Deathly Hallows Reactions *Spoilers*

[Jessabelle]

This book was excellent, however I found bits of it too predictable. For example. Bill and Fleur's wedding; I thought for sure that it would be some small affair because of the obvious hazard of having so many Order members in one spot with Harry. The minute I knew the wedding was going to be large I had an uneasy feeling. Having said this, it served well for the Trio's getaway.

The Trio's whole adventure was awesome to watch, but the narrow getaways were starting to get old, no matter how brilliant or original. I think that Hermione was perfect in her constant organization and preparedness, but I could have done without the perpetual weeping. Ron was not quite up to par, in my opinion, but he still provided some comic relief and was essential to Harry. Harry was, just as I expected, in that he hasn't seemed to change a bit.

I was very reluctant at the beginning of the book to read on without Hogwarts being the main setting simply because Hogwarts itself was a character for me with all it's secrets and history and magical essence. The last battle was excellent in its location; I just wish that the castle had remained more intact, because it would seem that with all it's power and ability (chambers, magical rooms, moving staircases, enchantments, etc.) it should have withstood many, but not all, of the attacks on its structure. The armour and statues coming to life was a great moment, especially since it was on McGonagall's command that this happened. It was also rather devastating, but highly appropriate, to listen to Neville say that it wasn't really Hogwarts anymore because of the new regime. I was really pleased with the teachers that stayed behind, though!

Minerva was so damn great! I was well into the book and I figured that we probably would not hear anything about her other then JKR's frequent reference’s to who was fighting who. However, I was pleasantly surprised when Minerva made repeated and very profound appearances in the last chapters. Her wit, sarcasm, passion, and ability was displayed really well.

As with everyone, I was greatly disappointed in the last chapter. Personally, I try to avoid fics that are so sappy, and I was negatively surprised in the inclusion of this. The names, as others have mentioned, of Harry's kids were not at all pleasing. I personally was hoping for names more like that of Ron's kids, even though they were not particularly great, but at least they did not cause confusion with more important and developed characters. I thought Malfoy's kid had a superbly fitting name to follow that of Lucius and Draco! I was hoping that the last chapter would follow suit with the other books and be the closing chapter where things have calmed down and it is time to go home for summer. I thought perhaps it would include living arrangements and future career plans and the cliché lines about the grief and yet the fact that life would go on. The ending was a huge disappointment.

The Deathly Hallows was a great twist and I love the confusing, but magnificent journey of the Elder Wand into Harry's hand. It was a bit too much that it was Voldemort's own spell that killed him; I thought Harry might not be left so whole and innocent, but I suppose it fits that Voldemort brought the whole thing about himself (the beginning of it and the end of it) with his own backfired spells!

Luna's room was so touching, I really did tear up.

Sprout and Neville were awesome with using the plants and Trelawney's inclusion was hysterical.

Greyback was so creepy and I absolutely hated the part with him and Hermione.

Aberforth was amazing! I love him.

Snape was and interesting character all around. His life was expressed so well. I don't understand why Dumbledore wanted him to have the Elder Wand. Can anyone explain?

I do not think that both Tonk's and Lupin should have been killed; it was too parallel to Harry, especially considering that he was Ted's Godfather. (Might I just add that I like this choice of name for the baby and it worked well, unlike the names bestowed on Harry's kids. They just didn't work in the same way.)

Dumbledore's character really slipped for me. The last two books with him were complete downhill spirals and they seemed to contradict everything we knew in the first five. His emotion at the end of the OoTP and in HPB ("Dumbledore's boy through and through") was contradicted with Snape's revelations in his memories. I am really conflicted about Albus, and I am somewhat upset with JKR; she built him up so well and then kind of crushed how great he was. She did not do so completely, but I feel differently about him now and I think her over-made point about how there is often some evil and good in everyone did not need to be displayed so obviously in Dumbledore. I won't deny that learning about his history was very interesting though. Is it just me or it is now easier to accept Michael Gambon as Albus?

