Runes

Reading the Runes: Literary Patterns in the Potterverse

‘You said to us once before,’ said Hermione, ‘that we there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we?’ (HBP30)

‘Wow! I wonder what it would be like to have a difficult life?’ said Harry (OOtP13)

JKR seems to have developed something of a template for writing Harry Potter, IMHO; there are definite patterns to her plotting. So what features should we be expecting in Book 7? And can one really attempt to write a synopsis based on the ‘plot formula’ for Books 1-6? Of course, there are no firm rules – JKR reserves the right to surprise us (and probably will, especially in the final book!) – but (considering the series so far) we might hope to see …

1. … An overlap between the ending of one book and the beginning of another; this has grown more pronounced as the series has developed, IMHO (no more cozy introductions to Harry’s world!): Wormtail’s escape to rejoin his master (prophesied in POA16) is recounted in ‘The Riddle House’ (GOF1); the results of Dumbledore alerting ‘the old crowd’ (GOF36) are seen in ‘The Order of the Phoenix’ (OOtP5); the Ministry of Magic is dealing with the political fallout from the Battle of the Department of Mysteries in OOtP38 and HBP1; Lucius Malfoy’s failure to secure the Prophecy (OOtP35) has had repercussions for his family in ‘Spinner’s End’ (HBP2). I anticipate that the opening chapters of DH will reveal Voldemort’s reaction to Dumbledore’s death & possibly the Ministry’s as well. At the end of Book 6, Harry speculates on the current whereabouts of Snape & Draco Malfoy (HBP30) so I’m hoping that this will be resolved at the beginning of DH. In fact, I predict that DH might actually begin *prior* to Dumbledore’s funeral, on the night of the murder itself … http://book7.co.uk/one/

2. … Some connection to the wider wizarding world providing the context for Harry’s story (usually given in the first few chapters): for example, we learn of Voldemort’s downfall in ‘The Boy Who Lived’ (PS/SS1); a plot at Hogwarts in ‘Dobby’s Warning’ (COS2); an escaped prisoner in ‘Aunt Marge’s Big Mistake’ (POA2) and ‘The Knight Bus’ (POA3); Voldemort’s device to regain power in ‘The Riddle House’ (GOF1); a phony war unknown to Muggles in ‘Dudley Demented’ (OOtP1); MOM reaction to Voldemort’s atrocities in ‘The Other Minister’ (HBP1) and a conspiracy of Death Eaters ‘Spinner’s End’ (HBP2). Extracts from the Daily Prophet are often used to provide background information: PS/SS8 (‘GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST’); POA3 (‘BLACK STILL AT LARGE’); OOtP15 (‘MINISTRY SEEKS EDUCATIONAL REFORM’); HBP3 (‘HARRY POTTER: THE CHOSEN ONE?’ & ‘SCRIMGEOUR SUCCEEDS FUDGE’) I very much hope that we gain some idea of the scope of Voldemort’s ambitions & the direction of his future plans in the opening chapters of DH … http://book7.co.uk/one/ and http://book7.co.uk/two/

3. … The intrusion of magic into the Muggle world, while Harry is staying with the Dursleys: Harry speaks Parseltongue in ‘The Vanishing Glass’ (PS/SS2); a House Elf visits Privet Drive in ‘Dobby’s Warning’ (COS2); Harry lose control and performs magic in ‘Aunt Marge’s Big Mistake’ (POA2); Harry’s connection to Voldemort is manifest in ‘The Scar’ (GOF2); Harry & Dudley are attacked in ‘Dudley Demented’ (OOtP1); Dumbledore brings Kreacher to the house in ‘Will and Won’t’ (HBP3). Certainly, the Dursleys cannot expect a quiet life with Harry around, as Vernon complains: ‘Owls treating this place like a rest home, puddings exploding, half the lounge destroyed, Dudley’s tail, Marge bobbing around on the ceiling and that flying Ford Anglia … You’re not staying here if some loony’s after you, you’re not endangering my wife and son, you’re not bringing trouble down on us.’ (OOtP2) In DH, they’ll be two adult wizards at Privet Drive (Ron & Hermione) who are allowed to perform magic outside school (‘We’ll be there, Harry’ says Ron in HBP30); plus, I’m expecting some revelations about Petunia’s past dealings with wizards (foreshadowed in OOtP2 and HBP3). Furthermore, the final breach in ‘the great, invisible wall that divided the relentlessly non-magical world of Privet Drive and the world beyond’ (OOtP2) might well prove permanent, with the destruction of number four, Privet Drive. ‘And come back and find the house in ruins?’ she snarled.’ (PS2) … http://book7.co.uk/three/

