So how did you like Harry Potter 5? ***Beware Spoilers***

[Dancind]

I didn't pick up on the "Lily E." reference! That's got to be significant. I for one don't think that Dumbledore told Harry quite EVERYTHING at the end of the book. Diana

 

[Sonya]

I'm wondering about Petunia too, there is more there!

I wonder what Harry's parents did for a living too.

I love Snape so much more since the movies, great casting!

I loved it at the end of the book when Malfoy and co. came up to him, threatening him, and Harry said something like "So Voldemort was just a warm up for you!" He really shouln't be afraid of them, or let them got to him, anymore!

So is Malfoy's dad caught now? Will he go to prison? Where will they imprision him? The dementors aren't going to stay around.

 

[disnee15]

.. am guessing that Harry will have a very rough senior year. Having to take his N.E.W.T.s and kill Voldemort at the same time...

How can you assume that voldermort will be the one that dies. I'm thinking that when J.K. Rowling said that i think she mean't for harry to die at the end. You know the part about how one of them will eventually have to kill the other.

I liked the book alot.. My favoite character's are Luna Lovegood(she's so funny) and Neville. He started out as this dorkish not very good at magic kid in the beginning and now look where he's at. I love the character devolpment of him as well. And at the end with Malfoy. I could see him becoming a Death Eater himself

 

[trayletha]

OH! She can't do that!!! That would be a horrible way to end the books. It wouldn't be an ending at all because Voldermort has to be defeated for the story to end - IMO.

 

[Michelemouse]

JKR does give us Lily's maiden name...it's Evans. At first Harry sees that his father is writing L.E. on his desk and wonders what it stand for. Later in the chapter (p. 647) as James and Sirius are picking on Snape you read:

"Leave him ALONE!"

James and Sirius looked around. James's free hand jumped to his hair again.

It was one of the girls from the lake edge. She had thick, dark red hair that fell to her shoulders and startlingly green almond-shaped eyes - Harry's eyes.

Harry's mother...

"All right, Evans?" said James, and the tone of his voice was suddenly pleasant, deeper, more mature.

"Leave him alone," Lilly repeated.

 

[Jen D]

I don't think they've EVER mentioned James' parents once, except that the Mirror of erised showed them in the back. I got the impression they were wizards, but I'm not sure why. The fact that they had so much money saved up for Harry makes me think that his family was one of the old wizarding families, but I'm probably wrong.

No, I agree. Well, for one thing, Snape calls Lily a "mudblood", but he doesn't hurl the insult at James.

I don't know if Petunia can be a "squib", because by all indication her parents (Mr. and Mrs. Evans) were muggles too-- in Book One Petunia wails about how they thought Lily's talents were so clever but she knew her sister was a freak. I think a "squib" is born to wizarding families.

I really thought this would be the book that revealed a little more about the parents' backstory, but all we got were little tantalizing hints (Petunia's knowledge of the wizarding word, Snape's pensieve.)

Good questions about Harry's lineage. Hopefully she reveals more in the next book. My dh thinks the bad blood between James Potter and Snapes is because Snapes was in love with Lilly, but James married her.

I've heard that theory too and I think there's something too it. Yes, Snape calls Lily a "mudblood", but he's probably been raised to think that way. But Lily sticks up for him when no one else will. I think there's something too all this, and I think it will play into whatever made Snape abandon Voldemort. (Do we know for sure that the "intelligence" Dumbledore received about Voldemort going after the Potters came from Snape?-- or am I just assuming?)

And why, why, why, if Dumbledore trusts him so much, can Snape not get the Defense of Dark Arts job? Does being a former Death Eater, even a reformed one, exclude you from consideration?

 

[nhrenee]

Originally posted by Jen D
And why, why, why, if Dumbledore trusts him so much, can Snape not get the Defense of Dark Arts job? Does being a former Death Eater, even a reformed one, exclude you from consideration?

My family and I were talking about this at the breakfast table. My 9 year old said they couldn't make him the dark arts teacher because they keep getting ride of the DA teacher. I like the death eater theory.

"Evans", thanks, I missed that!

I went back and reread that chapter. James calles her "Evans more often than Lilly" ,lol.

 

[trayletha]

I had the impression that he did'nt get it because of his OWLS, can't remember just why I thought that but something in the book gave me the idea, I'll look for it tonight.

 

[Tinks]

Hem....Hem....Love this thread...Love the book!! JK is such a clever writer. *sigh* I was sad to be finished with it.

