Harry Potter Book 7 - SPOILERS!!!!

[Jenn! 918]

And I was under the impression that Bellatrix had died as well.

I was kind of hoping that Neville would get to kill her, since I felt that building up throughout the series, but who didn't have it out for her? Go Molly Weasley!!!

I need to read the whole thing again at some point to clear up a few muddy parts for me. Like the whole thing with Dumbledore at the end. Where were they? What the heck was going on there? And how come he was able to see his parents when he hadn't been able to see them before? After my first reading, these things stuck out to me as flaws, i.e. JKR was grasping to make things fit together in the end. But maybe I just didn't really "get it".

He was able to see his parents because the stone in the snitch brought them back to life for a while. The conversation with Dumbledore was in a way in Harry's head - it was purely spirtual/afterlife type of place. Dumbledore says that just because it's in his head doesn't mean it's not real. Then Harry came back to life because of his blood (with Lily's protection) in Voldemort's ressurected body meant that as long as Voldemort lived Harry lived.

EDIT - Oh and also his willingness to die and his "death" meant that the part of Voldemort's soul that was in him was then dead and removed so he was whole again. The creepy baby thing was the part of Voldemort's soul that had come out of Harry.

Ok, I forgot about the stone, that explains the parents.

But the rest of it still doesn't really make much sense to me. Maybe I should just read that last chapter again. I suppose I'm having trouble suspending disbelief, which is pretty ridiculous since the whole series is about magic. I mean, I was able to believe that Voldemort put a piece of his soul in Harry, but I'm having trouble with this book's transitioning between this life and the afterlife.

[anya-D 8]

ohhhh I love this book more than anyother book!! I like the way Harry realized his weakness and why Dumbledore has to keep things from him and stuff.. I like Harry but not so much in the past 2 books - I kinda like Ron and Luna better I love how it ends but wish Luna has more to do than just 2-3 chapters in there..

Anyway.. i have a question.... seems like Prof. Slunghorn is on Potter side? but why he dual with Charley Weasley? or did i missunderstanding some words?

Yep, you misunderstood a word. To "overtake" someone means to pass them by. Slughorn just passed Charlie by on the stairs. No fighting.

ohhh thanks.. that clears it up

[Reba 2]

It wasn't necessarily an "afterlife" per se, more like an out of body experience, or near death experience, like people explain when they've clinically died, but have been brought back. He wasn't really dead. Only nearly dead. Most people who've died and come back say that they saw someone meet them there to tell them to go back. The bright light, being naked, etc etc...pretty much standard near death experience.

The epilogue was apparently written 17 years ago and then locked in a safe. She wrote it before she'd even finished writing the first book Philosopher's Stone. The only thing she changed was the final line.

She also has no plan to continue the series in any way shape or form. And she hopes that no fan-fic will be published (a la Gone With the Wind) years later to continue it. The story is done. (except for the encyclopedia to tie up loose ends) She's the richest writer in the world. She doesn't need to write more, even if we still have questions. That's all she ever planned to write, was 7 books, because Harry would only have 7 years at school.

As for those battles that killed friends that we didn't see, the story primarily deals with what Harry does and says. He wasn't there to see when they died, ergo, neither were we. Kinda like how real life works. It sucks, and I was really sad that Fred, and Lupin, and Tonks, and Dobby and Mad-Eye and Hedwig all had to die. And I was angry. She said only 2 main characters were going to die. That's way more than 2! I bawled like a baby when Dobby died. She lied

As for geeks, my hubby and I have a Harry Potter fan site http://www.muggleinformer.net/ as well as our Lord of the Rings site. How's that for geeky?

[Jenn! 918]

It wasn't necessarily an "afterlife" per se, more like an out of body experience, or near death experience, like people explain when they've clinically died, but have been brought back. He wasn't really dead. Only nearly dead. Most people who've died and come back say that they saw someone meet them there to tell them to go back. The bright light, being naked, etc etc...pretty much standard near death experience.

The epilogue was apparently written 17 years ago and then locked in a safe. She wrote it before she'd even finished writing the first book Philosopher's Stone. The only thing she changed was the final line.

