07.22.07
SPOILERS -Book 7 Discussion- SPOILERS
Ok, I’ve just finished it, ladies and gents. All 759 pages. I’ve decided to open up this post for discussions, impressions, rants, etc. on Deathly Hallows. I’ll start with my impressions; and those so desiring can leave their thoughts in the comments. My comments on the book won’t start until after the more link. So if you haven’t yet read the book and don’t want to be spoiled, under no circumstances should you click the more link (and the permalink or comments link for that matter).
I loved it. There were times though, of such anxiety in the story, that I hated it and just wanted to throw the book across the room. I admit my first shock was the first attack when the Order was moving Harry from Privet Drive; I hadn’t expected calamity to strike so soon. But that was likely Rowling’s way of letting us know that the world as we knew it, as Harry knew it, had changed. That tragedy and danger would come not only at the end of a long year, but all the time.
I think I’ll go through some of my various predictions and theories, both the ones I made back on the 18th and the various ones I’ve posted to this blog for the past couple of years.
Deaths: First the ones I got right. Mad-Eye died. I was right in that prediction. I was also right about Bellatrix dying, although I had always assumed that it would be Neville that put paid to her sadistic ways, rather than Mrs. Weasley. But I was so proud of Molly, that it suddenly made perfect sense to me. I was right about Wormtail, but I think everybody saw that coming. Sadly, I was also right about Lupin and Snape’s fate. Here are the ones I got wrong. The Malfoys all lived, surprisingly. I was sure that Lucius at the very least would die. Hagrid lived! I couldn’t believe it. And of course, my favorite one of all, Ron. Never have I been more happy to be proven wrong in my life. It did give me such an incredible scare when Harry and Ron had that terrible fight though. I thought, uh-oh, now Rowling will have to kill him as punishment for abandoning Harry. So so glad I was wrong.
Theories: My accidental horcrux theory was right on the mark! The only thing I got wrong was that I assumed that Dumbledore was truthful when he told Harry that there were only 6 horcruxes (making 7 total pieces of soul). For this reason I believed Nagini to not be a horcrux but rather Harry instead. Instead Harry was an extra, 7th horcrux (8 pieces of Voldemort’s soul total). If you think about it, Dumbledore was truthful on this point. From Voldemort’s perspective, there was only 6 horcruxes, as he had no idea that Harry was one. We were all so caught up in thinking that Voldemort knew that Harry was a horcrux, that we never considered the possibility that he didn’t.
My Snape is good, Dumbledore was dying all year, murder pact between Snape and Dumbledore theory was also right. I was so glad. I have to say though that throughout most of the book I was convinced that I had been wrong and that Snape really had betrayed the Order. Once I realised that he had given Voldemort the correct plans for Harry’s removal from the Privet Drive, I was so disappointed. I wanted to hold out hope, but I thought it was Rowling’s way of letting us know early on that Snape really was a bad guy. When the end came, with the pensieve revelations, I was so happy I cried.
Some of my other theories were not so right. First the ridiculous Gred and Forge are Albus and Aberforth theory. Yeah, not so much. I made the fatal assumption that Albus and Aberforth were twins. Deathly Hallows clearly proves that untrue. And lets not forget my McGonagall is evil theory. After seeing her in the final battle, I felt truly ashamed of that one. Also I was wrong about Voldemort attempting to spare Lily because of Snape. That one turned out to be true.
Ok, on to other things. Strangely enough, the death in the story that affected me the most was Dobby. I just completely lost it. Especially when Harry dug his grave and wrote on the stone “Here lies Dobby, a free elf.” Oh my god, I was just so gutted by that. I cried for an hour.
The revelations about Dumbledore, that he was not as pristine, and quite a bit more calculating than many of us believed were hard to take, but extremely interesting. If you think about it, it explains a lot of his behavior. He was still ultimately good, just one of those frightening people for whom the ends always justify the means. As scary as those people are, we do need them.
I also liked the revelations about Snape; that he and Lily had lived near each other. We all just assumed that the Evans’ home was in Surrey like Privet Drive I think. No one ever considered that perhaps they were from somewhere else.
