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Beth4freedom
Member
10-24-2003
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 8:27 am
oops, here's my neutral opening statement. Now onto the real stuff... I am really mad at Jo Rowling for killing off Hedwig. I found a Barnes and Noble forum where they had been discussing would this happen or not. The general feeling was "not" as it would be "overkill", and I agree. In all the deaths, I notice she has generally spared the younger characters that kids would most identify with--Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna?. Cedric we had only gotten to know briefly at the time of his death. Usually, it's the older characters....except Fred Weasley would be an exception this time, and that one also makes me sad. But the owl....WHY the owl? I just can't forgive Jo. I am dealing with 2 possible deaths in real life in my family, and here I have to stew over an imaginary owl?! And I would think kids--and all animal lovers--would find it upsetting to say the least. It's cast a pale over the entire series for me. When I would think of Hedwig, I would soar with her, feeling free and unencumbered, and also appreciate her loyalty and bonding with her human. I think it was a real misjudgement to have included that. I have been thinking of trading my book in. As I say, I have enough to worry about in real life, and now I find myself deeply mourning a fictional owl, for gosh's sake. If it wasn't for the fact that you have to feed them rats (oh why do I always love the carnivores, like my cat), I'd consider going out and getting an owl myself so I would feel better. Just an interesting tidbit: In a pre-release interview I read somewhere, JKR was asked which 5 of her characters she would like to invite for tea and a talk. She said Harry, Ron and Hermione of course...and then paused, and said she didn't know what to say about the other 2 because "you see, I know who dies....and can you invite people who are dead?". From that point on, I figured Harry/Ron/Hermione survived. I keep wondered who her other 2 guests would have been...maybe Snape (I sure would love to talk to him)...maybe Lupin? Anyway right now I would like one of those spells that erases things so I could stop thinking about Harry Potter and beautiful Hedwig. Now everytime I see her in a film, I will think of her death. Please wipe it out for me :-((((((((((
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 9:38 am
Ahh, SHOOT!!! Mods, could you add a hand-slapping to my previous post to keep the first sentence from spoiling? Thank you!
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 1:31 pm
well lets all dance... Beth, I have to add this about Hedwig (I've posted in other places about how this hurt me too!) I think now it was kind of JK to let Hedwig be first - how many of us have had pets that die? It also hit me hard and I heard a voice as tears are streaming down my face reading of Hedwig's death ("only an owl, its not even a real owl, stop crying you idiot!!" said me to myself!) I remembered a lesson I learned - when we experience a death, we are reminded of all those that have died before... sometimes we can be strong, or stoic and brace ourselves against the pain... but when a death of a beloved pet, an innocent animal - that gives us love unconditionally... that usually hits us harder than human deaths... so in that I think JK was being realistic... and, for all the kids that read this and struggle with the deaths to come... in their lives... sometimes having experienced a death, a fanatsy death - helps them to experience death in a "safe" way... When I taught preschool we had a pet hamster die, and having gone thru some training I read books to the kids (The Fall of Freddy the Leaf in particular) and we talked about death and dying, my assitant teacher bawled for days!! She said it helped her understand so much... When I taught 3rd grade I always included a book I read aloud to the class - A Taste of Blackberries, by Doris Smith - about how kids innocently anger a bee hive and one boy dies from the sting... and how his best friend deals with it) Death is a hard subject to talk about... I believe that using literature helps...and I hope it gets better!
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 2:35 pm
Here is some spoiler space. I'm pretty sure this is enough. I thought it was a great finish! I have to admit Hedwig's death didn't bother me greatly. I thought she was a great owl and a great character but I was just happy that so many of Harry's friends made it though okay. I guess I was expecting worse. Awfully sorry about the three that didn't make it though. There were a few parts of the book that hit me emotionally that no one seems to have mentioned. While I was upset over Dobby's death, I felt much more emotional about Kreacher and his realization that Harry and even perhaps Hermione were nice people. The other part of the book that I loved was when Harry got to see Snape's memories. Put me down as someone who loved the epilogue and particularly the part where Harry paid tribute to Snape when he told his son why he named him after him. Throughout the entire series I was hoping that Snape wasn't evil. I just love redemption in characters. As far as the epilogue being soppy, I was just happy to see that these characters actually went on and lived happy lives after all that they had been through.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 2:52 pm
Won't skip the spoiler line twice, not that slow a learner. LOL Have to say that with all the big-talk I have done about Snape... I was very satisfied that not only did he redeem himself but was recognized as being on the side of good right from the beginning. I would have hated to have to eat crow on that count. LOL My instinct about Dudley was also correct but on the whole I was caught offguard (aka wrong) about more then I was right about. I was wrong about Neville and Luna getting together. Wrong about the Potter family playing a role in this book. Wrong about Snape getting in a final betrayal that would help Harry defeat Voldemort.