**Kankulex: My impression was that the baby in King's Cross was what Voldemort would be in death and that it shows the connection between Harry and Voldemort because they are both there at the same time. When Harry returns he realizes that Voldemort also seems to have been knock over and perhaps even briefly unconscious. Harry wonders if Voldemort was in the same as himself. Then, when Harry is talking to Voldemort as they circled each other, waiting to duel, Harry tells him that he know what Voldemort will become if dies without remorse. Also, Harry's description of the thing reminded me of Violdemort's description at the end on GoF when Wormtail restores his body in the cauldron, in the graveyard. I am not sure that I am correct, but that is what I figured the baby represented.

- Jess

[beMMADfabulous]

It was sooo sad that Tonks (or Dora, as they called her- which I was always reminded of Dora the Explorer. haha) and Lupin had to die. The baby was a sweet touch, though.

I was NOT at all surprised that Snape loved Lily or that Neville was the one to come back as a Hogwarts professor.

Minerva's parts were few, but EXCELLENT!! I loved Harry so much when he did the Cruciatis on the Death Eater that spit in her face, and when Harry said he now knew what Bellatrix meant by having to "mean it." I was estatic. lol. I also LOVED that Minerva kept telling Harry that he needed to leave Hogwarts so he'd be safe, but when he told her that he was doing something on Dumbledore's orders, she was all for helping him by doing protective charms! ;D haha. Ah, such loyalty, as always!! Btw, all during the time Voldemort and Harry were talking at the end (right before Voldemort was killed) and Voldemort kept bad-mouthing Dumbledore, I could actually picture Minerva saying "Let me at him!" and someone having to hold her back. LOL!

I LOVED Albus's sister's name- Ariana. That is so gorgeous. I think I'm in love with it now. haha. ;D And I felt so bad for the Dumbledores (yes, including Minerva. *wink*).

Trelawney's part (though it was so small) was hilarious! ;D

It's wierd for me to say this, but I was okay with the major deaths in this book. They were necessary for a final part of the series.

Okay, Bellatrix and Voldemort= totally in.. lust? Haha, you wouldn't call it love, but there was definitely something between them!

I can't believe I'm saying this, but Draco Malfoy and Narcissa were great! It was a little wierd that they called Narcissa "Cissy," though.

The ending was too much like a fanfic. Harry/Ginny's and Ron/Hermione's kids names were also fic-ish, which I did not care for at all. I realize there "had" to be an epilogue, but JK's too talented for something like that.

All in all, though I wasn't at first pleased with the trio not going back to Hogwarts as usually (I understood why), this could possibly be one of my favorite books in the series.

[beMMADfabulous]

Oh, and wasn't Dudley's part so sweet at the beginning? "Why isn't he going with us?" *sniff sniff* That was soo touching!

I thought a Muggle was supposed to perform magic, btw... And JK didn't reveal what Hogwarts professors were married!!! *grumbles*

[kissofdeath]

Thats what really pissed me off. My conclusion is that this is one of the styles in books that authors use where the info isnt mentioned but they make all these signs point that point to the answer

[Catwoman99]

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Finally, I finished the book! I know my thoughts will most likely mirror previous posts, but I need a place to release them.

Reading this book has been like an emotional roller coaster. Crying, laughing, holding my breath, swearing loudly - sometimes in the same chapter. I loved it. I haven't cried this much since I watched Titanic for the first time.
Hedwig - I couldn't believe that JK had taken another "person" away from Harry that he cared for greatly.
Dobby - I just couldn't get that picture of him with Bella's knife sticking out of him out of my head. He was annoying to me at times, but I never imagined that we would be killed. Harry digging his grave by hand, just made me cry even harder.
Fred - Percy and Ron huddled next to him, trying to wake him broke my heart. I couldn't help thinking about George and what it would be like to lose someone that close to you. I cried again when they were in the Great Hall, with Mrs. Weasley lying across his chest. I did predict that a Weasley would die, but I had thought it would be Percy.
Tonks and Lupin - Oh, my gods. Their deaths had me crying the hardest. I just sat there saying, "No, no, no!" over and over. My maternal instincts took over and I thought about their baby. I know they are just fictional characters, but I was crying over the fact that they would never see their son grow and he wouldn't know them in return. It truly effected me. I'm still bothered by it.
Harry giving himself to Voldemort - That whole part after Harry learns that he must be killed by Voldemort had me crying. Harry's thoughts as he passes his friends, those who have fought and died for him (Poor little Colin Creevey!) and his walk into the forest was very moving to me.

