Death, Dismemberment and Redundancy, HP7

[damunch]

Overall I enjoyed this book quite a bit. There are some specific topics I wanted to address, both positive and negative though, so here it is, spoiler heavy so consider yourself warned.

Dumbledore:

I can't quite say "haha I told you so" since he turned out not to be entirely evil. But part of me can't help but feel smug at the major role

Comments

[simplykitten]

No comment on the characters, I partially agree. I think Mad-eye had to die first since he was the most hardened and the death would be the least "OMG"..unlike Fred which broke my heart. Following that with Lupin and Tonks and I want to cry. Anyways, his death sort of sets the scene of death for the book, along with creating the new order (named Dumbledore's Army) which really is the center of the battle. (Word: Neville rocks)

As for the epilogue. I too believe it's not really necessary. The only reasons I could see for it are 1) Truly end the series and make sure there is no continuance. 2) make it a completely happy ending for the young uns. Personally, I feel like it ruins it for fans a bit, destroys fanfiction. It also is a bit too fitted that all these "high school sweet hearts" married and live happily. Yes they all survived a difficult time together, but if she just left it at the last chapter, that could be assumed, or it could be twisted. I don't know.

As for a you seeing no changes in the world..the only one I could possibly say as a change would be that I think muggle relations are better. I'm not sure how most wizards get to King's Crossing, they aren't really clear on that matter, but I imagine most don't drive. And they make very specific point of Ron driving to the station, which shows that wizards are perhaps trying to learn a bit more about Muggle modes of transport. But you're right, that's about the only hint (and it's very slight).

Otherwise: Were you extremely happy that Mrs. Weasley killed Bellatrix? I liked that she finally stepped up at the end and killed someone to protect her children.

[damunch]

I wasn't opposed to Mad-eye dying, it just seemed a bit flat to do it with someone saying that he fell instead of showing it. But then the eye made me happy again, which sounds entirely wrong :P

Fred's death was sad, but it warms my heart that he went out laughing. And Neville so rocks, I think being left as one of the few friends of Harry Potter at Hogwarts finally let him grow into himself. Plus Luna and Ginny are just the sort of girls to prod someone into shape.

I don't entirely buy the driving as evidence of improoved relations angle simply because it was Ron. Even if you don't consider his father, he drove a car in the second book, granted not well, but still. Now if Draco had driven his family to the station that'd be another matter.

Oh Mrs. Weasley was fabulous. And I love how she and Bellatrix dueling were on dividing the attention of the crowd from Voldemort and his oponents.