Sorta random thought on DH (SPOILERS!!!!)

[Milz]

Of course this will contain SPOILERS! So you've been warned!
1. Don't read if you don't want to be spoiled.
2.
3. Turn back now if you don't want to be spoiled.
4.
5. Okay, you've been warned!


1. The three Muggle deaths reported by Potterwatch.
I have a sneaking suspicion they were the Dursleys. I don't know why 
Potterwatch wouldn't name the Muggles, but why would DEs/Voldie go 
after Muggles unless they thought the Muggles had some kind of 
information. And I think Vernon would eventually reject the notion 
of  impending danger and would reject any protection from the OP.

2. Fred and Dobby!
I think the last time I actually yelled aloud "NO!!!!!" when reading 
any book was never. I had to read the passages a couple of times to 
make sure I was reading them correctly. It came as a total surprise 
to me. When Dobby bought the farm, I almost threw the book down in 
disgust. When Fred shuffled off the mortal coil, I had to close the 
book for a few minutes. 

3. The epilogue
I've read and heard some criticisms about it. But I don't think it 
was bad. Rowling gave the end result of the war for the 3 main 
characters: Ron and Hermione are married and parents of two children. 
Harry and Ginny are married and parents of 3 children---two named in 
honor of Harry's parents and one named in honor of Dumbledore and 
Snape. We know that Teddy Lupin is alive and well and in love with 
Victoire Weasley (who's most likely Bill and Fleur's daughter.) We 
know that Neville is the herbology prof at Hogswarts. We heard 
mention a mention of Percy. And we know that Draco Malfoy is married 
and has a son the same age as Albus Potter.

I'm sure the folks who were unsatisfied with the epilogue wanted to 
know about _everyone_ a la "American Graffitti" or "Animal House", 
but for me, it's just better to imagine that the lives Harry and the 
Weasley's (and the Malfoys) had 19 years later were similar to the 
lives Seamus, Dean, Ernie, Oliver, Angela, Alicia, etc. have.

4. Neville and his Gran

I'm glad Neville lived up to his potential and then some. It was 
refreshing to see that Boy That Could Have Been The Boy Who Lived 
triumphed in the end by showing his bravery and by succeeding in his 
adult life.

As for Gran...it goes to show that you NEVER underestimate a "little 
old witch living alone". Gran ROCKS!

5. Snape

After Snape's psychological profile in the last book. None of this 
really surprises me at all. What was touching was dying Snape asking 
Harry to look at him---so he could see Lily's eyes one last time.

6. My Favorite Line

McGonagall's explanation of what happened to Snape: "Professor Snape 
has-- to use the common term---done a bunk." (sorry if I mangled that)


8. The overall tone of the book.

While Death did prowl the pages, I think Rowling did an admirable job 
at injecting levity throughout the book so I did get a laugh here and 
there. For example, Fleur and Lupin's ice breaking dialogue during 
the Percy and family reunion, Ron repeating Hermione's explanation 
about food and magic to the inmates of the Room of Requirement, 
Luna's distraction strategy that enabled Harry to slip out of the 
Great Hall and into bed.

Good job on this book, imo. Now I have to re-read it to pick up all 
the fine details I missed the first time round!
:-)

Milz