First, I'll start with the UK children's cover. Why adults need their own cover, I will never know. Anywho, we have a very mysterious black backround. In the foreground is a table with a very old, battered copy of "Advanced Potion Making" on it. This shows that Harry most likely passed his O.W.L.S and will be taking N.E.W.T level Potions. What would a HP book be without the Snape/Harry conflict? Snape is a critical character I believe, to the overall resolution of the plot (the subject of the next Pensieve).
Next is the UK children's cover. We see a lot of swirling fire. In the center we see A. a green backround and B. Harry and Dumbledore. Let's start with Dumbledore. He looks rather like Merlin to me, old, wise, and powerful. He is holding his wand afront (new word I made up) him in attack mode. He looks very intense; afraid, and concerned. Harry, too, has his wand out,, but looks far more afraid then Dumbledore. He looks somewhat in awe as well.
As a side not, I wouldn't take too much from these covers. JKR allows Mary GrandPre'(the American illistrator) to read the entire novel, for chapter drawings, so I would take far more from her cover.
Speaking of which, we now go to the US cover. As usual, Mary GrandPre' has provided a beautiful and thoughtprovoking cover. We soo lots, LOTS of green. The title in purple, and a creepycool looking handwritting for the subtitle. We also have Harry and Dumbledore looking into a basin which is emiting a yellow-ish swirl. Let's analyze further:
1. Colors- Purple is a major color in the series. The steps in the Quidditch Stadium are purple, Dumbledore wears purple, Lockheart's favorite color is lilac, the slleping bags in PoA are purple, and many more examples can be found here. Purple is the color of royalty, so it fits the title.
The green makes me think of the rumored "Green Flame Torch" title. Green, to me, symbolizes evil. My Plankton watch from Burger King is evil, and he's the most evil villian in cartoons today, hehe. The yellowish glow emmiting from the basin is great because of the way it is reflected off of the character's faces. The green, as with the blue on the OoP cover, gives the book a darker, edgier, more intense mood and feel.
2. Harry- Harry looks very inquisitive. I think he looks a little more youthful than in the OoP cover(of course, this could be becasue he isn't racing against time to save his godfather in the Dept. of Mysteries). He is looking into the basin as if Dumbledore is teaching him about it. His wand is in his left hand again, WHY!! Many wondered the same when this happened on the OoP cover as well. Several times we have been told he is right handed, so why is the wand in his LEFT hand? Also, may I point out how great his hair looks? Very handsome.
3. Dumbledore- This is Dumbledore's second appearance on a cover (he was featured, very subtley on the SS cover). Could his prominent-ness on the cover near the series' end also signal his near end? Dumbledore looks much older, more weathered and wise. he looks somewhat mystified by the basin.
4. The basin- The biggest question I have it, what it the basin? I think it is a pensieve. Who's? Well, one theory I have seen in the IHarryPotter.net forums is that Harry may learn to use a pensieve, to keep his thoughts from Voldemort. From Dumbledore's expression, it may belong to Volde or anoyher enemy. The mist is very cool and adds more of a mysteious and eerie feel to the cover.
Som what do you think? Which cover is your favorite? Or do you think all this is a load of bollucks, hehe. Let me know what you think. You never know what you might see when you look inside the Pensieve.