under the passage about the Caerphilly Catapults:
The tragic demise of their most famous player, 'Dangerous Dai' Llewellyn who was eaten by a Chimaera while on holiday in Mykonos, Greece, resulted in a day of national mourning for all Welsh witches and wizards.
The Dangerous Dai commemorative medal, is now awarded at the end of each season to the League player who has taken the most exciting and foolhardy risks during a game

My initial thought was to Lupin, (in my mind he's always been one with tawny hair and amber/yellow eyes)
I then thought, well it has to be the HBP, I don't think JK would give us a description of just anyone. But by her describing the HBP maybe she's trying to help us to eliminate certain 'suspects' from our lists.
THe lion reference, said to me (as it has to other's) King of beasts/king of man etc. The Gryffindor thing didn't actually occur to me but it kind of fits.

So my verdict is, this is a teaser description of HBP

and on a positive note, last time JK gave a quote from her forthcoming book we only had a six month wait, before it was in our hot little paws....ever the optimist :D

[Scarlet Tears]

Scarlet Tears, you just gave me an idea... The main star of the constellation Leo is called Regulus, "the little king".

Very interesting... I'd love to hear more about your idea!

There was a quidditch player called Dai Llewellyn - a ward named after him is in St. Mungo's, but i can't remember if he died or not.

If he was still alive, perhaps Harry meets him?!

Wow, great observation! I never would have remembered that!

Here's what the Lexicon says:
"Llewellyn, "Dangerous" Dai
Famous Quidditch player for the Caerphilly Catapults. Tragically, he was eaten by a chimaera while on holiday in Mykonos, Greece; St. Mungo's ward for treating magical bites is named for him (OP22). He was known for his reckless and foolhardy style of play. His biography was written by Kennilworthy Whisp (QA).
Dai (Welsh) "shines" nickname for David
Llewellyn (Welsh) from llwy "leader" + eilun "image" Llew is also Welsh for "lion", appropriate for such a bold player."

And also, in Quidditch Through the Ages:
"The tragic demise of their most famous player, "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn, who was eaten by a Chimaera while on holiday in Mykonos, Greece, resulted in a day of national mourning for all Welsh witches and wizards. The Dangerous Dai Commemorative Medal is now awarded at the end of each season to the League player who has taken the most exciting and foolhardy risks during a game."

It's too bad that he's already dead, but an interesting idea nonetheless.

[Ana-Magus]

I think it has to be either:
1)New DADA teacher
2)Godric Gryffindor
3)Half Blood Prince

It can't be anyone else, it just can't!!!

I really think it's GG. Problem is, this isn't just a description of a picture or something like that, he is actually moving. How could Harry see GG walking? People move in their portraits, right? Maybe Harry finds a portrait of GG?

Actually, I don't know why I think this description is from Harry's point of view. It could be someone elses memory, perhaps DD's.

I think GG was before dumbledores time as well. The passage must be referring to a picture....

[46stang]

I think it's mclaggen. I also think he will be the new DADA and the HBP! Mclaggen is the heir of Godric and a half blood, well thats my guess anyway! Who better to teach Harry DADA than the heir of griffindor?
Leon

[Ana-Magus]

and on a positive note, last time JK gave a quote from her forthcoming book we only had a six month wait, before it was in our hot little paws....ever the optimist :D

I wish that were true! She said that she was still pleased with the book - meaning she's only halfway through. If the book still has to go to editting and then to print... it will be longer than six months. :upset:

[sikeus]

Perhaps this new character is related to Dumbledore. In CoS, Harry sees a younger Dumbledore with amber hair streaked with grey, which is a lot like tawny hair streaked with gray. We have yet to see a competent relative of Dumbledore's. Perhaps he's a nephew (or grand nephew). Dumbledore's mentioned a brother, but nothing has ruled out a sister. JKR has been very vague about Dumbledore's origins.

Also, this new character sounds like a military character:
1) He's described as a lion. While lionesses do the actual hunting, lions have the most brute force.
2) He has a limp, a wound which he most likely got from magical battle, since wounds can generally be healed without a problem in the magical world (regrowing bones).
3) His stride is described as having a "rangy, loping grace." A lope is a very efficient stride, and military men in books are often described as graceful, indicating a competence in their chosen profession through a lack of unnecessary movement. (And by "military" I mean auror, or a similiar magical occupation)

This character could be a trusted relative of Dumbledore's, who is both in the Order (Harry could see him first at headquarters). His skill in dueling could mean he's the new DADA teacher, or he could simply be a tutor for Harry if the ministry gives him permission to do supervised magic during the summer. (This would be a wise move for the ministry!)

