Deathly Hallows, chapter 7

[anehan]

The Will of Albus Dumbledore

* In my memory, before this re-read, DH consisted of the wedding, three hundred pages of sitting in a tent, and the final showdown. I'd completely forgotten all this blather I would have to get through to get to the bloody wedding. Alas.

* Now I know why Dumbledore didn't insist Harry continue his Occlumency lessons after OotP. If he'd mastered Occlumency, we'd have no way of knowing what Voldemort was up to in DH.

* Are we supposed to be as clueless as Harry about who this Gregorovitch is? Because fandom knew his identity the moment his name was mentioned.

* "'No,' said Harry. 'I'm definitely not thinking of Gorgovitch.'

'I try not to, either,' said Ron."

Wow, Ron is actually funny! If only he'd be allowed to be this delightfully snarky, I might actually like him.

* Ron's present for Harry is something I'd expect from 14-year-old boys. Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, indeed.

* "It's not all about wandwork." *tries to get her mind out of the gutter* What did I say in the last chapter? JKR likes almost-sexual jokes.

* Actually, in a world that has love potions, the book's title isn't in the least bit funny.

* There's something a bit repulsive about Hermione's mother-act, but I guess someone's got to prepare the Trio for their upcoming tenting expedition, since Harry and Ron don't seem to concern themselves with any preparations.

* Looking at Ginny is like gazing into a brilliant light. And in HBP, she has a hard, blazing look on her face. What's with all this imagery? Has her fiery red-headedness put her permanently on fire?

* Harry thinks it's wonderful that Ginny was rarely weepy. That's right, let's not inconvenience Harry with girls who have actual emotions. The Chosen One's chosen one must exist merely to support him. Any independent thought, act or emotion is to be frowned at.

* Kissing Ginny is better than Firewhisky. When has Harry tasted Firewhisky?

* Ginny isn't allowed to cry, but Harry can get as maudlin as he chooses. Buck up, you prat. Ending a short teenaged love affair isn't a tragedy of Shakespearean propotions.

* Lupin looks unhappy whereas Tonks looks radiant. What a lovely marriage they have. It's quite clear whose wish getting married was.

* I hate hate hate what JKR did to Lupin in this book. PoA!Lupin wouldn't have worn his emotions in his sleeves. And why, oh why did he let Tonks badger him into marrying her when he so clearly didn't want it? I hate wimpy Remus. Grrrrr.

* Wizards have oil lamps. Just noting.

* Dumbledore could have passed the objects he left to the Trio to them at any time during the past six years. Instead, he prefers to give them in a fashion that is quaranteed to get the Ministry's attention. He just loves to be mysterious, does Dumbledore.

* Actually, he could have just told the Trio what they needed to know. Of course, in that way the book would have been about the lenght of Philosopher's Stone. Instead, we got three hundred pages of the Trio sitting in a tent.

* I thought the Deluminator was called the Put-Outer in PS/SS.

* Was there anything about Snitches having a flesh memory in Quidditch throught the Ages? I can't remember.

* Frankly, I agree with Scrimgeour that the sword of Gryffindor was not Dumbledore's to give away.

* Harry says Voldemort chased him across three counties. Does anyone else think that unrealistic? Surely the chase wasn't that long.

* I really, really don't like this Ministry vs. Harry set-up. They should be co-operating, not fighting each other. I know I'm supposed to take Harry's side here, but IMO both Harry and Scrimgeour are being extremely childish.

* Maybe JKR had to set the Ministry up as another villain because Voldemort was such an ineffectual one.

* Even the Trio, much as they adore Dumbledore, agree with me that it was a tad curious of Dumbledore not to give the sword et al. when he was alive.

* Ron's a bit of an idiot for expecting Harry and Hermione to have heard wizarding children's tales. But then again, that's just par for the course.

* I would love to get my hands on The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Imagine how much you could learn about the Wizarding World by reading children's stories.

* Thank god it's over. Next week, the wedding! Maybe something will finally start to happen. (I won't hold my breath, though.)



Atomic Grenade:
Harry vs. Scrimgeour. And Harry has a hole in his shirt to prove it.

Box Picture:
Rufus Scrimgeour is The Designated Villain.

IITS:
Why didn't Dumbledore give the sword etc. when he was alive? I know, IITS!

Light Bulb Moment:
Harry desperately needs one to solve the mystery of the Snitch. It ain't coming, though.

"Watermelon, watermelon, cantaloupe, cantaloupe":
Happy birthday, Harry!

