Deathly Hallows Reflections. . . .
Contains Spoilers. Please do not read if you haven't finished the book. I don't like spoiling books for people whether they want to know or not.
Overall, I liked this book. I got a little frustrated when Harry, Ron and Hermione were wandering aimlessly, but I recognize that I would have been annoyed if it was too easy for them to find the Horcruxes. I liked how Harry's invisibility cloak (all the way from book 1) turned out to be special, but otherwise, I was disappointed by how the Deathly Hallows were super important in this book, but never mentioned previously.
Secondly, the "19 years later" chapter was pointless. We knew everything revealed, except the names of all the kids, which, frankly, was irrelevant. Plus, Rowling must have exhausted her lists of names, because "Hugo" is dreadful. And naming the kids "James" and "Lily" justifies every bad fanfic out there that did the exact same thing.
note: these lists will undoubtably be added to, as it's 11:30pm and there's no way that I'll remember everything.
^o^ What I knew already going into the book or picked up on well before revealed: ^o^
1) Harry would live. Duh. JKR always manages to end on a Happy note. Even if killing Harry might have been the most powerful ending, there was no way she would do that.
2) Harry was a Horcrux. Re-read book 5. It's blatent in the phrasing.
3) Snape loved Lily. That expained why Snapes worst memory was such. Although, I do think it as a coincidence that Severus Snape is an annogram of "Persues Evans". I was surprisd, though, at how long they'd known each other.
4) R.A.B. was Regulus Black.
5) Kreacher was the house elf who helped Regulus retrieve the locket.
6) Harry and Ginny marrying. Although, I was really disappointed that Rowling followed every bad FanFiction writer and named their kids "James" and "Lily".
7) Snape was good. I told you so. And acting on Dumbledore's orders. The reason for his turn of heart was Lily.
8) Ron and Hermione. There were "anvil" sized hints. Also, since they were "destined" for each other, there was no way either would die.
9) Tonks was pregnant. I guessed that as soon as Lupin started acting up.
10) Neville would teach Herbology. This was an old rumor from way, way back (probably somewhere around books 4 and 5, when Neville was still a worthless klutz (as far as we knew) and seemed unlikely to achieve anything).
11) The Doe represented Lily. Although it never occured to me who cast it.
12) The Malfoys would end up good. Or, at least Draco would. I suspected Narsissa would, but I was really surprised about Lucius.
13) The Locket was a Horcrux. It was at 12 Grimmauld Place and possibly stolen by Mundungus. The fact that it ended up with Umbridge was surprising.
14) That Petunia hated Lily because she was jealous.
15) Dudley showing kindness at the end.
16) That "the awful boy" who talked about dementors was Snape, not James.
^o^ Things that surprised me: ^o^
1) Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix. Don't get me wrong. It was awesome, but I always saw that as Neville's personal fight. I was disappointed that he didn't get his personal revenge. And, though he had his own show-down with Voldemort, it wasn't what I expected.
2) Kreacher helping Voldemort place the locket in the first place.
3) Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't return to school for lessons. I always assumed that they'd go back as students sometime during the year.
4) Dumbledore was already dying from his hand. I always assumed that if he knew he was dying it would have been from the potion in the cave.
5) The Horcrux being the Diadam. Never would have guessed that. This just shows I didn't finish rereading HBP. I also didn't guess the hiding place.
6) If book 3 was the history of the Marauders and Book 6 was the history of Tom Riddle, book 7 was the history of Dumbledore. I wasn't expecting to find out more about him.
7) With Mad-eye's body never recovered, I suspected throughout most of the book that there would be some sort of reappearance; that he had been captured, was actually a Death Eater and passing information, or something of more significance. Especially with the death so early. I was surprised that he was actually dead.
8) I always thought that there would be a final trator in the Order who was passing on information to Snape. I really wanted there to be a final outing.
9) The fact that Umbridge having the locket didn't lead anywhere. They stole it back and there was no significance to her aquiring it and nothing came of it.
10) Fred Weasley dying. I always thought that, as twins, Fred and George were safe. But, as I told many people going into this book, I had no idea who would die, so almost everything was a surprise.
11) I was prepared not to be surprised if Hagrid died. I was surprised that he made it.
12) Pettigrew's death. I always thought that the wizarding debt would be much more significant.
13) Umbridge pretty much dropping out of the book never to appear again.