Okay, enough about my waterworks. I loved learning about Albus' past, but I was bothered that he was being painted in a darker light. I kept thinking of the Albus in all of my (and in countless others) fanfics who is funny, quirky, valiant, and, above all, good. My view of him changed and I didn't want it to change. Like Harry, I didn't want to believe that he thought that wizards should enslave muggles and all that other stuff. I was so grateful for the King's Cross chapter because it showed the Albus that I love. Yes, he had some demons in his closet, but he was remorseful for them.

Did anyone else shout out, "Finally!" when Minerva finally popped up? And she kicked ass. All of her lines, her actions, everything just kicked ass. All the teachers were awesome.

I have always had a soft spot for Neville, even though I've picked on him in a few fics, but I love him so much more now. He came out of his shell and took charge. Wielding the sword of Gryffindor!! I knew he would become Professor of Herbology!

Snape - What can I say. I have always loved his character and I so wanted him to turn out good and I'm happy that he did. The manner in which he died was horrible, but the backstory about him and Lily was great.

Mrs. Weasley versus Bellatrix. Holy shit. I jumped up off the couch when Molly shouted "Not my daughter, you bitch!" I was kinda hoping Neville would get the honors, but Molly is perfectly fine with me. Never mess with a mama bear, especially when her cubs are in danger.

Yes, the epilogue was a bit corny and fanfic-ish, but I still liked it. Harry calling Snape the bravest man he'd ever known was so touching. It put a lump in my throat.

Bottom line. I loved it.

- April
Dumbledore's Army, Still Recruiting

[pol]

Okay so I finished reading it about ten minutes ago and I haven't sorted out all my thoughts and feelings yet, but I'll do the best I can.

Firstly, for the most part I wasn't surprised by the turn in events. If anything, I think JKR played things a bit on the safe side. I certainly expected more casualities. I expected Harry to die, too...I suppose he sort-of-almost-maybe died for a second there, but I was happy enough with his return (and yes, I also thought that the dying baby was the Voldemort also trapped in limbo).

I was delighted that I was right about Snape. I'd been toting that line for a while and from the instant that George returned home minus one ear I was convinced I was going to be proven correct. I figured that had Snape wanted him dead, there'd be more than just an ear missing. I was pretty thrown off, though, by Min not knowing that Snape was good. I love her so very much and it was awful to think that she'd been living all this time believing AD had been murdered and betrayed.

And Min. Well. For God's sake, she was *barely* in it! Her few lines were absolute gold but after everything she'd been through with Harry, I thought they could have spared her a moment in the epilogue or something.

The epilogue itself was one of very few things I truly disliked. Corny fanfic. Through and through. What a pity. Although I liked Harry's words about Slytherin House, the rest of it was unnecessary and very, very sappy. I'm going to pretend it didn't happen.

Also, I get that Ron was weighted down by the Horcrux, but him just leaving and returning in the forest like that was pretty poor form.

Okay, I'm trying not to be too negative. Overall I really did love it, but I'm feeling that bittersweet-ness that the series is over and it's hard not to pick away at it when there's no future book to tidy it up or whatever.

I was very affected by Kreacher though. By the idea of him waiting and waiting for them to come home for lunch and them just not showing up. Am I crazy that *that* (other than Hedwig's entirely gratuitous death) was what really got me more than any of the deaths or sacrifices??? That's what really hurt for me. Silly, I know. Oh and Severus. Not so much because I'm sure he would have known that it was only a matter of time, but it does seem unduly unfair that he couldn't even have Min know who he really was.

Well, best stop there, I think. I think I"m starting to repeat myself and more and more thoughts keep rushing in and out.

-pol xo

[pol]

PS- I know he was young and learnt from his experiences and all that, but didn't young AD seem a bit OOC to you??? I understand that he grew from the Grindelwald era to become the wise Headmaster but even so...something just didn't sit right about that. Perhaps it was the lack of earlier hints in other books but I feel that the AD backstory (much as I truly enjoyed it and was glad it was offered to us) was slightly off-kilter.

[mugglemin]

I'm still re-reading bits as I wait for all my mates to catch up and finish the book, and I keep thinking about new things.