Whooshing Powder:
And Scrimgeour is gone.

Final score: 6. Or is it 4, since the Light Bulb Moment is a negative one?

Comments

[t0ra-chan.livejournal.com]

Wow, Ron is actually funny! If only he'd be allowed to be this delightfully snarky, I might actually like him.

This is one of the things I like about Ron. Too bad JKR constantly has to counter it by making Ron act moronic. One would think that someone that can come up with witty stuff like that wouldn't be that stupid.

* Kissing Ginny is better than Firewhisky. When has Harry tasted Firewhisky?

Two chapters earlier when Moody died, they all drank some. Because that's what wizards always do when something upsets them: go to the bottle. I'm surprised the wizarding world isn't full of alcoholics. Or maybe it is, it sure as hell would explain a few things.

* Harry thinks it's wonderful that Ginny was rarely weepy. That's right, let's not inconvenience Harry with girls who have actual emotions. The Chosen One's chosen one must exist merely to support him. Any independent thought, act or emotion is to be frowned at.

I thought it was funny that a few paragraphs after Harry thinks that Ginny gets, guess what, weepy. And not even for a good reason as far as I can tell.

* Was there anything about Snitches having a flesh memory in Quidditch throught the Ages? I can't remember.


Nope, there wasn't. It's just another thing JKR pulled out of her ass just so she could hide the ring in it, but still have Harry know that something is inside. Never mind if they had it for the reasons explained in DH, every single Quidditch game would need a new snitch.

* Ron's a bit of an idiot for expecting Harry and Hermione to have heard wizarding children's tales. But then again, that's just par for the course.

I don't know, it might have been expecting too much in PS, but they have been in the WW for six years by now, so they could have heard about them. Especially Miss Hermione "I read the whole Hogwarts library" Granger.

[splintercat.livejournal.com]

Alcoholism isn't a disease in the WW; it's a joke. See Winky.

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

See Trelawney. Hagrid too.

[merrymelody.livejournal.com]

LOL, doesn't Ginny cry because Harry's leaving? I'm sure he sees that as way more acceptable than crying because some guy who beat him in Quidditch had the nerve to die and therefore distract attention away from all the angst in Harry's life.

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

I thought it was funny that a few paragraphs after Harry thinks that Ginny gets, guess what, weepy. And not even for a good reason as far as I can tell.
It#s easy, really. It is always a good thing for women to weep because of Harry. If cho had wept for him being cruelly abducted to that graveyard it would have been a sign of her having her priorities right and being a deeply emotional, compassionate girl. But the wuss wept for the wrong guy.

[anehan]

This is one of the things I like about Ron. Too bad JKR constantly has to counter it by making Ron act moronic. One would think that someone that can come up with witty stuff like that wouldn't be that stupid.

I remember the time when Ron would be able to quote wizarding law at Harry. I miss those times.

I don't know, it might have been expecting too much in PS, but they have been in the WW for six years by now, so they could have heard about them. Especially Miss Hermione "I read the whole Hogwarts library" Granger.

True. If they are so popular, maybe Hermione should have at least heard of them.

[sunnyskywalker]

Has her fiery red-headedness put her permanently on fire?

She's HOT, get it? It's like, a really subtle metaphorical connection! Only without the subtlety.

And why, oh why did he let Tonks badger him into marrying her when he so clearly didn't want it?

Actually, I don't think JKR gave us enough clues to figure out whether Lupin loves Tonks or not. I mean, he almost ate some kids a few years back and has been hanging out with Greyback lately, so I could understand him freaking out and then wanting to protect his loved ones by leaving. It seems like his normal modus operandi. He also seems to try not to get close to anyone new when possible, so resisting Tonks might have nothing to do with Tonks herself. But who knows? The whole subplot is so sketchy that it could be anything. One of the cut scenes from OotP was supposed to have Tonks and Lupin in Hogsmeade; I suspect all the scenes that would make the subplot work got cut.

Dumbledore could have passed the objects he left to the Trio to them at any time during the past six years. Instead, he prefers to give them in a fashion that is quaranteed to get the Ministry's attention.

If he absolutely couldn't give them to the Trio before because... um, let's just assume there' a good reason... why couldn't he pass them to Bill to hide in Harry's Gringotts vault with a note explaining everything? Oh, wait, he must have been afraid the Goblins would want the sword back. Still, he could have left a lot more useful things that way (Horcrux books, Pensieve and memories, maps, books of useful spells, kitchen sink...). I thought he was supposed to be smart.

