These are my thoughts as I can recall them...in no particular order...- I can't WAIT to see the film scene of the multiple Harrys. That was one of the coolest parts of the book, in my opinion.
- I was hoping that Neville would get to take out Bellatrix, but turns out he had more important things to do (you go, Neville with that sword, my man) and reading Molly Weasley swear at her was worth it. I don't cuss myself, but the whole idea that Mrs. Weasley would get out there and fight was so surprising, that it made me laugh.
- Hermione as Bellatrix made me laugh on more than one occasion and hands down, up there with the Harrys as one of my favorite scenarios because right before that, Bellatrix uses the Cruciatus Curse on Hermione to the point that Hermione lies on the floor, unmoved. It was sort of sweet justice for her to get back at Bellatrix by breaking into her family's vault by impersonating her.
- Dobby. *Tear* I am glad he died a heroic death and that Harry paid a great respect to him that he was indeed, "free".
- One less Weasley twin made my heart sad, but knowing the twins, they both wanted to fight, so I think it was fitting that Fred went out fighting and making a joke with his prodigal brother, Percy, who returned to join the Order.
- The Malfoys are complete cowards, but I loved how Harry went back to save Draco and Goyle, even though he didn't have to. THAT'S what makes him a hero, you know, that "saving-people thing" he's got. :)
- Snape turned out to be a good guy and I was REALLY hoping for that! I thought for a little while that I might not get that happy ending, but seeing the memories and the interaction with Dumbledore really made me happy. I KNEW there was a reason that Dumbledore trusted him and that Rowling wouldn't make Dumbles a fool.
- I've been thinking about why Snaped wanted Harry to "look at" him before he died and I came to the conclusion that he wanted to see Harry's eyes, which reminded him so much of Lily once more.
- I was so disgusted at the idea that Dumbledore's image had all been a facade with all the crap people had been saying about him, but I'm glad she righted that in the end. The "heavenly" meeting between Harry and Albus was so enlightening and I thought it was very fitting to have Dumbledore and only Dumbledore there to explain everything (well, and let Harry figure it out for himself) to him. Dumbledore had, indeed, gone on to the "Next Great Adventure". Although, I'm a little confused about the "creature" in the room with them. Was that supposed to somehow be Voldemort? Wasn't sure about that...
- The Ron/Hr didn't bother me so much, although, JKR DID have to make Ron more heroic to match Hermione (who, in all respects, is attracted to Heroes, Quidditch players, and Clever guys), but I can justify that as Ron's progression into a more mature wizard who finally mans up. In fact, I liked Ron more in this book than I think I ever have. Using his will to destroy the locket was such a powerful scene to me and showed a lot of strength in his character and I liked that.
- Sad about Tonks and Lupin, but it's fitting, I think, for Harry to be the Godfather to their child and help raise him, much like Sirius would have been and done to and for him.
- LOVED the Godric's Hollow chapter. Not just for the H/Hr bonding time and the sweetness at his parents' gravesite, but because it FREAKED.ME.OUT. The "Bathilda Bagshot"? Creepy. In fact, it felt like the first chapter of GOF to me, which scared me senseless :)
- The flashback to Lily and Petunia as children really puts Petunia's bitterness about the wizardly world into perspective.
- Too many "Ginny is beautiful" references, but sometimes, you just have to suck that stuff up :) She's still the Lana to me, but I'll live. The Harry/Ginny relationship just seemed a little too focused on the physical than anything else and a little shallow. Ginny showed some compassion to another student at the end, which I liked, but it always seemed liked they liked each other for some snogging time.
- Harry faced Death like a champ, asking the same questions I often have about it. I liked that those that had gone before him came to offer him support. I thought that was a nice touch that he wouldn't be alone and that his parents, especially, his mother, were so supportive. It reminds me that Death is nothing to be feared.
