Finished Deathly Hallows? SPOILERS WILL PROBABLY ABOUND.- Page 3

[PhebusApollo]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:19am

Most of my thoughts have already been mentioned, but I will add: Is anyone else curious about what happened to the Dursleys? I was hoping they would be mentioned in the epilogue.

[harris007]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:06am

Just finished, loved every part of it, and kitzy u owe me 10 bucks

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:12am

I just finished it. Never have I read a Harry Potter book this quickly. I'm upset I read it so quickly, only because that initial urgency and excitement in not knowing how it ends is totally gone. No matter how many times I decide to reread it, that was it.

I cried like a baby. It started when Harry and Luna returned to the Room of Requirements to find it filled with all the members of the Order, Dumbledore's Army, and Harry's Quidditch team. I lost it for real when Harry asked if it hurt. Oh boy...

I was so worked up by the time I got up to the conversation between Dumbledore and Harry that I think I missed a few things that were said. But I'm really glad Dumbledore wasn't really planning on Harry dying for all those years - cause for a while there, I thought he was an ass.

I wasn't thrilled with the epilogue. I'm kind of curious to know what Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron are up to - besides being parents. I thought the line about Snape was incredibly touching.

I'm also wondering how the heck they're going to fit this all into a movie.

Updated On: 7/22/07 at 03:12 AM

[DG]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:59am

“besides being parents”

There are a few things that have jumped out at me in this discussion, but for some reason, this is the phrase that induces me to chime in.

In my perspective, NOTHING matters as much as the education and influence of children – and ‘parenting’ is at the forefront of that endeavor. And just to be clear, I don’t mean to imply that only parents influence children – there are many examples of people without children of their own (some represented right here on this board) who do extraordinary things to ‘teach our children well’.

I’m a little confused as to what some people wanted from this tale. This woman has woven a fantastical myth for the ages, and one which hopefully is meant to inspire. You want cynicism and despair? Don’t look to her works, look in a mirror.

I am THRILLED that the final outcome is a display of ‘good’ triumphing over ‘evil’. That’s what works like this are intended for – to show us that to which we should aspire. Whatever happened to the concept of the hero – of wanting the ‘good guy’ to prevail?

I have stated before that I have been very interested in this complete opus, as NO ONE that I know of has the collective ear of much of the WORLD’S youth as Ms. Rowling has had. And I am so PLEASED that the complete message is one of hope, not despair. THAT’S what we need right now.

And, on a trivial side note, as concerns the ‘trite’ names of the next generation? Please look at the relationships of the parents involved, and who or what would be most important to the DOMINANT partner in the relationship. I think the names are appropriate (even perfect) for the people involved.

Ultimately, BRAVA JoAnne, and THANK YOU – may your efforts have even a fraction of the benefit for the world as they have had for you (and you deserve EVERY BIT of the reward, in my estimation!)

[Fantabulous428]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:03am

When I used the word "besides", it certainly wasn't in a "oh, they're just parents" type of way. Not at all. I just thought we would have been given more information in the epilogue. Rowling saw fit to let us know Neville became a teacher at Hogwarts - but what about the rest of them?

[DG]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:08am

Honestly, Fantab? I truly believe that's what she wanted to leave us with - to say it was the most important thing. Whatever else they did, they became PARENTS, and endeavored to pass on what they had learned.

Maybe it's my position as the partner of a retired teacher - and having seen what 'parenting' has devolved to - but I can't think of ANYTHING more important to show than that. At all.

I would have zero interest in knowing what 'job' they ended up with. But knowing that the good they created has at least a CHANCE to reach the next generation is all the inspiration (or knowledge) that I desire/require.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:20am

I completely agree with DG. Note that the final confrontation happened at Hogwarts, with the teachers and the parents protecting the students. The whole story is about the elders teaching and leading the young. It's beautiful, a beautiful message.

Fantabulous, can't we pretty much assume what happened to Harry and Hermione? Harry became an Auror, it was his life's ambition. Hermione devoted her life to repairing the relationships between wizards, muggles, and sentinent non-humans. We don't know about Ron but I imagine he works at the Ministry. I am entertaining the notion that he may in fact be a very influential wizard in the future. The text itself suggests what they would do with their lives. Since Neville was the fourth main character I see why she gave him closure. But we do know that these characters went on to lead full lives and that the battle was not in vain--I think the wizard world went on, and became the better for the fight against Lord Voldemort. Even then, the four of them did the most important thing any wizard has done for hundreds of years aside from Dumbledore--they kept the world free.

That fight revealed the inherent prejudice many wizards felt but did not express, and that good won out in the end means that it could only continue to influence--I don't know... I just found the end very moving.

Don't the wizards maintain a tradition of naming children after their forebearers?

