Harry Potter Book 7 *SPOILERS*

[Dancind]

Finished it yesterday, still processing. So much information in this book, I'll be reading it again.

Dobby's death made me cry more than any others, probably because of the way it affected Harry. I was a little disappointed in Ginny's role in the book, thought she would be more prominent. All the talk of her being a powerful witch, and the 7th child of a 7th child kind of came to nothing. Well, she did marry Harry.

Would have liked a snippet about Luna too, since she was part of Harry's "posse". The book pretty much emphasized the friendship of the trio, and I guess that's as it should be.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

I was disappointed that there was no epilogue for Luna. Neville was included, why not Luna? Also, I wished we could have had a little bit of a story for all of the secondary characters, like the Weasleys (especially after Fred's death), the Hogwarts professors, and even the Dursleys. Also, did Hermione ever go to Australia to rescue her parents and bring back their memories? There were a number of loose ends that I wish would have been tied up, but I'm just one of those details-obsessed people...

 

[CourtasanSatine]

My version of Luna went to the states to study art(in a multi fandom role play I play her in)

 

[JLPooh]

It has been great reading everyones thoughts about the book. Everyone has been bring up great points, and pointing out stuff I seemed to miss the first time thru.

The one thing I have a question about is what is the seventh horcrux, I have listed them below with who destroyed each one. I am just having trouble figuring out the seventh.

1. Gaunts Ring (Dumbledore)
2. Slytherin's Locket (Ron)
3. Huffelpuff's Cup (Hermonie)
4. Ravenclaw Diadem (Crabbe)
6. Harry (Voldemort)
7. Nagini (Neville)

 

[BlkBearSuz]

The first horcrux was Riddle's diary. It was destroyed in the 2nd book by Harry.

 

[MyGoofy26]

You're missing Riddle's Diary - destroyed by Harry.

ETA: beat me to it!

 

[Mickey&Donald]

There's an informative Wikipedia page for the book, with a list of the Horcruxes as well as a list of all the named deaths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_potter_and_the_deathly_hallows

 

[nhrenee]

The "silver sword with rubies on the hilt" that Neville used to kill Nagini; was it G. Griffindor's sword?

I thought the goblin ran off with it?

 

[MyGoofy26]

Yeah, he did take off with it. I *think* (someone jump in if you read it differently) after the discussion on how wizards and goblins view the ownership differently (goblins see things as merely rented from them) that the sword went back to it's rightful "owner" - true Gryffindors at Hogwarts.

 

[Mickey&Donald]

The "silver sword with rubies on the hilt" that Neville used to kill Nagini; was it G. Griffindor's sword?

I thought the goblin ran off with it?

It was Gryffindor's sword -- Neville pulled it out of the Sorting Hat.

But... how did it end up in the Sorting Hat? I need to go reread...

 

[Nienor]

It was Gryffindor's sword -- Neville pulled it out of the Sorting Hat.
But... how did it end up in the Sorting Hat? I need to go reread...

Same way Harry did in the second book. Only a true Gryffindor could pull the sword out of the hat.

 

[pittypat]

So who do you suppose the new headmaster (headmistress?) of Hogwarts is? I'm going to imagine McGonagall, tho I always wondered if JKR would have Harry himself in that role. Guess not. Like other posters, I'm a "close up the loose ends" person so I wish that more of that had been done. But, JKR is a master, and I loved this book the best.

 

[hopemax]

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

After Dobby died, Harry says he finally learned how to close his mind to Voldemort. Grief. Although Dumbledore would have said it was love. I assumed it was the same for Snape.

There were a number of loose ends that I wish would have been tied up, but I'm just one of those details-obsessed people...

IMO, all those loose ends means that JK Rowling can't quite commit to leave Harry and that world behind forever. If she never writes another book, then it works at an ending. But if she does...there is plenty of material to cover. She started out writing a book for children, and it turned into all of this, so I wonder if the ending turned out to be more "grownup" than she intended. Now, she could theoretically go back to writing shorter stories meant for younger kids. Nothing so grand or ominous.

 

[JLPooh]

Thanks for the answer- I kept forgetting Riddle's Diary even though they mentioned it a bunch of times in this book.

I was wondering the same thing about the sword; wondering how Neville had gotten it, when Griphook had run off with it.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I really didn't like the death of Lupin & Tonks. Dobby's I understand- it was noble, and Harry's grief for him helped in various ways. Mad Eye's death made it clear from the start that this wasn't going to be an easy fight. But Lupin and Tonks almost seem to have just been tossed in to add to the count of losses. The very thing that Harry got mad at Lupin for- a child having to grow up without their parents- ended up coming about anyway.

