the misguided "my kid is so smart he can read HP when he is 5 so I let him" and "I don't really care what he watches as long as he is out of my hair" attitude Whoa there! Parents who let their kid read books at a high reading level because the child has an accelerated reading ability and parents who plop their kids in front of the TV to keep them out of their hair are in two VERY different categories. Not to say that there aren't parents who do both, but I'd say that those are few and far between. Kids who can read beyond their supposed reading level don't just do that on their own. Love of reading is fostered and encouraged by the parents and the parents have to give the kids access to these books. I'm not saying that no kid can read beyond his level without the help, or that parents who help are guaranteed a child who can read beyond his level. What I'm saying is that it takes a combination of both, and I'd argue that the vast majority of kids (I mean kids who are not otherwise disabled) could read at a much higher level if their parents would do the things which encourage reading. That includes reading to them at a young age and when they are older, having them read to you when they are able; visiting libraries and letting kids pick out books they are interested in; turning off the TV and video games and giving kids an opportunity to entertain themselves; discussing books they've read, and yes, challenging them to read books beyond their level. Kids who have the opportunity to read books beyond their level have a better chance to love reading because they are exposed to new and interesting words and ideas and plots which make them WANT to read more. I agree with lindac who says that it's far more likely that a child who can't read will turn to violence. And I still think most of these kids who can't read have trouble ONLY because their reading skills were not properly fostered by their parents & teachers, not because they lack the natural ability to learn. I have two boys, age 20 & 17, both of whom are avid readers and have been since they learned how to read. So I feel that I have a basis from which to speak regarding kids & reading, oh, yeah, and reading beyond their level, which both of my boys did practically from the beginning. Carla, I can't be certain, but nothing in your posts makes me believe you've read these books Yeah, I'd kinda like to know the answer to that question too. And I'd also like to know what other influences these violent kids you know have in their lives. Interesting discussion although we certainly strayed from the OP's questions. my3sons1, did you go see the movie? What was your decision in the end?

Hi I'm new to the forum but I've been dying to post what I think is coming to book 7... also forgive me if this has already been mentioned :). 1.) I truely believe Snape is still on the good side for a couple of reasons: a.) I think Snape was in love with Lily. It's kind of hinted in book 5 when Harry was in Snape's memory and Lily came to Snape's rescue. I think the only reason he said that nasty remark to her was because he was embarassed that he just showed HER and the other kids on the lawn his dirty undies and was made a fool by his competion. This is probably why James (had a hunch about Snape's feelings for her) and Siris (100% loyalty to James) hated Snape so much and why Snape hates James/Siris. Also, he probably hates Harry so much (not because his father saved his life and was jerk to him) because Harry is a walking/talking reminder Lily picked JAMES (in every book it remarks how Harry looks exactly like James. So everytime Snape looks at Harry he sees Lily in Harry's eyes and her decsion for a husband in Harry's other physical characteristics). b.) You have to admit, JKR was seriously setting up for everyone to hate Snape. I mean it was TOO built up to make everyone think he's on the dark side. Just seems like her to give us a twist. Plus, in EVERY book so far Snape has been Harry's number one suspect except book 6 when he's hunches are seemed to be confirmed... but are they? c.) It seems to me like DD was begging Snape in book 6 to kill him like he promised (if you remember Hagrid caught them fighting about something Snape didn't want to do). d.) JKR seems to be building Snape up for this great... whatever its called where he can shut out his thoughts and feelings from others... and I bet he can also do that against Vold. Why else is he the PERFECT spy? Its not secret Snape is a very powerful wizard and amazing abilities. e.) Last reason (there might be more but this is all I can think of =P) Snape did two things on the Hogwarts lawn... first he prevented Harry from performing the unforgivable curse. Well, you might say "well duh Snape didn't want to die or be tortured" but that comes to the second thing Snape did on the lawn. He didn't kill Harry. Some think that this might be because Voldamort had other plans for Harry and was ordered to not harm him, but I don't think that was it at all. Vold got what he needed from Harry in the 4th book and he couldn't get what he need in the 5th book (which he also needed Harry for). I honestly think Snape was keeping Harry from harm and keeping him from going to Azkaban. 2.) R.A.B. I have two ideas who this is. The first one is Siris' brother. I think it mentioned that his initials are Relmus A. Black (sorry if I botched his first name... but it starts with a "R" anyways). If you remember from book 5, a heavy lockit was found by Siris and he pitched it in the bag AND Remus was killed by the Dark Lord for wanting to back out... but they never got into the details...

