For a random change of topic... There is an amazing new website about the King James' Bible that is a collaboration between the Folger, the Bodelian and another research center that escapes my memory.
It's sort of a time suck, but interesting too. My knowledge, prior to grad school, of the battle of church reformation in England was pretty limited, but the bible translations were a big piece of it.
You can find it here: [link]
My favorite fact so far is that there were roughly 4 dozen translators who worked on the Bible. That surprised me.
I just (as in, about an hour ago) finished re-reading _Deathly Hallows_ as i had read it so quickly the first time it was almost skimming. (seriously, i remembered Snape's love, and Narcissa's love, and all the horcruxes, and seemingly everyone dying but other than that...)
The thing that is sticking with me right now? How did Neville get the sword of Gryffindor for the final battle? He clearly didn't have it until the very, very end and there's zero explanation as to how/why Griphook would have ever EVER relinquished a goblin treasure. Sure it was helpful, but Ron and Hermione also had armfuls o basilisk fangs which would have been just as effective.
The book is not judgy on Hermione wiping her parents' memories. She is upset about having to do it to protect them, but there is no judging from any other characters, who seem to perceive her misery over having done it as her being slightly melodramatic. The movie treats it very touchingly, and there is evident grief in her actions.
How do we know that Neville married Hannah Abbot? The spilogue mentions him as a Professor of Herbology but not his personal life. I kinda assumed he and Luna ended up together, because that would just be so pat.
edited to correct improper use of an apostrophe. cuz that'd be catastrophic. (in my mind, that was a word play on "apostrophe" but it doesn't scan in print.)
How did Neville get the sword of Gryffindor for the final battle?
From the sorting hat.
I'm not sure about Neville/Hannah
From the sorting hat.
Voldemort puts the sorting hat on Neville and lights it on fire. But Voldemort's spell freezing Neville isn't strong (and the sword drops rather painfully on top of Neville's noggin). Then Neville takes the sword and does Heroic Things.
How do we know that Neville married Hannah Abbot?
Post-textual interview with JKR. She noted that Neville find Luna a little scary. She winds up marrying somebody who wasn't in the books - another fan of exotic creatures.
Ah, ok. I can buy the sorting hat magically bestowing the sword. I bet Griphook was seriously pissed off.
I can buy the sorting hat magically bestowing the sword.
Especially since it had already pulled that trick in getting the sword to Harry in Chamber of Secrets.
I don't know if I like authors telling you in an interview stuff about the characters that was not in their texts. My highly entitled impulse is that if they want to tell stuff that is not their existing works, write some more damn stories... And I'd be curious to see JKR tackle the short story form anyway,
Ah, ok. I can buy the sorting hat magically bestowing the sword
Is it the sword or the phoenix that arrives when you show great allegiance to Dumbledore?
