The Official Harry Potter thread (SPOILERS - NO tags)

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

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

We'll just have to disagree, sweets. It's probably my favorite next to Azkaban. I loved it.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

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

I liked this book! It was MUCH better then the last one (which bored me to tears). I felt this story, the writing, the situations were much more mature and flushed out.

Just my thoughts after the read:

If Draco has killed Dumbledore, I believe his "death" would've been permanent. Because Dumbledore spent so much time talking with Draco then begged Snape to kill him seems to indicate that his "death" is of a less permanent sort. I do believe he died, but I don't believe it is permanent at all. The Phoenix in the smoke reference confirmed that for me. He will return from the dead. It's all magic, you know.

Snape IS a double agent. The extremity of Harry's active hate for Snape throughout the books gives it away for me. He hated Voldemort and Draco too, but it seems to be such a competative thing with Snape. I think Snape plays the hate card on purpose to keep his "cover". It is just too manipulative.

I'm glad Harry is leaving school, but this conclusion was actually more shocking to me then Dumbledor's death. Is he really ready to go out on his own and do what's necessary to exterminate Voldie? I'm glad he got to apperate once by himself in an important and stressful scieniero.

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.

I'm with Heidi on this part. There's something going on there that is much more than we're seeing. I bet lots more will be revealed here about the Dursley's "powers".

As for the other minutea, I could barely remember what happened in the last book at the end let alone minutea. I really should re-read the books before a new one is released so I'm on the same page when it starts out. But, not gonna happen. I put a lot of trust in the fact that Rowlings will replay things to jog our memories - and I was right for much of it.

I'm sure as I read more missed discussion my thoughts will be jarred about other things, but this is just what's left in my brain after finishing at 4 am.

Good, quick read though. I'm very pleased from a readers' standpoint.

[wendybeth]

Oh, Dudders was just reliving the awful experience of having to give up his second bedroom.

JK has firmly stated that Aunt Petunia is non-magical, or at least not a squib, but what about the other Evans'? Is it established or just assumed that Lily was an aberration in an otherwise totally Muggle family? I am heading off to the Lexicon to see what I can see, but I think that the whole Dudley/dementor thing is a non-issue. They state during the hearing that Muggles can sense dementors, and be affected by them- look at the dementor induced miasma that is afflicting the Muggle world in book six. He was almost lip-locked (or snogged-lol) by the dementor- of course he would be uncomfortable.

(Edit)
Okay- checked the Lexicon, and nowhere does it state that they are one or the other, just that they were "delighted to have a witch in the family".. Could be one is a Muggle, and the other magical- otherwise, why the 'delight'? Remember when Neville was thought to be a squib, and how ecstatic his family was when he started showing magical abilities? I wonder if a mixed parent family can have a non-magical member who is just that- not a squib, like Filch. JK emphatically states that Petunia is not a squib, so ....(sigh) Off to the Lexicon again.......

[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!!!!!!!!"

[wendybeth]

Wouldn't it be funny if the handwriting were Lily's? Maybe she was like Hermione and just excelled in everything. Perhaps after all the tormenting from the James Gang Lily took pity on Severus and taught him spells and potions- it could be he owes his brilliance to her. He certainly wasn't very adept at blocking spells- remember James using the levitating spell on Severus? (That shows that it's likely Snape didn't invent that particular spell). Could also explain his dislike of Hermione's natural abilities- he had to really work for his knowledge.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Wouldn't it be funny if the handwriting were Lily's? Maybe she was like Hermione and just excelled in everything. Perhaps after all the tormenting from the James Gang Lily took pity on Severus and taught him spells and potions- it could be he owes his brilliance to her. He certainly wasn't very adept at blocking spells- remember James using the levitating spell on Severus? (That shows that it's likely Snape didn't invent that particular spell). Could also explain his dislike of Hermione's natural abilities- he had to really work for his knowledge.

This seems really off to me for a couple of reasons. One, Sirius tells us in Book 4 that Snape arrived at Hogwarts already knowing more hexes, etc. than most students. So whether he learned a lot from his mother, or picked up a lot on his own, I think it's safe to say he's really gifted/intelligent. Evil or good, those two things seem really clear to me. He is a glory hound, however, and does like to take credit where it isn't due, so....who konws?

But the writing is most likely Snape's or his mum's. I really don't think it's Lily's. Like Hermione said, there was an unkind sense of humor at play, and I don't think Lily was unkind. The book also said that the spell had a way of quickly circulating the school, and it makes sense that an aspect of Snape's complete humiliation in his so called "worst memory" would involve having his own hex/invention turned against him. (Or, possibly, his mother's hex.) It would also further explain why he's so vehement about being on one's guard, and non-verbal spells, etc. I'm guessing that Snape got the best of the Mauraders every bit as much as they got the best of him. I was under the impression that he was pretty good at blocking spells normally, and that particular memory was one of the more terrible exceptions.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

A stolen moment from PS/SS gives us insight into the heart and mind of Hogwart’s most enigmatic professor.

Oh Merlin, this is bloody brilliant. Look at me. Just look! It is I, the Half-Blood Prince! I've got the Evil Order of Merlin, First Class. There’s a new Dark Lord in town and he’s wearing a tiara – oh, how it sparkles! My hair is clean! Sirius Black is my personal olive de-pitter and bath mat. Harry Potter is lying dead at my feet and Lily Evans is back from the dead and dressed up like Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi. James Potter continues to rot, spinning in his grave. That’s right, Potter. Your wife is mine, mine, mine! My slave girl. My wife girl. My Potions Mistress girl! All the lemon drops have vanished from the globe and Dumbledore is crying. I’ve renamed Hogwarts Dead Eater High. I’m the new Headmaster *and* the new DDAATT (Do Dark Arts All The Time) teacher. My teeth are no longer yellow thanks to North American toothpaste. Ugly is the new pretty and everybody wants my skinny and sallow body. Glorious, glorious mirror!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

James Gang

Seems to me, you don't want to talk about it
Seems to me, you just turn your pretty head and walk away...

Now I'm listening to the James Gang.

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

...Dead Eater High....DDAATT (Do Dark Arts All The Time) teacher.....Ugly is the new pretty...

LOL!!! Can't mojo you!

's got some points. The book definitely isn't entertaining enough in it's own right. Same was true of Phoenix IMHO. But I'm ok with the idea of a series.

I'd be very surprised if the last book has low points at all.

[innerSpaceman]

OMG, I can't believe it ... from a woman of such otherwise impecable taste! What a shame.


Of course, I could enjoy going along with Harr, and Ron and Herm as they read the phone book in rounds, but I really was getting a little annoyed with how little was happening in this book - that I knew, per the Potter pattern, was all being saved for the last 50 pages.

Those last pages were among the best Potter pages ever written, and of course I loved them. Still, considering the special non-Dursley intro and the thread of evil-Snape vs. trusted-Snape wound all through the book, I really was pissed at more complication on this front rather than even semi-resolution. I don't like cliff-hangers in novels that come out every few years ... and I hate when an artist appears to hold back on the present to attempt a more thrilling potential future. I personally think it's a recipe for artistic failure, but we shall see.

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

OMG, I can't believe it ... from a woman of such otherwise impecable taste! What a shame.

Oh, do shut up, you!

I liked the lulls. And I really loved her language in this book, and the lack of ALL CAP HARRY! Her prose was improved and I expected that resolution of the most important elements in the novels wouldn't come until Book 7. I like pining for the resolution. I'd hate to have it all figured out before the end.

I also laughed out loud a lot more while reading this book. There were many funny concepts and lines. I was much pleased.

Now, leave me be!