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Reader Comments: (Page 16)

It was disappointing that Snape did not appear in the portraits of the Headmasters (and perhaps a meeting between the portrait of Snape and Harry Potter sometime after the events would have made a better epilogue). My main gripe was the failure to mention the importance of ‘wand lore’ in the other books – not even a hint (unless I missed something – I’m sure someone come back with quotes). The reason I avoid -mystery books is the revelation of a vital clue in the vital chapter not hinted at in the text until that point. Other than that I must remember that these books are essentially children’s fiction and that the general thrust of the story remained constant through with the inevitable triumph of good, love and honour over evil, hate and betrayal. I look forward to reading them to my children in a few years time.

One flippant point though – has anyone notice that Albus Severus Potter initials be ASP – a poisonous snake …

Posted by prawny369 from Exeter,UK on July 23, 2007 04:20 AM

Pat from Cleveland was spot on: Harry didn't " and come back" (although we are right on the boundaries of what is in the Kings Cross chapter - see the quotations on the page before the first page of Chapter 1). It was sufficient that Harry had found the ingness to .
On the whole, speaking as a older reader, I feel that JKR wrapped it up quite well and didn't take up too much room in winding down after the climax (remember the "too many endings" problem in LOTR/Return of the King). I had a bit of a problem with the battle scenes, which took some focus away from the impending one-to-one between HP and Lord V - it was a bit like watching the classic timestretched showdown from Once Upon A Time In The West and having it interrupted by clips from the Battle of Little Bighorn. (I acknowledge that the second battle scene got some important plot points out of the way, e.g. seeing Bellatrix off).

Lastly, because of the quick wrap-up to the story, we didn't get to see Snape's nor his portrait in the Headmaster's study, but I like to visualize that Snape himself - or at least his portait would some day get to see HP acknowledging the owed.

Lastly - for now - there are rumours here in UK of a "Please-JKR-can-we-have-some-more" petition or some such thing.
PLEASE NO! It's over, a finished story, rounded and complete. I can imagine how younger and impassioned readers might crave for more, but us older folks have learnt the life lesson that one has to move on.
Or - old showbiz motto - "Leave 'em wanting more".

Posted by Elder Lupus from Leicester, UK on July 23, 2007 04:22 AM

What an amazing book! I don't think I have cried and laughed so much throughout ANY book - EVER.
But it has left me with so many questions...
I created many a 'theory' that was way off the mark but I didn't care because all I really wanted was for Harry to live and for Snape to be good.
I'm still wondering though if that dragon had 'Property of Gringotts' stamped on it!
I was absolutely heartbroken when Snape d, actually I am still heartbroken.

Posted by Orlando from England on July 23, 2007 04:41 AM

I think the cover has to be the final battle in hogwarts. I agree that it's probably the point when harry has expelliarmused voldemort of his wand, and is reaching out to grap it. This would explain the people watching in the background. JK describes the sun rise at this moment, with the reddish sun bursting through the windows of the great hall. Also, it looks like they are outside due to the enchanted ceiling.

Posted by Andrew from New Jersey on July 23, 2007 04:52 AM

Hey you guys,
I've just realised - there's a FIREMEN'S LIFT in Hogwarts! (UK edition, 556)... I'm quite sure it's an accidental mistake, I mean Hogwarts don't need firemen to put out all the fires, they's got wands and "Aguamenti". Maybe it's just an enchanted...I was laughing when I read that and only caught it after a third read...

Posted by Frutti from Singapore on July 23, 2007 05:00 AM

I too thought it to be a great ending to the series. I didn't agree with every part though, there were several unexplained factors. The one that most troubled me was that Moody made the anti-Snape-spells in Harry's home, but they should have stopped working when he d, because all your spells end when you ...
Also, what happened to Mundungus after he was questioned by Harry? He just disappeared from the book, or at least I missed his return to the story. The Dursly story also missed a sequel, but I didn't really miss that. It would have been a boring continuation anyway. And finally, as everyone here is complaining about: what does Harry do now? Did he become an agent for the new ministry, or did he become what I would want him to become: professional seeker in a quidditch team? Finally only a great game to worry about.

