So this is the chapter that pretty much explains everything that we had figured out already...

I'm glad that Harry got to speak with Dumbledore again, I had thought he would have spoken to the portrait much earlier on and it was really driving me crazy that he hadn't seen Dumbledore yet. We've always seen Dumbledore's admiration and respect for Harry, especially in the previous book, and here he states again, that he feels Harry is the better man. this whole chapter is very touching, the typical end-of-book conversation with Dumbledore... only this time they are sort of both dead.

The baby!mort shoved under the chair is very disturbing, is that supposed to be the part of Voldemort's soul that was in Harry, and now dead? and where are they exactly? in Limbo? Harry is having some sort of near-death experience... Dumbledore states a few times that Harry is not in fact dead, that Voldemort actually couldn't have killed him because of the mommy-love-protection but something did happen that knocked him unconscious or something, sending him to the same place that it sent Voldemort's soul-fragment and to a place where Harry could communicate with Dumbledore.

Neither would live, neither could survive I think at this point I was bawling again. I was so upset that Harry had to die it just felt so wrong to me.

I love the way Harry journeys through the forest, willingly, to his death. I don't think any religious crazy-person can ever again argue that this series is sac-religious... because it is the same sacrifice as Azlan, the Lion from Narnia whom the religious crazies argue so much in favor of (even though C.S. Lewis was Atheist but thats an entirely different argument). My sister and I always discussed the rantings of the religious crazies and we had a field day after this story. We always would bring up Gandalf from the Lord of the Rings, who sacrificed himself and was resurrected but the argument wasn't strong enough because he did so while fighting off the Balrog instead of a willing march to death like the Lion. here, however, Harry puts away his weapon so that he can't fight "He did not want to be tempted to fight" pg.703 Harry fully accepts his own death and willingly walks toward it so Jesus-like haha. the spirits of his parents and his godfather(s) do not push or persuade him forward, they stand there and wait for his decision and follow him where he goes "He knew that they would not tell him to go, that it would have to be his decision" pg.700. I knew that Harry would make some sort of sacrifice in this book, I kept saying that I couldn't wait for the last book to come out because something in it would be a huge giant blow against the religious crazies who claim this series is oh-so-evil... and this chapter is exactly it. I remember being so damn annoyed by them when Narnia was released in the theaters going on about the positive message of Azlan's sacrifice and 'rebirth' ... so now we Harry Potter crazies can argue that Harry does the same exact thing. a willing sacrifice.

anyway. I love how Lupin reappears alongside Sirius, James and Lily as his younger self, we get a glimpse of our Lupin again, the one we all love and there is no Tonks in sight. The descriptions in this chapter are beautiful, the way she describes his heart beat, how it is trying to fulfill a lifetime of beats in the time it had left. I love it.

and I knew Hagrid wasn't dead! she tried to trick me twice but I wouldn't let her crazy betch! hahaha. I was so happily distracted for a moment when Hagrid appeared, but so horrified when Harry actually gets killed... I thought something would happen, or at least Voldemort to go into a bond-villain-type speech... but nothing but Bellatrix's heaving breasts and Ginny's kissable lips and then death. I guess we've had enough speeches in seven books.

possibly my favorite chapter, even though I never agreed with Lily/Snape before, I love it now.

I'm not even going to talk about the death of Tonks and Remus, it's as pathetic as their romance. it seems JKR was like "hmmm I should kill a couple more people so... Lupin and Tonks are now dead" it really bothered me.

We get the answers to so much here. Why Petunia knew about dementors, why Dumbledore mentioned to her that they corresponded, why Petunia was so against the wizarding world and that it was indeed Snape who was "that horrible boy" and not James. we find out that yes if you are muggle born a representative from the school does come to the house. I love the descriptions of both James and Snape as eleven-year-olds on the Hogwarts train, that James was obviously well cared for where Snape was not, if you compared an eleven year old Harry to the two of them, I think he would more likely have resembled Snape maybe if you removed the glasses haha. We also find out exactly why Snape's worst memory is his worst memory, not because of the humiliation but because that was the moment that he lost Lily forever.

