NEW YORK, June, July 2007

Potter Trivia's Final Question

Latest Is Last Of Seven

  • Play CBS Video Video Waiting For 'Harry Potter'

    Dave Price speaks with the co-editor of "Harry Potter" books, Arthur Levine, about what to expect in the last installment of the world famous series about a mischievous boy-wizard.

  • Video The Power Of Harry Potter

    Tracy Smith reports that Harry Potter's real magic may be how he makes books disappear from shelves. The upcoming "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" has already set a record.

  • Video Potter Actor Sheds His Cloak

    The star of "Harry Potter," Daniel Radcliffe, is shedding more than his film persona on Britain's West End. Richard Roth reports on what critics are saying about "Equus" and Radcliffe's nude scene.

  • The final

    The final "Harry Potter" book will come out this summer.  (Scholastic)

(CBS)  The release of the seventh and final "Harry Potter" book is a little over two weeks away, and fans young and old all over the world are reeling with excitement over the 700-plus-page novel that will complete the series.

To help build the anticipation, the books' publisher, Scholastic, released seven trivia questions for fans. All the answers will be in the final book.

The last question, revealed on The Early Show Thursday, July 5, was -- what are the deathly hallows?

Arthur Levine, co-editor of the "Harry Potter" books, says the trivia questions help sustain the excitement surrounding the books.

"The hoopla has been going on for years, a decade," Levine told Early Show weatherman and features reporter Dave Price. "We're part of that excitement. We're wondering about all these questions, too. We wanted to help focus the conversation and be part of all the excitement, with all the readers who are wondering."

On The Early Show on June 25, the second-to-last question, question six, was made public: "Will Voldemort be defeated?"

On June 12 on the show, question five was revealed: "Where are the Horcruxes?"

On May 29 on the show, the fourth question was announced: "Who ends up with whom?"

On May 15 on the show, question three was released: "Will Hogwarts reopen?"

On May 1, Levine announced question two on the show: "Is Snape Good or Evil?" Several children were on hand to discuss it.

The questions, including the first, "Who will live and who will die?" have sparked discussion groups on the Web.

Potter fans can go to the Scholastic Web site to vote for their choice of answers, and read and take part in discussions.

The last Harry Potter book sold 6.9 million copies in the first 24 hours, making it the fastest selling book in United States history and now a whopping 12 million copies of the seventh book are being printed for this country alone.


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Add a Comment See all 19 Comments
by hansandrea May 16, 2007 2:00 PM EDT
JK Rowling has openly admitted there is a pattern to the books which enables one to predict the end. This is what she said in an interview:

"If I talk too freely about whether I believe in God I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what's coming in the books."

I have studied the books very intensively. To my amazement I have found that there is a deeply spiritual foundation on which the story of Harry Potter is built. Hidden underneath all the excitement, mystery and fascination is a powerful spiritual symbolism which tells a timeless and universal story that resonates in the collective unconscious, explaining the books' popularity. This can be summed up in the term: "alchemy".

JK Rowling said in 1998: "I've never wanted to be a witch, but an alchemist, now that's a different matter. To invent this wizard world, I've learned a ridiculous amount about alchemy. Perhaps much of it I'll never use in the books, but I have to know in detail what magic can and cannot do in order to set the parameters and establish the stories' internal logic."

I would very much like to invite your readers to visit a website, specifically designed to explain the alchemical symbolism: http://harrypotterforseekers.com.