[anehan]

I mean, he almost ate some kids a few years back and has been hanging out with Greyback lately, so I could understand him freaking out and then wanting to protect his loved ones by leaving.

Freaking out just doesn't seem to be something PoA!Lupin would do. He managed to be calm and collected when he was on the point of murdering his old friend, so I would imagine he would be able to rationally think about something like the danger to his loved ones.

But then again, maybe Lupin just got a personality transplant some time between PoA and DH. After all, they seem to be going around.

[sunnyskywalker]

Well, freaking out in a quiet, reserved way and saying, "No, it's for the best that I go, and anyway I've already packed" while making a note to get more gray hair over it later. Lupin-style freaking out.

But the personality transplant is also possible. I wonder who runs the Personality Transplant Clinic that all the characters visit over summer vacations? Draco?

I think the best solution would be to cut the subplot altogether and let everyone speculate whether the few teasing remarks in OotP meant anything beyond them being friendly co-workers. Because really, WHO CARES? What purpose does this subplot serve?

[anehan]

I think the best solution would be to cut the subplot altogether and let everyone speculate whether the few teasing remarks in OotP meant anything beyond them being friendly co-workers.

I totally agree. It's weird how Rowling had to include this subplot, as if to say that Lupin isn't gay in any shape or form. It doesn't serve any other purpose at all.

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

For that matter *why* was it necessary to set up the Scrimgeour administration as Evil Lite? I mean, it's not like it turned out ever being *used* for anything. Instead we have old Rufus being set up as Worst Minister Evar, and then we get slipped the info that he died refusing to pass information against Harry. WTF?

I mean really, I don't think she was even working from an outline by that point.

[anehan]

And then we're supposed to believe that later the Ministry is somehow a better place just because Harry & co. work there.

Head, meet desk.

[mmmarcusz.livejournal.com]

The WORLD is a better place because GinnySue's hair touches it, so I don't see why Harry's LOVE wouldn't diffuse throughout the Ministry.

[seductivedark.livejournal.com]

* Harry says Voldemort chased him across three counties. Does anyone else think that unrealistic? Surely the chase wasn't that long.

The narrowest parts of Gerrymandered counties where they meet at a point near a fourth, crossed on supersonic brooms.

[anehan]

That must be it. *nods*

[tdotm.livejournal.com]

Voldie and Harry are equally stubborn it seems. Apparently Voldemort has foolishly passed on his annual Occlumency top-up course, and his mind is now leaking like a sieve. I don’t mind a vision every now and again. At the climax, it was ok to hear Voldemort checking on his horcruxes, and getting closer. It built up tension - questions as to why he flew and didn’t apparate/make port keys can be left to the relevant chapter. Indeed, when he realised the sword was gone, he should have killed the nearest goblin and made a Horcrux and hung it round his neck. (surely it wouldn’t affect him - his own soul?) In fact, first thing in Order, he should have replaced the Diary, but I digress.

The endless communication between Harry and Voldemort throughout the book was so ridiculous that I’d like to nominate it for laziest part of DH, along with ‘Accio Horcrux books’ and the Deluminator.

It was in character for Hermione to do all the work and all the preparation, while the boys sat about mouth breathing, so it didn’t bother me at all. What I didn’t like was her handling their undergarments. A line was crossed. If Ron was, er, earning his keep in *other* ways - if you know what I mean - that’s one thing. But he wasn‘t. So sod him. Did she do Harry‘s as well? *His* skid marks are probably golden, and smell of sherbert lemons, so maybe it would be a nice experience?

While Remus is nice enough, I’m glad I’m not a kerazy fan, otherwise this book is painful, big time. (I like Ron, so I feel for you) Tonks was already in trouble in HBP. I don’t mind her not *bothering* with constant hair colour changes if she’s upset. But it came across as her not being *able* to, which is completely different. What a lot of pigswill. Plus what purpose did all this nonsense serve? Usually character assassination by JKR is to serve the plot, (and the mention in this chapter is irrelevant), or to make Harry look good, which always failed. Damn you woman, get a ghost-writer in why don’t you? You obviously lost it five years ago.

Ginny sucks. At least she would if Ron hadn’t interrupted them. Heh! See JKR, I can do it too! Without doubt the worst character in the series. And I’m including Harry in that.

Put-Outer is a cute name. In the first book it was cool. In DH, it was a pile of ridiculously contrived wet-wipes. Why not skip it, skip the Tolkienesque horcrux mood changes, skip Ron leaving, and leave him some cash instead? That’d cut 50 pages from the ‘Camping Section’ from Hades.

