Deathly Hallows Reactions *Spoilers*

[hpimperfections]

apocalypticat said:

*

EDIT: Just one question from a confused fan! I was a tad lost when the final confrontation happened. Am I right in saying that Harry was bluffing that Draco's wand was the Elder?

I don't think he was bluffing, because everyone else said that there was no way his normal wand could be repaired. It would take some really powerful magic to put his old wand back together.

[hpimperfections]

So disappointing in the ADMM department...On the other hand, the information about Dumbledore was very interesting and just the sort of thing I was looking for, and the King's Cross scene was interesting in a very strange, bizarre, peculiarly metaphysical sort of way. The scene where Minerva transfigures the desks and has them charge the Death Eaters was hilarious! (evil grin)
I thought JKR made really bad choices in who she killed off. It was also really extreme--after the battle it says that 50 people died to fight Voldemort. While I know that this is a typical aspect of any war, it's still a book that young children are reading and they really shouldn't have to deal with that.
I really liked the stuff about Snape and Lily's relationship and the part where Harry plays dead and then surprises everyone by coming to life and defeating Voldemort.
The only problem was the Epilogue, which I thought was absolutely terrible--but then, that probably has to do with my odd tendency to not care that much about leading characters (Hermione excepted).

[MinnyCat]

For me, there are things that I would change if I was the Rowling.... but the more I think about it, its her world, she is just sharing it with us. So it is really up to her to say who dies and stuff. She wrote the books for herself (she said that in her Biography). Sure she wants to make us happy, but she isnt going to change her world to fit what we think. And I respect her a lot for that. I love that she ultimatly doesnt care how many books she sells. She wasnt in it for the money, she just wanted to be a published writer. Her dream came true.

I wish there was more McGonagall...... and that the begining was a little more interesting but other wise I loved it. And I just love that Rowling was willing to let us all in on this little adventure.

[Herzele]

misshoneychurch88 said:

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.

Exactly ... And what would it matter to Harry, Hermione and Ron anyway at that moment to know whether Albus left Min something personal? I mean, they don't care about that, so why should they ask who the others are ....

So I'm clinging to the theory that he left her something and it just wasn't important enough to mention ...

[mugglemin]

hpimperfections said:

apocalypticat said:

*

EDIT: Just one question from a confused fan! I was a tad lost when the final confrontation happened. Am I right in saying that Harry was bluffing that Draco's wand was the Elder?

I don't think he was bluffing, because everyone else said that there was no way his normal wand could be repaired. It would take some really powerful magic to put his old wand back together.

He wasn't bluffing because the Elder Wand wasn't Malfoy's actual wand, it was the one Voldemort had taken from Dumbledore's grave. The reason Harry was the rightful owner, and that Snape's death had been pointless, was because Malfoy had disarmed Dumbledore before he died, therefore earning the wand. He had no idea, of course, and the wand was buried with Albus, separated from its new master, and we know that Voldemort took it. Harry became it's new master when he disarmed Malfoy at Malfoy Manor. Even though he didn't win the actual Elder wand from Draco, he had defeated it's master, thereby winning the right to the wand. So Voldemort was in posession of a wand that was not rightfully his, but Harry's. When he cast the final killing curse, the wand refused to act on it's master, and rebounded on Voldemort instead. Harry just happened to be using Draco's personal wand at the time - and it was working for him because he had won it fair and square from Malfoy. So Harry was really the master of two wands at one time.

Hope that makes sense...

[misshoneychurch88]

well said mugglemin, may have to email that to a few of my less quick friends who still don't understand my rambling about it

[Apocalypticat]

mugglemin said:

He wasn't bluffing because the Elder Wand wasn't Malfoy's actual wand, it was the one Voldemort had taken from Dumbledore's grave. The reason Harry was the rightful owner, and that Snape's death had been pointless, was because Malfoy had disarmed Dumbledore before he died, therefore earning the wand. He had no idea, of course, and the wand was buried with Albus, separated from its new master, and we know that Voldemort took it. Harry became it's new master when he disarmed Malfoy at Malfoy Manor. Even though he didn't win the actual Elder wand from Draco, he had defeated it's master, thereby winning the right to the wand. So Voldemort was in posession of a wand that was not rightfully his, but Harry's. When he cast the final killing curse, the wand refused to act on it's master, and rebounded on Voldemort instead. Harry just happened to be using Draco's personal wand at the time - and it was working for him because he had won it fair and square from Malfoy. So Harry was really the master of two wands at one time.