I think the point about Albus not being entirely "white" is really important - for him as a character and the choices he makes in later life to trust where others wouldn't, to believe that remorse can change someone entirely. If he hadn't had that experience when young, he wouldn't have been able to trust Snape. The more I think about it, the more I love him for his mistakes because they are where his humanity lies. And this is what makes him a more rounded character - not a kind of god-figure who is perfect from beginning to end, a flat character with no flaws, but a real person.

I think we, like Harry, want our mentors/heros to be perfect, otherwise how can we aspire to be like them? But they could never earn our respect without their wisdom, and they could never be as wise as they are without making mistakes.

I liked the point someone made above about being more able to accept Gambon in the role after this. Very interesting.

And did anyone else think the cat that Lily talks about having in Godric's Hollow was Minerva? When Harry asks himself what happened to it after his parents were killed, I fully expected to find out later on that she had been with them, at least when Harry was playing with his new broom...

And Peeves - has anyone else noticed that Peeves does what Minerva tells him throughout the books, even though he is supposed to be difficult to manager? She threatens him with the Headmaster only once, and that's in GOF, but he still does what he's told. And she told Filch to get him for the battle. Reminds me of the connection between the two that Mascaret suggested in her fic Predictions, Misconceptions and Transfigurations: www.fanfiction.net/s/1503928/1/Predictions_Misconceptions_and_Transfigurations

AND, my favourite Minerva line was, on being asked where Snape was: "He has, to use the common phrase, done a bunk". Very Albus-like phrasing. Naturally.

[Tabby67]

I finished the book 'bout 18 hours after getting it, which I honestly think were a well wasted 18 hours.

I for one did not at all like how the last 6 chapters went. It was like she was desperate for a place to stop, so she started killing off whoever popped in her head first. I saw no meaning what so ever to the murder of Fred, Tonks, Lupin, or Snape.

While on Snape, I KNEW IT! I'm glad he was for the good at the end. But, I think she could have let him live! It would have been the LEAST she could have done for him, after all he had been through. He'd had his heart broken, was told Harry would have to die, even after all he had done for the kiddle, had to kill Dumbledore, who had taken him in when no one else would!, and had sacrificed a great deal to help the Order and what their beliefs. I thought it cruel that she slaughtered him.

The way the whole Kings Cross and everything that tied into that went absolutely lovely.

However, the way Voldimort died - was she just out of ideas? It was a repeat of what had happened the first time he tried to kill Harry. Except this time, the back-firing spell actually did kill him for good. Poor on her part. It should have been more ... to the point.

The scene with the spitting on Minerva and Harry going all Crucio on his arse was my all time favourite scene out of the book, besides the King's Cross scene. I thought that was terrific, and if it's cut from the film, I will be very angry and protest it outside the producer's home. *grumbles about him*

Anyway, the epilogue. What was up with that? It was like a fanfiction. Actually, the whole book reminded me of a really big fanfiction. I still have the 'What's Happening Last?' feeling. I wasn't satisfied at all.

All in all, book gets a 6 out of 10 rating from me. Poorly done on JK's part, and she shouldn't have published it if she knew it wasn't her best, and she should have known that was certainly not the best of her capabilities. I honestly want a rewrite, or a little reasoning behind her mass slaughtering and lack of background for the epilogue.


Ok, my rant's done.

[ameeraidoj]

First of all, to Jessabelle: If Dumbledore had planned his death out in advance then Snape really did not beat him so the Elder Wand's power would disappear, but Draco disarmed Dumbledore first before Snape could kill Dumbledore, so the wand still had power. Dumbledore did not want Sanpe to have the wand in the sense of ownership. With that being said...

Overall, I loved this book. Harry was not as annoying as he has been in the other books. Yes, there was not a lot of Minerva, but the scenes she did have made up for the lack of her. Because of her scenes, this book is in my top three. It was also interesting to learn about Dumbledore's past. It made him seem more human and less god-like.

I knew Snape was good!!! I do feel sorry for Minerva that she had to work for the person she believed betrayed Albus. That had to have been horrible.

