OOP:Partial reading of OoTP! (Spoilers)(New person alert!)

[theshef2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 63639

HI,

New to this group, but not to HP. 26 yo female in the US. Would 
probably sort into Ravenclaw (too bad too, the only Ravenclaw I know 
is Cho Chang, and I don't like her.) :-) I've been lurking in the 
Fanfiction fandom for a few years... any ship (het, slash, H/D, H/G, 
it's all good unless it's incestuous).

I've been waiting for my OoTP. I ordered the UK version, but it 
hasn't arrived yet. I got too antsy (couldn't sleep, started having 
Harry Potter dreams), so I went and read part of it in a Bookstore 
(up to Chapter 15, The High Inquisitor). 

Things I liked:

Harry is ANGRY!!! And Angry Harry is Sarcastic Bastard Harry! I like 
that! I was afraid that he would get really, really, really 
depressed. 

Mrs. Weasley and Sirius are threatened by each other. I love their "I 
love Harry more!" "NO, *I* love Harry more!" dynamic. I could not 
have predicted that. Also, I love how part of Mrs. Weasley's boggart 
was a dead Harry.

Ginny's development. She's not suddenly *there*. She's just... there. 
She's joined the "outer circle" of Harry friends, along with Fred and 
George, without being too intrusive.

RON IS A PREFECT!!!!  I love that he gets some glory. I also love 
that he doesn't get too much glory, and that he is a spectacularly 
bad Keeper.

Remus Lupin is a GOD!!! OK, he's a werewolf, but he's a god among 
werewolves. I love his dry sense of humor, his intelligence, his 
diplomatic skills. He's *perfect*. (OK, I have a crush on a fictional 
character. Sue me!)

Sirius's past. He comes from a Dark, Pureblooded family. He ran away 
from home at the age of 16. His relationship with James becomes even 
clearer... The darkness in Sirius's life predates Azkaban... 

(I accidentally found out what happens to Sirius. Should I continue 
reading??)

Things I don't like:

Tonks... She gets on my nerves for some reason... can't place why... 
I think she reminds me too much of all the Mary-Sues in fanfiction.

Cho... I was expecting Harry to be wracked with guilt over Cedric and 
unable to even LOOK at her. He still likes her! And she may like him 
back! ARGH!!! First crushes are just that... *first* crushes. Where's 
the second crush? The kinda-friend-kinda-girlfriend? The first 
girlfriend? The true love? There aren't that many books left!

Luna... She's just *weird*. She reminds me of Trelawney, and I don't 
like Trelawney at all. Somehow I'm dreading that she will end up with 
Neville. He deserves better!

Confirmation of the fact that Slytherin only has purebloods. What 
happens to the cunning, ambitious Muggleborns?

Also Percy's reaction was 100% expected, but still disappointing. 
This is the same guy who took care of his little sister for a whole 
year, who was the only one who kept a cool head when Sirius broke 
into Gryffindor, who threw propriety out the window when his brother 
almost drowned. I expected his better nature to shine through. I have 
a pet theory that Percy knows and accepts a lot more than he lets on, 
and is working on the inside (like WAY WAY WAY inside) to bring the 
Ministry to it's senses. Ah well, a girl can dream.

So now what? I know one major plot point already, and already had my 
major freak-out over it. The politics and convoluted plot is par for 
the course with Harry Potter.  That's not a surprise.

I'll continue reading tonight. Maybe my opinions will change.

Shef