4. … An unexpected reason to leave Privet Drive: Vernon’s panic in ‘The Letters from No One’ (PS/SS3); the Weasley brothers escapade in ‘The Burrow’ (COS3); Harry’s desperate decision to run away in ‘Aunt Marge’s Big Mistake’ (POA2); the arrival of the Order members in ‘The Advance Guard’ (OotP3); Dumbledore’s night time surprise in ‘Will and Won’t’ (HBP3) – the Dursleys are more surprised than Harry. (In GOF, Harry’s departure – though not without transport difficulties (GOF4) – is positively civilized in that the Weasleys and the Dursleys have agreed to the holiday in advance.) We are told explicitly in GOF33, OOtP37 and HBP3 that the only reason the Death Eaters haven’t yet attacked Harry at Privet Drive is the ‘ancient magic’ that Dumbledore invoked ‘to ensure the boy’s protection as long as he is in his relations’ care’; sadly, this magic has an expiry date. So I’m predicting a midnight attack on Privet Drive in DH when Harry turns seventeen … http://book7.co.uk/four/

5. … An extended visit to a familiar location: ‘The Burrow’ (COS3), (GOF5) & (HBP5); ‘The Leaky Cauldron’ (POA4); ‘Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place’ (OOtP4). I’m anticipating a flight to Grimmauld Place in DH in which Harry brings (at least) two of the Dursleys with him for their own protection. My reason for thinking that Petunia & Dudley might well end up at Grimmauld Place (without Vernon, who abandons them), is that the now dead Secret Keeper of the Order, Albus Dumbledore, was careful to speak the name of the place in their hearing in HBP3 (‘He’s been left a house?’ said Uncle Vernon greedily). Surely Dumbledore did this for a reason? …

6. … Harry acquires/inherits a new skill/artifact, which will help him during the climax: his father’s Invisibility Cloak (PS12); Riddle’s diary (COS13) and the Disarming Charm (COS10); the Marauders Map (POA10) and the Patronus Charm (POA12); the Summoning Charm (GOF20), which enables him to grab the Cup Portkey in GOF34; Apparition (HBP18). (Incidentally, I wonder if ‘Sectumsempra’, the spell described as being ‘for enemies’ (HBP24) might one day help Harry against Voldemort?) In DH, Harry has to learn how to destroy a Horcrux; I also wonder if Neville’s Mimbulus mimbletonia might turn out to have special properties. And might Harry’s Patronus change to symbolize his coming of age? In any case, I suspect that Harry will have the opportunity to read his parents’ will (POA20) and will inherit a Time Turner from his mother at the beginning of DH; Ron already has the watch (HBP18 ) … http://book7.co.uk/five/

7. … Information is given about significant events that have happened ‘off-stage’ during Harry’s temporary absence from the wizarding world: for example, the Triwizard Tournament is arranged during the holidays (GOF5); Percy breaks with his family (OOtP4) and Dumbledore makes a speech to the International Confederation of Wizards announcing Voldemort’s return (OOtP5); Dumbledore finds and destroys the ring Horcrux, damaging his hand (HBP2); Sirius’s will is discovered and proved and the Order of the Phoenix temporarily vacates Grimmauld Place (HBP3). In DH, we can expect to hear the result of the governors’ meeting to decide whether or not Hogwarts should remain open (HBP29); also, the Order of the Phoenix will require a new leader and possibly a new spy as well … http://book7.co.uk/six/

8. … An early encounter with a character or location of (potential) significance for the future, briefly referenced in an earlier book or books: examples of minor characters who reoccur include Cedric Diggory (POA9 & GOF6), Arabella Figg (PS2 & OOtP2), Dedalus Diggle (PS2, PS5 & OOtP3) & Mundungus Fletcher (GOF10 & OOtP5). JKR’s books contain plenty of filler but it (almost) always a mistake to assume that a particular place or person is *not* significant to the story (*cough* Mark Evans *cough*). Locations mentioned repeatedly before they appear include: the Ministry of Magic (mentioned PS5, COS3 & GOF10 etc., visited OOtP7), the Room of Requirement (mentioned GOF23, visited OOtP18) & St. Mungo’s Hospital (mentioned GOF8, visited OOtP22). I think it is quite likely that Harry will meet up with a hidden Emmeline Vance early in DH (as well as Aberforth Dumbledore). I also wonder which locations Harry has still to visit: apart from Godric’s Hollow (HBP30), I would nominate the Riddle House (which he has only seen in dreams so far, GOF1 and GOF29) and which might well be the Headquarters of the Death Eaters (with half-blood Voldemort as the ‘wealthy owner’ who has kept it for ‘tax reasons’, or so the Muggles believe). The reader (though not necessarily Harry) may yet see inside Azkaban Prison (first mentioned COS14) and Malfoy Manor (mentioned COS4, COS12, OOtP16, HBP16 etc.) …

9. … A ‘lesson’ for Dudley: the tail, ‘The Keeper of the Keys’ (PS/SS4); the toffee, ‘Back to the Burrow’ (GOF4); the Dementor, ‘Dudley Demented’ (OOtP1). JKR has hinted that Dudley can expect ‘magical retribution’ for his years of bullying Harry. In DH, Dudley might be forced to live in Harry’s world, even (possibly) ending up in St. Mungo’s. (For DH, to resemble Books 1-6 *something* must happen to dispose of the Dursleys, who do not belong in the main storyline.) … http://book7.co.uk/seven/

10. … Harry learns something new about Snape; information on this enigmatic Professor has been tantalizingly drip-fed through the series: James Potter saved Snape’s life (PS/SS17); James Potter saved Snape’s life after James’s friend played a life-threatening ‘Prank’ on Snape (POA14); James Potter & friends made Snape’s life a misery at school, Lily defended him & he spurned her (OOtP28); in his seventh year, Snape was part of a gang of Slytherins who nearly all became Death Eaters (GOF27); Snape was a Death Eater who defected and turned spy (GOF30); Snape is a double (or possibly) triple agent (OOtP26 & HBP2). I’ve noticed that Snape often turns out to be that mysterious ‘someone’ in the Potterverse. Someone alerted Lily & James so they could go into hiding (‘Dumbledore … had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once.’ POA10), there is strong evidence that this could be the reason Dumbledore trusted Snape (‘You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the Prophecy. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life and the reason that he returned –’ (HBP25); ‘someone’ originally betrayed the Prophecy to Voldemort (‘My – our – one stroke of good fortune was that the eavesdropper was detected only a short way into the prophecy and thrown from the building.’ OOtP37), we learned that this *was* Snape in HBP25; unfortunately, ’someone’ also murdered Regulus Black (‘No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort’s orders, more likely; I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person.’ OotP6). On this basis, I think there is a good chance that Snape might have performed the murder, under duress; after all, JKR has hinted that as a Death Eater, he would have seen [edit - thanks Carol!] some terrible things … http://book7.co.uk/seven/

11. … An encounter with the DADA teacher before the start of term: Quirrell, ‘Diagon Alley’ (PS/SS5); Lockhart, ‘At Flourish and Blotts’ (COS4); Lupin, ‘The Dementor’ (POA5); Moody (sort of!), ‘Mayhem at the Ministry’ (GOF10); Umbridge, ‘The Hearing’ (OOtP8) and Slughorn, ‘Horace Slughorn’ (HBP4). I’m betting it will happen in DH when Harry attends Bill’s wedding … http://book7.co.uk/eight/

