51 replies to this topic

[Deception Island]

here is something I found interesting while re-reading the first book last night:

"Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Harry asked.

"Spells - enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "They say there's dragons guardin' the high-security vaults...." (Sorcerer's Stone p.64)

"Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open. Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a Dragon, but too late - they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor." (Sorcerer's Stone p.75)

...this is a far out theory, but do you think that maybe the dragon that they are riding could be one from Gringotts?

[Lost]

here is something I found interesting while re-reading the first book last night:

"Why would you be mad to try and rob Gringotts?" Harry asked.

"Spells - enchantments," said Hagrid, unfolding his newspaper as he spoke. "They say there's dragons guardin' the high-security vaults...." (Sorcerer's Stone p.64)

"Harry's eyes stung as the cold air rushed past them, but he kept them wide open. Once, he thought he saw a burst of fire at the end of a passage and twisted around to see if it was a Dragon, but too late - they plunged even deeper, passing an underground lake where huge stalactites and stalagmites grew from the ceiling and floor." (Sorcerer's Stone p.75)

...this is a far out theory, but do you think that maybe the dragon that they are riding could be one from Gringotts?

Ahhh You are brilliant! One of the book covers has the trio in a room full of jewels that could very well be at Gringotts.

[Deception Island]

OMG! I totally forgot about that cover! Also if you look at the back of the cover, it shows a building which could be gringotts, because it is described in the SS as a huge white building!



But the real question now is... why are they at Gringotts. Could it be because Gringotts is supposedly the safest place in the wizarding world besides Hogwarts?

[Rons-Wifey]

OMG! I totally forgot about that cover! Also if you look at the back of the cover, it shows a building which could be gringotts, because it is described in the SS as a huge white building!



But the real question now is... why are they at Gringotts. Could it be because Gringotts is supposedly the safest place in the wizarding world besides Hogwarts?

could it be?! yes!! remember when they had said that some1 had robbed gringotts? yea they were looking for the sorcerer's stone and yea it was quirrel...but voldemort was attached wasnt he? well...vlodemmort IS back to power [well rising] so isnt i possible that he found something of much importance at gringotts? all this is confusing me!

[Deception Island]

yes! yes! Of course! What if Voldemort, being let down about not finding the SS in the Gringotts vaults, decided that he might as well hide one of his horocrxes in a vault while he was there anyway.

[Nymph]

Oh, so many wonderful versions, guys

OK, now brace yourselves because this is REALLY far out as theories go.... what if the dragon is really the animagus form of Draco? Yeah yeah, I know he went off with Snape back to Death Eater land, but he hesitated before killing *him*, didn't he? He seemed so tempted to come back to the good side. Maybe he does....maybe LV or Lucius teaches him how to be an animagus first, thinking Draco would make a great spy if he could travel at the speed and distance of a dragon. Maybe Snape has come to the light as well (I'm a Snape believer) and taught Draco how to become an animagus himself. It would fit, seeing as Draco is Latin for "dragon".....

Sounds very interesting, but don't think it'll happen. Just imagine where he would practice and how to conceale this? Still, Louisa, your idea's great.

About an Antipodean Opaleye. I think it'd fit if JKR used a creature she wrote about before. And maybe painter just had to look into FB book to paint this dragon. Out of all ideas this one sounds the best for me.

My guess in regard to their choice of transportation being dragon-riding is that if they had any other choice, they'd have taken it. That dragon doesn't look tame to me; from the looks on all their faces (Ron and Hermione holding on for dear life and Harry totally intense and focused), it's a wild ride.

Of course it can be just a wild ride, even if it's an AO one it'd be a wild ride, remember how students were afraid of a hippogriff, and a dragon's much more scary even if it doesn't shower its flame.

...this is a far out theory, but do you think that maybe the dragon that they are riding could be one from Gringotts?

I doubt it's one from Gringotts coz if they are used for guarding then they must be very dangerous for people. What do you think?

[Timeimperfect]

^I think you're right, Natalie - I think a dragon from Gringotts would tear the trio to pieces, unless maybe the goblins have some control over their behaviour

I think it's possible that LV has hidden a horcrux there in a vault. He knows alot of dark magic - maybe he knew a spell that could open a vault without the key? Maybe he bribed a goblin? I'm not sure where they stand on the good - evil scale; maybe they could be bribed with gold.
It's possible that he located the vault of one of the founder's of Hogwarts, made a horcrux and replaced the item - after all, I doubt there are many safer places than Gringotts (except Hogwarts, of course! ).

