I really apologize if a bunch of this has been said already. I only read to page 17 before I had to post so my DH could use the computer. So here goes! I loved the book! It was a lot like I thought it would be and was well worth the wait.
I don't know if this is the reprieve everyone is talking about but Mr. Weasley was supposed to die in book 5. She gave this tidbit in an interview. Hagrid was never supposed to die because when she drafted the story it was with the intent that Hagrid would carry Harry from a battle at the end of the series.
Lupin and Tonks were always supposed to die. Their death is reminiscent of James and Lily, but instead of being shunned their child would get to live in peace with the wizarding community.
Harry and Ron become Aurors. Hermione works for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Interview with the Today Show.
Keep in mind that Lily and James were only 20 or so years old when they died. They hadn't been out of school too long, and with Voldermorte alive at the time, and James with a family fortune, they may have spent all their time with the Order and not really had jobs. Hence their lack of mention.
A couple characters I was surprised were missing: Moaning Myrtle and Fawkes. I thought sure Fawkes would come back to Harry, esp after Hagrid died.
I really thought that when Ron and Hermione disappeared during the battle prep they had gone to ask Myrtle if she knew anything...I mean, she died when he was at school so she could have had the information all along!
It's at the beginning of chapter 35, King's Cross.
Yeah, I've seen it a lot in movies; it's a bit tired. Except here, instead of white room, it's an empty train station. And what was with the "creature" in the room?
That was weird. But I did like the end of it, where Dumbledore told him it was all in his head.
The creature seemed to me to be like the Voldermorte the Wormtail lifts up at the end of Goblet of Fire, before he has his body back.
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.
I love your post! I completely agree and you say it all so well!!!
I didn't have time to read the whole thread, but I wanted to ask my questions before I leave for work! Sorry if the answers are somewhere in pages 6-15 of the thread!
1) HOW did Dumbledore get the wand from Grindelwald if it was a wand that could never lose a duel? Was that ever explained? Or am I not understanding the Elder Wand?
2) HOW did Neville get the sword back from the goblins? The last we saw of the sword was at Gringotts, and the goblin had it, correct? The 3 escaped on the dragon without the sword, and all of a sudden Neville pops up with it at the end?
They never say that the battle between Dumbledore and Gridelwald was too the death, so I assume he won it by wit. I don't think the wand had to defeat through killing.
Can Goblin made pieces be enchanted? Its entirely possible that the sword was enchanted to always return to its rightful owners, Gryffindors!
You rock, Girl!!!