The stuff about the Hallows was awesome and completely unexpected. I liked how in the end, Albus admitted that they had basically been his downfall, his stumbling block if you will. That in the end, it was power and glory that was Dumbledore’s greatest weakness was both surprising and fitting. I’d always thought that his lack of ambition where the ministry was concerned and his unassuming air were just examples of his great moral character. What they really were were the attempts of a man with a powerful flaw to avoid temptation, much the way a recovering alcoholic will avoid bars. In a way, that makes him no less great. In fact, he might even be a better, more moral character for having struggled against such a thing and succeeded.
The epilogue was cool, and I actually squealed out loud when I realized that Harry had named his second son Albus Severus Potter. I do admit that I was just a tiny bit disappointed in one thing. It seems silly, but we didn’t get to find out what Harry and friends ended up doing. Did Harry and Ron become Aurors? What does Hermione do? Did George keep up with the shop? I know, it’s not really necessary for us to know these things, but I’d just like to all the same. Maybe Jo will tell us someday.
The book was so great and so full of stuff, that I really don’t know how they’re going to successfully turn it into a movie. All I know is that they better have Dobby in there.
Ok, talk amongst yourselves. 
kalyan said,
July 22, 2007 at 7:33 am
Nice! I’m sad it’s all over though. I’m glad Severus is good. Everything was leading in that direction. What a hero aye? I hated Snape until the end of book 6, then i develop a new type of respect for him, ’spose… That he was willing to do whatever, and not let Draco go through with it. Hehe, Ron and Harmione are so cute!
Lucy said,
July 22, 2007 at 9:03 am
It took me 12 hours to read but well worth the time, I loved this book in particular the realisation that not everyone is perfect, that everyone has a flaw to overcome and the good are those that do their best despite their flaw.
The deaths of Remus, Tonks and Snape were horrible but I found that the death of Fred and even more Dobby was heartbreaking. I loved the way they dressed Dobby at the end, wrapped in Harrys jacket they put on socks and a hat, it made my eyes sting with tears but I still smiled.
The epiloge was fantastic, a bit more detail about their lives and the ministry would have been good but to show the children of our heros going to Hogwarts was the best ending, a full circle and ‘Albus Severus Potter’ was perfect.
Its sad that this series has to end but it was done so well that the collection of these seven books will be kept for many years and read again and again.
Ashley said,
July 22, 2007 at 10:57 am
I starting crying I had to close the book so I didn’t get tears on the page when Dobby died. I loved how Kreacher changed. There is so much I want to vent, being the only one in my family who has read/listened to all the books and been obbsessing about the release of the final book. So much detail so quickly. I loved Neville and was so sad when Hedwig fell. It was such a blow so early on for such a main part of Harrys life in the wizarding world. I keep thinking back to everything and I still keep remembering things. I had an ache in my heart when Harry walked into the Forbidden Forest. Snape Loved Lilly. Its all so much. I will miss it.
Someone's Mom said,
July 22, 2007 at 6:59 pm
I am so happy someone else has finished the book. I loved, loved, loved it. I agree that more info in the epilouge would have been nice but not necessary. I would like to Know who’s child Teddy was snogging at the end, Victor Krum’s ??? Any ideas. So sad for Hedgwig, and Dobby. As well as Fred, Lupin and Tonks. Yeah Mres. Weasley. Go Nevel…..
As for Snape… Hard to still hate him but I have reluctant new found respect for him now.
Cris said,
July 22, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Just finished the book too, and what can i say? It jus exceeded my expectations. I think the carachter that surprised me the most was Neville by far, he just had tons of courage we hadnt seen in other books, i love the chapter were they find out that dumbledore’s army has been leaded by him and all… just great
.
Dobby`s part in the book was great too, really touching.
great book jk 
And i just loved the Jks jokes through out the book…. like when the trio is talking about kids tales…. and Ron thought Cinderella was a sickness. I laughed my ass off for an hour
RavenclawWit said,
July 22, 2007 at 11:06 pm
@ Someone’s Mom
I believe that the girl Teddy was snogging, Victoire, was the daughter of Bill and Fleur. Mainly because her name is clearly french, and because one of Harry’s children referred to her as their cousin.
jake said,
July 23, 2007 at 1:11 am
what happend to the person doing magic later in life?
what were harry’s parents jobs?
what happend to everyone else?
who all died?
was it only very significant about harrys eyes because snape was in love with her?
