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The Aftermath: We were all correct
by David Haber
Sometime a week before Book 7 came out, someone commented that Harry would die, but then come back. I think most everyone on the site thought it was a silly idea. But I told several people at that time that I thought that just might be the perfect solution, although I couldn't figure out how J.K. could make it work. J.K. did, of course! So, the half of the Harry Potter fans in the world who thought Harry would die were right! And the other half who thought he would live were also right!
> Read the full articlePages: << < 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 ... > >> Reader Comments: (Page 62) 'Ear, 'ear to Dave, indeed!
Something I just wanted to point out: wasn't it kind of neat when Harry thought of himself, Snape, and Voldemort as the three abandoned boys? They all have that in common, are 'connected' in that way. And, if you think about it... it's like: Harry is all good, Snape is in between, and Voldemort is all bad. Snape has his Harry side and his Voldemort side.
I don't know, I just found it rather fascinating! Posted by Katie T from California on July 27, 2007 12:23 PM
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"As for Harry, he tends to lose his temper a lot, especially towards his best friends. He's the pure of heart of course, but isn't it too "pure"? I mean, imagine someone who has grown up being neglected all the time, would he crave for some sense of belonging, importance and honor at times? He didn't know his parents at all before school, would anyone develop such a strong feelings towards the parents he never actually knows?"
Well, Fiona, most of the teenagers with whom I work have some kind of temper or angst - life trauma or not...I see HP's emotional temper trantrums as normal teenage angst - with a dash of childhood post-traumatic stress disorder!
Not to mention being brought up by hisuncle and aunt who loathe you and torture you by making your live in the broomcloset, etc....then losing the majority of the subsequent father figures during his teenage years... kid's been through a lot of really bad stuff... I agree with you that it is the Weasleys and Hermonie who help HP learn how to balance these emotions (with a wee bit of help from Dumbledore)... Posted by Crookshanks73 from Burlington VT on July 27, 2007 12:26 PM
I don't think Harry is "too pure" at all. His temper is not his only fault; he also disregards rules and tends to be impatient and too often acts on his impulses without thinking things through or listening to other opinions (like Hermione's & Ron's). He carries grudges and is slow to forgive (Draco & Snape & the Dursleys especially). And while the Weasley's were definitely a strong positive influence in his life, don't forget that he did have his parents for one precious year to start him off right. And if you've read about early childhood development, you'll know that that first year can make a immesurable difference in a child's personality. Posted by Beatrice from Abilene, TX on July 27, 2007 12:47 PM
I think a lot of people misunderstood what Jo said about the two main characters that would . She said two characters that she didn't intend to in the beginning, would . It doesn't mean they're the only ones to . Posted by Hekka from Stockholm, Sweden on July 27, 2007 1:23 PM
To Elessa:
Bellatrix d in her duel with Mrs. Weasley. Posted by Ariadna from Mexico on July 27, 2007 2:37 PM
As I may not agree with you fiona, your opinion is your own (as wrong as it may be). Thank you to Jo and David! This site was a great place to come to after I read HBP and was in denial. Posted by Darian on July 27, 2007 3:17 PM
Thank Goodness there is a person named JK Rowling...my parents don't believe in this stuff, but JK has taught me one thing in life: It's OK to ... Posted by Maddie Conner from LA, California on July 27, 2007 3:59 PM
Yes, Dumbledore tells Harry that is the next great adventure, but he also says, it does not do well to dwell on dreams, and forget to live. So, living is important too. Posted by Dave Haber from Los Angeles, CA on July 27, 2007 4:03 PM
I loved the book. The following are a couple of things I was surprised weren’t a part of the book though. Not disappointed, just surprised:
1) Thought Ginny would play a bigger role since JKR hinted at her power on several previous occasions as well as HP’s love interest. With love being the source of HP’s power I thought his love interest would play a bigger factor.
2) The locked room at Dept. of Mysteries was a non factor
3) I thought HP was a lock to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor in the end - keeping him at Hogwarts his true home.
JKR is quite the story teller in that with all the guessing and speculation she still creates an original story line that ties all the loose ends in a plausible and highly entertaining manner. Posted by bart from denver, co on July 27, 2007 4:42 PM
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I liked most of it but found the ending very weak.