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 4:01 pm
Best.Book.Ever! Her creativity is amazing. I cried and cried over Dobby! I think I cried more about Dobby than any of the human characters, although I cried for Sirius in OotP and for Fred also. I didn't cry over Dumbledore... I had read a spoiler months before and knew it was coming and after that I was so determined not to talk about, look at, and completely avoid all things Harry this week. She answered the questions I wanted her to answer. I was the first person in my little circle to pick up on the gleam of triumph in Dumbledore's eye when Voldemort got some of Harry's blood (Goblet of Fire?) and I have wanted that to be explained ever since. I also like how Wormtail went, that moment of hesitation costing him... And I liked how in the end Narcissa was a mom first and foremost and betrayed Voldemort to help save Draco. The love of parents for their children is one of the most beautiful things about life. I thought it was fitting that Harry ended up as a godfather himself. I liked the epilogue. I think she put it in there to really end the question of whether more will follow. I am glad she is not writing more books because it needs to end exactly where it ended, although an appendix that answers questions would be great also. I really thought Snape would be bad. EVeryone around me was like, "No, no, he will redeem himself!" and I wanted him to so much that I was afraid to believe he would because I didn't want to be disappointed. I love that he did. Many of the theories that I have read about or talked about with others came true-- such as Snape being in love with Lily and Harry being the final Horcrux. I loved how all the characters came together in the final battle. Love Neville! Love Luna! It was all just amazing. I'm so happy!
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Lycanthrope
Member
09-19-2002
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:08 am
I guess I have to put this sentence in for spoiler space I was wrong about Snape. He turned out to be good, and Dumbledore was right about him. I was surprised at the sympathy I felt for him during his chapter. I was right about Harry being the final Horcrux. But I was happy that he didn't have to die. He turned out to be a true hero in every sense of the word. I'm glad he married Ginny and had 3 cool kids. I think his 2nd son, Albus Severus, will be the more powerful of all his kids. I'd like to see some stories surrounding him. I'm glad that Hermione and Ron got married and had kids. Their kids will no doubt be very intelligent thanks to Hermione. And very precocious thanks to Ron. I'm sorry that Dobby, Hedwig, Fred, Nymphadora, and Remus had to die. That sucked. But in war, there are always casualties, and often it is our friends. I'm glad that Percy came back into the fold. I'm glad that Mrs. Weasley killed Bellatrix. And finally, I'm glad that the Malfoy's eventually came 'round to the truth. Draco isn't a Death Eater, and he's sending his kids Hogwarts. Makes him more human, methinks. I'm also glad that Kingsley is Minister of Magic at the end. He seemed like the most even tempered, but also fierce, Aurors. He will keep the peace.
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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:16 am
In my house we got to read according to speed. I am the fastest so I began at 12:01 Saturday. At 2 am Sunday I handed off to my eldest daughter who will pass it on to the 15 yr old, etc. But now I am stuck waiting until everyone I know (who have lives and can't devote as much time to reading) to finish so I can discuss it. LOL If I have complaints about the book, they are very minor, (I definately thought this was the best of the seven): 1) Wish it could have been Neville who got to kill Belletrix to avenge his parents (although looking at it, it seems Rowling kept her kids' souls murder free all-around). Even Harry didn't have to kill Voldemort at the end. 2) Would have liked to have know what professions they turned out to have (told you they were minor complaints). Guessing Harry and Ginny to both be Aurors. Ron and Hermione I have no clue. I like to think that Hermione, being so attached to her books, became a historian/author. We know Ron isn't a professor but I always thought he would be a great teacher in spite of his own less than dazzling performance. LOL
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:24 am
Finished mine Saturday Afternoon. Loved it. Perfect ending to a perfect story. Very sad about Hedwig & Dobby's death. I think my most surprising and emotional moments were when Snape was killed, reading his back story and when Harry called his son Albus Severus. I have been a champion for Snape since the book began. That Harry named his son for him really spoke volumes. One scene I didn't like is Mrs Weasly calling Bellatrix a B*tch. Seemed a bit out of character, but I am glad she killed the old bag. Questions I have are: What happened to the remaining professors? Who was headmaster at Hogwarts? What happened to Luna, Dean, Seamus and Hagrid? What did Harry do with Kreacher and his house? And where did they live now? Can't believe it is all over. I think we need another book. 
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 5:33 am
Oh yeah.. What did they all end up dong for living? What happened to the Dursleys? If Harry was the Godfather of Teddy.. did he end up raising him? If not who did? I really think there needs to be another book to answer my questions.. 
