This where you can discuss Deathly Hallows. Do not start threads anywhere else.

If you have not finished Deathly Hallows, you are reading this at your own risk!

THIS IS WHERE ALL SPOILERS WILL BE.

IF WE FIND THAT YOU HAVE DISCUSSED ANY PORTIONS OF HPDH ANYWHERE ELSE, YOU FACE BEING BANNED.

Woohoo. First poster.

Anyways, I'm tired, my eyes are heavy and I have about 3 more chapters to go after being up all night. I'll admit I did a quick read through to jsut get the high points, so I'll start re-reading Sunday at a slower pace for all the details.


I don't want to be the one to throw out spoilers, but I'll sum things up. Quite dark in tone. I think we all expected the book to be dark, but I will admit the book is darker than I thought. More suited for those that grew up with the series rather than the young ones just starting into the series all at once I think.

I have to admit though, some of my theories were correct (if only partially), others I have spent months arguing against came to pass and still others things in the book kind of came and blindsided us with the force of a train.

Still, a very excellent book and it is up there with "Goblet" as my favorite.

My congrats to Jo on an outstanding and classic book series. Let's hope she doesn't stay away from the wiazarding world for to long.

Now for a little shut eye and then come back to see the discussions heat up.

I had tears in my eyes and lumps in my throat at several points, especially near the end.

I got it around 00:30 and finished around 18:30, not constant reading but i felt like i did take my time over it. Just glad I managed to get through it without it being spoiled.

Not quite sure how it ranks amongst the others, definately the most moving. though I knew it would be because it's the last Can't believe that's it done..

Estel, nice to see you!! Do you owe me a drink? lol

wow..

I didn't see the you know who is a you know what coming honestly. I thought it made no sense (and still think the story could have done w/o it)

but the whole wand thing was confusing to me. The only thing i am more than thrilled about was i was right about which side snape's loyalties lied.

When you say you know who is a you know what, do you mean harry is a horcrux? Also... how did Neville get Gryffindor's sword?

An excellent book. I doubted JKR's ability to put it all together, but she's
surpassed all expectations.
I started reading about 9.30 a.m.yesterday and finished at 2.00 a.m. today, but
with a few breaks as everything was getting very blurry.
Seems my old theory of a few years ago (The Tie Between Volde and Harry)
was right but I can't find it, so perhaps it's been deleted after all this time.
Very sad about Hedwig and Dobby but it made it more real. And very pleased
about Kreature.

I actually loved the book, though I couldn't help crying when Fred, Lupin and Tonks died I was happy that I was right that the locket from grimmauld place was the horcrux and I never expected Snape to be as good as he turned out to be nor Harry actually being a horcrux. I actually it couldn't have done WITHOUT Harry being a horcrux...He wouldn't have tried to sacrifice himself like he did and thus give everyone that protection...proving that love really was the strongest magic.

BTW Neville got the sword when Voldermort summoned the sorting hat and tried to destroy it, I read that part pretty quickly but Neville somehow managed to grab the hat and pull the sword from it.

well i finished the book not long ago after having to put it down for the football. but all worth the wait!!!

i thought the 19 years later was cute.
i think everyone kind of new about lily and snape but it was still nice
so sad that fred died....
and remus...
and tonks....
and snape.. only coz he was good

bloody brilliant that volemorts dead


the taboo thing was clever
and the deathly hallows things was cool.

that snitch thing was kinda freaky.

stupid ministry.

loved the bit were all the elves came running in thought it was hilarious oh and molly attacking bellatrix (lmao)

such a great way to end the series i take me hat off to JK.

p.s you dont think she may write another series based on their kids do you???

yeah. Thats what i meant. It seemed a bit silly to me, and the way he was brought back to life didn't seem as thought out as the rest of the story had... hence why I believe that that part of the story was completely unnecessary. Harry couldn't be killed by avada kedavra because the caster of the spell had his blood in his body? Iffy to say the least, but since its JKR's book, i'll accept it, regardless of whether i like it or not.

As for nevile, Scrimgeuor himself said that any true griffendore could have pulled the sword from the hat... i think it was said more than once, actually. (Harry is *NOT* the heir of griffendore as some people thought/think) ... neville shows all the true characteristics of what a Griffendore should be, and thus, in a time of need he pulled the sword out much like harry did in CoS. As a side note, i think its funny to think of what the goblin who had just taken the sword back thinks about it... now that its gone again.


Anyone else laugh in the flight scene from the dursley's when harry said "ACCIO HAGRID!" ??

A commendable book to top off the other 6! I have never, in my life, (well, I probably have) cried so much in 1 hour. When Voldemort killed Harry, I was crying, and crying, and crying, and even more when Harry looked into the Penseive and Dumbledore told Snape that Harry's a Horcrux. Can't believe so many people died: Tonks, Lupin, Dobby, Fred, and like one_too_many_broken_hearts said, Snape, because he turned out to be good. I did find Deathly Hallows a great book to read, but it's so depressing! All the deaths, and torture, and violence, but it was a good change.

Also, I think it was so good with Kreacher. I never really disliked him in HBP, OOTP, but I kind of came to enjoy him a bit more in DH. Really sad about Dobby's death. How could Jo do that to us? Dobby was my favourite character after Harry.

