Deathly Hallows...the valis opinion

[valis2]

Yeah, like you were all waiting on pins and needles for my thoughts. *grins*

Warning: written at 4:30 am. Probably incoherent.

My first opinion? This book was written for casual fans, and intermediate fans. It was not written for hard-core fans like us, my friends. She does put a few things in each book for us, I think, but it is very obvious who her intended targets are, and I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. It's just an observation.

My personal opinion? This book has divided me so utterly I almost don't know what to say. On one hand, I love so many things about it; on the other hand, I'm so upset about so many things about it. I still wish we'd had another year before book 7.

Ron was love, first of all.

And the wizarding fairy tale? So. Much. Love. In fact, about a year ago I tortured julian_black at length about wizarding fairy tales, and what they'd be like, so I nearly went through the roof about the Hallows tale. It was fantastic, and I adored Ron telling Harry and Hermione other titles...I laughed so hard!

I was absolutely enthralled by the departure from Privet Drive. It was so action-filled, so completely edge-of-the-seat cool, that I was nearly falling off the couch. Incredible.

Luna, and the portraits! That made my breath catch in my throat. I always enjoyed her as a character, and I was so happy that she had some time in the book.

And the sword in the lake scene, with the fantastic Ron-slaying-the-Horcrux bit? WOW. Just wonderful. The darkness of it, the horror of it, the courage it must have taken...

Godric's Hollow was so...bittersweet, so full of sorrow, and then the horror set in and it was quite frightening.

And Grindelwald!! I was so excited that he was in the book, that was awesome. I always thought it would be awesome to have them dueling, with Grindelwald left in the dirt, looking up at Voldemort, realizing that his time was up.

The ending battle was pretty cool.

Neville with the sword was a phenomenal conclusion to his storyline. I loved how he was transformed by the difficulties of Hogwarts; he was forged by the ill treatment of the Carrows, and I was happy that he pulled the sword out of the hat...though I am still a bit worried about what happens when the goblins realize it's gone.

scarah2 was the first person I saw pushing the Scarcrux theory, which really made sense, and she was definitely right about that. There were so many things I read that matched fanfics I've read, and so many guesses fans made that were right. I had a feeling that Dumbledore wouldn't use an Unbreakable Vow with Snape, that it would be the Lily!lurve that made him do it, and that was true. Also, hooray for trickofthedark, and her fantastic illustrated series where Dudley is a real character and falls for Hermione...I was thinking of her story as I read the better-behaved!Dudley scenes.

There was one scene that really seemed...real to me, for some reason. When Rufus shows up to Harry's birthday dinner, Remus and Tonks jump the fence, and I just sat there, holding the book, and I could picture it so vividly, and it seemed so--real. It sounds silly, but it really affected me.

And Hermione's parents. Wow. Wow. Wow. Just the idea that she wasn't going back for her N.E.W.T.S. was astounding, that she was following Harry instead of her education, but then...her parents. I was absolutely shocked.

I nearly died when I read the wedding chapter, and Kingsley made that incredible, ominous warning about the Ministry having fallen. I got goosebumps.

Things I was surprised didn't happen? I was all expecting a Moody!Zombie, which would have been pretty cool, heh. I was expecting that Ron would use the Delumiwhatsit while thinking of Dumbledore, and it would lead him to whomever was the "eye." I was wondering if Lupin was possessed by an Imperius Curse.

I was spoiled by a troll, so I knew that Tonks was going to die, but I was shocked and absolutely horrified to find that Lupin died as well. Really, that was just awful. I am still terribly saddened by his story (his overall story), and I'm a little confused about the altercation between him and Harry; it seemed very weird and offputting.

I was rather confused by the contradictory Secret Keeper things, compared to what she said on the website or in an interview.

The lengthy camping interludes nearly made me mental. Yes, I totally understand that they were meant to put the Trio through fire in the most awful way--by isolating them and forcing them to work together...but still, I was definitely getting tired of them going through amazing moments and then...back to the tent, over and over again. Hermione reminds me of when I used to think about going on adventures as a kid; I'm a control freak, so I kept adding things to take, and then I'd need a Bag of Holding, and it would just get crazier and crazier until (in my head) I'd be just about dragging around an entire townhouse.

Snupin, my favorite pairing...wow. What a blow. Both gone. Now I know what some of you will say, you will point the finger at signs to say that Snape is still alive, but at my...er..."canon core" I just know he's dead.

Did anything happen to Umbridge? What was the resolution of her story...did I miss it? I was floored by how incredibly evil she was on the return trip, too. I was even more floored by how quickly Voldemort took over and established his Voldereich.

