It is finished!!!

We've done it! Last night Stephen and I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows aloud to each other, though Steve had to do most of the reading, tears were sliding down my cheeks for the last two hours, stealing my breath. It was absolutely fantastic! She truly surpassed herself... !!!PLOT SPOILER WARNING!!!

Though there were elements we had hoped and predicted I was amazed at how she broadened the story, the fast moving pace of the entire book and the absolutely monumental Hogwarts Battle and ending. It actually exceeded my expectations.

You may remember a few weeks back I made some predictions about the book. I thought it might be fun to recap them and see how close I got:

Prediction 1
We will find out what happened in the 24hours between the Potter's death and Harry's injury and Dumbledore's delivery of Harry to the Dursleys. My prediction is Harry will return to Godrick's Hollow and with a surviving time turner will return to the night of his parents death and have to watch without intervening so the future wasn't changed (ala Back to the Future) and then he'll meet with Dumbledore in the missing 24hours.
Alas, though this would have been a most intrigueing story we are none the wiser about the missing 24 hours. Oh well, the book doesn't lack anything for it.

Prediction 2
Harry's scar is a horcrux. If he is not a horcrux then he's something very closely connected which is how he has enjoyed so many of Voldemort's powers and insight into his mind. This does raise the ineresting point that Harry will have to kill him self, the ultimate sacrifice to completely destroy Voldemort.
I was right! I was right! Fantastically done, the long slow walk to death, his ghostly companions, the matrix like meeting with Dumbledore at Kings Cross and the inevitable rise to victory. Very well done, I was truly blown away and I was expecting it.

Prediction 3
Wormtail will sacrifice himself to save Harry to repay his life debt.
Not entirely correct but he did betray a hesitation and died at his own hand. What a fantastic death.

Prediction 4
Snape is grey, both good and bad. He loved Harry's mother Lilliy but hated his father James. He isn't faithful to Voldemort or Dumbledore as he wants power for himself, but out of love for Lilly he will protect Harry, he may even be the one to murder Voldemort as Rowling has made murder the most horrendous thing anyone can do so does she really want her 17 year old hero to take a life?
Nearly right, I enjoyed the tail of the Prince immensly. He only sought power at a young age but he did love Lily!

Prediction 5
Harry will go beyond the viel in the ministry of magic and will see Sirius.
I knew the theme of the dead arrising would be in this book but I have to confess I was swayed by the miss-leading US cover. Much prefer the UK one as I am assuing the US one is supposed to be in hogwarts??? Lord knows.

Prediction 6
Harry and Ginny will get married and have lots of babies, as will Ron and Hermione.
Yay! I was right! Long live Rose, James, Albus and Teddy!

My other highlights included Neville's rebellion, Kreacher's redemption, the Hallow mythology, the complexity of Dumbledore's motivation and Ron and Hermione's long awaited kiss. What a triumphant ending! Mrs Rowlng, you have truly surpassed yourself. Thank you for this story. xc

Comments

[Adam]

I have a confession to make I cried whilst reading this book...twice (well I balled the 2nd time). I know shock, the boy who never cries at any movie or horrific/moving real life event (usually for Lisa its Extreme makeover House edition that makes her ball).
PLOT SPOILERS APPROACHING ;-)
The scene where dobby dies and Harry burries him made me proper cry, but Harry's walk into the forbidden forrest made me ball ridiculously! especially the line "I didn't want u to die...and does it hurt?".
Rowling is a GENIOUS never have I read such an emotive story! I can't wait or the film to come out with the huge battle at the end, they better not cut it down as they did in Order of the Phoenix and Radcliffe needs a few more acting lessons!
The battle was awesome! Neville hands down kick his ass!
x

[Carla Harding]

Totally with you by the end I was crying at everything PLOT SPOILER even Kreacher leading the house elves into battle :*( xc

[scot]

i've only just been able to read the rest of the post. finished the book last night. i think i started crying when Dobby died and whimpered my way through to the end. I was gobsmacked (first time i've used that word in years) by the Snape twist what a hero!! and then Harry names his son Albus Severus after 2 Hogwarts headmasters the second being possibly the bravest man he has ever met, well that praise set me off all over again!
I also bought the 7th part of the DT series when in the UK but to be honest i need to get over this book first... i know misty would say i'm incredibly sad but i dont care. :)

[Stig]

I loved it... As simple as that... I cried... Yes! The macho-manly-man Stig cried! Especially at the point where his mother and father comes back with help from the ressurection stone...
And Dumbledore telling Harry in earnest that he, Harry, was a better man than himself... Oh man... My life will never be the same again...

[MisterDavid]

Hey, have you read any of the books/websites/stuff that try to treat Rowling like the Christian author she is?

www.hogwartsprofessor.com is usually the best place to start, but it does tend to get quite intensely geeky, so be warned!

She's the world's most famous presbyterian, you know ...

[Stig]

You should really read the hogwartsprofessor.com site! There are loads of things there about symbolism used in the HP books.
Thanks MisterDavid!

Harry Potter sucks u guys r pansies and nerds.
who cares.... it's a freakin book!!!!!!