She also has no plan to continue the series in any way shape or form. And she hopes that no fan-fic will be published (a la Gone With the Wind) years later to continue it. The story is done. (except for the encyclopedia to tie up loose ends) She's the richest writer in the world. She doesn't need to write more, even if we still have questions. That's all she ever planned to write, was 7 books, because Harry would only have 7 years at school.

As for those battles that killed friends that we didn't see, the story primarily deals with what Harry does and says. He wasn't there to see when they died, ergo, neither were we. Kinda like how real life works. It sucks, and I was really sad that Fred, and Lupin, and Tonks, and Dobby and Mad-Eye and Hedwig all had to die. And I was angry. She said only 2 main characters were going to die. That's way more than 2! I bawled like a baby when Dobby died. She lied

As for geeks, my hubby and I have a Harry Potter fan site http://www.muggleinformer.net/ as well as our Lord of the Rings site. How's that for geeky?

Oh, Dobby's death hit me the hardest out of anyone, too. I think it upset me more than if any of the main 3 characters had died.

I guess I see what you mean about the near-death experience. I don't think usually though people who are near death are able to have a lengthy conversation with someone from their life who accurately ties up loose ends to all of their questions. Although maybe it is like that, I've never been near death, thankfully. I felt like it was just a way to get Harry to be able to speak with Dumbledore again, when he could've done that with the stone, right?

[Cécy 44]

I loved the book and just couldn't put it down until I was done (although I did so I could be with my husband), but anyway.

I agree that the all tent part was getting lengthy. I mean come on, we were all over again back to Harry is brain dead. I was so pissed when he said Voldemort's name. For god sake, he had been avoiding to do so for month and Ron told him not too. But nooooo he can't listen.

Ok he saved Luna and Ollivander and got read of Peter that way (and got new wands) and well it's necessary that he gets in touch with the Death Eaters that way, but it was just a very stupid way to bring it.

The all Hogwarts battle was freaking awesome! Although again like many other readers I was so disappointed on the way she treated Lupin and Tonks death. I was like what? They're dead? When did that happen. Ok, they're not THE heroes, but come on they've been a big part of it and key characters at point along with being just lovable and having a newborn. I think they deserved a better treatment than that.

I cried in chapter 34 (found out that JK Rowlings did too when she was done with it), the all part with his parents, Sirius and Lupin coming back just got to me.

I liked how Harry came back and it made sense to me because come on Ginny deserves a neat guy she does like Ok, I'm a sucker for good endings what can I say.

Molly Weasley kicked ###! I'm glad she took care of Bellatrix, because she did it as a mom, as a "you don't touch my children without paying for it" kind of thing. Neville definitely played a big part in the end and I was so proud of him, yes he can be awkward, but along with Luna both of them showed that it doesn't matter if you're not cool in the eyes of other, you can still do great things.

I liked the all talk between Harry and Voldie. I thought it was interesting to see how Voldemort suddenly appeared like just an other wizard, lost was his powers and his certainty that he would win. He couldn't understand why Harry was still standing, and out of Harry's mouth came what Dumbledore would have said himself, and it helped us understand a lot. It was good, and I like how Harry didn't kill him directly, in a way Voldemort finished himself because he still couldn't believe that he had done things wrong.

The Epilogue... Ok that was just too short. There is so much you want to know that I was disappointed. She gave some answers in interviews and stuffs, but I think that given that it's the last book of such a series, we deserved to know more.

I'm glad she'll at least put more in an Encyclopedia.

I thought Albus Severus was cute, although with a difficult name to wear.

Thinking about Snape... Well she did it well, I only guessed when he was dying that he was on Harry's side. A girl I know actually noticed how Snape asks to see Harry's eyes... because they're the same as Lily's.

Dubby's death was definitely shocking, and she took so much time on it between the death itself and the burial that it was hard to forget it. But I can't really say which one was harder on me... Dubby and Fred's maybe, because it seems so odd to imagine George without his Twin...