My thoughts:

* I did not like Harry's anger at all. It made the book harder for me to read, I think, because you start to not like him. I justified it by thinking that Harry could sense when Voldemort was angry and it somehow reflected in him too.

* Hem, Hem....was she awful or what??? I thought she would be killed by the centaurs. I also kept waiting to see if she was connected to He Who Must Not Be Named. She wasn't...but what a great character. I loved hating her!

* Oh! Loved McGonnagal....I was afraid she would bite it too. I felt very frightened with Harry when she was gone and he thought no more Order people around him. I didn't think of Snape either, but I did think of that mirror Sirius gave Harry and was yelling to Harry in the book "Get the mirror you idiot!!!!" It was like a bad horror film!

* I think she is also setting up a Neville/Ginny romance. It looks clear to me that Neville has a crush on Ginny. Anyone else see it?? He also took her to the ball in book 4. I'm not saying Ginny will return those feelings...

* There has to be more to Gwarp. She left it hanging. What happened to him???

* I was surprised that Viktor Krum was not in this book really at all. Will we see more of him in the future??? What happened to Karkarov??(his Headmaster who ran away when Voldemort came back?) Did Voldemort catch and kill him????

I could go on and on so I'll quit. I want to know what Harry's parents became to...and I've always wondered about his grandparents....

 

[katerkat]

Originally posted by Tinks
* I was surprised that Viktor Krum was not in this book really at all. Will we see more of him in the future???

I think so. Hermione is still writing to him - he was mentioned once or twice in this book. I'm thinking a nice love triangle (Viktor, Hemroine and Ron) and some sort of showdown...

 

[LuvTigger]

I've been avoiding this thread for DAYS, but I just finished the book this morning, yay! You all have such great insight and questions that hopefully will be answered in the future.

There are a couple of questions people had that I'm not sure were answered:
1. Is Fang dead...I don't think so, I'm pretty sure at the end Harry (not sure if Ron and Hermione were there too) went to Hagrid's cabin and Fang welcomed him/them.
2. Are Malfoy's parents in jail...at the end, Malfoy mentions something about how his father will be able to get out soon because the Dementors aren't watching Azkaban.

I enjoyed the book, but felt it didn't have as much overall action as the others (until the latter part anyway). However, I did feel that the whole story is pertinent to the overall picture.

I too was looking for Harry to talk to Snape about what he'd seen, perhaps admit embarassment over his father's behavior. While I love the character of Sirius, I too was not all that sad over the death itself. I was VERY sad for Harry though, esp. the part where he thought perhaps he could see him as a ghost. I also thought it was sad how Dumbledore shed a tear over not making Harry a prefect. My guess is that Book 6 is going to be very, very dark.

 

[Mish19]

I finally finished reading it! I loved it! I couldn't believe how terrible Umbridge was to the students! Many people have said my feeling about what happened. I was dissapointed with Ron/Hermione relationship not progressing but I'm sure things will start up by book 6! Cho and Harry seemed like a good thing at first but she just doesn't have what it takes to keep up with him. He will need a lot of support and help if he has to fight Voldemort and Cho just isn't strong enough.

I was extremely upset about Sirius dying. He was one of my favorite characters, maybe it was because he was Harry's hope for family and happiness. I was lucky I had sunglasses on on the train while I read about Sirius because I certainly cried! I just couldn't understand why JK Rowling HAD to kill him off. I was so sad about the mirror, if only he used that instead of the fire.
I also liked the bitter Harry, he definitely deserves to have a good yell once in a while. I can't wait for book 6.

 

[eclipseSD]

I think so. Hermione is still writing to him - he was mentioned once or twice in this book. I'm thinking a nice love triangle (Viktor, Hemroine and Ron) and some sort of showdown...

I have a feeling there are more than 3 players in this game. Ron and Viktor are in love with Hermione while Hermione may be in love with Harry who isn't in love with anyone now that Cho is over him(or is she?). Not to mention Luna liking either Ron or Harry and Ginny still undecided while Neville has decided on her.

Man, this could get very complicated.

 

[mtemm]

I must be the only person happy that Hermione and Ron are not a couple yet. I would prefer that they wait a while on that...maybe she see Viktor, maybe he see someone to subconciously spite her. Then in 2 years or so realize they should be together, or something like that.