And WTF?! with Peter showing up and then strangling himself a paragraph later? I mean, seriously! And then Dobby shows up and dies a scene later. I mean, I'm all for tying up loose ends, but wow, those were pretty extreme measures.

The worst part of the story for me was the ending. I truly expected some sort of unity to occur, whether between the magical races or, at the very least, the houses. I mean, the Sorting Hat was imploring them to join together, and yet...not only did we not have unification, we ended up with the worst possible scenario: the final vilification of the Slytherins. I was horrified that not one Slytherin joined in the fight against the Dark Lord. And also, much worse, was the Dumbledore comment that translated to Snape should have been in Gryffindor, which was the last straw for me on that topic, seriously. Snape was very brave, of course, but also...he was still Slytherin. Cunning. Smart. To write off the good efforts of Snape as being because he was rilly rilly Gryffy at heart made me so angry. So much for the houses working together.

Part of this scenario was the non-redemption of Draco Malfoy, which also horrified me. In the beginning chapter, he seemed to actually be worried, and fearful; but in the storage room, we have the "classic" Draco, all bluster and scorn, and I was astonished that he'd gone back to flat character again. (There is a lit theory about characters; characters who change and grow are "round" characters, and they're surrounded by unchanging characters, or "flat" characters.) I've never seen a character grow and change, and then go back to their original characterization again. Even more awful was the bit of slapstick involved. It was as if she thought, oh yeah, kids read this, better put a funny slip-and-fall routine in, har har.

It's a surprising message...that some kids are just "bad," and that you can't change them, so you just put them in their own selfish naughty house and wipe your hands clean of them. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it, though.

Snape's death was not completely unsurprising; it actually bothered me much, much less than Lupin's death. I had always felt that Snape might die in some sort of noble, redemptive way, and even though it wasn't particularly noble, I still found it much less disturbing than poor, poor Remus. I have to admit that I was suspicious, after he mentioned that the son's name was Ted Remus Lupin. I thought, that's strange, why is his middle name Remus? Of course, because she was going to kill him and needed a minature Lupin to take away the sting. Ugh.

While I was reading Snape's death scene, I found it odd that he wanted Harry to look at him; I really thought that Legilimency would be involved. Too much fanfic, I fear. Anyway, later, when I was thinking about it, the realization came to me like a bolt from the blue; he wanted to see her eyes one last time. I cried then.

Was it too much to ask for a funeral for him? A bit of closure? I'm still broken up about that; here she took all of this time to make this great character, and then...nothing. And when I think how difficult his life was, alone, and completely isolated in the end...it makes me feel so very sad for him.

All in all, I foresee a lot of sadness in the hardcore!fandom. And a lot of AU fics. I don't think that fandom is destroyed, of course; I just think that we'll all be in shock for awhile, and some people will probably leave, and I'm just very sad about this.

I wish we could have had a different ending.

We'll just have to write one ourselves, like we always do. *hugs*

Comments

[12-12-12.livejournal.com]

Ron *was* complete and utter love. He was just great.

It was fantastic, and I adored Ron telling Harry and Hermione other titles...I laughed so hard!

One thing I really missed in Books 5 and 6 was Ron being a repository of information about the Wizarding World that Harry and Hermione couldn't possibly know, because they hadn't grown up in it. I think Rowling kind of forgot about it, but it was back in full force in this book, and boy did I love it.

I think Ron's return in "The Silver Doe" is one of the best pieces of writing she's ever done.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I was totally happy to have more insights into the wizarding world. I kept driving Julian crazy by saying, "They have to have some sort of stories! They have to have some sort of method of instructing children..."

The silver doe chapter is fantastic. Him destroying the Horcrux was just so blisteringly difficult, I was wincing through the whole thing.

[scarah2.livejournal.com]

I was really D: D: D: about the Snape/Lily.

Harry goes from "Snape is evil" to "Snape is totally good since he stalked my mom creepily" in about two seconds. WTF.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Dude, totally. It reminded me of the Sirius turn around.

"HE'S A MASS MURDERER!! AIGH! No, wait, he's my godfather! Hey, can we live together?"

[marginaliana]

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*hugs in return*

We really will need a lot of those. Poor Snupin!

[trickofthedark.livejournal.com]

There were a lot of things I liked, but I found the non-inclusion and non-redemption of the Slytherins a big surprise (and after all those sorting hat songs about unity!) and quite dissapointing. *sigh*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Same here. I was burning with fury about it at first, and now I'm just trying to take deep breaths. What a let-down!

PS: I totally thought your awesome illustrated story was terrific, and I have to say, I prefer it to canon at this point...heh.

[snapesforte.livejournal.com]

Now I know what some of you will say, you will point the finger at signs to say that Snape is still alive

If she could say that Grindelwald was dead, and then have him all of a sudden alive and well ... No body, no portrait, no funeral, no ghost. Bezoar! (I will cling to this theory until I am dead.)