14) I expected the previous coorespondance of Dumbledore and Petunia to be of a more significant matter than her not being a witch. I expected it to be about Lily, Harry, and Voldemort.
15) I thought there was more to the Prophecy in meaning than there really was. Alternate meanings, etc.
16) I expected Mrs. Figg to make an appearance.
17) I expected to learn what Dudley saw when the dementors attacked him.
18) I was surprised that Voldemort captured Ollivander, considering there was no sign of a struggle. While I didn't see him being a Death Eater, I thought it was more that he'd served his purpose in providing the last wand to Neville and it was time to move on.
^o^ Plot Points that tied in books, making me happy: ^o^
1) return of Sirius' motor bike
2) Krum returns, albeit, briefly, but showing there was some point to his existance. Although learning about his wand maker helped.
3) The mirror reappears. Although definitely more insignificantly than I expected. Also, I always thought it would connect Harry with Sirius in some way.
4) Percy returns. It was bound to happen.
^o^ Things that were supposed to be covered in this book, but which I don't remember seeing. But, I could have just missed them. ^o^
1) Someone performing magic later in life.
2) The importance of Harry's eyes being Lily's. If it was just a reminder to Snape, that's pathetic for the build-up it received.
3) The big revelation about Lily Evans. If this was that Snape loved her, I'm disappointed. That's a big revelation about Snape, not Lily.
4) What James and Lily did for a living.
^o^ Plot Holes ^o^
1) How did Umbridge get Mad-Eye's eye?
2) How did the Sword of Gryffindor get pulled from the hat if it was with Griphook? That must be one angry goblin.
3) Why did Umbridge, of all people, get the locket? It seems like it could have been anyone, like JKR picked a random name.
^o^ Remaining Questions that I thought would be answered ^o^
1) Did Harry become an Auror and what did everyone else (besides Neville)become? [Has been answered by JKR in a later interview. Harry and Ron are top aurors, and Hermione's high up in Magical Law Inforcement]
2) How did Harry's parents come by all their gold? Was it inherited?
3) What happened/ where was Harry all day on November 1, the day after Lily and James were killed?
4)If Ted Tonks was the muggle newscaster in book 1.
5) Can Harry still speak Parseltongue now that the bit of Voldemort (which allowed him the ability in the first place) has been destroyed?
Overall, I liked this book. I got a little frustrated when Harry, Ron and Hermione were wandering aimlessly, but I recognize that I would have been annoyed if it was too easy for them to find the Horcruxes. I liked how Harry's invisibility cloak (all the way from book 1) turned out to be special, but otherwise, I was disappointed by how the Deathly Hallows were super important in this book, but never mentioned previously.
Secondly, the "19 years later" chapter was pointless. We knew everything revealed, except the names of all the kids, which, frankly, was irrelevant. Plus, Rowling must have exhausted her lists of names, because "Hugo" is dreadful. And naming the kids "James" and "Lily" justifies every bad fanfic out there that did the exact same thing.
note: these lists will undoubtably be added to, as it's 11:30pm and there's no way that I'll remember everything.
^o^ What I knew already going into the book or picked up on well before revealed: ^o^
1) Harry would live. Duh. JKR always manages to end on a Happy note. Even if killing Harry might have been the most powerful ending, there was no way she would do that.
2) Harry was a Horcrux. Re-read book 5. It's blatent in the phrasing.
3) Snape loved Lily. That expained why Snapes worst memory was such. Although, I do think it as a coincidence that Severus Snape is an annogram of "Persues Evans". I was surprisd, though, at how long they'd known each other.
4) R.A.B. was Regulus Black.
5) Kreacher was the house elf who helped Regulus retrieve the locket.
6) Harry and Ginny marrying. Although, I was really disappointed that Rowling followed every bad FanFiction writer and named their kids "James" and "Lily".
7) Snape was good. I told you so. And acting on Dumbledore's orders. The reason for his turn of heart was Lily.
8) Ron and Hermione. There were "anvil" sized hints. Also, since they were "destined" for each other, there was no way either would die.
9) Tonks was pregnant. I guessed that as soon as Lupin started acting up.
10) Neville would teach Herbology. This was an old rumor from way, way back (probably somewhere around books 4 and 5, when Neville was still a worthless klutz (as far as we knew) and seemed unlikely to achieve anything).
11) The Doe represented Lily. Although it never occured to me who cast it.