Hope that makes sense...

That did! My slow mind did eventually work it out on its own (it all clicked when I realised what 'Disarming' Harry was talking about) but I think that's very useful for anyone who's still confused.

[ιady ταвz]

Ok...so i finished this morning and i must say although this is all made up and totally not real, it makes so much sense, magic does! Overall, it was a good book. I will admit, i hated it the moment Moody and Fred died and Dobby!!!! I LOVE FRED & DOBBY! I can understand Moody dying since he was all tough and whatnot, but Fred and Dobby? Come on, what did they do to deserve such unjust punishment?? *sob*

And Lupin and Tonks?? They just had a kid! awww, my heart was aching after i read that. But i knew they would be together even past death =]. YAY!

I hated when the old Muggle studies professor, Charity Burbage was killed and eaten by Nagini, it made me sick! Poor her, i felt so grossed out and Snape just sat there and watched. I love all the mysteriousness of it all though, ist mindboggling.

One of my favorite parts was when out of nowehere Trelawney comes with her crystal balls and attacks death eaters saying "I HAVE MORE!" or something like that. That was a good laugh, her doing her little bit to help out =]. And i loved when Mrs. Weasley was like "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU B**TCH!" That was lovely and icky Bellatrix kicked the bucket for good!

I wasnt expecting Snape to be a good guy, but i guess he was. But the thought of him in love with Lily makes me shiver, it seems wrong but oh well. I knew he was gonna die anyways.

I was kinda upset McGonagall wasnt Headmistress since she deserved the position in my opinion, but now i understand why she wasnt cos of Snape. Her few precious scenes were awesome. All through the book i was like "when is Min coming? i miss her" and then she came and i rejoiced and couldnt stop smiling, she was wonderful and brave. It made me realize how smart she was when even she knew the password answer to the Ravenclaw common room, and she said it so intelligently "Into nonbeing, that is to say everything" or something like that. =D And Harry standing up for her was great! I was so angry when that Carrow guy spit at her...i thought, Where the hell is Albus when she needs him, oh right, he's dead. But she was the best part, i love her ♥

AND NEVILLE! I was sooooo proud of him! Bless his soul, he really was his parents son! And he pulled Gryffindor's sword outta the hat! YAY HIM! He killed Nagini too!

But those names, Albus Severus, Hugo, and Scorpius!? Good Lord! What was JK thinking? lol..

..oh and i found this somewhere that JK said about Min:

Nineteen years after the Battle of Hogwarts, the school for witchcraft and wizardry is led by an entirely new headmaster (“McGonagall was really getting on a bit”)

WTF does that mean? she woulda been around 91 or 92, so isnt that like middle aged and not, to quote, getting on a bit? Min still has life in her, did you see her attacking DEs left and right? SO why has she been replaced? grr

[misshoneychurch88]

Though at least that does mean she could be Headmistress for some time, just not by the time the kids get there. Maybe she can retire and become a crazy old cat lady with Mrs. Figg

[Drake]

misshoneychurch88 said:

Though at least that does mean she could be Headmistress for some time, just not by the time the kids get there. Maybe she can retire and become a crazy old cat lady with Mrs. Figg

YES! That wins. ;D

[ιady ταвz]

lol...yes i suppose so, i just hope she will be extensively in the supposed encyclopedia JKR plans to write and we'll kow all about her =]

I just noticed this. I was watching Stranger than Fiction and noticed how Harold Crick and Harry Potter had a couple similarities. Mainly the ending though. They both accept that they have to die, and because of that they both live. I just thought it was funny.

