
Updates: John Granger and The Anchoress share thoughts on the covers. Lots of good links within each post as well. See full American cover artwork and the British cover artwork here. The jacket notes from the British version were also released:
Harry is waiting at 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 fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him with?
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 instalment 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.
See the HPANA press release for more.








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I find the color scheme (yellow=gold) interesting, in an alchemical sense.
The end of the series, the completion of the work….
I visited the HPANA website…the so-called “figures” in the background look like headstones to me!
Check out the British version closely…You see Dobby behind Harry, Ron is holding Gryffindor’s sword…there is a suit of armor lying pell=mell all around…in the Room of Requirement maybe?
Fun stuff
To me, on the British cover, it looks like our intrepid 3 + Dobby are bursting into a Gringott’s vault?
Matthew
and it’s Dobby who’s holding Gryffindor’s sword!
Matthew
And what’s that symbol on the spine? A barred triangle with circle in it. Is it just the printer’s seal or an Alchemical thinggy?
Matthew
The British version for adults (first time I’ve seen that) features a large locket, with a curving snake in the middle. No prize for guessing it’s the Slytherin locket. What’s more interesting is that the snake divides the locket into two areas, and looks a lot like the Taijitu, the symbol representing the forces of Yin and Yang, dark and light, good and evil…
Took a closer look. It’s not a snake. The locket features a stylized S, set with dark green stones.
I’m getting shivers of anticipation.
This is all very, very exciting stuff. I didn’t have time to really examine it all when I posted it earlier. There’s also a stag on the back cover of the British version.
I love that Dobby’s holding Gryffindor’s sword.
Looks like it’s emancipation time for the elves.
On the back cover of thre British adult cover, Rowling is standing in front of her bookshelf (presumably). I can only make out a few of the titles.
What can you see there?
Matthew
I really like both covers, though I have to say, it’s the US cover that leaves me wanting more. The UK is is indeed very busy, but I love it as well.
The view from the US cover art has cloths on each side. Is it possible that the view we’re getting is from inside the veil from the arch in the Chamber of Mysteries. If so, the veil has been parted or swept away.
Matthew
Harry is also wearing a concealed locket around his neck.
Matt
Sorry about the multiple posts- just excited.
Is it just me, but on the UK cover does Harry look like Clark Kent or what? Hermione = Lois Lane and Ron = Jimmy Olsen
Dobby… = Martian Man-Hunter…
Matthew
YES HE DOES! I was wondering who he looked like! AWESOME!
Harry doesn’t seem to clearly have a scar in the American artwork.
The veil in the MoM was actually one of the first things I thought of when I saw the US cover. However, the scene on the cover doesn’t match the description of the “death” room given in OotP. But maybe the cover is showing what’s on the other side?
For what it’s worth, my first thought (and my wife’s) was “veil” also.
My wife also said Harry looked like Superman on the British cover.
Ok, now I DO think it is a Gringott’s vault. But do you notice that the Full Armour of God is lying around in there?
I like the look of Harry on the UK covers and the final cover is no exception. He looks like a hero. A grown young man.
There is a house elf ridding on Harry’s back on the British cover, but are you sure it is Dobby? Hum… Looks more sinister than Dobby to me, kind of pasty skin from spending a lot of time in a dark house… and the Slithering locked is on the adult version… and the last time we may have seen that was in the Black house… where there was another house elf… just mussing…
My money’s on Dobby, but sure, it could be Kreacher. After all, Dumbledore wanted Sirius to treat Kreacher better. And if they’re going to Gringotts, maybe Kreacher knows where the Black’s vault is? Or has access to it? And that’s where the locket is? Just wild guesses. It’s also interesting that they’re all in dress robes.
I definitely prefer the American version. I like Mary Grand Pre’s depiction of Harry better (really, I like her art better overall).
I also noticed that though all the letters in “and the Deathly Hallows” are CAPS, the T’s are in the shape of crosses.
I don’t think Kreacher has to be cooperating willingly… after all he now has to obey Harry because he inherited the Black home…
I didn’t see any mention on the above comments on what the pouch Harry has along his neck in the American cover might contain… any thoughts?
There are hooded figures standing behind Harry in the American cover. I don’t think this is what is behind the veil.
Ok one last obsevation. The back cover of the British version has what I would call a “heavenly castle” on it with a BLACK dog headed to the front door. At least I think it is a dog, couldn’t zoom in on the picture. Therefore, maybe Harry does go through the veil? Also, what does the orb contain? My eyes are not as good as they once were. Is it a two headed serpent?
I think the dog is the publisher’s (Bloomsbury) symbol.
The serpent in the orb only has one head, as far as I can tell.
What do you make of the scrapes or burns on both Harry and Hermione’s arms?
I lied; I have another observation. The suit of armor seems to have a serpent on the breast plate. The scratches on Harry and Hermione could be from whatever was guarding the bank vault. Supposedly some are guarded by dragons… Could it be Slithering’s vault at Gringots (I don’t remember spellings)?
Dumb question above, it has to be the Black vault…
The Black bank vault (or any Slithering for that matter) would have protection against non-pure bloods. Therefore, Ron doesn’t have a scratch on him while Harry and Hermione do.
Ooooh. Voldemort tries to lure Harry to the dark side. Looks like he gets close, too.
It looks like the Chamber of Mysteries to me, too. Maybe Voldemort tries to convince Harry that he really can be reunited with Sirius and his parents. And whomever else dies in the 7th book.
I haven’t read the Order recently so I don’t remember the description of the Chamber of Mysteries room that well, but was there a Roman Coliseum like structure or a light that seemed like sunlight (at sunset)? I don’t imagine the figures are on the other side of the veil if they are death eaters. That is the one thing they fear the most, death, as their name implies.
