Readers' expectations and change of them along the ride.

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 176903

Alla asked: 
> 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.


Potioncat:
I can't recall very specific examples, but there were anticipations 
with each new book about the importance of events or characters. Most 
of the time JKR came up with something very different than what I 
expected and most of the time I was very amused at the difference.

One example is the slow telling of Snape's backstory. I didn't expect 
Spinner's End and not till the very last few months before DH did I 
expect Snape knew Lily before Hogwarts.
 
With each new book, I had to readjust who I thought Snape was and 
also, who James and Sirius had been. I was expecting more of an 
explanation for how they changed. Learning that Snape was a Half-
blood was a big surprise and I expected some explanation of why a 
Half-blood would become a DE.

I expected McGonagall to play a stronger role, and I'm a bit sad that 
she didn't. I also expected something different with Theo Nott's and 
Eileen's stories.

It's very interesting to look at firmly canon-based fanfiction over 
the years. There will be certain trends and bam! out comes a new book 
and everything changes. It's a lot like T-Bay and sunk ships.