ITA, I didn't like the deaths of Lupin and Tonks at all...and it did seem like they had just been tossed in to the death count. At the very least, a scene of Tonks being killed and Lupin avenging her or something would have been nice...something to make both their deaths and the orphaning of another baby boy, seem less pointless.

I also am still wondering who came to magic later in life. Did we miss this somehow in all the twists and turns?

I was very sad at Dobby's and Snape's death. Snape has always intrigued me and I never believed he was truly evil. I wish he and Harry and spoken, I wish Harry had thanked him, hugged him, squeezed his hand....or something...I'm not sure what, just something a bit more there.

And yes, the epilogue was a bit cheesy and not complete to me...what are the 3 doing now? Who is the new Head Master of Hogwart's? What happened to Luna? (I will just assume her and Neville married)

I know every question couldn't be answered and something needs to be left to our imagination, but I expected much more from the epilogue. I agree, it was "too neat."

All in all, I enjoyed the book and loved some parts, but it not my favorite of the series. In fact, out of the seven, I rate it 6th, with Goblet of Fire being my least favorite of the 7.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Is anyone else suffering from some Post-Potter depression?

I think it's part emotional exhaustion from everything that happened in the book, part mourning for beloved characters that died, part sad for the things that I don't feel were resolved, and part sad that it's actually over- there are no new stories to look forward to! In short- I'm bummed!

I really hope JKR revisits this world. I'd loooove to see a set of stories set back in the time of the Marauders!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Is anyone else suffering from some Post-Potter depression?

YES!

I woke up feeling slightly down and couldn't put my finger on it at first. As soon as I started thinking about the book, I realized that it was because it was OVER.

I hope she does decide to revisit, but I'm not counting on it. To me, it all seems very final and am happy with rereading and trying to find details I may have overlooked before, now that we have the entire story laid out and can see what has evolved from what parts of the earlier stories. If she changes her mind, it's all just a bonus.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

ITA, I didn't like the deaths of Lupin and Tonks at all...and it did seem like they had just been tossed in to the death count. At the very least, a scene of Tonks being killed and Lupin avenging her or something would have been nice...something to make both their deaths and the orphaning of another baby boy, seem less pointless.


And yes, the epilogue was a bit cheesy and not complete to me...what are the 3 doing now? Who is the new Head Master of Hogwart's? What happened to Luna? (I will just assume her and Neville married)

I think Tonks/Lupin are the two deaths she decided to add after giving another character a reprive. I'm not happy that they died, but Lupin was so important to Harry that I expected it. And he was part of the Mauraders who all lost their lives in some manner related to Voldemort.

I wanted to know about Luna in the epilogue, too. I think that if she and Neville had ended up together, she would have been mentioned with Professor Longbottom. I thought Luna and Dean had something going on towards the end! After spending all that time together at Shell Cottage and then battling at Hogwarts... There is a line on page 604 that Dean took Luna's hand as they rushed off into battle. Of course, I could be reading into it...

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Was anybody else as stunned as I was to finally hear Crabbe and Goyle speak for the first time?

I thought it was interesting, (and slightly ironic since he wanted to be a Death Eater), that such a minor character inadvertently destroyed a Horcrux.

 

[Sonya]

As far as Harry having Lily's eyes, that came full circle for me when Snape was dying and he told Harry to "Look at me". I couldn't figure out why he said that, but then it hit me that I think he wanted to "see" Lily before he died.

I also didn't get the whole creature in the room thing at King's Cross. Did I miss something or did she every really explain what that was all about. I need to reread.

ditto on the eyes thing, I couldn't figure it out either!

The creature was Voldemort, what he wold become if he didn't show remorse. Did you notice how she set that up? I think it was Hermione who said you could come back to yourself after having made a horcrux, but you had to show remorse.

I thought the book started with a bang and just held on from there! At least until they spent the time in the woods. That got a bit long. Love how it was Snape that sent the doe.

Hedwig dying was a big shock. Dobby was very sad. I liked how Ron put his socks on him.

I loved the battle for Hogwarts! I can't wait to see that in a movie!

I thought it was interesting that Dudders got some feelings. I wonder what he did see with the Dementors.

I hadn't realized that somebody different killed all of the horcruxes! That really does show how the "good" side is better because they work together.

Loved how Narcissa lied to Voldemort! Shows how much she loves her son.