Past information/events foreshadowing what is to come...

[Lizzy Bennet]

I was just thinking...it seems like whenever we (the readers) learn about something new in Harry's world, as incidental as it may seem at the time, it comes up again later in the book or in future books. For example:

~ in book 2, we learn about polyjuice potion which is used later in the book for Harry, Ron, and Hermione, but even more importantly, by Barty Crouch, Jr. in book 4 to impersonate Mad-Eye Moody

~ in book 1, Harry gets his father's invisibility cloak, which he uses on many different occasions in all the books, and it is Barty Crouch, Jr. (again!) who uses it to 'hide' at the World Quidditch Cup

~ we are first introduced to house-elves in book 2, only for them to come back in a big way (and an important way) in book 4

~ I'm sure you can name many more instances!

My point is, until something is 'introduced' to us, it isn't really a factor in the stories . . . the polyjuice potion was irrelevant to us in book 1 and had not yet been introduced. My point is this, most especially with book 4, which has the most recent of 'new' things we've learned, what did we learn in book 4 (possibly about the forbidden curses, having 'moles' in the school, etc.) that may be more significant in book 5? It seems J.K. really enjoys mentioning things that seem run-of-the-mill for a wizarding school (or even downplays their significance) only for them to turn up later as a much bigger deal! Until book 4, I'm not sure I would have suspected that a teacher wasn't who they really were (nor did any of the teachers or students at the school!), but now that I've been reminded that polyjuice potion isn't just something the trio learned about--adult wizards use it--I'll be much more suspicious of teachers from now on!

My speculation, though I look forward to hearing yours and seeing if I get reminded of any other theories , is that time-travel *might* be significant in this book. We've seen the diary that allowed Harry to experience the past, we were not only introduced to the hourglass Herminone got from Professor McGonagall but saw how it was used for more than just going to multiple classes, and we've experienced Harry "jumping into" Dumbledore's "thoughts" in his office (in book 4). I wonder if by one of these methods (or a new one) that will be how Harry will learn more about the past, in addition to Dumbledore talking to him.

Wow, sorry so long! I've just wondered how many little clues J.K. has given us to foreshadow her newest book that I've probably just read over or not thought about in terms of something we know about coming back. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!!

[Blaise Zabini]

Oh goodness, there are so many I can't even begin to think of them all.

The Heir of Gryffindor thing, Madam Rosmerta's shoes, Lucius/Cornelius, Time Travel, Socks and Winky, Wristwatches, Fawkes, Mrs. Figg, Peter's hand, The Penseive, Divination...

A lot of what's above if based on little pieces of information that seem important. The sock and wristwatches. Mrs. Figg. Meh, I definitely think that all of this will be expanded upon in OotP. Meh, need book...

[Boycey]

I guess that in the world of Harry Potter, harry meet lots of new things, so many that JKR only puts down the items in the book that will be a significant part into the storys ahead, otherwise the story would be really long and boring. I guess that this is no differant to any other book, as most storys use items that in the start of the book it might not seem important, but later it becomes a part in the story ahead. But i will say one thing, JKR likes to bring things back from other books that seem to only fit the story at the time, but become important in later books, like for example the mentions of mundungus fletcher, or house elfs. I guess my point is that that the things you read, most will be important in the book your reading and the ones yet to come, and its not that everything that harry potter meet is in fact important, as harry sees lots of things, but you only read the important things. To your point on useful items I also think that the time tuner will come into play in later books, and why not, its got to be useful, i mean look what it can do, you can change a mistake that you made for example, but the photo album not so much, I think it played its part in Book three when harry wanted to know what Black looked like, also i can't see how a book that Hagrid just made for Harry in like a few hours could prove important, of course I could be wrong. But here are a few things that JKR has hinted that might play important in the next books are Aragog, The Ford anglasis, Port Keys and of course Falkes (but that has to be a given).

[Lizzy Bennet]

But here are a few things that JKR has hinted that might play important in the next books are Aragog, The Ford anglasis, Port Keys and of course Falkes (but that has to be a given).

I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts on how the the things you've mentioned above might come into play in the future books, Boycey! Falkes, I'm not too surprised about coming back to play a bigger role, nor do the port keys surprise me all that much either (though, I'm not sure what role each will play). I am a little surprised by Aragog and the car, though. If you or anyone else wants to share light on how these things may play into book 5 (or beyond), do share!