I also think that Scrimgeour is being childish (Harry is firmly in character). That said, a little pip-squeak should be a little more aware that the old git in front of him is the boss of the Aurors, and a good person to have on side. But no, Harry doesn’t want his help - he’s ‘Dumbledore’s man’, through and through (yeah, and he really appreciated *that*, you idiot) and must flounder alone, in long-winded, tent located, boring fashion.

[anehan]

*His* skid marks are probably golden, and smell of sherbert lemons, so maybe it would be a nice experience?

Okay, you've officially managed to cross me out. ;D

But no, Harry doesn’t want his help - he’s ‘Dumbledore’s man’, through and through (yeah, and he really appreciated *that*, you idiot) and must flounder alone, in long-winded, tent located, boring fashion.

I guess we can't have Harry and Scrimgeour cooperating because it'd mean they'd defeat Voldemort before Halloween, and we can't have that.

[anehan]

Oh god, you sound like me now.....

Glad to know I'm not the only one. I weep for what she did to Remus, I really do.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

If he'd mastered Occlumency, we'd have no way of knowing what Voldemort was up to in DH.

And if Voldemort had mastered Occlumency....oh wait, he did master it. And he was shutting Harry out all last year.

Lupin looks unhappy whereas Tonks looks radiant. What a lovely marriage they have.

This marriage was so sadly hilarious to me. I never thought Lupin was gay but in this book I started to think it made sense. Tonks, he's just not that into you. And then he even ends the book with Sirius, finally escaping her in the afterlife.

I thought the Deluminator was called the Put-Outer in PS/SS.

It's a better name (the first one) imo. Also I will never understand how its two abilities are putting out lights and helping you find people if you left them and then regretted it but they're hiding.

I guess the Ministry vs. Harry thing is inevitable because she has to avoid having an actual war while wanting to have one. If this was actually a war the government would be important, as would other people. So instead Harry has to basically have to be better than Churchill too.

Ron's a bit of an idiot for expecting Harry and Hermione to have heard wizarding children's tales. But then again, that's just par for the course.

I was actually surprised at this. Hermione's been the one telling them about stuff like this for books now. Though I guess one could make a case for her skipping anything she'd think of as "kids stuff." Maybe she's supposed to have been the kind of kid who didn't like Muggle fairy tales either and preferred non-fiction. This seems to be the only literature the WW actually has.

[anehan]

If Scrimgeour and Harry had cooperated, they would have defeated Voldemort much quicker. Imagine having Harry's knowledge of the Horcruxes with the resources Scrimgeour had to command. Nay, imagine Dumbledore and Scrimgeour cooperating in HBP. The war would have been over before it had even started.

[montavilla.livejournal.com]

I thought the Deluminator was called the Put-Outer in PS/SS.
What's kind of interesting to me is that the Deluminator is a Frenchified word, while Put-Outer sounds Anglo-Saxon. It's like JKR went through a Norman Conquest!

Also I will never understand how its two abilities are putting out lights and helping you find people if you left them and then regretted it but they're hiding.

Heh. Maybe Dumbledore developed it in his opposition to Grindelwald. He used it to find his lost love!

[splintercat.livejournal.com]

This chapter was just so frustrating. Why didn't Dumbledore give them the items? Why is the Ministry being such a bitch and why is Harry being such a spoiled brat in response? Lupin and Tonks, why, just why?

And why would wizards have oil lamps? So much of the wizarding world is designed to look vaguely old-fashioned, but JKR clearly hasn't thought through why or what that would mean.

I like Twelve Fail-safe Ways to Charm Witches - it's so typical 17-year-old boy - until I remember that Ron's helping Harry charm Ginny. Which, er. What older brother encourages his friends to date his little sister? Maybe Ron has caught on to the authorial design and figures that Harry gets with Ginny or with Hermione and is trying to cut off the competition.

* I would love to get my hands on The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Imagine how much you could learn about the Wizarding World by reading children's stories.

It seems JKR heard your plea. (http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Beedle-Bard-Standard/dp/B001DB0HG2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218866675&sr=8-1) Now can you ask for a rewrite of Books 5-7? And maybe major revisions to Book 4? I'm very excited to get this, even though I know I'll probably be disappointed.

[anehan]

I'm very excited to get this, even though I know I'll probably be disappointed.

