Harry Potter Book 7 *SPOILERS*

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

Maybe I missed something while I was reading, But how did Draco end up having control of Dumbledore's wand ?

 

[MomofKatie]

Maybe I missed something while I was reading, But how did Draco end up having control of Dumbledore's wand ?

Draco disarmed Dumbledore before Snape arrived and killed him. Thus, he was the one to "win" Dumbledore's wand, not Snape. And, since Harry "won" Draco's wand, he was the person in charge of the Elder Wand.

** This was in book 6- Dumbledore even comes right out and tells Draco that he has disarmed him, and he has no wand to fight back with, so why doesn't Draco kill him? Snape comes in later and is the one to deliver the Avada Kedavra curse, killing Dumbledore- but he is not the one who actually "wins" the wand from Dumbledore. ***

 

[LadyBears]

Maybe I missed something while I was reading, But how did Draco end up having control of Dumbledore's wand ?

In HBP, chapter 27. When Harry & Dumbledore get back to the tower, the first person they run into is Draco. As Draco ran out the tower door, he shouted Expelliarmus at Dumbledore. From that point on, Dumbledore was disarmed, but Draco never took his wand with him, leaving it to be buried with Dumbledore.

 

[Teacher03]

My take was that the creature was Voldemort - he was seeing what would be left of him. They've spent a couple books now (last one and this one) talking about what making horcruxes do to your soul, so we see all these people (via the stone) just as they were in life and perhaps this is what happens when you rip your soul into pieces?

That is exactly what I thought. It was what was left of Voldemort.

 

[golfgal]

The person who was able to do magic later in life was MEROPE GAUNT. That tidbit of information came out before book 6 on JKR's site, she released that herself as a minor point in the plot and she KNEW everyone would assume Petunia. Sorry folks, it WASN"T in this book!


No, HOLY FREEKING CRAP is right!!!! Excellent book, buy far the best she has done!

I would have to say that Andromeda raised Teddy--Tonks said so when she came back to fight and the epilogue pretty much confirmed that Harry and Ginny did not.

I hope we get the Kings Cross scene in the movie too .

 

[BroadwayGirl]

Wow...so much...so good...

I think one of the things that I really liked is that the person who fooled Voldemort for so long was motivated by the one thing that Voldemort most scorned - love. Snape's ability to stay on Voldemort's good side, most especially his skill at occlumency, drew all its power from his love for Lily despite his hatred of James.

I hated that so many had to die but as others have said, sacrifices will always need to be made in times of war and often it is the innocent who must sacrifice the most. I think the deaths that were hardest for me to bear were Dobby and Fred.

Biggest disappointment was that the story just ended immediately after the final battle with no real opportunity to say goodbye to the fallen heroes. I know that many would be considered "minor" characters, but they are part of Harry's "family" and I think it would have been fitting to give them their due in some way before closing the chapters on this part of Harry's life. It was also a bit disappointing to not have more in the story about what was going on at Hogwarts for Ginny and Neville and the rest while Harry, Ron and Hermione were on the run.

I liked the epilogue as much as was there. It was good to see that while everyone has grown up and moved on with life their actual character and personality remained the same. Draco and Harry still don't like each other, Ron is still hopeless sometimes, Percy still wants to show the world that he is "somebody". As far as not revealing more about their everyday lives, I took it to mean that they really are just living everyday lives. Remember, Harry had the gold from his parents vault at Gringotts and subsequently was named heir to the Black fortune following Sirius' death so he and Ginny could just settle down and live a simple life out of the spotlight surrounded by friends and family. After all, this is what he has yearned for all his life. And yet, despite the fact that 19 years have gone by since the decisive battle, Harry will always draw stares in England's wizarding world for being "the boy who lived" and the man who defeated Voldemort.

 

[Jockaroo]

The person who was able to do magic later in life was MEROPE GAUNT. That tidbit of information came out before book 6 on JKR's site, she released that herself as a minor point in the plot and she KNEW everyone would assume Petunia. Sorry folks, it WASN"T in this book!

This is true. Merope was considered a squib by her father and was abused and mistreated by him due to his disgust. Once her father and brother left the house, some powers surfaced that allowed her to make the love potion to get Tom Riddle, and, therefore, led to the creation of the future Voldemort. Merope had such an obsessive love for Tom Riddle (adult) that when he left her, she was unwilling to fight for, or live for their child. I think it is key in the story that Voldemort's mother didn't show him the love that Harry's mother showed for Harry.