All in all I thought it was incredibly satisfying. Every character played their part... I was almost overcome when Neville took out the snake. It felt like the prophecy was fulfilled, it doesn't matter who or what you are! The epilogue was a bit pat, but at the same time... right. It was what I wanted, I guess. JK Rowling is my hero. I almost cried a lot of times today, just thinking about the end, and all the things that happened. Harry's been a big part of my life, and I'm really glad things turned out the way they did.

Although I'll admit I HATED the final line. Couldn't she think of anything better than that?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:25am

Apparently, not.

[DG]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:32am

"The whole story is about the elders teaching and leading the young."

I'm afraid I can't COMPLETELY agree with that sentiment. It's certainly a large part, but as someone has already pointed out, there was a preponderant focus on the passing of the 'elders'. So, when the elders are gone, YOU are what you're left with.

I truly believe that that's her major message - self-reliance and integrity, with dependence on what you've been shown is 'right'. It certainly sounds like what a single mother would want to set out to show her only child (at the time.)

And a quick address to Ronin specifically - the final line references Harry and his ultimate state of being (as informed by the journey we were priveledged to take with him.) A lot of the power of this work is the identification that the reader has with the individual characters - and Harry is the one in the title - the 'STAR'.

Being left with the symbology of his found peace, acceptance and balance is the reward she want's you to know is possible.

Again, I wouldn't have had it any other way.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 4:59am

SPOILERS






I loved the name Albus Severus. Lily and James I saw coming, but a cute sentiment, nonetheless.
Dobby's death wrecked me...
The final battle was thrilling; I just wished we didn't lose Tonks or Lupin. Mrs Weasley was amazing!
And DG, I have to agree with everything you said. And honestly, I might be one of the only ones, but I loved the epilogue. It did a beautiful job of sending the ultimate message home, the one DG has so eloquently expressed.
I loved it that through the children, the journey (Hogwarts) was beginning again. But this time, they (unlike Harry) weren't alone. Not even Teddy...

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 5:05am

Yeah, I see that. I still thought it was fairly pat. Actually, my main complaint is that I think she could have come up with a more eloquent final sentence.

I can see your point about the story insisting on self reliance (I agree that it does to an extent), but up until the very final battle Harry is still unwittingly following Dumbledore's plan. I think Rowling is trying to say that our actions influence the actions of others--but ultimately, it is our own choices that determine our fates.

At the same time, that's what makes Harry so utterly unique. He is a person so singular, so driven, he seems untainted by the world--he makes the right choice regardless of the temptations of power, sex, etc... he even accepts death. Often, when nobody else believes he is making the right decision, he follows his gut and makes it anyway.

I think her point is complicated. For six books, nobody follows Harry, but he keeps following his own path. Finally in book seven, it rewards him. Basically she's saying--do the right thing, and other people will follow your example. One pebble can stand against the tidal wave of evil for it will produce many pebbles. The great thing for Harry is that he has two friends who believe in him, who love him so much that they will follow him to the ends of the world for his ideals. They make him believe in himself.

So in a sense Harry is the teacher leading the students, who must learn to take a stand and others (such as the Malfoys) must learn what is right. Dobby, Kreacher, even Molly figures it out--you've got to stand up for what you believe in, for what you love, or someone will just take it away. The Death Eaters could not love--they could only appreciate hate, pain, conflict, and the power to inflict these things.

I really appreciate how Hermione is just as much the hero as Harry. She and Dumbledore teach him so much about compassion. She gave up her entire life to follow Harry just because he was her friend. I don't think she did it to defeat Voldemort, I think she did it because she knew Harry needed her. Where would they have gotten without Hermione, ever? Hermione has such a boundless capacity to love both Ron and Harry. She's one of the most amazing fictional heroines ever.

[liotte]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 9:53am

In speaking about parents and their teaching and concern for their children- I found it touching that Narcissa Malfoy, when sent to check if Harry was dead, just wanted to know about her own son's well-being, and she lied to the Death Eaters and Voldemort and let Harry live. I thought that having so many of the characters that we have come to think of as bad- Snape, the Malfoy family (Draco not wanting to identify Harry and Hermione when they were trapped in his house), Kreacher- actually having some positive traits was a nice touch.