I think Harry has a piece of the mirror Sirius gave him and he broke in the pouch. I think Ron and Hermione and maybe others have other pieces. I think they can all keep in touch and see and hear what’s happening to others with them when it is out of the pouch, but probably they would still have audio while still in the pouch…
Of course the glass orb with the snake would imply the Chamber of Mysteries…
OK, I’m convinced, the American cover has the Chamber of Mysteries; the UK cover has the Black vault… until someone convinces me otherwise…
There’s quite a good discussion going over on the HogPro forum (John’s older discussion board, not his Weblog) about the cover art. This was my entry yesterday:
The UK juvenile cover reminds me of the US Goblet of Fire cover in that it contains a number of items that are part of the story. The US GoF cover contains Fleur, Victor, Cedric, Harry, the Goblet of Fire, dragons, Sirus (in dog form), the Beauxbatons baby blue carriage pulled by flying horses, and a dementor—all part of the story. The UK Deathly Hallows cover contains Harry, Ron, Hermione, and elf (I assume Dobby) behind Harry and holding up what appears to be Gryffindor’s silver and ruby sword. There are pieces of armor (breastplate, helmet, possibly leg coverings) that are also silver and appear to be a set with the sword; at least, the helmet is encrusted with rubies and both the helmet and breastplate are decorated with a gryffindor motif. Surrounding the pieces of armor are high-value items (jewels, gold pieces, cups, gold and silver plate, decorative bottles that may or may not contain precious ingredients or potions, etc.), so methinks these images are tying in nicely with the idea of Hallows as the burial place of at least four of the Hogwarts Founders, especially of Godric Gryffindor. Perhaps Harry finds the burial ground and avails himself (literally or figuratively) with Godric’s (probably magical) armor.
The back cover of the same UK juvenile cover highlights an arched entryway to the Hogwarts castle that is at least superficially similar to what appears to be an archway behind the trio as depicted on the front cover. It’s part of the castle, but that doesn’t contradict Cuaron’s paraphrase of Rowling when she told him that the graveyard is in a “different place of the castle†from where he envisioned it. All told, I have to think that theories defining the “Hallows†of the title as the burial place of the Founders are going in the right direction.
Ties in nicely with my own take on the Book 7 title, which is why I prefer this interpretation (hee hee).
Thoughts on the Meaning of Deathly Hallows”
http://felicitys-mind.livejournal.com/4373.html
The US cover does indeed remind me of the amphitheater in the Death room at the Department of Mysteries although the veil is described as a tattered black curtain or veil in OotP, whereas what we see on the US cover appear more like tied-back orangey-beige draperies. There’s also the problem of the naturalistic sky (not described in the book). And what are those broken bits at Harry’s feet? Appears to be a combination of wood and stone. OotP described it as a stone archway that was “ancient, cracked, and crumbling.†However, despite the discrepancies (which could well be deliberate so we won’t make the connection too easily), I do believe the DoM is going to be the scene of the final battle (although I had been thinking that the Love Room would be more important than the Veil). So if that’s what the US cover is alluding to, it could be that the archway gets destroyed at some point (if that is what those broken beams and columns are). I agree that on this cover, Voldemort appears to be warding off something that Harry almost appears to be welcoming (shades of Dumbledore, Sirius, James, Lily, et al.?). Certainly James and Lily appeared in the Mirror of Erised in Book 1 and in the Priori Incantatum scene in Book 4, so I am fully expecting to see some version of them in Book 7. And that also reminds me that Harry and Voldemort can’t use wands against each other (hence the wandlessness of both on the US cover).”
I’ve since become intrigued by the comments suggesting it’s a goblin, not an elf, behind Harry on the UK Juvenile cover. It’s certainly true that Rowling has been slipping in hints that goblins are going to be important (but so far they’ve been in the background), and the treasure trove depicted on that cover could be a Gringott’s vault. Someone over on HogPro also mentioned that the high-security vaults are protected by dragons, and there’s something to that as well since dragons were featured in books 1 and 4, so logically they should feature in book 7. And the archway behind the trio could be the entrance to a Gringott vault.
However, after rereading the description of goblins in SS, I don’t see that the creature behind Harry has expecially long fingers nor were goblins described as having long ears as the elves are, so that’s a strike against the goblin theory. Nevertheless, and for what it’s worth, I don’t expect the cover art to be strictly accurate since on the covers of GoF, OotP, and HBP, Harry’s wand in the wrong hand and on the cover of HBP, Dumbledore’s right hand should have been blackened and burned.
I don’t know what to think about the amulet-thingy Harry is wearing on the US cover. It’s too murky to make out details.
Anyhoo, it’s exciting to have a bit more to play with as we count down to the release. JOdel mentioned that we’ll probably see a new Wombat test on April 1 (since the first one was on April 1 and the second was exactly six months later on October 1). And there was mention over there about teasers (but not spoilers) Rowling released prior to the publication of HBP, so we’ll all want to keep an eye on Rowling’s website.
Can’t wait!!!!
This discussion is fascinating. I was discussing the possibilities with some of my coworkers at Barnes & Noble yesterday. I think that the U.S. cover shows an Ampitheatre-like room with curtains. Broken wood also. Travis, I also thought of the Veil at first. The British Children’s cover shows the trio falling down in the midst of treasure but I have to disagree with some people here. While Harry here probably looks like a Clark Kent, Ron and Hermione look eerily like their real-life acting counterparts in the movies, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. Besides Harry looks the same in this cover as the Half-Blood Prince cover. How about the Stag on the side part of the jacket? Will there be another appearance of Harry’s Patronus? By the way I did not even notice the elf in the cover. It could either be Dobby or Kreacher or just a goblin. The easy cover was the British Adult one, which shows the Slytherin locket, and is probably what Harry is wearing in the U.S. cover. Harry and Voldemort will fight each other without wands and they both are bracing for something although Voldemort seems scared while Harry is hailing something. Thanks for pointing out the T shaped crosses Travis. Interesting stuff there, Felicity
I’m so excited about this novel.
I’m not sure about you guys, but the covers really put me at ease for some reason. I can’t see Harry destroying Voldemort, by using an AK curse. And I love that. Of course that’s still a possibility, but there is something about the cover(s) that really speaks out to me.
Felicity,
I disagree that the armour on the British cover has a “Gryffindor” motif. What I see is a dragon on one of the two helmets and a serpent on the breastplate. Neither of these suggest Gryffindor to me.