[Donna A 4]

i didnt read any of the books but i heard someone died...so did someone die just out of curiosity?

anyway...arent they witches and i thought witches never die.

[Cécy 44]

i didnt read any of the books but i heard someone died...so did someone die just out of curiosity?

anyway...arent they witches and i thought witches never die.

Plenty of the characters die. If they receive a killing curse or succumb to a magical disease witches and wizard die, or else they live well in their 100's. At least that's in HP.

[anya-D 8]

Ok I have some questions... well.. I went back and read the last 3 chapters again and i thought something was missing

first off.. where's Umbridge? (spelling? ;p) I know she's not a death eater but i thought she would join LV in the battle to kill Harry, her enemy No.1?

I wish there's some explaination of where's Luna after the nineteen years pass as she's part of the order and they did mention Neville

Also she never mention what occupation Harry finally become as he always dream of being an Auror.. i just wondering what he's doing anyway.. and who's the head master of the school and if Hagrid still alive.

there's someone missing in the last battle but now i couldnt think of who would that be right now but while i was reading i was like.. and where iss......

anybody have those feeling?

[JJWashington 0]

i didnt read any of the books but i heard someone died...so did someone die just out of curiosity?

anyway...arent they witches and i thought witches never die.

Plenty of the characters die. If they receive a killing curse or succumb to a magical disease witches and wizard die, or else they live well in their 100's. At least that's in HP.

interesting

[Niphredil 0]

Ok I have some questions... well.. I went back and read the last 3 chapters again and i thought something was missing

first off.. where's Umbridge? (spelling? ;p) I know she's not a death eater but i thought she would join LV in the battle to kill Harry, her enemy No.1?

She's at the Ministry, but thats about it. They had to steal a locket from her. It's an interesting chapter as you get to see whats going on outside of the Harry Potter 'bubble'.

Also she never mention what occupation Harry finally become as he always dream of being an Auror.. i just wondering what he's doing anyway.. and who's the head master of the school and if Hagrid still alive.

Hagrid is still alive. Harry mentions to his kids to not forget his invitation once they get to school. And Neville Longbottom is the professor of herbology

there's someone missing in the last battle but now i couldnt think of who would that be right now but while i was reading i was like.. and where iss......

anybody have those feeling?

I had that too, but what they spoke of McGonogal was enough to make me smile and laugh. Herding a bunch of tables and ordering them to attack... priceless Though I wish we got to hear more about Tonks and Lupin's battles, though I understand why it wasn't (since Harry wasn't there to witness it, it's not told in the book, unlike Fred).

The thing I liked about the book was the 'humanising' of Dumbledore. One of the stereotypes I dislike is the 'wise old sage' who never gives wrong advice and is ALWAYS kind and gentle. Gandalf and Merlin for example. They never really explain that they too were young once, and had their own dreams and desires, and that those desires may not have been exactly kind and caring.

She really made Dumbledore a LOT more believable... in a book full of unbelievables

[KateandNik 0]

Before I say anything let me just write... I LOVED THIS LAST BOOK!!!

I was so worried before the book came out that I was going to be very disappointed and she wasn't going to tie up all the loose ends that are apparent throughout the entire series. But, I was very pleasantly surprised when I finished and actually gave a sigh of satisfaction after having read it.

The only thing that really bothered me about the book... and then only after the third time I read it, (Yes, I'm a big dork... and I read fast. ) is this... When Harry Potter views Snape's memories, he learns that a part of Voldemort's soul lives inside of him, effectively making him a Horcrux. Horcruxes (we are told) are not like humans (our souls are untarnished if our bodies are destroyed and if a body is destroyed beyond magical reparation the Horcrux is destroyed as well). Harry Potter's body was only pseudo-destroyed in that his body was still intact... Yet the portion of Voldemort's soul inside Harry's body was destroyed...

For that, I'm willing to let it slide for no other reason than my mind could get mixed up in the definitions and word play and the books are so enjoyable, I don't want to lessen that through intellectual arguments (inside my head). But the other thing (and related to the whole horcrux inside of harry thing) that bothers me is... if Harry Potter actually died... who would kill Lord Voldemort? Sure we'd only be down to the one horcrux and the dark lord... but who would kill him?

