Evidence-based synopsis: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

It’s now been a year since Deathly Hallows came out… and I’ve decided to mark the occasion with the first in a series of very short stories based on the original ‘fan synopsis’ (conceived more than a year before book 7 appeared)… make of it what you will!

The Taste of Euphoria: A Farewell to the Potterverse

by Cassandra Vablatsky

1: Lily

(In later years, Snape would remember that sixth-year Potions class almost as a dying person might recall their last period of remission. A brief, graceful interlude that could not last. James Potter, mercifully, was not present. Nor were Avery and Mulciber. Snape and Lily worked together in every lesson, apparently reconciled, the most able potioneers in the school. Sometimes he could even imagine they were as close as they once were… yet each knew that this restored friendship was too fragile to survive outside the classroom, in a world in which they were already irrevocably divided.)

‘Once again, Miss Evans appears to have rewritten the textbook,’ said Professor Slughorn, with an appreciative wink. He had lingered by their table for most of the lesson, prepared to be impressed. Now he bent over the cauldron, which seemed to be full of liquid sunlight, and stepped backwards, shading his eyes.

READ ON…

Am finally updating with my reaction to Deathly Hallows: quotes, criticism, curiosities to follow (plus the occasional true prediction!)

(A warning if you haven’t finished HPDH that SPOILERS ABOUND!)

Click here for more…

N.B. You’ll be able to post your reactions to the real book 7 and to this site in general on the new page – however, no new comments are being added to divinations 1-17 which are now archive material! This synopsis remains as it was prior to publication (Saturday 21st July 2007 at 00:01 BST) as a lasting reminder of the time before Harry’s fate was set in stone… so if you’re nostalgic for the pre-publication era of speculation, then look no further…

Her final pre-publication message to fans:

Within hours you will know what happens to Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest in their final adventure. All the secrets I have been carrying around for so long will be yours, too, and those who guessed correctly will be vindicated, and those who guessed wrongly will not, I hope, be too disappointed! As for me, I feel a heady mixture of excitement, nerves and relief. ‘Deathly Hallows’ remains my favourite of the series, even after several re-reads; I cannot wait to share it with the readers who have stuck with me through six previous books.

… Just to let you know that I have prepared one final editorial on the (wider) mysteries of time-travel in Harry Potter and the possible implications for Deathly Hallows … it is packed full of speculations, evidence and argument (but no DH spoilers, I’m looking forward to reading the book tonight – and discovering if my crystal ball was working at all!). It can be read here.

Also, an announcement that you will be unable to post comments on this site from 00:01 BST for the duration of the weekend – to allow us all to absorb the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows … however, the site will re-open next week with new opportunities to discuss our reactions to the book.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed here over the last (historic) months of anticipation and most of all (of course) to J. K. Rowling for inspiring us all – it’s been fun!

 
This mysterious symbol from the UK children’s cover is here to reassure you that all comments are being moderated to prevent Potter leaks from being published on this site. Any spoilers you will find here are purely accidental … book7.co.uk contains fictitious speculations on a work of fiction and was created to amuse myself (and hopefully some of you) while waiting for book 7. It will be interesting to know if the collective imagination of fandom has correctly anticipated certain elements of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - if so, the credit belongs to JKR for planting the clues in the first place. ;–) If not, well, I did warn you that Divination is not an exact science … either way, enjoy the last few days of anticipation and prepare to be blown away on July 21st!

Cassy x

… still this one is well worth a look! :–)

Pictures courtesy of Mugglenet:

US Children’s Edition

UK Children’s Edition

UK Adult Edition

As for what these pictures portend, Cassandra must remind her audience that:

“The Inner Eye does not See upon command!”

And this is all the text we have until July 21st:

Back Cover:
Harry is waiting in Privet Drive. The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing – if they can. But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfill the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with?

Inside Flap:
Harry has been burdened with a dark, dangerous and seemingly impossible task: that of locating and destroying Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given. He must leave the warmth, safety, and companionship of The Burrow and follow without fear or hesitation the inexorable path laid out for him.

In this final, seventh installment of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling unveils in spectacular fashion the answers to the many questions that have been so eagerly awaited. The spellbinding, richly woven narrative, which plunges, twists and turns at a breathtaking pace, confirms the author as a mistress of storytelling, whose books will be read, reread and read again.

Hear, hear!

Some of you might be pleased to know, I have changed my opinion as to Wormtail’s fate: see divination fifteen!

Also, added some new thoughts on Ginny’s role in DH and on Metamorphmagi.

Plus, you can expect a new editorial (to follow shortly) on the possibilities and implications of time-travel in the Potterverse…

Cassy :–)

‘I was saying to Professor Slughorn only the other day, ‘Where is the biography of Harry Potter for which we have all been waiting?” (HBP15)

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 (based on the series so far) I’ve put together a basic outline to explain the method behind the madness!

Happy Spring Equinox :–)