Thinking about the Deathly Hallows made me wonder about a passage in the Gospels. I’m not sure if it’s been mentioned before but when Jesus died the Bible states that many holy people came out of their tombs and witnessed to people in Jerusalem. Of course that’s my paraphrase. Maybe we have a parallel with Harry dying and many of the wizards who have fought the good fight against Voldemort coming back to finish the job on him.
Matthew
I also think that what we see in the US cover is the other side of the veil and i agree with korg that these people behind is watching the battle they couldnt finish and they are like in a kind of limbo until this task is finished so that they can rest in peace or something
It makes me feel mush better that this cover is a bright color. Normally I don’t like yellow very much, but in this instance it’s a great relief.
Harry’s eyes are gorgeous on the U.S. cover, first time they really hit me as green.
I think the Ministry will come into play, but I’m not sold that the final battle will be there. I still have my money on Hogwarts.
The drapery is an interesting touch though…hm…
Actually…I wonder if they final battle will take place *inside* Harry’s head. That the arena is a sort of mental metaphor.
Matthew -
I was writing too quickly. I meant griffin, which links the armor to Gryffindor.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griffin
If you look at the images of griffins in the wikipedia link, you’ll see what I mean.
I agree with Felicity on the armour-issue… A griffin on the helmet. And the motif on the breastplate might as well be a bird, instead of a serpent. The snake-like body could as well be a long (swan-like) neck, the subtle hints of scales could also be feathers, and the jaw defintely looks more like a beak. Maybe a phoenix?
(PS: I love all the speculative excitement on this page… thanks for all your great suggestions and thoughts!)
Still not with you on the griffin. From my folklore and roleplaying days a griffin was always a head and wings and front talons of an eagle with the body of a lion. To me it’s obviously a dragon on the helm- spines down the back, reptillian head and claws…
Matthew
I too don’t think it’s a snake. It looks like the head/neck of a swan.
I haven’t taken a close look at the piece of armor in question, but a griffin on armor carries a strong Arthurian link. In Howard Pyle’s telling of the legends, Sir Gawain has a griffin on his shield.
I meant to add that the creature on the breastplate is quite long-necked and isn’t a duplicate of the creature on the helmet, which does look like a griffin to me. The griffin illustrations in the Wikipedia entry do closely resemble the helmet-creature.
I like Anton’s suggestion that the creature on the breastplate could be a phoenix – very appropriate.
I have just been looking closely in on the reflection that is seen in harry’s glasses in the UK cover and was shocked to see another pair of eyes!!!..Is it jus me seein things becoz of the obvious excitement or do u guys see it to..
Gringott’s vault number seven hundred and eleven.
Just looked at the Wiki entry for griffin. Sorry but they are nothing like on the helmet. Sure, they are quadripeds and winged but the similarities end there. A griffin is a specific mythalogical creature that MUST have the features of the lion’s body, eagle’s head, wings and front talons. The thing on the helmet just doesn’t have these.
If it’s meant to be a griffin, it’s showing the artist’s ineptitude. I don’t think they’d be allowed to get away with it.
Matthew
And that may be the case, that it’s the artist’s ineptitude. As someone else pointed out, there are errors in the cover art–wands in the wrong hands and a normal hand for Dumbledore on HBP–which is a pretty big error, for as many times as that was mentioned throughout the book.
One of the things that I noticed when I looked at the pictures of griffins is that it definitely has a beak, while most dragon pics show more of a snout sort of image. Some of the griffin pictures don’t really show much of the lion body either, and in the UK cover, we really can’t see that much of the back end of whatever it is.
Mostly it makes more sense to me that it’s a griffin because of the red stones that are set in it and are all around–if it belonged to Slytherin, I’d think we would be seeing green ones instead.
When I first looked at the US cover, I thought there were headstones in the background, but it does seem more like they are spectators. Perhaps we’ll finally learn how the Death room is used. The red/orange/yellow in the ceiling is puzzling, but I’ve wondered if perhaps the upper floors of the Ministry of Magic have been destroyed and we are seeing the sky, or if that’s fire in the background. (Seems like Harry would be a bit more worried if they were surrounded by fire, however.)
Something I just thought of with the UK adult cover, is that, while I really find it rather boring, it does point us to the locket again. And lockets open, usually to reveal a picture or some treasured momento from the owner. I wonder if Harry will think to open that locket; what would be in that locket? Something of Slytherin’s or something of Voldemort’s? Not the Horcrux, as I’m assuming that Harry will have destroyed that before he is able to open the locket.
I love all the discussions and can’t wait for the book. I especially like the difference in the facial expressions on Harry’s and Voldemort’s faces on the US cover. The UK cover mostly looks too cartoonish, but it does have a lot of details, and that just makes the whole thing even more fun.
Pat
Pat, it would be just like Rowling to make the locket a really big deal, right? I mean, we’re all focused on the other horcruxes, and we know that the locket is basically figured out. We know it’s a horcrux, and Harry will pretty soon begin to put pieces together.
We’ve got the locket on the UK adult cover, and Harry’s wearing a locket on the US cover. I bet that locket becomes a really, really big deal.
The locket on the adult cover is NOT the horcrux or the fake one that had RAB’s note.
The locket on the Adult Cover does not match the discription of the horcrux. (Pg 207 HBP) “…a heavy gold locket…” the locket on the adult cover is silver. And the fake locket had “no sign of the ornate S that was supposed to be Slytherin’s mark” (pg 609 HBP}
I think the locket on the cover belonged to Harry’s mother and was a gift from Severus Snape.
Ooooh! I like that observation, Nansee! This is an entirely new issue to ponder. Could the coloring and decoration of the locket be an error? If so, that’s a relatively significant error to make. We believe we know what’s on the cover when in fact we have no idea!
Quite cunning of her…
Actually, looking at it myself it does look golden…oh well.
Nansee, I don’t know what adult cover you are looking at, but on the one I downloaded from the Bloomsbury site, the locket is clearly and unmistakeably gold.