And, how cool is this, I woke up at 5:30am, left at 6:00am, got to the bookstore at 6:15am, and I was only 4th in the queue! I was so excited, because the staff members came at around 7:30, and the 10 people or so got to wait in the nice warm store, while everyone else got to wait outside. And, even better, I got to keep the box that the books came in. How awesome is that?!

Yeah, I laughed a bit. I can just imagine Harry standing their with his wand, and Hagrid zooming around lol.

Couldn't have put it any better!

That's how I kind of felt too.

I thought the book ended very well; the rumors that the ending was horrible weren't true at all. The only thing I wish JKR did was elaborate on all the other characters in the epilogue. I would like to see how George is getting along without Fred, or whether or not McGonagall is still alive and if she's still teaching at Hogwarts. It would also have been nice for JKR to give us an idea of what their jobs were. It would have been cool to hear at the end, "and Harry left Platrform Nine and Three Quarters, heading to the Auror office at the Ministry of Magic. He had a big pile of papers that had to be looked through on his desk."

I actually got a bit confused with the Epilogue. I thought it was good, sweet, a tad corny, but I got really confused with all the names. Harry and Ginny, with Albus, Lily, and James I think, and then Ron and Hermione, with Rose, and two others. And then they mentioned Teddy, Tonks and Lupins' son, and I just got all confused lol.

It was a beautiful end to a marvelous series, but Hedwig was the only character I had the utmost sympathy for. But this was indeed a dark and painful book, but still not near as dark as _The Series of Unfortunate Events_ books or _The Chronicles of Narnia_. This last book is not my favorite (my favorite still being OotP), but definitely made an impression. And it's times like when I read about Mundungus and Umbridge that I really wish the moderators would allow us to post curse words (after all, even JK starts using them ). I think my favorite scene was, out of all seven books, Nagini emerging from Bethilda - AWESOME!!!! Still, a few questions remain for me. I'll post them tomorrow after a restful night. By the way, I'm happy I was right about Snape being the boy who told Lily about the Dementors.

First off hats off to Potter Fans! Was DH predictable, I think not. I think it is bloody awesome how we finally pieced together Jo's amazing puzzles to figure out some of the details of the book ahead of time. It feels really good. I mean seriously out of all the speculation going into all of her books, Potter Fans really hit the mark this time.

Second, DH has earned it's way into the elite class of favortie books. I must say I enjoyed the entire series, but DH steals the show. I laughed, I cried, I felt anger...especially when Ron deserted...I don't know this was the first book of the entire series that I was right there with Harry, and it was truly Harry's book.

I have to agree with Witherwings about Hedwig. I think my heart nearly broke...then of course Dobby, Tonks, Lupin and Fred. I was in disbelief, but it was a war. And I have to agree again with JPShotStar...what happened to George and Luna and what were the jobs. I find it odd that we hear of Percy in the Epilogue, but not George.

As far as the whole wand thing, I got it and thought it was cool. Harry not dying with the Avada Kedavra curse made sense after realizing the wand would not kill it's rightful owner, but just the piece of soul of Voldemort was cool. I love how the Malfoys had a change of heart too. I could go on but I won't as it is late.

However I must say...how is this to be a movie????? There is so much in this book and it is all important. My mind is boggled right now.

Woo! got the book 9:01 yesterday finished at 5:30pm:) hopefully I'll start re-reading soon.

On the whole I found it pretty predictable. Pretty much all of the "twists" were things that were predicted from the other books and posted on these boards. I didn't like Harry being a Horcrux, although she had clues towards it. I just, personally didn't want her going down that road. But I have to say I'm glad she did it in such a way that Harry survived.

Speaking of that, I think Baty will be happy when she finds out JKR kept her kids safe. The trio, Neville, Luna and even Draco survived. I'm glad of that, I hoped so much she wouldn't kill any of them (well not so much Draco). I must admit I had my doubts about Neville's life expectancy because I thought he might go after Bellatrix. Luckily Mrs Weasley took care of that (was I the only one so very happy to read that!?)

But along with the great victories there were some great losses which was to expected. Firstly, my personal heartache goes to Fred. I can't even imagine how much George would have been affected by that and the rest of the family too. I think alot of us suspected one of the Weasleys wouldn't make it but I never thought it would be Fred (I mean I was hopeing if anyone it was Percy). Poor Lupin...I always loved him but when I read of Peter's death I knew Lupin's wasn't too far away. The Marauders are together again. But Tonks....that cut me up a bit mainly for their poor child. Hedwig and Dobby left a tear in my eye too, but we all knew there would be a price to pay.

Definatly! There were a couple of really funny moments I though. Like after George lost his ear he said something like "at least you can tell me and fred apart now".



The store I went to gave me three of the promotional posters SO happy bout that.

There a quite a few things I still want to work out answers to, but they'll come once we can have more then one thread.

Hi all!!!! Phew!!! What a roller coaster ride that was! The book was amazing! I actually cried when I thought Harry had died, and for a moment I remembered Baty!!!! It was an amazing book, and I couldn't help thinking....Wow!!!! Alot of your theories were correct. I had personally been so sure that Snape was evil!!!!!!
Really sad about Hedwig, Moody, Fred, Lupin and Tonks. But briliantly done. And Kreacher was great!!!!!!
I've already started rereading it.