and then we find out that Harry is a Horcrux... or at least his scar is or something. I always hated the idea of this, but the way it is done here, in later chapters what happens, I actually don't mind it, it works pretty well actually and really it was obvious, I was just trying to deny it.

and I knew it I just knew it about the silver doe!!! it is so touching to see Snape produce the doe for Dumbledore, after so long still caring about Lily. I also knew that Snape all along had the real sword. I have pictures of myself from the book release with a 'Trust Snape' sticker on my leg. I was such a dork that night in the 'Snape Debate' hahaha.

if everyone doesn't mind me being a few days behind I would like to make posts for the remaining chapters... I'll be away at a funeral until Sunday so I probably won't post again until I get back. let me know.

I think the best fan art I have seen from this chapter would be this:

http://acciobrain.ligermagic.com/hpdhdracopunch.jpg

haha, but seriously. this is an intense chapter. Percy guarding Fred's body is heartbreaking, as is Hermione trying to restrain Ron from feeding his lust for revenge. it must be a horrible feeling, to have to continue with your quest, keep your mind focused when you just witnessed your brother be murdered. but Hermione is the one who shows her strength at this part in the chapter, and she takes charge and gives the boys instructions for their next actions, she keeps their heads in the game in a way, and she finally uses Harry's Voldy-connection for good just as he has been doing all book.

Hermione also saves Lavender Brown from Greyback, who probably would have done the same things to Lavender that he fantasized about doing to Hermione a few chapters back. Hermione may have been annoyed by Ron and Lavenders relationship but it is by no means a surprise that she would help Lavender out in a situation like this. and Trelawney finally puts those crystal balls to good use.

Hagrid for the second time seems to have died again. I wasn't as trusting of JKR this time around after the major teaser she gave us in the beginning of the book. I had already bawled my eyes out over a fake-Hagrid death and I wasn't about to believe this one until I saw the body. it is very horrible though the image of Hagrid being carried off to his doom by the spiders he cared for so much.

Luna is once again amazing in this book, where Harry has lost the hope needed to produce a patronus here she comes accompanied by Ernie and Seamus and finds the right words to help Harry conjure his stag at last. I became a HUGE Harry/Luna shipper after this book, and this moment is one of the major reasons why. she always seems to find the most simple yet most appropriate words to help/comfort/encourage Harry to keep going.

I love how Hermione finally gets to say Are you a wizard, or what? after her embarrassing panic at the end of book one. its a very cute little mirror thrown in. and yet I thought all secret entrances to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade were closed off... and you would think this would have been one of the first to be closed considering it was one Snape definitely knew about.

The green eyes found the black as soon as I read that line I realized everything about Snape. I actually said to my boyfriend, who was ahead of me and teasing me by pretending to spoil the next chapter, everything that I guessed would happen and he gave me a weird look and stopped teasing. which sort of gave it away that I guessed right. I was never a shipper of... that pairing before... but with the connection to the silver doe it made perfect sense now.

and why didn't Hermione pull out her dittany? hmm? or like something, that snake bit Arthur Weasley and Harry previously and both have survived. Snape dies so quickly its almost annoying.

I totally lost track of time, and wow, we're just about done here!

So, as you may have guessed per my subject line...what now?

What are your thoughts for this comm? Do we want to let it stand alone as a glorious reminder of a fantastic few months? Do we all want to take a breath and then start from the beginning again now that we know how it ends? What about going over the loose ends (maybe make up a list of them and give each one or two weeks devoted to them)? Do you want to do book/movie comparisons/commentaries (covering a DVD "chapter" a day perhaps)?

I'd like to stay away from posting fanfic/art/icons and that sort of thing, since there's approximately fifty brajillion comms out there already, but other than that I'm really quite open to almost anything! So spam me with your thoughts -- if you see an idea you like, post in that thread (you can make any suggestions of changes there, too) so I can get an easy idea for what people want to do, and if there's a clear favorite, we'll start with that (if it's a close call, I can make a poll).

