Harry Potter Complete Book Spoiler Thread

[mcnuss]

Yup..33 yo mom here, with a 5yo and almost 2yo...both too young for the book. While 2yo was taking her nap, I actually let 5yo play 2 HOURS of Playstation (don't worry, age appropriate games ), just so I could finish it. I hope he knows that 2 hours will NOT be the norm (at least until book 7)

43 yo old Mom with 11 yo DD who got into an argument this afternoon over the book! She had a friend over to play (arranged by yours truly, am I evil?) and when the kid left, I had just gotten to the death scene and could not bear to hand over the book! She finally relented to allow me to finish and now it's 9:30 and she's on the second to last chapter and I won't make her go to bed until she's done.

We have a tradition that when we finish one, we go back and start reading them all again, so tomorrow I'll start with the Sorceror's Stone!

 

[bethbuchall]

It is so great to have this thread! I've been wanting to talk about the book, but no one here is done with it yet.

Thanks!

 

[wasabi girl]

What was Malfoy doing with Moaning Myrtle? Did I miss it? Why was he talking with her?

 

[teacherforhi]

What was Malfoy doing with Moaning Myrtle? Did I miss it? Why was he talking with her?

I don't think Malfoy sought out Myrtle, but she found him when he was crying in the bathroom (on more than one occasion, I believe). It points more toward Malfoy being a redeemable person by the fact that it seems he was wrestling with the thought of being forced to kill Voldemort.

Even though Malfoy has always been depicted as a mean person, I've always thought it was at least partly show. He hates Muggle-borns, but he was raised to do that. But Malfoy never knew the horrors of what happened during Voldemort's reign the first time. He's no doubt heard the stories, but I'm sure with Lucius doing the talking, Voldemort was always in the right. Now that Voldemort is operating in full force, Malfoy is realizing what his father was really involved in and is having to deal with it.

 

[dudedisney]

Got home yesterday evening to find hubby had bought the book and I didn't get started on it until late but I stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish it. Went to bed mad!

Now that I've had time to digest it, I think that the seventh is going to be the best one yet. Harry has to fight V alone. DD is definitely dead but he knew that was a possibility and I think he had asked Snape to help make sure things went right.

I'm betting that Draco ends up helping Harry after all, Snape sacrifices himself for Harry, and Ginny plays a huge part in it because of 'love'. I'm just wondering where the showdown will be. It almost has to be at Hogwarts because that's the most familar place.

And so the waiting goes on...

 

[jellymanoffspring]

I don't think Malfoy sought out Myrtle, but she found him when he was crying in the bathroom (on more than one occasion, I believe). It points more toward Malfoy being a redeemable person by the fact that it seems he was wrestling with the thought of being forced to kill Voldemort.

Even though Malfoy has always been depicted as a mean person, I've always thought it was at least partly show. He hates Muggle-borns, but he was raised to do that. But Malfoy never knew the horrors of what happened during Voldemort's reign the first time. He's no doubt heard the stories, but I'm sure with Lucius doing the talking, Voldemort was always in the right. Now that Voldemort is operating in full force, Malfoy is realizing what his father was really involved in and is having to deal with it.

Nice explaination......wish we could ask Moaning Myrtle exactly what Malfoy said to her.....

The only problem with reading the book so fast is that the wait for the next book is longer....HAHAHA

 

[wasabi girl]

Any thoughts about why Harry doesn't seem to have any family members? James was wizard born...seems like there should be grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles...someone.

 

[roadtripper]

Thank you all for this thread!
I got dibs on HBP, and DH is only on page 250 or so-- no one to talk about it with yet!
Some questions--
Why do Ron and Hermione doubt Harry re: Malfoy when so many of his predictions and feelings have proved true? (I kind of knew that DD was on to Draco, but why would Harry's friends treat him like he was hysterical?)
Why does Dumbledore's Army break up when it is CLEAR that students need extra defense training more than ever now that LV is back? There is one lame reference to Umbridge being gone, so they don't need it any more, but she was never the real reason for DA, was she? (IMHO, that was some of the best stuff in OOtP.) This bugged me more than anything else in the book.
Why so little focus on Snape and the DADA class?
Doesn't Harry know that people in the Requirement Room are not on the Marauder's Map?
What happened to Neville?? He was so great in OOtP!