I agree Kreacher was awesome.

I loved Narcissa towards the end. The theme of a mothers love is throughout the books. Lilly and Harry, Molly fighting Bellatrix for her children (I loved it when Molly sweared)....and then with Narcissa and her Draco. Even Lucious put Malfoy first. This doesn't redeem the family in my eyes, they still believe all this pure blood stuff I'm sure but it did make me....happy almost that they lived.

And after all this time I'm still glad Snape died...I'm sorry but he only cared about Lilly. He would have let James and Harry die. He believed all the pure blood stuff and he didn't care who else died. As Sirius said the world isnt split into good people and Death Eaters. Snape wasn't a good person. He was on the right side for the wrong reasons.

well, there's too much to say... where can I begin?
RAB? Kreacher? the list of deaths?
well, i think there'll be time for all that... right now I only want to say this, the most important thing of all, the only thing I cared about...

Snape was innocent!!!!!
I still can love him, and admire him and miss him and mourn him and cry for him!!!
I cried my eyes out when he asked harry to look at him, he only wanted to see those green eyes again...
I don't care for the rest of the book (ok, I do care) I can be a proud Slytherin without feeling guilty!

I agree about Snape......he was on the wrong side for the wrong reasons. But still, its all about love, isn't it? How love can surpass anything. And for love, people do their best to change themselves. Snape did go over to the good side. But he could never overcome his jealousy and therefore hatred of James. But at least he took the step, even if it was just for Lily. And that makes all the difference between those purely evil, and those who have a chance at being redeemed because of their ability to love.
I hope I've got my point across......I'm blabbering!!!

This is probably going to take a while, I've got to give my opinion on heaps of quotes here lol:
I thought that too lol!

Yeah, David Yates (if he directs DH) is either going to be rubbing his hands together happy for the challenge, or crapping himself (am I aloud to say that?) at the looming prospect of a really hard movie.
Yeah, when Harry finds out he's got to die, I was crying my heart out, but also thinking that Baty will probably be crying even harder.

A tear?! You should have seen my face when Harry found out Dobby had died, and he buried him without magic.

Eeergh, I wish. I didn't get mine from Borders, but I passed it while I was in the city, and I was asking about the posters and the staff member just cut across me and said no. Didn't even apologise, or say sorry. And that's the second time I've been snubbed by a staff member at Borders.

I wish...my dad has to read it, and then my brother, and then it's my turn...
Lol iareaj

Try somewhere like K-Mart or somewhere not so booky. They're less liekly to keep them or anything.

Well I finally finished a few hours ago. LOL. In fact, I'm looking out the window, and it's light outside, and I keep thinking it's evening, but it's morning! My head is still quite muddled.

I thought the book was very good.

Regarding the deaths - Hedwig's and Dobby's - was happy, and thought that was the two. Felt very relieved. Then came Fred, Lupin, and Tonks. I was extremely angry and upset. I yelled, 'You said there would be 2!!!!!' (I guess she really didn't say there'd only be two, but that she exchanged two for one) I was soo, soo, soo angry. I cried for nearly 30 minutes, and was too afraid to go on, but was determined to find out Harry's fate.

I really didn't think that Harry was a Horcrux, but I guess it makes sense.

I was very glad to see that Snape was good, as I did have faith in him and Dumbledore's belief in him. What a very sad life he had. Interesting that Petunia did know more than she let on, it seems.

I was a bit disappointed in the middle of the book. I kept thinking, when are we going to get to it? There's sooo much work to do, come on now! I can imagine that this is where a lot will be cut for the movie. What brilliant work by Snape with the sword.\

I was almost starting to think that the thought connection between Harry and V was being over used a bit. You'd think that V would be able to block it, but I guess since Harry seriously had part of V's soul in him, then it makes sense.

Wow, there's so much, but I'm going to have to call baty here in a bit, try to get some sleep, and go through it quickly again for our podcast which we'll do tonight!

Overall a very good bit, though a bit long winded a bit in the middle. Thank you, JKR, for bringing everything together! You did brilliant.

Oh, and I absolutely loved Kreacher!

I skipped without reading any posts because I'm still in the process of reading, but I just had a question for those of you here that are American.

Did anyone else get a messed up book? I preordered mine from Amazon the 2nd day you could, and it was delivered on the day of release.

My book goes from page 434, back to page 403 (the chapter starts over with Luna's dad) and repeats all the way back to page 434. Then pages 435-466 are missing. It picks up I think in the middle of the Malfoy Manor chapter.

I'm pretty bummed out, and I don't know if I should just skip over those parts. This happen to anyone else?

I was thinking that too! Kind of ok, you know what the hocruxes are, jsut go and find them!

No, not me. I'd be very annoyed. I'd have to go and buy another one, and have amazon refund me.

Got my book at 6:30am here on Saturday(co-inciding with London's midnight) and began reading by 8am. By the time I finished the book, by around 5:00am on Sunday I hadn't slept in 24 hours!

