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I always understood. Snape. I got that he loved Lilly. I understood exactly why he killed Dumbledore. I think Snape was probably the least mysterious part of the books for me actually. blaugh

I only found time recently to read the book, and now that I'm finally finished I guess I'll throw my two cents in as well. razz

The seventh and final book was awesome. It was interesting, action-packed, and kept me enthralled....until near the end that is. This is just my opinion, but I thought the "Nineteen Years Later" section was absolutely unnecessary. I sort of wish that Rowling had just ended it with the trio in the headmaster's office. Also, I thought Remus and Tonks' deaths were dealt with much too insignificantly. I mean, they went off to battle, then later on Harry finds their dead bodies in the Great Hall. We've just had to deal with Fred's death, and their deaths seemed to be tacked on at the last moment. I didn't feel that the way their deaths were handled did the characters any justice, given how important and beloved they've grown to be.

Also, the way how all the characters and all the creatures we've encountered in the series appeared for the final battle at Hogwarts seemed just a bit excessive. I do admit that it gave the final battle greater significance, how everyone was reunited and everything came together to end the series, but I would've liked a bit more elaboration into how all the creatures were gathered. Buckbeak just appeared, as did the Thestrals, and the centaurs, who weren't participating until the very end.

But don't get me wrong, I highly enjoyed the book. All in all, I thought it was a very fitting end to such an important series, a series that I loved for so many years. I love the humour, the special moments inserted in between the action and the explaining of facts, be they mere glances or small actions, the highly descriptive writing style...it was such a great experience to lose myself in Harry Potter's world. I'm rather sad the series is over.

I have to agree, The Epilogue was much too short and much too far in the future. Of course we wouldn't have been able to learn about Albus Severus Potter if had been much earlier. Perhaps a skip a couple months after the battle during the rebuild chapter between the last chapter and the Epilogue would have been in order.

Just sort of capping everyone else's tales. How did George and the rest of the Weaslys deal with Fred's death. How did Harry make sure Ted Lupin had a different childhood from his own. Did he ever meet back up with the Dursleys or at least Dudley after his proclaimation?

We could have maybe seen Harry's struggle to have Snape's portrait hung in the headmaster's office and anything Snape might have said in reply to Harry seeing his final memories. Probably something like. " If you ever tell anyone what you saw, I'll haunt you!" I heard a term recenly that I think applies to Snape. He was an anti-hero, meaning that he was benevolent but acted as though he wasn't so no one would know. I didn't suspect he was in love with Lily and I had hoped he and Dumbledore had a deal when he killed him.

I've heard others say Snape's death was anti-climactic, but I thought it was perfect. It showed exactly how Voldemort was. It was pretty evident that Voldemort considered Snape as his second, yet had him killed without a second thought. He didn't even do it himself. I think Voldemort was a little hesitant to face Snape in flat out duel. Even if he had the Death Stick. I think he was a little afraid of Snape.

Sorry I kind of went random there for a minute. Severus Snape was by far my favorite character. He was so complicated and I really enjoyed watching his story unfold through the series.

J.

ELF PRIDE. GUILD PRIDE.

rofl rofl

I think Percy dying would have had a great effect. He wouldn't have even met up with his family. I think his whole coming back was lame

It would have been far more interesting had he come back in Book 6, not the end of Book 7. xp

I think that if Rowling had killed off Percy, before or after making up with his family, I might not have liked it much. It wouldn't quite have the same meaning as Fred's death did.
It's hard to explain.

I guess it's like this:

Percy doesn't make up with family, dies: It would likely be before the battle, as he wouldn't have shown up to apologize and therefore couldn't have died there. If it was at the battle, the reason for his arrival would never be really known (as he didn't get the chance to make up with family and explain himself), and it would be something of an insult to his deepest character to leave it out.

Percy does make up with family, dies: I dunno, it seems the greatest tragic cliche for this to happen. Not that I've read loads of novels before where some hated character apologizes and is killed moments later or something, but it still wouldn't sit quite right. Like Pettigrew dying after showing some blatant "save Harry" move in front of Voldemort, and thereby repaying his life debt. That sounds like the dramatic happening most fans would dream up on their own. Rowling probably wanted something a little more different...

Percy makes up with family, fights in battle, Fred dies laughing at his brother's first joke in who knows how long (aka, canon): I thought that this scene was sad, but I didn't feel too bad for Fred, really. Nobody wants to die and leave everyone behind, least of all a twin, but I think that Fred would've rather died laughing at the joke told by a long-lost, once stuck-up brother who has finally returned. Think about it: Fred's death had a beatiful, sad sort of near-irony to it because of the circumstances. I can't think of a better way for a fun-loving character to go.

Okay, my thoughts are jumbled and not very clearly spelled out right now. I'm sorry about that.
I'm just trying to say why I think I prefer canon to other alternatives (namely, Percy's death instead of Fred's). I know that Percy isn't the most liked character, and Fred is, but I wouldn't ever want to switch their places.
Never.

I loved it! I'll admit there were parts that I wasn't entirely satisfied with, but after all, HP fans are an extremely tough crowd to please. As to the deaths:

The entire thing was a bloodbath...but I should have assumed that from the start.

Hedwig's death wasn't too bad (I loved the symbolism and, let's face it, could they really have kept her with them?), but that scene was such a wirlwind, I had to read it a few times to figure it out.

I have to say, I think Wormtail came to a fitting end. Of course, he had to go, but the way he went was a nice suprise. I don't think he deserved a heroic death.

DOBBY! crying

As to Fred's death, I have to agree with Alutian. No matter which of the Weasley's had died (and, come on, one of them was going to die), it would make us all very unhappy, because we loved them all (with the possible exception of Percy...sometimes) so much.

Lupin and Tonks...what can I say, it was completely wasted. I knew they weren't gonna make it the second Remus said the word "godfather", but I at least expected them to get some recognition. You could take that line out of the book and it wouldn't make any differance to the plot whatsoever (with the exception that Remus wouldn't have been with the other three when Harry used the Stone).

And then there was Snape. Yet another death I knew was coming, but wasn't ready for. The chapter "Prince's Tale" had the potential to come out either really sweet or really creepy, depending on how it was writen, and JKR nailed right on sweet. But I've already come near typing a short story here, so I'll rant on that later.