Hmmm. What's your favorite *now*?

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 183061

Witherwings wrote:
> <snip>
Well, after DH came out, I finished the series, and then went back to
HBP, skipping the first five! <snip>

carol responds:
Skipping the first five chapters? Skipping "Spinner's End"? Although I
happen to like "The Other Minister," and I've recently discovered that
it has other fans, too, I can understand why some readers would skip
it, and I can certainly see skipping Slughorn and "Phlegm" and
possibly even the Dursleys getting hit on the head with mead glasses
and Kreacher having his tantrum. But I can't see going directly to
"Draco's Detour" without first reading "Spinner's End," which in any
case, is one of the best Snape chapters ever and has that terrible,
hellish imagery of fiery chains at the end, boding ill for my favorite
character. I can see skipping that part if you're a Snape fan and hate
what it forebodes, but, still, those few lines are compelling in their
own terrible way, much like the later scene on the tower where Snape
fulfills his vow (and his promise to DD). It's painful reading, but
it's crucial to the plot and to the Snape/DD and Snape/Draco arcs.

Carol, just curious as to why Witherwings would skip those five chapters