I've always been terribly fond of Neville, and now I am craving a novel about Neville Longbottom, Resistance Leader. Clutching him to me is helping me deal with the ones who didn't make it.

NEVILLE!

I surprised myself by sobbing when Ron but the socks on Dobby. I had a few moments when I almost believed Harry would die. What kept me from really believing it was that she wouldn't leave Tonks' and Remus' child without a godfather.

Neville fighting with plants! Neville with the sword of Gryffindor! Percy! Hagrid's animals coming to fight at the end! House elves! Using the twins' joke products! Bless!

I did think it dragged some during the weeks they were hiding in the tent and squabbling. You'll notice that didn't stop me.

I surprised myself by sobbing when Ron but the socks on Dobby.

God, I did too. I couldn't believe it.

I totally pumped my fist for Neville and cried over Dobby. Mind you, the whole plan about Griphook had me wincing and turning away -- if it'd been a TV show, I might have done something else for a few minutes and then tuned back in to see how it turned out. I mean, such a bad idea!

It was a bit quick and neat, but oh, how I loved the Kreacher turnaround! Cause over and over Rowling drives home that how you treat people more often than not returns to you, regardless of how they treat you!

You do wish they had wizarding trauma specialists, don't you? The magical world is sorely lacking in appropriate psychiatric treatment.

ETA: I did think giving Draco a receding hairline at thirty-six was a little spiteful. I mean, yes, he was a sniveling weakling, but come on! I was really hoping he'd get to do something, actually, even if it was something small. I mean, they do save his life twice -- it really felt like a setup for him to do something worthwhile for once.

EATA: Oh, and FUCK! Poor fucking Snape! He doesn't even get to do something major and heroic, or even be recognized for everything he's done until he's DEAD. Goddammit!

I surprised myself by sobbing when Ron but the socks on Dobby.

God, I did too. I couldn't believe it.

Me too.

I'd said before that I'd throw the book across the room if it turned out that Snape was in love with Lily. And, while I didn't do that, I did start punching my blanket. Still feels cheesy to me, but I guess we'd been building up to that for long enough that it had to be done.

I think I need to reread to totally get everything going on with the Hallows.

I'm wondering who Draco married.

I liked that Petunia's "That horrible boy" reference turned out to not be James. That had felt off to me, for a whole lot of reasons.

Fred! Lupin!

OK. I'm still sort of flailing.

Edit: Oh, and Umbridge having Mad-Eye's eye in her door was seriously creepy. As are the cat plates -- they got way creepier for me after seeing the movie.

And Percy!

I ended up reading quite a bit of this book with one eye. I fell asleep with my contacts in last night, so I couldn't wear them for too long today, and my glasses are broken, and unfortunately Reparo doesn't work on real glasses, and the only way I could focus on the book was to close one eye. I'll consider it a tribute to Mad-Eye.

Hil, that's real devotion. :-)

I did think it dragged some during the weeks they were hiding in the tent and squabbling. You'll notice that didn't stop me

Word. I could wank it and say it's appropriate for the book to be shapeless and lost when the characters themselves are also shapeless and at a loss about what to do. But honestly, it could have been 200 pages shorter.

The whole first 300 pages was just meh. And then the last half rocked.

I just finished it. Started it last night around 11, read until 3, woke up at 10:30, and now is all done. And I'm sad the series is done and yet so glad that the ending was happy.

The death that hit me the hardest was actual Fred's. Don't know why--they all stung, but that one especially.

Yes, it dragged in parts, but honestly? How much can I complain about dragging when I couldn't stop reading? Loved it.

I'm evil in that I'm kind of pleased one of the twins got it, because I despise practical jokers and they got away with too darned much that was cruel and hurtful.