But what a BEAUTIFUL book. Like Dijares, I felt it got a bit long-winded at the middle, but then it got so very interesting! What a wonderful way to finish the series. Like most others, I had guessed the RAB storyline and was glad to know that the locket at Grimmauld place was the actual locket. The same with Snape being on the good side. I was always against the 'Harry is a Horcrux' and 'Snape loves Lily' theories. I just couldn't stand them. But the way Jo brings out these plot points makes absolute sense and I accepted them as they were. So moving. Hedwig's and Dobby's deaths made me feel so so so sad. Can't even put it in words. I somehow expected Lupin to die even before the book got released. The whole idea of all of the Marauders dying by the end of the series had gotten into my head since OOTP. Fred's death was just tragic. I was so torn when I read that. What is George going to do without him? And Mrs.Weasley's showdown with Bellatrix was first class. Adored that bit where Mrs.Weasley swears at Bellatrix. The climax was truly moving and amazing.

I wish, like most others, that Jo would have given us more information about all the surviving characters in the epilogue. I thought it was sweet, but we still don't even know the jobs of the trio and Ginny. Who's leading Hogwarts now? Are all our favourite professors still alive? Who's the current Minister for Magic? Wanted to know all of that. Ah well, guess Jo can fill us in on the information in interviews and stuff.

Altogether, great great book. A fitting end to a marvellous series! Thankyou so much J.K.Rowling!!!

P.S.:Baty was running in my mind the whole time I thought Harry was going to have to die to finish off Voldemort. And was thinking of her throughout the epilogue as well.

I pre-ordered mine on February 9th with second day from Amazon (I'm an Amazon Prime member) and my book DIDN'T come on (it still has yet to get here). Luckily the store my mom works at was selling it and she held a copy. I had to wait until 7pm (UPS stopped delivering at 7) to get a full refund from Amazon and to get the copy from my mom. The bright side is I got it discounted since she works for the store and I'm also getting to keep the copy I get from Amazon, so now I have two copies of the book for less than the price of one - makes me happy.

Okay, so here are some questions: There were then EIGHT??? parts of his soul? The diary, the cup, the locket, the diadem, the ring, the part still in Voldemort, Nagini, and the part in Harry? And he accidentally made one when he went to kill Harry (a piece that lodged itself in Harry) and he was more vulnerable because he shredded himself into eight parts instead of the powerful seven?

I'm still uncertain as to what Dudley saw when he was visited by the dementors. Did anyone get a clear sense?

How did Voldemort learn the actual prophecy? Did DD give the full prophecy to Snape who gave it to Voldemort? I don't understand that portion because (up until the very end) we don't see Trelawney (and she did have a cool mini-scene with the crystal balls).

The list of the dead characters (good guys) that I saw in this book: Scrimgeour, Mad-Eye, Dobby, Hedwig, Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Colin, Snape. However, come the end of the book, I would have liked, perhaps, a litany for the dead with all of their names (like a memorial) just so I can see who else was included in the approximate fifty other dead bodies (I'm assuming some were DE). For instance, was Lavender Brown dead? Slughorn (we don't see what happens to him just that he's in the battle with Voldemort)? Did Sprout die in the battle which is why Neville took her place? Neville's grandmother? Trelawney? I guess to JK it doesn't matter, but since it was such an important battle with such massive casualities, I thought for sure that we'd at least see a memorial service for the deceased.

Where was the flying car? I thought JK said we'd see it again. Guess she got rid of it.

Is it time now to say which theories of ours came to fruition.

I was happy that Snape was the boy who told Lily about the Dementors (I said it had to be either him or Voldemort and not James Petunia spoke of).

I was glad that Dolores Umbridge sort of turned traitor (like I said) and that she would worked in alliance with the DE. I think she knew that they were doing DE stuff and it made it easier for her "conscience" to work with them through the ministry. I don't think she was ignorant at all, especially since (as she said) one of her relatives was Selwyn (a known DE).

I'm glad that we learned a lot more about DD's family. I was sort of right that he was talking about his own family when he drank from the locket's fountain - though I thought they were killed by Grindelwald. At least now we know why DD was so adamant that no magic can awaken the dead.

I'm glad that RAB was Regulus (it made it so less confusing).

I'm glad the centaurs and house elves joined the fight (I did think those alliances were important).

I'm glad Narcissa (was she a DE or NOT?) turned traitor to help her son.

I'm glad Buckbeak and the thestrals returned, though Buckbeak was given was too short a role in the book (important none-the-less).

I'm glad Oliver Wood returned! That was awesome.

And the only other theory I had right was that Neville would teach Herbology.

Sigh. I had soooo many possible theories, and it was only the minor ones that I got right in the end. *shrug*

I'm pretty sure that Slughorn and Sprout lived through it, Harry noticed them with McGonagall either during the one hour break of the battle, or the end.

Sprout could have retired



Maybe it was supposed to come out of the forest, like the spiders

In their lists of deaths, people always list Lupin, Tonks, and Fred
But seem to forget about Mad-Eye, and Colin Creevey

Wow, quite a great book. Truly the ending the series needed. I'm not sure what to make of the epilogue... I understand Jo's desire to tie things up at the end of the book, but 19 years later with such detail filled in that could have been left to the imaginations of readers. As in, why 19? We could have guessed from other places in the book that Harry and Ginny would re-unite and Ron & Hermione would as well and likely have kids and all that stuff if given the time.