On the Book 7 Page I have listed my predictions. I have found 11 alchemical clues which really make it quite obvious where Book 7 is headed. I have listed several characters, including Snape, with their ultimate fate as alchemical symbols.
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by suddenlyyou May 3, 2007 6:59 AM EDT
Oh God.. I've lived half of my life with Harry Potter.. I've been a member of almost all his fan sites and I've visited all harry potter sites I know.. The upcoming book makes me excited and at the same time sad.. The release will mean the end.. No more Harry Potter book after this.. I don't know what I feel.. He was and will always be a part of me.. I'm sure I will not be what I am now if Harry Potter did not exist.. I can truly say that he touched me even if he's just a character.. Go JK Rowling.. Thank you for bringing Harry Potter to our lives.. (I just hope he lives and get a happy ending.. I think he needs to be happy though dying would make the story a little bit more different..) Anyway, it's up to Jo.. I ordered a copy of the sevnth book in the United States pa.. Even if I'm fromt the Philippines.. That's how much I love Harry Potter..
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by dracosgirl May 3, 2007 1:27 AM EDT
O goodness! so excited for this book let me tell u! but the question if Snape's good or bad I have very mixed feelings! I see where Dumbledore might have been asking Snape to do the right thing by killing him and I'm thinking it would be a very difficult task to fool Dumbledore if Snape is bad but if he's good it would probably be very hard to fool Voldemort so whatever Snape's doing he's good at it I think there's way too much to this story that very few ppl will guess the truth but I think if Harry wants to find some good answers he should talk to Dumbldore's picture or go inside Dumbledore's Pensieve that's where a lot of answers would be found but for the ppl I think will die I'm thinkin Voldy and Ron, Sirius is coming back I mean seriously alls he did was fall behind a curtain!? what's that all about!? and Neville's going to have a HUGE roll in the whole story I've had thoughts about Harry might go back to save Neville and IDK what I think is gonna happen but something big will happen because Harry went back to save Neville...that Neville he's got something going on wit him...IDK I just can't wait!!!
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by debbie1416 May 2, 2007 4:00 PM EDT
I have been a fan of these books since the first one. I even got my daughter, who hated reading, to read the first one .. now she loves to read. We have the first 6 books and the first 4 movies.
While reading the 6th book I, like a lot of people, hoped that as they stood there on the tower with Dumbledore begging "Please", that he was telling Snape to get on with it and do what must be done. I've never completely trusted Snape, but Dumbledore has never wavered in his trust of him. This has me wondering about their relationship .. is it more than Teacher and Head Master? Could they be related??
I hoped too that Dumbledore's death was all an illusion .. that perhaps someone had taken polyjuice potion to make himself look like Dumbledore and that he was safe and sound elsewhere .. but then he appeared sleeping in his portrait in the Head Master's Office .. that ended that dream.
I can hardly wait for the release of the 7th book ... I hope it ahswers all the questions we've all had all these years.

PS - I'm 44 :) and i'm hooked on the books.
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by mjrogers2342 May 2, 2007 3:38 PM EDT
I agree with the people who are saying Snape is good and is acting on Dumbledore's orders when he "kills" him. Rowling has put too much emphasis in all of her books on the trust that
Dumbledore has in Snape and has left just enough unsaid about their relationship that it would make a terrific chapter in the last book. As far as the two people who die I believe Voldemort is one of them, obviously. The other one though I think will Ron Weasley, my reasoning for this is because in Book 5, Order of The Phoenix, when Harry is first in front of that mysterious arch in which Sirius dies, he here's two voices, the first is Sirius' then he also here's Ron's voice. We'll see . .
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by kimec4-2009 May 2, 2007 3:15 PM EDT
I also am wondering if perhaps it was the plan for Snape to kill Dumbledore-I hate to believe that Snape is really evil-even though I cannot stand him! I do not believe Harry will be killed, but I think someone close to him may. And I think Voldemort will get it too. I cannot wait for the book either-have mine already ordered (and I am also over 40) LOL
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by yaconessa May 2, 2007 3:05 PM EDT
I think Dumbeldore didn't die and that Snape put a sleeping spell on him and will come back and show that Snape really isn't evil but still holds the grudge against Harrys father and may have had a crush on Harrys mother and that's why he dislikes Harry because he looks like his dad I believe Voldemort will die and either Harry or Dumbeldore (or both)will be the one to kill him and life will go on for the 3 with Harry involved with Ginny and Ron with Herminie. Great jobs will be had for all and the wizardy world will be safe once again.
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by hermit22 May 2, 2007 1:58 PM EDT
why does CBS give all this free advertizing to this very CRRREEEEEpY series?