12) The Malfoys would end up good. Or, at least Draco would. I suspected Narsissa would, but I was really surprised about Lucius.
13) The Locket was a Horcrux. It was at 12 Grimmauld Place and possibly stolen by Mundungus. The fact that it ended up with Umbridge was surprising.
14) That Petunia hated Lily because she was jealous.
15) Dudley showing kindness at the end.
16) That "the awful boy" who talked about dementors was Snape, not James.
^o^ Things that surprised me: ^o^
1) Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix. Don't get me wrong. It was awesome, but I always saw that as Neville's personal fight. I was disappointed that he didn't get his personal revenge. And, though he had his own show-down with Voldemort, it wasn't what I expected.
2) Kreacher helping Voldemort place the locket in the first place.
3) Harry, Ron, and Hermione didn't return to school for lessons. I always assumed that they'd go back as students sometime during the year.
4) Dumbledore was already dying from his hand. I always assumed that if he knew he was dying it would have been from the potion in the cave.
5) The Horcrux being the Diadam. Never would have guessed that. This just shows I didn't finish rereading HBP. I also didn't guess the hiding place.
6) If book 3 was the history of the Marauders and Book 6 was the history of Tom Riddle, book 7 was the history of Dumbledore. I wasn't expecting to find out more about him.
7) With Mad-eye's body never recovered, I suspected throughout most of the book that there would be some sort of reappearance; that he had been captured, was actually a Death Eater and passing information, or something of more significance. Especially with the death so early. I was surprised that he was actually dead.
8) I always thought that there would be a final trator in the Order who was passing on information to Snape. I really wanted there to be a final outing.
9) The fact that Umbridge having the locket didn't lead anywhere. They stole it back and there was no significance to her aquiring it and nothing came of it.
10) Fred Weasley dying. I always thought that, as twins, Fred and George were safe. But, as I told many people going into this book, I had no idea who would die, so almost everything was a surprise.
11) I was prepared not to be surprised if Hagrid died. I was surprised that he made it.
12) Pettigrew's death. I always thought that the wizarding debt would be much more significant.
13) Umbridge pretty much dropping out of the book never to appear again.
14) I expected the previous coorespondance of Dumbledore and Petunia to be of a more significant matter than her not being a witch. I expected it to be about Lily, Harry, and Voldemort.
15) I thought there was more to the Prophecy in meaning than there really was. Alternate meanings, etc.
16) I expected Mrs. Figg to make an appearance.
17) I expected to learn what Dudley saw when the dementors attacked him.
18) I was surprised that Voldemort captured Ollivander, considering there was no sign of a struggle. While I didn't see him being a Death Eater, I thought it was more that he'd served his purpose in providing the last wand to Neville and it was time to move on.
^o^ Plot Points that tied in books, making me happy: ^o^
1) return of Sirius' motor bike
2) Krum returns, albeit, briefly, but showing there was some point to his existance. Although learning about his wand maker helped.
3) The mirror reappears. Although definitely more insignificantly than I expected. Also, I always thought it would connect Harry with Sirius in some way.
4) Percy returns. It was bound to happen.
^o^ Things that were supposed to be covered in this book, but which I don't remember seeing. But, I could have just missed them. ^o^
1) Someone performing magic later in life.
2) The importance of Harry's eyes being Lily's. If it was just a reminder to Snape, that's pathetic for the build-up it received.
3) The big revelation about Lily Evans. If this was that Snape loved her, I'm disappointed. That's a big revelation about Snape, not Lily.
4) What James and Lily did for a living.
^o^ Plot Holes ^o^
1) How did Umbridge get Mad-Eye's eye?
2) How did the Sword of Gryffindor get pulled from the hat if it was with Griphook? That must be one angry goblin.
3) Why did Umbridge, of all people, get the locket? It seems like it could have been anyone, like JKR picked a random name.
^o^ Remaining Questions that I thought would be answered ^o^
1) Did Harry become an Auror and what did everyone else (besides Neville)become? [Has been answered by JKR in a later interview. Harry and Ron are top aurors, and Hermione's high up in Magical Law Inforcement]
2) How did Harry's parents come by all their gold? Was it inherited?
3) What happened/ where was Harry all day on November 1, the day after Lily and James were killed?
4)If Ted Tonks was the muggle newscaster in book 1.
5) Can Harry still speak Parseltongue now that the bit of Voldemort (which allowed him the ability in the first place) has been destroyed?