Could both Voldemort and Harry be reaching up at something on the US edition’s cover? That is what it looks like to me. As for what Harry has around his neck, it looks a lot like a small, brown, leather pouch. Could it contain a protective amulet, a horcrux, or a potion? Maybe it contains a tool he will use on his journey. Ooooh! What if it contains the key to the mysterious Locked Door (aka. Love Room)? I like that idea.
Shadowquill, I think the pouch around Harry’s neck contains a broken portion of the mirror that Sirius gave him…but that’s just me.
I like that idea too. I’m just throwing out random ideas since we’ll probably be surprised no matter what it turns out to be. For all we know it is something we haven’t encountered yet.
I think it contains his lunch money.
While checking Ebay for ‘Quidditch through the Ages’ and ‘Fantastic Beasts’, I ran across an interesting listing:
RARE HARRY POTTER QUIDDITCH PITCH! LIGHTS & SOUNDS WOW
LOOK HERE FOR THE PICTURE OF THE COVER OF BOOK 7!
The seller continues on the page with a comparison of the Book 7 cover and this game representing the Quidditch pitch. Admittedly, similarities are there. At first, I believed Book 7 showed Harry behind the veil, but now I wonder if Harry is meeting Voldemort in the arena, NOT to play quidditch, but challenging him in some manner, or perhaps the other way around. The audience looks rather sinister and could be Death Eaters. Is this where Harry must make some sort of choice? I refer to prior posts that wondered if Voldemort would try to persuade him to join his parents, Sirius, Dumbledore and others behind the veil. Or, perhaps Voldemort has seen Harry’s power and is trying to ‘bring him to the dark side’, as earlier mentioned. Aaah, who knows. Still, it was amusing to find this on Ebay. Just imagine what it’ll be like when July starts and more jump in to speculate. I find that all I have to say is ‘what’s going to happen to Harry?’ and many know exactly what that means. Amusing and scary at the same time.
So the U.S. cover shows the Quidditch pitch at Hogwarts? Interesting.
Considering that the comparison was on Ebay (the game and the book cover) could give one pause. Additionally, Ms. Rowling said there would be no quidditch in Book 7–but she didn’t say that something wouldn’t happen IN the quidditch pitch. Aaah, more speculation. I’m still not sure where the place is on the cover, but this provides another interesting route to pursue.
THE US EDITION WHERE HARRY IS IN SOME SORT OF ARENA WITH THE ORANGE SKY, I RECKON THATS THE PLACE SIRIUS FELL INTO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES AND ON THE UK EDITION HARRY RON AND HERMIONE ARE FALLING OUT OF OR MAYBE EVEN INTO A DOOR WAY OR HOLE AND KREACHER IS BEHIND HARRY HOLDING THE GRYFFINFOR SWORD. WHY IS KREACHER HOLDING IT AND WHY ARE RON AND HERMIONE WAERING FORMAL LOOKING ROBES IN GREEN AND PURPLE WHEREAS HARRY IS WEARING A SCRAGGY BLACK ROBE.
EVERYONE IS SAYING RIGHT NOW THAT IN THE US EDITION HARRY LOOKS AS THOUGH HE IS POINTING AT SOMETHING HOWEVER IT DOESNT LOOK THAT WAY TO ME IT LOOKS MORE LIKE HES CATCHING SOMETHING AND VOLDEMORT IS TRYING TO STOP HIM
WHEN I FIRST SAW THE US EDITION OCVER I NOTICED SOMETHING AROUND HARRYS NECK, I ORIGIGNALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE SLYTHERIN LOCKET BUT THEN I NOTICED IT DIDNT LOOK LIKE THE LOCKET BUT SOMETHING ELSE. I HEARD OF A THING CALLED A BULLA AND I RECKON THATS WAHT HARRY IS WEARING. ITS A POUCH OR LOCKET MADE FROM METAL OR LEATHER AND ITS SAID TO CONTAIN AN AMULET FOR PROTECTION. ITS GIVEN TO CHILDREN TO WARD OFF EVIL UNTIL THEY COME OF AGE. MAYBE IN THIS PICTURE HARRY ISNT 17 YET.
I think that all of these speculations are quite interesting, so I’ll tackle one thing at a time…probably tying in more than I think. ha ha.
US Cover:
It indeed does look like Harry seems to be welcoming something. Voldemort looks like his gaze is directed to Harry’s left hand, which makes me thing Harry is trying to recieve something. (hello captain obvious). My first Idea was that Fawkes MAY come back and try to aid Harry once again like he did in COS. Harry’s left hand looks like he’s trying to brace himself on something as if to recieve whatever it is he’s going to, plunge it into Voldemorts chest, and back off as he watches the evil man perish.
As for the location. I believe it’s outside, probably at sunset or close to, due to the coloring. The shadows in the background look like gravestones to me, but notice the two underneath Voldemort’s left hand. They look like the outline of Sphinxes. Perhaps Harry has to call on half-humans such as Sphinxes, Centaurs, Mermaids, and the like? Just a thought.
Now, the theory of “the other side of the veil” seems slightly plausible considering that the veil was, in fact, Black. However, who’s to say that those on the other side didn’t want to remodel? Heh. sorry. my little joke.
UK Kids Cover
One thing I must point out is that however high my heart jumped at the sight of that little black dog on the back of the jacket, I have to admit that it’s only a copywright symbol. Darn. But, something I do notice on the back is the single cloud lying horizontally across the battlements of the castle…It kindof looks like a man/wizard lying down, does it not?
The tree on the side makes me think of the whomping willow, but maybe something happens to it so that it dies. That would make an entrance to the grounds of Hogwarts a lot easier if they didn’t have to risk getting a hand chopped off in its search for the knot that freezes it.
Again with the Capatin Obvious stuff, the Orb on the back inside cover shows a snake. I Siriusly (heh) doubt that it is a two headed snake, BUT, that prospect also makes me think that this explination could be plausible. Remember that little smoky trinket that belonged to Dumbledore? Two snakes formed out of the smoke. Dumbledore then said, “But in essence divided?” or something along those lines. I still have yet to figure out what the heck that means, but I’m sure I’ll understand soon enough.