And also, much worse, was the Dumbledore comment that translated to Snape should have been in Gryffindor, which was the last straw for me on that topic, seriously. Snape was very brave, of course, but also...he was still Slytherin. Cunning. Smart. To write off the good efforts of Snape as being because he was rilly rilly Gryffy at heart made me so angry.

This really pissed me off, too. More character rape and Slytherin bashing, as if there isn't enough of the latter in the first 1-6 books. Enough. Who wants to be in Slytherin, when you can be brawny and brainless and a Gryffindor git?

And when I think how difficult his life was, alone, and completely isolated in the end...it makes me feel so very sad for him.

Argh. Instant tension headache. Feel sick. And will probably start leaking again after reading this. But you're right. It's a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

If she could say that Grindelwald was dead, and then have him all of a sudden alive and well ... No body, no portrait, no funeral, no ghost. Bezoar! (I will cling to this theory until I am dead.)

Wait! Where did she say Grindelwald was dead? I thought he was "defeated." Though it would be in keeping with her inconsistent manners...

This really pissed me off, too. More character rape and Slytherin bashing, as if there isn't enough of the latter in the first 1-6 books. Enough. Who wants to be in Slytherin, when you can be brawny and brainless and a Gryffindor git?

Absolutely, totally, utterly enraging, isn't it? I am so pissed off about how completely she writes off Slytherin. It's basically the scapegoat of the whole series, and I just am very disheartened by this.

[saruwatari.livejournal.com]

but I was shocked and absolutely horrified to find that Lupin died as well.

Yes. Oh, yes. I thought she might do it, but then it was just... there, and it shocked me.

I could have done without the epilogue, really.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

You did think she might do it? I was totally caught out of left field by that. I figured she'd leave one Marauder alive at the end, honestly, and I'm still pretty shocked by it.

And the epilogue? That was pretty cheesy.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I'm still angry about the shabby way the Tonks/Lupin story was treated. The characterizations were bad, Remus turned into a jerk for no reason, and they didn't even get an on-stage death. Very badly done, and seriously damaged the book for me; it's a prime example frigidity in fiction, when an author cares more about a favorite plot or phrase and sticks it in regardless of whether it makes sense in terms of the characters or overall book.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I was really upset by the Remus/Tonks plotline as well. I was so hurt by the Harry/Remus altercation; Remus had very, very valid points, and it was obviously a deep well of suffering he was drawing from, and Harry's reaction was just so nasty. I'm still sad about Remus's story, I think it was a terrible tragedy.

[pen-and-umbra.livejournal.com]

he wanted to see her eyes one last time

Damn. You be smart, girl -- I didn't even think of it being that, I just found it odd that he'd do it. But this makes perfect, perfect sense.

Damn. Okay. Yes. Agree with much of what you said, plus am still sort of numb over Hedwig, mostly because that was the moment in the book when it turned real -- that anyone, anyone could die here.

So now I wonder who was the character Jo meant to kill but didn't, and the one she killed though she hadn't meant to? Bets on Hagrid/Lupin. Or somewhere thereabouts.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Damn. You be smart, girl -- I didn't even think of it being that, I just found it odd that he'd do it. But this makes perfect, perfect sense.

It tore me apart entirely. I just bawled after that; what an amazing moment it is.

Damn. Okay. Yes. Agree with much of what you said, plus am still sort of numb over Hedwig, mostly because that was the moment in the book when it turned real -- that anyone, anyone could die here.

I have a feeling that she didn't really need Hedwig for anything, and that's why she had no compunctions about killing her; also, it neatly paralleled the Fawkes sacrifice for Dumbledore in OotP.

So now I wonder who was the character Jo meant to kill but didn't, and the one she killed though she hadn't meant to? Bets on Hagrid/Lupin. Or somewhere thereabouts.

God, same here, I'm just really hoping she tells us! I have a feeling that Percy was granted the reprieve, for some reason.

And I keep thinking that Remus/Tonks might have been the two deaths she didn't plan.

[vanityfair00.livejournal.com]

he wanted to see her eyes one last time. I cried then.

I read so fast I didn't really catch that moment, but you're right. And it's utterly heartbreaking.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's still breaking me up. And that it's his only reward for all of his misery and suffering...ugh.

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

"Was it too much to ask for a funeral for him? A bit of closure? I'm still broken up about that; here she took all of this time to make this great character, and then...nothing. And when I think how difficult his life was, alone, and completely isolated in the end...it makes me feel so very sad for him."