If you read that, do tell us if it was worth it. Because I'd rather not give JKR any more of my money if I don't get anything half-decent in return.

[sunlit-music.livejournal.com]

Looking at Ginny is like gazing into a brilliant light. And in HBP, she has a hard, blazing look on her face. What's with all this imagery? Has her fiery red-headedness put her permanently on fire?

LOL, perhaps her redheadedness has put her permanently on fire. What with all the 'blazing' imagery, I'm surprised Harry hasn't gone blind from looking at her.

If Ginny's 'blazing' look is meant to be positive imagery, I wonder why JKR describes Bellatrix as having a 'blazing' look in DH like Ginny?

* Harry thinks it's wonderful that Ginny was rarely weepy. That's right, let's not inconvenience Harry with girls who have actual emotions. The Chosen One's chosen one must exist merely to support him. Any independent thought, act or emotion is to be frowned at.

Ugh. Harry thinks it's great that Ginny isn't 'weepy'. He can't tolerate Cho crying, even though she was crying because her boyfriend was murdered. And JKR thinks Harry is so full of love? Because it sure doesn't seem like it.

It's infuriating how Harry thinks his girlfriends shouldn't have different opinions or emotions, but he can be as pissy as he likes.

I thought it was funny that a few paragraphs after Harry thinks that Ginny gets, guess what, weepy. And not even for a good reason as far as I can tell.

t0ra_chan: That's a good point, actually. I haven't noticed that before.

Ginny sucks. At least she would if Ron hadn’t interrupted them.

tdotm: Yeah, Ginny was real annoying in the 6th and 7th books (for me anyway. I found her annoying but more tolerable in OoTP). I wouldn't have minded if JKR had made her change gradually and become more outgoing bit by bit, instead of giving her a personality transplant in OoTP. I also wouldn't have minded Ginny so much if she was shown to be truly compassionate and fun, instead of bratty, unfunny and nasty.

(I like Ron, so I feel for you)
I used to like Ron, so JKR's dumbing down of Ron saddens me too. *misses the good old days when Ron was funnier and less stupid in the earlier HP books*

This marriage was so sadly hilarious to me. I never thought Lupin was gay but in this book I started to think it made sense. Tonks, he's just not that into you. And then he even ends the book with Sirius, finally escaping her in the afterlife.

sistermagpie: I know. That marriage was so...*random* and pointless. How did Lupin let himself get pushed into this marriage, and what happened to strong and calm PoA!Lupin?

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

If Ginny's 'blazing' look is meant to be positive imagery, I wonder why JKR describes Bellatrix as having a 'blazing' look in DH like Ginny?
Fact is, Bellatrix and (OotP and HBP) Ginny are one of a kind in several ways. Everything we get to know about Bellatrix makes her look like a confirmed fiery Gryffindor. Not to mention she is the only woman in canon in whom Harry shows any believable (not feeling forced upon us by the author) interest. The question really is: WHY? Didn't Rowling notice what she was writing? Or is this another thread that was dropped?

[anehan]

*misses the good old days when Ron was funnier and less stupid in the earlier HP books*

Yes! He was able to quote bits of wizarding law. I miss that Ron.

How did Lupin let himself get pushed into this marriage, and what happened to strong and calm PoA!Lupin?

The personality transplants, they just keep on coming.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

How did Lupin let himself get pushed into this marriage, and what happened to strong and calm PoA!Lupin?

Hope you don't mind my jumping in - I, too, disliked what Rowling did to both Lupin and Tonks in this book. I ended up liking them less than I had. But it is true that, in POA, Lupin (who is reserved, rather than calm, IMO) is a coward and a liar. That much she did write consistently. But he is also quite capable, in some respects - Lupin in DH seems both stiff and barely competent. And the marriage with Tonks diminishes both of them; it makes him look emotionally immature and passive, while she seems manipulative and controlling. Thanks, Rowling!

Because, even though I have serious issues with Lupin's behavior in POA, I did like him before, and I loved Tonks. Orphan Teddy makes no sense, either. Rowling was just determined to have some orphan or other to whom Harry could be Godfather. It's all very mechanical.

[sunlit-music.livejournal.com]

I don't mind you jumping in at all. The marriage between Lupin and Tonks does make both Lupin and Tonks look bad. I thought Tonks was all right in OoTP, but I could barely read about her in HBP and DH.

Rowling was just determined to have some orphan or other to whom Harry could be Godfather.

Harry as a godfather? That's not somthing I'd wish onto any orphan...

