J K Rowling's books certainly lead to a lot of speculation! Here are some of the rumors we've heard flying around. Be warned! Don't read this until you've read all four books!

The Weasleys will adopt Harry: Pretty unlikely, as he seems to be protected at the Dursleys, but Mrs Weasley certainly likes him! Maybe they'll become sort or surrogate parents. I certainly see Harry spending much more time with them. On a similar note, it has been rumoured that the Weasleys are in fact related to Harry - note Lily's red hair.

Mrs Figg and Arabella Figg are one and the same:Well, J K Rowling is hardly likely to have two people with the same name by coincidence, is she? She seems to be pretty good at dropping hints in earlier books of people who will later come back into the story. Mrs Figg likes cats - one of the more regular familiars for witches. Harry is protected by "old magic" at the Dursleys - maybe something to do with a witch living around the corner? Of course, she'd have to pretend to be normal to gain the Dursley's trust, and therefore couldn't tell Harry anything. She is also mentioned in book four, when Harry remarks that the tent he stays in at the Quidditch World Cup smells like her house.

CONFIRMED!

Harry and Cho chang will get together:This might not be as likely as it seemed, now that Cedric's death has somewhat tarnished any relationship they might have had. However, maybe Harry will "console" her next term! For a discussion, go here

Is Dumbledore evil? This one stems mainly from his look of triumph when Harry tells Dumbledore that Voldemort touched him at the end of book four. This may, however, stem from the fact that Dumbledore knows more about this than Voldemort, and that there will be bad side effects from his use of Harry's blood. I doubt that Dumbledore is really on Voldemort's side - he has stopped him so many times and missed millions of opportunities to hand Harry over to him. In fact, the importance of the Dursleys in book 5 would suggest that maybe family connection will play a much larger role than we thought!

Why was Voldemort after Harry's parents? We still haven't been told this one, though Dumbledore obviously knows - he tells Harry that he'll tell him when he's old enough. Hopefully Rowling won't go down the "ancient prophecy" route, but maybe Voldemort knew somehow that Harry would be his downfall? Or Lily and James might have been Aurors - very good ones to be deserving of his personal attention. If Voldemort wasn't looking specifically for Harry, then either James or Lily must have been of great importance in the fight against him. Did they know something, or have some special powers?

Was James Potter a Slytherin? Evidence for - we are told that no-one outside Slytherin house went over to Voldemort. As Sirius was thought, at the time, to have gone over, he ought to have been a Slytherin. As the closest friends seem to have been made within one's own house, it then follows that James and Lupin should also have been in Slytherin. However, this is all based on a statement which could have been an exageration. Evidence against - From the little we know of James, he seems to have been more the Gryffindor type. He saves Snape from death, etc.

Is Cornelius Fudge really on Voldemort's side? Well, his actions could be attributed to that - he brings in a dementor to deal with Crouch, destroying evidence which could have been of use, and herefuses to acknowledge Voldemort's return to power. He also seems a little too fixated on "pure-bloods". This could, however, just be the reaction of a blinkered polkitician who doesn't want to face the truth - the addition of another faction, one which is in denial, would certainly add interest to the books.

Percy will end up on a different side from his family:whether he sides with Fudge or Voldemort, I think it is quite likely that there might be future conflict between him and a family member - maybe Ron? It would certainly add interest.

Draco will join his father on Voldemort's side: maybe, but he seems to be more than a little cowardly. Take his reaction when they went into the forest for detention, for example. Even if he does join, I doubt he'll be one of Voldemort's major players.

Mrs Dursley is also a witch:could be, considering who her sister was. If she was in serious denial, it would also explain her attitude to Harry. Maybe she got expelled from Hogwarts, and now can't stand to hear about it. However, she might just be a very muggleish muggle. She certainly doesn't seem to know about any of the rules, like not using magic in the holidays.

Is Harry Gryffindor's heir?James and Lily lived in Godric's hollow, so could Harry be the heir of Gryffindor? Thanks to Claire for this one.

Ron Weasley will die A rumor we have nothing to substantiate, but would be glad of your opinion on. Thanks to Claire for this one.

Harry will become DADA teacher after book 7 A commonly voiced suggestion, but one which we can officially quash! Apparently, J.K. Rowling has donfirmed that Harry will not become a teacher of any sort at Hogwarts once the series ends.

One of the friends will become a teacher at Hogwarts: though not Harry, Ron or Hermione. Will Neville take over as Herbiology teacher? Will Snape be replaced by an equally evil Malfoy? We'll have to wait and see.

Godric Gryffindor once owned Fawkes: thanks to Rachel Ellis for this one. Hopefully we'll find out more in the next book!

If you've heard any more rumors, then mail us with them! (potter@whitten.demon.co.uk)