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 6:00 am
Interesting Petition Save Harry http://www.saveharrypotter.co.uk/
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 7:51 am
My sis called me last night to let me know she had finally finished and she had the same minor complaint about not knowing what they ended up doing for a living. She also thought it was left open for more books...not about Harry, but about his kids or parents. I had to laugh because I read a lot of sci fi and fantasy and when I finished with HP, I thought about several of my favorite authors who had series they finished then came back a few years later starting another series with either the same characters older or with their children off on adventures of their own. Hagrid was still at Hogwarts at the end because when they were getting the kids ready to go, one of them mentioned to the kids to remember they had an appt to have tea with him.
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 7:58 am
Oh Yeah! Thanks. I totally overlooked that line.
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Eris
Member
11-13-2003
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:24 am
lalalalalala I absolutely love JK Rowling...sure there are some "flaws" in each of her books....but when I think about the work she put out there...how hard writing a book is in general-let alone 7 of this magnitude...wow. I was an emotional wreck pretty much from around page 650 on...I couldn't be more happy with how things turned out though. Sure there are characters who I wouldn't have wanted to see killed, but the story itself is just genius. All of the things Rowling manages to squeeze into these books...little lessons. Its fabulous and I don't care what the witch haters say I am so glad my daughter reads them! btw...how cute is my kid...we got the books-one for each of us because i figured we wouldn't want to share. She gets hers and within an hour i go to check on her so we can talk about where we're at so far. She isn't readin!!! I about died...I asked her why she wasn't reading and she said "Mom, this is the last book....we must savor it!" lol

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Rissa
Member
03-20-2006
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:40 am
Eris, get that girl in line!!! LOLOL One of the reasons I barricaded myself away until I finished the book was so I COULD savour it. I was terrified that within a few days the *accidental* as well as intentional spoilers would just be too prevalent. The more I think about it, the more one thing impresses me more than anything else. At the end of the day, after this horrendous war and all the death/battles... JKR made sure that not one single one of her *children* had blood on their hands. She has repeatedly said that the books get darker as the characters (and readers) age and mature but I love that she followed that logic that her characters (and readers) are still teenagers and she truly respected that.
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Eris
Member
11-13-2003
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:44 am
lol no kidding huh Rissa! I keep telling her she is going to kick herself because it will be impossible for her friends (or the general public) to keep it quiet for long! I was so scared I would get spoiled....or spoil myself. I can't tell you how hard it was not to read that last chapter first! lol
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:50 am
I have a question: The woods scene where V "killed" Harry the first time - why didn't the wand revert back and Kill Voldemort then as it did in the final scene? Favorite Line: George & Fred when they turned into Harry "Hey, Were Identical!" Cracked me up.
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Neko
Member
08-03-2001
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 9:06 am
Well I'm assuming the reason the wands didn't kick back and kill him, was because Harry's wand wasn't in his hand, it was tucked into his cloak. For the kick back to occur, Harry probably has to spell at the same time, like when they first joined wands in GoF. Or maybe the wand knew that Harry had to do this, get "killed"?? It sounds weird, but stranger things have happen in the Potter-verse.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 9:15 am
Sis was telling me somewhere in England they had a hotline set up for kids who were upset that the series was ending. She said she laughed when she saw it on the news..until she got to the Snape's memories chapter and realized what had to happen, lol. Then she wanted to stop reading the book all together and give them a call! In the forrest scene, Harry didn't fight death. He walked up and accepted it because he knew he had to die. Maybe that's the reason the wand didn't kick the spell back and Voldermort then?
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:02 am
Could be. Maybe JK will put up a questions page sometime 
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:14 am
OOPS! Almost forgot to do a spoiler line. My guess for the reason that the wand didn't kill Voldemort in the woods is that the wand killed the Horcrux in Harry instead. Or War's reason sounds reasonable to me as well.
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Hermione69
Member
07-24-2002
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 10:57 am
Good one, Jimmer!
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Alisons
Member
01-10-2003
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 11:56 am
spoiler spoiler spoiler OK, could someone please explain the logic to me that the elder wand did not really belong to V but to Draco? How do they figure that? Snape killed Dumbledore, Nagini killed Snape and Neville killed Nagini. Shouldn't the elder wand have belonged to Neville?
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Terolyn
Member
05-06-2004
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:12 pm
toodle toodle dum dee dee dum... From what I understand, Draco came out and disarmed Dumbledore - thus being the one who took the wand away from him. Snape killed him when he had already lost ownership to Draco.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Monday, July 23, 2007 - 1:16 pm
I was wondering about that too. Excellent explanation.
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