[cressida0201.livejournal.com]

But it is true that, in POA, Lupin (who is reserved, rather than calm, IMO) is a coward and a liar. That much she did write consistently.

Eh, personally, I think that calling PoA!Lupin "a coward and a liar" is too strong, and I really don't see him as the same guy as in HBP and DH. I know that he himself says in PoA that he was cowardly, but he was in a self-critical mood at the time, and I felt more charitable. I could understand why he hadn't said anything about Sirius' animagus form; it wasn't the best of decisions in hindsight, but I felt it was understandable as a human mistake and didn't mean that his entire nature was cowardly. I also got the feeling that he was prepared to handle things in his own way in PoA if necessary; if Sirius really had been the traitor, I can easily imagine PoA!Lupin going all righteous avenger on him the way he did on Peter. Making his knowledge about Sirius public wasn't clearly The Only Right Way to Handle It. IMHO. (And I also cut the character some meta-slack because I knew the main reason for his flaw was that JKR just didn't want him to spill the beans, so she had to come up with a reason for it.)

Anyway, I definitely didn't get the picture from PoA of a guy who would be so...easy to despise in DH. And he could most certainly have been put to better use, plotwise. I really wish he'd never come back into the series if that was all JKR was going to do with him.

[montavilla.livejournal.com]

It's funny. The way Lupin is in DH, Snape pegged him exactly right in HBP. I did mental gymnastics trying to figure out why Snape was telling Tonks her patronus was "weak," because I didn't see Lupin that way.

I still don't want to see him that way. He was a good teacher and strong when he needed to be for his students. But still, Snape was right to warn Tonks about him.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

I could understand why he hadn't said anything about Sirius' animagus form

Really? You see, I could not understand that, not when I thought about it. Here is the contrast between Lupin and Snape (or Severus and Remus, since I like them both):
Remus knowingly endangers every child in the school in order to be liked - in order not to lose the headmaster's respect (and, after DH, we know what THAT's worth!). I repeat - he knowingly endangers every child, thinking as he does that Sirius is a traitor and mass murderer, knowing that Sirius can sneak into the school undetected, knowing that Sirius has entered the Gryffindor dormitories, and searched a CHILD'S BED with a KNIFE. In the face of this act, with this knowledge, he keeps silent. And he is a teacher, sworn to guard and protect the students under his care. Not to speak out under these circumstances is cowardly, unless, as you said, he had his own plans and wanted to deal with Sirius himself. In that case, he's merely arrogant, vengeful and hot-headed -- a typical Gryffindor. It's still wrong and inexcusable.

Severus,OTOH, accepts scorn from Dumbledore and hatred and contempt from students and fellow teachers alike in order to fulfill his mission and keep Harry safe. And he is, in Harry's words, "the bravest man I ever knew".

That's the contrast I see, and it was already clear in POA, when Severus risked his life to try to rescue the kids, while Remus endangered them by failing to take his Wolfsbane potion - as well as failing to tell Dumbledore what he knew. Just my two cents!

[(Anonymous)]

Ditto. I thought that Lupin's moral cowardice was very well established. In PoA he knowingly and selfishly endangered all children in the castle and Harry in particular because he didn't want to admit to some wrongdoing in the past. And "he wanted to deal with it on his own" doesn't make it better. Not to mention that there is zero evidence that Lupin actually mounted guard on the secret passages - which he could have mentioned without admitting to Animagi sheningians. In fact, Harry managed to use the one into Hogsmeade without alerting him.
As a kid Lupin also didn't stand up to his friends when he knew that they were bullies and when it was his duty as a prefect to stop them. Not only that, he also let them mortally endanger _many_ other people when they brought him out in the werewolf form.

I also don't see him as a good teacher, contrary to what JKR says. His boggart lesson was incredibly badly thought through - I mean, what if any really nasty, private fears made an appearance? His "bolstering" of Neville via an underhanded and unprofessional dig at a collegue only made things worse for Neville. And Lupin was incredibly lucky that Neville didn't see his parents being tortured into insanity - how would he have made _that_ funny, I wonder? His getting Harry out of a richly deserved punishment for sneaking to Hogsmeade was blatant favoritism. His shower of points for simple classwork was a very cheap tactics to achieve popularity. And finally, he forgot to take Wolfsbane not once, but twice (the first time Snape caught him in time with a dose), thus actively endangering all the children in yet another way. I mean, huh?