12. … A pleasant interlude for Harry, in the company of friends: ‘Diagon Alley’ (PS/SS5); ‘The Burrow’ (COS3); ‘The Leaky Cauldron’ (POA4); ‘The Quidditch World Cup’ (GOF8); ‘Draco’s Detour’ (HBP6). Harry is hoping for ‘one last golden day of peace with Ron and Hermione’ at the Weasley wedding in DH (HBP30); this might indeed be the last time that the Weasley family is intact …

13. … A new form of transport, which is important later in the book: Harry encounters the flying Ford Anglia in COS3, which will save him from Aragog’s relations in COS15; the Portkey in GOF6, a technology that will be used against him GOF31; the Thestrals in OOtP10 & OOtP21, without which he could not travel to the Ministry in OOtP34; Side-Along Apparition in HBP4, which he will need to perform himself in HBP27. If time-travel is involved in the climax of DH, then Harry will have at least one other experience of this technology before the end, IMHO. I also suspect that Harry & Hagrid will use Sirius’s old motorbike (mentioned PS1 and OOtP7) to visit Godric’s Hollow in the holidays (since none of the existing methods of travel – broomsticks, Floo powder, the Knight Bus, Thestrals, Apparition etc. – seem appropriate in this context) … http://book7.co.uk/eight/

14. … A new location, which is important in the book: Harry visits Gringotts (PS5), on the eve of an attempted robbery (PS8); Little Hangleton (in a dream) (GOF1), later chosen by Voldemort for his ‘rebirthing party’ (GOF32); the Ministry of Magic (OOtP7), location of the Department of Mysteries (OOtP34). He learns of the existence of the Chamber of Secrets (COS9) long before he goes there (COS16) and hears of ‘the cave in which Tom Riddle once terrorized two children’ (HBP13), without dreaming that he will have occasion to visit (HBP26). If Harry does travel to Godric’s Hollow early in DH (as planned in HBP30), then he might find he has reason to go there again (in different circumstances) before the end of the novel … http://book7.co.uk/nine/

15. … The return to Hogwarts is marred by complications: Harry travels on the Hogwarts Express in every book except for COS; however, he misses the Sorting Ceremony in COS5 (with Ron), POA5 (with Hermione) & HBP8 (without Ron or Hermione). Whether or not he returns to Hogwarts at all in Book 7 is in doubt. Personally, I think that he might return on a part-time basis, staying at the Hog’s Head with Aberforth Dumbledore. Interestingly, we follow Harry’s return journey on the Hogwarts Express in PS/SS17, COS18, POA22, GOF37 and OOtP38 … but not in HBP, which finishes on the day of Dumbledore’s funeral. This suggests that we might share Harry’s *return* journey at the beginning of DH, thus allowing the Hogwarts Express to feature in Book 7, even if Harry does not make the traditional journey to school … http://book7.co.uk/three/

16. … A meeting with a new character (good or bad), who is interesting in his/her own right, but a ‘red herring’ in terms of the main plot: think Snape in PS/SS, Lockhart in COS, Lupin in POA, Umbridge in OOtP and Slughorn in HBP. I’m thinking that this role might belong to Aberforth Dumbledore in DH; certainly, some interesting things have happened in his pub (PS17, OOtP16 and HBP25) and he could provide some valuable information on Dumbledore’s backstory, but I think his main function will be (much needed) comic relief (GOF24) … http://book7.co.uk/ten/

17. … Something significant (& unpleasant) happens in late autumn/winter. In the past, there have been incidents on Halloween: Quirrell lets a Mountain Troll into Hogwarts which almost kills Hermione (PS10); the Basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets attacks its first victim (COS8); Sirius Black breaks into Hogwarts and slashes the Fat Lady (POA8); Harry is selected to compete in the Triwizard Tournament against his will (GOF16). Mr. Weasley is bitten by Nagini in December (OOtP21); Katie Bell is injured by a cursed necklace in October (HBP12). None of these incidents proved fatal; sadly, however, I’m predicting that there will be an attack on Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes in the autumn of DH and this time, someone will not survive … http://book7.co.uk/eleven/

