Zombified Me, Harry Potter, etc.

[aciss]

I was out for a greater part of the weekend and came out droolingly zombiefied and kinda' irritable this morning, because it's been ages since I've had less than four hours of sleep. No, I wasn't running for outstanding employee of the year award; I was finishing the latest Harry Potter book, since I was out for the greater part of the weekend (in other words, my plans of living the previous weekend as a hermit -- I'd originally intended to finish the book and watch the last three episodes of 24's first season on Sunday, at least -- were thwarted).

And what do I have to say about the book? WOW. I'd never thought the wow-ity of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban could be equaled -- maybe even surpassed -- by any of the later novels, but looks like I was wrong.

A lot of people must be tired of reading these, but nevertheless I wanted to post my own, so pardon me :)

HPB Comments

1. The succulent ham that is "I" was blubbering by the last few chapters, as usual. And to think that, at almost the exact moment I got the book, I'd already spoiled myself by peeking into the last chapters and thus already knew what was coming.
   
2. This book is definitely the funniest of the entire series!!! :)
   
3. I loved how Rowling delved into Tom Riddle's character. I loved the reason behind the DADA "curse" that prevented any professor from staying for more than a year. I especially loved Dumbledore in this installment -- the only wizard Voldemort ever feared dies protecting Harry Potter just like Sirius and the Potters had done.
   
4. I sort of guessed Snape was the Prince, mainly because of his suspicion of Harry's newfound Potions skills.
   
5. I was quite looking forward to see the interaction between Snape and Harry during the DADA classes, and was kinda' disappointed to see only one class. Snape loves to criticize Harry's work, but DADA has always been Harry's best subject, so to see how Snape would have reacted upon seeing Harry's skills would have been interesting.
   
6. I am certainly looking forward to seeing what happens during Harry's last summer with the Dursleys :)

HBP + My Book 7 Theories

1. This is something I've been looking out for since Book 3: I suspect that Peter Pettigrew will save, or at least play a major part in saving, Harry in the end (or, at least, in attempting to do so). There was a part in the last chapter of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban wherein Dumbledore says "Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt...When one wizard saves anoter wizard's life, it creates a certain bond between them." I expect this foreshadows a single crucial event that is yet to come.
   
2. [Edit] On the other hand, as I told lkoc, it seems as though the victims of Voldemort and the Death Eaters have become more "important" as time progresses. First it was the Riddles' old housekeeper, who was not exactly an important character. Then it was Cedric Diggory, the Hufflepuff Seeker who we encounter only in Quidditch games and the Triwizard Tournament. Then comes Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, the man who would have taken Harry into his home were he not a falsely accused of being a murderer on the run. By the sixth book, it's dear old Dumbledore. So is it possible that Harry will indeed die? Or will he somehow be saved thanks to Dumbledore's (and his mom's?) sacrifice (perhaps with the help of Wormtail)? Maybe Dumbledore died precisely so that Harry may survive his encouter with Voldemort?
   
3. I love Snape's "grayness" in this book. Could the look on Dumbledore's face as he faced Snape have been: A) a look of betrayal and pleading to spare his life (although thus far Dumbledore has always been a good judge of character, which weakens the theory), or B) a look of encouragement so Snape would be able to do what he has to do -- that is, kill Dumbledore -- for the sake of some greater purpose (they are, after all, both proficient Legilimens/Occlumens)?
   
4. Harry probably won't stay away from Hogwarts for the entire year. After all, he's always considered it his home.

A Couple o' Complaints

1. I did not like how Ginny and Harry broke up (or "broke up," if they intend to get back together later). I'd have expected Ginny to put up more of a fight, or...something. And there was definitely not enough Remus Lupin. Lupin's my favorite character (or is one of favorites, anyway), and could have served as a cushion for Harry like he once did. I was kinda' disappointed he was missing most of the time.
   
2. They should have proofread the final copy again 'cause I spotted a few gramma--okay, I'll stop about this; as it is, a lot of my friends whine all the time about my fussiness. (Hey, I know I commit typos all the time, but heck, this is a novel destined to make it to the top of a LOT of bestsellers' lists. I've heard Book 6 broke the record of Order of the Phoenix's first day sales.)

N.N.N. -- Nice Theories Nicked from the Net -- that I decided not to include in my ramblings as these can explain my thoughts much better than I can

1. yahtzee63: On Hocruxes and Malfoy (Love the Horcrux Harry theory.)
   http://www.livejournal.com/users/yahtzee63/189967.html#cutid1
   http://www.livejournal.com/users/yahtzee63/190336.html#cutid1
   
2. denorios: Dumbledore's thoughts on death and Snape's "advice"
   http://www.livejournal.com/users/denorios/15782.html#cutid1
   
3. garlandgraves: On the identity of R.A.B., Mundungus Fletcher, Malfoy, and Snape
   http://www.livejournal.com/users/garlandgraves/3409.html#cutid1

HBP Questions

1. Trivial as it may seem now, if Harry lives after the seventh book, I do expect him to become an Auror. I take the fact that he was given a second chance when Slughorn took Snape's place (as he would never have been able to get into Snape's class) as a good sign.
   
2. Where were the other members of the Order of the Phoenix -- Charlie Weasley, Dedalus Diggle, etc. -- during Dumbledore's funeral? I know most of them were sent on their respective missions, but it was Dumbledore's funeral.
   
3. Why did Dumbledore ask for Snape specifically while weakened after obtaining the Horcrux? Is there something Snape knows that no other member of the Hogwarts staff else knows (aside from being Potions Master, that is)?
   
4. Why did the D.A. seem to just...fall apart? I was under the impression that they were a pretty tight-knit group right before Dolores Umbridge banned them in the fifth book. And yet it was mentioned Harry had noticed that only Neville and Luna had responded to the call for Dumbledore's Army. (Speaking of Neville, I wonder if he still has a large role to play in all of this...?)
   
5. When Snape agreed to an Unbreakable Vow with Narcisa Malfoy, did he know he was going to have to kill Dumbledore already? Did he kill Dumbledore simply to fulfill this vow or was there more to it than that?
   
6. Dumbledore knew the DADA teaching position was (is) cursed. So why (after so many years) did he finally concede and let Snape fill in the post? Moreover, is there more to Snape wanting that post other than being drawn to the Dark Arts? And if Dumbledore has indeed trusted Snape all these years, was the curse the only thing that prevented him from handing the post over to Snape?
   
7. If Snape is simply spying on the Death Eaters, why has he been not just favoring but defending Draco Malfoy all these years, considering Snape knew Draco's father, Lucius, was a Death Eater (or once was, anyway)? Or is that simply because Malfoy belongs to his house?
   
8. I am almost sure Snape will turn back to the good side, or at least carry out a deed that will ultimately redeem him, before the end. That being said, has Snape ever been a "true Death Eater"?

I have a lot of other questions and comments, but I figured I might start to drone if I don't stop now...I'll just add a few quips here and there in the future :) In any case, I highly doubt Snape is evil (or at least, he's not entirely evil).

Anyway, I can't wait for the last book :) I've heard, however, that J.K. Rowling is excellent at marketing, and I'm speculating her leaving long gaps between books is a marketing strategy that would allow for a longer period for her novels to stay in vogue. I hope she doesn't resort to that, though.