Harry Potter Book 7 *SPOILERS*

[AuroraBorealis]

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

I think it showed how love really is more powerful will always win. Narcissa took a great risk lying to Voldemort and, like Lily, probably would have died for her son. Even though they were on the bad side, love made Narcissa and Lucius concerned for their child.

 

[MyGoofy26]

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

I kept thinking that all my old Lit professors in college would probably try and retroactively fail me if they knew as I was reading that whole last part all I could think was how cool it'll be when the movie comes out

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

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.

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

As for the eyes, I think it also came about in book 6 when Slughorn gives Harry the vital information because he sees his mother in him.

I thought the tortured creature Harry saw was the piece of Voldemort's soul that died with him.

I was surprised that Narcissa helped Harry like that. I'm disappointed that Malfoy never really changed- I was expecting something brave from him in the end.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

I am so sad that it is over! I was so upset when Hedwig died, I could really feel Harry's anguish over losing his beloved and faithful pet and companion. And then Dobby too The rest of the deaths were incredibly sad as well but those two hit me the most.

I loved how Kreacher blossomed and really warmed up to them after being shown kindness. His story is so sad, being forced to watch somebody he watched die and not being able to do anything about it because he was commanded not to. How horrible to be so powerless.

I too would have liked there to be a bit more follow-up after the battle was over with a funeral and some more interaction with the survivors of the battle. The ending was good though I liked seeing that Harry got his wish and was able to have a happy and healthy family.

 

[MrsPete]

I know it was a war, but I felt so overwhelmed by all the deaths. I am a HUGE Lupin fan. How terrible for Tonks and Lupin to die!

I agree! So who's raising Teddy? Shouldn't it be Harry (and Ginny)?

I would imagine so. The book says he eats supper with the Potters at least four nights a week and Lily wishes he would marry Victoire so that he would really be a member of the family.

I assume Victoire would be the daughter of Bill and Fleur?

DD #2 has not yet finished and DD #1 and I are forbidden to discuss the book until she does. I thought it was so sad that Hedwig died and I cried when I read the chapter about Dobby....

I was very sad about Hedwig! I suppose that minor plot detail had to happen because Harry couldn't very well traipse about the countryside for essentially a whole year with an owl in a cage.

Oh my gosh when Fred died.....that's what about sent me over the edge. I love Fred and George, and it was bad enough that George lost an ear, but now he's lost his other half.

I fully expected at least one Weasley to die; given their blood traitor status, it's unrealistic that they've made it this far without a casualty! I thought Percy's reunion with the family was a little trite. I expected him to return to the family, but it was really just a paragraph and he was forgiven -- after all the trouble he caused, I expected . . . more.

I was so upset when Fred was killed I know it's mean but I wish it had been Percy!!!!! SO many deaths , I had to go back and reread some parts because I couldn't believe that not only was Fred killed but Tonks and Lupin!!!

And don't forget Mad-Eye. Since they couldn't find the body, I was very suspicious of that whole thing. I wondered if he'd turned traitor.

(like the tiara in the room of requirement) . . . I figured Neville would end up as herbology teacher, but it never said what Harry's job is now!

I mistakenly thought Aunt Muriel's tiara -- the one Fleur wore at the wedding -- was going to be the horcrux! I thought the Weasleys could've owned it all along, not knowing what they had.

I was also disappointed that we didn't find out what the heros became as adults. I expected that Hermione would become a Hogwart's teacher. And I was sure that Arthur Weasley -- the long suffering, good man that he is -- would become Minister of Magic. Kingsley, perhaps because he wasn't a main character, just never entered my mind. He's a very logical choice, of course.

Ditto! Didn't she say we'd find out what Dudley saw when the Dementors attacked him?

I thought some things with the Dursleys were a little "unfinished". Aunt Petunia looked over her shoulder as if she'd wanted to say something to Harry -- it seems that we should've eventually found out what that something was; I suppose it's supposed to be that she'd wanted to go to Hogwart's with Lily, but that doesn't seem to fit very well. I also thought it would've been nice if Dudley'd come back into the story at some point -- now that he's learned to appreciate Harry.