Word, just word. His death i could take, the fact that it turned out to be pointless I could take, but that... & Harry was hardly even thinking about him! Agree with you too about the non-redemption of the Slytherins (& speaking of Slytherins, what about Slughorn? Why made someone as self-interested as him suddenly turn heroic?)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

To have no scene establishing him as heroic to the rest of the wizarding world was pretty low. He was so excited about the Order of Merlin thing...I'm just so sad about it, so very sad.

& speaking of Slytherins, what about Slughorn? Why made someone as self-interested as him suddenly turn heroic?

HE IS A SEKRIT GRYFF TOO!!!!!!!11!!!!

[snarkypants.livejournal.com]

Definitely, Luna and her portraits, with "friends" linking them all... that was one of the things that made me go, Awwww....::sniffle::

That, and Ron with the Deliminator: "He knew you would want to come back..." Awwwww....::sniffle::

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was totally possessed by Luna!lurve there. She's a pretty great character.

And Ron was just great in this book. I was SO happy that he got so much screentime, and that he wasn't just comic relief. Go Ron!

[blackletter]

Was it too much to ask for a funeral for him? A bit of closure? I'm still broken up about that; here she took all of this time to make this great character, and then...nothing.

OTOH, lack of a funeral (and really, lack of any mention of a body beyond Harry seeing Snape *appear* to die) makes it easier for fanfic to make him not-dead.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm still not ready for fanfic to keep him alive. I know that sounds weird, but I just feel like...he's so completely dead.

Two weeks from now I'll saying different things, but I think it's because right now I'm really into Snupin, and with Remus so irrevocably dead...it just doesn't seem to matter to me that Snape might not be.

I'm just angry that she didn't bother with even a funeral chapter or anything.

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

So right on. I was thinking of trickofthedark's Dudley story during that part, too! I think I do like hers better, too. It has lots of illustrations and is much better with characterization and the plot. It's more believable, somehow.

There are so many loose ends to the stories of some of my favorite characters. What happened to Luna, Umbridge, McGonagall, and so on? WhyTF the crappy epilogue, with no union of wizard kind? I thought when the students were sitting amongst each other without regard to houses, that this would be the place where they realize that sorting is unnecessary, and things would be forever changed. But no, there's still such a prejudice against Slytherin and Draco doesn't evolve in the end. That made me angry, as well. That's just how slytherins are, hyuk hyuk!!

I love the ideas swirling about that Snape is alive, and I am hoping to read some good fic in the coming weeks about it. The Snarry patronus fic is sure to be good! lol I find it rather cheesy that Lily's patronus was supposedly also a doe, as if it meant she and James were supposed to be together from the moment they were born or blah blah barf. I thought Snape's story with Lily was very touching, although I do find it more plausible that it was platonic and very deep, rather than romantic. She was really the only friend he ever had, and it was so sad that they grew apart.

Kingsley's patronus is soooo cool. :D

I thought of tLS when we were hearing about DD's time with Grindelwald. I was rather hoping they'd bring blood magic into it, too. Having DD portrayed in such a harsh light was kind of nice for a change, and finding out more about his past was very cool.

When I saw Neville's illustration on some chapter heading, where his eye is swollen, I though for a minute they were going to give him Moody's eye as he'd lost one. That would be so cool, Neville with the magical eye! I loved Neville's part in the story. And he did get to be Herbology teacher in the end. heh heh

I have to wonder what Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny do when they're not laughing at their sprog? I mean, do they work or teach or are they Aurors, or what? JKR's consistent pushing of child-bearing and twu wuv really made me want to skip some parts.

Still, it was a fun ride and I enjoyed learning more about horcruxes, hallows, and the backstory to DD and Snape. Awww, I miss him already!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

So right on. I was thinking of trickofthedark's Dudley story during that part, too! I think I do like hers better, too. It has lots of illustrations and is much better with characterization and the plot. It's more believable, somehow.

There are so many great devices, so many wonderful inventions...I adore her characterizations and the plot is so terrific!

I love the ideas swirling about that Snape is alive, and I am hoping to read some good fic in the coming weeks about it.

I'm still not ready for that yet. I think I need some time to mourn him, or at least the canon!him, before I start dealing with him again. heh.

I find it rather cheesy that Lily's patronus was supposedly also a doe, as if it meant she and James were supposed to be together from the moment they were born or blah blah barf.

It could be that, like Tonks, her patronus changed, though.

I thought of tLS when we were hearing about DD's time with Grindelwald. I was rather hoping they'd bring blood magic into it, too. Having DD portrayed in such a harsh light was kind of nice for a change, and finding out more about his past was very cool.

I squee'd like a nutty thing when Grindelwald was mentioned! Hooray for Grindy, he was rather awesome. And I was so happy that we finally got to hear that DD was not a saint, after all.

