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Natalie and Elisha's strange look into the last Harry Potter novel

As everyone who lives in an even remotely civilized country knows, the final installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows, was released just a short while ago. As Natalie and Elisha are both rabid Harry Potter fans, they have decided to give a review of the long-awaited conclusion here at their beloved To Boldly NaNo website, in an amusing conversational format:

Natalie: Elisha, just a week ago we were counting down the hours until we held the final Harry Potter book in our hands and embarked with Harry on his last adventure. So here is my first question: was the book what you expected it to be?

Elisha: Yes and no. While I enjoyed reading it and finding out what happened on the last stage of Harry's adventure, I still feel that there were a lot of unanswered questions. And I felt the writing itself had its ups and downs, but you know how picky I am about writing.

N: *nods knowingly*

E: How about you? Did it meet all of your expectations?

(E: Oooh... Steve says we're going car test-driving again tonight!

N: Can we please put that comment in there?

E: Sure.)

N: In some ways. I have to admit this wasn't the book that I was expecting. That said I couldn't tell you what book I was expecting. I enjoyed it, but like you said there were a lot of questions I wanted answers to. My first one is why were Ron and Hermione not at Privet Drive with Harry like they promised? Did I miss that in my rush to read?

E: No, you didn't miss it, it wasn't in there. And Hermione's middle name is suddenly Jean instead of Jane like we'd been told (major plot point, you know).

N: When did that happen? That is a major plot point. Alert Scholastic! Alert Bloomsbury! Alert the HP Lexicon!  We have breaking news! *ponders what Harry's great-grandparent's middle names were*

E: *ponders also*

N: Okay, back to what is important. What shocked you most about the deaths? Book, I mean. We'll get to deaths in a minute.

E: Well, the deaths, yes, not that they were shocking, just who died. And that Harry was a Horcrux. I know that was a popular theory, but somehow it never set right in my mind, so when it happened, I was just like, "Huh?" And I was rather shocked that the whole book wasn't as good as I wanted it to be, but isn't that always the way it goes? And now I'm being redundant.

N: Do you think the reason the book wasn't as good as you wanted it to be was the hype of fandom? Since the release of Half-Blood Prince (well, longer really) the HP fans have been theorizing and debating about what will happen in the final episode. Did that raise your expectations?

E: Sort of. I don't theorize much on my own, so it was interesting to see what other people thought and their reasoning behind it, but I'd say the fandom definitely built up my excitement, and there were so many theories that yes, expectations were high, because JKR could have gone with so many alternative stories and her imagination has never failed us before. But in the end what we actually got seemed almost generic, the same theories that everyone had. It's like knowing what you're getting for your birthday or Christmas, but you can never be positive until you open that package, so there's all that excitement and then a slight let-down at the end when you're not surprised. And the fact that expectations were so very high made the disappointment feel more severe.

N: See, I wouldn't say generic. I really did enjoy the book. I wouldn't say it was the best book she has written but I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed the character development of both Harry and Ron. They really had to grow up in this book, and Hermione had to learn it was time to start listening to them. I do wish we had seen others though.

E: The books are all from Harry's perspective though, so we couldn't really have seen the other characters with the story JKR gave us. You know how I would have loved to see more of Luna, or the Weasley twins, or Neville. So did your theories hold true, then, or were they proven completely wrong?

N: Well, Harry was a Horcrux. About 18 months ago I believed that to be true, then I talked myself out of that. They also didn't go back to school. I desperately wanted them to go back to Hogwarts for school. Oh, and we never got back to the Department of Mysteries. I really thought that we would get to see the Veil and find out what was behind that locked door. Instead we traipsed around the countryside. The thing is I convinced myself of each theory one time or another. I do think that is what make Ms. Rowling a great writer, there is evidence either way.

E: I'm not denying she's a fantastic writer. I just think she's a better writer than Deathly Hallows makes her seem to be. She could have given Harry—and the fans—a better finale. And some closure would have been nice for a lot of the storylines. She wrapped up the main ones, but there were so many loose ends. And now she's announced the writing of an encyclopedia where we will learn what happens to other characters... I think that should have been in the main book. An encyclopedia is not the place for those things. 

N: I am excited about the encyclopedia. I think it is a great place for the backstories that I'd like to know. Not about the main characters, but with the minor characters like Dean or Lavender. I would have liked to know what had happened to the main characters, and in an interview she gave with the Today show she mentioned how in the first draft she did have that information, but it didn't feel right. I don't think she could have wrapped up all the loose ends, there were so many. If you could choose though, what loose end would you have liked to see resolved?

