aricadavidson

Well the initial shock of the ending has finally worn off. Thanks to my boyfriend (who isn't a fan) I knew who was going to die before I got past chapter three, but it made a lot of sense in some respects.

I loved the style of the book... where it was more focused on Voldemort throughout rather than school and then at the end, the typical Harry defeats Voldemort yet again. And other reviews of the book are quite right that the characters have matured. Harry certainly has, as has Ron. Oh, yes, they have their moments, but don't we all?

My favorite moments in the book? Where Harry breaks up with Ginny for some "noble" purpose... to protect her from Voldemort. That's definitely grown up and selfless. And the other was the scene where Harry realizes he is not bound by prophecy but by his own sense of morality.

Snape. Now he's a complex and interesting character as well. I suspected for a while that he was the "Half-Blood Prince" just on a whim. I mean, he was potions master and he was very good at them... Seems logical he would know short cuts.

Snape's betrayal? That was just... well weird. Because despite the apparent obvious, I can't help but wonder if it was all planned to be... As Obi-Wan Kenobi allowed himself to be killed on the death star, was that what Dumbledore was doing? Did he foresee it? Was this the plan? [And will he be appearing to Harry in some transparent form? lol]. And there's a part of me, that feels that Snape hasn't completely gone back to the dark side... that perhaps this is the greatest sacrifice?

The loss of Dumbledore is a crushing blow to the morale of the good side. But was he right about Snape or was he mistaken? I keep finding myself asking that question despite what appears to be obvious evidence. Dumbledore wasn't surprised. So if he knew, did he sacrifice himself? Or just know it was his time?

Is Dumbledore even really dead? [you're talking to a girl who watches shows where no one really dies... and this IS a magical realm].