The epilogue: It was good to know that Harry and Ginny, and Ron and Hermione did get married and had families. I really had no problem with the names of Harry's and Ginny's children, except that either Lily or James should have had a first name from the Weasley side of the family. As for Ron's and Hermione's children, Hugo and Rose, Where did those names come from? I knew Neville would be the Herbology professor. It was fanfiction-ish, but it was a little funny that Ron learned to drive a Muggle car.

My unanswered questions: Rowling said that Kingsley became the new Minister of Magic, but did Minerva become the new Headmistress of Hogwarts? Also, was Snape a rightful Headmaster of Hogwarts? Harry did not mention seeing a portrait of Snape when he entered the Headmaster's office. Did Hagrid and Olympie end up together? What happened to Luna? Why is Sprout no longer teaching at Hogwarts? Does Minerva find out the entire truth about Snape or does she live on the little bits that Harry was shouting at Voldemort during the final battle? I have even more questions.

Even though she said that she would not write anymore Harry Potter books, maybe she will write something surrounding other characters in the Harry Potter series.

[Drake]

tabby67 said:

I saw no meaning what so ever to the murder of Fred, Tonks, Lupin, or Snape.

Well, that's war, isn't it? I think that that was one of the points she was trying to make.

[pinnacle]

mugglemin said:

I think the point about Albus not being entirely "white" is really important - for him as a character and the choices he makes in later life to trust where others wouldn't, to believe that remorse can change someone entirely. If he hadn't had that experience when young, he wouldn't have been able to trust Snape. The more I think about it, the more I love him for his mistakes because they are where his humanity lies. And this is what makes him a more rounded character - not a kind of god-figure who is perfect from beginning to end, a flat character with no flaws, but a real person.

I think we, like Harry, want our mentors/heros to be perfect, otherwise how can we aspire to be like them? But they could never earn our respect without their wisdom, and they could never be as wise as they are without making mistakes.

I liked the point someone made above about being more able to accept Gambon in the role after this. Very interesting.

And did anyone else think the cat that Lily talks about having in Godric's Hollow was Minerva? When Harry asks himself what happened to it after his parents were killed, I fully expected to find out later on that she had been with them, at least when Harry was playing with his new broom...

Amen!

I don't think the cat was Minerva... she did have to teach, after all. I read somewhere that maybe it was Crookshanks.. we'll never know.

[McGonagallsGirl]

Ah, I finished it a few days ago and I feel so... blah about it.

For me, nothing's changed, except Minerva kicked some serious ass.

No new ADMM, I still dislike Snape, only a few people died... but there won't be any books to notice their absense in.

Minerva's bits were my favorite ever. EVER.

Just barely better than her Umbridge scenes.

And Harry's first time torturing was in defense of Minerva. Ahh... that was so rockin.

I wish there had been more with the Zombies. That was the most disturbing element Jo ever added. And Hermione needs to get over the crying. For real.

And, beMADDfabulous, "I could actually picture Minerva saying "Let me at him!" and someone having to hold her back. LOL!" is a plotbunny if I've ever heard one.

[MinervaMcGonagall]

Deathly Hallows was one of her best books. I was disappointed there was not more Min involved and I was pissed Snape was made headmaster instead of her. She even had her deputy title striped from her!

The different perspective of Dumbledore was good and I loved the part where Hermione and ROn kissed. I was depressed when Fred died. He's one of the best characters!

I also thought the epilogue could have been better.

[pol]

Mugglemin- I wondered about Min being the Potters' cat too! I know it may not have made a whole lot of sense, but it would have been pretty nifty.

Now I know some of you are on your second (or more!) reading and maybe I missed something you haven't seeing as I read it in one long frenzy, but there's something that's been bugging me all night. And I feel as though it's a really stupid question because nobody else has brought it up. But didn't Neville kill Nagini with the sword of GG??? And if so, how in the hell did he get it??? Confused much!

There's a really obvious answer to this, isn't there?

[Jessabelle]

I had wondered how he got it too. My only explaination was the Sorting Hat. Neville ends up with it on his head and next thing you know he has the sword. This is of course, assuming that I read it correctly.
- Jess

[esoterica1693]

Another little something we learn about Albus in DH: now we know why he was absolutely fierce on the subject of Dementors and didn't want them anywhere near the Castle, ever. His father died in Azkaban, courtesy of the Dementors.

