the book, THE MOVIE, Hermione, and Lily

[krules]

First, reader beware, spoilers follow.
Second, I've donned my dementor's cloak and patronuses (patroni?) have no effect on me.  I'm Superdementor and only kryptonite and nine inch nails can weaken me and hang me up but even then only for about three days when strength and life returns. 

Ok, let's role back our boulders and fly out of the cave and into the night of the truth!

My disappointment in the last book left me hoping for a rewrite in its movie adaptation.  Part I left me even more hopeful, what with my feelings of validation regarding my interpretations of Hermione's character and her willingness to inflict her will on others without a safeword or their consent (I've given canon evidence once or twice in this group)  The movie shows Hermione sneaking up on her parents from behind and obliviating them, obliterating their life.  Yes!  That's exactly what my mind's eye saw. No convo about alternative actions like going to Australia with full awareness of what little danger they would be in.  In my last listen of the books, I found canon support for this possibility when Aberforth suggests to Harry that he flee and go abroad.  Aberforth seems to think Voldemort's influence is limited to Britain and maybe Slavic speaking countries. So anyways, Part I left me squeeing for Part II because what I was more interested in seeing was an abashment of Harry for his use of the Cruciatus, Slytherins represented in force against Voldemort, a redemption for Draco, and something else I'm sure I'm forgetting.

So on to Part II
Gringotts
Much of the events at Gringotts was so well done.  Better than the book even!  I'm going to focus on the Goblins and their comeuppance from the dragon.  When we first see the dragon, we see it has wounds. It reminded me of abused dogs or horses with their leashes and tethers so tight for so long that once removed you see the fir and skin have been essentially rubbed off.  It's disgusting, and Hermione the moral compass (wai wha?) says as much.  You feel for the creature and want the Goblins to be punished.  And they are! But the first Goblin to go up in flames?  Well that particular death is a bit wanky.  The Goblin is still under the Imperious cast by Ron who upon seeing his cursed Goblin ablaze essentially remarks, 'that sucks'.  And it kind of does.  Is Ron resposible for the Goblin's death or is the dragon (as much as a wild creature can be blamed for acting in accordance to its biology)?  Or is it the Goblin's for abusing or tacitly agreeing to abuse the dragon?  Does it even matter?  I don't know, but a shadow of doubt crept up on my hope.

Hogsmead
Thank goodness for Aberforth.  It's a bit different than the books as is Gringotts but differenter :D  The portrait of Ariana and her roll is the same from the book.  She fetches Neville and he comes out of the portrait looking looking a bit beat up and all yummy if I'm reading the din of squee that went up from the horde of het fangirls in the audience.  As HRH and Neville walk in the tunnel, he's telling them how the tunnel is new and how cruel are the Carrows: torturing first years (OMG) and Seamus looking way worse than Neville (oh noes).  They get to the other end of the tunnel where we know the Room of Requirement is.  Will this pass my Slytherin inclusion test? 

Hogwarts
The portrait opens and there are no banners of any houses hanging anywhere.  There's nothing to say which houses are in the room.  A bunch of hammocks hang between pillars.  A cluster of kids are huddled together.  Neville walks out and talks to someone who says something kind of funny and you know its Seamus.  He looks great!  Are his injuries internal or something cuz I don't get what's wrong with him. Even though I was let down with the ambiguity (not really) of Slytherin, there's a little bit of funny (the only funny in the movie, really) so I don't give it a fail. Wait.  I do fail that scene, but not for the lack of Slytherins.

For some reason, Luna's in the room.  And so is Ginny.  And so is Cho. You would think that could get a pass because it's the movie and they need to move things along.  I get that.  Ginny tells Harry 'Hey Snape knows you're here'.  The next scene shows the students of Hogwarts lined up military style in their dress robes.  And, hey, there's Seamus.  And Cho!  Were they not in the Room of Requirement?  Where the eff were they and why are there hammocks if they aren't hiding from Snape and the Carrows?  Stay back shadow!