I am so mad about Fred. I felt it would happen because a twin death would make the most impact because it would "kill" a part of George also.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I would have to say that Andromeda raised Teddy--Tonks said so when she came back to fight and the epilogue pretty much confirmed that Harry and Ginny did not.

I don't think the epilogue confirmed that Harry and Ginny hadn't raised Teddy. On the contrary -- Teddy was over 19 years old at that point, two years past coming-of-age, and most likely living on his own. Yet Harry says Teddy comes round for dinner four times a week... sounds like something a grown child might do with his parents/family.

I believe the "creature" at King's Cross Station was the remaining piece of Voldemort's soul. It would only make sense that it was completely disfigured and disgusting, crying out as if being tortured, because it had been for many years. It also makes sense that it would be in "death" with Harry, as Harry and Voldemort were still completely intertwined at that point.

 

[Grandmax3]

I'm wondering if she left an opening for another series of books in between where this one ended and the epilogue. Or maybe a series about the next generation at Hogwarts.

This what I thought about when I read the last chapter. No more story of Potter but Potter of the next generation would be a great follow-up book series.

 

[MyGoofy26]

Ok, I finally have a chance to post a little more of my thoughts.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned (might've missed it though, I was reading through here quickly before a quick trip into work) is Harry addressing Voldemort by his real name. I thought that was pretty powerful there. Harry always showed a little less fear than everyone else by not being afraid to say his name (Voldemort) but Dumbledore always took it a step further, unafraid to use his birth name. So as they were facing off at the end, I thought it was pretty symbolic for Harry to address him as Tom Riddle - showing that he no longer feared him, didn't see him as anyone more special or more powerful than anyone else.


Kept wanting to find out what was going on at Hogwarts, but now that I've read the whole thing and have had a little time to reflect, I think it was a very smart decision on Rowling's part to keep it away from the story. I think it really makes the readers feel just as separated from "society" as Harry, Ron and Hermione were. The only thing they knew outside of their experiences were these tiny snippets, like when Ron left, when they got the radio to work, etc. They had to work with very little knowledge of what was happening outside.


Also liked the Dumbledore stuff. We spent six books with this idealized figure - omniscient and infallable. In this one we see that even the best of men have their faults, but it doesn't make them any less "good" in the end. It also ties into the recurring theme of the series that things aren't always what they seem to be. There are always characters in each book that end up shattering our first impressions.


I think I need to read about 3 more times to really digest everything though, LOL. LOTS going on here.

 

[mom2alix]

I think the character that got a reprieve in the earlier books was Mad-Eye Moody. Remember how he was found in his trunk at the end of the book and Barty Crouch had just stolen his eye? I think originally he was supposed to have been killed by Barty Crouch (Crouch had no problem killing, so why not have just killed Moody?) By keeping him alive and making him an important part of the Order, JKR was able to make a big impact with his death early in this book.

Thanks to the previous poster who cleared up that it was Merope in the earlier books who came to magic late in life! I couldn't figure that one out.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I think the character that got a reprieve in the earlier books was Mad-Eye Moody. Remember how he was found in his trunk at the end of the book and Barty Crouch had just stolen his eye? I think originally he was supposed to have been killed by Barty Crouch (Crouch had no problem killing, so why not have just killed Moody?) By keeping him alive and making him an important part of the Order, JKR was able to make a big impact with his death early in this book.

Speaking of Moody -- did I miss something, or did Harry never unearth Moody's mgical eye that he buried in the forest? I remember him burying it, and making a cross in the trunk of the tree to mark the spot... but did he ever retrieve it?

Did anyone else change their whole outlook on the Malfoys, specifically Draco? I used to HATE them all, but I grew to feel sympathy for them. Draco was clearly no killer, nor would he ever be, he just desperately wanted to be accepted. I loved the part at Malfoy Manor when Draco wouldn't give up Harry, Ron and Hermione, and later in the forest when Narcissa lied about Harry being dead just to be able to get to her son. In the epilogue, I felt that while Harry and Draco still weren't "friends" per se, they had a friendly understanding -- the little wave Draco gives Harry is huge. In their past, he would have ignored Harry outright, or sent a hex across the tracks.

I thought it was very interesting that each of the seven Horcruxes was destroyed by a different person, and I loved that Neville was one of them (I was so proud when he killed Nagini!). He really seemed to come into his own while Harry was away -- I think he finally got the support from his grandmother that he'd needed so badly, and he was able to show his true strength and magic without tagging along behind Harry.

