Finished Deathly Hallows? SPOILERS WILL PROBABLY ABOUND.- Page 6

[Ariella]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 4:51pm

Anakela - especially in Snape's memory (OotP), James Potter certainly did appear to be an ass. I think, however, that Rowling gave him enough redeeming qualities so that in perspective he is likable and eventually heroic. After all, it was clearly stated that James detested the Dark Arts, so he hated what Snape stood for as much as Snape. However, this sometimes cruel animosity didn't prevent James from saving Snape's life when the latter was in danger from Lupin, and that says a lot about James. The seventh book clarified that Lily and Snape had a history as friends - given the fact that James hated Snape and liked Lily, it's natural that he would resent that and vent more against Snape. Obviously not the most mature reaction, but understandable for a teenage boy. Lily has been portrayed well throughout, and if she finally did choose James, he must have become worthy enough for her love (something not to be underestimated). And of course, James did make the final sacrifice for Lily and Harry.

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 5:09pm

I also loved how different people destroyed each Horcrux, it just made me so happy. I hate that I am one of the only people I know who is done with it!

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 5:14pm

Anakela & DBillyP, Great points. Both are possibilities.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 5:22pm

Lily has been portrayed well throughout, and if she finally did choose James, he must have become worthy enough for her love (something not to be underestimated). And of course, James did make the final sacrifice for Lily and Harry.

Oh yeah, I totally agree on the James redeemed, matured, turned himself around, grew up, etc. fronts, Lily loved him, no question about any of that, I just...I feel like, as a reader, I'm supposed to be affronted and offended and whatnot when Draco, et al., use the term "mudblood," and yet how is that any diff than teenage James using a spell on Snape to hang him upside and such because Snape was considered to be 'beneath' The Marauders? Yet Draco's a 'bad guy' and James, even teenage James, is a 'good guy.'

And I think what also bugs is that only Snape ever called James an ass (well not an ass exactly, but Snape was the one to say James was arrogant, etc.), and no one else ever called James on anything, when speaking of the man he was always just 'brilliant' and 'cool' and whatnot- if a character besides Snape would have said and acknowledged that James wasn't always this perfect brilliant Quidditch Head Boy, maybe it wouldn't be bugging me so.

Mostly, though, now I'm wondering if Harry Potter could have been Harry Potter if he'd never grown up with the Dursleys.

eta: I also loved how different people destroyed each Horcrux, it just made me so happy. I hate that I am one of the only people I know who is done with it!
I feel you- I know two people 'in real life' who have finished, so I have pretty much been talking here more than I've been talking to anyone else. :)
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 05:22 PM

[Ariella]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 5:40pm

Hm, but Draco turned out to be more complicated than a straightforward 'bad guy.' Most of the characters were not allowed to be one-dimensional in terms of loyalty, honor, etc., and I think that's true for Draco, Snape, and James. Draco confounded readers' perception of him when he couldn't kill Dumbledore, and James himself managed to change. Because of character development, it's difficult to label James OR Snape as 'good' and 'bad.'

I find James interesting because he seems to me like a "could have been" for Harry. The book is riddled (no pun intended) with characters who represent other paths Harry could have taken - such as Voldemort - and James could be such a character. You mentioned wondering what Harry might have been like if he hadn't been raised with the Dursleys... I think the young James is similar to what Harry might have been had he grown up in a happy home with no horrendous past. He would have had the confidence and arrogance of being the talented son of two talented parents. Animosity would have arisen between Harry and Draco again, and in that case his feuds with Draco would have been similar to those between James and Snape. To me, it seems as though Harry and James always had similar ideals, but their incredibly different life experiences (i.e. Harry suffered in ways James didn't) separate their childhoods.

In the fifth book, Lily did quite vocally express her loathing for James - Snape was not the only one. With that in mind, the fact that she changed her mind is all the more significant.