Some observations re: the book and this thread-
Whoever mentioned Regulus Black as RAB originally--brilliant!
Godric's Hollow reference--also brilliant!
Love the whole Joseph Campbell hero's journey stuff--DD must die, Harry must fight alone--fits with the series
DD as a kind of Obi-Wan through conversations with his portrait at Hogwarts (as a previous poster mentioned).
I really thought Harry's mother had some connection to the Advanced Potions book, since she was great at Potions-anyone else?
I agree with those who thought that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to DO it, not to spare him.
Snape turns around while escaping and tells Harry not to do an unforgivable curse-- Cruciatus (sp?)--not as a threat, but as a caution, I thought.
Draco Malfoy could prove to be a very interesting character in Book 7.

What do you think of this for Book 7? --
McGonagall as Headmistress
Lupin as DADA teacher
Tonks in Potions and as head of Gryffindor--something happens (a Horcrux is discovered?), and Harry comes back to help them--final battle with LV is on the grounds of Hogwarts-- refers to that whole line re: Dumbledore will never die as long as there as those who support him--(sorry, not exact-- DH has the book!)
And here I was signing on for some Disney dreaming--wonder how many HP/Disney fans there are out there? Thanks everyone!

 

[MrsKreamer]

All I can say is WOW. It took me less than a day to finish and now I can't go near it! I think that speaks volumes about JKR's writing. She has us so involved we have to remind ourselves it's just a book! What is going to become of us after book 7 comes out? Of course we still have the movies!

 

[Lynda Silk]

Jellymanoffspring, I just wanted to add that you are soooooo right about the waiting...we waited so long for this book, read it in one day, and now the wait is starting all over again!

I thought too that we might have learned more info re Petunia in this book and what she knows about the wizarding world. However, maybe all that will come out in the next book along with the info on Harry's family.

Book 7 is going to be a doozy! Lots of things and loose ends to cover and finalize!

 

[teacherforhi]

Why do Ron and Hermione doubt Harry re: Malfoy when so many of his predictions and feelings have proved true? (I kind of knew that DD was on to Draco, but why would Harry's friends treat him like he was hysterical?)
It's just hard to believe that anyone would willingly join up with a murderer like Voldemort. Plus, when Dumbledore didn't seem that upset over it (although I think he knew), it makes it easier to tell Harry to lighten up.
Why does Dumbledore's Army break up when it is CLEAR that students need extra defense training more than ever now that LV is back? There is one lame reference to Umbridge being gone, so they don't need it any more, but she was never the real reason for DA, was she? (IMHO, that was some of the best stuff in OOtP.) This bugged me more than anything else in the book.
Of course she was the reason for the DA. If she had actually taught them anything in DADA, then there would have been no reason for the DA. Remember, most of what Harry learned to survive until his fifth year, he learned in DADA.
Why so little focus on Snape and the DADA class?
Actually, we were focusing on Snape in the past as opposed to the present. It said a good bit about him that he was creating better potions and new spells even as a student at Hogwarts.
Doesn't Harry know that people in the Requirement Room are not on the Marauder's Map?
He probably does since they used it so much last year. However, he was thrown off by never seeing Crabbe and Goyle, only the little girl.

 

[Swimnoid]

I kind of see this book as the last in the original series. What with the end of Hogwarts as it's always been and Harry Ron and Hermione not returning. I think I might see the potential for a book dedicated to finding each of the Horcruxes. I know she vowed only to do 7 books, but we can always hope, right?
QUOTE]

I agree. The Horcruxes are such a sweet setup for more books!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Doesn't Harry know that people in the Requirement Room are not on the Marauder's Map? He probably does since they used it so much last year. However, he was thrown off by never seeing Crabbe and Goyle, only the little girl.

OK, I do have to wonder about this particular one. Harry probably should have known about people not being on the map if they are in the Requirement Room. BUT the map shows TRUE identities, not the ones projected by the Polyjuice potion or other spells (Petigrew slinking around as a rat in PoA and Bartemous Crouch, Jr rather than Moody searching Snape's office in GoF).

Not to mention the fact that Harry is 16 and does not always think with his brain!

