Finished - no spoilers...

[carolynwhite2]

Caveats:
-	have not read anyone else's responses as yet
-	but have had a rant with Kneasy

Overall rating – frankly, a struggle to make even 6/10

Accepting absolute authorial right to do as she pleases, the plot is 
now revealed in essence to be as follows:

-	Original four founders of Hogwarts fall out over issues of 
racial supremecy and ethnic cleansing.

-	These issues form continual backdrop down the ages not only 
at the school but in all Muggle/wizard relations.

-	Source of magic power is major subject for research by all 
sorts of eminent wizards and every now and again someone thinks 
they've cracked it and plot to take over the world; Grindie, DD and 
Voldie are the 20th century's contenders.

-	A stone, a cloak and One Wand to Rule Them All are the must-
have accoutrements for all would-be Supremacists, but even 
understanding that you need all three is one of the tests. Indulging 
in foolish wand waving when you are wearing the wrong jewellery and 
the wrong clothes is fatal.

-	DD and Grindie being sharp dressers by nature spot all this 
early on, but the thought of being the world's coolest wizard goes to 
Grindie's head and DD reluctantly has to zap him and have him locked 
up somewhere where he can't get hold of Witch Weekly's reviews of the 
spring and autumn collections.

-	Voldie pursues his own independent lines of enquiry as to how 
to become a Supreme Being, resulting in his jam-jar approach to soul-
management. Through an unfortunate coincidence he chooses Salazar's 
ring as a jam-jar when it is already being utilised in a different 
Plot. This is simply to piss off the fan base and make sure they 
don't get it however clever they think they are.

-	DD realises the danger of Plot Overlap and plans accordingly. 
He uses his knowledge of staff, pupils and ministry officials to play 
a deep psychological game of bluff, counterbluff, betrayal and 
blackmail to ensure Voldie's soul-splitting gamble appears to be the 
only game in town, when in fact it is irrelevant to what he has 
agreed with Herself should be the final resolution.

-	During the final Act, a selection of not very important 
characters are marmaladed; Snape is posthumously designated a Global 
Hero and a large number of babies are produced. HP is fooled into 
canonising DD. Unnoticed in the general rejoicing business continues 
absolutely as normal. Kids are still sorted into four houses; 
Slytherin is still detested. House-elves continue abasing themselves 
for no pay and no pensions. There is no integration with Muggles. And 
no evidence that the bit of Voldie lodged in Harry's brain was ever 
removed. The ring remains somewhere to be picked up, the Elder wand 
has not been snapped, the Cloak remains a prized possession.

My verdict is that she has simply lost the plot big time as the story 
has rambled on. If there ever was an over-arching connecting theme, 
then somehow she has allowed her characters to screw it up at various 
points and simply has had no idea how to tie it all back together 
again except by introducing a new and preposterous plot device (the 
Deathly Hallows) at the very last minute.

Carolyn
..who did enjoy the Ravenclaw password system