[beatabeatrix]

I'm happy to anounce that I'm probably the last person in the world to have finihed reading the English version. I really did my best to make it as long as possible.
Naturally, everything's been said before and I agree with most of it. But as there are very few people reading the book in English here (and those few who can seem to be waiting for me to lend them my copy) I have to discuss it with someone so please, be patient with me.
On the positive site, the book turned out to be absolutely great, though OOTP remains my favourite, I can't help it. However, DH was the first and only HP book that made me cry. In the end, I didn't mind most of it not taking place at Hogwarts that much. It wouldn't be much fun, anyway, knowing what the place became that year.
McGonagall - as everybody says. I loved her! THE ONLY person who never questioned Harry's intentions and never asked for details!!!! The moment he told her it was Dumbledore's orders she acted. No ranting about being 17 and abandoning his education. She also was a natural leader for everybody, once they got rid of Snape.
The battle of Hogwarts - fantastic, not only because Min was in charge. As for all those deaths, I think it wasn't just about killing as many random people as possible to finish the story somehow. She really made it real. Even the good ones die in war although I found it rather cruel that both Tonks and Lupin were killed. Not to speak of Fred.
Aberforth - that was my dream come true I really wanted to know more about him.
What I didn't like was, obviously, the ending. I totally agree with what was said. Even the names of the kids were fanfiction-like. Albus Severus, oh my.
Speaking of Severus, that was rather touching, but I still don't like him. And Harry calling him the bravest man and naming his son after him. Honestly, at least for me, that was a bit far-fetched. Nice of him to send the kids to the forest with Hagrid instead of using the Cruciatus curse on them, though.

[tabbycat]

I loved the scene where Snape angrily says "For him?" and then sends the doe patronus out of his wand. That was a beautifully done scene, probably one of my favorites in all of the books I have read (not only HP), because it makes it very clear that he still loved lily without having either of them actually say the words outloud. It was so wonderfully done.

I also loved how Lily's eyes came into play. Wow, for the longest time... I just.... I don't even KNOW what I thought. I suppose I thought she had some different sort of power that made harry having her eyes so important to the story, but really, the power was simply that Snape loved her and that harry's eyes reminded him of her. I really loved Snape's character throughout the series and never doubted that he was good.

I loved that his patronus was a doe- because obviously, it's a very feminine symbol. The patronus was supposed to represent something that made you feel safe deep within you. The fact that his patronus was that doe showed how much he had always loved Lily. Not to say that just because James' was a stag, he didnt, but I think it was touching all the same! *le sigh*

[miyabinohana]

It was great journey we went together those charactors and AD/MM shippers! Minerva McGonagall was a great leader and dualist, yey! I enjoyed the story and the adventures with Harry very much, but I have to say I could not satisfied with the conclusion which JKR lead from these books.

ladytabz said:

I wasnt expecting Snape to be a good guy, but i guess he was. But the thought of him in love with Lily makes me shiver, it seems wrong but oh well. I knew he was gonna die anyways.

I was kinda upset McGonagall wasnt Headmistress since she deserved the position in my opinion, but now i understand why she wasnt cos of Snape. Her few precious scenes were awesome. All through the book i was like "when is Min coming? i miss her" and then she came and i rejoiced and couldnt stop smiling, she was wonderful and brave. It made me realize how smart she was when even she knew the password answer to the Ravenclaw common room, and she said it so intelligently "Into nonbeing, that is to say everything" or something like that. =D And Harry standing up for her was great! I was so angry when that Carrow guy spit at her...i thought, Where the hell is Albus when she needs him, oh right, he's dead. But she was the best part, i love her ♥