 

[phillybeth]

Now, I still don't quite firmly believe Dumbledore is dead... Or not really. I mean I keep getting this flash in my head of an old guy in robes with a nifty glow-in-the-dark swishy-poke telling this evil black-robed guy "Strike me down and I will be stronger than you can imagine" or words to that effect.

Oh yes! Lots of SW references and comparisons. Even to the point where Harry had to witness DD's death- anyone else wonder why DD just froze him rather than casting another spell, or even calling Fawkes to take Harry elsewhere?

 

[phillybeth]

Any thoughts about why Harry doesn't seem to have any family members? James was wizard born...seems like there should be grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles...someone.

I believe JKR already said that the whole Potter family was wiped out by Voldemort.

 

[tinkerbell16950]

I finished the HBP on Saturday and was almost not surprised DD died.I had been discussing the book earlier with my mom,because we were in about the same spot.I said that DD might die,but mom and I did not really think so because he is so important.I felt a little ball of pity for Malfoy,I do not think he really wanted to do the job,and I think he will die in the next book.I am glad Remus and Tonks got together, I was not expecting that.

 

[Laura]

Snape turns around while escaping and tells Harry not to do an unforgivable curse-- Cruciatus (sp?)--not as a threat, but as a caution, I thought.

I agree; he seemed to be preventing Harry from doing something illegal. Snape may not turn out to be the bad guy that he seems in this book. But still, how does one redeem oneself after murdering Dumbledore? And I do think Dumbledore is dead.

 

[teacherforhi]

I agree; he seemed to be preventing Harry from doing something illegal. Snape may not turn out to be the bad guy that he seems in this book. But still, how does one redeem oneself after murdering Dumbledore? And I do think Dumbledore is dead.

I think it depends on the circumstances. The more I think about it, the more I think that Dumbledore knew what Malfoy's mission was. He either figured it out or Snape told him. When Snape appeared on the tower, he assessed the situation and knew he had a choice. He could let the Death Eaters goad Malfoy into killing Dumbledore or he could do it himself. I don't have the book in front of me (already been borrowed by my mother), but didn't Snape promised to keep Draco safe from harm AND help him complete the mission? What could be more harmful to a teenager than being forced into committing murder? Dumbledore knew this and was pleading with Snape to keep to his promise. After all, if Snape had broken his vow to Narcissa, he would be dead. Wouldn't be much help to the Order then and Dumbledore would still be dead.

I just hope that someone else in the Order knew about the plan because I seriously doubt that there are many in the Order that would give Snape the benefit of the doubt.

 

[jwann]

Thank God for this thread. None of my friends or family have finished and I have no one to talk to!
Re: Dumbledore's Death
I think it sticks BUT I think we can't overlook the role that his portrait (not only in the headmaster's office but also on Chocolate Frog Cards, etc) might play in book 7. Remember when Harry gets a Dumbledore card in book 1 and Ron says "I have loads of him". Perhaps choc. frog cards will be used like the DADA Club coins.....just a thought.
Re: Snape
I have to say that I am a huge Snape fan and just can't bring myself to believe that he's on Voldy's side. I somehow picture him and Harry making up in the end and they live together as surrogate father and son. I know, am I crazy or what? His interactions with Harry after DD dies are more as a caring adult, calculated, calm, and not "haha, Voldy's gonna get you so I have to let you live just now.." Also, don't forget that if Snape does NOT help Draco complete his task then Snape dies because of the vow. Yes, DD KNEW of the vow because Harry told him.
Re: Book 7
Harry just HAS to return to Hogwarts for some of that book. It just wouldn't be right if he didn't. Personally, I can't wait for book 7 and HBP set it up perfectly. Two more years.....I can't bear the thought!

 

[smilingmouse]

Does anyone know/have ideas about why it was so important to DD that HP return to Privet Drive?
Regarding book 7....I think that HP, Ron and Hermoine will look for the other pieces of V's soul. I strongly suspect that the final battle will be betwen Vand HP....HP will win, but he'll die as a result. Snape and DD will help, but I don't know how. I also think there's more that we don't know about Aunt Petunia and the deaths of HPs parents....according to mugglenet (i think) JK will start writing #7 in late 2005....