18. … Events gather pace, other characters become involved & we realize that Harry’s quest is part of a much wider struggle: the Chamber of Secrets is re-opened, Muggle-born students are being Petrified by Slytherin’s monster, Hagrid is wrongfully imprisoned and Dumbledore is removed from the school (COS14); Professor Trelawney predicts the return of the Dark Lord with his servant’s aid (POA16); Sirius Black reveals his fear that strange happenings at Hogwarts and the Ministry could be linked and Harry learns that potential enemies abound (GOF27); there is a mass breakout of Death Eaters from Azkaban, as Umbridge tightens her hold on Hogwarts (OOtP25); Harry prepares to accompany Dumbledore on a dangerous expedition, warning his friends that Malfoy & Snape are planning an attack on the school (HBP25). I’m guessing that in DH, we’ll finally see the much-anticipated ’siege of Hogwarts’, as the castle’s ‘magical fortifications’ are tested, as well as a complete Death Eater takeover of the MOM. (JKR has said that Voldemort ‘finally gets the legroom for which he has been aching during all those years in exile’ in DH). ‘Reckon Dumbledore’s the only one You-Know-Who was afraid of. Didn’t dare try takin’ the school, not jus’ then, anyway.’ (PS/SS4) Ominous words, IMHO … http://book7.co.uk/twelve/

19. … Harry loses a beloved ally: the deaths have increased in magnitude from Cedric Diggory (who became a friend to Harry over the course of one book), to Sirius Black (whom Harry loved as a parent but had only known since POA19), to Albus Dumbledore (Harry’s great mentor in Books 1-6, but somewhat detached from his emotional life until OOtP37). Logically, I would suggest that Hagrid (Harry’s earliest friend and protector in the magical world from PS4 onwards) is next … http://book7.co.uk/twelve/

20. … Towards the second half of the book, there is a major expositional scene (perhaps involving a new device): the Mirror of Erised (PS12); Riddle’s diary (COS13); the overheard conversation in the chapter entitled ‘The Marauders Map’ (POA10); the Pensieve (GOF30); Snape’s Worst Memory (OOtP28); Slughorn’s memory & Dumbledore’s explanation of Horcruxes (HBP23). As many people have said many times, I foresee an (unplanned) trip to the Underworld (the Deathly Hallows?) providing valuable information at this point … http://book7.co.uk/hallows/

21. … A major character comes close to death, but survives: Harry Potter (‘Not the Stone, boy, you – the effort involved nearly killed you.’ PS17) Ginny Weasley (‘She’s still alive,’ said Riddle. ‘But only just.’ COS17); Arthur Weasley (’It sounded to Harry, too, as though Mr. Weasley was hovering somewhere between life and death.’ OOtP22), Hermione Granger (‘Don’t let her be dead, don’t let her be dead, it’s my fault if she’s dead …’ OOtP35); Ron Weasley (Ron gave a great shudder, a rattling gasp and his body became limp and still. HBP19) This further suggests the idea of a ‘near-death experience’ for Harry in DH, IMHO …

22. … A major character is guilty – until proved innocent: Snape in PS/SS, Hagrid in COS, Black in POA, Krum in GOF. This will be Snape in DH, IMHO. The question is: what will cause Harry to change his mind about Snape? I suggest that Dumbledore will have found some way to communicate the essential fact of Snape’s innocence to Harry *before* Harry & Snape meet again (& I’m not talking about DD’s picture, since JKR has already implied that meaningful conversation with a portrait is impossible: they only ‘repeat catchphrases’). Failure to do so, IMHO, would make Dumbledore’s decision *not* to say more to Harry in HBP25 seem rather irresponsible (Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, ‘I am sure. I trust Severus Snape completely.’) I now think that the reason DD refrained from saying anything is because he knows he has already had this conversation with Harry … in the future. Yes, I believe that Dumbledore is a time-traveller, which will enable him to a play an important role in Book 7 without returning from the dead … http://book7.co.uk/nine/