I think, though this is pretty obvious, the DADA classes are going to be taken much more seriously in light of the return of Voldemort. If no one else, Harry will be taking these classes much more seriously due to his recent experiences in book 4. The fact that Hermione studies so much and is so bright will be to her advantage, and I'd like to see her helping out Neville again , as she tried to in some other classes (like Snape's). I have to wonder how the Slytherins in the book are going to react to Voldemort's return to power, as several of their parents (as indicated in book 4) are death-eaters (i.e. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle). Surely, Dumbledore would not ban them from Hogwarts, but would they report back (as intentional or unintentional spies) to their parents who are death-eaters about the going ons at Hogwarts? Would this put the students and teachers there at risk? What are your thoughts?

[Blaise Zabini]

I can see the Ford Anglia rescuing Harry and Ron from danger again. Or maybe even the opposite, bringing them into danger.

And as for Aragog, thought he tried to destroy Harry and Ron, I didn't really think of him as being a bad character. I mean, he did it out of necessity and maybe even love for his children. I think he'll be developed as a helpful presence in the next book.

Perhaps the Portkeys pertain to that 'new place' that Harry is to visit in OotP. It would be a easy way of transporting himself there. But I doubt that Portkeys will play a negative role. The 'enchanted portkey' thing has been done already and I can't see it happening again.

[Neo]

Yeah, that's why I like most about Jo's books, the way she introduces things of the magic wolrd and later making them a big part of the plot.

And it seems time travelling could be part of the next three books, like a constant in HP series. I have the theory that the doors we see in the cover of the OoP, are going to be the way in which Harry will travel in time, and I think it would be to the time when his parents were at Hogwarts.

Also, one thing I noticed in book 2, is that when Harry comes in the gril's bathrrom after growing his bones back, it is mentioned that

Conjuring up portable, water-proof fires was a speciality of Hermione's

I'm sure that this is going to be of vital importance in next books, I mean mention it only for the polyjuice potion in the bath room would be too less.

[Holly Golightly]

Someone mentioned the timeturned playing a bigger part... only prob is Hermoine handed it back in, and presumabely, McGonagall sent it back to the Minestry,

I think that Aragog has done his dash int he books, after all, how much can you play a giant spider into a series, and he was a main part of CoS after all...

I kinds see these insights/hints whatever, as a small thing that we are given a hint of, which turns out to be ab ig thing later on, so in a sense, Aragog has had hit big moment! The port-keys, also, have had the intro withthe world cup, then the big part where the cup was a port-key!

The Heir of Gryffindor thing, Madam Rosmerta's shoes, Lucius/Cornelius, Time Travel, Socks and Winky, Wristwatches, Fawkes, Mrs. Figg, Peter's hand, The Penseive, Divination...

I would defiantely like to see all of these things have a connecting part in further books tho, especially Madam Rosmerta's Shoes, Winky and his socks, the Pensive, and Peter's hand!

[Neo]

aragog is in the next book, holly so we will have to see how Jo manages to make his role more interesting than in CoS.

[Holly Golightly]

WHAT???



Hrmm, how do you know that Neo??

[Neo]

Jo said we see in the next book: Sirius, Lupin, Aragog, Ford Anglia, well a lot of old characters.

[Holly Golightly]

ohhh.. okies then..

[Neo]

No prob, most people do not know about any rumour, I was a little obsessed with rumours before entering this forum ; specially the ones confirmed by Jo herself

[Sacred Guardian]

yeah, but with the thing about portkeys is that they have already been used in a big way in book 4 with transporting harry and cedric to the graveyard, and i don't think that she will use the same thing again, it was why i stopped reading this one fanfic, because they guy made book 5 and 6 and 6 was almost exactly the same as 5

[Hermione Weasley]

i think maybe the protkeys will play a bigger part like the doors maybe they dont open and you walk through maybe you just touch them(like a portkey) and it goes back in time or forward in time i think she will change it than what she used them in for GoF.I think she was just introducing us to the idea of what portkeys can do that everyone knows they can do but what if she didn't tell us all the uses of portkeys??

[Holly Golightly]

I dont know... if they werwe able to manipulate time, I think that there would be much bigger restrictions on their use, just like the time-turners...