The Official Harry Potter thread (SPOILERS - NO tags)

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Well, now that Eliza's here, I guess this really is the official thread.

I've seen various people say "How did the Dursleys abuse Dudley?" I thought that much was obvious. They abused him by turning him into a monster. Spoiling a child doesn't mean they're giving him everything he needs - they didn't give him discipline.

Me, too! That's what I thought Dumbledore meant, as well. He's going to turn into a wreck of a grown up, that Dudley. They've ruined him. But Heidi wonders what it was that got Dudley so horribly upset when the Dementor's attack. They seem to work best against those who have had a tragic or disturbing past, so maybe there *is*more to what Dumbledore had to say. Rowling's answered a lot of questions recently and I'm surprised none of them were about the Dudley/Dumbledore thing.

[Keelboat Captain]

Sorry about asking for a new Harry Potter thread. I had not gone looking beyond the obvious to see if someone had already started one (I will actually look next time I swear). After reading through this thread, I am not nearly as confident about whether Dumbledore is dead of not. Your ideas are very good, and have given me lot to think about.

I was listening to the book in the car yesterday on the way to work and got to the part where Harry is off for Christmas at the Weasleys. During that chapter Lupin asked Harry how old the potions book was, and when he looks later it was fifty years old (a book from back in Tom Riddles time in school). Does this mean Snape is not the original owner, but maybe the second person to benefit from it (Harry being the third). Could there be two types of writing in the book, that maybe Harry did not notice? Does the age mater?

[wendybeth]

Originally Posted by Keelboat Captain

Sorry about asking for a new Harry Potter thread. I had not gone looking beyond the obvious to see if someone had already started one (I will actually look next time I swear). After reading through this thread, I am not nearly as confident about whether Dumbledore is dead of not. Your ideas are very good, and have given me lot to think about.

I was listening to the book in the car yesterday on the way to work and got to the part where Harry is off for Christmas at the Weasleys. During that chapter Lupin asked Harry how old the potions book was, and when he looks later it was fifty years old (a book from back in Tom Riddles time in school). Does this mean Snape is not the original owner, but maybe the second person to benefit from it (Harry being the third). Could there be two types of writing in the book, that maybe Harry did not notice? Does the age mater?

Don't worry about it, Keelboat! I actually did a half-hearted search, but when I didn't see anything I just started a new one. I'd forgotten all about the Release Day thread, so my bad. We've had lots of HP threads, and will have lots more. (Both here and at other sites). Consider this one the non- tagged one, and the other one for those who read slowly.

Good point about the book- his mother would have been from Voldie's era, so perhaps he inherited her book, but remember the comment about the girlish writing? Hmmmm....

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Good point about the book- his mother would have been from Voldie's era, so perhaps he inherited her book, but remember the comment about the girlish writing? Hmmmm....

I think that Hermione said it could have been a girl or boy's writing, but no one (I don't think) said the writing was actually girly looking. I do think that Voldemort, Hagrid, and Snape's mother were at Hogwarts at the same time. Though since she grew up to marry a Muggle, I'd hazard a guess that she wasn't a pureblood enthusiast. I don't discredit the theory that the writing was Snape's mother's rather than his own. When Heidi suggested that to me a couple of days after we finished the book I was super excited about the theory. It would also explain how (as told to the Trio by Sirius) Snape arrived at Hogwarts knowing more hexes and curses and dark magic, etc. than anyone else. He learned a lot before from dear Mum. Still, I rather like the idea of Snape being uncommonly gifted. Ingenious, even. And it further explains why he's so derisive of Hermione's textbook answers; there's nothing original about them.

[Prudence]

I think Dumbledore is really dead, but I also think that doesn't matter in the long run. Look at Nearly Headless Nick and all the various paintings. I think Dumbledore will continue to be an influence.

[Keelboat Captain]

So to believe Dumbledore is alive then you must also believe that Snape was truly in love with Lilly?
I wonder what potions class was like with Lilly and Snape battling for Slughorns affections?
I just loved this book and all its layers. I wish she would write a couple of extra books before it ends about finding the Horcruxs

[wendybeth]

Hermione told Harry "It might have been a girl. I think the handwriting looks more like a girl's than a boy's", and she was the one who discovered the former student (Snape's mom) with the last name of Prince. I suspect Mom helped Severus in his schooling, and may have annotated the book for him. Wouldn't Snape's handwriting be familiar to the students? I wonder if there are any examples in past volumes.....

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Hermione told Harry "It might have been a girl. I think the handwriting looks more like a girl's than a boy's", and she was the one who discovered the former student (Snape's mom) with the last name of Prince. I suspect Mom helped Severus in his schooling, and may have annotated the book for him. Wouldn't Snape's handwriting be familiar to the students? I wonder if there are any examples in past volumes.....

That's Heidi's theory, and it's a pretty sound one. It irritated me that they didn't recognize his writing. Then again, Rowling talked about his cramped writing from Book 5. And Book 6 describes the "Prince's" writing as cramped, as well. So, who knows. I'm sure all will be revealed in TWO FRIGGIN YEARS. Bastard Rowling.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I am at Rowling for making Ron and Hermione into idiots.

Yeah, I know, they're 16, hormones raging and all, but I really expect better of our heroes in these books.

There was that great moment where they look at each other and realize that they really want to go to the party together. Why couldn't they have settled their ancient crap then and there?

I think Rowling is hiding all the good stuff to be played out in the final book. I could almost feel her holding back on this one. I know I'm building up obscenely high expectations for the last book but all signs point towards a completely insane climax.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

I think Rowling is hiding all the good stuff to be played out in the final book. I could almost feel her holding back on this one.

Ahem, amid all the theories and mysteries and postulations, has anyone ever considered that this was a really crummy book?

Aside from the last hundred pages of breathless excitement and actual decent writing, the entire book was one big bothersome bore. Laboriously laying down mysteries that then go stubbornly unaddressed through chapter after chapter ... nothing happening other than a review of Voldemort's childhood ... waiting and awaiting and awaiting some more the thrilling climax, but offering the reader scant little till then. Worse, though ... the climax reveals nothing about the mysteries set up in the book for which the reader waded through hundreds of pages for a resolution. I mean, I know this is a series, but I really don't think any of the other books (to my admittedly adled memory) left this much unanswered.

Specifically, I think its b.s. to have so much of the subject matter of this book be about what Snape's true loyalties are ... only to mire it even deeper in mystery rather than illuminate it. I think the book was a cheat, and a tease, and worse - boring till the last few chapters.

I don't like the idea of a "series." These are novels, released years apart and, though they may add up to a larger story, I believe each should be a satisfying work of art in its own right. I also got the feeling, quite strongly, that Rowling was holding back, holding back, saving everything for a final book that cannot possibly contain the entire freaking story, while simultaneously sacrificing the quality of the present book to purportedly add to the quality of the next.

This quote from Jazzman will keenly illustrate the dangers of wait-for-it, wait-for-it, wait-for-it, save it all for last chapter ... only to disappoint.

Originally Posted by Jazzman

I just sincerely hope that, after all of this built up anticipation we’re feeling now, the last book doesn't end up with Harry robotically (and moronically) stomping stiffly around and moaning, "Nooooo!!!! Ginnnnn-nnneeeee!!!! Aaaauuuugggghhhhh!!!!!!!!"

Be afraid. Be very afraid.