SO MANY QUESTIONS!
lily said,
July 23, 2007 at 6:36 am
yeh i got that impression too,
i loved the chapter on “the princes tale” all about snape and lily and how the whole time he was really on dumbeldores side, protecting harry.
tonks, and lupins death really shook me too, because it was a repeat of what happened to harry, with his own parents.
and ron and hermione finally! lol
overall a great book
Jen said,
July 23, 2007 at 11:06 am
I finished the book at 7:00pm Sunday. I had to work all day Saturday. It killed me that I could not read the book Saturday. I like other people was very sad that Hedwig had to die. Hedwig was really his first magical friend other the Hagrid. I had so many theories going into the book and glad that many of them were wrong. I really thought J.K would kill Ron or Hermione. I almost feel disappointed that one of them did not die because of the way J.K was talking before the book she really made it sound like one of them was going to die. I was happy that they all lived thou because after all Harry Potter books are childrens books to beginning with and J.K did kill many people in this book. I was surprised by Dumbledore’s backstory for awhile in the book I was not to happy with him. I very sadded when Harry’s wand broke. Harry’s wand was like a good friend to him throughout the books. I loved that Aberforth was looking out for Harry on behalf of Dumbledore. Snape really surprised me I hated Snape after book 6. His death made me cheer inside but after his Pensieve I cried. Snape really cared for Harry. Okay one more thing Lupin and Tonks werid twist but really did they have to die. Really Harry lost so many father figures in the books could he have keep Lupin I know he still has Arthur Weasley but couldn’t he have keep one of his father’s friends alive. I know I said one more thing but I loved how Harry called Voldemort Tom Riddle thoughout the ending.
THe one really disappoint thou is that I found the ending cheesey. I like that we got to see 19 years in the future but I have questions. Did Harry, Ron and Hermoine have to go back to Hogwarts to finish schooling. Did McGonagall become Head Mistress? What are Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermoine doing now?
DJ said,
July 23, 2007 at 11:34 am
um … how come Harry’s godson didn’t come and live with him, although I presume after the death of her husband and her daughter the grandmother wanted to keep her. But did you notice something? The Deathly Hallows are all still out there … and if that “baby” in the train station is still “alive” in that limbo … and if someone finds the resurrection stone in the woods … doesn’t that open us up to a whole other kettle of fish? Beyond Hogwarts, the College Years !!!
sheart said,
July 23, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Loved the book !
I thought Hagrid had died initially (when he falls from the bike), and I cried like an idiot for ages before I finally turned the page and promptly smacked my head. Haha. The way Rowling managed to wrap everything up was fantastic. Some theories were already being bandied about by people but like always, she manages to come out with totally unexpected stuff.
I have to say though, the ‘emotional highlights’ of the book, for me, would include the part where we realise that Snape has the same Patronus as Lily. And the part where Dobby died (of course!), the scene where Percy came back, when Fred, Lupin and Tonks died. When Harry went to give himself up…okay, too many to list, but these are mostly those that stood out the most, i.e; made me cry the most.
I have to say, it was such a bittersweet feeling, turning the last pages, knowing it was all to come to an end. But I don’t think it’d work if there was an eighth book about Harry. It’d be sort of anti climatic wouldn’t it ? When we’ve invested all our tears in Deathly Hallows, to realize that there’s more. I don’t know, just IMO.
Hee
RavenclawWit said,
July 23, 2007 at 3:19 pm
@sheart
I thought that Hagrid had died too at that part. I was so relieved when he survived, especially the final battle! Honestly, I really thought that he would die in the last book. Glad he didn’t though.
I definitely agree with you that there probably shouldn’t be an eighth novel, at least not about Harry, but I’d love to see Rowling write an encyclopedia type book with all the details and random information that couldn’t fit into the books. She’s mentioned that she might do such a thing before.
RavenclawWit said,
July 23, 2007 at 3:40 pm
@ jake
Yes, it seems that Rowling wasn’t able to tie up as many loose ends as we thought. But that’s probably to be expected. With 7 books that have so much detail, it’s impossible to tie up or even keep track of every little loose end or plot hole. In fact, Rowling mentioned in an interview during the writing of DH that in some instances she had sort of painted herself into a corner plotwise, so not every question would be answered.