Stun me with your brilliant ideas! :D

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:36 - The Flaw in the Plan )

Mod person? What tag are we going to use when we post the epilogue? dh: ep?

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:35 - King's Cross )

pica_scribit was so dead right about so many things that happened in this chapter. or close enough at least. the moment the Gray Lady let Harry know exactly who she was I thought of her right away. it was very cool.

Ron and Hermione have been down in the Chamber of Secrets. very very smart of Ron, and he speaks parsletongue... so it can be learned. Granny Longbottom is another character who suddenly becomes all kinds of awesome, and Ginny runs into battle the moment she gets the chance, following Tonks who has left Teddy at home.

Ron and Hermione finally kiss, and it is because Ron thinks of getting the house-elves to safety. so in a way no matter how annoying Hermione has been in past books with S.P.E.W. it is because of her passion for it that finally gets her and Ron together. sort of. I Loved the Ron/Hermione kiss, and even though I knew it was coming, before opening this book I thought I would hate it, but Ron's major growth and change in maturity throughout this book had me seriously "awwwwwwweee"-ing at this moment. poor Harry hahaha.

Have you seen Remus?... He was dueling Dolohov wasn't that who JKR said was the one who..... in her interview after this book? *sobs*

Harry is confronted by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. I really was disappointed here, I really was hoping for Draco to become something better, maybe even help Harry in some way. but it seems everyone has lost their respect for the Malfoys and Crabbe stands up to Draco for the first time in seven books, he even aims to kill both Hermione and Ron, Crabbe has definitely become a Death Eater.

and the cruelest thing I said JKR could ever write has happened, she has killed off one of the twins. at least he had the chance to reconcile with Percy. but of all the Weasleys I thought were marked for death, I don't think I considered Fred to be one of them.

I was very excited to finally see McGonagall, and was very touched by the way Harry stands up for her. she may have been an extremely strict teacher, but that doesn't mean she didn't care for the students. I guess any evil!McGonagall theories were out the window by this point.

Harry and McGonagall both resort to using unforgivable curses, but I suppose there is a time for everything and this is war so what other choice do they have? I was very upset with Snape because I was determined to believe he was still good, but he doesn't come off very good here. but I noticed this read through that in his battle with McGonagall he does not do anything to try and harm McGonagall just deflects her spells.

the time has come for Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties that line made me tear up a bit. and I was hoping so much for some Slytherins, Draco in particular to do something awesome later on. I also got very teary eyed at the reconciliation between Percy and his family. I'm glad both twins were there to see him apologize because not every Weasley was there for that, and well I'm just glad the twins were there *sobs*

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:34 - The Forest Again )

Neville is all kinds of awesome. we've already known that and we all knew he would become more awesome and now we finally get to see some of his new-awesomeness. yay for Neville!

Neville really gets the Room of Requirement, I loved this line and when I went and saw OOTP after having read this I really thought it was awesome how in the film they have Neville find the room because even though it sucks that they continue to leave Dobby out of the movies, at least it is in Neville's character to have been the one do discover the room.

Yeah, well, food's one of the five exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration Ron really had a hard time living on the lam without mommy's cooking didn't he? haha he really learned something important from it.

Harry is momentarily distracted by the sight of Luna... H/L forevah!! hahaha. well if you ignore his reaction to Ginny's appearance. but then again, Ginny is a total Harry/Luna shipper No, Luna will take Harry, won't you Luna? hahahaha.

wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure I always knew Luna wasn't crazy. she is actually very intelligent with her answer to the door knocker "a circle has no beginning"

and as with all Harry's plans it seems everything is going all to hell. and they still have no idea where the last Horcrux is. I think it was at this point where I figured out what and where it was.

The invisibility cloak is immune to summoning charms, I had forgotten about that! very cool.

I was very excited by this chapter because finally it is confirmed that Aberforth Dumbledore is the barman. and I must have been so hopeful that Dumbledore was alive that I never even thought of Aberforth being the person on the other side of the mirror.

I was also wrong about what Dumbledore had seen in his mind when he drank the potion in the cave. Its so depressing, the story of his family and his dialog after drinking the potion can fit perfectly with what I imagine the duel between him, Aberforth and Grindelwald must have been like.

