*revives thread*
So, has everyone seen the chat transcipt for the live webchat with JKR? If not, head on over <a href="http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript"> HERE</a>. Some people brought up some very interesting questions, and she had some very interesting answers.
A few interesting tid bits I thought I'd bring up -
JK Rowling wrote:
She [Luna] ended up marrying (rather later than Harry & co) a fellow naturalist and grandson of the great Newt Scamander (Rolf)!
Oo, good job Jo. You just sunk the Neville/Luna ship. *ish sad*
JK Rowling wrote:
I think that when Dudley was attacked by the Dementors he saw himself, for the first time, as he really was. This was an extremely painful, but ultimately salutory lesson, and began a transformation in him.
Verrry interesting. Everyone speculated after Ootp about this, but no one could ever get a clear idea. It was hard to find anything Dudley could have a bad memory of since he leaved a rather pampered life.
JK Rowling wrote:
Remus was killed by Dolohov and Tonks by Bellatrix.
*sniffle* There you have it folks from the master of fictional character death herself. Now that I've started rereading DH, we should have suspected that Tonks would die by Bellatrix' hand... er, wand, because at one point in the first chapter, Voldie suggests that she should "prune" her family tree where there was imperfection or something like that.
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to what Dumby saw in the Mirror of Erised]He [Dumbledore] saw his family alive, whole and happy - Ariana, Percival and Kendra all returned to him, and Aberforth reconciled to him.
A very intriguing similarity, as that is exactly what Harry sees as well. It's interesting how similiar there lives are in small ways.
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to someone doing magic late in life]I'm sorry about this, but I changed my mind!
Yet, she didn't tell anyone she had until after the book was published...

JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to how Voldy got his wand back]Wormtail, desperate to curry favour, salvaged it from the place it had fallen and carried it to him.
Aaand, that means that Wormtail must have been there the night the Potter's died.
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to whether Snape is a hero or not]Yes, I do; though a very flawed hero. An anti-hero, perhaps.
Wheee! *huggles Snape* Can someone tell me what exactly an anti-hero is? I've heard the term before in reference to another piece of literature.
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to whether Lily ever liked or loved Snape]Yes. She might ever have grown to love him romantically (she certainly loved him as a friend) if he had not loved Dark Magic so much and been drawn to such loathesome people and acts.
Whoa.

That would have made the story
entirely different. *scareh thoughts*
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to whether the abundance of socks throughout the series was important in some way]Nothing deep and significant, I'm afraid. They're just a comedy item.
Sorry, that just caught my eye because I'd just been talking about that very point on another forum before the book came out.

JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to why Dumby left Ron the Deluminator]Because he knew that Ron might need a little more guidance than the other two.
Smart man, Dumbledore. He was spot on with that one. Thank goodness Ron figured out that it just wasn't for putting out lights.
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to whether Hermione brought her parents back to England and reversed the charm she put on them]Yes, she brought them home straight away.
Thank goodness. Putting that charm on her parents showed a maturity level in Hermione beyond her years. I was proud of her for it.
JK Rowling wrote:
[in response to why she felt Hedwig's death was necessary]The loss of Hedwig represented a loss of innocence and security. She has been almost like a cuddly toy to Harry at times. Voldemort killing her marked the end of childhood.
I'm glad she answered that as I was quite devastated that she was killed in such a quick and brutal manner.