[esoterica1693]

Actually there is one line in the book which bodes very ill for any ADMM beyond close friendship, and it's not even a scene which includes Minerva. It happens very early on, while the Trio is still at the Burrow. I'll see if anyone else saw what I saw....

I think it's actually definitive proof they weren't married or otherwise betrothed to each other. I'm sure JKR could write her way out of it in an Encyclopaedia if she chose to, but I think at least up until now she's envisioned them only as best-est friends and loyal colleagues. Maybe Minerva feels more and wishes for more--her actions later in the book do show a fierce loyalty and devotion which I had at first taken as *very* promising--til I spotted this small detail in a re-read tonight. But they are not married and probably not all-but-married either.

[esoterica1693]

The line I spotted also shows that Albus wasn't married or life-committed to anyone else at the time of his death, however, which I guess is some comfort.....

[pol]

Jessabelle- Of course! That's absolutely plausible and something I didn't even *begin* to think of! Would have been nice if JKR had bothered to say a word or two about it, but nevermind.
Thanks so much for setting my mind at rest!

[misshoneychurch88]

ooh esoterica where is it? I would reread the entire beggining right now, but I have stupid work to do *grrr*

[esoterica1693]

The scene where Scrimgeour gives the Trio the bequests from AD. Note what he says about the rest of his estate. p 124, Scrimgeour is talking to Ron (emphasis added):

"If you were not very close to Dumbledore, how do you account for the fact that he remembered you in his will? He made exceptionally few personal bequests. The vast majority of his possessions--his private library, his magical instruments, *and other personal effects*--were left to Hogwarts. Why do you think you were singled out?"

Either Scrimgeour is lying and AD made personal bequests to MM which he is obscuring, either at AD/MM's request to preserve the secrecy of their relationship, or to heighten the point to the Trio, or MM was not "family" to AD If AD had given stuff to MM before his death to circumvent 'probate,' it would have probably raised MM's suspicions about his impending death, no? So either they weren't together, or AD found some other way to get stuff to MM w/o anyone knowing, or Scrimgeour's lying. But if AD had ways of passing his possessions reliably outside of probate, why didn't he use that w/ the Trio? Would have saved much agony. So I conclude that either Scrimgeour is lying to protect AD/MM, or there is no family-like relationship.

Occam's Razor (hi, MMADfan) would point to the latter. Alas.

For narrative purposes JKR needs the Trio to get their stuff w/o explanation and have to figure it out on their own. But if ADMM existed, what would have been the harm in having MM get a few things?

It's conceivable that ADMM existed and that either AD and/or Scrimgeour is still hiding it, or JKR cut it to eliminate a distraction in the larger plot. (Can't you imagine Harry trying to get to talk to MM if he learned she was AD's wife/beloved? The plot would have ended up in a totally different direction!) So the ship isn't totally underwater yet. But to me it doesn't look promising.

[esoterica1693]

I guess a way around this is to have AD and MM living together in MM's rooms, not his, or secret joint rooms that *no one* knows about. Then he could make sure that only those personal effects he didn't care about were left in his quarters for the Ministry to find. The rest MM would have automatically. If they'd kept their relationship secret enough, no one would think to consider her quarters as part of his estate. Maybe MM didn't need or want to have personal possession of his books and instruments. The smoking thingy wouldn't make a good cat toy anyway. ;D

So it's still possible to write MMAD. It's just there is now something in canon which, on the surface anyway, points away from a formal pairing rather more clearly than before.

[esoterica1693]

And if MM did get a bunch of his stuff, it becomes hard to explain why he didn't use her as a channel for the 4 things he wanted to leave the Trio, even if she couldn't pass any explanation along. That too can be written around, but it gets very complex! Sigh. Well, we know that AD was nothing if not complex....

[MMADfan]

esoterica1693 said:

And if MM did get a bunch of his stuff, it becomes hard to explain why he didn't use her as a channel for the 4 things he wanted to leave the Trio, even if she couldn't pass any explanation along. That too can be written around, but it gets very complex! Sigh. Well, we know that AD was nothing if not complex....