I found a fellow who think the same way that it was wrong Snape had loved Lilly and so on. I could not help feel nausea when I read the chapters 'prince's tale' and 'King's cross station'. I had gusess Snape had had to die after all, but it was gross the way JKR wrote Snape's reason to protect Harry and how Dumbledore had made him to do that. What kind of wretched brain could do that things to another person? or Snape's unreqired love for Lilly, shivering? I think that Snape's love for Lilly was very immature. That's why he had loved her that simply she was the first witch girl whom he met in the world and it was an accident that she was beautiful and smart, and had right mind. Is this true love?! I can't call it true love, even though this is the only one love Snape have felt love or friend ship in whole through his life time. And the way Dumbledore bind Snape to his guilty. Dumbledore would have had excuse for all the his action(he knew it would not be excuse for himself, though), because he had been thought 'the great goodness'. But what he made Snape to do was not made him do the atonement, but cursed him with binding his guilty and his immature love.I had expect Dumbledore more!!! I suppose he could have hundled things better then this. He could have helped Snape understand love and get over his guilty. I had doubt Dumbledore after the book six, and after reading DH I can not think Dumbledore deserve to McGonagall, even they would look perfectly fit togther......I will live on AU as AD/MM shipper.

And then, my six years old daughter start to read Harry Potter books,
I will not allow her to read DH until she could understand or at least think of what is love or how love work on people's mind and soul. Harry Potter Books are books for children, aren't they?
After all, this is my feelings for them, sadly.

[Apocalypticat]

miyabinohana said:

I found a fellow who think the same way that it was wrong Snape had loved Lilly and so on. I could not help feel nausea when I read the chapters 'prince's tale' and 'King's cross station'. I had gusess Snape had had to die after all, but it was gross the way JKR wrote Snape's reason to protect Harry and how Dumbledore had made him to do that. What kind of wretched brain could do that things to another person? or Snape's unreqired love for Lilly, shivering? I think that Snape's love for Lilly was very immature. That's why he had loved her that simply she was the first witch girl whom he met in the world and it was an accident that she was beautiful and smart, and had right mind. Is this true love?! I can't call it true love, even though this is the only one love Snape have felt love or friend ship in whole through his life time. And the way Dumbledore bind Snape to his guilty. Dumbledore would have had excuse for all the his action(he knew it would not be excuse for himself, though), because he had been thought 'the great goodness'. But what he made Snape to do was not made him do the atonement, but cursed him with binding his guilty and his immature love.I had expect Dumbledore more!!! I suppose he could have hundled things better then this. He could have helped Snape understand love and get over his guilty. I had doubt Dumbledore after the book six, and after reading DH I can not think Dumbledore deserve to McGonagall, even they would look perfectly fit togther......I will live on AU as AD/MM shipper.

I have to say I interpreted all this very differently to you. I saw the shivering creature as the piece of Voldemort's soul that had been expelled from Harry, not as Severus's unrequited love. I agree that what he felt for Lily wasn't true love—rather obsessive, destructive love, condemned by Dumbledore for excluding Lily's wishes and loves (James and Harry).

I also saw Dumbledore's actions with regard to Severus as the only course of action possible. In my opinion he did try to help him understand love by forcing him to protect Harry—protect the wishes and love of Lily rather than his own desires. He obviously did not succeed, but I think he did open a door of redemption to Snape.

Book 7 made me think even more of Dumbledore than I had before; he won a battle of strategy even after his death, and his previous mistakes showed him to be human rather than unrealistically saintly.

[tabbycat]

I agree with Apocalypticat ;D

I'm also not very dramatic anymore over the way that AD/MM weren't together. I mean, I was talking about it with my best friend the other day. I simply sat there like. "wait a second. me and YOU are always together. Don't we hate it when people think we're in love?" So, I understand why JK said that. Most of our friends have come up to us like "are you in love? ?" and I am shocked to reply that I angrily said exactly, word for world, what JK said. "Not everybody is in love with everybody else."

I still think AD/MM are perfect for one another (well, obviously...) but I'm not mad about how she ended it with them.

Also, Minerva is... like... what? 95 when his kids go to hogwarts? She sort of deserves a nice retirement, don't you think? lol..

