Monday 30^th July

I started to read The Deathly Hallows this morning, and I am now approximately half way through. Chapter 20, page 314 to be exact. For some reason I can’t quite fathom, I was reluctant to start it, almost afraid to. Maybe because once I started it, the only thing left to do was to finish it, and I didn’t want to. Caroline said in the canteen at work, ‘It’s just a book’, But it’s not just a book, at all. Even a non-fan can understand that. It’s a phenomenon. Like it or not, anybody between the ages of ten and twenty in 2007 will be partially defined as one of the ‘Harry Potter Generation’ – it’s that huge. Honestly, I’m proud to be part of that generation – I’m just older than Harry and his year, and we really have grown up with them. And now, as our adolescence comes to an end, so does this.

As for the book so far, just … wow. Much as I was reluctant to begin, by a few pages in, I was hooked – much to the continual agitated grumblings of my family. It’s not because it’s the best book ever written [though I think it’s the best of the bunch, language wise]. If there’s one thing JK can do, it’s engage, and that’s what makes it so compelling. You just feel everything that she writes, the characters are so vivid and passion-filled – Ron and Hermione in particular have been marvellous this far. The absence of the supporting characters leaves a hole – I’m hoping Neville, Luna, Ginny and the twins will reappear as I progress [though I loved Luna’s cameo at the wedding – “She looks like an Omelette!”].

But the plot – oh! Every time a new name or object stirs a memory for Harry, I feel the stir too. Everything knits together marvellously – Dumbledore’ will and legacy! Regulus! Kreacher! The sword! It’s all been great so far. I was nearly in tears at the Harry vs. Lupin moment; poor, poor Lupin, she’s just so lovely! Ron and Harry hugged! That’s been coming since book one, and it was just wonderful. Ron is just generally wonderful, I love him. GO TEAM RON!

Scary to think it’s been ten years since The Philosopher’s Stone was published, though.

Tuesday 31^st July

Monumental. That’s pretty much the only word I have to describe that. I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows about fifteen minutes ago, and while the rest of my thoughts are relatively coherent, and of them surrounding the book seem to melt into tripe. I’ll try, but who knows what will follow.

Despite the ‘Harry is a Horcrux’ theory being the one that seems most predictable, and the one that so many spectators [including myself] latched onto, I’m glad she stuck with it. It makes the most sense, it ties everything together. I liked the ‘accidental Horcrux’ aspect though, it seemed to make one of the overall themes all the more prominent – that each and every character as a flaw, one that will if not cause their demise, will at least knock them about on the way. And, ultimately, many of these flaws are also the characters’ greatest strengths.

An explanation of Hannah’s theory regarding the Harry Potter characters – apologies if it makes no sense.

Dumbledore’s was power; in control of Hogwarts, he was magnificent, but as he admitted himself, the thirst for power as a younger man – and the relapses as he aged – caused him much loss in his life, and ultimately ended it.

Hermione’s is intelligence; the amount of times that Hermione’s knowledge and understanding of magic [and non-magic], coupled with her organisation and consideration, has saved Harry, Ron and a whole host of others is ridiculous. But all the same, her fierce empirical nature means that she often hesitates, and is wary of things like instincts, which hold no fundamental proof.

Ron’s is loyalty; Ron is a fiercely loyal character, remarkable so. His relentless loyalty to Harry and his cause is admirable, and he turns out as a character – in my eyes – equally as heroic as Harry. However, his loyalty can [and has] let him down twofold. His unwavering loyalty to Harry does mean that he often walks too far into things figuratively blindfolded, before receiving a slap-in-the-face from reality which can often cause him to freak out when he comprehends what happened – just like in the most recent instalment. Secondly, Ron latches his loyalties onto several characters and groups in his life, and so lands himself in awkward situations and with impossible situations. He has loyalties to Harry; his family; the Order; Hogwarts; Hermione; and himself, and this causes chaos for Ron when making decisions – from the most important [like following, and returning to, the quest] down to the more trivial ones [like where he stands in the Harry/Ginny debate].

Lord Voldemort’s is, quite simply, evil; his intense and frighteningly evil soul enabled him to cause such chaos and tyranny for so many years. Nobody could have done so many unspeakably terrible things without a truly evil heart, and in that respect – for a time – he was successful. However, the reason of his downfall was just as simple – evil doesn’t win. Not in that world. Voldemort continually underestimates the powers of goodness, truth and courage, relying on force and skill to prevail. Ultimately, he lacks humanity.