"Always." killed me. I think I'm mourning Snape more than any other character. He and Sirius both had incredibly sad lives.

Oh, didn't she pack an emotional punch into that one word! I believed from early on that Snape would die late in the series, and Harry would realize his worth only once it was too late. Harry would realize that the two of them rubbed each other wrong on a personal level, but they were really very much alike inside.

Did anyone else yelp outloud when Mrs. Weasly yelled "Not my daughter, you *word that rhymes with witch, but isn't*"!

I didn't like that at all -- it felt crude and unnecessary. I thought the profanity detracted from the scene and Mrs. Weasley's character.

oh there's Ginny... oh lets talk to Ron and Herminie and skip talking to Ginny... oh it's 19 years later. WTH! I waited the whole dang book to see what would happen to him and Ginny, to see the tears, to see Ron finally REALLY approve, and.... NOTHING!!!!!!

I think there was never any doubt that Harry and Ginny'd end up together! The Weasleys've made it clear for a long time that they consider Harry a son. He's been to their house for holidays, Mrs. Weasley knits him sweaters on Christmas -- marrying into their family makes it official; plus it gives Harry the one thing he can never have otherwise: a large extended family.

I also knew in my soul that Severus was a good guy. I didn't expect him to be so utterly heartbreaking, though.

Ditto for Kreature. A book ago I would've said he could never be a pitiful creature, nor could he become good. Yet a the end, when he was running into battle screaming, "This is for my master Regilus!", he's become "real" and good.

Im still wondering which were the two she didnt intend to die. Fred, Mad Eye , Dobby , Crabbe, The minister of magic ( cant remember his name ) Lupin , or Tonks (am i missing anybody?)

And it seemed that she kept TRYING to kill off Hagrid, but just couldn't seem to do it! Perhaps he was intended to die, but then she needed him to carry Harry's "dead body" to the castle. I was sure he was dead after the motorcycle fall.

Speaking of Moody -- did I miss something, or did Harry never unearth Moody's mgical eye that he buried in the forest? . . . 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.

I think he buried the eye out of respect -- not to hide it.

I loved that more than once things were said about Neville being strong and capable and "his parents' son". Thinking back to the earlier scenes in the DA, he's shown that he's very, very strong -- when someone teaches him instead of belittles him. I would've liked to see him kill Bellatrix so that he'd have personally avenged his parents.

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.

Yeah, Draco's story turned out exactly as I'd expected -- he was "saved", but not until the last minute. I think the kid who plays Draco in the movies is excellent: he appears haughty, arrogant, and biggoted, yet at the same time he's obviously afraid and insecure underneat all his bravado. I would like to know what's going to happen to his parents.

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

I wondered about that same thing! So won't the goblin be terribly upset when he finds it gone? Won't he assume he's been robbed and have -- in his mind -- a reason to continue hating wizards?QUOTE=Sonya;19879745]Dobby was very sad. I liked how Ron put his socks on him.[/QUOTE]I kept thinking that socks would be important for some reason: Mrs. Weasley tried to give Harry someone else's socks early in the book, then she sent Ron back upstairs to put on matching socks -- yet those things didn't mean anything. Given the previous Dobby-sock detail, I thought it was going to be significant.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I'm disappointed that Malfoy never really changed- I was expecting something brave from him in the end.

I can see what you're saying but at the same time...I thought it was pretty brave that he wouldn't identify them to anyone at Malfoy Manor after they'd been kidnapped. I think he really, really didn't want to see them killed, not even Harry. Sure, it was slightly cowardly that he didn't say outright "no, it's not them." and just kept repeating "I don't know"...but he could have easily given them up. And imagine what LV could have done to he and his family if he knew Draco had tried to keep their identity secret. So no, there was no huge moment of redemption but I really feel like that moment was a brave one on his part.

 

[damo]

I thought the tortured creature Harry saw was the piece of Voldemort's soul that died with him.

