I just sent you a message - all I can tell you is what I've figured out based on just reading the prologue. That ok?

Did you get my reply? IE went retarded for a moment, so I don't know if it was sent. =/ (when this happened on another board, it just sent a blank reply)

But yes. Yes that will do. o3o

Heh chill, Fushigi! You'll have the book in no time!

TNFMA, by prologue do you mean Chapter One, or the two extracts before that? Don't see how you got to that conclusion... =/

I'm on Chapter Seven. Feels like Father Christmas giving away presents in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, somehow...

Oh and Lupin does a Hughes somewhere further down the book. I happened to be flipping through...

Lol, sorry, it was late and I mis-spoke!

I meant to say epilogue, not prologue. Sorry about that!

The chapter in question, though, is the last one: "Nineteen years later."

That's the thing tho; I'm not getting it. I just want to know, because I just want to know if the Gabriel spoilers are true or if the leak is real. And I wanna see what crap Rowling would pull.



......but I'll read it if Lupin pulls a Hughes. X3;;;;

Yeah, I was a bit confused when you said "Prologue", haha. I was like, "When was Aeschylus and William Penn considered part of standard fandom repertoire? o_O"

Ya know what, this post WILL be full of *SPOILERS PEOPLE*. Fair warning.

Good Points

- Dumbledore being taken down a peg or two. I'm all up for his heroism at the end I suppose but it was good to read that he wasn't as perfect as the previous books have made him out to be...and that he was...just human.

- That the violence wasn't held back for its child audience. If someone got hurt they got really hurt, even if it wasn't described in too much detail. This was a war, and that battle at the end was really well written in my view. It didn't drag on too long but you got a good feel of the desctruction.

- Taking a break from Hogwarts. It wasn't the usual ruetine of 'Go to school, schools okay, schools bad, Quidditch match, Harry saves day'. There are many locations within this book and the variety makes it more believable for what Harry Hermione and Ron are doing.

Bad Points

- I'm just going to go out there and say it...cheesy bloody epilogue!

-The deaths. Now not all of them, but some just seemed needless. Like the death of Hedwig for a start, did she really need to snuff it? Harry didn't have to keep her with his as she'd attratc attention. Also the death of both Lupin and Tonks, so their son is an orphan just like Harry. Just seems to be a bit....pointless. As its at the end there's very little 'need for vengance' feeling.

-'The Princes Tale'. Either I completely missed the hints in the previous books of Snapes feelings for Lily, or there were none. This story just seemed like an after-thought...of a way of making Snape a good guy after all. But I know many fangirls will be pleased he's was a good guy.

-Being trapped with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Mostly I enjoyed their adventures together, but for a while I found it very dull. Ron's departure was like she was trying to break this dull cycle as things finally began to kick in once Ron came back.

Deaths (I know many of you only want to know these....uber spoilers and don't abuse this knowledge)

-Hedwig
-Mad-Eye Moody
-Ted Tonks
-Tonks
-Lupin
-Fred
-Dobby
-Snape
-Voldemort
-Harry (kinda, but not really)
-Peter Pettigrew
-Bellatrix (Thanks to Mrs Weasley...I think, mid battle I was getting confuzzled)

Overall I was fairly happy with this book, or at least it gave me enough of a conclusion (I'm just ignoring Ninteen Years Later). I certainly think this will confuse if not upset its younger readers as its clear JK has matured with the audience that read the first book back when they were young (like me).

Haven't finished the book, didn't look into any spoiler! But can anyone tell me in his or her own opinion, was book 7 nicer than book 6? Thanks in advance to those who'd reply!

I personally enjoyed it a whole lot more than book 6, as things actually happened. HBP should have been named "Harry Potter and a Year of Flashbacks"... >_>

Anyways, my general impression of Book 7 was that everything was tied together rather nicely. Lots of things from all the books were incorporated. Things, people, and places that you would have never expected to see again were brought back, even if only for a moment. The final wrap-up, I thought, required me to believe that Harry was smarter and could string evidence together better than I thought, but I can't complain. The Epilogue was painful. Oh, so painful. It hurt me so much on the inside. And not in the good way. Let the terrible shipping commence.