One last immediate thought: Early on in this book I thought to myself "Duh, Harry has to be the 7th Horocrux." I just knew it to be true. Of course, that also convinced me he had to die. I re-read that part a bit and still am a little uncertain as to the explanations... but I'll re-read when my eyes become less bleary. (perhaps others knew this with certainty a few books ago or even before I knew it in this book, but all the same, it was sastisfying to know something I forecasted came true. Of course, I was wrong about Snape. After chapter 3 I re-read chapter 1 and was certain that because Snape had given the exact time/date of Harry's departure to Voldemort, that there was no way Snape was good. But I was wrong all along - small comforting thought).

So many questions even though Jo wrapped it up... like what if someone finds the stone? What if Harry doesn't die a natural death and the wand has it's power back? Oh well, I now know how she felt when she said she was said something to the effect of being both happy and sad at finishing the book. I want the stories to go on... it's hard to believe there are no more Harry Potter books... and in some ways, it feels a little disatisfying to me to have so much wrapped up so tightly (I'm referring the epilogue).

That's it for now. Would love to read all of your thoughts.

Loved the book, but there were a few bits I didn't.

First of all, the middle was a bit too long winded as people have said.

I also didn't like how ALL of their plans started seemingly perfect, and ended with a narrow escape. IE the ministry, lovegood's house and the bank. You'd think atleast one would have gotten away pretty easily or no trouble at all. They just all seemed to happen the exact same way. :/

Would've liked a complete list of deaths for the final battle as well, good and bad people. Also didn't like Harry being a Horcrux. From what I understand Voldemort should've had to cast a spell or something after Harry's death to imbue his torn soul into something. Didn't think it would be anything like a killing curse rebounding and his soul just breaking up, and a piece going into Harry. Meh, Harry being a Horcrux wasn't that bad though. It fits I spose.

Lastly, the epilogue. Thought it was absolutely terrible. All it told us was Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny got married and had kids, Neville is Herbology Professor and Percy is alive. That was pretty much a giveaway anyway. Would've liked to know a lot more things. Who was Minister of Magic, who was headmaster/mistress at Hogwarts, if the DADA job was still jinxed, what happened to all the important characters, namely the Weasleys, and everyone's jobs. And who was the girl Lupin's son was kissing (forgot her name, Viviane or something?)? And what kind of name is Scorpio? I can't imagine naming a kid that.

My hunch is that either McGonagall is still alive and headmistress (she's not as old as Maggie Smith portrays her to appear) or that Sprout became headmistress and Neville took her position. As for Minister, I'm guessing it was Kingsley (I don't think any of the other characters had the personality for the job). I'm certain Ron and Harry are aurors and Hermione working for the Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid was still alive in the epilogue as well (if you didn't catch it, Harry says Hagrid invited them to tea). Draco was still alive too (though we don't know who his wife is, so I'm guessing it's not Pansy). I didn't understand the look Draco gave to Harry after everything that happened. Percy is alive (was Percy perhaps the new Headmaster??). My guess is that all the others were still alive too (they mention grandpa Weasley). Victorie was most like Bill and Fleur's daughter because the Weasley kids call her "cousin". (Perhaps Victorie could have been Dudley's daughter - would be interesting no?) I also think the jinx Voldemort put on the position would have disappeared after he died so whoever became "DADA" teacher (maybe Luna) would be safe in that job for a long time.

As for the rock - it fell into the Forbidden Forest and my guess is, if it's found, it will be found by a centaur or other magical creature and will be safe from harm's way. I do believe Harry will die a natural death (I don't think he was forshadowing another book in which he dies and the wand becomes powerful again - besides, it would have to be found). Maybe Draco's son will recover the wand and there will be a new battle, but I do think Draco has seen enough of death as a child. He lost one of his best friends after all (and boy, that was an awesome end to a THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO GET YOURSELF BANNED FROM THE BOARDS!!!! DO NOT *EVER* USE STARS TO INDICATE ANY CURSE WORD ESPECIALLY SOMETHING LIKE THAT!!!!!).

I do believe that Rowling is, indeed, done with Harry Potter and that if she returns, it will be to write Hogwarts a History by Hermione Granger (updated after the battle) - that's my guess. But it was a good ending.

My one question - who develops magical skills later in life? I didn't see anyone who fit that description in this book.

I agree with you... it was as if everytime they began something, I knew they would all likely make it out alive (there was occasionally a bit of doubt given that I wasn't sure Ron & Hermione would survive) and it all seemed a bit improbable to me that they kept going places and doing things that were so ridiculous that I begin to think to some degree Voldemort was right - "luck" was involved quite frequently! And does anyone else wonder about polyjuice potion? Don't other people use it all the time? They used it so often - it seems like something that should be a crime given the potential things one could do by impersonating someone else...


Haha, yeah, Scorpio is a terrible name!

