Chris Rankin Online

Guyermo · Alien Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 2099 Location: Berlin

So, who all here has finished the book so far?

it took me about 7 hours total, but i also had to cook lunch.

What did you think of the death?
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Delay is preferable to error
~ Thomas Jefferson

Azkabanite · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 8:07 am Post subject:

I think this one MAY be my favourite - it's darker, more serious, AND it does answer a whole lot of questions...

I hated the death. Ok, I know it had to happen, but I hated how it happened. I feel...deceived. I was counting on the HBP being redeemed...I cried like crazy. Esp at the funeral.

And I suddenly feel a much more love and pity for a certain Death Eater's son.

It also took me around 7 hours to read - started at 11am, finished at 6pm. Non-stop. I only had a break once or twice to take care of my cat.

Chris Rankin · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

loved it - read it straight through yesterday in one sitting - and am now mid wy through scribing my review for the bbc.

I was so happy for Harry and Ginny - they have to get back together...
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fight,fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never eradicated

Azkabanite · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 11:26 am Post subject:

Yeaaaa I have always been a Harry/Ginny shipper myself, and it made me happy. Tonks and Lupin made me even happier, though! I was smiling through my tears Smile

How do you feel about the way Percy is being, Chris?

Chris Rankin · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 11:43 am Post subject:

well, now the book is out, i can say that I had been told by our illustrious leader (JKR herself) that Percy would redeem himself slightly - and would atleast TALK to his family... We still don't know what they talked about while Harry and the Minister where outside in the garden, but I think he'll be a good boy in the end...

By the way - i'm very wary of the new Minister - I don't see him being a force for good.

I expected the death, and yet still, I had to read it three or four times before it actually sank in. Like the death of Sirius in OotP - it was over and done so suddenly it hardly seemed real. I suppose it is the magic equivalent of being shot in the head. How anyone, especially Snape, who although we've always had our doubts about, we've always hoped would turn out for the good, could be so heartless and cruel is still shocking.

How long do we have to wait for the final book? and what do we do after that?!
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fight,fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never eradicated

Guyermo · Alien Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 2099 Location: Berlin

I'm wary of anyone who wants to use teenagers as propaganda.

And Chris, how long do we wait for the next book? You're the only one here who has met JK Rowling for more than just a book signing, so you're our best clue, lol.

And what do we do after? I guess the only thing for smockers is to hope she publishes her notes and wait for your +1.

As for Snape, there are some clues that make me think the victim knew it was going to happen all along. He's just not the kind of person to plead for his life, if you know what i mean.

and how about all the raging hormones? After seeing how they acted, Percy was more than a bit of a prude in Book 2.

How's this for a catcher, none of the trio will apparently graduate Hogwarts, and presumably very little Hogwarts to be seen in the book
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Delay is preferable to error
~ Thomas Jefferson

Azkabanite · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 1:38 pm Post subject:

I also have a feeling that the new Minister for Magic is a prat. But I am waiting to see if that is true. He may end up doing something helpful.

I really, really WANT to believe that there is something good about Snape. Rowling can't do this to us, she really can't...I mean, there was a reason for her to make us feel pity for him in Book 5. And what he did was really to save Draco's life, wasn't it? Sadly, I cannot ignore completely the fact that he did kill the beloved Headmaster...

And one quesiton that keeps poking my brain is - what will happen to Draco?!

I cannot wait till the next book!! Grrrrr...

Maresa · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject:

*copies and pastes from her LJ*

These were my initial reactions when I finished the book. I left out stuff. MEH.

I.

KNEW.

IT.

I KNEW that Snape was the HBP. It was about halfway through the book, but I knew it. I originally thought, after seeing the handwriting, that it was possibly James; however, comparing the writing to POA, I saw that it was different. Not too long after that, I had this wild theory - SNAPE. We never knew his heritage, for sure, and it's Potions. WHY THE HELL NOT?!

I jumped up and down on my bed when I read what he said to Harry.

I knew that Dumbledore would die - it was the general consensus of my group that he would and that Harry wouldn't have him his last year - but I was shaking as he drank the potion. I didn't cry, though, until the funeral. Oh. My. BOB, I cried.