When I saw Neville's illustration on some chapter heading, where his eye is swollen, I though for a minute they were going to give him Moody's eye as he'd lost one. That would be so cool, Neville with the magical eye! I loved Neville's part in the story. And he did get to be Herbology teacher in the end. heh heh

That would have been SO AWESOME!!! Wow!! Personally, I was expecting Moody!Inferi, but still. Go Neville!

I have to wonder what Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny do when they're not laughing at their sprog? I mean, do they work or teach or are they Aurors, or what? JKR's consistent pushing of child-bearing and twu wuv really made me want to skip some parts.

That was a bit much to take, wasn't it? And I wish I could have heard a little more about other people, as well. Ah, well. At least this gives us more room to maneuver!

Still, it was a fun ride and I enjoyed learning more about horcruxes, hallows, and the backstory to DD and Snape. Awww, I miss him already!

The Hallows seemed confusing to me...I need to re-read it, I think. Especially the bit about Harry's blood in Voldemort...I'm still not certain I understand why the AK didn't work at the end and stuff.

But yes, overall it was a fun ride. I'm so sad that this is the end of canon!

[sailorcrackhead.livejournal.com]

I'm still a bit devestated over Snape. I mean, I thought about what would happen if he lived, and then realized there wasn't much hope for that.

The whole "Look...at...me..." I lost it. He loved Lily since he was like, 9. It was so heartwarming and nearly pathetic at the same time.

I to was shocked at Lupin, and thought that was really sad, and rather abrupt. I also agree with the "tying of lose ends" was a little off-putting. Poor Dobby. I did think Wormtail's story could have been a little more re-searched. He barely had a voice...it would have been interesting.

AND FRED!!!! :(

But most of all, the line that got me was when Harry thought of Hogwarts as his real home, and how Snape and Voldemort and himself, "the abandoned boys" had all instantly thought of Hogwarts as home....I'm starting to cry again...

I have to go back and re-read a lot of the theory about Lily's protection and all that, but overall I loved it, and am really sad to see it end.

p.s. Albus Severus Potter....best name ever. Plus it spells ASP. A slytherin in the making!!!!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm still a bit devestated over Snape. I mean, I thought about what would happen if he lived, and then realized there wasn't much hope for that.

I'm bummed about Snape. I really wasn't quite expecting this exact ending for him, but I really thought that there would be something else...some sort of moment...a funeral or something.

But most of all, the line that got me was when Harry thought of Hogwarts as his real home, and how Snape and Voldemort and himself, "the abandoned boys" had all instantly thought of Hogwarts as home....I'm starting to cry again...

That was a really fantastic passage, and wow, I was so touched by that as well.

p.s. Albus Severus Potter....best name ever. Plus it spells ASP. A slytherin in the making!!!!

It would go a long way to making up for the Slytherin non-redemption at the end!

[summerborn.livejournal.com]

*hugs* This is a great reaction, and very helpful to me. Thanks for covering so many points; I think I feel much the same way. The parts that I loved I just loved, and the parts that fell flat were just as you mentioned. I actually was pleased when Voldemort went to destroy the Sorting Hat, thinking that future generations of Hogwartsians would have to get along without it, and maybe this would finally finally lead to the "house unity" concept. But... no. There we are 19 years later with kids hoping they don't get sorted into Slytherin. Ugh.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was pretty excited about Voldemort's concept of one house--I was thinking that, if nothing else, that was a great way to bring about unity. But then, nope.

*hugs* It's so hard at first, to make our way through new canon; I'm really happy to have so many other fans to draw strength from, honestly. ;) I'm glad it was helpful to you!

[imafarmgirl.livejournal.com]

Well said. I agree with much of it. I just finished a bit ago and I think if I tried to talk about it no words would come out. hahaha.

I agree that Snape is dead, but I didn't cry about it until Harry was viewing his memories. I sort of felt, in some ways, that she took all the assumptions floating around and slapped answers to them. I wonder how it would have been written if there was not such a big fan base?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I think it would still be written the way she wanted; I think fandom definitely intruded a little bit into how she wrote, but not a lot. She's too much of a secure author for that.

[seaislewitch.livejournal.com]

: the final vilification of the Slytherins. I was horrified that not one Slytherin joined in the fight against the Dark Lord.

Oh, and she used her least favourite character to do it too... Pansy. Pansy however, will tell her side of the story on my lj. ;) (Notice how she slammed Smith too?)