Now to the spine. Oh, yes, the spine. I must talk about this little sign. It was brought to my attention by a friend to supposed it had something to do with Alchemy. Well, me being a real life Hermione on all things Harry Potter, I just had to look up Alchemy signs. I found that the triangle most commonly represents Fire. The Circle represents Oxygen, and the line through the middle of both hints to me that it means Nitrogen. That’s what I know, I wish I knew what it totally meant. If you know, please, e-mail me, or find me on the Fan Fiction part of the discussion boards on harrypotter.warnerbros.com. I’d love to know.
Moving on. The Front cover. I do believe that this scene could be depicting them in Gringotts. HOWEVER, I can’t exactly tell whether they are having trouble getting in, or staying in the vault, or visa versa. See, if you’ll remember back to first year, oh yes…a regular time turner I am, Griphook mentioned that if anyone ever touched the Hogwarts Vault, they’d get sucked in, and wouldn’t be let out until someone came to check on it…in about ten years. *insert evil Griphook grin here* Who’s to say that Harry, Ron, and Hermione aren’t getting chucked back out, or, indeed, if they somehow got all that treasure out, but are now being sucked back in? Hmm. As for the Dragons gaurding the vault which may be the cause of some of the injuries sustained by Harry, Ron, and Hermione…I think that is an EXTREME possibility. It’s been hinted for so long…why not prove the speculations this year?
Now for the little dude sitting atop the ruby encrusted Helmet. I am seriously thinking that it may be a Gryffin. No, listen, hear/see me out. The Beak is a dead…okay, not so dead, but a giveaway, nonetheless. I don’t recall the Swedish Short Snout, The Chinese Fireball, The Hungarian Horntail, or the Welsh Green being described as having beaks. Be that as it may, who’s to say that Dragons don’t have them? Still, from popular culture, Dragons…just don’t have beaks. They wouldn’t be impressive at any rate, considering I’d be a lot more afraid of monsterous fangs than a beak that would save some chewing and just pick me up and swallow me whole. But that’s just me. The front legs look like claws, however, continuing the idea of a Gryffin. How many other animals do you know with the front feet of eagles? And don’t say a Hippogriff because we all know that the back legs are NOT equestrian in any way. Save the typing space. The flanks, or what we can see of them, do look feline in a way, and it could be that the tail starts to blend in with the top edges of the helmet. As for the wings…yeah. they look Batlike to me. So it could be a Dragon…Or maybe Hagrid’s family goes back a long time, working hand in hand with breeding strange animals, making the inspiration for the little guardian of the head a little mutt of somekind. Meh.
Ooh, the Breastplate is muy interesante, I’ll tell you that right now. It looks like a backwards E if anything. But, who knows. I think it’s just a design because someone was bored with a plain old breastplate. I don’t think it has any significant meaning, but you can tazer me when the book comes out if i’m wrong.
Also, has it occured to anyone that the Goblet might be in that vault? And just look at all that Gold! Who’s to say that the true “golden locket” of slytherin isn’t hidden in there?
Again, Moving on. That little dude on Harry’s back. Well, let’s just say I think it’s more of a parasite to Harry as of now. Dude, look at that things eyebrows! It’s like…Glaring. I must admit, however, that the sword doesn’t look like it’s being held in a menacing way (i.e. about to slit anyones throat), but whatever house elf is holding it, better put it to use, or put it away. You can poke someones friggin eye out with that thing. Then again, that might be the point. heh…point…Hah. I crack myself up. *breathes* OKay…so…what was I saying again? OH YES!
Also, Hermione looks like she’s about to spring a leek. If her inner vision was clouded before, that’s nothing to what it will be. Suck it up. We love you, but you can’t be vision impared when kicking butt. It just doesn’t do well to safety. I’ll give you a hug later, and you can be a gushing water fountain for all I care. (Wow. i sound heartless don’t I? Well, don’t take my heartlessness to heart. I love Hermione. She’s great. Tell me otherwise, I’ll sick Kreacher on you. And I’m a Black. I have the power *evilgrin*)
Oh dear… more off-tracktedness (don’t steal my made up words.
) Avanté!
So. The Stag on the Front inside cover. May I take a moment to gush with enthusiasm? Well, I will, whether you like it or not. *gushes*
Now that I’m all gushed out…I think that Padfoot will come back, and Prongs will ride again. *nods* Go ahead, convince me otherwise. Try me. HAH. don’t talk to me. I have faith in my relative. Sirius is going to come back to us. (okay, now I’m going too far with this last name thing…new subject)
*announcer voice*
UK Adult Version
*tada!*
Oooh. Slytherin’s locket. Hmm. This gets confusing when it doesn’t exactly look like it was described in the books. I’m having a hard time deciding whether it’s the real one, or not. My vision goes a little something like this:
Gold
Heavy
Serpent engravings
elaborate, aren’t I?
Well, that’s about all I have to say. *shrug* Please, feel free to e-mail me, considering i’ll probably forget this site by tomorrow morning. Ugh..me and my memory. Selected Memory I tell you. I love to talk about these things.
Tojurus Pur
Jill Black
Oh, and at the beginning of my post…change Harry’s left hand to right…oops. Gotta do the L and Not L thing on my hands again to figure it out. gaah
Did any of you guys noticed the background of the Slitherin locket in the Adult uk edition?….rocky…wonder where that is…
I think the UK Children’s version cover art could be DUMBLEDORE’S vault at Gringotts. I definitely think that the armour is Griffindor’s and he could have left it to Harry in his will. I am sure the armour would have some magical protection and there were many rumours that Dumbledore was Griffindor’s heir….
Just a thought
who’s to say the helm thingie is not a pheonix as well as the possibility of a pheonix on the breastplate, signifying somehow that it belongs to Dumbledore or The order of the pheonix??
:0
you are forgetting that wormtail ows his life to harry for sparing him in PoA.He must decide which he is loyal to=Harry or Voldemort?!?
By the way I know who RAB is and you dont!
Nitwit!Odment!Blubber!Tweak!
my last thing was refering to the cover art
do you know what I mean?