Not sure I agree that the entire epilogue was 'absolutely terrible' but I must say that I agree that a lot of the details were not ones we needed to know. Let us all use our imagination (and the hordes of information) to wonder how many kids Ginny & Harry would have and Ron & Hermione would have had! But, you're right, what about all the other stuff that was never given? Perhaps Kingsley would be MoM.... but what about the Headmaster at Hogwarts? McGonagall now? What about Harry's job? What does he do? Where do they live? What about George? Was Ron's comment about "granddad Weasley" meant to imply that Mr. Weasley was now dead 19 years later? I wasn't sure how to read it... and while minor details, what about Hermione's parents or Dudley, Vernon, and Petunia? SO many other things that were far hazier that could have had a little more information surrounding them. Perhaps JK didn't want to go there, knowing that it likely would require 100 more pages to give details on that stuff....

Or perhaps she wasn't lying when she said she was giving up the Harry Potter books. That doesn't mean that the children of the Weasley's, Potter's, and Malfoy's won't become something equally important. She left herself a great loophole by saying that she'd never write another HARRY POTTER book but with the epilogue, she can do so much with the world still - the children, Hogwarts in general, etc. Though I do think the only other book she'll ever write is Hogwarts: A History to accompany her Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Quidditch books she also wrote for charity.

Now that you've mentioned Dudley, I started thinking about the rest of the Dursleys. Vernon's attitude towards Harry didn't change much, but he did almost shake Harry's hand. Petunia seemed a little more accepting and Dudley seemed almost like a friend. I would have liked the epilogue to include a kind of reunion between Harry and the Dursleys. I almost wish JKR would have left the epilogue out of the book. Then she could write another book just about what happened to all of the characters from Harry Potter.

Also, when you say the person who gained magical powers late in life, where did you hear that someone would? It sounds so familiar...

Ooooh. I just edited this in. This is going to sound pretty cheesy, so be prepared. DD talked about how the greatest magical power of all was love, right. So maybe, it was Dudley. I know this doesn't make much sense, but I'm really just looking for a character to fit that description.

I loved this book! I read it so fast that I don't have anyone to talk to about it. This was a wonderful ending to a fantastic series. My hubby is reading it now, and I am dying to talk about it. I loved the epilogue. I love that Harry is playing the role that Sirius played for him. I am sad, however, that I will never have another Harry Potter to look forward to.

I agree, she left herself a big loophole to talk about it... or give the rights to others to write about it (think how George Lucas let so many people write about the Star Wars universe long after the movies ended). But, it's not the details I was frustrated with... it was the fact that I could have guessed many of these details or found them to be a given (minus the actual names of kids and number of kids). I wanted to know more about the other stuff... but if she does intend to ever write more books in the Harry Potter universe, this was a way of establishing a few characters about whom she could write many more books ... or perhaps when she's ready she'll begin right where the epilogue left off. "Albus Potter and the Sorting Hat"



JK indicated that someone would gain magical powers late in life. She indicated this in earlier comments. It's a good pick-up to see that it either didn't come to fruition... or we all missed who this person was somehow. I'm a bit "confunded" because thinking back on the story, I can't think of anyone who gained magical powers later in life...

Neville's grandmother perhaps? I only suggest that because she seemed harmless and turned out to be quite a fighter - but it doesn't mean she "gained magical powers later in life". That will be a puzzle for awhile... or we'll have to ask JK to tell us who!

I don't think I've ever cried or screamed or gasped or nearly passed out so much in my entire life... WOW!

Regarding Snape: I had decided from book six that Snape was good. I had a little unstable evidence, Hagrid hearing Snape and Dumbledore arguing, Snape being so good at Occlumency... but the biggest thing to convince me of his loyalty to Dumbledore was simply the fact that Dumbledore trusted him. And then Lily. He did everything for her. He still hated Harry. The reason he was loyal, came back, fought for the Order... it was all for Lily and to make up for what happened to her. As I look back in OoTP and think about Snape's Worst Memory, him and Lily fighting! That's so sad. And he loved her...

Regarding Harry as a Horcrux: One of my theories! Yay! Okay, I didn't know quite how. Voldemort wasn't aware of it and I thought he'd have done it on purpose. When Harry was walking to his death, I was pretty much hyperventilating. My friend pointed out that in the forth book when Harry tells Dumbledore about how Voldemort used Harry's blood to return to his body that he thought he saw a look of triumph on the old man's face. HAHA! YAY! But Harry willing to sacrifice himself nearly killed me. I was so glad that he didn't have to die forever. That would have killed me.

Bless dear Nevill's heart for killing Nagini. I love that guy!

Although, I have to say the fight between Voldemort and Harry was a bit anti-climactic. I was expecting more of a fight and a struggle. I was disapointed in that part actually... but expectations were high concidering I've been waiting for Harry to kill Voldemort for six years...

Another thought to toss into the mix here... how did Dumbledore beat Grindelwald in the duel? Particularly given that the wand which Grindelwald was using was the Elder Wand... I thought the wand was invincible and therefore the owner couldn't be beat (unless he/she let their guard down, such as in the story how the one brother boasted, and in his sleep, was killed). It all seems to be summed up in the quote "Well, you know what happened next. I won the duel. I won the wand." But I must have missed why DD is able to defeat Grindelwald in the duel at all....