I think she handled the Malfoys and Draco just fine. (Draco was already redeemed in HBP when he didn't kill Dumbldedore.) I would have been totally pissed off to see Draco having a warm fuzzy with the trio. Ick.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, and she used her least favourite character to do it too... Pansy. Pansy however, will tell her side of the story on my lj. ;) (Notice how she slammed Smith too?)

hee! I can't wait to hear what Sea Isle Pansy says. *grins*

I think she handled the Malfoys and Draco just fine. (Draco was already redeemed in HBP when he didn't kill Dumbldedore.) I would have been totally pissed off to see Draco having a warm fuzzy with the trio. Ick.

I very much liked the Malfoys and Draco throughout the book; I thought that they were definitely regretting things, and that fascinated me. But at the very end...that scene in the Room with Draco...I was terribly disappointed that Draco suddenly acted the same way he would have acted in Book One, and I felt like all of the change we'd seen (subtle though some of it was) was tossed away.

[gmonkey42.livejournal.com]

you will point the finger at signs to say that Snape is still alive

What signs? I would love to see some of those signs. He's really, really dead. Maybe not quite as thoroughly dead as exploded Hedwig but still pretty damn dead in my book. I don't think a healthy person can have memories leaking out of their head like that.

Re. Snape closure: Yes! I thought we'd get it in the form of his Headmaster portrait but no.

logospilgrim wrote something really beautiful about his death and how it was appropriate that it was that way and not the going-out-in-a-blaze-of-glory I think a lot of us were expecting. She's going to make us all cry again at Prophecy.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

What signs? I would love to see some of those signs. He's really, really dead. Maybe not quite as thoroughly dead as exploded Hedwig but still pretty damn dead in my book. I don't think a healthy person can have memories leaking out of their head like that.

There is already talk: the absence of a body, the absence of a portrait, and the fact that he wasn't AK'ed, but bitten by Nagini--and he's a Potions guy and probably saved himself after Harry left.

I reread the passage, though, and I'm very certain he's dead.

She's going to make us all cry again at Prophecy.

Of that there can be no doubt. I'm bringing tissues to that talk. ;)

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

The Remus and Tonks storyline was terrible! I couldn't believe they both died at the end. I just couldn't see the point in all the marriage and baby stuff, then WHAM, they're both gone. It just all seemed so pointless.

I admit I'm glad the book didn't actually state 'Snape is dead'. Although I know he is as far as canon is concerned, there are numerous ways to get round that ending in fanfic, so hopefully all the Snape authors will not be discouraged. I cried when I read that Harry's son was called Albus Severus (although I did think the rest of that epilogue was weird and totally like reading fanfic!) I agree, his whole life was terribly tragic. But I was expecting him to die so, like you, I was actually more shocked by what happened to Remus and Tonks.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The Remus and Tonks storyline was terrible! I couldn't believe they both died at the end. I just couldn't see the point in all the marriage and baby stuff, then WHAM, they're both gone. It just all seemed so pointless.

Yes, I am just so sad about that. I'm angry at Tonks for leaving her child; I'm angry that they both died. I'm especially sad about Remus. His life was so tragic, in nearly all senses.

I admit I'm glad the book didn't actually state 'Snape is dead'.

I'm a little sad that they didn't. I would have rather had the closure. Fanfic writers will always get around anything, as we know, and I think it would have been more respectful to have some sort of funeral, some sort of Merlin First Class ceremony...

[privatemaladict.livejournal.com]

I disagree on the non-redemption of Draco/Slytherin. Draco's end isn't tied up - we don't really know where the Malfoys' allegiances lie at the end of the book. While it does seem that the main reason for their change of heart - if, indeed, they had a change of heart - is their fall from favour with Voldie, one thing becomes very clear at the end of the book. The Malfoys are capable of love, and they put their loved ones first, in the end. Which, I think, is the most important thing. I think they were redeemed in the only way they realistically could be.

I didn't notice the lack of closure on Umbridge... The ending did go rather fast, actually. But it's kinda nice that way - I think a drawn-out here's-what-happened-to-everybody chapter would've been a bit dull.

I liked the ending. :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I didn't notice the lack of closure on Umbridge... The ending did go rather fast, actually. But it's kinda nice that way - I think a drawn-out here's-what-happened-to-everybody chapter would've been a bit dull.

I agree that a chapter like that would have been terribly dull, not to mention awful for fanfic writers. But Umbridge...I just felt that she was such a horrible person that it would have been interesting to see if she fought with Voldemort against Hogwarts or not. I was rather intrigued by the idea, and I'm sorry that we didn't get to see if it was canon or not.

The weird scene with Draco in the Room, and his later scene where he gets punched by Ron...it just seemed back to vintage Draco for me, and I just didn't get the idea that he had changed. I'm going to reread those bits and see, but still, I just felt like nothing was going on there.

Lucius and Narcissa behaved in the best way they knew, and I thought their story was touching, in that even though they were limited by their own bad sides, they still were fixated on family. I thought it was a great storyline, even though I forgot to mention it on this entry.

