01:00 - 07.08.06
movies
My oldest son and my two grandchildren just left, dear diary. They arrived around 5 in the pm. We all had dinner together, then the babies watched movies and played with the cats while my oldest and youngest sons and I worked on creating more space in the basement. It took about 5 hours before we called it quits, but at least now the one room has been cleared out so my oldest son can bunk there instead of sleeping in my living room. Since each change is lock-stepped, my next task is to box up all the records upstairs filling up another whole room and then maybe some real renovations can occur. We were really pleased with the changes, but the cats weren't so sure. The upside fo them was the recovery of two more play mice that were in pretty good shape still.
While we were working, my grandbabies watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, then Cinderella and finally Mary Poppins. I think next visit I'm likely to find elegant chalk paintings on my sidewalk. I still marvel at Dick Van Dyke's versatility on screen. Very funny guy. While Harry Potter was on, it seemed we adults took more than a few breaks. Stopped by the action on the screen to speculate about book seven. JKR said, when she was reading at the fund raiser with Stephen King and John Irving, that Harry would survive. We were all speculating about book seven based on hints dropped throughout the books and in interviews with JKR.
She has said that cats and owls will figure prominently, as well as the house of Ravenclaw coming in to their own. Those are really interesting clues since the Magical Creatures teacher - Rubeus Hagrid - would be one of the rallying points for all those mythical creatures including the hippogriffs, dragons, acromantulae, thestrals, centaurs, house elves, merpeople, and a certain Ford Anglia. Hagrid was wrongfully expelled from Hogwarts when a basilisk was originally released by Lord Voldemort/Tom Riddle, yet was retained at the school by Dumbledore. One would have to interpolate that Dumbledore taught him magic personally, but asked Hagrid not to reveal his abilities. They have been slowly revealed over the course of series. Another facet of Hagrid's value to the order is that he and his brother Grawp would become a rallying point for the giants.
The interesting thing about the Head of the Ravenclaw House is that Professor Flitwick has been noted to be part goblin. Does he rally them in the same way that Lupin and Bill Weasley will team up to deal with the werewolves. Ravens are always the ones in long-standing European mythology who help locate horcruxes created by evil wizards. In most mythologies, Ravens are also the finders of lost objects and the seers of the Truth. They also speak the uncomfortable truth, as has been noted several times in Luna's case. Does Luna's ability to see death in-form mean perhaps an alliance with a few spectres like Moaning Myrtle, the castle ghosts and Peeves. Maybe even Sirius and Dumbledore? How does Dumbledore's brother Aberforth - the barkeep at the Hog's Head - play into the next part of the story. JKR says the Dumbledore family history is critical to the resolution of the confrontation between Voldemort and Harry. Where is or who has Dumbledore's wand. No mention has ever been made either of where in the "pure blood" wizarding community Harry's father James fit in. Was Sirius - the "dog star" Sirius is at 14 degrees Cancer designating the doorway to the wisdom of the infinite according to Sabian symbols - Jame's cousin?
Additionally there are also Neville, whose skill at herbology has not been fully explored, and Fred and George whose pranks are all based on the knowledge and use of very advanced magic. Is there a memory charm on Neville that is finally broken, releasing the full power he has in his control. It certainly appeared that might be the case in the Order of the Phoenix when he encountered Bellatrix Lestrange - his parents' crucifyer. Is he allowed their redemption from the torture they withstood? It seemed to me too that in the book The Order of The Phoenix, that while Dumbledore couldn't communicate directly with Harry, Hermione seemed to channel his directives to Harry instead almost with no barrier between her personality and Dumbledore's. Latent or active legilimency? Can it happen when one party is deceased? That should actually be easier as long as Hermione consents, I think. How does her half Kneazle Cruikshanks play into the story. Kneazles help people who are lost and can detect deception from humans. The other factor that we were reminded about was of the attempt at international co-operation as we watched the unfolding of the Goblet of Fire on the screen. How does that play out especially in respect to Madame Maxime, Fleur Delacour(Flower of the Heart)and Viktor Krum?
JKR rarely seems to use any reference in a story without it becoming important later on. There are some really interesting speculative essays (British slang for these is shipping -floating a theory) on various plot twists on the fan websites - often diametrically opposed - that are well written and carefully supported by referencing the other books in the series as well as the interviews with the author. Alchemy (the Philosopher's Stone) and the Green Man/Fool still haven't finished their journey together and then there is the Fisher King. In that mythology one has to know enough to ask the right question, with enough courage to ask it at the correct moment. I still don't see why Harry's mother's eye colour is critical as JKR has insisted, but maybe it will come to me yet. One essayist suggests she was adopted and points to a wizarding family known for red hair and green eyes. In the bulletin board part of JKR's site is the "random notes" on the Weasley family. It is interesting that Ginny's birth name is actually Ginevra - maybe a variation on Guinevere? In Arthurian stories she betrays the trust of Arthur, her spouse. In this book Arthur is her father; how might that play out. And finally there is Ron who has struggled continuously in the shadow of Harry - without Harry's intention, of course. He came in to his own a bit in the last book, but will that jealousy and envy of Harry come back in a way to create more diversions or plot twists, such as the one's we've seen Snape struggle with because of his past relationship to James - Harry's father.
I often see the hand of an astrologer in many passages, especially with reference to Firenze and the other Centaurs. Does that play any role - especially with respect to the prophecy. Does Petunia acknowledge Dudley's abilities, finally allowing him to enter Harry's world? A lot of potential avenues to explore, not excluding the comment by Dumbledore in the Chamber of Secrets (p 195 British version) that states that he will always be available as long as there is anyone loyal to him at Hogwarts. Harry repeats this point at the end of the Half Blood Prince. I can't quite work out how that plays out, if JKR's insistence that he is dead has no other outlet. One of the parts of the mythology of the Phoenix - Dumbledore's familiar - is that it rises from the ashes when frankincence and myhrr are burned before it's remains.(Dumbledore "I would trust Hagrid with my life" to Minerva McGonagall in Philosopher's Stone). The other possibility comes through the two mirrors - the one Sirius gave Harry that acts like a walkie talkie and the mirror of Erised where one sees one's hearts desire. Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Well anyway all the speculation in the world won't alter the fact that it will be at least another year before the last book is ready for print. Guess I'll have to take solace in the fact that the movie - Order of the Phoenix will be out next July - Friday the 13th - and the movie of the Half Blood Prince will be released November 21 2008. That is astrologically intersting, it is. Moving into the sign of the Centaur and out of the sign of the Scorpion. Hmmm.
�
�
