Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - SPOILERS

[desertvixen]

 This post, and its comments, contain SPOILERS for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.  Click the link and read the comments at your own risk.

 Poor Malfoys.  I liked them a little better when they were successfully evil.  This sort of incompetent evil doesn't sit well on them.

 The Dursleys leaving was entertaining.  Maybe there's a little hope for Dudley after all.

 Not a good sign for the death toll when they kill the owl 56 pages in.  The OWL!  Poor Hedwig.  I felt bad reading it, but I think I see why she did it - one, because Hedwig would have encumbered the plot and two, she symbolizes the real end of Harry's childhood.  He should have been the one that died from that shot. Still, upsetting.  I hate it when animal companions get killed.

 George's remark that now his mother will be able to tell them apart seems prophetic, in retrospect.

 Mad-Eye getting killed was not a huge surprise.  I was mad, but not really surprised.

 The Harry-Lupin conflict seems sad and needless.  The sort of thing that happens in families.

 The plan for Hermione's parents was a good idea (considering the danger everyone was put in) but, um, it would have been nice to know in the epilogue if that spell was ever lifted.

 The bit with Harry summoning his glasses was a nice little lighthearted bit.  I enjoyed it.  The fly comment was amusing, good way of showing the brotherly humor between the 2.  But I about scared the sleeping cat away from me laughing over the gift Ron gives Harry.  I know these are young adult books, but come on - the Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches and "it's not all about wandwork, either"?  That's freaking hilarious!

 Ginny's gift for Harry was rather nicely done as well.  As was Ron's reaction to it. 

 The gifts in the will were interesting at the time.  As well as later in the plot.

 The wedding was entertaining all around.  I must say, those magic tents sound convenient.  Auntie Muriel was also good for some amusement.  She reminds me vaguely of Aunt March, especially as portrayed in the 1949 version by Lucile Watson.  "Bad posture and skinny ankles."

 "What is the point of being an international Quidditch player if all the good looking girls are taken?"  Excuse me while I laugh my ass off....

 The bottles of champagne that float around by themselves also sounds like a good idea. 

 What did happen to the Potters' cat?  Sorry, you know little details like that alway bother me.

 The idea of a little baby Harry on a broomstick was too cute.

 The letter and Harry's reaction to it was nice - and sort of a foreshadowing of Lily's importance in the plot.  I liked the deal about the Gs.

 The RAB subplot seemed kind of pointless, other than to make Kreacher not so annoying.

 They could have done more with the Muggle-born register idea, in my opinion. 

 The whole fight-with-Remus-to-make-him-go-back-to-Tonks thing I'm still undecided on.

 Hermione's bag is priceless.

 The thing with Mad-Eye's eye on the door made me a little ill.  Nice way to show us dear sweet Umbrage. 

 The interrogation of Muggle-borns - I really would have liked to see more about this part of the plot and its aftermath.  Harry's reaction  to it seemed pretty typical for Gryffindor, IMO.

 The whole middle plot, roaming in the woods bit with Ron losing his temper and storming off kind of irritated me.  It just seemed slow and disjointed. 

 The teasing about History of Magic and Godric's Hollow was entertaining.

 The bit with the statue was nice.  Also the preservation of the house and the well-wishing graffiti.The whole part in the graveyard was nicely done.  The emotion didn't seem overdone.  It was just a nice moment.  I liked the quote: The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death is inspired by/from 1 Corinthians.

 Also, is it just me, or does she seem to be deliberately messing with the shippers in this one?  I got some good laughs though.

 The Bathilda bit was interesting. Scary, but interesting.

 The backstory of how Harry's parents died was interesting as well.  Sad, but more proof that Lily was going to figure in in the end.

 The deal with the silver doe made more sense later in the book.  I had a sneaking suspicion it was linked to Lily, however.  The deal with Ron saving Harry was good.  And more emphasis that Harry has survived with luck as much as skill.  The making up bit was good, as well as the final blow to the Harry/Hermione shippers.

 "Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was.  I've been trying to tell you that for years." - Very good, very good, and very true.