Harry’s defining characteristic and flaw is harder to define. Part of me wants to say bravery; and I think that is the most likely. Harry has, is, and always will be an immensely brave character, committing feat after feat of incredible courage, the bravest of which was when he stood before Lord Voldemort, unarmed, willing to die. Although he fervently denies it, Harry often does feel that ‘he has to do it al on his own’, which many mistake as greed for glory. However, when Harry realises that he is not on his own, that he is part of a much bigger army, a much bigger plan, he knows that he can play his part, and the burden of responsibility is somewhat lighter [if only slightly], and Harry can accept that, even though he is a massive part of what has happened, none of it is his fault.

Other characters I could mention also have one characteristic I can see as both their saving grace and fatal flaw – you may not agree, and do let me know if you do or don’t! Ginny’s is passion; Luna’s is eccentricity; Neville’s is determination; Molly’s is protectiveness; the twins’ is humour and lightheartedness; Sirius’ in headstrongedness; Lupin’s is fear; Lily’s is compassion; Severus’ is bitterness/love; and I suppose it could be said that James’ is a form of arrogance.

As for the rest of the story, I think it was wonderful. I just tried to recount the whole thing to Adam, and realised how immensely confusing it is, but I think – after re-reading certain parts – I’ve got it all now. I just needed to dwell on it a little for the more complex parts of the plot of slot into place.

The romantic in me was satisfied with the ‘nineteen years later’ epilogue, but the English student and pernickety side of me thought it was too sickly sweet [except for the Albus Severus thing – ee!] and rather pointless. Leaving it where it was would have been fine for me, despite angering all the shippers out there, and JK could have just used the time afterwards to explain what happened to them all [like she did here]. Buuuut, after reading Rafaella's post, I’m more satisfied with it now; as she said, JK wrote that epilogue before all the other books, or the jist of it, and that wasn’t necessarily for us. That was for her, so she could lay down her pen safe in the knowledge that she have Harry a happy ending.

I’m not a natural ‘shipper’ myself – I like certain couples, but I’m not obsessive about it. Nevertheless, I squealed with delight and jumped around the room in absolute glee when Hermione kissed Ron; it was just gorgeous. Harry just standing there, saying “Is this really the moment?” was brilliant, and Ron’s reply – “so it’s now or never, isn’t it?” was just … oh maaaaan, made of awesome. I also adored that Harry and Ron have both been learning from a book about girls – lolz! [Bet it was a little awkward when Emma Watson and Rupert Grint saw each other after reading the book though.]

But, oh, Tonks and Lupin. How could she? They were wonderful and sweet and lovely and had a son and … that was the bit I cried at most. I was already weeping over the loss of Fred [NO, only one Weasley twin! That was like a blow to the gut, I swear] and then as soon as I read their names I dropped the book. I couldn’t read on. I got even weepier when Lupin returned courtesy of the Resurrection Stone. Poor Lupin and Tonks.

I did laugh at the end, though, when Teddy and Bill & Fleurs daughter were getting it on! I did wonder, though, why Teddy was hanging around on the Hogwarts Express because, at nineteen, he’s surely too old to be going to Hogwarts now isn’t he? Hmmm …

JK really wasn’t kidding when he said it was a bloodbath, was she? A murder within ten pages, then Moody and Hedwig pretty soon after [Hedwig, no!] – it was a massacre! Fred, Tonks, Lupin, Bellatrix [uh, GO TEAM MOLLY!], Crabbe, Voldy, Snape [who was good all along - *punches air with fist*], Griphook and Dobby – oh, Dobby! My heart broke when he dies, and Harry dug the grave, definitely the most emotive of all the deaths.

In conclusion, I will present my highlight of the book.

“How do you feel, George?” whispered Mrs Weasely.

George’s fingers grasped for the side of his head.

“Saint-like” he murmered.

“What’s wrong with him?” croaked Fred, looking terrified. “Is his mind affected?”

“Saint-like,” repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother, “you see … I’m Holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?”

Mrs Weasely sobbed harder than ever. Colour flooded Fred’s pale face.

“Pathetic”, he told George, “pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humour before you, you go for ‘holey’?”

“Ah well” said George, grinning at his tear-soaked mother, “you’ll be able to tell us apart now, anyway, mum!”

♥