I Believe I Know Who R.A.B. Is Too
Ngeheheheheheheeeee……
*evil laugh*
The curtains I dont think symbolize anything imparticular but I do know that GrandPre took them from HP&PS.they are the same ones.
Matthew wrote And what’s that symbol on the spine? A barred triangle with circle in it. Is it just the printer’s seal or an Alchemical thinggy?
Hmmm… that same symbol gives you access to the new WOMBAT-test on Rowling’s homepage, so it must be significant. On another HP-page someone pointed out that it looked a bit like the Greek letters Delta and Phi – the forth and forth-to-last letter of the Greek alphabet.
i have posted that maybe that symbol is a kind of logo for the order of the phoenix, we haven’t seen any symbol for them, so maybe it has to do with this group… or something of the ministry of magic….
Yeah thats a good idea,I think that there is more to it than that.Who thought that the WOMBAT was H-A-R-D!!!!!!!!Im a huge HP fan and I have read the books 4 times (im reading them again though) and it was the hardest thing Ive ever done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can I get a W.O.M.B.A.T student ID?
Boggart, you get a student ID after you’ve finished the test. Click on the eraser on Rowling’s desk. If you don’t know how to open the door, you can find the explanation here.
THANKS MIA *kisses* I LOVE YOU!
I GOT IT *btw* this one is hard
yeah it is!
Harry Potter is the last horcrux so he kills himself to kill voldemort
Snape saw what happened the whole time. J.K. rowling veyr intellingent to add so many mysteris. BDW i like the cover. Though i thought it would be somin like red and black.
Notice how i posted my comments on june 21 2007- a full month b/f the book is released i’m a psyic i know what will happen!!!
Harry Potter is a horcrux. On the night Voldemort gave him the scar, he didn’t mean to kill him. Voldemort needed to split his life into 7 parts and hide them, so if someone killed his body he wouldn’t completely die. He put one section of life hiding in Harry so HP kills himself at the end to kill Voldemort. Also the “horcruxes” mentions in the 6th were all fake. Dumbledore wasted searchinG!!!
Ronald Potter, would you mind taking any discussion about Harry as a horcrux to the thread that is devoted to that subject? Thanks!
Je regrette( sorry in french) but i was eager to give what would really happen away
Well, your opinion anyway
There’s been a lot of discussion about this subject at the other thread, so feel free to join there. (please avoid the “JKR told me so” stuff, though. I don’t believe you
)
Ronald Potter, please refrain from pointless comments that distract from the conversation. Thanks.
Ronald Potter, all your comments are now being moderated, and the last 4 or 5 you’ve made will not be approved, due to the fact that you’ve niether refrained from pointless comments nor took comments to their appropriate threads like I’ve asked.
Sorry, man. I’ll approve comments that are on point.
im truly sorry i realized u can modify them ur the head of this website i guess. Please forgive now im serous i wont do again SO sorry
ne1 no ab the’8th’ Hp book, bc JKR says she gonna mayke an ‘encyclopedia’ thang. I think it gonna have the afterwords of the 7th kinda, or maybe like a general summary of books 1-7
I think i strted the poll ab harry as a horcrux. Does Mary Grandpere know ab Hp already cause she draw the shadows in background. (THIS IS ON THREAD IT WAS EARLIER IN CONVERSATION)
Hi Ron,
I really find it hard to work out what you’re trying to say. Can you avoid using you cell-phone abbreviations please?
Thankyou
Matthew
weill in US we speek ceell fone but ok. Read my comment #88. What i was trin 2 say ws i think i started the poll about harry being a horcrux. Anyway do u thank so? I think so bc JK strongly says shes not writnig a 8th book.
What?
Matthew
Have mercy! I didn’t understand any of those last few comments.
Looking at the UK children’s version, I saw that Ron and Hermione seem to be wearing dress robes–not unlike those on Grand Pre’s picture with them riding the dragon. Perhaps the dragon took them to Gringotts from the wedding. The cover blurb says Harry has to leave ‘the warmth, safety, and companionship of The Burrow’ and follow the path, etc.
It certainly appears that the US cover is Harry and VM through the veil and on the other side. As the occupants of ‘the other side watch’, Harry’s green eyes are wide with anticipation as he awaits something (or someone?) he needs…and VM dreads. Harry appears to be in school robes in this one.
OK If you cannot understand me since i am in the yrban area just read commment # 88!
Ronald Potter SP 2,
I’m in the U.S. and I don’t write cellphone lingo except on my cellphone. Otherwise, I attempt to speak and write in proper English. Really, it helps the rest of us understand your thoughts if you do likewise. AND we do want to read your opinions because they are as valid as any of ours. You have some interesting points. Elaborate on them, please.
what do u think about the Harry Potter Hacker thing?I think its a hoax!!
sorry if you think using u is cell phone talk but its faster and sounds the same!
thanks ginny at least someone agrees with me. eveyones against moi on this websit travis, pip korg. i jus wanted 2say read my commm # 88. im brllant i thought of ‘at on around march. Hey- my bdays tom. i goonaa preorder the 7th. i wonda what makes rowling thinka all da plots n stuff in hp books. this gonna b ma last comment since i’m hated by evy1 on this page. g2g . sorry if 2 cell fone lingoish!
Ron, nobody’s “against you.” I just try very hard to keep conversation as clear and as on task as possible, and I try to avoid things that are distracting and make it difficult for the majority of readers to follow along. That includes cell-phone speak and comments which have nothing to do with Harry Potter.
Ron, please post your comment #88 above on the “Is Harry a Horcrux?” thread, which is by far the most popular thread this site has, because the thought is so intriguing to all of us. Not everyone agrees, but we certainly have lively discussions.
The second part of your comment, that the Horcruxes found in HBP were fakes is interesting, and others might want to hear more about it if they see it on that thread.
well ok Travis i love u. i think i saw somewhere on a website, i’m not sure where but i saw that the sword mentioned in the 6th was a fake horcrux. Do u believe in this because it seemed like in the 6th the sword was a real one. But then again, JKR would like to mention all the 7 in the 7th book. it would have been nice if she made Harry find one in each book and in the 7th Harry as the last. Today is ma bday.
oh sorry for the wrong thread. Wait i have a ?, where do i find this thread. id on’t understand?