I read that jk might release bk 7 on 07/07/07. yay! i also think that ron might die. Firstly, because the best friend of the hero usually dies, and second because of this article I found: "Why Ron is probably gonna get the axe before it's all over. Let's start with killing off one myth: the Ollivander's anagram. Sure, it spells out "Ronald lives" if rearranged. It also spells out "Ronald's evil" though, so I don't think that's any guarantee our little redhead is going to make it through There are two main reasons (and a bunch of smaller ones) to why I think that Ron will die. Of course, I don't want him to - it would be completely horrible - but I didn't want Sirius to die either and he did, so I figure, better be prepared for the worst, eh? Reason 1: The Stupid Joke Those of you who frequent the HP Sleuth page are familiar with the theory that when Ron makes a joke, it usually turns out to come true. I know that Galadriel Waters writes about this in her books too, but since I haven't read them, I can't make any parallels. I could repeat all the HP Sleuth arguments regarding Ron, jokes and fortune telling, but since it's already online, I'll just refer you to the HP Sleuth page instead. To the point. In OotP, Ron makes a very stupid joke indeed: "And from now on, I don't care if my tea-leaves spell die, Ron, die - I'm just chucking them in the bin where they belong" (p. 633). What bothers me here is not only that it's one of Ron's jokes, but that the "die, Ron, die" is emphasised by being put in italics. JKR could have not done this. She could have used quotation marks instead, or nothing at all for that matter. Also, the word "die" is duplicated and put around the word "Ron", surrounding it. It doesn't look too good Reason 2: McGonagall's Chess game This is a theory that I received quite some time ago from Dora and Gally. Clumsy in general as I am, I lost their e-mail address, so I couldn't write them back about it. I'll just hope that they don't mind me using it. :-) Everything in italics is part of the message they sent me. (The passage is PS p. 204-206 UK paperback edition by the way.) "Rowling always had a good sense of humour ;-). She described the Second Wizard War in the McGonagall's chess game. The chessmen (chessmen, figures...how strangely she describes them, like real people, not like pieces of stone) are black (Aurors) and white (Death Eaters). The white figures are scary, cus they are "faceless" (white terrible masks of Death Eaters) "Harry, Ron and Hermione shivered slightly -- the towering white chessmen had no faces." Then let's take a look at this: "Well, Harry, you take the place of that bishop, and Hermione, you are next to him instead of that castle." "What about you?" "I'm going to be a knight," said Ron." That's a very strange choice, isn't it? Ron is very good at chess, he must knew, that it's better to be a king, because kings can stay until the end of...

All right you fanatics! Harry will not be studying at hogwarts during his 7th year, but will return occasionaly or at some point to visit Dumbledore's (and now Minerva's) office. I believe that this office contains many clues 4 harry to go on to bigger things. Remember that this office was a place of study to DD who collected many objects,and astronomy among other things. Perhaps there is something in the stars harry has yet to learn about. As well don't forget that many portraits remain animated, containing several characters, old headmasters and mistresses whom all have great knowledge and secret portraits hanging around the country.(just a thought) Some people believe the final battle will take place in the dark forest but i think it unlikely. The idea of a final battle risking the lives of hundreds of students on school grounds is not what JK would think appropriate. It's already enough that some characters will not make it to the end... Harry will attend the weasley and delacour wedding before heading off to his personal venture. He will only tell hermione , ginny and ron about the adventure, although, certain members of the order will discover the plans he has and will keep a close watch on his journey...I believe that Lupin and tonks will secretely follow the star trio. Harry will want to learn more about his parents life before death and will discover his grandparents identity and roots as well, from where we will finally understand how harry has become so wealthy throughout his parents. I believe James potter was naturally wealthy because he had noble blood, passed on by a long term royal family, turned sour. Of course their gold will have increased with their daily jobs seeing how talented james and lily were. Harry will not linger too long in godric's hollow for many death eaters will expect him to go there. The death eaters help lucius escape from askaban. The dark lord finds out from an unreliable source that narcissa spilled the beans concerning draco's mission(possibly wormtail who was evesdropping at the door(HBP). V will then personnaly kill narcissa, but lucius will not have the opportunity to stop it. Snape who is now on the run with draco will appear finally at his supposedly masters feet once more, looking like the devoted puppet. Only snape will play his part well for some time, which will put him in the lords good graces. With all this new excitement and rush, draco starts to have mixed feelings about this new dark side he has prepared for all his life. Draco does not like his father anymore for letting his mother die and begins to understand snapes real plan. Draco starts to believe what DD told him about beeing able to hide people so other would think they are dead. He begins to want to join the other side. Remember that Draco has always been a coward and wanted to befriend harry on their first night at the castle. Children are often the products of their parents due to lots of intimidation....