Speaking of.  The Carrows are behind Snape as he asks the students about Harry and threatens them.  A student walks out of line.  It's Harry!  And in dress robes?  Some exposition ensues to catch the viewer up on what happened two movies ago.  Spoiler alert. Snape killed Dumbledore.  Wands are raised and McGonagall steps in front of Harry.  Ahh!  She sends nonverbal abracadabras and hocuspocus at Snape who deflects them.  And does he reflect them at the Carrows behind him?  I don't know, but they end up on the floor.  More props than characters, those two.  I'm annoyed by this because I wanted Harry to use the Cruciatus.  A flawed hero is an interesting hero.  And I wanted to see McG abash him.  So I guess it's a wash.  Snape flees.  Voldemort pulls a Prof X and telepathically mind whisper-screams at everyone: i can has harry in one meower... i belly empty. need eat cheezburger rite meow. 
Slytherin Slytherins are Slytherin and are thus told to gtfo. 

The teachers set up to defend the castle at this dire time.  McG casts a transfiguring spell is all, like, 'I always wanted to do that. Teehee.'  And smiles at the silliness of her utterance.  Oh shadow, no!

Deep breaths.  Not all is lost.  There is another Skywalker.  And her name is Draco.

Luna.  Asexual?  No.  Out of the blue, she's been shipped.

Draco.  Room of Requirement.  Crabe kindling.  Draco rescued.

Snape.  Voldemort.  Nagini.  Pretty gruesome.  I likey.  Memory tears.  And 'look at me.'

Pensieve.  Adorable Snape. No skeeziness.  Young man Snape.  With one chin!  Lily's dead.  Snape wept.  Missing 24 hours!  Well, sort of.
Ok... Voldemort just became less than the meanest ghost.  Snape enters the house.  Walks past the body of James.  Goes up the stairs and enters Harry's room.  Sees Harry standing and crying in his crib.  Sees Lily dead on the ground.  Ignores the toddler and instead kneels down by Lily's side to hold her and sobs.  The uncomforted Harry and Snape share a cry.  Ah.  There's the skeeziness.  I laughed out loud a little bit at the absurdity.  Older, chinnier Snape.    He's Dumbledore's man through and through.  And it looks like Alla, Zanooda, Miles, Bookcrazzzy, Mike, and Pippin's reading of 'For /him/?' is validated.  Boo.  I still prefer my version as I like my Snape less icky.  Le sigh. 

Fred's dead, baby.  Fred's dead.

Harry.  The forest again.  AK.  DD and King's Cross.  Exposition. Is he dead?  Narcissa. Is Draco alive?  Nod.  A march to Hogwarts.

Voldemort.  Draco.  Redempt-meh.  Ok Shadow, you win.  Neville.  Sword of Gryffindor.  Tada!  Harry's alive.   A game of chase.  Not it!  Harry runs.  Duels.  Runs. Duels. Runs.

Bellatrix.  Molly.  Bitch.  Confetti!Bellatrix.  Molly's weird smile.

Voldemort. Harry.  Murder/suicide attempt.  Alone on the grounds. 

Neville.  Sword of Gryffindor.  Confetti!Nagini.

Harry.  Confetti!Voldemort.

Aftermath. Molly smiles.  Fred's dead, Molly.  Fred's dead.  Neville/Luna shippers have their day.  Squees from the crowd.  Did they even read the books?  HRH walk the empty grounds.  Exposition on wands.  Elder wand snapped.  HHR hold hands where the second H is Hermione.  They say nothing, and I wonder if Ron and Harry have ever shown physical affection before.  Have they in the movies or books?  I've been up forever, so maybe they have. But a pat on the shoulder doesn't count.  The only boy on boy affection I can think of is Seamus rushing to hug Dean in DH the book.

19 years later.  Way better than the book.  Ok, just better.  Mostly because there's no talk about confunding a Muggle.  Everyone squees for the next generation.  Harry and Ron look dadly.  Ginny and Hermione look like they're playing dress up. 

Roll credits.  Stay for the end.  The kids are talking on the train and the sweets cart rolls by.  But instead of the candy lady, it's Nick Fury and he wants to talk to them about a thing.


Kemper