 

[Michelemouse]

I actually agree with you about Ron & Hermione, mtemm, although I am dying to see how their relationship plays out. I think the Harry/Cho relationship was a "first love" kind of thing but I think Ron and Hermione will find something more...something that they, as 15 year olds, just aren't mature enough to recognize yet. That's my guess anyway.

 

[nhrenee]

I also agree with you mtemm, about Ron and Hermione. I'd like to see them stay friends. Harry will need them both!

 

[ABCMom]

Overall this was my least favorite of the books though with that said it is still far and above just about every other book I have ever read!

I was very disappointed to see Sirius die. Though he never did become the pleasant character that I wanted him to - I just couldn't stand the fact that once Harry had someone to call family that he lost him - How much sorrow can one kid stand!

I also didn't like the fact that Harry was in in a horrible mood for most of the book - though as others have mentioned this is pretty much par for the age and probably appropriate.

I missed some of the light-heartedness that was in the first three and a half books - but again I understand why they are going this direction - it's just sad I guess.

I'm also a little disappointed to see that it appears we are leading up to the major battle between Harry and Vol being the end of book seven. I know that's predictable, but I have always liked that these books were a little unpredictable so I hope I am wrong and she twists that up some way.

I missed that Hagrid and Dumbledore weren't more front and center and Dumbledore's avoidance of Harry really bothered me.

i thought it was cool that the prophecy had been made by Trelawney and that explained why Dumbldore kept her around.

I am glad Harry didn't end up with Cho - I don't think he has met the girl for him yet unless it turns out to be Ginny so he can officially become apart of the Weasley family.

I loved Fred and George's whole storyline and I hope that we somehow see more of them in the last two books.

I loved that Neville started to come into his own.

I don't understand why Dumbledore chosse Malfoy to be a prefect.... Can you imagine if he became Head Boy? (opposite Hermione, obviously) And I think he is going to play some major role in the final showdown also, but I haven't decided yet which side he is going to be on - I am not so sure it will be evil...... I think he is this generations Snape and we know that Snape turns to the good....so.......


ok enough rambling

 

[Amy]

I just finished the book last night and I haven't read this whole thread, but with Neville coming into his own, do you think Rowling is setting up this scenario for books 6 and 7: Sirius, James (Harry's dad), Lupin and Wormtail were a "clique" (for lack of a better word - I haven't finished my coffeee yet) during their days at Hogwarts. So how about Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville continuing the tradition?

Some of my other thoughts:

- I don't think Harry and Hermione will be linked romantically; it'll be Ron and Hermione

- I don't agree with whoever posted on the 1st page that Harry found his soulmate in Luna - she really IS looney - too looney for Harry

- I certainly hope that with Rowling setting up the showdown between Harry and Voldemort, where one must kill the other, that when the series ends in book 7, Harry kills Voldemort and then Harry becames the anti-Dark Lord

- Hagrid's brother - I hope Rowling has plans for Grawp in future books; if she used this as a way to explain Hagrid's absence, it was pretty lame

- I LOVED the way the teachers reacted to Umbridge! Refusing to help her, McGonagle telling Peeves which way to unscrew the chandelier - priceless!

- Sirius' death - it was kind of a letdown for me. I don't know - I like Sirius, but he should have been expanded a little more, and we should have know more about his relationship with Harry; I understand Harry clinging to Sirius as being "family", but we just weren't shown enough closeness between the two of them.

- the end battle was kind of confusing with all the different rooms and spells being cast; why did Voldemort show up at the end anyway? He was using Harry and the Death Eaters precisely so he could avoid the Ministry of Magic

- When Harry found the mirror at the end, I just wanted to cry; things could have turned out soooo differently if he'd found it earlier

- since my oldest just turned 13 and is experiencing those teenage hormones, I can understand Harry's dark moods

Ok, that's it for now. I'm going to read the read of this thread....

GREAT BOOK! Can't wait for #6!!

 

[LarryE]

she has to put Harry and Ginny together, they are the perfect couple..

she truly has a love for him, and with her being affected by voldy in the chamber, she's the perfect one to fight beside Harry against him, kinda like they both have a piece of him now.

 

[Wagamama]

wow, what a book! i read this so late into the night that i actually dreamt about Lupin and Sirious and all of them!

i was so sad when i read the part with mrs. weasley trying to fight the boggart, and was even more sad when sirius died. why, oh why did she kill him off?

i'll probably have to go back and read certain parts again.

i also think Petunia is a witch but she's trying to stay in the broom closet (so to speak )