I also used to like Lupin and couldn't understand why he was suddenly replaced with Sirius as a close adult confidant in GoF and OoTP, but yes, he was very flawed from the beginning. Naturally, the general devaluing of the Order in DH hit my view of him very hard, because the one thing which made him heroic was rendered largely irrelevant.

[cressida0201.livejournal.com]

When you put it like that, it sounds both logical and damning, but...*shrug* maybe it's just that the possibility of Sirius doing actual harm just wasn't real to me even when I read PoA for the first time. Maybe I was responding to the genre; they were still pretty firmly children's books by then. Anyway, perhaps that made Lupin's neglecting to reveal what he knew seem correspondingly less important. Or who knows, maybe if I read PoA again, I'd be indignant and horrified. I don't want to try the experiment just now, though. PoA is one of the books that I still have fond memories of, and I don't want to spoil what little positive feeling I have left for anything Harry Potter-related.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

PoA is one of the books that I still have fond memories of, and I don't want to spoil what little positive feeling I have left for anything Harry Potter-related.

Oh, I understand! I, too, used to like these books, and I feel terribly betrayed. You see, although Remus's cowardice was quite clear by my second reading of HBP - and I was amazed I hadn't noticed it earlier - I thought: (1) that Snape would be revealed, unequivocally, as a hero in spite of his flaws, AND (2) that Remus would become a hero, also, and become worthy of Tonks. At least, that's what I was hoping for. Instead, Rowling did her best to diminish Severus - not succeeding too well, but she tried hard - while also diminishing poor Lupin and ignoring Tonks entirely. It was too bad. They could *all* have done so much more, and it was a waste of some genuinely complex and interesting characters.

[sunnyskywalker]

I would like to know why JKR threw in the whole Metamorphmagus angle when NOTHING EVER CAME OF IT. That's not a fun background detail like magic candy - that's a huge ability that should affect the plot somehow, because if you have a shape-shifter in the middle of a war, she's going to get drafted into using her ability somehow. Why wasn't Tonks morphing into Death Eaters and taking their places at meetings? Or at least having a pint with one of them regularly in someone else's form? But no, instead she just gets too depressed to morph, and that's it. The end.

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

You are SO RIGHT! Tonks should have been given a chance to DO something, but instead she merely gets killed offstage. There was a presentation at Terminus which I didn't get to attend, but which sounded really interesting; it was called "Where have all the Witches Gone" and questioned Rowling's negation of strong young women in DH. The main focus was on Tonks (of course) and Ginny.

I know a lot of people here hate Ginny, and I don't like her much, but you have to admit she could have been used better in DH. As for Tonks, there were so many possibilities Rowling simply ignored. You're so right.

[(Anonymous)]

In DH? I thought that Tonks was already thoroughly ruined in HBP. What, between her magic-weakening depression (and she an equivalent of an FBI agent protecting Hogwarts!) and complete lack of interest in actually investigating the murder of Albus Dumbledore she is got to be the most useless Auror ever. I mean, the fool didn't even question Harry, opting to corner Lupin about their relationship instead.
Deciding to have a kid while in the midst of a civil war - in which she was duty-bound to protect civilians, was only a logical progression, I guess. Oh, and being exclusively interested in Remus during the final battle. I mean, Tonks was only one of the few professional combatants and crime-fighters in their society, so it follows that she'd pursue her private interests when her skills are finally required in earnest. Bleh.

Ginny was a badly written character who should have been given an opportunity to shine in OoTP, if Rowling wanted to convince us of her awesomeness, and grown from there. As it is, she just turned out to be a prop to make Harry a "real" member of the Weasley clan.

It is not only the _young_ women, BTW. I always noticed that female characters are far less detailed, colorful and effective in the HP books than the males. And women never get to be more than loyal seconds-in-command. Even in the second trio, it is the formerly bumbling Neville that gets to be the leader, not the supposedly so great Ginny.

[sunnyskywalker]

That was how I saw Lupin too, and why his behavior in DH didn't seem all too far off from his usual in DH. I could buy that a year with Greyback put him into enough of a downward spiral that he ended up more unstable and emotional at times.

Which doesn't mean I liked that subplot, mind, or thought that it resolved even remotely satisfactorily... I mean, if JKR wanted to show that the previous generation's flaws led to all of them dying or something, then she should have shown that, clearly, instead of throwing in a subplot with no purpose but producing an orphan baby and killing Lupin offstage. Or she could have just, you know, not had the subplot in the first place.