Some more spoiler-ish thoughts: (DON'T READ IF YOU'RE NOT DONE WITH THE BOOK)
1) Dumbledore's a nice guy. But at the end of the day, he is still, undeniably, a TOTAL TOOL. Dude, not cool.

2) I really liked the bits with Snape and Lily. Fandom predictions confirmed!

3) Is Harry a Horcrux? Or is Nagini one? Lol, they're both Horcruces. Will Harry live or will he die? Lol, he sorta does both. It's as if Rowling took all the fanfic plots and threw them all in a pot and combined them.

4) I feel that Draco should have done more to vindicate himself. Instead, he seems to have spent most the book simpering.

5) I really wanted Neville to play a bigger role. Too bad.

6) FJOWFJIWOJFODWHGWO9J. You've killed Voldemort. Your burden has been lifted. GO KISS THE DAMN GIRL. I want my kiss scene, dammit. D:< (Fandom, don't fail me now!)

7) Why did Peter's hand kill him? o_O

8) Lol, Harry's Jesus, complete with death and rebirth. I was talking to a friend on AIM yesterday. "...and Lily so loved the world that she sent her only son." And may the love of JesusHarry protect us all from evil. Amen.

9) Damn. Now I want to read a HP Bible-fic. I know, I know. Sacrilege.

10) WTF, why did she kill off Hedwig.

Also, Chiyo left off a few people on her death list, namely Colin Creevey, Lavender Brown (presumably), Scrimgeour, and a whole host of Death Eaters.

AS/S AND DUMBY/GRINDELWALD FTW!


And for the epilogue...I'm just gonna ignore it. Though I did lol for a second. Quietly.

I...I hate you so much. (Not really)

But oh god, the terrible shipping, as you have so aptly demonstrated.

OH GAWD! He seemed so useless thoughout the whole book!

Yea I missed out a few people, there were just so many dead I couldn't remember them all. And to try and reply to your thoughts Rainbow

3. Both Harry and the snake were, hence Harry telling Neville to kill her.

4. Yea, Malfoy was a bit of a loss in 6 I felt as well, however, he wasn't in too many scenes for him to get a part in it.

5. Same for Neville, but heck he helped save that day, BIG part in my mind

7. Because Voldemort feared Peter may hesitate and feel sorry for what he did, he cursed the hand he gave Pettigrew to kill him the moment he did hesitate.

10. Hedwig, on my list of pointless seeming deaths.

About one of your spoilers Chiyo...

If I remember correctly there were a few hints that Snape may've liked Lilly. Okay, only one. I don't remember which book...and hell maybe I just imagined it, but I'm pretty sure there was a memory of Snape's that Harry saw where his mother was being nice to Snape and James was being a dick. XD; While I sorta just took the scene to show how different of people those two were, and a reason for Snape hating James and thus not caring much for Harry, it would make sense if Snape liked Lilly. It's not an obvious hint, but looking back you go "ohhhhhhh."

Unless I really did imagine that scene. My mind may be playing mean tricks on me. I should search the first 5 books to see where it's in, if it is at all. >>

Also, she basically wrote out this book before the first, so she probably always had the plan of Snape liking Lilly (lol I almost wrote Harry here. XDDD) but, since it wasn't too relevant to the plot, adding in hints was probably just an afterthought while writing the other books, which is why we didn't really get any, except for maybe a few times we can look back on and say "Oh, it could've been possible, it fits in the story." once we find out he liked her. It's just more reason for him to hate her husband and kid after all. X3



Well, you guys have officially confirmed to me that the leak is real. Damn. Not that I read the leak, I have more integrity than that. But someone on another board did a week ago and spilled who dies and what happens in the epilogue...and everything you guys have posted matches exactly to those spoilers. I had really hoped that thing was a huge fake. =/ I thought I was smart when I said "Oh like Hedwig would be killed, come on >>"


At least the Gabriel spoilers were fake, just like I suspected. XD Lol, what religious people will make up to stop kids from being 'corrupted'. XD

Wow, lots to discuss!