[miyabinohana]

apocalypticat said:

miyabinohana said:

I have to say I interpreted all this very differently to you. I saw the shivering creature as the piece of Voldemort's soul that had been expelled from Harry, not as Severus's unrequited love. I agree that what he felt for Lily wasn't true love—rather obsessive, destructive love, condemned by Dumbledore for excluding Lily's wishes and loves (James and Harry).

I also saw Dumbledore's actions with regard to Severus as the only course of action possible. In my opinion he did try to help him understand love by forcing him to protect Harry—protect the wishes and love of Lily rather than his own desires. He obviously did not succeed, but I think he did open a door of redemption to Snape.

Book 7 made me think even more of Dumbledore than I had before; he won a battle of strategy even after his death, and his previous mistakes showed him to be human rather than unrealistically saintly.

How it was silly of me, now, I understand your point, I felt nausea for that creepy creature, too. I agree that Dumbledore have tried to help Snape, he obviously did not succeed, though. So, I think the way to help Snape, that Dumbledore did, was totally wrong and I do not understand his intension doing things in that way. Maybe it was the only way Dumbledore could have found to protect Harry and to help Snape from death sentence in the Azkaban. But, how Snape could understand love under the condition? He was simply bound to his past experience of love just only because Dumbledore convinced him he should respect Lilly's love for Harry, that's why Lilly had been killed. I suppose Snape would have hated those love because it have killed her, instead of understanding Lilly's love. What a wrenched soul he had had! JKR made Snape have these wrenched soul....It was a story and story need a drama, after all.

And thinkng about love, Are these Love; love the background of this story? JKR showed various kind of love in the books, friendship, lovers, family, one side love (of Snape) or even love for the world, but last thing why Harry could won Voldemort was love for child from his mother, understanding those love exist in the world, and it has strongest power in the world. Was it JKR wanted to say in this story that Love could overpower everything? Or something like that. 'Are you serious, aren't you? If so, you should have used more pages for explaining how love is precious than exciting battles or student lives. We usually find love in our life, but I do not think she explained it enough; I mean how love was born in people's soul and how it grows up. She simply wrote the fact someone loves someone, like Tonks and Lupin, James and Lilly, lilly and Harry, Weasly family, Granger and Weasly apart from Snape's case. (Unfortunately we could guess why Snape loved Lilly. )I totally enjoyed all these journey with the characters, though.' How it was superficial achievement of this great journey!

[aphelion]

I knew Albus asked Snape to kill him! It's about all I got right. That and the necklace being at Grimmauld place in book 5 and Kreacher knowing where it was.

Minerva kicked ass! But nowhere near enough of her.

Couldn't believe she killed Hedwig! And Dobby! I think Dobby was the worst one ... 'Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf' aawwwwwww!

And little Colin Creevy ... and Moody ... and Tonks and Lupin - that was MEAN!

I kept getting really angry with the Dumbledore bashing. How could they say such things? And how could Harry have so little faith? I kept hearing Barbra Streisand singing 'memories' in my head - it was quite weird! - and seeing all the great Dumbledore/Harry scenes in my head. lol

And Snape being headmaster?? OMG!!

I DID end up feeling really sorry for Snape in the end and was quite surprised at how hard Dumbledore had been with him - not a side of Dumbledore we've seen before really is it?

I loved how loads of stuff just clicked into place in this book. I could hear Petunia saying 'I heard that awful boy telling her about dementors years ago' and we (like Harry) automatically assumed she was talking about James but it was Snape all along.

Spent most of the book thinking - Come on! Get to Aberforth already. I need the truth! And i missed Hogwarts SO much. Loved Potterwatch. By then I felt like *I'd* been trapped in a tent for months.

The bit when they first arrived at Grimmauld place was really scary, I actually gasped. And Nagini coming out of Bathilda was pretty terrifying. And i didn't think Harry stood a chance after his wand snapped.

Neville was an absolute hero! That wonderful wonderful boy! A true Gryffindor! Love him more than ever, he really impressed me

'DUMBLEDORE'S ARMY STILL RECRUITING'

And his grandmother - absolute gold!