I agree that the AO dragon theory is probably the most likely.

[one more second]

That would definitely give VD some cleverness points! What a great theory! I wonder now, if he did, would he have been able to secure it with any more Dark magic, or leave it up to the famous security of Gringotts? He is a loner and, to put it nicely, likes not depending on others, but, as you said, maybe he bribed his way past the goblins and was able to add to the protection of his fraction of a soul.

[larrypotter]

Some great theories on this page! Especially the one about the trio being forced to fight a dragon because they discover that the Dark Lord hid a 'Crux in Gringotts. Deception Island: great theory, and AWESOME job using something from an earlier book (ie the dragon/gringotts thing in Book 1).

As for the back cover of the English children's version, this is the first time I have seen it. However, I do not think the building pictured (next to the full moon) is Gringotts; I think it's Hogwarts. My opinion is that Harry and Co. will end up battling LV at some point (and quite possibly in the final battle) inside Hogwarts -- the one place LV and Harry have ever truly felt "at home." And, I think the full moon may be an indication that the werewolves (Lupin and Fenrir Greyback) could play roles in this battle too.

Whew... I wish it was July 21st!!!

[one more second]

When I first saw the building, forgetting that Gringotts was a huge white building, my thought was that it was Hogwarts as well. The state it's in looks a lot different than it did on the American HBP; a mere shadow with the DM above it. With the smoke in the background now on DH, it seems as though again there was some sort of struggle there, but that Harry and 'the good guys,' if you will, were victorious because of its white glow. I like the bit about the full moon and the werewolves. Makes sense.

I don't know though; I still think the Gringotts theory is appealing as well. Ahh I hate not knowing and flipping back and forth! Most definitely larry; it needs to be July 21 already!

[larrypotter]

With the smoke in the background now on DH, it seems as though again there was some sort of struggle there, but that Harry and 'the good guys,' if you will, were victorious because of its white glow. I like the bit about the full moon and the werewolves. Makes sense.

.... Most definitely larry; it needs to be July 21 already!

O_N_S... July 21 just can't come quickly enough. Life just isn't fair! I love speculating though! I remember doing this exact thing (speculating about the newly released cover art) about three or four years ago for HBP when it was about to come out. That was how I first got involved in these forums!

Anyway, regarding the mist behind the building (I still maintain that it's Hogwarts) on the back cover: I was thinking that the mist was -- similar to the beginning of HBP -- the result of all the newly reproducing dementors. There must be THOUSANDS of them now! The only reason that mist is whitish is because the full moon is shining on it. Unfortunately, all that mist behind our favorite castle is not good news: it means the dementors may be close to the school... possibly because LV himself has taken the place over. That's my theory anyway.

[one more second]

I was around in the pre-HBP days, but it was a lot more strict then and I disappeared for while. When I got back something had happened to my user name, so I made this one, but then I disappeared again. I just made my third trip back to the forum world about a month ago I love it here! I've never had so much fun speculating!

Moving on.

Hmm. You could be right. But somehow, even with the shine of the moon, I think the dementor mist and Dark occupancy of Hogwarts would be, well... darker. Shadowier. Even if in reality the castle would reflect the light, I feel like an illustrater would play into good vs evil by using light vs dark, hope vs despair.

[larrypotter]

Okay, I re-examined the back cover, and you're right. The castle is lit up in a "things-turning-in-the-good-guys'-favor" sort of way! Still, the only mention of mist in the series has been in reference to the Dementors. Maybe some good magic arrives on the scene -- perhaps something invoked by the spirit of Albus Dumbledore that the trio discovers on a visit to Godric's Hollow. With that huge cloud of mist and that huge bright light, the stage could be set for the two sides to clash in one major, epic and final battle.

On another note, ONS, what was your old screen name?

[one more second]

That would be interesting! I've always kind of pictured Harry and VD duking it out... somewhere. I never really gave Hogwarts a thought. The scene on both US editions takes place at dusk... I wonder if the trio, via dragon, are on their way back to the school after Harry and VD face eachother. In other words, if the covers are in sequential order: US cover (1), US deluxe cover (2), UK children's cover (3).


Ohh my gosh, lol, it was like SlytheringChic or something ridiculous

[Timeimperfect]

Some really interesting theories flying around here now!