Well, we know that DD was the greatest wizard that ever lived, even greater than Voldemort. He could have defeated Voldemort himself, if it wasn't Harry's destiny. This problem was not there for the DD/Grindelwald duel. If this answer doesn't explain the fact that the Elder Wand is unbeatable unless the owner lets their guard down, then here is another guess. Maybe Grindelwald let his guard down to DD. After all, Dumbledore did help Grindelwald find the Elder Wand in a way. At this point in DD's life, he was still the wizard that thought muggle control would lead to "the greater good". Maybe when DD approached Grindelwald, Grindelwald still regarded DD as a friend. Grindelwald was doing just what he and DD had talked about doing in their letter, even if it was more extreme. DD could have realized the danger that Grindelwald posed to the magical and muggle communities, and therefore quickly ended the duel before it had even really started.

When each character died, I was like, oh my gosh! hedwig, mad-eye,dobby(bless him! even tho i didnt like the elf in the beginning of hp, i grew to like him!) , fred, (that was soo sad!!! i luv the twins) lupin, tonks, (that was awful that she killed those two off!)
The pensieve part was very cool. I felt sad when Snape died, he really loved Lily! And even if he helped for the wrong reasons, he still did his best to keep Harry safe.
When Harry figured out he had to die, i was crying so hard, i could barely read the words! And when he was talking to Dumbeldore, i was so sad!! i luv dumbeldore! and i really thought Sirius was going to come back! All he did was fall through a veil. Thsi book was so dark and sinister, and i think they're going to have trouble making a movie. If they leave a lot of stuff out, ill be really mad (like they did with movie 5.)
It was pretty cool how she had the ending. Later on and all. But seeing that they named their children, Albus, James,& Lily, it was really sad!!
What depresses me the most, is that there are no more Harry Potter books. It's over.

We know that Grindelwald is still alive in book seven (though Voldemort later kills him). I think, therefore, that DD didn't have to kill Grindelwald to win the duel. Since that's the case, the wand being invincible wouldn't have mattered at all since there were other tools with which to defeat him. Therefore the duel might not have been a "wizards' duel" in the traditional sense, but maybe a sparring of ideas. Afterall, that's how Harry really beats Voldemort - with emotion.

Also, weren't we supposed to learn something about what's behind the veil and in the secret room at the Ministry? She has left a few questions out there still (as I indicated in earlier posts).

I should add one thing about the epilogue... part of why I didn't want JK to explain all of those details to me (aside from the fact that I think these details were obvious and others would have been more interesting is this:

I like thinking of Harry as a smart, mature kid. Yes, I say kid... because when you make an epilogue 19 years later, it means Harry is all of a sudden a middle-aged man. I mean, jeez. That's just crazy to think about. I'd rather imagine how he lived the next few years after this ordeal and what took place... did they ever finish their schooling in another year (recall that just because they had a year's adventure, and they're arguably more learned than other 7th years, there were still tests to pass and things that could be learned by finishing officially)? All of that good stuff. Now I know exactly how Harry will be as a middle-aged man... and I'd have rather left it to my imagination.... at least for a few years until JK or someone else decided to write a book about Harry's kids

In all seriousness, it would have been nice to have another chapter... maybe it should have been the epilogue, but this is JK's book... that explained how things got set back into course... and how Harry dealt with everything in the coming weeks/months. I know she always ended her books right after the school year, but in this case, I felt I needed something last little things - to do a little more cleaning up and then done.

Witherwings, I agree. Perhaps that's how DD beat Grindelwald to win? A sparring of ideas much as Harry has done to beat Voldemort throughout. I'm not entirely convinced though that your reply satisfactorily answers my question (as in, I am still not satisfied that this is the answer). I feel like that duel is glossed over - and given everything else explained in this book about DD, I thought we would hear about the most famous part of DD's life some more ! (though perhaps Rita Skeeter was right when she hinted that Grindelwald may have handed it over with a white flag - meaning, as you indicated, that the duel of wits left Grindelwald realizing that the idea of having the Hallows was foolish and would never be the way to truly rule death.

I like your points on the unanswered questions from earlier (behind the veil and the secret room in the ministry). These - along with a few others - are just some questions that JK has either left unaswered due to time/pages to write or intends to leave us guessing... or leave room for later books?

At one point in book seven (it's too large a book for me to find the exact quote) there is discussion about Grindelwald and the fact that he does feel remorse for what he has done in life. I think that's the important factor in his downfall.

Erm, in addition to who performed magic late in life, and the veil thing, what was the significance of Harry having Lily's eyes? Was it just that Snape loved Lily and recognized Lily in Harry's eyes?

And with Dumbledore's look of triumph in Goblet of Fire, that would be because of the blood, right? But I thought Harry only told him that Voldemort's back and killed Cedric before Crouch dragged him off, nothing to do with the blood IIRC. Don't have the book on me though, so I can't check.

.....................................................WOW!!!!!.................................................

Ok, now that I have said that, I NEEDED to find out how it ended, but am sad that now it is all over. I am so glad that it does end well.

