The Official Harry Potter thread (SPOILERS - NO tags)

[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.

[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.......