Also, the whole house elves story- Dobby's death was the one that affected me the most, and Kreacher turning around and leading the Hogwarts elves into battle for Harry was great.
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 09:53 AM

[harris007]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:41am

I liked the end, but was a little upset, they said nothing about Luna =(

[nztheatreluva]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 11:55am

I loved this book. I read it in about 6 hours and devoured every page. I actually liked the epilogue, but I always prefer to know what happens to characters afterwards anyway. I'm so glad Snape wasn't really evil, and I loved that they did show the Malfoys being more concerned with their son than with Harry-it made them seem like real parents. I cried for probably the last 5 chapters though, I could hardly read through my tears. And I LOVED the little lecture/speech that Harry gave Voldemort.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 12:01pm

I would have to say that Dobby's death actually hit me the hardest. And i loved that Harry dug his grave and did not use magic. My favorite part had to be Mrs Weasley though...she was just amazing, I knew Ginny got her stuff from somewhere! When Fred died I cried a lot, also for Lupin and Tonks. I thought it was appropriate that just Lupin was with Harry because while Harry knew Tonks, he had a much deeper relationship with Lupin.

That whole time when Harry was walking with though who went before him had me sobbing, it was such a moving scene.

Overall, this was my favorite book. I loved every moment of it. I just wish that it was not the end.

And I am one of the few people who did not min the names. I could see them all doing it, that is why it does not bug me. They were honoring those who died doing the right thing.

And i loved the Snape part, it was sad that it was at the end, but it showed me that I was right!

I am so sad it is over and know that the movie cannot possibly do this last book justice

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 12:40pm

I started crying before I even opened the book. Just looking at it made me cry.

I, too, would like to know what happened to the Dursleys. I wonder if they've become friendly with their wizard protectors.

I started crying as soon as Dumbledore told Snape that Harry would have to die, because I had been so convinced that he would live. Glad it turned out okay, though. And that entire chapter when Harry was decided to go to his death and was walking towards it had me bawling.
Although, I admit, I sort of wished Dumbledore was good through and through while I was reading it, I'm glad that we got to know more about him and that although he was flawed, he ended up being a good guy after all. (Right? I was a bit confused on some things.)

Also, to clarify, Voldemort had the Elder Wand until the very end, when Harry caught it, right? Although it had belong to Draco, he had never actually possesed it, and because Harry had taken Draco's other wand from him, Harry was able to claim the Elder Wand as his own. Is that what happened, or am I confused?

[KelRel]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 1:18pm

Elphie, that's right. Since Harry defeated Draco Harry became able to control Draco's wands.

SPOILERS


I didn't cry, but I did tear up a little in a lot of different parts. Hedwig, Dobby, Fred, ok all the deaths, and then when Harry walked to Voldemort willingly with his "family" by his side. The "Does it hurt" line about killed me. I loved the whole book and if they cut anything in the movie it will be horrible.

The epilogue was a little much, but I loved it. I am so glad that Harry finally got what he deserved- a happy family life.

Thank you so much to JKR. It was an amazing ride these past few years.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:15pm

Book 5 question/spoiler:


So I've been thinking about how all of the loose ends and clues and whatnot from the various books got tied up in Book 7, and I had a question- am I forgetting something, or did we never learn who sent Aunt Petunia the howler at the start of Book 5? "Remember my last, Petunia." Someone on wikipedia says that it was from Dumbledore, but Harry asks "who was that Howler from?"- wouldn't he recognize Dumbledore's voice in a Howler? And so I couldn't remember if we ever learned who sent it or not.

And then as for the Dursleys in the epilogue, I just figured that was the point- the Dursleys were blood, but they weren't really family, and so that's why they weren't there and we never learned anything more about them.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:29pm

The Howler was from Dumbledore.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:33pm

I'm totally forgetting then, when do you learn that?

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 2:50pm

Anakela: It's in Book 5. Chapter 37. Everything about the Howler is explained there.

You need return there [the Dursley's] only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, there he [Voldemort] cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen years."

"Wait," said Harry. "Wait a moment."

He sat up straighter in his chair, staring at Dumbledore. "You sent that Howler. You told her to remember - it was your voice -"

"I thought," said Dumbledore, inclining his head slightly, "that she might need reminding of the pact she had sealed by taking you."

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:05pm

ok cool, that's what I was forgetting- thanks!

[Atrias]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:08pm

I found the source of Petunia's "correspondence" with Dumbledore pretty interesting. I guess we now know why she has such a grudge against the wizarding world.

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:12pm

"But I'm really glad Dumbledore wasn't really planning on Harry dying for all those years - cause for a while there, I thought he was an ass."

But he DID, really. It's only since Harry's blood was used to bring back Voldemort at the end of GoF that Voldemort started preserving part of his soul, correct? (I can't double-check because both my parents have to get through the book...) But if I'm remember that correctly, then up until the end of the fourth book (with the infamous "gleam of triumph"), Dumbledore WAS planning for Harry to die, believing him to be the final Horcrux.

Aw man, Dumbledore really became FASCINATING in this book.

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/22/07 at 3:29pm

I guess there wasn't any significance to Neville's mom collecting gum wrappers. I wish we had found out for sure.