And I'm totally in the same boat. Only one of my friends has finished the book and it's driving me crazy to shut up about it.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 7:05pm

I liked that we see exactly why the scene that Harry saw was Snape's worst memory -- not just because he was taunted an humiliated, but primarily because he made a terrible mistake and said something to Lily that he couldn't take back.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 7:39pm

I've grown to like Snape more than James now but that's only because we know so much more about Snape as of the final book. We'll never know anything about James except that he was an arrogant, talented youth who grew up into a well respected and loved man who sacrificed himself for his family. A lot of the pure blood wizards seem to be slightly arrogant in the story, and James, from a prominent family and blessed with exceptional skills, is all the more admirable for the fact that he grew out of it and became a better person.

I don't think Lily would have ever chosen Snape. It seems to me it was always a one sided love, romantically. Otherwise she would have chosen to follow him to Slytherin house, no?

[flicker_]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 7:57pm

Finished the book this morning at 2 am. Wow. I started crying even in the beginning, when Harry looked at the cupboard under the stairs. It just brought me back eight years ago when I first fell in love with the books and the beginning of this wonderful journey.

Every death of the "good side" really hurt me. Even Hedwig! That was just so sad, the fact that an innocent animal wasn't even safe. Dobby's death was also extremely powerful, and woah if they put that scene in the movie it's going to be quite gruesome, with the knife and all. Fred's death really sent me over the edge. The twins were always favorites of mine, and I knew that Fred's death would mean that George would never really be complete again. Lupin and Tonks! Oh, why did they have to have a child? That just made it 100 times worse. I've always loved Lupin and I was really hoping that he would remain alive and also kill Greyback...

Mrs. Weasley is my new hero. Neville was amazing. I knew that he would eventually have a big part to play, considering how he was also connected with the prophesy. Snape turned out to be the ultimate tragic hero, and I thought his love for Lily was really touching and made him seem more human.

The tension in me while reading this book was really high because I really got the sense that everyone was in danger, not just Harry, Hermione, and Ron. No place could be completely protected. Everyone seemed so vulnerable, so there really wasn't a place in the book where I was able to sort of take a breath and relax, excepting the ending. But, that's a good thing considering it's the last book.

Oh, "The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming." Most frightening lines in the book.

Overall, I loved it, but I am so heartbroken that the journey is over.

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:17pm

I'm guessing that Teddy was probably raised by his grandmother, Andromeda. Harry's in no place to start raising a child at 17, and no one should really expect him to. I'm sure that he was incredibly present in Teddy's life, though.

[kelzama]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:16pm

Did Lavender Brown turn into a werewolf? or was she killed?

I love the subtle foreshadowing: Auntie Muriel, at the wedding, whining to Hermione her dress was too short and her ankles were skinny, Ginny that her dress was too low, Ron that his hair was too long, and...George that his ears were lopsided. Caught that on a reread.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:45pm

I just got done with it. Oh my God. I will read anything and everything J.K. Rowling comes out with in the future, because I think she is absolutely brilliant in every way.

I only wish they said what happened to Luna, though.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:56pm

kelzama... wasn't that AFTER he lost his ear? That's not foreshadowing.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:58pm

Raviolisun - a friend of mine said that he caught some foreshadowing that Luna & Dean would end up together. Something about them holding hands when they were leaving the Room of Requirement... And I suppose they would've had time to bond in the Malfoy's basement... I don't know, I missed it. But there's a theory for you.

[BroadwayChica]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:59pm

Yeah, none of that is foreshadowing.

This, however, IS a nice little bit of foreshadowing. In Chapter 14:

"Hermione was watching Ron fret over the fate of the Cattermoles, and there was such tenderness in her expression that Harry felt almost as if he had surprised her in the act of kissing him."

Since, you know, she does end up kissing him after he expresses concern over the fate of others.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:00am

Thanks, FF. I was hoping they would end up together.

And Mrs. Weasley is my hero. I can't wait to see that part done on film [and they better keep that line in.]

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:39am

Was looking at another site, and someone there suggested Stan Shunpike as the person who develops magical ability late in life. He was known as a squib, but was able to fight Harry under the Imperius Curse.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:00am

Oh yeah! Was he actually a squib though?

