Is Harry Potter really over?

[tommygirl]

Okay, so I worked until nearly seven pm last night, distracted with wonderful pics of Jared and Jensen sent to my work email by larah33. The good news is that I'm nearly done with this huge ass project that I have and I get off tomorrow since I worked a full day on Saturday.

Alas, I had to avoid the internet because I couldn't start Book Seven until late last night.

But I am done now...



No really, if you don't want spoilers, go away!



Okay so I really loved this book. JK Rowling really thought this out in a way that leaves me in awe. I've never thought she was an amazing writer so much as a skillfull storyteller with great characters, but book seven was filled with a bunch of twists.

And alas, lots of deaths right from the get go. And as much as I understand the book is set in the midst of a war, it is still highly upsetting to lose these characters I love. I did love how meaningless and quick some of the deaths occurred - that's the root of war, isn't it? - but as soon as Hedwig died, I started crying.

And then the deaths just kept coming. And the trio were strained at times, but in the end, they stuck together. And that's why I love the three of them...because no matter what, no matter what hurtful things are said/done, they forgive one another and always come back.

I was right about Snape! And Harry being a horcrux. And I always had a feeling there was more to Snape's relationship with Lily, but best friends? And that his Patronus was the doe? Gah, I possibly love Snape more than I did before. Everything he did was for Lily.

I love that it was all the differences in how Harry and Voldemort looked at the world that really made the difference in how much Harry was able to accomplish and how Voldemort was eventually defeated. Harry allowed himself to depend on others...he was able to forgive and empathize and that brought Kreacher and the goblin to his side as allies when he needed them. He also told Neville about the snake, knowing he wouldn't survive facing Voldemort. He trusted that others were capable, whereas Voldemort felt he was the only one who could handle anything.

But still...

Did Fred have to die? Why Fred? I love Fred! I love my twins! There can be no George without Fred! That upsets me more than almost anything! FREEEEED!

Finally, I love how the final battle took place at Hogwarts...and how everyone showed up and sides were drawn. I may have gotten misty that Percy got his head out of his ass long enough to show up and fight with his family. I love that Harry's surrender to death protected every single person from Voldemort's death curse.

Just so very good. I really enjoyed this. And now I feel like I have to go back and read the whole series and figure out hints that I missed out on all along.

Okay, epilogue talk in a different cut just to be careful...








So once I knew Harry survived, I pretty much figured out most of the ending. Like that harry/ginny ended up together and that Ron/Hermione...I liked the touch of Harry naming his child after Severus. That was unexpected, but sweet.

That said, some questions I had:

1) What the hell did Harry Potter do with his life other than marry Ginny and become a father? Based on timeline, he and Ginny had James at 24/25, right? So what were they doing before that? I mean, I know Harry had money, but what was he doing?

2) Did Luna run off and marry Dean Thomas? I think she did.

3) Why did Ginny & Harry not prepare their kids for who their father was in the wizarding world? Albus seemed completely confused why kids would be in awe of his dad and that just seems like something you prepare your kid for ahead of time.

I need to know, people. So tell me your theories!



**

Alrighty, now I will attempt to catch up on the friends list as much as possible. I'm days behind from real life insanity and then self-inflicted exile to avoid HP Spoilers, so this should be fun.

Comments

[nicalamity.livejournal.com]

1) I'm thinking Harry and, probably, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione became aurors. This seems logical to me, given everything they went through. (And, the fact that we know Hermione doesn't teach, since she was with her kids at the platform and telling them to send love to Neville). We know the boys wanted to be aurors. And, Ginny seems to want to do whatever they do, plus she's damn feisty. Hermione, however... I always thought she'd end up as a healer, but when it really counted, she was so hesitant with healing magics. But, given how instrumental she was in their overall survival for the year? I'm thinking maybe she took that path too.

2) I think Luna married Neville.

3) You know, probably because Harry wanted some time not being ZOMG HARRY POTTER. And, because, he probably wanted little Albus to have a chance at being just Albus, not OMG Harry Potter's kid. I think he was trying to perhaps give them something he didn't have - just the ability to be a normal kid, not the OMG FAMOUS SCAR kid.

[hopelessfangirl.livejournal.com]

"There can be no George without Fred! That upsets me more than almost anything! FREEEEED!"

I KNOW! *cries* I didn't even have a particular affection for the twins (though they were probably my favourite Weasleys), but Fred's death made me the saddest, next to Remus.

I thought that epilogue sucked. It left too much unanswered other than what happened ship-wise, which could've been surmised from the rest of the book. I wish we knew what those four did for a living, like you said!

"Did Luna run off and marry Dean Thomas? I think she did."

LOL, I totally thought that at one point.

[kittykatz.livejournal.com]

I don't know who Luna married but she became a healer. I wish she had kids too who would be a little loopy but totally adorable. I totally adored movie!Luna.

[cfmom.livejournal.com]

Yes - I was the most upset over Fred's death and the lack of any mention of George regarding it. I also felt short changed in regards to Lupin and Tonks dying but I understand the need to make it full circle with Harry being Teddy's Godfather.

I think the epilogue caused more questions than answered them for exactly the reasons stated. As for why Albus and the kids seemed to wonder why people were staring at Harry - I think it's true in the case of any child with a famous parent. The kids see their parents at their most normal. They don't see famousDad when spending time at home and it is often a surprise to them how people react to them in public.

Also, I would love to have known how the headmaster was 19 years later.

[cricketkate.livejournal.com]

I was actually kind of disappointed that there even WAS an epilogue. I get that it was probably hard to resist writing, but it seemed a little...too happy ending. (Odd to say a book with so much death had TOO happy of an ending, no?) I would have imagined that Harry and Ginny / Ron and Herminoine ended up together - I didn't really need that kind of closure.

I also wish, though, that we had more time to grieve for Fred (and get some sense of George's reaction). More time to understand Draco and the Malfoys.

Oh - and I much prefer to believe that Luna married Neville and had legions of bravely odd little children.