If they were married, she'd automatically get anything that was marital property. Only personal effects and such would be distributed by will. If he hadn't made a will, his next-of-kin would get everything -- whether that was Aberforth or Minerva or someone else. With a will, he can cut out Aberforth, but not a wife, if he has one. He can dispose of his own personal property through the will in whatever way he wishes, but marital property stays with the spouse. And also, Scrimgeour did say something like "almost all" (don't recollect the exact words). Not that I think this indicates that MM and AD were actually married in canon (I bet that's one of the lead balloons that JKR is going to drop in the encyclopedia -- along with the totally unfair "fact" that Minerva doesn't become Headmistress), but it is much more easily worked around than one thinks. (I don't do estates and trusts, myself, but the business about marital property is simple and, I'm pretty sure, the same in all common law countries.) Albus lived for many years before he and Minerva would have gotten together (in canon or not! *grin*), so it's quite conceivable that he has a lot of personal effects and other property that wouldn't be considered a marital asset. (This does not constitute legal advice! Everyone should have a will and consult an attorney/solicitor/whatever if they have questions about the distribution of assets and what constitutes "marital property"!!!)

[esoterica1693]

All very true, MMADfan! (Having once worked in family law as a paralegal....) If their marriage was known, then she would get everything important independent of probate. If their marriage was secret, it would have to be finessed by their having joint quarters or storage that no one knew about.

And this is the man who managed, through careful silence and misdirection and the power of his own charisma, to keep the full truth about his sister largely secret for over a century, even w/ his mother and sister's gravestones in plain view in a well-known wizarding village, surely prompting questions long before his death. Not to mention his ability to keep Harry and Snape in the dark about so much. He's proven he's more than capable of keeping some pretty big secrets under wraps for a long time! So it's definitely possible MMAD is one of the secrets he's still keeping....

[revolutionaryetude]

He left some personal items to a few people. Some he left to Hogwarts. Who though is still at Hogwarts? McGonagall.
We don't what the very few personal requests were about. He could have left stuff to his brother and Minerva. I think Scrimgeour would never tell Harry more than he absolutely had to know. He may have thought if he told about who got what of Dumbledore's they would realize that they maybe allies and have potential clues about their problem. If he told Harry for example McGonagall got all of the financials, and certain sentimental objects (ex. photos misc.) & Abeforth got the estate and childhood memoribilia Harry would find them as potential allies. But Dumbledore neve once gave Harry the help of his personal friend or ally. The Order memebers mostly followed Dumbledore, but very few I would consider as an intimate companion or firend. The only one on one conversation anyone in the Order of Pheonix had with Dumbledore, besided Harry, was Snape in the memories and McGonagall in the opening chapters of the first book.
Personal effects, left to Hogwarts, could be the piensive for Snape to refer back too. Maybe Dumbledore knew all along that Snape would eventually be Headmaster and not Minerva Mcgonagall. What about Dumbledore's financials he surely took a salary and maybe a Gringotts bank account. Where did all of that go to? Did he have a house outside Hogwarts? That could be full of much more Personal relics.

[notoriousscrat]

One thing I noted about the inheritance is that while nothing went to Minerva, almost everything went to Hogwarts---which would be a de facto way to give her everything up until Snape was appointed. That's how I figured it when I read it. I imagine there were a number of secrets Albus took to his grave. One thing we can be certain of from the books is that even after he moved away from the faults of his youth he still had a tendency to keep secrets. He never told people about his sister even after all those years, so far as we know, never left it in a memoir or anything. Seems to me that he would have concealed his secrets even in death. I don't think he could let them all go, he was just too used to them.

That said, I've been worried about how the canon for MMAD would end up forever. I thought it was very unlikely we would see it verified in this last book, and only hoped it would not be sunk. I basically have the same hopes for the encyclopedia.

[esoterica1693]

I'm glad y'all have been able to shoot down my position! I too want ADMM to be true!

[misshoneychurch88]

well most of what I though has been said, but just to reiterate, he did say he made exceptionally few personal etc. meaning that he did make some. While my logical question would have been "who else?" but we don't hear so we don't know. Then there are all the good theories put forth here.

....can we write a letter begging Jo not to shoot down this ship and give Mcgonall a chance as Head in a peaceful world? Please, she's given reprives before, so maybe...