[Niphredil 0]

You made me think about that KateandNik, and like you, whilst I dont want to get caught up in the wordplay, maybe the Horcrux was embodied within the curse itself, and not exactly the body/soul?

The Horcrux, when Voldemort attacked the Potters the first time, was created when the Killing Curse... failed? Rebounded? Whatever. Maybe it was contained within the power of Lily's sacrifice? Just throwing these ideas around.

When Voldemort attacked Harry in the last book though, since his wand was so powerful, it could destroy a Horcrux, but because of Harry's resolution that he had to die, and was willing to die because of Love (Lily's Sacrifice), it only attacked the Horcrux?

I dunno, I'm grasping at straws

There was another who could have killed Voldemort - Neville. He was born the same day/time as Harry, but Voldemort picked Harry to be the one that the prophecy foretold. It was explained in the Half-Blood Prince. It's also why I am SOOO happy he got to at least kill Nagini - however, I'm still unsure how he was able to get the Gryffindor Sword out of the hat since the goblin took it. Maybe it's a miniature 'room of requirement'?

[SanDan 0]

I was fairly satisfied with the ending. I wanted it to be a happy one too. A lot of things were left open though and I'm sure most of us wanted more details on certain things (e.g. Lupin and Tonks' death). I agree that the first half of the book could have had more action in it or at least it could have been a little shorter. All and all a great reading experience though

[Perseverance 1]

I also was unclear where the sword came from ...I thought maybe I missed something by reading to fast...

[anya-D 8]

Ok I have some questions... well.. I went back and read the last 3 chapters again and i thought something was missing

first off.. where's Umbridge? (spelling? ;p) I know she's not a death eater but i thought she would join LV in the battle to kill Harry, her enemy No.1?

She's at the Ministry, but thats about it. They had to steal a locket from her. It's an interesting chapter as you get to see whats going on outside of the Harry Potter 'bubble'.

Also she never mention what occupation Harry finally become as he always dream of being an Auror.. i just wondering what he's doing anyway.. and who's the head master of the school and if Hagrid still alive.

Hagrid is still alive. Harry mentions to his kids to not forget his invitation once they get to school. And Neville Longbottom is the professor of herbology

there's someone missing in the last battle but now i couldnt think of who would that be right now but while i was reading i was like.. and where iss......

anybody have those feeling?

I had that too, but what they spoke of McGonogal was enough to make me smile and laugh. Herding a bunch of tables and ordering them to attack... priceless Though I wish we got to hear more about Tonks and Lupin's battles, though I understand why it wasn't (since Harry wasn't there to witness it, it's not told in the book, unlike Fred).

The thing I liked about the book was the 'humanising' of Dumbledore. One of the stereotypes I dislike is the 'wise old sage' who never gives wrong advice and is ALWAYS kind and gentle. Gandalf and Merlin for example. They never really explain that they too were young once, and had their own dreams and desires, and that those desires may not have been exactly kind and caring.

She really made Dumbledore a LOT more believable... in a book full of unbelievables

I remember she's in the minstry but it's so unlike her to get a revenge since at the ministry Harry stuned both Yaxley and Umbridge and Yaxley cought up with them at the end but no sign of Umbridge and she would've known it's Harry and I would've thought she would seek a revenge at the end at Hogwart where LV went to kill Harry.. but may be she's not that evil? i dont think so though

I remember now about the invitation from Hagrid and the rock cake that Harry warned his kids about.. ok now he's alive.. just wish to know more about Luna.. I just like her very much ^^ and specially since in one chapter that Harry, Ron and Hermione went to her father's house and Harry saw her drawing of him and the others and said friends forever... I just wish we know more about her.

And I LOVE those little moments in the book that makes you smile like you said.. with McGonogal, Telawney even Dumbledore.. it's really give a full circle of ones life that have made mistake and learn from it and even be tempted from bad things (like the resurrection stone - as Dumbledore said he was tempted)