I really like the idea of Hogwarts being the "base" for the Order's army. The picture looks like it's oozing & glowing with goodness, purity and light.
Maybe one of the other founders had a chamber/ secret area as well as Slytherin, and they have managed to tap into the magical resources from it. Remember what DD had said - I don't remember his exact words, but it was something about Riddle knowing there were sources of magic in Hogwarts that no-one really knew about, and that's part of the reason he wanted to come back as a teacher and explore these areas . I may have remembered it all wrong!

I think for the final battle, the DoM and the Veil have to come into play somewhere.
OMS, I like your idea that the covers are in a sequence - that really makes sense

[one more second]

Oh! I like that! It would be curious if the other founders had their own secret places in the castle! It's possible; I'm sure they each all prided themselves for what they stood for and what they brought to the table. Is it too far-fetched to say that maybe the RoR could be such a place? Perhaps Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.... It's clever enough, and they could have hid or stored some of their possessions - which would now be relics - in there, in which (here we go again ) only the heir could retrieve. I don't know though. Even if it was, DD said that he's pretty sure Voldie never got a chance to come back and search the school properly. Hm. Pretty sure.

[Romulus]

I'm pretty sure that Krum's misty eyes were a Hollywood addition

Indeed!! I said here at the time that the point of the imperius curse was that you weren't supposed to be able to tell who was under it.

That dragon is one that guards Gringotts, which is where they are, and possibly Norbert! I'm thinkin' anyway.

edited to take the 'poo' out of 'possibly'.

[Nymph]

I was reading Fantastic Beasts yesterday and noticed one more interesting thing, it's about another species of dragons. Here it is.

Common Welsh Green
The Welsh Green blends well with the lush grass of its homeland, though it nests in the higher mountains, where a reservation has been established for its preservation. The Ilfracombe Incident notwithstanding (see Introduction), this breed is among the least troublesome of the dragons, preferring, like the Opaleye, to prey on sheep and actively avoiding humans unless provoked. The Welsh Green has an easily recognisable and surprisingly melodious roar. Fire is issued in thin jets.The Welsh Green's eggs are an earthy brown, flecked with green.

We see, it's "among the least troublesome of the dragons" too, and what's more, it's a native dragon, i mean it habits in Great Britain, so it's as much likely to be the dragon on the cover as an AO one and trio don't need to go abroad . Aaaand, it already was in the books actually, it was a "participant" of the TW tournament, it even doesn't need to be introduced.
What do you think guys?

[Timeimperfect]

^Natalie, I like that idea alot - it would make sense that the dragon is native to UK, purely to make it easier to fit the story together. I guess the dragon's eye and colour on the book cover pointed to the opaleye species. I guess we will find out VERY soon now

Mind you, after seeing recently on mugglenet's newspage about a "mugglecast" episode, my theory of Draco the dragon doesn't feel so stupid - I'm glad someone else shares my wacky brainchildren!

[Endad]

I dunno I still kinda think its an Opaleye Dragon and like the idea of Gringotts and stuff cos Voldie probably would keep at least one horcrux in a bank or somewhere for good measure

and Draco the Dragon genius!

[Nymph]

^Natalie, I like that idea alot - it would make sense that the dragon is native to UK, purely to make it easier to fit the story together. I guess the dragon's eye and colour on the book cover pointed to the opaleye species. I guess we will find out VERY soon now

Mind you, after seeing recently on mugglenet's newspage about a "mugglecast" episode, my theory of Draco the dragon doesn't feel so stupid - I'm glad someone else shares my wacky brainchildren!

Of course it may be an Opaleye as well, just wanted to point you there's another candidate for a "cover dragon".

And about Draco, I still doubt, nothing except his name proves that by now, I guess animagi form should be kind of reflection of a soul and Draco doesn't appear to be a dragon in the soul, he's more like a ferret than a dragon at least in previous books was.

[Timeimperfect]

^ Very true about Draco not showing any signs, but JK seems to put alot of thought into names of places and people:
Remus Lupin is a werewolf, and "Lupine" & "Lupin" are very similar!
Grimmauld place is exactly as the name suggests; horrible dank and old.
Prof Umbridge - can't remember the exat meaning for her surname but I think "umbrage" (as it's spelt in a word) means like "bears a grudge" or is offended or something.

I'll thin of more examples, but it wouldn't be a total surprise to find out Draco's name is important