So....what is this mist? The only thing I can think of is a penseive memory, but that seems wrong.
Why is McGonagall's Patronus THREE cats?
"Ron, are you a wizard or what?" That made me LOL even through my mourning.
The problem with the Acromantulas is now I won't be able to watch the denouement of the last Harry Potter movie. They should eat Nagini at least.
Would a Basilisk fang kill a snake?
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Chapter 30: The Sacking of Severus Snape
I find this whole everyone comes to Hogwarts for the final battle thing implausible (unlike, you know, magic and shit) but it seems to be emotionally satisfying (I'm all anticipatey) so I'll agree with it. I think Percy moaning that he was a fool was a bit much, I'd rather just have him show up and quietly save a tiny part of the day.
I'll bet the reason Ron and Hermione have gone to the bathroom is to go get the other Basilisk fang and use it to kill the other Horcrux. Oh, except they can't get down to the Chamber of Secrets, can they? Maybe they can. Anyway, the Battle of Hogwarts has arrived.
I'll bet the reason Ron and Hermione have gone to the bathroom is to go get the other Basilisk fang and use it to kill the other Horcrux. Oh, except they can't get down to the Chamber of Secrets, can they? Maybe they can. Anyway, the Battle of Hogwarts has arrived.
Chapter 29: The Lost Diadem
So what if the diadem really is Aunt Muriel's tiara?
I like the whole Room of Requirement/secret hideout thing. A bit ficcy, but it's fun anyway.
Do we have all the horcruxes now? Diary, locket, cup, diadem, Nagini, ring, plus the piece of soul still in Voldy. Yeah, I guess so. So does the wand with pride of place in Ollivander's window have anything to do with anything?
I like the whole Room of Requirement/secret hideout thing. A bit ficcy, but it's fun anyway.
Do we have all the horcruxes now? Diary, locket, cup, diadem, Nagini, ring, plus the piece of soul still in Voldy. Yeah, I guess so. So does the wand with pride of place in Ollivander's window have anything to do with anything?
Chapter 28: The Missing Mirror
Aberforth! Why didn't I think of that? I knew that I should know who the blue eye is, but I couldn't arrive at Aberforth.
I was going to theorize that his Patronus was the doe, but he identifies it as a goat.
And now I'm going to do that really annoying thing where my liveblogging entries get short because I want to see what happens next. (Plus I'm getting sleepy (I've had maybe 5 hours sleep in the past 24 hours, and I just ate potatoes) so I want to finish before I fall asleep.)
I was going to theorize that his Patronus was the doe, but he identifies it as a goat.
And now I'm going to do that really annoying thing where my liveblogging entries get short because I want to see what happens next. (Plus I'm getting sleepy (I've had maybe 5 hours sleep in the past 24 hours, and I just ate potatoes) so I want to finish before I fall asleep.)
Chapter 27: The Final Hiding Place
It did NOT occur to me that Harry's mental connection to Voldemort would help him find the Horcruxes! I guess that's why JKR weakened it in Book 6. Everyone predicted they would go to Hogwarts on a Horcrux hunt so that's no surprise there, but the consensus seemed to be that that would satisfy our need for Hogwarts fun. Which it surely won't. But I don't find myself missing Hogwarts as much as I thought I would.
My inner child wants to add a quote from Hermione from the last chapter:
"She tastes disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots! OK, Ron, come here so I can do you..."
My inner child wants to add a quote from Hermione from the last chapter:
"She tastes disgusting, worse than Gurdyroots! OK, Ron, come here so I can do you..."
Chapter 26: Gringotts
Well, that explains Ron and Hermione's clothes on the cover. I always thought they were just a wee bit fussier than appropriate, but I figured that was an artistic decision. I should learn to trust that these people know what they're doing!
And also the dragon WASN'T Norbert! (Who is now Norberta.) (Unless, through some bizarre coincidence, it was.)
And also the dragon WASN'T Norbert! (Who is now Norberta.) (Unless, through some bizarre coincidence, it was.)
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Chapter 25: Shell Cottage
I call a Dean & Luna ship, and renew my assertion that it's a goblin holding the sword on the cover, not an elf.
I also wonder why there was no attempt whatsoever to explain to Griphook "Dude, you can have thw sword, just not right away." Like they didn't even think about trying. You'd think the thought would have at least crossed their minds.