Speaking of his death... I was shocked by two things: 1) Draco COULDN'T do it, and the possibility that Dumbledore might have got him on the good side and 2) the fact that Snape did it. It took a while for it to sink in - if he HADN'T killed Dumbledore, he would have died, thanks to that Unbreakable Vow (which, coincedentally, sounded like something STRAIGHT out of fanfiction - I don't know if JKR's been doing some leisure reading or if the HP fandom has caught on to her style much better than ever thought!)

Snape killed Dumbledore... and he's still my favourite character. I wonder about my tastes.

When Moaning Mrytle mentioned a crying boy, my IMMEDIATE thought was Draco. I jumped up and down in the kitchen, saying "Booyah!" repeatedly to nobody in particular.

OH. Snape's house. *squee* I nearly wet myself with excitement at the insight. Books all over the walls? TOTALLY expected.

YAY FOR HARRY AND GINNY!!11klajdsjafljlQJ

BOO FOR RON AND LAVENDER AND TEH SNOGGING!!1ON1

YAY FOR RON AND HERMIONE AT THE FUNERAL!!!111

BOO FOR NO OTHER BLATANT RON/HERMIONENESS!!11

YAY FOR TONKS AND REMUS!!!Lj1lj!

BOO FOR BILL HAVING TO DEAL WITH FLEUR!1

And the warewolf bite. Nasty thing, that.

The twins' are still awesome.

Percy's still a prat.

As for R.A.B., I strained to think of somebody, but came up with nothing.

UNTIL Hermione started naming names.

REGULUS.

BLACK.

From Order of the Pheonix, Chapter six, page 112 (US edition):

...But I bet my parents thought Regulus was a right little hero for joining up at first."

"Was he killed by an Auror?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Oh no," said Sirius. No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely. I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then pankicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."

I bet you a million Galleons it was Regulus A. Black.
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Guyermo · Alien Joined: 08 Apr 2003 Posts: 2099 Location: Berlin

there's a quote i saw on The Leaky Lounge had a theory, that there was a locket mentioned in book 5 in Grimmauld Place that could be the real locket Harry and Dumbledore were looking for.
_________________
Delay is preferable to error
~ Thomas Jefferson

Brandywine_River · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:31 pm Post subject:

I loved the book in all -had a slight heart attack with the poison and Ron but then anyone who actually remembers me will know why Laughing

I thought it was truly an amazingly clever novel, which kept me hooked when it could. But i am so disappointed with myself, letting myself fall in love with the romantical fancies of Snape in my mind Shocked

I feel like i should be slapping myself with a wet kipper, yet at the same time, strangely yearning that maybe he's not a cold, mindless murderer and that somewhere along the line, Dumbledore actually asked him to murder him, rather than put Draco through the rigmorale of the traumatising thing. I think this is what they call denile.

I laughed myself silly over Ron/Lavender. But at the ending, the funeral, where he and Hermione sat.... it was the first actual time Ron had shown any emotion in the series, and (this is taking alot from me...) i was almost GLAD he was sharing it with Hermione. Ergh, i don't like this feeling, i've grown up Wink

I say well done to JKR for creating a beautifully dark novel, managing to keep the tone funny as well as surprising in many places.
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Don't need to live my life by a book.

scarlett_csa · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

First of all, I love Ron/Hermione! They are like so cute together. And boo for Bill and Fleur, I never did like her in the 4th book, she just seemed annoying to me.

And omg the death, I cried. I knew it was going to happen, but still.

And Draco crying, that was odd right there. I had to re-read that section, his mom is a prat.

And I don't like the minister. He seems, weird.

OMG...Weasley love!! So much Weasley love. I loved the part when Ron hexed Ginny, it was a total brother/sister moment....and more twin love! I adored the shop when they asked her who she was dating. *giggles* And Percy's not much of a prat after all.

I hope Snape dies....I.hate.him.with.a.passion.

One word: Quiddtich...

