It's over.
So I appear to be only the second person on my flist to finish the last Harry Potter book (applause for you, calculette) though it's possible that others have also finished and are still compiling thoughts etc. Can I just say, before I launch into my own thoughts (carefully hidden behind an lj cut): kind of can't believe that it's all over. I am in a weird head space right now. Yep, okay, now that is done. Oh, before I go on: out of curiosity, for those that gave in and read the leaked online copy? Was it for realz?
I started reading at around 9:30am, so including a few brief food/etc stops it took me ten hours to read from cover to cover. I haven't read a book this big this fast since... well, probably since HBP, actually, so that's just a bit funny. Also I feel really weird posting about HP HP HP in this LJ, which I think I have rarely (if ever) mentioned HP in.
Whatever. On with the thoughts. I have numbered them to make for easier discussion identification points. What the hell, does that sentence even make sense? I stand by my "weird head space" statement to get around that.
1. WEASLEYS.
- FRED. Wtjlkafjakdjlaksaksjafdkfjaldfkjad why did that have to happen. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT TO ME, JKR. It was the only time in the whole fucking book that I sobbed, screamed obscenities and raged to my empty house. Pg.512, you broke me.
- Having said that, THANK YOU FOR SMALL MERCIES AKA PERCY. Pretty fucking glad that got resolved, and in that way, too. His "ROOKWOOD >:O" and him with Fred, my Weasley heart broken :(
- GOT A BIT TOO WORRIED ABOUT MOLLY VS BELLATRIX IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, HEART IN MOUTH ETC ETC?
- Holey George, still making jokes, SRSLY NOT SURPRISED. I am fit to bursting with Weasley love.
- RON WEASLEY RON WEASLEY RON WEASLEY IS OUR K.I.N.G.!!!!!!
2. I can't go any further without throwing in a bit of huge criticism, so: NINETEEN YEARS LATER? Really sorry, but I did actually have to hold back the streaming flow of vomit that was erupting from my mouth. Actually thinking about cutting those few pages out from the back of my book (starting to get the idea that this will be a common feeling). JAMES, ALBUS AND LILY. Okay Harry, I get the whole naming-child-after-parent thing but BOTH PARENTS? Isn't that just a little bit awkward? And not just Albus, but Albus Severus? Gouge my eyes out with a spoon. I don't even know if I should mention Scorpius. Ummmmmm no, let's not go there just yet. A good source (well..... my little sister, who just finished her copy and therefore called to DEBRIEF, which involved at least five minutes of WHHHHHHHAT over the epilogue) informs me that JKR's said in an interview somewhere something (stay with me, people) about writing in the epilogue so others couldn't continue the HP story themselves? So it's nice and neat and somewhat tied up, happily ever after etc? Of course, I'm going to go hunting for that interview now, but if it does exist - does she really hate fanfic writers that much that she'd ruin the finale of her amazing series with such a retarded epilogue ajslakadkj I give up. Has anyone read anything like this in any JKR interview anywhere or should I just punch my sister in the mouth?
3. While I'm on the subject of bashing things, Snape. Oh, Snape. I have never had any love for you and I continue to feel that even now with your redemption and all, though pretty much the entire world could see that coming. As for the Lily-lovin', I'm pretty sure fandom has ruined my life. Thank god I am no longer immersed in the fandom world and will therefore not have to listen to all the Snape/Lily shippers dancing around on everyone else's graves/puddles of vomit.
4. JAMES POTTER, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! (PS I MEAN THE ORIGINAL AND STILL THE BEST)
5. Moment of silence to remember Ted Tonks.
6. DH DEATH LIST
Voldemort
Remus
Nymphadora Tonks
Colin Creevey
Fred Weasley
+50 Hogwarts dudes
+ numerous DEs
Snape
Bellatrix
Dobby :(
Ted Tonks + that other dude
Hedwig
Mad-Eye Moody
Crabbe!
