I've heard that Sirius also isn't coming back at all.

BetteDavisEyes: could the other boy be Neville? (I haven't seen the back of that cover yet though.)

It could definitely be Neville. He's a little more faded than the rest, I think it could be any boy in the series.

After all the crying JKR did over Sirius' death, I doubt he'll come back. I think she did say the mirror Sirius gave Harry would be important though.

Since we have twenty HP threads already... should there be another one for HBP spoilers or should one of the others just be merged/converted?

Thoughts?

I think it's a good idea. When the book finally comes out people who haven't finished reading the book can still debate and speculate in this thread, while those who have finished can discuss the book without giving anything away.

As you wait for the stroke of midnight on Friday night, or as you read on Saturday, you might want to try this out (taken from The Washington Post, which adapted it from "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"):

Butterbeer

1 pint of vanilla ice cream, softened

1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1 bottle (3 cups) sparkling apple cider

Allow ice cream to soften, about 30 minutes, and bring butter to room temperature, about 2 hours. Cream together butter, sugar and spices in large bowl. Add to ice cream and refreeze. Heat sparkling cider in a pot until warm but still carbonated (at least 3 minutes). Fill each glass with a generous scoop of ice cream mixture and pour warmed cider over ice cream. It will foam like beer; hence the name.

I want to try this!

Also, Mugglenet has a Butterbeer recipie (not sure if it's the same one) and a few others.

I had to check. Mugglenet's recipe:

1 cup (8 oz) club soda or cream soda
½ cup (4 oz) butterscotch syrup (ice cream topping)
½ tablespoon butter

Step 1: Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2 cup (16 oz) glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1½ minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated.

Step 2: Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda. Mixture will fizz quite a bit.

Step 3: Serve in two coffee mugs or small glasses; a perfectly warm Hogwarts treat for two!

ETA: According to the Harry Potter Lexicon at The Leaky Cauldron, JKR was asked by Bon Appetit magazine how butterbeer is made and what it tastes like. She responded: "I made it up. I imagine it to taste a little bit like less-sickly butterscotch." So the Mugglenet recipe would seem to be right on track.

I wonder if they make sugar free butterscotch sauce... Though I think I'd prefer the Post's version. (I'll just give extra insulin...)

This may or may not be a spoiler so if you don't want to know, just scroll away.

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This is the cover for Half Blood Prince Deluxe Edition.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../HBPDeluxe.jpg

Take note of the knife in the tree, the creepy man, the shadow in the window (perhaps the HBP or someone else entirely). There is also speculation that this may be Spinners End (as the chapter title suggests).

ok this is getting harder and harder every day instead of easier, I really should have started to read the books again, but I think I will continue to read OotP (I started a few weeks back, I am reading like 4 books at a time now).

I will be up all night reading this book

why do all the butterbeer recipes literally including butter?
 

I'd think that drinking any concoction with liquified butter would be horrible. I made my own recipe 5 years ago, it was a real crowd pleaser at my HP club's Halloween Banquet:

*a DASH (YES, I MEAN DASH) of cinnamon
*a tablespoon of sugar (1.5-2 tbsp if you've got a sweet tooth)
* a cup of warmed cream soda


Mix the cinn. and sug. in a cup, then pour the soda on top. The cinnamon adds a kick to it and also causes the soda to bubble and foam. If you add too much, it'll taste too bitter, so use as little as you dare, esp. if you're only making enough for yourself! It also tastes good cold, that's how we served it at the party and everyone loved it.

I'm going to the release party as Angelina Johnson! I'm wearing a white polo with the Gryffindor crest (thanx google!) and a broomstick that has whatever her broomstick is (nimbus?)in Red and gold puff paint. I can't wait, I work at the bookstore until about 3am, and I'll probably be foolish enough to try to stay up and read some chapters, as dead tired as I'll be. :D

Re: why do all the butterbeer recipes literally including butter?
 

Hot buttered rum? (I know some people don't like it -- I love it.) I always thought of butterbeer being something like hot buttered rum.

My butterbeer is root beer, ice cream and buttershots. Obviously not for the kids, especially since I put a lot of buttershots in. But I drink this all summer long, it's great!

Here's the back cover wording on the book. Enjoy but don't read if you don't like spoilers!
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...kcover_450.jpg

I saw this this morning. Interesting that the back cover only seems to give light to what happens in the first couple of chapters. It almost seemed like there was more vague descriptions on the older covers, rather than here's what happens in the beginning.

Odd... but exciting to say the least.