I do feel that the epilogue could have been a little longer and gone into greater detail of what happened to everybody, especially what the trio ended up doing (besides getting married and having kids), but c’est la vie.
As for the significance of Harry’s eyes, yes, I do think that the significance of them was to Snape. I recall one interview that Rowling did in which someone asked her if she was disappointed that they didn’t make Radcliffe’s eyes green for the films. She responded that it wasn’t the color that mattered so much, but that they were his mother’s eyes. In other words, if in the films you accept that Lily’s eyes are blue it comes to the same thing. Remember when Snape dies, after he gives Harry his memories, he tells Harry to look at him? Snape wanted to see the eyes that he had loved, Lily’s eyes, before he died. What’s more, I like to believe that in those last few moments before he went, Snape was finally able to see Harry as Lily’s child, not just James Potter’s brat. He was finally able to see that Harry really was like Lily, through his eyes. Just my take on it anyways.
RavenclawWit said,
July 23, 2007 at 3:48 pm
@ Jen
Well, I think that Rowling killed Lupin and Tonks because it’s sort of a parallel of Harry’s beginning, as someone said. Also remember when Rowling said in that interview that two died that she didn’t intend to die? I think this was referring to Lupin and Tonks. Also, it was kind of fitting for Lupin to die since he was the last of the marauders.
I liked the epilogue even if it was a little cheesy, especially the part where it was revealed that Harry named one of his sons Albus Severus, but I agree answers to more questions would have been fun. Maybe Rowling will just tell us that stuff someday (like on her website or in an encyclopedia type book).
RavenclawWit said,
July 23, 2007 at 4:09 pm
@ DJ
I just assumed that Tonks’ mother ended up raising Teddy. I get the feeling from what Harry said though, about his coming for dinner four times a week, that Harry was very involved with his life, kind of like a surrogate father.
That “baby” in King’s Cross was, I believe, the piece of Voldemort’s soul that resided within Harry, and as Dumbledore said, there was nothing to be done for it. From the sounds it was making, it was clearly dying. In fact, when Harry looked at it one last time before returning to consciousness, Dumbledore told him not to “pity the dead”. So I think we can safely assume that that baby is now dead, especially after Harry killed the piece of soul that still resided within Voldemort, breaking the bond between them.
Yes, the Hallows are still out there, but the wand is back in Dumbledore’s grave, and he was careful not to tell even Ron or Hermione that that’s where it came from in the first place. Like he said, as long as he dies a natural death, the power of the wand will be broken. Likewise he also didn’t tell them about the stone, or where he dropped it. And as he dropped it somewhere around the lair of the giant spiders, I doubt many people will be poking around there again. And of course, Harry himself has the cloak. I doubt that knowing what it is, he’ll give it away to just anybody. So yeah, story and Hallows finished I think.
lady moo said,
July 24, 2007 at 3:19 am
ravenclawWit you got some things wrong tho…ron and hermione WERE there when harry said he dropped the stone in the forest (NOT near spiders either) and they knew where the wand was going because harry said that dumbledore was the last owner and they had been with harry when he said all of this…so they know where all of the things are. harry told ron and hermione everything.
oh and i checked it out and victoire IS bill and fleur’s daughter…anyway i’m missin the rest of the series…just lookin thru the fan sites and whatnot to see if i can get as much info as possible. see yall
RavenclawWit said,
July 24, 2007 at 4:14 am
@ lady moo
Nope. Harry said to Dumbledore’s portrait “The thing that was hidden in the Snitch, I dropped it in the forest.” But we know it’s somewhat near Aragog’s old lair because that’s where Harry met Voldemort in the forest. Page 702, American edition: “…knew had been the place where the monstrous Aragog had once lived…”. However, Ron and Hermione don’t know that, as Harry was alone.