Untitled, personally I prefered book 7 to book 6. But the heavy concentration on the Three Musketeers (ie Harry, Ron and Hermione) plotline got kind of boring after a while... I'd like to have seen more of the stuff Neville and the others did in school!

Concerning Rainbow's points:
1) Agreed. Not everyone is perfect. Just wondering how the wizarding world kept it a secret from Harry's delicate ears for 6 years.

2) I was smirking when I read that bit about Snape and Lily! Despite what Fushigi Rockna says, I still think the fandom did a lot of guesswork on this one... Like the way people "see" pairings, anyone can pick out a passage and say it proves Snape loves Lily.

3) Harry's the 7th Horcrux. Nagini was the 6th. Why else would Voldemort want to keep him close when he realised Harry was hunting the Horcruxes?

4) Draco is a wimp anyway. Sorry, Malfoy fans.

5) I think Neville did play a big enough role. Just that we never got to see it played out, ie we only ever heard of him doing all the stuff he did, but never actually see him do it.

I'm quite happy with Neville's development actually... A great change from the boy who was the butt of many jokes in the first book... The DA really changed him, and Luna too!

6) The ending in general, I feel, wasn't great. It was too rushed. I'd have liked to see peace being restored. And yes, Harry kissing the girl.

7) Wormy's hand was created by Voldemort, so perhaps it did his bidding in the end. Voldemort always knew Wormtail was weak and a very likely traitor, so maybe he put something in that hand that made sure Wormy would never betray him again.

I pity him, actually...

On the deaths, I think Hedwig's death was kind of to start the ball rolling... I think I didn't feel anything until Dobby died. That was one of the saddest deaths for me. Yeah, ugly as he may be, he had a kind of unquestioning adoration for our hero that makes him likeable.

The other sadder deaths were: Lupin and Tonks, and Fred. Poor Teddy Tonks will never know his parents now... Quite mirrors Harry's situation, actually... I wonder if the fanfic writers will spot this one...........

And Fred... Poor George lost his other half! What will happen now to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?

Fushigi Rockna, yeah too bad for the leak. Well, never in history will a book ever be launched again under such secrecy... I don't think so, anyway...

Some points to add on my own:
The epilogue wasn't very thorough. Did Harry ever grow up to become an Auror, for example? Was he able to do it without the NEWTs? And Ron? Personally I think he's a good candidate for Fred's successor as co-owner of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. I'd like to see more of the courtship years for Harry and Ginny. Likewise Ron and Hermione. And I'd like to see who's the next Minister for Magic, and if he's any good. Whose daughter is Victoire? And who did Draco marry? (not Pansy Parkinson, surely!)

And the bit where Lupin does a Hughes that I mentioned on the previous page: Chapter Thirty: The Sacking of Severus Snape - Fleur asks Lupin about his little boy Teddy, and Lupin pulls out a picture to show her.

I know that's a hundred times milder than Hughes would ever do, but since I was already in a crazy mood, I immediately thought "OMG! That's so Hughes!"

Fushigi

You may be right, but I didn't suspect Snape was in love or that he and Lily were close. I suspected he was in awe of her. Least thats what I understood from whats come before. Suppose its all a matter of opinion

Menelvir

By my assumptions Victoire would be connected to Fleur with a name like that, mixed with the whole cousin refference

I am sure that the majority of people here are up to date with every bit of news and media regarding Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. One of my friends sent me this link, which I found rather interesting. Part of me wants J.K. Rowling to go through with it, and the other half truly doesn't. If she does choose to, I can not see it happening any time soon. I am still searching for the direct link to her most recent interview where she talks about her future plans more indepth. Sounds fairly entertaining none the less.

This article contains obvious spoilers (Duh...): Stop Your Sobbing Potter Fans!

Menelvir: Hughes=Lupin... I think my heart just broke in two.

Thanks Eda, sounds like an okay idea if its just an encyclopedia and I wondered who would be the headmaster. Still, makes JK seems a little bit like a money grabbing wench.

