A bit or research, mostly on the HP character who now baffles me the most… spoilers, of course. And no conclusion, as of yet – just clips from interviews and such.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know Regulus Black’s middle name?

Okay, so…

J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October, 1999

1. What about Snape?
JKR: Snape is a very sadistic teacher, loosely based on a teacher I myself had, I have to say. I think children are very aware and we are kidding ourselves if we don’t think that they are, that teachers do sometimes abuse their power and this particular teacher does abuse his power. He’s not a particularly pleasant person at all. However, everyone should keep their eye on Snape, I’ll just say that because there is more to him than meets the eye and you will find out part of what I am talking about if you read Book 4. No, I’m not trying to drum up more sales, go to the library and get it out. I’d rather people read it.

2. One of our internet correspondents wondered if Snape is going to fall in love.
JKR: (JKR laughs) Who on earth would want Snape in love with them? That’s a very horrible idea.

3. There’s an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape
JKR: He, um, there’s so much I wish I could say to you, and I can’t because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I’m slightly stunned that you’ve said that and you’ll find out why I’m so stunned if you read Book 7. That’s all I’m going to say.

Allow me to say that “Snape” and “redemptive” in the same sentence makes me feel slightly ill. Although the idea of polyjuice potion, and maybe it wasn’t Snape that killed Dumbledore has occurred to me, but I’m not quite buying it. I think that would have resolved within the book, rather than give us all two years to build up our hatred.


JK Rowling's World Book Day Chat,
March 4, 2004

1. Why specifically does Dumbledore trust Snape?
JK Rowling replies -> Another excellent and non-answerable question. I shall merely say that Snape has given Dumbledore his story and Dumbledore believes it.

2. I wonder if you can let us know what form will Professor Snape's Boggart and Patronus take? I am very curious.
JK Rowling replies -> Well, I'm not going to tell you Ernie, but that's because it would give so much away. I wonder whether Ernie is your real name? (It was my grandfather's).

3. What made Sirius decide to send Snape to the Willow?
JK Rowling replies -> Because Sirius loathed Snape (and the feeling was entirely mutual). You'll find out more about this in due course.

J K Rowling at the Edinburgh Book Festival,
Sunday, August 15, 2004.

1. will we see more of Snape?
You always see a lot of Snape, because he is a gift of a character. I hesitate to say that I love him. [Audience member: I do]. You do? This is a very worrying thing. Are you thinking about Alan Rickman or about Snape?

2. Apart from Harry, Snape is my favourite character because he is so complex and I just love him. Can he see the Thestrals, and if so, why? Also, is he a pure blood wizard?
Snape’s ancestry is hinted at. He was a Death Eater, so clearly he is no Muggle born, because Muggle borns are not allowed to be Death Eaters, except in rare circumstances. You have some information about his ancestry there. He can see Thestrals, but in my imagination most of the older people at Hogwarts would be able to see them because, obviously, as you go through life you do lose people and understand what death is. But you must not forget that Snape was a Death Eater. He will have seen things that… Why do you love him? Why do people love Snape? I do not understand this. Again, it’s bad boy syndrome, isn’t it? It’s very depressing. [Laughter]. One of my best friends watched the film and she said, “You know who’s really
attractive?” I said, “Who?” She said, “Lucius Malfoy!”

Paxman, Jeremy, interviewer. "JK's OOTP interview," BBC Newsnight, 19 June 2003.

1. “I don't want the kids to know what's coming. Because that's part of the excitement of the story, and having - you know - sweated blood to create all my red herrings and lay all my clues....”

2. “I had a very forthright letter from a woman who had heard me say that Harry was going to have his first date or something and she said "Please don't do that, that's awful. I want these books to be a world where my children can escape to." She literally said "free from hurt and fear" and I'm thinking "Have you read the books? What are you talking about free from hurt and fear? Harry goes through absolute hell every time he returns to school." So I think that a bit of snogging would alleviate matters.”

3. I think [book seven] will be long because I won't want to let go. I'll just keep writing. I'll probably just start a completely new plot in book seven. It's going to be very difficult to leave it . I mean, I do look forward to a post-Harry era in my life, because some of the things that go along with this are not that much fun, but at the same time, I dread leaving Harry...
4. I will say this. I had to put in some things because of what’s coming in books 6 and 7 and I didn’t want anyone to say to me “what a cheat you never gave us clues”. If I didn’t mention things in Order of the Phoenix I think you’ve said “well, you sprang that on us”! Whereas I want you to be able to guess if you’ve got your wits about you.

Mzimba, Lizo. "There will NOT be an eighth Potter Book," CBBC Newsround, 21 October 2002

1. JK Rowling has said in the past that the whole Harry Potter saga fits neatly into seven books, one for each of Harry's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Interesting, as it appears at the end of HBP that Harry is not returning to Hogwarts…
Thomas, Sherry. "J.K. Rowling has the future mapped out for Harry Potter," The Houston Chronicle, 20 March 2001.

2. From the very first book, I would meet parents who would say my 5- or 6-year-old loves it, and that worried me, because I knew what was coming," she said. "Eight or 9 is the youngest I would recommend as a reading age for the book.

3. "The final chapter of book seven is written," the British author told reporters Thursday in a teleconference. "You will find out what happens to the survivors."

J.K.Rowling Interview on ITV; Book 7 Two Years Away?
(http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/)
ITV just broadcast show that featured their contest winner, Owen Jones, interviewing Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. TLC Reader Dawn sent in some quick notes of things that JKR said in the broadcast.
- Jk says that Ravenclaw will have their day *taps nose*
- Wormtail will not kill Lupin.
- Jk was implying something having Dumbledore defeat Grindelwald the same year World War 2 ended.
- She gave Harry a fortune as she was poor at the time and wanted him to have a lot. Wishful thinking.
- Jk would like to teach Defence against the Dark Art at Hogwarts as it's the most worth while.
- Loves fan-theories. People have been very close to figuring out things and some people have even figured out part of book seven.
- Her editor doesn't want characters swearing, so she gets round that (by saying things like Ron swore loudly).
- Will start book seven at the end of the year and has already done a few things to prepare.

Sigh... so is Snape good or evil? This is far more complicated than I first thought...

Now for something a bit more lighthearted...