HP&Deathly Hallows
Well I've just read Deathly Hallows and I say that it totally met my expectations!! (I'll just ignore the epilogue)
Spoilers!!
The rounding up of the Horcrux was as expected but also adding the legendary Deathly Hallows managed to fit into a -almost if Severus Snape didn't die- perfect ending.
Albus: I quite like how she portrayed Dumbledore as arragant and manipulative when he was young to the present because I never quite liked him myself. Somehow he seemed the epitome of "light" and unable to do no wrong seemed a bit too far-fetched and frankly annoying -as if he was re-born saint- . Rowling's friendship between Dumbledore and Grindleward (forgive my sp, not bothered to flip the books) and Aberforth and their sister was really a great spin in Dumbledore's tale and how he came to be.
Regulus Black: I think just about almost EVERYONE who is a fan -or fanfic writer- of HP realised R.A.B stood for Regulus Black and he was the redeeming -one of the only two Slytherin- character who betrayed the dark-lord, drank the poison from the cup -instead of kretcher- and got dragged down by inferi. Little brother to Sirius and was sorted into Slytherin automaticaly pinned as evil, I reckon he almost had it worse than Sirius. Growing up he was said to be second to Sirius (until he rebelled against the family) who left and suddenly Regulus was the only son in his parent's eyes. His desire to be accepted or make-pround of his family was what probably led him to the dark-lord's services. After discovering his master's Horcrux he fled and then proceed to retrive the Locket as one last good act before he died tragically. He is said to have treated Kretcher kindly, personally I like him much better than Sirius.
Sirius Black: Born into the most Ancient and Noble house of Black -traditionally dark family-, older brother to Regulus Black. He was brought up as the favourite son, pampered and spoiled as a child until he was sorted into Gryffindor which then he began to rebel against his family as well as dark arts as a whole. He got along with James instantly then met Severus and Lily on the train to Hogwarts and decided that he didn't like Severus. After that began a vicious bullying and pranking against mainly Snape (not that he didn't retaliate). He was said to have treated those un-human creatures or those who he deemed his enemies; eg kretcher, Snape cruely. Coming from a Dark Arts Family he should have been able to see the difference between Dark and Evil but instead unfairly grouped them as a whole. It was a vicious karma that landed him in Azkaban which after spending 12 years in, mellowed his arrogance but not his hatred for Snape.
Slytherins: It was VERY annoying how she had seperated Slytherin from the rest of the three houses. In the final seiege there was NO Slytherins left to defend Hogwarts nevermind the sorting hat's warning about working together as one speech in OotP. Sorting into Slytherin and having the characteristics of Cunning and Sly does not automatically tag a 11 year old evil.
tbc