<p>From Sparknotes analysis of Chapter 22 in OOTP:
"When Dumbledore hears about Harrys vision, he immediately turns to the portraits of former Headmasters and Headmistresses hanging on his office walls, and, in doing so, reveals a small bit of the ancient and complex history of Hogwarts. No Headmaster or Headmistress ever actually leaves the school, even though they may die or be replaced. Instead, they line the walls of the current Headmasters office, free to move about between their portraits and dispense advice. Although the current Headmaster is certainly in control of Hogwarts, the talking walls of Dumbledores office prove that there is also a comforting and supportive balance of opinion in place."</p>
<p>to form a Horcrux you RIP your soul apart...Rowling brought it out to be a very painful process that degenerates your life...that's why Lord Voledmort looks the way he does in the books...he used to be a handsome man with dark hair, dark eyes...now he's a sinister looking beast with slits for eyes, no hair, and a horrible complexion...this is because he ripped his soul so many times. It's implied in Harry's and Dumbledore's conversations that you do not regain your soul...that's why it's up to Harry to destroy every Horcrux and then kill Voldemort...so he can dispose of his entire soul. Furthermore, Dumbledore wouldn't put Harry through the pain of soul splitting. He wouldn't degenerate him...Horcruxes are dark dark magic....</p>
<p>wow i'm talking about them like theyr'e real things....:p....just for clarifcation purposes ofcourse</p>
<p>When I heard that the ending was a shocker and really sad, I suspected that Dumbledore would die. And it makes sense for Rowling to kill him. For the past 6 years, Harry has been getting more and more independent, but he still has always had Dumbledore as a guide, someone who could always explain what needed to be done, or explain had happened.</p>
<p>Eventually, Harry has to leave the nest and finish it on his own. Even before this book came out, everyone knew that Dumbledore would not be present at the final confrontation. People have been predicitng DD's death for a long time, but few of us expected it to actually happen before Book 7. In the end, it will come down to Harry vs. Voldemort. The series has been building to this moment, which coincides with Harry being about to turn 17 and become an adult wizard.</p>
<p>The biggest question right now is what role Snape will play in the final outcome, because I think that we all agree that it will be a major one. </p>
<p>On a lighter note, what is up with the constant use of the term "snogging" to describe making out? And also, did anyone else notice how Rowling referred to people flipping others off as an "obscene hand gesture" to make sure it was appropriate for kids?</p>
<p>This is going to sound like a stupid question, but is HP and the Sorcerer's Stone called HP and the Philosopher's Stone in the UK? I was reading that interview and she kept referring to a philosopher's stone and I was very :confused:</p>
<p>zante, yes. Phliosopher's Stone is the original title. It was changed for the American release because the publishers in America assumed that almost no American children know the legend of the Philosopher's stone and would wonder why a magical object had such a name.</p>
<p>I learned about it in history class. It was a legendary stone that could turn base metals into gold. JK Rowling simply added the Elixir of Life thing to it to fit her story.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It was changed for the American release because the publishers in America assumed that almost no American children know the legend of the Philosopher's stone and would wonder why a magical object had such a name.
[/quote]
well neither rmany of my frenz nor i knew anything abt the philosopher's stone but i thknk it was mentioned in the book wat it does so i dun quite see the need to change the title! :p</p>
<p>Actually, somebodynew, the transformation of base metals into gold as well as "the Elixer of Life" were the two main goals of the (now defunct) science of alchemy, and the Philosopher's Stone was able to do both, not just the metal part. </p>
<p>"Errr... did you miss something? Harry never put Felix Felicis into Ron's drink. He only pretended to. There was a whole conversation about that afterwards, where Harry revealed the vile of Felix Felicis, still full and sealed with wax."</p>
<p>(Been a way for a while)
I didn't mean the potion, I meant distracting the seeker when he was clearly ahead. It's not as low as some of the things that have happened in other games, I admit, but it was still pretty cheap.</p>
<p>wow, what a sad ending! dumbeldore is my hero, its sad to see him go. i'm glad that he died protecting harry and after attempting to get one of the horcruxes. i did like how ginny and harry got together. i thought that the felix felicies potion was a really clever idea :) i just love harry, and i cant wait to read the next one!</p>
<p>sheldon, I didn't know that. According to that site, the European alchemists sought the stone that could turn other metals in to gold while the Chinese alchemists sough the Elixir. Fun facts.</p>
<p>I think Dumbledore died in vain...the horcrux he drank all that potion for wasn't even real...I really wanted him to come back to life, but that interview made it sound like he's going to stay dead...</p>