Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[vilakins]

I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows despite a busy week and some bad RL stuff. It took my mind off things nicely.

First of all: I was right about Dumbledore and Snape setting it up because D was already dying from his injury in my post on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I also guessed who RAB was (along with several others) though the fact 'Regulus' means 'prince appears not to be significant. I'm sorry that my musings on the Houses in that post came to naught though.

OK, on to this book.

Good

Love and self-sacrifice were the obvious themes, and though I don't like dark and bleak, I thought the deaths were necessary. Deaths happen in war, and if Voldemort and the death-eaters were to be powerful opponents that would make Harry's self-sacrifice meaningful, we had to see the consequences. Without them, I don't think Harry's willingness to give up his life for his friends would have had the impact it did. All the same, I was sorry for each one, esp the sundering of the twins, the orphaning of Teddy, and even poor Hedwig who wasn't a happy owl in the last days of her life. But I'm so glad Hagrid survived.

There were no real surprises for me in Snape's story, except that I had no idea the doe patronus was his, though I did think it was connected with Lily. I also expected him to stand up to Voldemort more obviously at the end in some big moment of revelation, though his actions did fit with what he and Dumbledore had planned.

I liked how much Harry grows up throughout the book, starting with his kindness to Kreacher.

And there was Luna! And valiant Neville being part of Voldemort's downfall as was sort of predicted at some stage; go Neville! Oh and the tigress Mrs Weasley. :-D

And a full-blood Scorpius, bwahahaha! [/Farscape]

Oh yes, and that odd cover with them all red and blotchy was explained. :-P

Bad

The aimless wandering around with the tent bored me. I'd have cut that in length of prose and time; I began to wonder when Harry might actually do something.

None of the Slytherins stayed to fight. We've seen some good Slytherins (Snape and Slughorn), and if their defining characteristics are ambition and pride, those don't equate to evil. Surely some would have stood against Voldemort.

I've never really seen what Harry loves in Ginny. She was never fleshed out for me; telling us that she 'blazes' is not just enough. I can see why anyone would love Harry or Ron or Hermione or indeed Neville and Luna, but Ginny is almost faceless to me.

The 'tinkly bit' at the end was an anti-climax. OK, life goes on, but so banally? It's nice to know that Hogwarts survives, but I'd have liked to see some changes like a different perception of Slytherin by themselves and the others. I'd also like to know who brought up Teddy, what Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron do besides having kids, how George managed without Fred, and what happened to our wonderful Luna.

But hey, all-in-all it was a satisfying conclusion to the series.

Comments

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

Neville was great :0)I wish Ron hadn't run away again, that's all he ever does, although of course as Harry said, Dumbledore knew he'd go back.

Personally I quite liked the bit at the end, which I felt was very suitable for the target audience.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes, there's usually a pattern in most if not all of the books: Ron doesn't believe Harry or turns against him for a while, then realises he was wrong.

I'd like to have seen some signs of the world they lived in being a bit changed for the better, but yes, their way of life enduring would appeal to a lot of people, and it does close the circle nicely. I might have liked it better had we been told more, but then that leaves it open for the fanfic writers.

Off to bed now with added cats...

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I agree with almost all of that. I liked Ginny, but she was kept very much on the periphery of the story in all but the second book, and for much of that she was effectively possessed. She ought really to have been given a similar amount of "screen time" to Luna and Neville.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear you've had some bad stuff to deal with... I hope things are looking up.

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

I hope things get better for you...

I'm still annoyed that Snape didn't go down fighting, if he indeed had to die. Bleh.

I shook my head over none of the Slytherins staying to fight... but then, Slytherin is the Pure Evil(TM) house, of course.

The epilogue seemed quite banal to me as well, especially as there is no mention of what Hermione does as an adult as well as having ended up as a Weasley brood mare (can you tell I never liked Hermione/Ron).

On the other hand I loved Hero!Neville, and Harry being kind to Kreacher. I giggled when I read about 'Scorpius' Malfoy, too. Farscape, anyone? Hee.

[tlingel.livejournal.com]

I didn't like the epilogue either. I would have liked to have seen Hermionie become an Auror and later to becopme the new generation's Dumbledore. She has the ability for, but isn't interested in, personal power ( which IMV makes her a good candidate for the position). She would need to spend time doing advanced study and research first. Withe the time urner in PoA, DD trusted her to keep Harry from doing something stupid when time travelling.

[satan-pingu.livejournal.com]

I hope you are having better RL days now.

[sorsha-khan.livejournal.com]

*Nods in agreement to pretty much everything - except Ginny* I really liked Ginny & with her brothers so well developed, I guess I just had such a strong image of what she was like that I didn't even notice how little JK describes her (saw her as a younger, female Fred/George). *Shudders at Fred's death* - only thing I truly hated. But I suppose it does make it more realistic.

KNEW Snape was a good guy so :-P to so many of my friends & cousins who reckoned he was evil.

Reckon Teddy was raised by Andromeda - she didn't die did she? *Thinks hard* Don't remember her dying, it was just Lupin, Tonks & Ted Tonks wasn't it? *Gaspes* Not really surprised that Lupin or Tonks died, but it was a bit harsh killing them both, wasn't it?