Rufus Scrimgeour :(
Wormtail
I am bored with this list now but please add in comments
7. I was a fair bit bored during the whole hiding-out-in-a-tent bit. Especially when Ron wasn't there, because I'm sorry, but
8. I still do not like Hermione
9. "There's no need to, er, mention it to Molly," Mr Weasley told Harry, blocking his access to the coop, "but, er, Ted Tonks sent me most of what was left of Sirius's bike and, er, I'm hiding - that's to say, keeping - it in here. Fantastic stuff; there's an exhaust gaskin, as I believe it's called, the most magnificent battery, and it'll be a great opportunity to find out how brakes work. I'm going to try and put it all back together again when Molly's not - I mean, when I've got time." (pg.81)
10. I seriously enjoyed the Dumbledore family storyline! I did in fact whoop with joy at the end when Aberforth was finally revealed*~~ though again I'm sure this is something I wouldn't really have picked up on had it not been for fandom all these years. IT WAS STILL EXCITING. So sad about their sister and all :( their father going to Azkaban for it :( Albus never wavering on admitting his father's guilt because he knew why :( speaking of Albus
11. Dumbledore :( so wonderful :( I'm trying to pinpoint what it is I love about these things. His presence throughout the book, even though he is dead, was really consoling. Even though we lost Dumbledore at the end of HBP, he never actually left Harry... or something. And at Kings Cross Station he was heartbreaking. Also the moment when Harry realises that Dumbledore was reliving that memory while in the cave, pleading for his old friend to save his family and kill him instead :((
12. When Hedwig died, I thought of you; I am so sorry for you that it happened so soon. :( gosh that chapter was terrifying, was it not! So early! REALLY SET THE PACE RIGHT? I thought I was going to pass out, so early!
13. Totally loved everything from older books coming back in. The Basilisk/Chamber of Secrets, the Shrieking Shack/Whomping Willow (lolol Ron, "Are you a wizard or what?"), Neville getting the sword from the hat because he totally needed it, THE POTTER STINKS BADGE, plenty of other things too, right? Things that I, naturally, cannot think of right now. SIR CADOGAN HAHAHAHA.
14. PS I THINK NEVILLE AND I ARE GOING TO BE OKAY. I actually didn't hate him or even dislike him that much in DH. He was kind of awesome in his DA freedom fighter, scarred-and-loving-it Because I'm A Longbottom Like My Family Before Me way.
15. Fred and George turned to each other and said together, "Wow - we're identical!" (pg.49)
16. Is Lavender Brown okay?
17. When the cake had finally landed in the middle of the table, Harry said, "That looks amazing, Mrs Weasley."
"Oh, it's nothing, dear," she said fondly. Over her shoulder, Ron gave Harry the thumbs up and mouthed, Good one. (pg.101)
18. McGonagall. What is that line, where is it. Oh, here:
The scream was the more terrible because he had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound.
:(( :(( :((. Also the image of McGonagall charging through the halls with a posse of desks adjlkajdh. What was the other one... OH - POTTER BELONGS IN MY HOUSE. The thing about getting so attached to characters is that you spend your entire first read FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES, NO? I was holding my breath at the end, just waiting for McG to get the green light or something equally swift and awful. BUT NO, SHE LIVES ON STRONG. Ten bucks on her being Hogwarts Headmistress next, too.
19. Mrs Weasley burst into tears. She ran forwards, pushed Fred aside and pulled Percy into a strangling hug... (pg.487) PERHAPS A MOMENT MOLLY WILL FEEL AWFUL ABOUT FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
20. Is anyone else picturing Jason Isaacs reading DH and jumping around with glee on his couch for the pure fact that Lucius is in the story? Even if he's going to look pretty fug in the movie, YAY, says Jason, I'LL BE IN IT :D MY LIFE IS SPARED TOO :D EVEN THOUGH VOLDY'S PRETTY MEAN TO ME I'LL TOOOOOOTALLY BE IN THE MOVIE :D MAYBE EVEN MY HOUSE WITH MY PRETTY WHITE PEACOCKS AND MAYBE I WILL GET TO SUGGEST MORE COOL THINGS :D SNAKE-HEADED THINGS EVERYWHERE PLZ :D
21. One of the most complete from-page-to-imagination images I got from the book was actually Arthur's bright silver weasel patronus that announced his and Scrimgeour's imminent arrival from the middle of the lunch-party table in Arthur's voice. Seriously, I wish patronuses were real because they would be SO MUCH FUN. I would mention Kingsley's announcement!patronus here too but his was a lot more sad (despite his jerkfacedness, I quite liked Rufus Scrimgeour).