 Using Voldemort's name to track people fighting the Death Eaters is wickedly smart.

 The tale of the three brothers was also good.  Although I was expecting Death to speak in all capitals...

 The part at the Lovegood house was both sad and understandable, and a nice counterpoint to the constant thread of Lily and her sacrifice.

 Potterwatch  was entertaining, a nice use of Lee Jordan, who I miss in the movies.

 Harry getting them all nearly killed because he hasn't learned to concentrate has not gone out of style, I see.  However, it gets the plot back on track and does something useful.

 Bellatrix is in fine form.  Evil in the way the Malfoys used to be evil, and so good at it.  Yet still someone I'd like to see meet a horrible painful death. 

 I liked Dobby in this one.  I was even sad to see him go, but at least his death was a catalyst to the plot.  The escape bit was also typical of Harry, putting others before himself.

 The bit with the break-in at Gringotts and Griphook seemed a little off, in my opinion.  It was pretty obvious they were going to get betrayed or double-crossed at some point, especially with Bill's warning.  It'll probably look great in the movie, but I didn't care much for it.

 A little Lupin, and Harry as godfather... interesting.  And cute, and heartbreakingly sad in light of what comes later. 

 Aberforth is interesting.  The whole Dumbledore family back story deal was interesting, but sad.

 I was very glad to see Neville, and the rest of the crew at Hogwarts.  I rather missed it.  I like Neville, and like the character he's grown into.  He's as much a hero as the main trio.  Also, picturing his grandmother let loose on the two come to fetch her gave me a laugh.

 Harry finally realizing he doesn't have to do it alone - thank you.

 I like the Ravenclaw door's method of gaining admittance.  I also like that Rowena Ravenclaw got to be beautiful and smart.

 The bit with the Carrow siblings was quite good.  McGonagall was in fine form throughout the end, I think.  Also, the tabby cat Patronus is nice.

 The statues and suits of armor defending the castle were a nice touch.

 Percy finally sees the light, which I liked.

 The Gray Lady was intriguing.

 I like Mrs. Longbottom in this one.

 I'm rather pissed at Tonks, however.  On the one hand, I can understand the torment of not knowing - on the other, it was pretty stupid of her.

 Ron and Hermione's kiss is nicely done.  Not well-timed, but nicely done. 

 Not sorry at all to see Crabbe go.

 Fred dying seems not fair.  On the other hand, it seems the Weasleys had to lose SOMEONE, just by odds.  The end was beginning to remind me of an Honor Harrington book.

 I hope the spiders aren't in the movie. 

 Big surprise, Snape dies.  And gets posthumously exonerated.  The back story was very intriguing, however.

 I was quite upset when they came across the bodies of Remus and Tonks.  However, I think Remus is probably better off dead, considering how he viewed himself, and Tonks would have been quite unhappy without him, but still, maybe having both parents fighting in the battle isn't the smartest thing to do?  However, Remus is at peace, something he hadn't been for a long time. 

 The scene on the train is nicely reminscent.  A lot of places in the books, it seems like there's a circle of the same story being repeated.

 Finally, we find out why Dumbledore trusted Snape, although I think most of us had already figured it out.

 The last few chapters were tight with tension.  Harry going to what he thinks must be the end of him is the bravest thing that could be asked of him.  The whole explanation for how Harry could defeat Voldemort was pretty slick. 

 Narcissa's big moment was touching.

 Neville drawing the sword was awesome.  And a nice turn on the prophecy.

 Molly Weasley getting Bellatrix was a nice moment.  I liked that whole scene a lot.

 Snape's Patronus being a doe was a nice touch.

 Luna's not as out of it as she often appears.

 The epilogue was cute but not informative enough for my tastes.  Did they have to name the kid Albus and Severus?

 Am I satisfied with the ending?  Yes.

 DV

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[betray802.livejournal.com]

Interesting note, not sure it happened anywhere else (I should think it must have!), but apparently, several copies of Deathly Hallows sent to Colorado ... are myteriously missing Chapter 31.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm ...

Music: Forever by The Statler Brothers