Some Random Thought on Books 1 - 6

[lkotur]

No: HPFGUIDX 187583

After seeing the film HP&THBP, I decided to re-read the entire saga of Harry Potter. It's been 2 weeks and I just finished book 6. Of course, knowing the outcome of the saga, I felt different about the one of the characters than I did in the initial reading.  Starting with Professor Dumbledore, I always thought his legend was "bigger" than his abilities.  In Goblet of Fire, you see a bit of Dumbledore's "power" when he bursts through Professor Moody's door and Harry noticed something "different" about Dumbledore.  In Order of the Phoenix, when Dumbdore states, "That there may be a bit of a problem", and "go quietly", I actually shouted, "YES!!!" as the smoke in the room cleared. A plus was when Tom Riddle and Professor Dumbledore "played" to a draw in the MOM. Then as I read Half Blood Prince, I realized that Dumbledore really was as "big" as his reputation and legend. I got the same feeling about him in this re-read.  In the end Dumbledore was quite exceptional.

Snape, I mean Professor Snape, gave me an entirely different perception. In the original read I was hoping that Professor Snape turned out to be a good guy, but I thought the chances were quite slim.  During the re-read, I felt that he did not hate Harry at all. He was doing what needed to be done to prepare Harry like the "fatted calf" for the slaughter. Even at the end of The Half Blood Prince when Professor Snape yells at Harry, "Close your mind, Potter!" he was teaching and warning Harry, a fact that I did not pick up on in the initial read. Deathly Hallows is up next and I remember in the Pensive with Professor Snape's memories, Harry can see that Professor Snape was concerned for Harry and the eventual meeting with Voldermort.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione basically stir up the same thoughts and emotions as in the initial read, although I thought Hermione is a little bit annoying. It has been such a pleasure re-reading these books, and the author really did spin one heck of an entertaining tale.

Larry