[Dominic Harr]

The other Hogwarts kiddo who is my candidate for extraction is Neville Longbottom.

Let's see, isn't the story that Neville was born on the same day as Harry? And the 'prophecy' about "the chosen one" could apply to either Harry or Neville?

I'm guessing that Neville is, in fact, the chosen one. The twist would be incredible.

And agreed, Dumbledore isn't dead for good. The phoenix connection and all seems to foreshadow that.

I'm thinking of what happened in 'Dragonslayer', where the wizard had himself killed on purpose, as a precedent/influence.

[CholeraJoe]

That thought has occurred to me as well.

[retrokitten]

They were born at the end of July, I don't know if we know the exact date of Neville's birthday or not.

Reread Half-Blood Prince. Dumbledore goes over, in painstaking detail, why Harry is the chosen one. In short, it is because Voldemort marked him as his equal when he tried to kill him and ended up sharing some of his powers with Harry and he didn't mark Neville.

Here's the prophecy, just for reference...

`The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches....born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies.... and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies....'