I was so scared of having the end spoiled that I refused to look at web sites, read the paper, watch TV. When I was in line waiting for my book, someone said that there were people shouting on the online game Warcraft trying to spoil the books. I am so GRATEFUL of the responsibility here. I don't know if I could have read the book knowing if Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny or Luna died.

Overall I would have to call the book an emotional rollercoaster. I was kind of vulnerable listening to it. I was told by a friend that he heard a rumor that Harry was supposed to be a squib, and the only reason he had magical power was Voldemort's power going into him, and if Harry actually lived the magic from the power transfered would be drained and he would then be a squib again.

Albus Severus Potter, could anything be more clear about the total and final acceptance.
James ?Sirius? Potter most probably his middle name

Molly vs Bellatrix shows the true power of love yet again.
I knew that this book would show the reason Neville was in Griffyndor

I admit that the biggest fear I had would be that JKR would change the story in order to prevent people from trying to write other Harry Potter books.

I had an annoying friend that we had a bet that Ron or Hermione would die. The bet was kind of a mistake for he would taunt me with saying how he would LOVE to feel the chocolate of the Toberlone melting in his mouthand savoring it as he thought back on their deaths since he KNEW one of them would die.

Still so many questions left ... is Lavender a werewolf.. How is George with Fred's demise....is Lupin/Tonks son a werewolf....who married Draco....What do any of the major characters do for a living, we ONLY know Neville's job. I know that we cannot have every question answered.

I now am going to restart the book again and now I can ponder a bit more since I know the ending, and in a way enjoy it even more.

One thing I wanted to discuss around the Elder Wand... in the final battle between Harry and Voldemort, it seems as if Voldemort is the one holding the Elder Wand (since after the spells are cast, the Elder wand is described as flying across the room until Harry catches it). How did Voldemort have the Elder Wand? I thought Draco had taken the Elder Wand....

My only explanation so far is that Draco was indeed the new master but he never had the Elder wand - but he had disarmed Dumbledore when they came to the top of the castle (in book 6), thus making him the new master of the wand (it couldn't have changed master's by the death of DD because that would have made Snape the master of the Elder Wand like Voldemort suspected - but this wasn't true). Thus, Draco was now the new master. But, somehow, the Elder Wand got buried with DD... hence, Draco did not have it, hence Voldemort actually had it... BUT Draco was the true master. Unfortunately for Draco, since Harry had wrestled Draco's wand from him earlier along with two others, perhaps that made Harry the master? As in, once you disarm a magician of their wand (clearly in some way other than just using a disarm spell because then you can imagine the Harry no longer being the master merely if he loses his wand), you are the master of the Elder Wand? Meaning, Harry was the rightful master but the wand wasn't with him and when Voldemort tried to kill him with it (both times), he ended up first only killing the Harry Horocrux with it - the piece of himself that rested inside Harry - and next, when he tried to kill Harry again with it, the wand wouldn't allow it since Harry was its master, thus the spell rebounded to Voldemort.

Does this make sense? Are there other explanations? I find the Elder Wand confusing mainly because it seems that Harry would have to have it if Draco was the master before and had taken the wand from DD... but the wand clearly left Voldemort's hands in the air, meaning that Voldemort had the wand. So perhaps being master of the wand does not require you to be in possession of the wand or to murder a wizard for it or to even cast a charm (Harry took Draco's wand and the other two just by wrestling them away from him in the scrum at the Malfoy's mansion). Those are my thoughts - would love to hear more on this subject...

The look of triumph came when Harry was recounting all that happened. The fact that Voldemort had Harry's blood in him meant that Harry couldn't be killed while Voldemort lived (nor could Voldemort be killed so long as the park of Voldemort inside Harry lived). When Voldemort first killed Harry, he killed the part of his soul in Harry. Since he killed the part in his soul, when Harry killed Voldemort, Voldemort was finally able to die.

I still can't believe the eight horcruxes thing. It looks like we've been led by red herrings.

"I admit that the biggest fear I had would be that JKR would change the story in order to prevent people from trying to write other Harry Potter books."

Well, no one can write other Harry Potter books unless she sells copyright. The copyright will last for the rest of JK's life (copyright lasts for 28 years and then can be renewed for another 28 when she's in her 60's) and her family can then renew the copyright after her for another 28 years.

"Still so many questions left ... is Lavender a werewolf.. How is George with Fred's demise....is Lupin/Tonks son a werewolf...."

I couldn't tell if Lavender was dead or alive. Was it that she had fallen and died? But I don't think Fenrir was in Werewolf form. Either way, Trelawney sacking him with a crystal ball was cool. And Lavender and Bill, though perhaps scarred, would have been cured of being a werewolf with the death of Fenrir (I do think he was killed). Tom Lupin would not be a werewolf because he wasn't bitten by a werewolf - the genes don't carry through birth.

Did anyone also notice Pettigrew redeemed himself? I guess we can list him as a "good guy" death.

As for the wand issue: Here's how I understand it. A wand cannot be turned on it's own master. When Harry wrestled the wand away from Draco he became the master of Draco's wand. Since the Elder Wand (yes, buried with DD - such a disgraceful thing taking it from the tomb) was also Draco's, the Elder Wand wouldn't act against the owner of Draco's wand (which is Harry).