Who is that dragon?

The new artwork for the deluxe edition of Deathly Hallows has been released, and we have so many more questions than answers:

Who is that dragon? It could be a grown-up Norbert (the picture vaguely matches the description of Norwegian Ridgebacks given in Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them). This dragon looks to be either a greenish color or black (but reflecting lots of color), has long horns, has a black-ridged back, and has opal-like eyes. FBaWtFT never describes the eyes of a Norwegian Ridgeback.

Update 6/14/07 -- However, the book has this to say about the Antipodean Opaleye :

"Antipodean Opaleye:This species is native to New Zealand, although it has also been known to make its home in Australia as well. It has pearly scales that reflect the light to make a rainbow of colour, making it (in the opinion of many) the most beautiful dragon of all. The name comes from its eyes, which are multi-coloured and have no pupil. It is generally non-aggressive and its main prey is the sheep. Its weight of 2-3 tonnes makes it a medium-sized dragon [FB]."

Interesting idea: what if there is a new breed, one that was bred to be tameable? It could have a combination of features from various dragon breeds....

Is the dragon a dragon? What if it turned out to be an Animagus? I know, I know... we've had lots of unregistered Animagi (Sirius, James, Peter, and Rita), but we've only seen one registered Animagus so far (McGonagall), so perhaps it's time for another registered one. It would sure go a long way to explain why it's acting tame.

Who's riding the dragon? Is that Hermione and Ron with Harry... or Hermione and Charlie, the Weasley who works with dragons, with Harry? Update 6/11/07: According to Scholastic, that is definitely Ron with Hermione and Harry, not Charlie (and definitely not Draco, as some people have suggested). Yep, we have a particularly light-haired Ron bringing up (sitting on) the rear.

What are they wearing? Looks like Harry is wearing a sweater/jumper and a pair of jeans. The other two might be wearing robes over muggle attire. Update 6/19/07: Harry's outfit actually looks similar to what he's wearing on the front cover of the regular US edition: either brown or black robes over a greenish long-sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans.

Where are they? I see a valley with a river running through it. There is a bridge crossing the river to the right. There are mountains in the background. There is a small village in the valley, at the foot of the mountains. On the other side of the river are some croplands. It could be Norway (Norwegian Ridgebacks live in the mountains, while Muggles live in villages along the southern shoreline and in valleys). Another idea I've heard is Godric's Hollow, specifically that village. This would probably place them in Wales, which also has mountains and valleys bisected by rivers. Update 6/19/07: Since we might be dealing with an Antipodean Opaleye, could the trio be in New Zealand or Australia? Perhaps the horcrux hunt has sent them quite far and wide across the globe....

Where are they going? This would depend on the time of day, and that's a bit tricky. Though we see the sun, I'm not sure if this is sunrise or sunset. With all the colors in the sky I'd like to say sunset, which would put them moving northward. If this place is Godric's Hollow (and if Godric's Hollow is located in Wales), then maybe they are headed up north towards Hogwarts in Scotland. If it is in fact sunrise, they must be headed South, maybe towards London (where Gringotts is), or into another country, like Italy (where Il Colosseo is to be found). The sky is very reminiscent of the orange-red, fire-like sky of the regular cover art. I'm not sure how fast the dragon can fly... could it leave Great Britain at sunrise and be in Rome, Italy before sundown? Update 6/11/07: The time is sunset, as stated by Scholastic. Update 6/19/07: And what if they are in New Zealand? Well, they'd be headed north at sunset. But, oh my, if they are that far away from the UK, how long will it take to get back to the UK, or even to Italy, by dragon?

What's with all the mist? Is this Dementor spawn? It would help explain why the trio look like they are wearing layered clothing. It must be quite cold... unseasonably cold.

On Entering the Arena....

Some quotes from the series:

"Very good," said Voldemert softly, and as he raised his wand the pressure bearing down on Harry lifted too. "And now you will face me, like a man... straightbacked and proud, the way your father died... "And now --we duel." (GOF PB US Edition p. 660 Chapter 34 Priori Incantatem)

"That one of us is going to end up killing the other," said Harry.

"Yes."

But he understood at last what Dumbledore had been trying to tell him. It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew -- and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents -- that there was all the difference in the world. (HBP HB US Edition p. 512 Chapter 23 Horcruxes)

Entering an arena with your head held high, that's what Harry seems to be doing on this cover. Il Colosseo is still a good candidate for the arena-like scene depicted here.

The Symbolism of Left and Right

What is meant by Harry using his left hand to catch something (we can't see) and his right hand pushing down?











Could this be a clue that Harry has turned Voldemort's Dark Arts against him?

I'm not sure if the right hand is actually making contact with the rock, but if so Harry could be trying to gain leverage and climb through the rubble.

By the way, what is this rubble, and where are they?

One idea I've had is that they are in the so far unseen locked room of the Department of Mysteries, the often-called Love Room. So, what would the rubble be?

After the ministry found the site of the attack on the Potters, what did they do with the crime scene? Maybe they relocated the ruins of the entire house to this "Love Room"... so that the DoM workers could study Lily's greatest act of love....

The covers reveal some clues

On the US cover, it looks like Harry is wearing the Slytherin locket, and that he's placed a medicine pouch over it to keep it concealed. I have a hunch that Harry will reveal to Voldemort (during the "final battle") that he has destroyed all the horcruxes. Either that, or Voldemort will destroy the locket himself, not realizing what it is because it's covered up.... The locket itself, once "disarmed" of it's "soul bit" might act as a protection amulet...one that actually works. Voldemort seems either repulsed or frightened by what he's watching, and he also looks like he is moving to keep Harry from whatever he's trying to catch. Very reminicent of the first cover showing Harry's pursuit of a golden snitch. Wonder what he's reaching for this time. It would be lovely to think that Fawkes is bringing him something, like in CoS, but not the hat. Maybe the sword is the object we cannot see? Maybe it's a wand he's reaching for?

On the UK children's cover, though Hermione and Ron are worried by whatever they see (whatever is guarding the treasure... dragon, perhaps?) Dobby (or perhaps Kreacher merely following direct orders) is on Harry's back with sword raised... to protect Harry. This is all so Harry can grab something that has caught his eyes. If you follow his stare and see what's reflected in his glasses, it appears to be the gold goblet that is sitting right behind the silver helmet with the dragon motif on it. It looks like he's trying to grab at this goblet. Could it be Hufflepuff's cup? Possibly. We can't see if it has a badger on it, since most of it is hidden from our view. This reminds me very strongly of Harry in the first TWT task, when he's trying to get the golden egg from the dragon's nest. This, and Hagrid's comment about the dragons-guarding-high-secuirty-vaults-at-Gringotts rumor, leads me to think they could be dealing with a dragon here. Which breed, who knows? But a dragon could also explain what look like burn marks on the faces and arms....

On the UK adult cover we have what can only be Slytherin's locket. Since the adult covers are more specific to the book title, I strongly believe the Deathly Hallows are founder heirlooms, even if they are not all horcruxes now. This would include the sword (not horcrux), the cup (apparently a horcrux), the locket (definitely a horcrux), and... maybe the wand that used to sit in Ollivander's shop window. Swords, Cups, Pentacles, Wands.... Sounds right to me. :)