I have to say this is the best one yet.
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Part of the Max Benitz therpy group. *twitches*

Cupcake of Doom · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 3:48 am Post subject:

Finished it in a record (for me at least) 4 hours. It took a lot of coffee and a comforable seating place, but I did it!!

I think 'wow' sums up my reaction to the book nicely Shocked

will probably comment more after I've gotten some sleep.

Joia · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:05 am Post subject:

Initially reaction to the whole Snape thing.. devestation! I think I had to reread it about 5 times cuz at that point I thought exhaustion had set in & I was reading it wrong. I started sobbing hysterically.. how could Snape, MY Snape, do this!

It bothered me all freakin day until I came up with some ideas that Snape was actually doing the right thing. You know how Hagrid heard Snape arguing with Dumbledore, that he didn't want to do "it" anymore. I think he meant he didnt want to kill Dumbledore. DD seemed to hint throughout the whole book that he was going to die. Plus DD doesnt seem like the type of person who would plea for his life. It just seemed a bit staged for me. Then there's the whole thing that Snape didn't curse Harry at all the entire night. All he did was block the curses - didnt even stun him. It just seemed a bit weird. Plus Snape has settled into his pattern of redemption, so I'm not keen on thinking it's gonna finish now. There has always been a lot more to Snape than we know and after much deliberation & many hours of panicking & crying, I have come to the conclusion that there still is hope for our beloved Potions Master.

As for Percy.. I still love him lol.

Lupin - WAY too cute! Very Happy

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"I suppose fighting for love makes more sense than all the rest."

Maresa · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 5:09 am Post subject:

Yes, I do believe that a Horcrux is the locket that was found in Grimmauld Place.

I also believe that Snape and Dumbledore had an Unbreakable Vow, something that would require Snape to do whatever it took to keep his cover, and that is why Dumbledore trusts him so very much. We know we're going to find out, and I know that there is NO WAY Dumbledore trusted Snape THAT much because of what he overheard and what he told Snape. There has to be more to it.

Also, several people believe that Snape and Dumbledore were communicating through Legilldsjfljjklaj before he died, and that Dumbledore was pleading for his death, which would save both Snape's and Draco's live, from the wrath of the Death Eaters.

And, something else I put elsewhere:

For half of the book, I agreed with Hermione - that the HBP was a GIRL, possibly Lily, given what Sluggy kept saying. (I know that doesn't really go hand-in-hand with what I said earlier, but I originally typed that in at four in the morning right after finishing the book.)

But the thing that I didn't understand was how Harry didn't recognise the handwriting as Snape's. It's been mentioned before about Snape's "spidery handwriting", and while I realise people's handwriting can definitely change over time (Sirius' did), but - and maybe I'm hallucinating - didn't Sluggy say he would have recognised the handwriting as Snape's? *shrug*

OH. And two things I realised while at work:

1) The book is green to represent Avada Kedavra.

2) Harry has seen two people he loathes - Snape and Draco - in very vulnerable and human positions. He saw Snape's worst memory in Order, which I believe is his worst because James, the boy he, Snape, hated, used a curse that Snape himself created! And used for his complete humiliation. But that's just my theory.

And Harry walked in on Draco while he was crying, which shocked him, and when he saw what he'd done to Malfoy with the curse, he felt horrible about it all, because, for all he's said in the past, he would never want to willingly HURT Malfoy. Make him hop around with Jelly Legs or get boils in unpleasant places, sure, but I don't think Harry would ever make an effort to injure Malfoy.
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Azkabanite · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 12:04 pm Post subject:

Mars - you and I have THE SAME BRAIN. I suh-where to GAWSH.

I also thought of Regulus Black for the R.A.B. business! Nad I also KNEW KNEW KNEW that Snape was the HBP. And he is STILL my fave character!

I am still in denial about him killing Dumbledore. It wasn't HIM, it was his TWIN, I SWEAR! ok ok I know it was him but *cries*

I also knew immediately that Draco was the boy who was crying in the bathroom. I DEFINITELY have a soft spot for the boy now...

I like the whole 'Snape and Dumbledore had planned this!' theory, but I dunno if it is true...