A bit more info about that encyclopedia thing here.

I can only lol about JKR calling that epilogue "poetic"...Ah, and the "adoring" public too.

Thanks for the links! Edamame's one provided some insight that I'd been wondering about a lot, who the new Headmaster (or Headmistress, actually) was

And Automne's link confirmed Chiyo's assumption. Good guess, though! The language reference totally escaped me! *smacks head*

Edamame: At least Elysia-chan still has her mother... Poor Teddy's left all alone... Well, not really... If the epilogue is anything to judge by, Ted seems always welcome at the Potters... Remus sure did a good job naming Harry as godfather before he departed...

I'm all up for the idea of a Potter encyclopedia, although I like the way she's left it at book 7: vague and left to the imaginations of thousands of Potter fans all over the world. Lots of space for fanfics' methinks!

It would be nice if she does the encyclopedia for charity though, the way she did for the Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them...

Last thoughts: I can't imagine Ron as an Auror! But then again, if klutzy Tonks could do it, why not Ron?

EDIT: found another article here. This one talks about the deaths in book 7, so naturally there're spoilers.

That bit comes from a bigger article that talks mainly about Rowling as an author, and how she will never write anything of such fame again... For the interested, here it is!

Lol, she already seems that way to most people, so I don't think she even cares anymore XD
"I'll do what I want, screw you people!"


I don't believe I posted this here yet, but I think I'm gonna try rereading the 6th book, knowing tnow that the thing that got me so pissed in chapter 2 turned out to not matter at all. I was only mad btw because I felt that was far too early to reveal Snape as being evil, but then I began to suspect before the book came out that "hey...if it turns out he isn't really evil at all in the 7th book...then revealing that in chapter 2 of book 6 won't matter at all." And sure enough...

So yeah. Wish my brain luck. XP

I though the 7th book was a bit rushed, and the whole 'Nineteen Years Later' epilogue just didn't seem to fit (to me at least.)

But I did enjoy it, and it was a better way to end a huge series like HP than a few others I've seen.

Yes, good luck, Fushigi!I felt that chapter 2 of book 6 was more of a suspense thing, because Rowling always emphasised that Dumbledore trusts Snape a great deal. So what was revealed in Chapter 2 made me question the trust. Turns out that Dumbledore was right, as (almost) always!

Daniel Radcliffe said in an interview before the launch of the 5th movie that someone put across to him the idea of Snape being a tragic hero. Feels quite creepy, but that unnamed source turned out to be right... Oh I'd love to write an essay about Snape being the tragic hero of the series, as compared to Dumbledore, who (I thought) was only the tragic hero in book 6...

Alchemical, actually I thought some bits in the middle dragged quite a bit. There was too long a pause between the exciting events like the infiltration of the Ministry and the break-in at Gringotts... I had wished both infiltrations had been more cleanly done too. Harry and the others only just got away on pure luck both times... And making Ron leave in the middle was... quite pointless. I think she could have expanded on his reasons for leaving a bit more. I mean, Ron mentions more than once about his worry for his family. But I think I'd have liked some narrator omniscience here, i.e. to see Ron's torment from his viewpoint. Speaking of narrator omniscience, I wouldn't have minded for some insight of the happenings at Hogwarts from Neville/Ginny/Luna's viewpoints...

How many of you cried?? I know i cried constantly from Fred's death to Harry's almost-death. Though i don't like harry, i was just crying there because Remus was there, and *sniff* Sirius. But Fred's hurt the most of all the deaths in the whole series for me.

Which death hit you the hardest?

Hedwig. I mean, WTF?

I had expected Remus to die. After all, he was the last remaining Marauder. All his friends died; it was not surprising to round out the set.

Tonks I didn't expect so much, but it didn't strike me as hard. I even really like Tonks, too!

Fred? A Weasley had to die. Fred drew the short straw, and one of the Twins has been near the To-Die list for a long time.

Harry? I expected him to die OR live. Rowling chose both. And I was getting so excited, too, as I was getting to the end of that chapter. "OH SNAP, SHE'S GUN' KILL HIM OFF!"