Oh, and as for what happened to Luna, she spent most of her summers dreaming around Ireland in search of Snagglefruks, Oura Beetles and Kleffs to bring back to Hogwarts, where she'd taken over Care of Magical Creatures after Hagrid retired. All the kids agree that Madam Longbottom is the weirdest teacher in a school of weird teachers...

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that there's been bad RL stuff. I hope that things are improving - and I'm glad that there's at least been something to occupy your mind. *hugs*

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think her problem also was that she didn't have a defined character trait like Neville and Luna other than having a crush on Harry as a kid.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Sleeping on things and having a brain backup and reorganise helps because they don't seem so bad then. :-) Reading is also an excellent cure for worry because it's such a good escape.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Things are coming right, thanks. :-) It wasn't that bad.

We also don't know what Harry and Ron do for a living either, or did I miss that? Maybe Hermione writes extremely erudite books on magic. I don't think she and Ginny have to be full-time mothers like Mrs Weasley, esp not armed with good spells.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Yes.

BTW, I meant to say that I agreed with you about the themes of the book being love and self-sacrifice. Other people seem largely to have concentrated on the plot and characters when talking about the book, rather than looking for themes. Harry's kindness, even towards those that the wizarding world tends to treat as inferiors (such as Dobby and Kreacher) also proves highly significant.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think Hermione would make a great professor, head of house or headmistress, or magic reference book author. I'm assuming she didn't let her brain stay idle. I think it was Harry who wanted to be an auror, and maybe Ron ended up in the Ministry. I'd like to think they did those things anyway.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yep. A couple of good sleeps with brain backup and reorganisation helps, and things are getting fixed. :-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

No, apart from Neville we don't learn what anyone is doing. ISTR that Harry has an enormous number of Galleons in Gringotts, so might not need to work, but I doubt that he would like a life of idleness. Besides, he might find it tricky to make a withdrawl now. :)

I'm sure that neither Hermione nor Ginny would settle for the full-time wife and mother bit. And being able to get rid of the kids from age 11 to 18 for most of the year must help.

Of course, all three of the principals missed their final year of education and never got to sit their NEWTs. They could have gone back the following year, I suppose, but they would have found that rather anticlimactic.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The only real image I have of Ginny is the little girl with the hero-crush on Harry, and the slightly older girl with a touch of playfulness in OotP (which I still haven't seen). Maybe JKR was afraid of writing a Mary Sue (despite the blazing).

I think she gave us enough clues in HBP about what Dumbledore and Snape were up to.

I suppose it makes sense that Teddy was raised by his grandmother, and that certainly never harmed Neville. :-)

Yes! That makes so much sense! That will now be my Luna canon.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's not that bad. Things always seem worse when they happen but they can be dealt with. I'm just waiting for the third shoe to drop... ;-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

One thought about the epilogue that I haven't seen anyone mention anywhere. I liked it that Bill and Fleur's daughter wis called Victoire. Evidently her mother still has fond memories of Victor Krum. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oh! I hadn't even made that connection! Wouldn't Hermione also remember him fondly?

[sorsha-khan.livejournal.com]

Yay! Love Luna and I was certain JK would let them get together. :-( Neville is soooo sweet. The guy that plays him in the films is really growing into the part - not at all how I originally imagined him, but definitely how I see him now.

[sorsha-khan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but not in front of Ron ;-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Yes, but can you imagine Ron's reaction if she'd said: "I don't like your idea of 'Rose' for our daughter's name. What about 'Victoire'?" Actually, since Ron isn't always too shart she might have got away with it. :)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Shart? Evidently my fingers couldn't decide between "smart" and "sharp",

[kerravonsen]

Fond memories of Victor Krum -- or maybe she was named in honor of the Victory that they had over Voldemort?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

And the fact that he saved Draco from the fire was too. I take Draco's curt nod to Harry as a sign that he learned from that and that they have respect for each other though I can't see them ever liking each other.

I think the theme is very strong: Snape loved Lily and his sacrifice was having to pretend to serve Voldemort and watch people he knew being tortured and killed. He will be welcomed at Kings Cross by Dumbledore. Harry was prepared to die for his friends, and his mother's life given for him was a major factor in his survival. Those who fought at Hogwarts loved their friends and, more importantly, what is good and right.

Perhaps we shouldn't mourn Lupin and Tonks because they 'go on' together.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Besides, he might find it tricky to make a withdrawal now

LOL, true! I think Harry is an auror and Hermione an author (since she isn't at the school) and maybe Ron work in Muggle Affairs.

You're right: after all that to have to go back to lessons and exams? Nah.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ah but she'd have used Victoria and said it was for the victory over Voldemort, then Ron would see quidditch match and go all hurt and angry and walk out for a few days till he came to his senses. You know Ron.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It could be either, though I assumed it was the latter myself.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

:)

Even in his mid-thirties, Ron evidently still likes to take outrageous risks. What was he thinking of, using a spell on the Muggle driving examiner? Even though it was a relatively harmless spell, if the Ministry of Magic had somehow found out he'd have been in so much trouble!