I figure Luna would continue on the Quibbler. I was actually thinking the other day if she ended up with anybody or not. She really is an odd sort of person.

Xenophilius Lovegood was nothing like I pictured Luna's father!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:10am

SPOILERS ABOUND!!!


















I loved it. The most action-packed book I've read.

My heart was pounding when Harry was approaching the forest fully aware of his fate. My heart sank when Harry was asking if it would hurt.

I was absolutely cackling when Mrs. Weasley barged in and said that amazing line. Her battle with Bellatrix was superb. Exactly the end that horrid woman deserved. I love how you never hear Mrs. Weasley utter the curse. You know she does but J.K. just describes the curse hitting Bellatrix, not the actual words coming out of her mouth.

And Harry's final confrontation with Voldemort was a triumph. It was exactly what I wanted it to be. Harry screaming at Voldemort, not letting him get a word in edgewise. Completely psyching him out and infuriating him until finally raising his wand to strike.

Two questions:

- Was Harry aware that Voldemort's curse would backfire? Because at the very end he tries to disarm him instead of saying the killing curse when he knew very well that Voldemort had to die. I can only assume he knew what would happen.

- What do we think happened to the Malfoy parents? I'm surprised Draco wasn't arrested. He never truly acted against Harry but never actually did anything to help, either. And his ties were to Voldemort.

What a fabulous ending. I cannot wait for the movie.

Updated On: 7/24/07 at 01:10 AM

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:40am

Um...I don't believe Stan Shunpike is a squib. Obviously he's not very talented, but I don't think there's ever been anything about him being a squib.

I'm also rather surprised that Draco wasn't arrested. Maybe he had a brief stint in Azkaban. After all, he did work for Voldemort and was the one who made the Death Eaters' entrance into Hogwarts possible.

[Raviolisun]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:49am

Oh, and um...Expelliarmus? Again?

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 3:01am

"anyone else see some parallels with the Star Wars mythology? Not overt or exact.. but.. "shades" of some elementals... "

I saw this as well. Ronin makes a good point. I'd have to reread to see what may have been SW specific. However, there are definitely Lord of the Ring allusions.

I thought it was excellent. I applaud Rowling for succeeding gorgeously on an incredible 7 part saga.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 4:14am

I thought there was a pretty clear similiarity to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Both Aslan and Harry meet their fates in a dark forest by the hands of their nemesis while he/she is surrounded by wicked supporters only to come back to life miraculously to embolden the army of good guys and ultimately destroy the main villain. Biggest difference is that Harry isn't a thinly veiled Jesus character.

Also the locket (and all the horcruxes, I guess) reminded me of the one ring but Voldemort is a way better villain than Sauron anyway. Besides, Tolkien's one ring is sort of nebulous (okay, what does it do? Why? Why is Sauron destroyed when it's destroyed?) whereas Voldemort's horcruxes are completely explained.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 6:59am

Oh, I loved that Harry defeated Voldemort with Expelliarmus! At the time, they'd been speculating on the true master of the Elder Wand, so it makes sense that his instinct would be to disarm. And it was great that that was mockingly considered his "signature move" that he'd been warned to stop using, but he'd defended it multiple times (like when the DA thinks it's a lame spell to have to practice).

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:17am

I think Expelliarmus was a brilliant move. I think it was Harry's "signature move" because Harry never really ever wants to kill someone. He'd much rather stun or disarm them. And don't forget how forgiving he was of Peter Pettigrew...if ever there was a time for revenge! I was actually surprised when he used the Cruciatus curse.

Plus, by using Expelliarmus and causing Voldemort's curse to rebound on itself, Harry doesn't really kill Voldemort, Voldemort kills himself. I think if Harry had actually been the one to kill him, we might see a very different Harry Potter than the happy family man we see in the Epilogue.
Updated On: 7/24/07 at 08:17 AM

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/24/07 at 8:19am

in 10 words or less, who dies?