[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Spoiler:

It seems that many of Rowling's plot devices rely on some of her more talented and intelligent characters not using their noggin' or heeding obviously valuable advice. And I feel incredibly stupid for not even suspecting the book belonged to Snape. I allowed myself to be completely fooled by the different name. But the incredibly small scrawl that takes up any empty space on the page? A brilliant potions maker. The fact that Snape knew immediately the curse Harry had used against Malfoy? It all seems so obvious in hindsight.

And, of course, rereading certain passages and Hagrid overhearing the argument between Snape and Dumbledore? Well, it was a pretty big hint that Snape is probably an unredeemable bad guy. It sounded like a threat; that he was sick of cowing to Dumbledore's wishes. Oh....oh, le sigh. FIE!

I think what frustrates me is that I wanted Harry to be wrong about Snape every bit as much as I wanted Snape to realize he was wrong about Harry. It's a storytelling I respond to, but I suppose I'll just have to get over it.

Anyway, I was a bit frustrated that Harry would give up Ginny but still be okay with Ron and Hermione. I realize he's falling in love with Ginny but the danger is there for all of them. And it's a watery argument just like the one used by Peter Parker in Spiderman. I suppose she'd be more at risk if she were known to be Harry's girlfriend, except that's just it - Snape already knows about Ginny, I'm sure. So if she's a weakness of Harry's, and Snape really is just evil, evil, evil, Ginny's already in danger. So they might as well keep snogging, dammit.

I am in denial, I think. I start to get really depressed because I'm so attached to these characters (and, sadly, attached to certain ideas I had about one character in particular) that as soon as I allow myself to feel really upset, I change the subject in my head. And now, because I gulped this book down, I'm already antsy for the next one. And, at the same time, not looking forward to it because I cannot imagine a book without Dumbledore in it.

There was a lot more levity in this book, which was pleasing. And Harry's attitude towards the end, his not falling apart, was really well done. But, many, what a tragic loss. It's strange, though. We knew these deaths were coming, and I knew Dumbledore would die; I just figured it would happen in the next book. Heidi totally called it for this one. I think I even expected more core characters die, but I suppose having Snape kill Dumbledore is friggin' tragic enough! But nothing has quite shocked or unnerved me as much as "Kill the spare". That's where it all really began, and it just cannot be topped.

I also loved Voldemort's physical absence in this book. Constantly discussed, his past investigated via pensieve, he was stiill somehow on every page as a malignant presence. It was effectively disturbing. And dividing his soul into 7 parts? Rowling is brilliant!