my incoherent rambles on DH - MAJOR SPOILERS

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 172451

Hello everyone, I thought the book was stupendous, extraordinary and 
amazing. JKR is a genius. It was definitely my favorite book. On behalf 
of my family and myself, I want to thank JKR for her incredible gift to 
the world!

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Voldemort was certainly revealed -- there is no romanticizing THIS bad 
guy -- from the first chapter (I worry about kids seeing Movie 7 based 
on the first chapter)-- we see his total lack of humanity, his 
viciousness, his disgusting cruelty....

JKR's genius -- I was amazed that JKR could make me feel so sorry for 
Lucius, Narcissa and Draco right in the first chapter. (I didn't really 
feel sorry for Draco in the HPB). I did NOT feel sorry for Dudley 
despite his overtures to Harry......(will we ever find out what his 
worst memory was?) I thought Kreacher's total reversal was a little 
difficult to believe - but it was fun.

Dumbledore certainly dominated this book, despite his demise....he was 
present in one form or another every step of the way. JKR's genius -- 
to show us that not only does the wisest, most powerful and beneficient 
character make mistakes, but he is guilty to wrongdoing in his past.
I LOVED the opportunity to see more of Aberforth Dumbledore (will we 
ever find out what exactly were the inappropriate charms?)

I was terrified throughout most of the book - who WOULD die? (Could 
have done without Hedwig dying...SOMEONE could have sent her to a safe 
place independently - why did she have to travel with Harry?) I cried 
at several spots, including Fred's death...

I LOVED Neville's transformation (it takes a true Gryffindor to pull 
THAT out of the hat)....and felt that one of the morals of the book is 
that no great resistance movement can succeed based on one person....
There were SO many people without whom Lord Voldemort would have not 
perished. I wish we had seen Hermione's struggle to destroy the 
Horcrux....Ron's struggle was a very powerful vignette. Again, and 
again, JKR shows us courage at its finest.

Are we to assume Emmeline Vance, Amelia Bones and Florean Fortescue ARE 
really dead? (I would have liked the epilogue expanded).

Why didn't Dobby show up when Harry's parents, Sirius and Remus did?
Do house elves go to a different afterlife?

Who was the character JKR reprieved? (my bet is on Hagrid)

Are there other pagans on this list? Although there have been 
comparisons between Jesus and Harry's "death" and resurrection....my 
thought when I was reading was that Harry was making the royal 
sacrifice...and it seemed particularly pagan to me, since we believe 
that is the consent to sacrifice one's self for others, not the blood 
letting, that releases and confers power.

What was Harry's son James' middle name (Sirius?)

What was Harry's daughter Lily's middle name?

SNAPE!!!!!!!
Wow, what a character. I am truly relieved. I am so happy that Albus 
Dumbledore was right to trust him. I never believed the theory that he 
was in love with Lily so hats off to those ofyou who did. When Petunia 
said re the dementors "I heard that horrible boy telling HER about 
them."......we of COURSE assumed it was James....
I wish that Professor Snape had lived long enough to talk with Harry or 
even to receive the Order of Merlin First Class, which might have meant 
something to him.

I loved the Battle of Hogwarts......complete with McGonagall animating 
the statues, and the desks, and Trelawney throwing crystal balls, and 
the charge of the house elves, and the return of Slughorn....
I loved Harry reacting to Carrow spitting at McGonagall.....very cool...

I'm glad that Percy came around in time to say goodbye to his brother.
And hurray for Molly Weasley (another powerful woman who is too often 
underestimated)...

The book was packed with love and sacrifice and courage, and still had 
time for some humor. Having spent the first four years of my kids life 
showing every single solitary person I could make sit still pictures of 
my children, I LOVED Remus showing pictures of Teddy in the middle of a 
battle....(I assume Teddy was brought up by Andromeda since we also 
lost his grandfather).

Susan McGee
(if you'd like to join a low volume list Harry Potter for Grownups Over 
40, email me at SusanGSMcGee at aol.com)