Ron, Happy Birthday.
On the sidebar on the right of this blog, look under “Most Popular Posts.” There’s a link to two different posts about horcruxes.
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do you guys think about the US special edition cover art?
this is the type of book that I pre-ordered
so Im very interested in this subject
about #88–
no he didnt waste his life searching because
he had planed to die on that night.This is a theory that I feel very strongly about please post what you think!
whyd Dumbdoor wanta die that night, idont remeber that. maybe ur (sorry every1- your) right b/c mayb he wanted harry to find the horcruxes by himself and evythang. But the 7th would be a big book, if the sword was a fake, and Dumblledore thought it was real.
K travis i responded on the appropriate thread.
Ron, Thanks so much for your cooperation! As of now, I’ve removed the moderation requirement for your comments. They will appear immediately from now on.
Ok couple of things,
1) I agree with everyone that they should head over to the Is Harry a Horcrux? thread because we have some sweet conversation over there.
2) I agree Dumbledore did plan on dieing that night, or at least knew it was going to happen. The only thing I dont understand is if Snape is good, which I really believe he is, how could he kill Dumbledore because i thought you really had to hate someone to get it to work. And I dont think Snape could hate him after protecting him and standing up for him for so long.
3) and Finally, thre sword IS NOT a horcrux. Dumbledore said it, Harry didnt get hurt by it, its not. Personally I think the Gryffindor Horcrux we are going to find is the ring that was already destroyed. That things has to have some kind of back story becasue Marvollo makes a comment that someone is going to be mad that he lost THEIR ring. The question is who they are.
Gotta keep up the posts guys, these last few weeks are killing me
Ok davey, bout da snape bing evil thing, i think he is cause da only reason he nice sometimes to potter like in quidditch he saved his life on 1st book, is cause of Harry’s father. i think snape is really evil. Dumndore didn care if he died by Snape then i guess.
bout 117, i think the cover is nice. I expected somin like red n black. To me, its orange looks like it should be the first book. I think it the british cover, or some cover, i saw has Harry lying down, closing his eyes w/ blood on his face. This gives it away- HARRY DIES. I read on an earlier comment here Harry reaches into the sky bc he doin some curse. I really don’t know. But the back has Voldeomrt, so Harry must be doin so. just a ? ne1 know why called ‘DEATLY HALLOWS’ waz a hallow anyway. I think iz the place where HArry gonna killl vold, by killing himselg, or maybe where horcruxes are. I know what ‘hallow’ means. But how can hallow be deathly?
Ma bdayz 2 dayz ago.
SNAPE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by the way-what is a thread?
Gin, i think snapes evil cuz he wouldn have killd the dumb door, well unless he knew the dumb door wantd 2 die that night. And a threadz a thang where like there are differnt secshons on this site. Like on the right a this page, ull see a buncha stuff, like one thread- “is Harry a horcrux”- by da way thaz the 1 I’z supposed to go on. But anyway there are differnt sections 4 ur comments.
snape is a bipolar CREEP! He makes da story more confuzin!
Yeah most people think that.But oh well.
Thanks for the thread defenition!!!
Wherez the Travis dood, he quit da page or somin, on anomther thread ppl were discuusin to ask Travs to sart a new thread ab Snape and wormtail, cuz they think 1 a them may b good in da 7th and help Harry, comin 2 think a it, i think Snape could b da 1.
I really like the covor. A lot. To me, orange and gold signifies a new dawn, a new beginning. The PS/SS covor was actually a bit darker. The curtains I think mean the end of the story, a very simaler curtain was on the SS/PS covor. I think its just Mary’s way of ending.
NO, I do not think that they are in the DoM, I think they are somewhere much much cooler. And hopefuly NOT significant. I don’t like the theories about the final showdown in the veil room or at Godric’s Hollow. I like the Quidditch pitch idea!
The UK Childrens, I think they were silly and tickled a sleeping dragon. They found a dragon hoard somewhere in the mountans (NOT Gringotts) and silly enough, tickled a sleepign dragon. Silly them.
UK Adult’s
Dollar store. Nuff said.
The curtin has some significance i think the fireworiks 2 days ago were alright
TRAVIS Ou est-ce que tu es? VOUS DOIEZ RESPONDEZ MAINTENANT parceque tu Dois.
Ronald, simply amazing. Cell phone speak, and French.
I am having some difficulty keeping up with comment threads, man. I’m doing the best I can, but I’ve got three very long academic presentations to prepare for just a few weeks from now, which is taking up a lot of my time.
Travis, Ronald wants to know where you are, and wants you to reply immediately – probably to his earlier comment.
Ronald, you are not the only one who believes Snape is or can be on the side of the good guys. Most of us on this thread (72%) agree with you.
Reyhan, yes, I have some lingering knowledge of French from high school 10 years ago. Surpisingly, I was able to decipher what he said
Sorry, I didn’t think they taught French on your side of the border.
Yeah, we get the option of French or Spanish. I took 3 years of French.
Ryan Quece-que tu think about la curtain on the cover. Est-ceque tu think it has significance. i aint know where i saw this comment but earlier i saw some1 rote when Sirious died, he aint die from Voldemort,AHHH M I GOIN 2 JAIL!, he die from da curtain. Hey u guys like da fireworks 2 days ago. Trvis, i take French, TRAnslate this: Harry Potter est gross, parce-que il mange beaucop, mais je ne suis pas gross, parce-que je ne mange pas BEAUCOUP. Rowling est tres magnificent parceque, elle ecrivez beaucoup Harry Potter. Trvis, n’est pas en lycee NEmore.
Check out: http://freeventure.blogger.com/
It has some cool excerpts from the new book, 3 weeks early.