The wand stuff was ridiculous. Wand that makes you unbeatable — unbeatable, that is, until someone gives a quick spell to take it away. Doesn't sound very unbeatable to me. Not only that, but how did Voldemort NOT KNOW about this wand before? Yes, I know his muggle background, but he was also consumed with his stus of the Dark Arts. And whatever happened to the wand being only as good as the wizard? The whole thing seemed flimsy—especially the Draco being the master of the wand. She is very vague as to how the master is chosen, afterall, didn't Grindelwald steal the wand—how is he the master? I thought the moral of the wand was that possessing the wand put you on top and everyone was out to get you—like slitting your throught when you sleep type of get you.
My biggest complaint is with Dumbledore. I disliked the way she portrayed Dumbledore in this last book. He seemed nefarious: searching for Hallows; befriending dark wizards; and, worst of all, knowing Harry was doomed to and not caring too much. It seemed like she set him up to come back in this final book, but then got cold feet and decided to change her ending (we know she changed it somewhat already). I don't get how Snape s Dumbledore when he (Snape) is good. Don't you have to MEAN a ly curse. It is tough to MEAN to someone you don't hate him (afterall, even Harry's Crucio curse didn't work on Bellatrix after she had just ed Sirius). Where is the payoff for MEANING curses? It seems that she had this plan to bring back Dumbledore from his supposed (not a but a ruse), then changed it so that Dunbledore was but still intrinsic to the plot — talking to Harry in some limbo- stage. BTW how is Dumbledore there? Can he just hop on a train and come back too?
All in all, I liked the first 650 pages. She lost me at the end. Posted by Rebel Phoenix from Boston, MA on July 27, 2007 5:06 PM
BNICKEL from Batavia, IL- I too am pondering upon why Colin Creevey was even attending Hogwarts in the first place. I'm sure DH mentions that you had to have Blood Status to be accepted into Hogwarts during the rue of the Eaters. Now that means it's perfectly okay for half-bloods and purebloods, but isn't Colin a Muggleborn?
Hmm... Posted by Rashida from Northants, England on July 27, 2007 5:44 PM
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Regarding Colin Creevy and what the heck he was doing back at Hogwarts.
When we first are introduced to Colin we are told his parents are simply Muggles and that he's the first in his family to go to Hogwarts; thus, we are assuming that he doesn't have any wizard family connections.
We now know that family trees were being examined and I am now assuming that Colin had a wizard or two in the family tree that nobody knew about. I imagine Colin being shocked to find out that Great Uncle Baldrick, the one everyone simply concluded to be mad because of his unnatural attraction to turnips, was a wizard. This connection may be strong enough that it has allowed him to return to Hogwarts. I suspect that he would have been just on the border of being acceptable in this case.
Merlin's pants, yes, I know I was borrowing from Blackadder on that one...just a bit.
Someone asked a few posts back about Voldemort and why the Eaters thought he was a pureblood. I think that is simple enough. He's a freaking liar! Look at how he lied in the last chapter as he came out of the woods. He didn't think twice about trying to further sully Harry's reputation as he claimed that Harry was trying to abandon everyone. I am sure he lied about his father's bloodlines. We already know he was proud of his maternal Slytherin connections if not ashamed of his mum.
Didn't Hitler work to have his family tree "cleansed" and the rumors of a grandparent with Jewish roots was expunged? Oh I think Voldemort would not think twice about covering his Muggle connections. Once you were in as a Eater, you were not exactly going to get out. Even if you found out the truth you were weak enough to buy into it in the first place. Doubtful your spots would change enough to challenge the Dark Lord and his lineage.
I believe that when Harry suggests this in another book Bella flips her wig and calls Harry filth. He probably could have handed Tom Riddle, Sr.'s birth certificate to Bellatrix and the evil slime would have never believed it. Does anyone else see a bit of a parallel to Magda Goebbels there? The whole un devotion thing is just too creepy.
It's nice to be able to share these ideas with others. My husband, fan of the Stephen Fry audio books, but not so much on HP theories, thanks you all for giving him a rest.
Bless you Dave for allowing all of us to continue to discuss.
I apologize to any Black Adder fans I may have upset by using Baldrick in such a shameless way.
This is just a theory I have. Posted by Laurie from Durham, NC on July 27, 2007 7:50 PM
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