Well yes, on page 742, Voldemort briefly mentions that he “stole the wand from its last master’s tomb”. Then later Harry told Dumbledore’s portrait, with Ron and Hermione present, that he was going to put the Elder Wand “back where it came from”. If you remember, Harry originally saw Voldemort take the wand from the tomb in a vision which he shared with no one. However, Ron and Hermione can probably figure out that it’s in Dumbledore’s tomb based on what Voldy said. But the portraits on the wall in Dumbledore’s office won’t be able to figure that out, not being privy to Voldemort’s previous statement, and nobody who was in the Great Hall when Voldemort mentioned taking the wand from the tomb knows that Harry is planning on returning it there. Also, you have to realize that most of the people who watched the final battle probably weren’t even able to follow most of the convo between Harry and Voldy. Most of them won’t know what the Hallows or the Elder Wand even are.
David Flanagan said,
July 24, 2007 at 11:28 am
Raven,
Good post and good comments!
I agree with you that the saddest moment in the book is Dobby’s death. It was really sad. Interestingly, I was on the bus on my way to work listening to this part of book (I purchased the audiobook), and tears began to kind of well up in my eyes and some people noticed and were giving me strange looks. Heh heh
I think the funniest moment in the book is the line Harry comes up with when Hermione runs to Ron and kisses him, and all the Basilisk fangs get dropped in the process and Harry asks weakly, “Is this the moment?” Of course, they don’t hear him and then he shouts “Oy! There’s a war going on!” That was very funny and a great moment of warmth amongst all the tension.
The most intense moment in the book is a toss-up between the assault on Order members when they were trying to get Harry out of Privet Drive (unexpected because of it being so early in the book) and the time when Hermione is being tortured by Bellatrix. I was very worried that Hermione might get killed off at this point.
The most unexpected moment of the book was where Neville broke free of Voldemort’s body bind, pulled the sword from the sorting hat, and struck off the head of Nagini. That was a very cool and dramatic touch.
The most surprising element for me from this book was the almost anticlimatic way that Snape was presented here. Especially after having such a large and pivotal role in book 6, his part in this book was almost trivial. Of course, we learn that his role was to kill Dumbledore at a place and time of Dumbledore’s choosing so as to win the confidence of Voldemort and then use that influence to do everything in his power to protect Hogwarts students. That makes sense, though I’ll admit that I thought Snape would do something far more dramatic than get bitten in the neck and die so meekly. And we have to get through the vast majority of the book before we even find this out.
The least surpising element of this book for me was that Delores Umbridge seemed to gladly go along with Voldemort’s new regime. I just wish we could have found out what happened to her after Voldemort fell. Ideally, she would have been thrown in prison with Fenrir Grayback. Wouldn’t that be a match made in heaven.
And, finally, I agree that it would have been nice to hear more about what Harry, Hermione, and Ron did in the first year or two following the downfall of Voldemort. I would imagine they all became pretty famous and I thought for sure that, at the very least, Ron and Hermione would be teaching at Hogwarts.
But, wrapping up such a huge epic as the Potter series is something that is difficult at best so at least we did get a “life goes on” theme from her in the epilogue section.
Thanks!
Dumbledore's Girl Through & Through said,
July 25, 2007 at 1:15 am
I thought the book was brilliant and couldn’t have been happier with the ending. I think what touched me most was the themes of loyalty and restored relations throughout the story. I loved the fact that Dudley finally showed some concern for Harry when the Dursleys departed. I also cried when all the DA and the OotP returned through the room of requirement - and I really lost it when Percy came back. Of course, it was wonderful seeing Kreacher come around to ‘Master Harry’ and Dobby’s death was the hardest to accept (boo hoo).
I was glad that Umbridge got stunned - the nerve of her using Moody’s eye as a trophy - what an evil winch!!!
Funny thing, while reading I was able to kind of guess some of the things that would happen next. For example, when I saw the chapter titled “the seven Potters” I had a sudden vision of the last scene of “The Thomas Crown Affair” with Pierce Brosnan
.
I’m so glad Hagrid survived! I thought he was a goner a few times. Liked the Snape/Lily storyline… too bad it was so late in the story. Did he end up on the wall in the Headmaster’s office?
I do still have one question though…I wonder if the Dursley’s survived? and of course, we now know that Petunia wanted to be one of those ‘freaks’ all along.
Oh one more thing - looks like the images on the cover of the book were people after all…
DGTT
sheart said,
July 25, 2007 at 9:20 am
The cover of the book was pretty…weird ? I actually mistook Ron for Malfoy as the guy in green on the cover was blonde. And I got all excited thinking that Malfoy repented and whatnot. Duh. Haha
Am talking about the UK cover btw.