Sorry, I know my thoughts are kind of all over the place, but I'm still disgesting!

 

[mickeyfan2]

The death that hit me the hardest was Dobby followed by Mad-Eye.

 

[golfgal]

I think the character that got the reprieve was Crabbe/Goyle, which ever one lived (I have to look it up to be sure).

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I think the character that got a reprieve in the earlier books was Mad-Eye Moody. Remember how he was found in his trunk at the end of the book and Barty Crouch had just stolen his eye? I think originally he was supposed to have been killed by Barty Crouch (Crouch had no problem killing, so why not have just killed Moody?) By keeping him alive and making him an important part of the Order, JKR was able to make a big impact with his death early in this book.

Actually, Crouch needed to keep Moody alive in order to continue making the Polyjuice Potion throughout the year.


I had thought that too but then I realized that and that's what made me think Moody wasn't the one who got a reprieve.

Actually, I honestly think Draco got the reprieve. I honestly thought he was going to die in this book but she chose to let him live and (sort of) redeem himself as not completely evil. He's still a jerk but not an evil one.

 

[MickeyMFan]

Did anyone else change their whole outlook on the Malfoys, specifically Draco? I used to HATE them all, but I grew to feel sympathy for them. Draco was clearly no killer, nor would he ever be, he just desperately wanted to be accepted. I loved the part at Malfoy Manor when Draco wouldn't give up Harry, Ron and Hermione, and later in the forest when Narcissa lied about Harry being dead just to be able to get to her son. In the epilogue, I felt that while Harry and Draco still weren't "friends" per se, they had a friendly understanding -- the little wave Draco gives Harry is huge. In their past, he would have ignored Harry outright, or sent a hex across the tracks.

I thought it was very interesting that each of the seven Horcruxes was destroyed by a different person, and I loved that Neville was one of them (I was so proud when he killed Nagini!). He really seemed to come into his own while Harry was away -- I think he finally got the support from his grandmother that he'd needed so badly, and he was able to show his true strength and magic without tagging along behind Harry.

Sorry, I know my thoughts are kind of all over the place, but I'm still disgesting!

The part with the Malfoys is actually one of my favorites in the whole book, although thinking back now, I do have LOTS of favorites! I LOVED that Draco wouldn't give up who H/H/R were in the manor. I LOVED that Narcissa straight out LIED to Voldemort because she cared more about her son than serving her Dark Lord. I LOVED that Harry saved Draco's life from the fire curse. I even cried during the Epilogue when Draco just nodded his head toward Harry.

I definitely need to read this book again! I will plan on taking it with me on our vacation!

April

 

[Twingle]

What did you think of Snape's memories? I was absolutely sobbing when Harry was watching them in the pensive. Poor Snape, I thought he was a good guy, but not to that extent.

I suppose that LV couldn't read Snape's real thoughts because they involved his love for Lily?

 

[mickeyfan2]

My take was that the creature was Voldemort - he was seeing what would be left of him. They've spent a couple books now (last one and this one) talking about what making horcruxes do to your soul, so we see all these people (via the stone) just as they were in life and perhaps this is what happens when you rip your soul into pieces?

This was my thought too.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

What did you think of Snape's memories? I was absolutely sobbing when Harry was watching them in the pensive. Poor Snape, I thought he was a good guy, but not to that extent.

I suppose that LV couldn't read Snape's real thoughts because they involved his love for Lily?

Could be, not to mention that Snape was an absolute master of Occlumency.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

What did you think of Snape's memories? I was absolutely sobbing when Harry was watching them in the pensive. Poor Snape, I thought he was a good guy, but not to that extent.

I suppose that LV couldn't read Snape's real thoughts because they involved his love for Lily?

Oh I know! And it just made me so HAPPY because I just knew all along that deep down Snape was a good person. A complex, tortured, and sometimes downright mean person but at the core, good. Of course, that made his death all the more bittersweet because we finally find out that yes, Snape is brave and good but he still had to die.


The stuff with Draco made me happy too. I've always felt that Draco was just a scared kid who parroted his parents beliefs because that's what was expected of him. I never thought he had it in him to be truly evil. The nod he gives them in the epilogue made me cry a little bit. It was so simple and yet it speaks volumes about how far they ALL came as people, especially Draco.