But the Slytherins? The children of the house of Slytherin simply left, with Pansy as their spokesperson, and I was just so sad that not one of them joined in with the rest of the houses. Even if just one had fought with them, it would have been a powerful message about house unity, and I think it was a missed opportunity to transmit it.

due to the lenght of my rant part two

[aurora-greyeyes.livejournal.com]

I hated the epilogue. gack! Lets all become breeders! I did like Molly Weasley killing Bellatrix although (wait it was a stunner and she immolatted herself on her own wand!) I was hoping for Neville and Trevor to do the honors collectivly. I thought at this scene Voldysnort showed more emotion than he should have. Or did I miss somthing? Good old Bella was just another tool to him supposedly. Or was she? Maybe she was great in the sack and he didn't want to lose his overlord-with-benefits status. OK I know I'm going to get backlash for this but I can't stop now...
God Ho!mione is a pill,(for someone so smart she shure is stupid, or does being femimine just make you get the stupid gene?) and Ron is a shallow git Oh don't let me forget Scarhead he is soooo mature! I am tempted to stick their heads down a toilet!(ROFLOL)
I am still wondering if the fireban is on to just make myself feel better by burning this infureating book.
Or even JKR in effigy. Anyone want to bring marshmellos? Wait Harry was noble and Ron was brave and what did that make Hermione? useful? packhorse in nature? Insert stupid joke about Hermione handbag-O-goodies! That really forced those two snot heads to become mature (in a pick your own underwear up kind of way). So Ginny-Sue and Hermione get stuck with two immature gits. Oh no she was fertile that's it!
Oh it was OK that Tonks and Lupin died, sniffle, cause they died together! And they looked so peaceful, so alive, just sleeping! And Bill was ok because Fleur was so beautiful her glow was able to make him look OK sniffle.
LOL although looking back on it I loved the stalker Luna we got. In the wizarding world do they have restraing orders? LOL
I got it! Albus just didn't share with anyone his plans cause all these characters were so stupid!He didn't tell Harry the truth about what he saw in the Mirror of Erised cause he was drop kicking them all perpetually in it...
I was wrong these books arn't deep at all I was just projecting.....
As for needing to die to be redeemed in the Potterverse I guess I'm going to stay bad.....
Draco was never repentant and he only became folecularlly challenged! Didn't she know that bald is beautiful!
Man I needed to rant! whoa I didn't know that was in me. I actually need to be held by someone that understands my empathy with Severus right now. All I have is some person who only wants in my pants, to cry on his shoulder. He doesn't know if he forces his presence on me right now. And he wants to make it all better I might end up hurting him. What I wouldn't give right now for a sarcastic bitter aside from Severus right now to make me laugh and feel better.

Re: due to the lenght of my rant part two

[aurora-greyeyes.livejournal.com]

Hey lost somewhere on my puter of doo part one is missing will post asap. If can get my 'puter-of-doom to vomit it back up. I don't think I have ever written anything so long.

Whoops! lost for good... Full of vitrol

[aurora-greyeyes.livejournal.com]

Oh well, in sumation...
Snape didn't fight back/at all WTF?
Do you really need to die for redemtion? Ewww I'll stay evil they dress better anyway.
He leaked from every orifice? Sounds like he needs Depends... oh wait... I'm melting...
Harry never really was forced to face being wrong about Snape. He was good after all, lets link the two best Hogwarts headmasters names together for our child gack! But no hair pulling I was wrong! Wrong I say! scene for Harry, sortta swept under the rug...
It would have been much better had she forced Harry to deal with Snape "living" with him and Kept Sir Snarky alive just to prove you can be awful to be around and still be good, just needing a shampoo for oily hair (smirk)
Teddy sounds like a repeat of Harry
There really was a Mary I mean Lilly-Sue
Unity what unity? There was unity...
Descrimination is all over the place?(Slytherins bad) I thought she said that was bad.
Bill saying those Gobblins arn't like us! Bigotry from a Weasley?
Persey blubbing all over the place....gack he needed AK'ing just for having said those things (outta the hat)
OOOOhh those Slytherins not only are they bad they are ugly too! (bigotry anyone?) (here at castle Hogwart all us Slytherin are bad and need a good spanking, me too and me!)
The repeted use of ugly/damaged=evil (btw spells live backwards) Us fuglies can be good and need love too!
Since she speaks for all of us let the figure head of Parkinson lead the way! WTF? Where did that come from?
It is sad when at the end of a series you realise that you were rooting for the idiots!
I think I did like Albus having feet of clay at least supposedly with being selfish and all.
I should have known better than to think I would like a popular series. JKR seemed to have to pull a fast one out of the hat for fixing some problems.
She did referance some mythology in it too.
I can't help but feel her heart time spirit just wasn't here for this anymore. Maybe she has just moved on, to a better place.