E: I don't know that I'd want anything in particular, but this almost feels like cheating to me, like she finished the book and said, "Oh crap, I forgot to put in all of this other stuff I wanted to say! I guess I'll just write something else." But it's not the same.

N: That makes sense. Okay, I really just have to take this moment to squee about page 625. *waits for readers to open up to that page* I knew this scene was coming since book 1 and I have been waiting for it since book 4. I know that Ron and Hermione's relationship isn't primary to the story at all, it is a nice secondary story which I have just adored. The moments with these characters in this book were just what I wanted. The small things, the touching, the caring, the hitting, the kiss—basically, the way they defined themselves as a couple. I'd also like to add I loved the way that Ron grew in this book.

E: You're going to hate me for saying this.

N: I'd never hate you and you know it.

E:  Well, I'd say it in either case, so that is a moot point.

N: True. Say it.

E: I thought the kiss was a little too built-up, and it made it almost... bad fanfic-y to me. I liked Harry's response better than the fact that they actually kissed. I was waiting for it through the entire book, and by the time it actually happened I was just thinking, "thank god that's over with!" I kind of felt like Harry did at that moment, like there were better things to do, and their relationship was assumed anyway, so it was largely frivolous.

N: No, I understand. In fact, there was a time in the book that I just assumed it had already happened. I think I enjoyed it because, to me, it seemed to fit them. Who would have thought that house elves would break down that last wall?

E: I understand why it needed to be in there though. The entire book felt like it was written for the fans moreso than it was written for the story, if that makes sense, and the fans wanted Ron and Hermione, they needed to see that solidification, so that's what JKR gave them.

N: And as a fan I am grateful for that. Though I have to admit Ron yelling Hermione's name in Malfoy's cellar was a little too over the top for me.

E: That's exactly my point... she was stretching.

N: So let's get to the good stuff here—the deaths. I have to say from chapter one you knew what was coming and those who didn't expect beloved characters to die, well, she's killed off other beloved characters, why would the last book be any different?

E: I honestly expected more deaths, especially with her comment about going straight for the main characters.

N: I think the death that affected me the most was Hedwig's. Yes, I know she was just a pet, but she represented so much more. She was Harry's first friend and to have her gone within a matter of minutes it was much like the loss of the last bit of innocence, that last string of childhood. I actually gasped when I read the book and my poor brother told me if I was going to react like that I had to leave the room, because he didn't want me to give away anything. Did anyone notice that Harry lost his Firebolt then too? I admit a small loss compared to Hedwig but it was one of his most cherished possessions and his last link to Sirius.

E: I agree about Hedwig, and I think that's exactly why she did it. And the Firebolt too.

N: I agree with your more deaths. I was surprised that Luna, Neville, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all survived. And all the teachers. Don't get me wrong, I was happy they all lived, but I really thought we'd see more rather than a random 50 people that we didn't know.

E: I was disappointed that I didn't even cry.  Not once. I got a little teary at Dobby's funeral, but that was mostly because they were making a big deal of it. 

N: That was the only time I got teary too.

E: And the deaths we did see were very abrupt, and hardly mentioned. It made them seem less important, somehow. 

N: I had cried more in book 6 than anything else.

E: Me too. This one felt more like, "Oh, they're dead now, okay." And you know how much I love Fred.

N: It did feel rushed, but then the end of the book felt rushed too. It was like the trio was really apart from the war and we didn't get to really see the battle.

E: I can sort of understand why it had to be that way—the whole Harry's point-of-view thing—but just the same I was disappointed with the way it played out. We could have seen curses being thrown right and left, Remus' and Tonks' deaths, and all sorts of heroic acts, but instead we got Harry and Dumbledore in a train station having a chat. Yes, it was important, yes, it resolved the plot, but no, it didn't exactly live up to expectations.

N: And what a conversation that was. Harry was way too calm for me there.

E: It was more, "Oh, I'm dead now, okay."

N: Moments before he felt Dumbledore had betrayed him and though I was proud with the whole "I open at the close" scene I thought Harry would show just a tad more emotion at Kings Cross.

E: I agree. He didn't seem mad or sad or anything with Dumbledore.

N: Nope, it was more, "Oh great Dumbledore, tell me how it all works!"

E: You'd think if someone had just basically sentenced you to death you'd at least be a little miffed about it.