I liked the book a lot more the second time I read it. I think the first time through i was too desperate to find out how it all ended to appreciate the details. I was so disappointed when all three of the trio survived. It would havegiven it a great punch.

Hated that he'd named one of his kids Albus Severus. No offence to any writers but that was just SO fanfic, it's exactly the type of thing a thriteen year old would write.

On the whole I loved it though - especially all the Dumbledore stuff, cos i love the man. I LOVE that man. My favourite character by far and he was in the story more in death than he had been in any of the first five books. I felt so bad for him, about Ariana and his mum and dad, and Aberforth. Shows what can happen when your head gets too big. Very sad...

Okay, I'm quiet now!

aphelion

[aphelion]

Hey, me again! Just wanted to disagree about Snape not knowing the meaning of love.

Someone said that Snape's love was obsessive but isn't all romantic love obsessive to some degree?

And I really do think he did know the meaning of love. I mean after Lily was killed he could have just gone back to Voldemort. It was the power of his love for Lily that kept him on the good side. Even though Harry was a constant reminder of the man who had 'taken' Lily away from him, the man who had bullied him at school, he protected him. He might have despised Harry but he did it anyway.

Image the agony of seeing Harry, who had Lily's eyes, all the time and being reminded that if it hadn't been for you she would still be alive.

It seems so overwhelmingly sad. I don't dispute that Snape acted like a complete pig, he had a dark side, the side of him that lost him Lily in the first place but I truly believe that he repented in the end.

And right before he died, when he said 'look at me' so that the last thing he would ever see would be Lily's eyes, the eyes of the only person he had ever cared about, ever loved ...

You can't say that Severus Snape didn't know the meaning of love. He died for it.

aphelion

[monsie]

aphelion said:

And right before he died, when he said 'look at me' so that the last thing he would ever see would be Lily's eyes, the eyes of the only person he had ever cared about, ever loved ...

You can't say that Severus Snape didn't know the meaning of love. He died for it.

aphelion

Re: Harry's eyes. I like that a lot. I'd never had thought of it that way because he really didn't like Harry and I'd forgotten he had Lily's eyes (can you tell he's not my favourite character?). Thanks for pointing that out.

And I too agree that Snape did know what love was, even if it was a sad love. For me, Snape was the best part of the last book. He, honestly, broke my heart. That is the only way to describe my reaction to Snape in the last book. And I consider myself a R/Hr fan, but their kiss did nothing for me when compared to the emotion and sadness I felt when I read the tragedy of Snape's life. It was a beautiful tragedy and one that I honestly couldn't get over for a while after I'd finished the books. And as sappy as I thought the epilogue was (not necessarily bad. Sometimes sappiness is called for!), I loved that Harry honoured the memory of Snape by naming his child after him.

I cannot wait to see how Alan Rickman portrays Snape in the last two movies. If they do Snape's character any justice in the movie, I hope they will, it will be just as heartbreaking as it was to read.

[aphelion]

Snape's not my favourite character either. I never really paid that much attention to him until those last couple of chapters but it was him I couldn't stop thinking about after I'd finished the book. I kept going back to loads of bits in previous books and putting the pieces together.

Strangely enough the meanest teacher on the block turned out to be one of the most complicated characters and I'm a sucker for a person in emotional agony.

lol. I'm cruel.

Not saying I *like* him any better, but I understand him better and find him a helluva lot more interesting now.

aphelion

[monsie]

aphelion said:

Strangely enough the meanest teacher on the block turned out to be one of the most complicated characters and I'm a sucker for a person in emotional agony.

lol. I'm cruel.

Not saying I *like* him any better, but I understand him better and find him a helluva lot more interesting now.

aphelion

I've always liked him a little. Though, admittedly, more because of the movies, but I've never loved him. He's always been such a mean git, it's hard to love someone like that when you've got a character like... I would say Dumbledore, but again, I found his fatherly love better shown in the movies.

Can you tell I watched the movies before I read the books?

It does make his character far more interesting and it still makes me sad when I think about him.