I was soooo excited to see Neville, I was dying to get news from Hogwarts people this entire book. it was very frustrating that it took until chapter 29 to even get them to Hogwarts. and now its coming to the end and Harry is prepared to die, he's actually said it. I was not at all hopeful for Harry's survival at this point.

I knew that one of the Horcruxes was at Hogwarts, I did think it was the cup though before reading this but still it seems a very obvious hiding place. We also find out Nagini is a Horcrux as well, I was kind of disappointed by this because I was hoping Dumbledore was wrong about that, I didn't like the idea of living things as Horcruxes, and it really makes the Harry-is-a-Horcrux theory all the more probable.

Voldemort's arrogance is at its finest in this chapter, and because of it Harry knows pretty much all his secrets. Voldy also takes credit for Dumbledore's murder.

Today is the first day I have off, completely off, in a long time so I'm going to do my best to catch up today. I also have tomorrow off so hopefully by Tuesday I'll be back on schedule!


I was so sure Hufflepuff's cup would have been in the Hogwarts trophy room. I was really sure that they would find a different Horcrux, or nothing at all inside Gringotts. It was a pretty bad plan and I'm surprised Hermione didn't think of the fact that it was probably common knowledge by now to the Death Eaters that Bellatrix had lost her wand, or that the people living in Malfoy Manner would have been severely punished.

I was very surprised that Harry used the Imperious curse. now he has used two of the three unforgivable curses. It had me thinking that he would definitely be using all three of them by the end of the book. The plan was a very typical trio-like-plan everything went wrong but they still managed to get what they came for and escaped brilliantly. I thought of the cover art for the British edition of this book and remembered all that I had speculated about the three of them surrounded by treasure. I never would have guessed by the cover of the book alone that they were in the Lestranges vault.

The ending with the dragon is very exciting, it had me thinking again of another cover art, from the special edition US version, where I was so certain they were all riding Norbert. I realized at this point though that Norbert would not reappear and would hold no significance in the story.

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:33 - The Prince's Tale )

Fandom Big News of the Day: We have an official birth year for Dumbledore, who is the new Wizard of the Month on Jo's website. He was born in 1881, much later than we were previously told.

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:32 - The Elder Wand )

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:31 - The Battle of Hogwarts )

Harry shows a major growth in maturity in his decision to not try and race Voldemort to the Elder Wand, he is actually so surprised at himself for choosing not to act. and Ron asks the question we all have at the back of our minds been hoping the answer to is no since the end of book six... "But is he dead?" just like a lot of us fans, Ron puts all reason and logic away and just hopes Dumbledore is hidden in the shadows helping them along.

We finally get a Ravenclaw-artifact mention very briefly in this chapter! and from who else than our most beloved Ravenclaw Ms. Lovegood who is busying herself with making Dean very uncomfortable. D/L is a very cute idea haha. and as soon as she mentioned the lost diadem of Ravenclaw my first reading my stomach literally leaped and then Lupin bursts in to ruin everything...

Teddy Remus Lupin is overkill... I mean the name in itself. there are other instances where people give their children horrible names in this book but I'll get to that much later. This was about the time where all my evil!Tonks/imperiused!Tonks theories were abandoned I was clinging to the shred of hope this far into the book that there was SOMETHING else to them. but this one kind of just killed it... because Lupin is described as looking younger than Harry ever remembered him and blah blah blah whatever. Godfather!Harry is also probably a really bad idea, but Lupin hasn't been making the best decisions the past couple years now anyway.

I find Bill's accuracy in his warning to Harry to be scary, or annoying, I don't know it was like JKR had to point out how sneaky Goblins can be without Harry actually telling Bill so she just has Bill pretty much guess what the trio is up to. but we have been told since early in book one that to try to break into Gringotts is probably the worst idea anyone could ever have so of course we all should have figured that at some point Harry would try to do it... but then again what other choice does Harry have really.

Italics are impressions from my first read, when I did not yet know what was going to happen.

( DH:30 - The Sacking of Severus Snape )