Readers' expectations and change of them along the ride.

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 176879

Hee, we talked a lot about unfulfilled expectations after books 
ended. I cannot really talk about that much, since my expectations 
were by and large fulfilled.

I want to ask sort of related question. While you were reading the 
books (obviously it only applies to those readers who were 
experiencing long waits for the next book, not to those who read all 
the books together except last one), did you have to majorly or at 
least somehow change your expectations, adjust them so to speak?


It happened to me couple times. While I was always reading the books 
with 
Harry's eyes and was very satisfied at the end that I did that, at 
some point in time I believed that JKR may decide to develop adult 
characters somehow at least.

When Sirius died after OOP, I realised that I am due for some 
attitude adjustment if I want to keep enjoying the books 
wholeheartedly.

I am not talking just about the fact that author decided to kill off 
my second favorite character after Harry or that I really hoped that 
she would bring him back. I realised that JKR is not 
going to give adults even a quarter of what I was hoping for. Like 
even though she created them as fascinating figures, if I want 
adults developing, I need to look in fanfiction ( not that I was not 
before) and see if I am happy with only kids being front and center.

I decided that I am quite Okay with doing so. I mean it was easy 
enough in a sense that I always adored Harry and liked Trio as a 
whole, it was just sad to abandon my desire to see adults doing 
something more than they did.


My question, if of course anybody desires to answer would be - did 
you change your attitudes and expectations about the series while 
you were reading them.

I am not talking about finishing DH, just while you were reading 
other six books.

Because at the end JKR reasonably surprised me with Dumbledore and 
Snape's development. I do not mean revelation about Snape's 
loyalties, LOL, even though it was not what I was expected. I meant 
that she shown him changing **somewhat** IMO through the series, not 
just off the page and same with DD for me.

And keep in mind, I am not talking about whether Snape's development 
made me happy either, because it did not. In a sense that since book 
1 as I mentioned before I wanted him to realise what a dolt he was 
towards Harry and as far as I am concerned, he died hating Harry.

I am just saying that I saw **development** of DD and Snape as adult 
characters in book 7 on the page and it was sort of surprising to 
me, I sort of got myself used to the idea that adults are created 
mainly to move the plot or to have Harry experience certain 
revelations and that is about it.




There was another expectation that I had to abandon after HBP 
actually. It was not as big, but still. I always thought that the 
ending would be somehow fascinating, unexpected, unique. That final 
fight would be something - amasing, and for some reason somehow 
connected with the name **Death eaters** - that it would be 
explained somehow.

When horcruxes were introduced, I realised that I have to abandon my 
expectations of something unique for the ending.

Again, do not get me wrong, I was **happy** with the ending, it is 
just at earlier time of the series, I expected to read something 
more unusual, if that makes sense.


Alla.