Fun to read on this site that everyone cried during the of Hedwig and Dobby, and Fred, Lupin and Tonks. I didn't cry, but that's just me, I don't cry reading books, but I had the toughest time when I found out that Moody had been ed. During the chase in the beginning I was sure that at least he would get back alright.

I was happy that Neville got to conjure teh sword out of the hat as well as Harry in book 2. Dumbledore said in the end of that book: "It takes a real Gryffindor to conjure his sword out of the hat". Well done Neville! McGonagall said it over and over again, all he was lacking was confidence.

Posted by Reinier from The Netherlands on July 23, 2007 05:01 AM

First of all, I wish to congratulate Jo on the incredible and amazing epic she has given the whole world...so if you ever read this Jo- i wish to give you A BIG HUG! Because i really cant express in words how much Harry Potter has taught me, has helped me, has become a part of my soul...I love him... and no matter how many people tell me that he's not real, he's just a character from a book...i cant forget the joy of discovering about Harry's world...

ly Hallows. Well,the first chapter shocked me, i really dunno why, because i know how wicked Voldy (are we safe to use the name now,or is it still a Taboo?)was, perhaps i just wasn't expecting such cruelty to come in the 1st chapter..."Dinner, Nagini"...

MAd Eye was a loss, but I couldnt help crying when Hedwig d...it was so sudden and she was such a part of Harry too...Dobby shouldnt have d...after saving Harry's life again too...another that brought tears into all fans' eyes...

I was absolutely TERRIFIED by the scene in with Nagini in Godric's Hollow...and was shocked at Ron leaving them...but more shocked when i saw what the locket-Horcrux showed them...I couldnt believe ROn would think like all those supporting Harry/Hermione pair...

Dumbledore's past was interesting (revolting under Rita, ofcourse) but i thought that something like this must be expected after seeing him scream in the Cave...neverthless King's Cross was a fabulous chapter..i LOVED it best of all...I think the best part i like about Dumbledore is that he's so free with his emotions (everyone in Harry's world is)...men in our world would probably scorn...and even ridicule the idea of crying so easily...

"Does it hurt?" was one of the most hurting things I've ever read...I felt VERY bad throughout the chapter...When AK was fired at him the soul attached to him...Voldy's soul was ed...thats why he was able to come back...and as Harry said-he had given up his life, yes, he had mentally given up his life (it wasnt his fault he didnt !) and thats why all those whom he'd tried to protect by were safe from Voldy (which makes it the whole world, actually)...

I always believed that Snape was good and after i read that rumours book...i realised that his live for Lily HAD to be the reason he came over...but his words also had me in tears...I dont know whether even James loved Lily POtter as much as her best friend Severus Snape...

In this book all the characters are a lot more matured
..i knew Harry was serious about Ginny but never thought of it as pure, deep love which could extend beyond snogging...here they just act like they were made for each other (they ARE made for each other)...and Ron and Hermione were..just perfect..

I dont think Albus Severus is a silly name..it appealed to me a lot, emotionally,and thats what i think Harry would have felt too...Mrs. Weasley ing Bellatrix came as a real surprise, Remus and Tonks too were great losses...But Fred's was the worst..there was no reason to him...ironically, in the beginning of the book, George says that they can differentiate between them due to his ear, but in the end there doesnt remain anyone to confuse him with...

What happened to Luna? and the rest? Who was supposed to do magic late in life? What are the Weasleys doing? What did Aunt Petunia want to tell Harry before leaving? And why, why did Jo say "19 years later"...it makes no sense... because Jo generally adds some special significance to nearly all numbers she uses...

I am devasted that this journey has finished..no more Hogwarts or Harry ever help me to forget our mundane, Muggle world again...and the worst part is...I cant cope with idea of him having children and getting married (being only 16)..though he's still the best in that role..

