Phew! Sorta finished. And I can't wait to come back here. It's nice, yet I feel it's a bit slow in the middle, it nearly made me flip right to the end. Yeah, I took quite a bit of determination to refrain myself from doing that. Would anyone kindly answer me a question, though: who became the next Hogwarts Headmaster?

morosemocha wrote:

I'd like to think it Was McGonagall. I always pegged her for the next headmaster.

Thanks, she would appear as a really strict Headmistress, though.

Here's a link to a perfect fan video on youtube, depicting Snape and Lily's quazi-romance through fan art, to the song of Unchained Melody. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q69ZJkC- … mp;search=

Reply to Satyreyes spoiler summary which contains more spoilers:

Neville deserved a mention in the epilogue...I was too busy trying to keep track of all those little kids, and who belonged to which parents, and too excited and exhilarated to notice at the time, but Neville is mentioned as being Professor Longbottom. ^___^

Also, I failed to notice that even Hagrid seems to still be alive and well as Harry mentions to one of the children, "Don't forget Hagrid invited you to tea!" That's so nice to know, I have such a soft spot for Hagrid. After The Seven Potters chapter when Hagrid has a close call, I was terrified when the next chapter was titled: Fallen Warrior. Course, immediately relieved to see it wasn't Hagrid at all, but Moody.

I noticed that the trio, Harry, Ron, Hermione all drank quite a bit throughout this book. In the last, I think I remember Ron getting sick on a Butterbeer. But every other chapter of the Deathly Hallows, they seemed to be slugging down firewhiskey! Not that I'm complaining in the least, I think it reinforces the fact to us that they aren't 11 year old First Years any longer. There was also a parade of dirty jokes that were cut off right before they became dirty. "For the love of Merlin's saggy left..." comes to mind! I wonder if the adult version in the UK actually has the finished insults. Then, speaking of dark matters, there's the subject of what drove Ariana crazy. I read that scene as a sexual assault. Sure, you might be traumatized if you were physically beaten up, but physical wounds tend to heal after the initial damage is done, what leaves mental scars  - what would make a little girl go crazy and retreat into herself? There's absolutely NO evidence in the book that this is what actually happened, we aren't told. Aberforth just says, "The boys got carried away when she couldn't perform the trick again." But, being an adult, I read that as a sexual assault. I wonder who else did the same?

I wasn't prepared for the heavy anti-Dumbledore sentiment sprinkled throughout the entire book. But, we learn of his imperfections, which makes him more "human". The hardcore fans I was waiting in line with, when I asked them to give me a quick summary of book 6 before we had our 7th, they told the tale and when Dumbledore would reveal something secret and Harry would question how he knew that, they would point at their foreheads and say: Cause he's Dumbledore! He was like the all-knowing, almost Christ-like figure ( his goodness) I think revealing some of his flaws, while it disturbed me as I was reading them, all served a purpose to make his character more humane. Like we do with SKU, the more flaws revealed the more likely they are to be characters we identify with. Dumbledore from the previous books was someone to be worshipped and exalted. The real Dumbledore with flaws, is someone we can find similarities within ourselves to relate to. Taking this stance, I find it much easier, well I actually embrace the revelation of Dumbledore's weaknesses.

And Snape. My God! What a tragic love affair, his allegiance to the memory of the dead girl he loved. Waiting to buy the book, several of the girls in line remarked how HOT Allan Rickman (the actor who plays Snape in the movie) was. I was thoroughly disgusted. I knew Snape would be revealed as a good guy, but I was unprepared to see how completely selflessly good he had lived. Especially by forcing Dumbledore to keep his goodness a secret, I had mistrusted him throughout every single book - until the 6th one where my suspicions of his allegiance changed. He seemed like such an unsympathetic character to me. But now, I LOVE Snape's actor too! ;____; Snape, the victim of life-long unrequited love. In just one book, Snape becomes my favorite character. While I was reading about the Silver Doe patronus, I had my suspicion that it was Snape...but since my memory of the other books always fail me, and I knew Snape was the head of the house of Slytherin...I just assumed his patronus was a serpent, and I wouldn't be able to confirm or deny this without getting online and finding a website to search patronuses - which I didn't want to break out of the book to do so. So I let the thought linger in my mind, but assumed that Snape must have cast a patronus I had forgotten... though, with his interest in Dark Magic, and being a "friend of Death Eaters" I doubt he did cast a patronus in the earlier books. It would be interesting to see if anyone else, who DID know that Snape hadn't cast a patronus, was also suspecting that he was the one who lead Harry to the sword?

I read through fan comments on mugglenet to see what the majority reaction was. Here's the most hilarious snippet...
                                 snape_is_evil (8 hours ago):
                                  It is apparent to me that I now need to change my user name.