- As a Christian, I must say that I'm pleased to finally see that Rowling DID make him a Christ-like figure who defeated evil and death, to save all of mankind. I kinda thought she would. I liked that Harry had the same kind of concerns that even Jesus, Himself, on the night he "died" (asking for the Father to take the cup from Him), but knew it had to be done and faced it victoriously. Voldemort was very much the Satan character of the story (duh, I know, right?), even down to the taunting of the "Savior" and thinking he knew everything and nothing could defeat him, only to fall short. And, I'm not gonna lie, I thought the fact that Harry being a Christ-figure would be awesome, solely in the fact that it would rock the Christian community. I'll admit, I'm a little sad for my Christian brothers and sisters who blasted the story and the books (most likely, never having read them) and not understood what could come of it. I've often thought it was silly that some in the Christian faith praised the Lord of the Rings series, which has just as much magic, wizards, and scary evil as the HP series, but because the KIDS performed the magic, apparently, that's where they drew the line. I sure hope (and I DO pray) they can see this story as the Narnia Chronicles for the new generation :)
Here are some things I found significant in terms of Christian symbolism...
I think the Christian allegory was all over DH, but I found Harry’s willingness to give up his life as the biggest one to me.He didn’t seek glory, he didn’t make a big scene (he wanted it just to be Voldemort and himself), and he knew it was something he, and he alone had to/could do.
Even as sure as Harry was about his purpose, he still seemed to hesitate for a brief moment with his fears about what death would be like, if it would hurt, the fact that he had lived through so many dangerous things so many times, which reminded me of Christ in the Garden.
Matthew 26:42
He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
I felt like Harry, even with his worries/concerns about giving himself up as a sacrifice, he knew it HAD to be done and that he was the only one who could do it to save everyone, which is what happened with Jesus in the Garden. He asked the Father if something else could be done, but in the end, decided to do His will because He knew it HAD to be done.
Another aspect I found interesting in Chapter 34 was the dialogue between Harry and his parents:
“You’ll stay with me?”
“Until the very end,” said James.
That reminded me an awful lot like Matthew 28:20 and Jesus’ words to his followers:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“Harry had been expecting it, knew his body would not be allowed to remain sullied upon the forest floor; it must be subjected to humiliation to prove Voldemort’s victory.” - Chapter 36
That made me think of the humiliation that Christ went through for us, being stripped of his clothes, beaten, jeered, and crucified as a criminal.
I thought it was significant that Dumbledore’s tomb was broken. Even though, Albus didn’t rise from the dead, I thought it was specific imagery to the tomb rolling away on the first Easter morning and a lot like the stone being broken in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe when Aslan resurrected.
Harry waking up in “King’s Cross” after his “death”, naked, and having to put on a new set of clothes reminded me of 1 Corinthians 15:40:
“There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.”
I love Harry as the hero, but especially, as the hero who helps those who don’t help him, such as Malfoy and Griphook.
Malfoy could’ve died in the flames, but Harry was determined to go back and save him.
Harry rescued Griphook and made sure that he got the care he needed, even though, he made off with the sword and said bad things about wizards and was untrustworthy.
Harry doesn’t give up on people. He could have given up on Ron when he left the camp, but welcomed him back with open arms and gave him another chance, much like the Weasley family did with Percy, which reminded me a lot of the Prodigal Son parable.
And, even though, Harry knew Voldemort was bad news and would probably not repent, he DID give him a chance at the end, which Voldemort ended up refusing.
Harry is a forgiving character and is able to try to see the best in people (when there is some), even to those who have done him harm.
Lastly, I found the epitaph on James and Lily’s graves was highly symbolic of how Christians have victory over death.
“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (Chapter 16)
Reminds me of 1 Corinthians 15:55:
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
If anyone wants to know more about where the characters end up, in addition to the epilogue, there is an interview at CNN in which Rowling goes into more detail:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/07/30/potters.afterlife.ap/index.html
I think Harry's and Luna's are right on and I really like Ron helping run the Joke Shop.
Ginny's writing for The Daily Prophet seems to come out of NOWHERE, so I think that's kinda stupid.
And, Hermione working for the Ministry seems about right, but didn't her O.W.L. results say she was best suited as an Auror?
Otherwise, that's fun to read those, just for the Happy Ending :)
I really enjoyed Deathly Hallows!
I'm glad Snape was revealed to be good, that Dumbledore wasn't an idiot misplacing his trust, that Hermione fought in the action, and that Evil was defeated and Harry was the one to do it.
Updated: Sunday, August 5, 2007 1:10 PM EDT
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