[princess_potter]

hey i totallly think its aberforth, because honestly, he's been referenced too a lot of times throughout the series,and JK never really does tell us what happens to him and so she leaves his character unsettled. Also, dumbledore talks about his brother fondly and we know he was in the order so what happened to him??? I think this may be him, because he is old, and as we all know dumbldore for his 'half moon spectacles" and now this mysterious man has a pair of wire rimmed spectacles...I'm going for aberforth, after all, dumbledore does have family...its about time we heard about them!

[RELASHIO Rachel]

Ooooh, I don't know how, but I never even thought of Aberforth as the new DADA teacher. It makes perfect sense. After a long string of failures, why wouldn't DD choose someone who he could really trust.

But perhaps we can't even trust Aberforth at all :eyebrows: :eyebrows: :eyebrows: :eyebrows: :eyebrows:

The lion thing makes me suspect it is Godric Gryffindor, somehow.... Perhaps not. Whoever it is, I'm positive it's someone new that we've never heard of before or something that was briefly mentioned, or mentioned quite a few times but we haven't met him.

I don't think it is Aberforth though.

The spectacles made me think of McGonagall, maybe it's someone she knows or is related to her. hmmmm

[moon781]

Because he is described like a lion, Godric seems the obvious choice, which is why I would rule him out. When has Jo ever made it easy and obvious?

For some reason it reminded me of harry. Maybe a relative of harry's. I have no reason for this thought, its just what came to mind, maybe the glasses lol.

I hate clues that are no help whatsoever and only make me want the book more. Sigh.

[urquhartfay]

This lion quote is strange to say the least it bears all the right connotations of a link with griffindor but consider this perhaps this quote is taken from a much later scene in the book...A scene where perhaps Harry has already found out who(or what) this person is.

this can't be a later scene because jk said she is half way through writing book 6, so it must be from the first half, besides that it sounds like an introduction to a new character.


'Grace' is often associated with one of high stature traditionally(i like that word..)and we have never reall seen someone who would act this way save for Voldemort or perhaps lucius(or another death eater) thus grace could also entail someone of nobility a prince perhaps?(or in my opinion a founder..don't ask why..)

i very much agree and i think this is the hbp. and it seems, because of the lion imagery, that he may be the heir of gryffindor - which throws a wrench in my theories because i thought that was harry! :sad:

as for mcclaggan, i don't think he's a major character, because jk said she had found that name "just the other day" - she wouldn't change the name of a major character so late, i think, because she has had all of this planned for so long. although i find mcclaggan fits with the description in the quote.

i suspect the site is very busy because it is daytime in the states and everyone is online, and for that reason some of us can't get the quote to upload. thanks you all for posting it!

[HP4dummies]

I think anyone ruling out Godric because he couldn't have worn glasses needs to come up with a better reason than that. Indoor plumbing wasn't invented when they built Hogwarts, but the Chamber of Secrets had to be accessed through indoor plumbing. I know that you can't say that is impossible too. We know that happened.

[free dobby]

what about hagrid himself? definately possibility there. we really dont know too much about his years at school other than the fact that he was expelled

[Black's Flight]

Has anyone thought it might be the new guy, McCladgen, was it?

[WingdingDragon]

I get a funny feeling that it's the new DADA teacher. Prob. because he reminded me of Lipin. With some Dumbldore mixed in.

Originally Posted by sikeus
3) His stride is described as having a "rangy, loping grace." A lope is a very efficient stride, and military men in books are often described as graceful, indicating a competence in their chosen profession through a lack of unnecessary movement. (And by "military" I mean auror, or a similiar magical occupation)

This seems very likely to me. Good job cathig the deatails, sikeus! I never would have seen that.

[bethp]

a few things...