I'm going to take a Python break now and start reading again in a hour.
I also wonder why there was no attempt whatsoever to explain to Griphook "Dude, you can have thw sword, just not right away." Like they didn't even think about trying. You'd think the thought would have at least crossed their minds.
I'm going to take a Python break now and start reading again in a hour.
Chapter 24: The Wandmaker
I guessed just two paragraphs before the trio did that Dumbledore had the Elder Wand.
If Bill and Fleur's house is under Fidelius, how did everyone manage to apparate there? Even if the others knew, what about Dobby?
This mirror thing is intriguing, I hope we get a full explanation.
What if the house elf on the cover is really a goblin?
Since Dobby has proven that he can apparate anyone anywhere, are they going to get out of tight spots from now on by calling Kreacher and having him apparate them out?
If Bill and Fleur's house is under Fidelius, how did everyone manage to apparate there? Even if the others knew, what about Dobby?
This mirror thing is intriguing, I hope we get a full explanation.
What if the house elf on the cover is really a goblin?
Since Dobby has proven that he can apparate anyone anywhere, are they going to get out of tight spots from now on by calling Kreacher and having him apparate them out?
Chapter 23: Malfoy Manor
When I saw the title of this chapter, I guessed that was where the vault on the cover was located. But it isn't.
Okay, so did Wormtail just die by his own silver hand? That makes two deaths in this chapter - two completely unexpected deaths (Wormtail I expected but under different circumstances) and both by silver. Awful as it sounds, I found myself laughing giddily with joy at the sheer unexpectedness of these deaths. Not at the deaths themselves, but at the joy of having JKR throw something completely unexpected at me.
Okay, so did Wormtail just die by his own silver hand? That makes two deaths in this chapter - two completely unexpected deaths (Wormtail I expected but under different circumstances) and both by silver. Awful as it sounds, I found myself laughing giddily with joy at the sheer unexpectedness of these deaths. Not at the deaths themselves, but at the joy of having JKR throw something completely unexpected at me.
Chapter 22: The Deathly Hallows
So THAT'S who Peverell is! I knew we'd seen that name before!
The radio program is a clever device for getting caught up, and the Taboo is a clever way of making Harry's habit of saying the word Voldemort into an actual plot point! I wonder if the Taboo existed last time around?
The emotional arc of this chapter was good - we went from high to low quite smoothly.
I keep forgetting that the characters don't know they're in a book with a definite timeline, and wondering why they don't feel more rushed. Then I realize that they think they have the rest of their lives to destroy the Horcruxes.
I see about 250 pages left, 3 Horcruxes to destroy, and one Deathly Hallow to find (and learn how to use). I wonder if this means I'm going to be page-turning for the rest of the book?
The radio program is a clever device for getting caught up, and the Taboo is a clever way of making Harry's habit of saying the word Voldemort into an actual plot point! I wonder if the Taboo existed last time around?
The emotional arc of this chapter was good - we went from high to low quite smoothly.
I keep forgetting that the characters don't know they're in a book with a definite timeline, and wondering why they don't feel more rushed. Then I realize that they think they have the rest of their lives to destroy the Horcruxes.
I see about 250 pages left, 3 Horcruxes to destroy, and one Deathly Hallow to find (and learn how to use). I wonder if this means I'm going to be page-turning for the rest of the book?
Chapter 21: The Tale of the Three Brothers
So assuming Harry's cloak is The Cloak, and the wand in Ollivander's window is The Wand, what is The Stone?
Chapter 20: Xenophilius Lovegood
At the end of this chapter I went "OH!" I had completely forgotten that we still have to find out what Deathly Hallows are!
The Lovegoods' house is nothing like how I pictured it, but it is very similar to the home of my Rowena Ravenclaw Mary Sue. Since both the Lovegoods we've met are both Ravenclaws, I might take advantage of that if I feel inspired to write fic.
Also, either in this chapter or the last one, JKR said that someone was "on the point of" doing something. That is such a gallic construction! Is it in common use in Britain? Here, if I tried to use it in one of my translations, I'd be toldnot to on the basis that it's a gallicism!
The Lovegoods' house is nothing like how I pictured it, but it is very similar to the home of my Rowena Ravenclaw Mary Sue. Since both the Lovegoods we've met are both Ravenclaws, I might take advantage of that if I feel inspired to write fic.