N: I would have been. I figured that was the reason he didn't come when Harry turned the resurrection stone. Harry didn't want him there. The Battle of Hogwarts did have some of the best moments in it though. I quite enjoyed Trelawney dropping crystal balls, Sprout running out with poisonous plants, and McGonagall leading the desks shouting "Charge!" That was the part that I wanted to see, but part of me wishes it was more. I really think McGonagall cemented her place as one of my favorites towards the end. I loved the way she took control and her proper place as Headmistress.

E: I agree completely. Maybe it's just because we're American and so used to action and violence, but I thought the battle was the strongest scene, showing who the characters really were at their core. And when Neville slew Nagini I actually cheered out loud.

N: I was so proud of Neville. Again one of the everyman characters I see. Not exactly good at anything but willing to fight for what was right.  Did we already talk about the Malfoys? Because I have to admit that surprised me. Well, Lucius surprised me. It bugs me that they get off, but I guess that is life. It isn't fair and not all the bad guys don't get off.

E: I didn't think Narcissa was surprising, given what we saw of her in HBP, and the way they were treated through the entire book. And it seems feasible to me that Harry actually let them off, in a manner of speaking, because she helped to save him. He saw that they weren't as bad as they could have been. Not that that's a good reason to let them off the hook, but you know.

N: Yeah. It just was a disappointment for me.

E: So how about Snape? What did you think of his story? Did he have justification for the way he was?

N: Justification? I don't know if I would use that word. I wasn't surprised that he loved Lily but I was surprised about the depth of the relationship. This was something he lost of his own accord and I think that leads to regret, which starts his change. I don't think he ever got over how much Harry is like his father and was only protecting him grudgingly. He is still an evil man whose actions were only fueled by guilt. He sacrificed James and would have sacrificed Harry—the two things that Lily loved most—for his own happiness, he just underestimated Lily's love for her family.

E: I think the whole backstory gives new insight into Snape's worst memory from OotP. The worst part of it is that he lost Lily because of what happened there, and not that James picked on him.

N: Yes, it does, and that makes so much more sense. Since we knew that James' taunts were a common occurrence I was surprised to see that as his worst memory.

E: And can I just say that it's kind of creepy to me that his Patronus is a doe because Lily's was a doe, but hers was only a doe because James' was a buck. That's weird.

N: Well, there were times I thought Snape was just a creepy stalker. Not when he was a kid, but when he was an adult.

E: Probably both. 

N: As a child I felt so bad for him. Of course he would attach himself to Lily, someone like himself.

E: I don't know. As a child it seemed like he was already trying to win her over to the "Magic is Might" side. Superior, I guess.

N: True.

E: I can understand the fascination for both of them, but I think he still had the bad vibes even when he was young. And he did end up in Slytherin, so you know he's got that thirst for power. But I do think he was played by Dumbledore. All of them were. Snape was just a git anyway. 

N: Dumbledore. I loved seeing another side of him. The darker side that was there. It also makes his whole "It's about our choices" spiels mean so much more.

E: I'm still divided about Dumbledore. We knew he had to have a dark side, but again, it seemed a bit of a stretch to me. I did like the "You're the better man" bit though, that was good.

N: That was.

E: Well, shall we give the book some stars or thumbs or pencils or some other cheesy rating scale mascot?

N: Oh yes, because this has been a strange and interesting article.

E: Red pens? Cups of coffee?

N: *hates red pens*

E: *loves red pens*  Maybe we should use Wands for this one... something book-specific. Or scars.

N: Brooms.

E: Lightning bolts.

N: Cauldrons.

E: Owls. OWLs.

N: *oh Hedwig* NEWTS.

E: We're dorks.

N: Yup.

E: Okay, so how many out of 5?

N: Well, I would give it 3, because even though there were parts I really didn't like or plots that were unresolved, overall I did enjoy it. I read it in about 7 hours; I don't do that with every book.

E: All of that adds up to a 3 for you? You're tough.

N: There was more that added up to 3 for me but I thought I'd spare the reader of this article all that. *whispers "page 625"*

E: See, I don't think I liked it as much as you did, and I'm saying 3 for the same reasons (minus page 625). The fact that I still enjoyed it, and that I sat up and read it earns it a higher rating for me despite all the badness I found. I was expecting you to give it a higher rating though. Please remind me never to ask you to rate anything I've written.

N: I am tough. The book had its flaws, but I still liked it flaws and all. You know I love everything you write. And page 625 is not the real reason I gave it a 3 (for all those reading out there who don't know me and will find me shallow—or in desperate need of a boyfriend—after that comment).

E: Okay, so 3 wands/scars/brooms/lightning bo... you get the idea. 

3/5