Someone in the hbp_chapters comm over at LJ had a wonderful theory about the identity of the last Horcrux--Harry's scar.

Yeah, I've seen several varieties of that theory floating around.

Ooh, that's an excellent one. (And that kind of explains why when Voldie does something evil - the scar hurts. Although, not anymore.)

Re: HBP, I agree with most of y'all that think

Snape was under Dumbledore's orders. Poor guy. I also agree with Teppy that Dumbledore may be pulling a Gandalfe. Not only were there all the phoenix images, but he told Draco that they could make it look like he and his mother were dead in order to protect them from Voldemort. Snape is a very good wizard. He could pull off a spell that would make Dumbledore look dead. This also, I think, fulfills his unbreakable vow that he protect Draco. Or was the vow to do what Draco couldn't? I don't remember. Anyway. At Dumbledore's funeral, we never actually see the body. It's all wrapped up. Who's to say it really was Dumbledore's? Or, if it was, Harry saw something fly away from the body when it burned.

As long as he doesn't come back... wrong.

Chatty!co-worker is reading HBP, too -- he's on chapter 18 -- and I came in this morning and told him I finished it, and that the Half-Blood Prince is, actually, the musician Prince.

Sheesh, Teppy! Spoiler font!

Random HP Speculation/Theories/Questions SPOILERY for HP VI *** I think that at least some of Book VII will take place at Hogwarts and Harry is not done with the school. Mostly because I don’t think that Voldermort is done with it.

I suspect that Ginny is also going to play a critical role and Harry’s hopes of keeping her on the sidelines and out of danger will be shattered. I also think she’s going to acquit herself nicely (although I have no idea if that means that she’ll survive).

I’m thinking that Zakarias Smith, a Hufflepuff, is a descendent of the Smith woman who unwisely showed Tom Riddle the cup and the locket. So, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him, either.

Dumbledore said that he was unaware of anything of the Founder Ravenclaw surviving. I bet something has and Voldermort knows of it or wants it. And I think Luna, a Ravenclaw, will play a role here in helping Harry deal with it.

Finally, doesn’t the barman at the Hogs Head have the same first name as Dumbledore’s brother? Is that the brother?

I think it's unspoilery of me to say that, yes, JKR has confirmed that the barman is Dumbledore's brother. I believe there was some hint earlier on in one of the books when Harry noticed he smelled of goats, and Dumbledore had made some rather disconcerting comment regarding his brother and goats at some point.

Narrator, your speculation about Smith made me wonder if we'll somehow get descendants of all four houses involved in the final showdown.