OoP: Musings and Questions (and spoilers)

[Amy Miller]

No: HPFGUIDX 62279

Requisite spoiler space with entertainment...










Ok.  Musings first.
1.  Editing
I know I am fixated on editing.  However:
a.  There could be a preface of 2-3 pages summing up the first 4 books.
b.  British slang in an American edition should have a footnote (or something)
c.  There could be a post script or an index of spells and their etymology, just like the Lexicon (which is indescribably wonderful)

2.  Harry's anger
Holy cats!  It's about time!  I started crying on p. 20 and probably didn't stop until I was 75% through.  And I still think DD should have made Harry a prefect, especially since the MoM didn't want to believe him and he should have had some reward.

3.  Percy
It was to be expected.  Poor Arthur and Molly.  "How sharper than a serpent's tooth..."

4.  Sirius
Very interesting background stuff.  Rich kid, pure-blood, hates his family's values, runs away, needs to keep Kreacher because he knows too much.  Loved the whole family tree thing--could Harry and Draco be 4th cousins, twice removed?!  I was not surprised when he died (sorry, but not surprised), but he was taunting her and standing in the open: "Come on, you can do better than that!" (p. 805, US ).  

5.  The prophecy
Duh!

6.  Umbridge
No comment.  Yuck.  (I guess that was a comment)

7.  Humor (or lack thereof)
Not as much humor in this one.  I missed it, but I can see where it might not have been appropriate.  Loved the twins and their exit was glorious!  And I loved when DD called LV "Tom" (see, something like 'Tom Marvolo Riddle' becoming 'I am Lord Voldemort' should have been in a preface); "Lord--Thingy"

8. Snape
Sad childhood, from a pure-blood family; he nevertheless should behave like the grownup.

9.  Those who did what is right instead of what is easy
Sirius (defying his family), Firenze (thrown out of his home), Snape (almost--he should have continued with the occlumency lessons), all of the D.A.'s who came with Harry

10.  Etc.
Loved Ginny; loved Neville; the phone booth reminded me of "Get Smart"; whole Cho thing was a disaster from the get-go and could have been replaced with Harry having a loving relationship with someone with whom he felt safe; what is the deal with Ron and Hermione:  either yes or no, but make it snappy!; good for Harry to find out that his father was not perfect; adored Tonks (Nymphadora--now really!), I hope she returns; battle scene was a little too pat, but well written; beautiful chapter about the hospital 

Now for questions.

1.  Where did James get his gold?

2.  Did anyone else gasp when they read that Snape called Lily a mudblood?  Yet all Harry took from that scene was his reaction to his father's behavior.  No wonder Snape is head of Slytherin.  
2a.  Therefore, why does DD trust Snape?

3.  Yes, how *did* Harry get back the Marauder's Map?

4.  Why didn't Harry open the present Sirius gave him?  He assumed it would make Sirius come to him physically, and he didn't want to endanger him.  Weird plot device.

5.  Will Harry want to sacrifice himself so he can be with his family and Sirius?   

6.  Does Dudley now have a life-debt thing with Harry?!

7.  What was the gleam in DD's eye about?

8.  When were the 3 times that both the Longbottoms and the Potters defied LV and what happened? 

9.  Who was the eavesdropper who heard only the first half of the prophecy?

10.  Will Harry ever trust other people?  It would be hard to overcome that lack of trust he felt at the Dursleys!

That's it!

cantoramy
who thought that Luna Lovegood was a good name for a porn star too, but was too polite to say it,
 so she's glad darrin did

  

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