23. … A major character is innocent – until proved guilty: Quirrell in PS/SS; Riddle in COS; Pettigrew in POA; Moody-Crouch in GOF; Kreacher(?) in OOtP (OK, he was never *that* innocent!), Imperiused Rosmerta in HBP. I’m betting that Draco Malfoy will be the revelation in DH; we’re prepared to feel sympathetic towards him at the moment (knowing that he couldn’t kill Dumbledore), but he has shown little in the way of moral courage and could still be used by the Death Eaters despite his squeamishness, IMHO. My suggestion is that Bellatrix uses Draco to trap Snape & that Severus’s fondness for Draco proves his undoing (another emotional mistake!) With catastrophic consequences for all concerned … http://book7.co.uk/fourteen/

24. … Harry receives significant information/help from an unexpected source – often in return for a previous act of kindness: so far, Harry’s unusual helpers have included, Neville, Fawkes, Dobby and Luna. I expect Ginny, Neville & Luna (often referred to as ‘the other trio’) to all play a big role in DH (accounting for at least one Horcrux between them): http://book7.co.uk/thirteen. We know that Pettigrew owes Harry & I would suggest that he might discharge his life-debt by supplying information rather than the more clichéd sacrificial death – hurling himself between Harry & Voldemort (which would take a great deal more courage than we’ve seen from Pettigrew in Books 3, 4 & 6). Also, Dumbledore implies that Pettigrew might aid Harry in a way that he is not expecting (think Gollum!): ‘This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me… the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew’s life.’ (POA22) … http://book7.co.uk/fifteen/

25. … Harry experiences self-doubt/suffering as a result of his connection to Voldemort, which has made him a ‘marked man’: when he believes that he is the Heir of Slytherin (COS11); when he is ashamed of his ‘weakness’ with Dementors (POA10); when he is is disturbed by the pain in his scar (GOF2 etc.); when he believes he has attacked Mr. Weasley and is being possessed (OOtP23); when he tells Ginny they must stop seeing each other (HBP30). This theme will only be reinforced if Harry’s scar does prove to be a Horcrux …

26. … The Trio/Order/DA are victorious in battle: PS16; PS35&36; HBP29; I see the main battles (at Hogwarts and the MOM) as happening in parallel to Harry’s individual quest in DH (very much in the style of LOTR: TTT & RTOK) …

27. … Harry rushes to *prevent* Voldemort doing something: stealing the Philosopher’s Stone (PS16); murdering Ginny in the Chamber (COS16); torturing Sirius for the Prophecy (OOtP34). In POA, Harry goes to Ron’s aid (PS17); in HBP he and Dumbledore are attempting to steal a Horcrux. Only in GOF is he dragged into the area against his will. I wonder, therefore, if Harry will have a pressing reason to ‘go after Voldemort’ at a specific point in DH …

28. … Harry is victorious against Voldemort: so far Voldemort has only been absent from Books 3 & 6 and will assuredly be present in Book 7, meaning that there will be a final, personal confrontation between him & Harry at the end. Now by this stage, based on previous books, we would expect the pair of them to be more or less alone, or at the very least with only their ‘seconds’ for support (PS9) …

29. … Outstanding injustices in the wizarding world are (partially) remedied: Neville is honoured and Malfoy is punished (PS17); Dobby is freed and Lucius is sacked (COS18); Fred & George are reimbursed (GOF37); Fudge is made to confront the reality of Voldemort’s return (OOtP38). There are a number of issues JKR has yet to resolve in DH namely: the dominance of the pureblood ideology, the ill-treatment of some magical creatures, the dystopian practices of the Ministry and the divisions within Hogwarts itself. For starters, I expect that Kingsley Shacklebolt would make a good Minister of Magic (to be succeeded eventually by Hermione!) … http://book7.co.uk/seventeen/

30. … One further thought on the shape of Book 7: JKR has described GOF as being (metaphorically as well as literally) the ‘heart of the series’. She has confirmed that there are significant similarities between Books 2 & 6: both contain Tom Riddle backstory & Horcruxes. And Books 3 & 5 can also be seen as alike in providing valuable backstory between Snape & the Marauders (especially Sirius Black). So might Books 1 & 7 form a similar pair? It’s my belief that JKR might choose to end at the beginning, with Harry’s once-and-future defeats of Voldemort occurring on the same magical night … http://book7.co.uk/sixteen and http://book7.co.uk/sight/

[N.B. Minor edits thanks to pod79]