So they miss the sign at Godric's Hollow - the graffiti made my allergies act up.

Where is Luna's Quidditch commentary? I misremember.

But she grew into her colon obsession: Oh my God, I could not take it after a while.

Holy fuck, that was so annoying. I had to pretend they were all semicolons just to make it through without my head exploding. Plus the abundant ellipses... I kept thinking of the book's title as Harry Potter and the Problematic Punctuation. I found it surprisingly slow going until about the last 150 pages, partly because I kept tripping up on her clunky phrasing and telling-not-showing (e.g. "Her dislike of the goblin sending her to deliver messages was clear") and her other writing tics, which her dodgy punctuation didn't improve.

Still, I did like the story she was telling, and I'm very fond of her characters, and very glad that the Trio all survived. My prediction going in was that, if Ron and Hermione had hooked up by page 200, one of them was going to bite it -- so I was very glad that their big kiss was put off until nearly the end. I was especially sad to lose Fred -- love the idea of him haunting either Hogwarts or the joke shop -- and was actually a little mad that both Remus and Tonks died, although it did make me think, like others said, that Harry had to survive to be Teddy's godfather, which was a bit of comfort.

Mostly, though, I'm just so, so glad that Snape turned out to be on the right side after all. I didn't even think I was that invested in his character, but I was so sure he was good even after the events of HP6, and then for so much of book 7 it seemed like he might be all evilified after all, which made me really upset, so I was extremely relieved to find out where his true loyalties lay. I wish he'd been more present in the book, although I suppose he'd have had to appear Bad for most of the time, which would have made it more difficult to accept him as Good in the end.

Also, Neville Longbottom, you are my goddamn hero and always have been.

Where is Luna's Quidditch commentary?

HBP.

I was so sure he was good even after the events of HP6, and then for so much of book 7 it seemed like he might be all evilified after all, which made me really upset, so I was extremely relieved to find out where his true loyalties lay.

Same thing for me. For most of the book, I was thinking, "...Holy shit. No way. Snape is NOT actually evil. This isn't right. This is fucking stupid. Don't ruin everything, Rowling! Wait, no, he's DEAD?? DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES...unless you're in this book. Whew."

So, Dumbledore ISN'T Ron...

would've been nice if JK could've split up the tent-chapters by devoting one or two chapters to Hogwarts

I was thinking the same thing! But, on the other hand, other than a chunk in the beginning, the books are pretty much Harry's POV. "Meanwhile, at Hogwarts" would have been satisfying, but it would have been a big departure.

So glad I'm not the only one!

Now I'm so glad I'm not the only one!

Thanks for the fic link. I'll take a look at it once LJ is up again.

I'm listening to The Secret Garden soundtrack now. Trying to get that song back in its proper context and out of my brain.

I'll take a look at it once LJ is up again.

It's up.

A friend of mine is reading. She just IMed me:

"Permittez-moi to assister vous?" Since Ron is taken, I think I should like to marry Fred Weasley. Or George. I'm not that fussy.

She's going to be wrecked in about 400 pages.

Oooh. Just read it. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it was really great.

I find myself really really wanting a Draco POV for that scene. And for most of the battle scene, too, though I think he was knocked out for much of that.

She's going to be wrecked in about 400 pages.

Hey, there's still one left! She's not fussy!

Depends on whether she likes ears.