Snape? He's been as good as dead since HBP.

Everyone else? Pretty much random deaths that made me go, "Oh yeah, them. Huh."

Remus was actually the one I expected to die off in book 6, with Peter biting the dust in 7, or vice versa, because two Marauders were already dead. I'm actually sort of glad to hear Rowling did go with that idea in the end, but not too glad to hear that Remus' death wasn't that good. =/

I mean, a good writer makes you cry during a death even when you had a feeling or already knew they were gonna off it. I hate to use a screenplay as an example since a screenplay and a novel are very different and shouldn't really be compared...but take Satine's death in Moulin Rouge. They TELL YOU in the beginning that she dies, they hint at it throughout the whole movie that it's TB she has, but her actual death STILL makes people cry. Because Baz Luhrman is the king of death scenes, damn him >> y halo thar Romeo and Juliet... So even if you see it coming, if it's written well enough or performed well enough, you should still feel something.

I didn't get upset as such, just really peeved abut all the deaths. Like I said its like she only killed off Tonks AND Lupin so their son would be an orphan (like Harry). Actually I'm going to say Dobby's death upset me the most, he's helped out all along and then he snuffs it.

The death that hurt most for me was Dobby too. Because he was so innocently loyal till the end. It echoed Chamber of Secrets for me, because Dobby risked everything to protect Harry yet again. In fact, he's been doing it ever since he first met Harry!

Strange though, I think Dobby was the only one who died happy...

Hedwig did hit me too. I know many of you went WTF, but I think her death was more symbollic. Besides Hagrid, Hedwig was his first close friend in the wizarding world, and she serves as a connection TO the wizarding world whenever he's holed up in Privet Drive every summer. Also, notice how he likes to go find Hedwig during term time whenever he's lonely or needs help, either to send a letter asking for advice to Sirius (as in Goblet of Fire when his name came out of the Goblet, and in Order of the Phoenix to complain about his scar hurting), or simply to visit him (like in Prisoner of Azkaban, when Ron and Hermione were down in Hogsmeade, he was on his way to visit Hedwig when Lupin invited him to his office).

And, remember right after the Dursleys left 4 Privet Drive, Harry brought Hedwig around the house, showing him the cupboard under the stairs, and all? I think Rowling was preparing Harry, and us, for the death here. It's like Harry's spending his last moments with Hedwig, introducing her to some sentimental places around the house.

The other deaths? Quite expected most of them, but can't say they didn't hurt. Especially Fred and Lupin. I felt that it was only a matter of time before Molly Weasley's worst fears came true. And I figured a twin would hurt most for the readers and the surviving characters as a whole, because the twins are such fun characters. And then the surviving twin would have lost half of himself...

And Lupin, I wondered since Order, when Sirius died, whether Rowling will keep Lupin, the last Marauder that isn't a traitor alive and lonely, or make him kick the bucket and join his old friends wherever they are. I figured killing him might have been kinder...

Yeah, I don't consider myself completely obsessed, like dressing up in capes and hats and stuff, but I LOVE these books. Maybe the only one I like more is the Lord of the Rings - and that's a pretty close call.

The Deathly Hallows is easily the best out of all of them. In my opinion, you can't even compare the other six to this one. IT-IS-PERFECT, or as close as you're ever going to get. I hate to admit it, but it brought a tear to my eye a couple of times.

It's, what, no quite 800 pages, and I read it in two days-two sittings. Hell, then, when I finished that one, I read the sixth one over, then the third, then the first, then the second, then the fifth, then fourth, and then the seventh again. And that was all this summer, too.

You're talking about the death that affected you the most, and no one says Snape?! Good lord! He is hands down the BEST character in these books. I mean, he's only human, and hated Harry because of James, but loved Lily enough to not only protect Harry through his life but also infiltrate Voldemort's ring, possibly the most dangerous position anyone had. And not to mention that he did all these wonderful things, but no one actually knew it, so everyone hated him - he did all of these things without one word of thanks or appreciation. That chapter at the end about his life was amazing. I mean, Sirius used to be my favorite character, but not anymore.