The other main complaint I noticed from about half the comments, was that alot of fans are complaining about the Epilogue being too sugary-sweet. Didn't fit with usual tone of the story, (yeah, it was happy when we all expected sad, that's good though, IMO) or JK's usual style of writing in cryptic codes. However, as this was the last book, other fans defend that segment saying it was Rowling’s gift to her readers. Leaving us with something pure and simple and sweet.

The other complains, that only fans who would have dissected the other books would come up with, were these: Apparently JK Rowling, or one of the books, said that in book 7 a Muggle would be forced to use magic late in life, due to some threatening circumstance. That was not addressed in the book. Could it have been Neville's grandmother? Another, was that JK apparently said she was going to reveal what Dudley's worst memory was, when the Dementor attacked him we know he was afraid, but not why... so somehow the fans had it in their minds that Dudley's worst memory was to be made public knowledge in the 7th book and that did not happen. Everyone also wanted to know about the Mysterious Veil hidden in the depths of the Ministry. Lastly, and most puzzling, was that everyone is griping about not knowing the significance of Harry's eyes being so like Lily's. I had forgotten this, but Harry uses his "Lily-eyes" to get the memory away from Slughorn in the 6th book, so JK Rowling was emphasizing his Lily-eyes even then. I think it's clear that his Lily-eyes give meaning to Snape's last words, but also probably played a part in making Snape, throughout the entire adventure, remember his purpose and his mission. Each time he looked Harry in the eyes, he would be reminded of his love and his purpose. DIRTY ROTTEN MIS-UNDERSTOOD SNAPE, I hated him for so long and now I just completely idolize him!!! What a beautiful life. ;_____;

I loved Mrs. Weasley's line too. "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!" Also the one from Neville, "Gran’s on the run!" Wasn't Neville always frightened in the previous books, about his grandmother's approval? I think it was amazing to make Neville, who I remembered as sort of a coward, turn into a champion by the end. And I agree that Narcissa impressed me with her suddenly revealing that the love for her son was over and above her political allegiance.

Mostly though, what the fans are saying is that: "It's over!!! *cries* I can't believe it ended. I began this book in elementary school, now I'm out of high school, this book marks the ending of my childhood." The most over dramatic comment I heard was on the news, "As I read the last few chapters, each word was like a death toll!"

So, again, I think JK Rowling did an excellent job closing her series. I am sad to see it go, but I hope she finds some inspiration in the future. She's certainly left plenty of doors open should she wish to do so.

Frosty wrote:

I hope she finds some inspiration in the future. She's certainly left plenty of doors open should she wish to do so.

AS/S stories Yes/Yes?

Last edited by alexielnet (07-23-2007 09:37:45 PM)

First I have to start off with, I won a free copy! Totally dressed up as Harry Potter, was the sexiest one their (Pictures are coming!) and I won the costume contest! WOOT!

Last edited by Sevelle (07-24-2007 11:23:16 PM)

Sevelle wrote:

First I have to start off with, I won a free copy! Totally dressed up as Harry Potter, was the sexiest one their (Pictures are coming!) and I won the costume contest! WOOT!

>.<POSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOSTPOST>.<

Yeah . . .



I like this one better, if only I had pictures of my fan girl stalkers.

Oh, goodness.

Cutest. Potter. EVER. *SMOOCHIEZ*

EDIT: Vampire!Snape would like to add that he'd "bite that." *snerk*

Last edited by Lady Nilamarthiel (07-30-2007 04:12:47 PM)

Wow, cute! Actually, you remind me a little more of David Tennant than any one else. And that's hot

Um, Sevelle? Yum.

As for the book itself... well I nabbed it around elevenish and stayed up until four reading. One sitting.

And now my spoilery responses:

I found it gratifying to be right about Snape and his involvement in Dumbledore's death. I didn't like him much but he was important and I was convinced of his loyalty though I really couldn't tell you why. It certainly explains why his worst memory from Book 6 was in fact his worst memory - not only was he humiliated, it caused him to wedge himself permanently apart from Lily.

I also read the boys' attack on Ariana as sexual assault for exactly the reasons Frosty mentioned.

And satyreyes I'm amused by your "golden monkey" theory but I never saw much similarity between Umbridge and Mrs. Coulter. Bellatrix Lestrange seems a much better candidate for that comparison. I think her Patronus would be a cockroach - a horrible little thing that serves no obvious purpose but just won't die.

Oryx and Crake was an amazing book. I adore Margaret Atwood.

I tend to think that Harry Potter is popular because it's good. To me it's in the same vein as Xanth or Discworld. But that belongs on the book discussion thread. If you want to know what happens, go to the Wikipedia article, it has a good summary there.

Sevelle, then, I shall be Ginny