Im taking French now but Ive only just started can we try to speek English or Pig Latin, troll or mermish would be acceptable as well!
haha
Sure ginE
Hey freeventure, wuz that website, 4 some reason i cant go to that website
i juz realized, this threadz supposed 2 b ab da cover. r those thangeez in da background deatheaters? i think so- i think its a big scene @ the hallows- (wazever that is) w/ Snape , d eaters, Voldy, Harry, nd maybe Ron nd HermEown. But I’m pretty sure, the way That Harry boy(get it harry Harry- juz kiddin’) randomly reaches hiz arm outa nowhere, hez doin some cursy spell to kill Voldy
I think hes reaching out to get the horcrux that Wormtail is holding.
He wont kill Voldie with a curse itll be with love
wait-what love u sayin
Im saying that he has known love he does know love and friendship and that will be partially what saves him–dont you think so!
Also Snape may pay his life debt to Harry and that could play a big part
have you seen the new movie yet this is completely off the subject sorry but I was just curious
i think i kinda get what ur sayin ab luv (;
so ur sayin his friendship w/ R&H saves him?
sorry if i can’t understand.
n no i havN seen the 5th movie yet but i’ll probably see it thiz week, cuz there ain no time 4 me this week.
n travis since ur probably done w ur presentations u mentioned to me, n since ur moderating so many commmetns, y dont u start a poll later on how many ppl think snape will die, i think i saw that discussion on Nother thread
ronald, I’m not even close to being done with the presentations.
n travis i’m accepting the fact that she is, n u know what im talkin bout,( im surprised though) but tell me ab the poll i suggested.
if u dont mind my asking who is the she you are refering to Ronald
6 days to HP!!!!!!!!!
R U going to a release party?
I am so I can brag 2 my BFFs abput being right about Snape!Who is good by the way!
It appears DH has finally leaked; someone has a stolen library book copy (I knew giving the librarians permission to open them early was a bad idea!) and has taken pictures of the first four hundred pages. I’ve spent hours trying to find fault with them, but unfortunately, they are flawless. The book dedication itself is what got me; it was uniquely and supremely Jo, no hoaxer could have come up with it.
http://community.livejournal.com/spoil_me_dh/51126.html
All of the appropriate links are on this page, in the comments. By now the entire community has read half the book, so spoilers are EVERYWHERE; be careful. They post names of the dead as they go.
I understand that you must get many of these messages, claiming leaks– when in actuality it is poorly written fanfiction in a spiffy photoshop job, or some nutter who claims the Pope wants him to ruin everyone’s fun. But I assure you, if this is a hoax… it is flawless. There isn’t a single thing I can use as proof against it, except that it managed to turn up a whopping four days early. It matches up with many spoilers that have been flying around, and the revealed first paragraph of the book as well. I’d say this is either the hoax of the century, or the book is out.
Either way, the internet will be a dangerous place come morning; by then over a hundred people may or may not have read the entirety of Deathly Hallows, and you can bet they will be posting about it. Everywhere.
To All: If you haven’t seen the announcement above: ALL comments are now being moderated, due to the presence of spoilers.
okay
on the special edition cover I dont think that the dragon looks like Norbert did.
it may be one that Bill trains in Romania.
Here from Hogwarts professor… I haven’t seen the “leaked” DH, but as to it being a bad idea to let the librarians have the book early, I must note that the retailers have it early as well. My copy of HBP from Amazon came the day of release via the USPS, not by apparating, so it had to spend at least one day prior to release in the mail.
We haven’t got our copies of DH at my library yet, since we lease our best-sellers rather than purchase them, so they have to route through our vendor before coming to us. But I can tell you that we had to sign agreements with both Scholastic and McNaughton (the leased-book vendor) that we would not only withhold the book from the public until the day of release, but that we would restrict staff access to only the bare minimum necessary to process the book for cataloging and shelving, and that all copies would be stored in a secure, locked location. Specific language on the agreements prohibits the disclosure of any part of the text to ANY person or outlet prior to the public release date. We weren’t QUITE asked to pledge “our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” but it wasn’t much short of that.
If a library staffer somewhere is doing this, a pox on them! They are definitely acting in direct defiance of a signed directive, because the documents from Scholastic went to EVERY institutional purchaser.
I think its strange that they did let them have it early I would have thought they wouldve known better
sorry its a message about spoilers but Its not working if you want to read it head over to-www.the-leaky-cauldron.org!!
could the houself on the british childrens addition be kreacher? jk said he was important in the last book thats why she wanted the writers to put him in the 5th film. hes holding a sword and the trio are all cut up.
any thoughts that hes maybe attacking them?
atacking-no
Kreature-very likely!!!
At first I thought it was Dobby but it he doesnt look like that.
Hey, what about the locket around Harry’s neck on the US edition?
about the locket on harrys neck i thought slytherins locket but i havnt seen a zoomed in picture so i dont know
it could also possibly be a time turner (remember hermione had hers on a chain)
oh and just to add has anyone wondered why harry is looking and has has his hand up in the air?
so Wormtail will repay his life debt and give harry the final horcrux
I just can’t make the US cover fit the details of the story!
Matthew
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT I’M ANSWERING KORG AND KATIE’S QUESTIONS
Katie to answer your question it’s niether – it’s the pouch that Hagrid gave him on his seventeenth brithday where harry keeps all of the thing he prizes the most. As for the cover – it’s the last scene of the book. They are in the Great Hall, Harry is reaching up for the Elder Wand, Voldemort is falling back dead, and you can see the sillohettes of all the people of Hogwarts. Without even knowing it until you read the book this is the picture of Voldemort’s death!!!
I think i figured out the U.S cover
I think it might be when Harry disarmed Voldemort of the Elder wand and reached for it
exactally – and did anyone else realize that Snape’s dying wish was to see the one part of Harry that reminded everyone of Lily? coinidence? i definatly think not (and the fact that Albus Severus is the only one with the same trait and has Snape’s name probably isnt by accident either)
How can that be (albus Severus) if harry still has the locket around his neck? It was the first horcrux destroyed in this book. How can Voldemort be ‘dying’ with that horcrux perfectly intact?
Am i forgetting something?
Apologies – it’s his pouch
It’s still wrong! He’s supposed to have the other wand still in his hand.
Matthew
JKR said that she origanaly had two titles to choose from the second was Harry Potter and THE ELDER WAND