Re: Whoops! lost for good... Full of vitrol

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Wow, girl, you just said a boatload! I almost don't know how to respond to so much!

I do think that JKR had to cram a LOT into the conclusion. I really enjoyed the first 500 pages...okay, maybe I was a little annoyed with the Neverending Camping Story, but still, I loved a lot of it, and I was totally into it.

And then...the battle at Hogwarts. When I realized they were going back, I jumped in the air! Wahoo!

Then they got there, and I actually wished they were back in the forest again. lol.

The last battle just left so much to be desired. Losing Remus hurt; losing him offscreen hurt even more; losing him without even more than a line or two to spare hurt the most. I'm still sad. Even Peter Silverhand had more lines to die in.

I just don't even feel like writing for this anymore, honestly.

Deathly Hallows...belly flop of Doom!

[aurora-greyeyes.livejournal.com]

I'm only so bitter cause I really thought this was some kind of morality tale, ya know with morals. To make everyone especially kids go hmm... that is what good means. In this book I had the good guys slinging unforgivibles and McGonagal doing it too. So I got the difference between the good guys and the bad were the extent they would go to to win. One of the main themes she (I thought) she pounded into our heads was don't be descrminatory and then the "good guys" go and because of one (who was a minor character until now with hardly any lines) stands up and says "grab him" and then the whole group of Slythrins are chucked out. What did I miss something?
What about unity being the only way to defeat Voldiepants? Harry ended tell one person Neville, what to do if something happens...to them. Isn't that not trusting people? Didn't the hat and several other charcters say we need to be united and work as one kinda stuff? United we stand divided we fall...
The death scene of Severus was good with the eyes bit but, she made him so weak (he did not fight back)and pathitic. Relistening to it last night Voldiesnort has his Snake kill Severus not him even. so by her own words He would not be able to use the wand still. It makes no sense. I laughed and turned to my husband and asked if Nagini should be using the wand to take over now... with the logic Voldie uses. So Severus' death was pointless. I have loved that character for more than eight years of my life, and I feel robbed! She has all the money in the world and if she didn't want to write it anymore, for goodness sake hire someone!
Draco had a chance at redemption and his great character, that I had honestly thought she tried to develop in the last book,she does nothing.
And Dumbledore was IMO was abusive and way too Machivellian.
Yes she goes into his backstory and I feel that it was really well thought out. But to quote my husband he felt the book was kinda duct tape and wired together.
I would have been more than willing for her for at least two more years to have a better ending not just to this book but the whole series.
So big problem what lessons did we learn from this series?
She needed more time to write it, and get a better editor?

Re: Deathly Hallows...belly flop of Doom!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have loved that character for more than eight years of my life, and I feel robbed!

Y'know, at the end of HBP I was pretty morose for awhile. I thought, "There's this guy, he's been living in my head for years now, and he went and did something AWFUL! I didn't know him at all, and now I don't want him in my head! wah!"

Eventually, though, I started toying with the possibility that he was good, and then after several months I could actually write him again.

I'm glad that he ended up on the good side of the fence; that makes me very happy, and it makes it easier for me to think about him.

Sorry this is the only place I can say anything.....till tomorow

[aurora-greyeyes.livejournal.com]

My puter is buggy and I can't L-cut so I fear posting anything on my LJ. I don't want to take anything away from anyone still reading. This has been the only place I can post,at least till tomorrow. I hope with all my heart that you Valis will finish your story cause I will cry if you don't finish that great story of yours. I really want someone to prove with that logic stuff that I missed the story point. The more I look over the story the more I cringe.

Re: Sorry this is the only place I can say anything.....till tomorow

[valis2.livejournal.com]

No worries, sweetie, rant away!

And I will definitely be finishing the story. In fact, I don't feel like writing anything else right now. I really just want to crawl up into my story cocoon! ha!

I'm so glad you like the story, and it still think it's just the most awesome thing ever that you're reading it!

[athenakt.livejournal.com]

A wonderful commentary on a large number of things about DH- well done.

I was expecting a high probability that Snape would die, but at least it was on screen and accompanied by his vindication. But his memories leaking out like that- wtf? Makes me think of lots of ideas, like a ghost!Snape spawning to search for his own memories, or Fawkes stopping by to heal him after Harry departs, leaving behind a rather amnesiac Snape. ;)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm just presuming that JKR killed him. Honestly, I really think she did. And for me, in my canon!core, he's dead.

In another couple weeks, I'm certain I'll come around to never!dead!Snape, but for right now, I'm just thinking, dead, dead, dead.