When Harry and Voldemort are circling each other in Hogwarts, Harry says, "It's your one last chance...it's all you've got left...I've seen what you'll be otherwise...be a man...try...try for some remorse"

I figured he was talking about the tortured creature here.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I didn't like that at all -- it felt crude and unnecessary. I thought the profanity detracted from the scene and Mrs. Weasley's character.

I guess that just shows how differently people can read certain scenes. I actually cheered during that line! I thought it was just such a powerful, mama bear protecting her babies moment. She'd just lost a son and came so close to losing another child...I can totally see something like that happening. The cursing was out of character but at the same time I think it shows how such emotionally charged situations can bring out things in people they might have never shown. I loved it.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I guess that just shows how differently people can read certain scenes. I actually cheered during that line! I thought it was just such a powerful, mama bear protecting her babies moment. She'd just lost a son and came so close to losing another child...I can totally see something like that happening. The cursing was out of character but at the same time I think it shows how such emotionally charged situations can bring out things in people they might have never shown. I loved it.

I agree, I like Mrs Weasley being so fierce to protect her child. Totally the momma bear instinct kicking in.

I do think that should have been Neville's battle, though. I guess that JKR didn't want him to kill, but I would have liked the closure of what Bella did to his parents coming full circle.

I'm still sad about Fred, he was my favorite twin! At first I thought that George was the reprive- maybe he was supposed to die instead of losing an ear? I can't imagine what life was like for him after losing Fred. Poor Fred- such a short but fun, action-packed life!

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

So glad to have found somewhere to discuss this!

A few observations...

Harry being the 7th Horcrux - I 'got' this halfway through the last book and I was so happy to be right. I couldn't work out though how they were going to 'kill' the horcrux but not the person (well I hoped Harry was going to live anyway!)

Does anyone else think that the Teddy Lupin storyline is to kind of square the circle so to speak? Tom Riddle and Harry were both orphaned early in their life and had pretty dreadful childhoods. I think even if Teddy wasn't brought up by Harry and Ginny, Harry would still have made sure that he had a much happier childhood.

I too cried at all the deaths - Dobby's especially - and loved the 'fiery' Molly Weasley in the end scene - you go sister!

The creature at 'Kings Cross' was defiitely Voldemort - or what bit of him had resided in Harry.

I didn't get the Victoire thing but of course she'd be Bill and Fleur's kid! I had a real 'd'oh' moment when I read it on here!

I'm glad that Snape was a 'goodie' in the end - and that he loved Lily so much was a real hert in the mouth moment.

The Ron and Hermione kiss was really well done - totally unexpected (well at that moment - it's been 'coming' for about 4 years) and all the more touching because it came out of the blue like that.

I liked the epilogue but I did feel it was done to tie up the loose ends for the younger readers and was a tad corny.

Finally the kids names...Harry and Ginny's kids were James, Albus and Lily....we know that Albus' middle name was severus. Where does Sirius come in? I'm hoping that James' middle name is Sirius otherwise he would have been 'forgotten' - and that would have been forgivable!

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

The Ron and Hermione kiss was really well done - totally unexpected (well at that moment - it's been 'coming' for about 4 years) and all the more touching because it came out of the blue like that.

Oh, I LOVED that moment. And I thought it was sooooo Hermione that she would lay one on Ron because he was FINALLY defending the house elves after all he and Harry's teasing about her S.P.E.W. crusade. It was the perfect moment.

Hermione has always been and always will be my favorite HP character. I love her dearly and I'm so glad she and Ron finally found happiness in one another. FINALLY.

 

[What the Heck]

I guess that just shows how differently people can read certain scenes. I actually cheered during that line! I thought it was just such a powerful, mama bear protecting her babies moment. She'd just lost a son and came so close to losing another child...I can totally see something like that happening. The cursing was out of character but at the same time I think it shows how such emotionally charged situations can bring out things in people they might have never shown. I loved it.

I also loved that line.

I think the book was, to quote Harry "Brilliant". I loved it. Didn't quite read it in one sitting, but was done by 9:00pm last night (less than 24 hours). I can't wait to re-read the whole series (if my boss finds a replacement for me and gets rid of me, would be a great summer thing to do - see my thread from today).

