General comments and Snape

[Karen Barker]

No: HPFGUIDX 132908

Well, what can I say?  (Quite a lot apparently – I've come back in 
to edit this!)  This is a kind of personal overview of / reaction to 
the whole book.  I wasn't here when the last one came out so I hope 
this is acceptable as per the rules.

Talk about hit you straight between the eyes!  I had to read the 
first couple of pages twice because when they mentioned the `Bones 
murder' I thought "Oh My God, Amelia Bones, no it's a flashback to 
when her brothers(?) were killed in the first war, no it's not it's 
Amelia" in a kind of loop a couple of times.  Then the treachery of 
Snape in chapter 2, I sat there thinking "I can't believe this is 
being revealed in the 2nd chapter!  From that moment on I changed my 
opinion.  I had always believed him to be on the side of Dumbledore, 
but I read this whole book believing him to be ESE.  By the end 
where he killed him I was sobbing and ended the book absolutely 
hating him.

After I'd calmed down a bit though I wondered.  Does this really 
prove that he's ESE?  We saw DD insist that Harry carry out DD's 
orders no matter what.  (see 1)  When DD said "Severus
please
" I 
took this to be pleading for his life, but was he in fact pleading 
with him to kill him so as to not blow his cover?  Was the argument 
Hagrid overheard between them, Snape wanting out of posing as a DE 
and begging DD to release him from that task, but DD refusing?  Was 
Snape's outburst (see 2) an indication of the agony Snape was having 
to go through because he'd had to kill his friend and master, and to 
hide amongst and to behave as those he despises then to have his 
bravery at doing all this seen as cowardice?  Did Snape save Harry 
or just obey Voldemort (see 3)?  Is Harry, indeed not now without 
protection as he fears but rather still being protected, as a direct 
result of  "his greatest protector"'s death, this time from within 
LV's inner circle?

On a personal note I cheered to see that you *can* apperate someone 
with you as I had suggested, as I think I was unanimously overruled 
on that one!!  

I loved the scene at the Dursleys with the glasses whacking them 
over their heads.

When Harry & DD were informed of the Dark Mark (which in the 
excitement I had completely forgotten) my heart plummeted.  I 
immediately assumed that as they were both not at Hogwarts they were 
safe and so thought Ginny was dead.  Then we saw Ginny but there was 
clearly no sign of Hermione so I thought she was dead.  My emotions 
took a severe battering as each person `died' for me till the real 
death which was just appalling.  

 I was also saddened by Harry saying even if Hogwarts does re-open 
he won't go back.  The thought of the last book not including 
Hogwarts really upsets me.  Someone has said to me that it's just a 
knee-jerk reaction and I quite agree, but who is there to dissuade 
him from it?  DD and Sirius are gone, the Dursleys don't care, 
Hermione and Ginny haven't objected and Molly, though I'm sure 
she'll try, will have to contend with the fact he'll be `of age'.

My favourite line of the whole book:  (p540 (UK) chpt 25 The 
Cave) "I am not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little 
stronger despite the freezing water.  "I am with you."

Karen

Quotes below

1)	Chpt 26 The Cave, P 533 (UK ed)
"You remember," said Dumbledore, "the condition on which I brought 
you with me?"
Harry hesitated, looking into the light blue eyes that had turned 
green in the reflected light of the basin.
"But what if -?"
"You swore, did you not, to follow any command I gave you?"
"Yes but –"
"I warned you, did I not, that there might be danger?"
"Yes," said Harry, "but –"
"Well then," said Dumbledore, shaking back his sleeves once more and 
raising the empty goblet "you have my orders"

2) Chpt 28 The Flight of the Prince p 564 (UK ed)
"`DON'T -` screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, 
inhuman, as                                    though he was in as 
much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house 
behind them, `- CALL ME A COWARD'"

2)	Chpt 28 The Flight of the Prince p 563 (UK ed)
"No!" roars Snape's voice and the pain stopped as suddenly as it had 
started; Harry lay curled on the dark grass, clutching his wand and 
panting; somewhere above him Snape was shouting "Have you forgotten 
our orders?  Potter belongs to the Dark Lord – we are to leave him!  
Go!  Go!"