Also, either in this chapter or the last one, JKR said that someone was "on the point of" doing something. That is such a gallic construction! Is it in common use in Britain? Here, if I tried to use it in one of my translations, I'd be toldnot to on the basis that it's a gallicism!
Chapter 19: The Silver Doe
Dear JKR:
You'd better explain:
a) where this doe came from
b) how the sword got there
c) what that glowy light thing that helped Ron is
d) the nature and composition of the little wand Harry now has. (I seem to recall that Umbridge had a small wand? And, my inner child would like to add, Fudge was described as having small feet?)
However, the story seemes to be raising back up from the pit of despair, which is a good thing. But I'm still knocking on wood because I don't want to jinx anyone.
You'd better explain:
a) where this doe came from
b) how the sword got there
c) what that glowy light thing that helped Ron is
d) the nature and composition of the little wand Harry now has. (I seem to recall that Umbridge had a small wand? And, my inner child would like to add, Fudge was described as having small feet?)
However, the story seemes to be raising back up from the pit of despair, which is a good thing. But I'm still knocking on wood because I don't want to jinx anyone.
Chapter 18: The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore
This is an odd chapter. On one hand, it has a bunch of background information and comes close to addressing some of our questions. On the other hand, it was all written by Rita Skeeter so we can't trust any of it.
It would be very tight writing if Grindlewald ended up being key to defeating Voldemort. I don't think anyone anticipated that - Grindy was always presented as ancient history, far in the past. It would be like if Hitler were key to defeating Bin Laden.
Oops, I mentioned Hitler. Does that mean I lose?
It would be very tight writing if Grindlewald ended up being key to defeating Voldemort. I don't think anyone anticipated that - Grindy was always presented as ancient history, far in the past. It would be like if Hitler were key to defeating Bin Laden.
Oops, I mentioned Hitler. Does that mean I lose?
Chapter 17: Bathilda's Secret
Wow, I didn't expect them to be in such a rough spot at this point. They're halfway through the book with no horcruxes destroyed, no further leads on any horcruxes, and now Harry is without a wand!
I can see a couple of places where this might be going. One is that it will take them to Ollivander's with the Ravenclaw's Wand theory. Another is that the fact that Harry no longer has Voldemort's brother wand will come into play. (Although it would have to be a pretty hardcore coincidence for Harry to end up with a wand that's the brother of whatever wand he finds himself facing next. But remember how the contents of Lucius's wand were mentioned at the beginning? That must be important.)
I'd say that it can only be uphill from here, but JKR could totally make it do downhill even more, so I don't want to jinx anyone.
I can see a couple of places where this might be going. One is that it will take them to Ollivander's with the Ravenclaw's Wand theory. Another is that the fact that Harry no longer has Voldemort's brother wand will come into play. (Although it would have to be a pretty hardcore coincidence for Harry to end up with a wand that's the brother of whatever wand he finds himself facing next. But remember how the contents of Lucius's wand were mentioned at the beginning? That must be important.)
I'd say that it can only be uphill from here, but JKR could totally make it do downhill even more, so I don't want to jinx anyone.
Chapter 16: Godric's Hollow
Not much happens here. I would have expected more in a chapter with such an important title.
I have a vague sense that Harry and Hermione are doing something stupid, but I also have a vague sense that the Potters' gravestone is fake, because of the weird inscription in it.
We'll see, won't we?
I have a vague sense that Harry and Hermione are doing something stupid, but I also have a vague sense that the Potters' gravestone is fake, because of the weird inscription in it.
We'll see, won't we?
Chapter 15: The Goblin's Revenge
Clever way of lettings us know what's going on back at Hogwarts! I'm glad to see the other half of the hex doing something helpful too. I also jst realized that by having Snape in charge of Hogwarts, JKR is alleviating our sadness at not getting to go back to Hogwarts. It's not a fun place any more, so who cares if we can't go back? Well done JKR!
Also, this development with Ron is unexpected.
I find myself nodding off now (I didn't get a proper night's sleep last night) so I'm going to have a wee little nap break before I go further.
Also, this development with Ron is unexpected.
I find myself nodding off now (I didn't get a proper night's sleep last night) so I'm going to have a wee little nap break before I go further.
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