I'm glad they didn't come back because it would have been too neat for everything, even the Dursleys, to be tied in a neat bow.

Colin Creevy made me cry too, remembering his obsession with Harry when he first arrived. I think he must be at least a half-blood, because his brother was also sorted into Gryffindor.

I'm glad they didn't come back because it would have been too neat for everything, even the Dursleys, to be tied in a neat bow.

Yes, I agree. I definitely liked Dudley's change of heart in the beginning, but that was just the right amount of schmoop for me.

I imagine that Andromeda Tonks could have raised her grandbaby, perhaps.

Just a heads up -- my friend (LJers might know her as evylprincess, and Bronzers ought to know her as Catriona) was looking for a place to post about Harry Potter. She's brilliant and lovely, so I pointed her in this direction. She may already be a registered lurker, I disremember. I just wanted to mention it, in case she decides to drop in.

Okay, question: I may have skipped past, but was there an explanation for the Centaurs' change of heart? And I got confused...Aragog's children fought on which side?

Also, loved Aberforth Dumbledore as the barkeep who allows the Resistance into the castle! Last time it was the barmaid who betrayed Dumbledore under an Imperius curse.

Moral of the story: don't piss off your bartender.

Just finished - still a bit hard to see.

I didn't find the middle too long. Partly because in all the other books - things that dragged, when I reread , didn't drag. The reason for the dragging the first time was because certain behaviors bugged. Also I knew this was the last one. ( honestly the structure of the books told me it had to be the last ) And third - that has been the structure of her books.

I always though Snape loved Lilly. His viciousness when talking about James and never mentioning Lilly's name. He knew both of them - but kept saying Harry was like James - when it was obvious in some of the later books that there were a number of ways that Harry is like Lilly.

Secrets are bad. Lies to others or yourself, very bad. Treating other poorly is probably the biggest sin. Why does Snape lose Lilly? Because when he was angry - he lashed out at her in the worst way he could. When did Ron win hermione forever and ever? Whe he thought about the kitchen elves completely on his own and before anyone els

Now, I am going to huddle in my corner of denial where Tonks and Fred are alive.

Fred is a castle ghost,

Oh, of course. Oh good, this makes me happy. He'd make a perfect ghost!

I've always wanted to know more about Aberforth, so I'm glad she made him Mr. Clarification. I did sort of want a bit more Remus, but hell, the book's already 700-some pages. I'm still upset about Snape, though. The poor guy.

I have to say, I don't think there was any way Snape and Lily could have remained friends. I mean, if he hadn't lashed out at her, he'd inevitably have tried to ask her out and been shot down in flames. That friendship was destined for unhappiness from the very beginning. Poor damn Snape.

I was so happy when Professor M. (can't spell it) finds Harry in the Ravenclaw Tower. I missed her!

And her emotion at seeing Harry's body!

And herding the Attack Desks!

Oh! And Prof. Trelawney dropping crystal balls on Death Eaters!

I may have skipped past, but was there an explanation for the Centaurs' change of heart? And I got confused...Aragog's children fought on which side?

Aragog's children were fighting for Voldemort, although there was some indication they had been driven from their nest, so there may have been some coercion there. Of course, they were just mean anyway. After Harry "died," Hagrid yelled at the centaurs and called them cowards for not joining the fight.