HBP First impressions - SPOILERS within!

[Catherine Coleman]

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I did.  It was seriously good.  It may even come in at second to PoA.

Just as in OoP, the last few (very cinematic?) chapters were extremely painful to read,
particularly the potion drinking scene, and the AK.    Ali and Neil are still here, and I am
having a debate with Ali about Snape.  Ali and I seem to have opposite views on this, because I am
quite ready for Snape to be guilty, and she isn't.  I just can't see why Dumbledore's death was
necessary to the fight against Voldemort.  I do need to read those chapters again immediately,
because I was reading them late last night with tears rolling down my cheeks, so the chances are I
missed a lot.  I could not bear seeing Dumbledore  so seemingly weak - it just didn't seem
possible that he could at that point be at the mercy of the DEs and Draco. 

Theories are already being posited about Dumbledore pleading with Snape to kill him, that it could
have been a mercy killing, that Dumbledore was already dying.  I have a problem with all of those,
and one of my main reasons is the use of AK.    Am I right in saying that to use AK effectively,
you really have to have the intention to murder, rather than to kill, or is this too fine a
distinction?  These unforgiveable curses like all magic work through strength of intention, and I
just thought that this had to be based in negative emotion, rather than positive.    Anyway, it is
going to make the Snape Trial at Accio very interesting....

Other first thoughts.   I think JKR is still mixing it up on the shipping front.  I can actually
buy into G/H, but R/H longterm?  Still not a chance.    I started to like Ron in OoP - sadly, he
has regressed again.  Harry, on the other hand, strikes me as gaining in maturity all the time,
and becoming a true leader, able to make painful decisions - although I don't think his
determination to stay away from Ginny is going to wash - she seems as strong willed as him.  One
major reservation - I can't believe that he performed that curse on Draco without knowing what it
was.  Majorly irresponsible - on a par with The Prank.

I loved Luna's scenes - very touched by her feeling as though the DA meetings were like having
friends, and thought her Quidditch commentary was excellent.  I love this character more and more
- emotionally aware and honest, yet sadly distanced from everything going on around her.

I liked the fact that there were few new characters this time around, but I wish other characters
had more space.  I wanted more on Sirius' death.

I cannot believe that Umbridge is still at the Ministry and had the cheek to turn up at the
funeral.

What's going on with Fawkes?

I did think quite quickly that there was going to be some significance in founders' relics, and
did guess early on that Snape would be the HBP.    I also got Regulus as well.  I have a feeling
there is another RAB somewhere around, but I can't remember where.

I want to know what happened with Percy at The Burrow.

I'm glad that JKR was unequivocal about the importance and power of love.

I'm glad, although also frustrated that we have few answers and more questions.

I'm scared about the possibility of no Hogwarts in Book 7, but think it is unlikely.

I didn't notice much adverb abuse, but I probably will later.

I need to go and reread now.

Catherine







		
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