I shall miss you Harry, but never forget you. Thank you, Jo.

Posted by Maithri Hegde from Bangalore,India on July 23, 2007 05:04 AM

could the person who performed magic later in life be dudley? when he told harry that he didn't think he was a waste of space? because i dunno bout anyone else, but i thought that was pretty magical.

Posted by claire from australia on July 23, 2007 05:11 AM

I haven't read all these comments, so I'm sorry if this has been asked already, but didn't she say that a muggle was going to perform magic somewhere in this book? I kept waiting to see who was going to do it, and then nothing ever came. All in all, I'm glad for the resolution, glad Harry lived, and enjoyed a number of the things that went on, but I felt the book on the whole was a lot weaker than I expected. It was good, but not the powerful ending to the series I had hoped for.

Posted by Sean Morris from Burlington, IA on July 23, 2007 05:13 AM

One more comment from me...I wonder if I'm the only one that jumped for pure joy when Percy made his appearance at the end for the big battle? I've been waiting for 2 books for him to pull his head out and rejoin his family. And the way J.K. pulled that one off was wonderful, even though my heart broke for him when Fred d and he was there with him...not wanting to leave his brother there.

Posted by Ginger from Texas on July 23, 2007 05:38 AM

I loved the book! I thought it was great and also enjoyed the epilogue, although it was a bit cheesy! I have some answers for some of the questions people have asked, although Phoebe from the Philippines does a great job of answering them all!

Dumbledore explained that Harry was the true master of , maybe not in the literal sense, but because of his sacrifice, giving himself to . I think its up to the individual what they read into this – was the meeting with Dumbledore real or was Harry imagining it – or both, as Dumbledore said? If we assume Harry was the master of in the literal sense, this also makes sense. He possessed the Cloak; Dumbledore had bequeathed him the Stone (in the Snitch); and he won the Elder Wand through disarming Malfoy, who originally won it through disarming Dumbledore. It would never have worked correctly for Snape or Voldemort, which is why Voldemorts spell backfired and ed him.

I also think that, the reason that Dumbledore was able to defeat Grindelwald was because they were equals and the wand did not work correctly for Grindelwald because he did not win it by disarming or ing the previous owner – he stole it from Gregorovitch, just as Voldy stole it from Dumbledore’s grave.

And Harry’s eyes! I agree with...Phoebe again I think said it? Well, Lily’s eyes…I think it was the reason that Snape helped Harry, because of his love for Harry’s mother, and what did Harry have? Lily’s eyes! This seemed evident as Snape’s words were ‘Look at me’, so he would have d with that last memory of Lily.

All the unanswered questions always be a problem, such as character development. I think JK was right to concentrate on the lives of the three main characters, and Neville and Draco. If not, she would be writing a whole other book about what became of everyone, giving all the fans just enough detail and back-story to make everyone happy…it has to end somewhere!

I think how someone becomes a ghost was explained by Nearly Headless Nick ages ago, and touched on in this book, as those who chose to go on (as in to the next adventure e.g Dumbledore, Harry’s parents) do not become ghosts.

It would make sense, as someone said, for Teddy’s grandmother to raise him as opposed to Harry, a jobless 17 year old?!

I think the questions people are asking about are explained in the book, you all whizzed through it too quickly! Go back, read again, think about stuff, read the other books if you need to connect past references, and it make a lot more sense! Like Phoebe says, JK has answered or referenced everything in at least one of the 7 books, sometimes it is not plainly written and takes some imagination, but it is all there!

Posted by Andi from England on July 23, 2007 05:39 AM

RIP
Dobby
Hedwig

Oh. Didnt rowling say er... some character do magic in late life circumstances? who was it. and, we still dunno what happened to petunia. I'm sorry, maybe i took the book to quickly. someone help?

Also, what was dudley's worse memory when he saw the dememtors? or does it not matter?

Posted by Kelvin from HK on July 23, 2007 05:48 AM

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