Meljune said,
July 25, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I loved the book! by far my favorite one…but i still have a couple questions…
1. What is everyone talking about when they say the person doing magic later in life? I think I missed that…
2. Why wouldn’t Draco be in Azkaban?? He was technically a deatheater, and even though his family didn’t really fight in the end, they were still responsible for a lot of horrible things…
If anyone can help a girl out, I would really appreciate it!
Meljune said,
July 25, 2007 at 8:42 pm
OH YEA! and one of my favorite parts is when Harry, Ron and Hermione are under the invisibility cloak and save Malfoy from a deatheater and Ron punches him in the mouth and yells how its the second time they’ve saved him….
RavenclawWit said,
July 26, 2007 at 1:32 am
@ Meljune
I think that was one of the things she had to cut because she couldn’t fit it in plotwise. Nobody in the book performed magic late in life, at least not in the sense that they’d never performed it before. Or do you mean you’d never heard that before? In an interview once, Rowling said that there was a character who would perform magic for the first time late in life.
About Draco, yeah I kind of don’t get that either. Maybe they did put him in Azkaban for awhile, but he’d served his sentence and was released? Must have been released for at least 12 years if he had a son old enough to attend Hogwarts. I wonder if he’s married to Pansy Parkinson? It seems like if he was, Rowling would have said ”and his wife, Pansy” or something. Hopefully the new encyclopedia Rowling is going to write will clear things like that up for us.
sheart said,
July 26, 2007 at 1:31 pm
I did read somewhere that the person who performed magic late in life was Merope Gaunt. I believe it was Dumbledore who said that after she was freed of the oppression and fear induced by her father and brother (they got sent to Azkaban), she was able to perform magic and that was how she got Riddle. But after Riddle left, her magic went away again and that’s why Voldemort was so against halfbloods. Because his mother lost her magic after his ‘heartless Muggle’ father broke her heart.
Or something like that ? I’m not too sure, but will post the link here if I come across it again.
Mary Ann said,
July 28, 2007 at 7:47 am
I loved loved loved this book too!
As to Harry and Rons occupation, JKR said in an interview post-release that they became Aurors and revolutionised the department. Harry is Head of the Department. Hermione becomes a lawyer for the new Ministry. You know that Ron and Hermione must be doing well financially because it is written in the epilogue that their children have “new” school robes, something that Ron never had growing up.
I beieve that Draco never went to Azkaban. He seemed to me that once he realised what it truely meant to be a deatheater, he was more of a relunctant and passive participant.
Lindsey said,
July 31, 2007 at 2:27 pm
OMG! I read it within the day it came out, and now whenever I think about it, my heart aches!
I KNEW IT ALL ALONG SNAPE WAS GOOD! When he died, I could not stop crying!! And when Harry looked at his memory, it made me even sadder. Brilliant twist, but it broke my heart.
Lupin and Tonks and Dobby? My favorite characters are all dead…
It’s bittersweet, knowing that this is the end. But it’s good to know what happened.
When Griphook (or whoever) still had the sword when they escaped, I got nervous that they wouldn’t be able to destroy anymore horcruxes. And when Harry was talking about the diadem and the wig, I thought I was losing it because I couldn’t remember what the hell he was talking about.
One thing I missed…was Albus, Aberforth, or Grindelwald the “theif” who had the Elder Wand? I think it was Albus, but she never said exactly…
Lindsey said,
July 31, 2007 at 2:27 pm
PS…Happy Birthday Harry!
RavenclawWit said,
July 31, 2007 at 4:39 pm
@ Lindsey
It was Grindelwald. He was the little boy who stole the wand from Gregorovitch. Harry recognized him from his vision in a picture of Dumbledore and Grindelwald that Rita Skeeter published in “The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore”. Albus later took the wand from Grindelwald after defeating him in 1945. That’s why when Voldemort went to Nurmengard (as seen in Harry’s vision) to try and get the wand from Grindelwald, he laughed at Voldemort and said he didn’t have it. Dumbledore was the “master” of the Elder Wand, and had been since 1945.