[aasaylva.livejournal.com]

Ron's present for Harry is something I'd expect from 14-year-old boys. Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, indeed.
I just want to point out that Ron uses the advise on Hermione while Harry does so on Molly. Can one be double-edipal?

What's with all this imagery? Has her fiery red-headedness put her permanently on fire?
No, she's just the incarnation of Gryffindor house - the fire and sun godess. I suppose that's why she is NOT weepy either - too much water would indicate Slytherin (and feminine) aspects, thus rendering her unworthy. Having grown up to be more or less like a boy makes her his ideal girl-friend. And people wonder why Harry is perceived to be gay...
BTW - the comparison with fire-whiskey made me go back to when they drank it, because I didn't remember it to be in any way agreeable. Yep. "Searing his throat, burning feeling into him" - it sounds effective like a slap to the face in case of hysteria, but enjoyable? Imagine spending your wedding-night with the equivalent of getting slapped and punched... but then I am not a Gryffindor, so what do I know about their mating rituals.

All the reasons for ending his relationship...
Which were exactly? Oh, yeah. Plot divise plot divise.

Lupin looks unhappy whereas Tonks looks radiant.
What's so sickening about it is the undercurrant idea that it is always the women who want to marry and the men who get bullied/ tricked into it. Ever seen any divorce statistics, Rowling?

Did that mokeskin pouch ever come in useful with anything, BTW?

Actually, he could have just told the Trio what they needed to know.
Was it ever explained why he did it? I seem to remember Dumbledore waffled something about wanting harry to come to his own conclusions re the Deathly hallows. Mhm. Might have been a good idea to not leave it to pure chance (Viktor and Xenophilus) for him to even hear about them in the first place.

I thought the Deluminator was called the Put-Outer in PS/SS.
JKR did say she wanted the kids to grow up with her books. That#s why she's moved to Latin now.

And don't you just love the joke about people in law don't do anything good in the world? Yes, we get it, Rowling. Politicians and lawyers are EVIL, what with making laws and enforcing them instead of just being ruled by a benign dictator.

[anehan]

Imagine spending your wedding-night with the equivalent of getting slapped and punched... but then I am not a Gryffindor, so what do I know about their mating rituals.

Well, Hermione's attacking Ron with birds was a sign of true love, so it's not so far off the mark.

[cressida0201.livejournal.com]

BTW - the comparison with fire-whiskey made me go back to when they drank it, because I didn't remember it to be in any way agreeable.

Well, maybe the comparison to firewhisky is a subtle way of saying Ginny's a really bad kisser. "How was your kiss with Ginny?" "Oh, um, it was better than being punched in the mouth..."

Ever seen any divorce statistics, Rowling?

Heck, she's been divorced!

[ellecain.livejournal.com]

Actually, in a world that has love potions, the book's title isn't in the least bit funny.

Agreed. I don't see the WW's sexual politics as any more evolved than the Muggle world. The only purpose of introducing that book is making cheap sexual jokes, but it seems to endorse the idea that women are stupid and can be swayed by flattery and compliments. JKR may think Hermione is brilliant but I doubt this is any way to go about proving it to the audience.

Kissing Ginny is better than Firewhisky

WTF? Our Hero just compared his girlfriend to alcohol? Oh wow, that power of love sure runs strong in this one. This is the sort of objectification one would expect in a tv commercial.

*sultry music playing*
Ginny: *walks out in sexy robes*
Harry: *drinks Firewhisky* *then kisses Ginny*
Harry *looks into camera* Firewhiskey: it's almost as good as kissing your girlfriend!

Blech. Ginny is empowered now that she kicks ass! But not empowered enough to be able to have emotions other than those which are convenient to Harry.

Even the Trio, much as they adore Dumbledore, agree with me that it was a tad curious of Dumbledore not to give the sword et al. when he was alive

The problem with JKR writing Dumbledore is that she wants him to be wise and mysterious and give Harry just enough help to allow him to succeed, but this is based on the expectation that Harry will do the rest himself. And given that Harry is the laziest and most ignorant hero in the history of literature, she has to supply the rest by way of ridiculously contrived plot devices that not only undermine the heroism of our hero but make his mentor look either incredibly stupid (or incredibly manipulative depending upon which way you look at it).

[anehan]

*giggles* I love your commercial!

And given that Harry is the laziest and most ignorant hero in the history of literature, she has to supply the rest by way of ridiculously contrived plot devices

Or Hermione the exposition machine.

[anehan]

I'm not a fan of Ron in general, but his snarky moments make me almost like him.