1. Aberforth was described as having "gray hair" not Tawny hair in OotP
2. Godric Gryffindor doesn't seem possible unless it was a description of a painting or something
3. what if this is a new "centaur" we haven't met? reasons: "mane" of tawny hair, "loping grace" makes me think animal, doesn't the centaurs have yellowish eyes...my thought was that centaurs may play into book 6 as they were reintroduced in Ootp and the whole fountain from the ministery.
4. new DAD teacher and McClaggan sounds like a good name for the description!

[woop]

I think anyone ruling out Godric because he couldn't have worn glasses needs to come up with a better reason than that. Indoor plumbing wasn't invented when they built Hogwarts, but the Chamber of Secrets had to be accessed through indoor plumbing. I know that you can't say that is impossible too. We know that happened.

no way it's gg. the thing about the indoor plumbing always sort of irked my, though the truth is that the chamber of secrets wasn't opened when the sink moved out of the way, but later on, when harry spoke parslemouth to that door with all the snakes on it (or something like that).

still, if you want other reasons, here they are. he is seen walking, so it's got to be a real person alive right now. not a pensieve because nobody, not even dumbledore, is old enough for that. he may have been in a big painting or hopping through paintings, but that doesn't makes sense. he's got a limp, so they see him walking a lot.

this is a description of a modern person that is standing and walking right in front of harry.

wait, i know who it is!!!

it's ASLAN!!! :p

[InsanitysFocus]

I would like to completely rule out the possibility of the described character being giant, or even part giant. Nothing giant-like has ever been described as possessing any grace. Also, we've never seen Hagride wear glasses, and I'm pretty sure we've seen him read once or twice. Nothing really keeps this character from being a centaur except the mention of glasses. No centaur would go so low as to accept the help of humans, and they have no means of making glasses in a forest. The only centaur who could possible have them would be Firenze, but we know he has white-blonde hair and blue eyes. My mind immediatly jumped to Frank Longbottom, mostly because I've always wished they would recover *cough*Drooble*cough*. However, upon rereading the desciption of Alice I find it less likely. Alices hair has turned to white, and her eyes are overlarge, and she was thin and worn. Even though it would be a recovered Frank, I doubt he would be walking in a loping manner, with any grace, after 12+ years of confinement. Alice herself only "edged down the ward", and we don't even know if Frank could walk at that point.
So my mind then jumped to random wizards that we haven't really met. I'll point you all to the U.S. edition of OotP, The Advance Guard, page 49. There are two wizards in the Guard that we never get to know. We see Elphias Doge, and Sturgis Podmore. I ruled out Dedalus Diggle, because really he seems to be a bit of an idiot.
Sturgis is first described as a square-jawed wizard with thick, straw colored hair, and "the man with the wheezy voice". Later, when the trio is reading the newpaper clipping regarding his imprisonment (he was caught in the Dept. of Mysteries), Ron says "He's the bloke who looks like his head's been thatched, isn't he?" That didn't really mean anything to me, so I looked up "thatched". Well I'm not going to lie, I only found a definition of Thatch, and here it is

1. Plant stalks or foliage, such as reeds or palm fronds, used for roofing.
2. Something, such as a thick growth of hair on the head, that resembles thatch.
3. Dead turf, as on a lawn.

If someone's head, or rather hair, looks like that, "thick growth", I would not be suprised if someone were to describe their hair as mane-like. Also, there is the age factor, and the limp factor. Well, they said Sturgis had a wheezy voice. Also, when they are looking at the old picture of the Order, Sirius said "he looks so young", implying that now, he clearly does not. That would give him the streaks of grey in his tawny (straw-colored) hair, and the limp (plus he spent a while in Azkaban, that will mess with anyone).

I don't mean to brag :cool: , but I believe I have discovered the identity of our mystery man, but I'm not going to go so far as to say that he is the Half Blood Prince or the DADA teacher.

[woop]

I would like to completely rule out the possibility of the described character being giant ...


I don't mean to brag :cool: , but I believe I have discovered the identity of our mystery man, but I'm not going to go so far as to say that he is the Half Blood Prince or the DADA teacher.

whatever dude. if you're wrong, i'm going to come back here and rag on you like there's no tomorrow!

still, it is a good theory.

i still think it's ASLAN!! :p

maybe he can make a cameo or something.

the thing is also, that it almost certainly has to be the hbp. why would jkr bother putting the description of any other person.

[Aseldar]

Good theorizing, but I still think it's someone else. :-p