I think the deaths that were involved were necessary - as someone else pointed out, it was a war. And I thought it was great how Neville became the leader for the group. And, how he was the one to fight back even when there "wasn't any hope left" (with Harry "dead" that is).

I even liked the ending - a little of a come down after all the excitement of the book, but I started thinking about it. It's 19 years later, Harry has definately won - it should be quiet. It did provide a completeness (although I wouldn't be upset if JKR came out with an encylopedia type book for charity to tidy up the loose ends like she has hinted).

 

[Maleficent13]

Mrs. Weasley's battle at the end was my favorite scene of the book. And that's saying something. I too would have liked to see Neville finish Bellatrix, but he had enough to do.

I have always adored Neville, and this book was fabulous for him. What a coming of age.

As I said earlier (I think here, may have been another one of these threads) I really could have done without the epilogue. It was just too neat. I think it was more a character protection for JKR than a necessary end to the book. But, oh, well. Oh, and I think Luna and Dean ended up together. I figure Neville is still single, since I think all Hogwart's teachers are...sort of like in the old days.

I was stunned at Hedwig and floored at Dobby. Fred was too much for me. JKR has said her husband didn't like one of the deaths, and I'm betting it was Dobby or Fred.

I haven't read the whole thread so maybe this was already brought up, but why do you suppose when he used the resurrection stone, only his parents and Sirius and Lupin showed up? I have to reread that part.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

I haven't read the whole thread so maybe this was already brought up, but why do you suppose when he used the resurrection stone, only his parents and Sirius and Lupin showed up? I have to reread that part.

I wondered that, too. I'm guessing that those are the people that he most wanted with him at the time. It's the only time in his life Harry has gotten to do the normal kid thing of turning to his parents for comfort when he is afraid.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Just finished...

I'm so glad that it did end the way that it did, but there's also that sense of lose, as well. It's like losing a friend that you've known for so many years.

Was anyone else really upset about Hedgwig? (Haven't read the whole post- sorry if this was addressed!). It just seemed so... abrupt?

 

[Halloweenqueen]

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!

My thoughts exactly. This has been such a memorable weekend!

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Finally the kids names...Harry and Ginny's kids were James, Albus and Lily....we know that Albus' middle name was severus. Where does Sirius come in? I'm hoping that James' middle name is Sirius otherwise he would have been 'forgotten' - and that would have been forgivable!

Maybe James's name is James Sirius Remus Hagrid Ronald Fred George Potter?

 

[Kellyh123]

Ok, loved the book, and it couldn't have ended any other way...

Did anyone else yelp outloud when Mrs. Weasly yelled "Not my daughter, you *word that rhymes with witch, but isn't*"!

I literally wooted outloud and DH came running to see what was wrong Totally unexpected, but I LOVED it!

I think that was one of my favorite parts!
Every mother can relate

I just loved the book. Absolutely my favorite!
I can't wait to start rereading the book.

 

[MomofKatie]

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.

But when Snape died, Harry still thought he was evil- a murderer and Death Eater. It was only when it was too late (after seeing his memories in the Penseive) that Harry realized Snape's true feelings and where his loyalties were.

It was too late for him to tell Snape himself, but to name his child after him, that seems like pretty high praise and his realization that he had misjudged him.

 

[futreWDI]

I loved it!

Like other posters, even though I hated the fact that all of those peoiple dies, I do believe it was needed, especially because Harry was able to be the godfather that Sirius was never able to be. It does come full circle with Remus and Tonks deaths.

Teddy had to have raised by Andromeda because in the end Harry and Ginny say something to the effect that they should just invite him to live with them, hinting that he hasn't before, although he visits regularly.

I think the American edition cover is from the battle at the end. If you look at the whole picture, it is Voldemort and Harry reaching for something. I believe it is the wand that has just flown out of Voldemorts hand when Harry disarmed him. The background may throw people off but that is because we are all picturing the movie's great hall and for all we know this artist and JK herself may have had a little bit of a different picture.