psychological meanness for the younger set.
sicko and creepy!
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by linmar05vg May 2, 2007 7:23 AM EDT
I believe that Dumbledore wanted Snape to kill him to protect Harry and Malfoy and for Snape to continue to be a spy for the Order, because it would look to the death eaters that Snape is on their side. In Book 6, as Harry is chasing after Snape and calling him a coward, Snape is reminding him again to keep his mouth shut and close his mind, since Harry has been unable to master Occulmancy. I think that will be the key to defeating Voldamort.
I can't wait for Book 7.
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by perscrag May 2, 2007 3:47 AM EDT
I want to believe Snape is evil because he's so convincing. However, I trust Dumbledore's instincts even more so. He trusted Snape.
I'm wondering, in the book when Dumbledore is pleading with Snape "Severus...please...". Is it to spare him or to kill him to save both Harry and Malfoy?? I believe the latter.
Malfoy never had the courage to kill him.Dumbledore knew that. One thought, Dumbledore was a member of the "Order of the Phoenix". Can he and possibly Sirius be reborn like Faux??? I can not wait to find out!
I'm 43 and I adore these books.
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by emery32 May 2, 2007 2:29 AM EDT
i think snape isnt as evil as people think he is hes trapped between voldermort and dumbledore stuck in the middle both need him and both would ruin his life if not end it if he crossed them and when it comes to his treatment of harry it was snape who spied and over heard the prophecy and told voldy and because of it harrys parents lost there lives i think he feels he owes harry but he resents it at the same time (snape knows its not harrys fault hes in this position but again if not for harry he wouldnt be) and as for the loss of dumbledore he knew he was dying from that potion he drank he also knew that snape made the unbreakable vow to protect draco i do not for once think that dumbledore would beg for his life he was begging for snape to do the best thing for all involved and end it thus snape could still be a spy for the order and draco wouldnt be killed for not following voldys orders that is why he got so peeved when harry called him a coward harry got it wrong and snape was not with the right company/time to correct him... and thats just my take on snape!!!
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by athinton22 May 2, 2007 1:45 AM EDT
The number of people who have been speculating about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows astonishes me. I can think of a million other things that I SHOULD be doing with my time, but instead I too am throwing myself back into the world of Harry Potter.

I believe that Snape is evil. His history supports this. But will he die? I'm not sure. There are too many people who believe that he will get what is coming to him. Snape dying is not Rowling's style. There will be a twist somethwere early in the 7th installment that I believe will foreshadow who will die. Maybe even an attack on the upcoming Weasley wedding. Who knows except Rowling and the few people who have read the book. I personally can wait- once I finish reading the 7th book, I won't have anything to look forward to!
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by danyfan666 May 2, 2007 12:47 AM EDT
Snape is evil. He is only acting as a supporter to Dumbledore so that he won't be found out. My arugment goes with the chapter in HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE. It is called SPINNER'S END. Snape tells all and isn't putting on an act.
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by imho3 May 1, 2007 9:16 PM EDT
I suspect Snape is somewhat of a Judas type character. Not evil but doing a necessary evil to achieve a required result. I believe he killed Dumbledore in order to bring him to the same half alive place where Voldemort is so they could do battle on that level. Dumbledore also released some of himself into Harry just as Voldemort had done when he gave Harry the scar. Voldemort and Dumbldore may also end up doing battle inside of Harry somehow. I can't wait to read the next book.
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by clevercandi May 1, 2007 7:11 PM EDT
Ms. Rowling has already stated she will not kill Harry.

I suspect Snape will die while confronting Voldemort (who will also die). We will finally find out Snape (who really IS a good guy) and Dumbledore have been collaborating the entire time.

Harry will be made Headmaster of Hogwarts and Ron and Hermoine will get married.

I'm going to miss these books. They have been a great read (and I'm over 40!)
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by hermioneee May 1, 2007 6:54 PM EDT
Just because he killed Dumbledore doesn't ean he's evil...goodness me, it kills me whenever I hear people base their "snape is evil" opinion only on that...

ITRUSTSNAPE

BTW: HPHPHP7 (cute name!), Hermione's name is spelt like "Her mi o ne", and Sirius' name is spelt "Si ri us".

80 DAYS!
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by jimmyc1955 May 1, 2007 4:00 PM EDT
I think Harry and Voldamort will die. Its going to be hard on Ginny though.
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by smb221 May 1, 2007 3:25 PM EDT
I heard 2 people die in this book. I think it will be Harry and Voldemort.
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by hphphp7 May 1, 2007 3:12 PM EDT
2: I think Snape is Evil beacuase he killed Dumbledore and he only saved Harry beacause Voldamort wanted to kill Harry himself.

1: I think Voldamort and maybe Snape will die.

Harry, Ron, Harrmione will live and Serrious will come back to live and so will Dumbledore.
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