Thanks for the early report, Gris. Yay for well done and happy endings! I'm so pleased that you were able to be in Edinburgh to have this early reading opportunity.

I just finished. Read from 2:30 until 4 am then got up at 9 and just finished.

Too many thoughts in my head at present.

Loved it. Almost everything I thought would happen, happened. And I am most pleased.

And also, quite a little sad. Joe thought I was crying because of happeneings in the book when I handed it over to him.

I was crying because it's done and I'm happy and sad for us. I reckon I'll be a mess when the final movie comes out.

Now I must go wash the pink out of my hair and go grocery shopping.

Just finished it.

Wow.

It did drag a bit in the middle--the whole Hallows thing was starting to bog down some, but what a nice wrap-up. I was surprised at how cold and calculating Dumbledore appeared midway through, but the final discussion vindicated him. Loved Snape, Neville rocks (when the sword appeared for him, I pumped my fist in the air--"Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that out of the hat!"), but all the death and destruction did get a bit oppressive.

When Harry used the Resurrection Stone, I admit it...I started sobbing. And cried pretty much through the end of that chapter.

I'll post more when I can mull this over and do a bit of rereading. Right now, though, I am still in my nightshirt, and I think it's time for me to finally get changed and get something to eat!

I cried over Fred and Hedwig.

And it occured to me on my way home from the grocery store that now, all of Harry's connections to his parents are dead. Sirius, Dumbeldore, Lupin, even Snape. I'm more sad about Snape, though, that he and Harry never had a chance to talk about Lily as a young girl, so that Harry could see and learn more about that phase in Lily's life.

One thing I didn't like? Molly using the word, "Bitch". Completely out of character.

And a question? Are Unforgivable curses forgiven in a time of war? I would imagine so, but am are not sure.

I saw the "bitch" reference as an Aliens shoutout, but yes, very out of character for Molly.

I had great fears for the lives of Molly and Arthur because I was convinced JKR would eliminate at least one of the Weasleys, but was sure she would never touch either of the Twins. Guess I was wrong--his death had my mouth hanging open. Unfortunately, I thought Remus and Tonks were toast for quite some time now, ever since I read an interview with JKR where she said she just had to kill off two characters, and she cried over doing so. I had a feeling it was those two, and I'm guessing I was right.

Hedwig's death was the first time I blurted "NO!" reading DH, but it wasn't the last.

Ron being a git wasn't a big surprise given his character arc, but I was pretty shocked when he actually left them behind, even for the short while. Loved the first kiss, though--I think I'll use "Oi, there's a war going on here!" as my new tagline.

I missed that!!! Where the hell is it???

OH! And the whole scene in the room of requirement and the battle of Hogwarts was very reminiscent of "Graduation Day" to me.

Even had Lavendar Brown looking a bit like Harmony when Lavendar was being attacked by Greyback.

Loved the first kiss, though--I think I'll use "Oi, there's a war going on here!" as my new tagline.

The first kiss is right after Ron worries about getting the house elves out of the kitchens at Hogwarts, when they're planning the evacuation, and that's when Harry gets their attention.

I really enjoyed this first read. I cried at Dobby's death - for a character I never otherwise cared about. I'd feared for the twins, and I'll never be able to read the earlier books quite the same way knowing that Fred doesn't make it. I loved the way Neville turned out. Gran has every reason to be proud.

I was overall very pleased about the whole thing. I wasn't spoiled, but was actually kind of pleased to see a lot of my friends' unspoiled speculations come to pass.

Also there was enough true HSQ to make me satisfied, from unexpected deaths to obscure plot points from several books previous turning out to be important.

Hedwig's death was the first time I blurted "NO!" reading DH, but it wasn't the last.

Same here. And that's when I knew, really knew that all bets were off, and I was going to be worried about everyone.

I thought the book was great. Really, really great. And look! Fay and I were right about Snape and his devotion to Lily! (And oh God, the chapter about Snape's memories had me tearing up; when he realized that he had been protecting Lily's son to send him to his death just gutted me.)