Theories

No, not flushed out - the door's behind them and the gold's in front of them and they're falling forwards.

Pretty sure it's in.

Flaming Phalanges!:

Yeah, does the armour possibly go with the sword?

The House Elf is holding the sword, too. Hmmm

Yeah, if it's Kreacher then I'd be a bit worried.

BUT what if Dobby accompanies them on their quest. He could come in really useful and stuff and ooooh. Dobby saves the world perhaps and is worshipped by all!

I'm telling you, I bet it's a goblin.

Yeah but he's been drawn like Dobby appeared in CoS and I'll bet if an artist was asked to draw Dobby, he'd draw him based on that.

Flaming Phalanges!:

Yeah, if it's Kreacher then I'd be a bit worried.

BUT what if Dobby accompanies them on their quest. He could come in really useful and stuff and ooooh. Dobby saves the world perhaps and is worshipped by all!

But Kreacher is bound to Harry magically. He wouldn't be able to betray him.

But then if it is a Goblin then yeah. I dunno.

I spose. But Hepzibah Smith's house elf poisoned her, unknowingly and unintentionally, so if Voldie manages to take control of Kreacher...I dunno, it's just a bit odd, him being out of side, raising a sword behind Harry.

I reckon it's Dobby though, and I reckon he'll absolutely pwn in the last book.

I wonder if we'll get to meet Hermione's parents properly?

Ooh, they could be for the hopping pot.

Maybe it's hidden to keep us guessing? Plus house elves have exceptionally strong magic; Dobby was able to defeat Lucius Malfoy with surprising ease in book 2. Maybe Kreacher is able to resist the Imperius Curse or something...

Hermione goes home for the summer to find the Dark Mark above her house perhaps? =O

Yes but what if he doesn't want to resist?

And also, who's to say that Kreacher's magic is any stronger than...was her name Binky? I can't remember. But either way, they were both frail old elves, and if Tom was capable of controlling an elf at a young age who was loyal to her mistress, then he'll have no trouble controlling Kreacher, who'd love nothing more than to see the dirty half-blood and his friends kick the bucket.

And no, I think if we do see Hermione's parents, it will involve Harry and Ron having dinner there one evening or something when they're in the area.

All that normality amongst the madness, quite a nice idea, in my opinion.

Ah yes, that's true that is. Maybe Dobby's the one who has the power to resist Voldemort, I don't know.

I thought that was the idea of Bill and Fleur's wedding; the calm before the storm...

Yeah, that's before they set out though. I meant one night when they're gallivanting about and they've just fought fifty death eaters they apparate to Hermione's and have a roast dinner or something.

*brilliant mental images*

Flaming Phalanges!:

Yeah, that's before they set out though. I meant one night when they're gallivanting about and they've just fought fifty death eaters they apparate to Hermione's and have a roast dinner or something.

*brilliant mental images*

Then Ron finally screws Hermione in her parents' bed?

Haha well I assume her own bed will be available for screwing in.

Flaming Phalanges!:

Haha well I assume her own bed will be available for screwing in.

Nah. Too small. Ron is rather large after all XD

Well who's to say she doesn't have a double bed?

Flaming Phalanges!:

Well who's to say she doesn't have a double bed?

Ron requires a king-size bed. Nothing less than the best for old Weasley.

omg ok more about the Gringotts thing!

Slughorn reveals to Harry in HBP (page 72 of the UK 1st Edition) that he has access too all the inside information and goings on at the bank.

o_O

Oooh, so much Gringotts info, and it only ever really appeared in the first book, the rest was just "they went to gringotts and got some money" there was no other stuff, so perhaps it's been biding its time?

Exactly if there wasn't something incredibly important going on, she wouldn't have gone into that much detail about it. She'd have hinted at the bank without a whole chapter or whatever on it, or used a simpler way for the wizards to access their money.