Harry Potter: Do not read this if you haven't finished the book

[Lambchops]

Well, what did you all think?

I think it is up to the usual standard but hasn't Harry become really angry? I got a bit depressed at the constant blows Harry had to suffer and I didn't predict the death accurately.

I didn't get it right either. I thought that it would be Hagrid.

I thought that the anger was quite good, as Harry enters his mid teens and turns into more of a 'terrible teen'.

I've had great fun reading it. I was much amused at the swipes at school inspectors

I was convinced itwas Hagrid after hear something that Robbie Coltrane said. I really enjoyed it but
didn't think it was the best one so far. I was surprised that nothing came of the memory that he saw of Snapes where his dad and Sirius were beign horrid to Snape. That seemed to be left unfinished, I thought something would happen to explain that.

I have to say after all the hype that some major character dies, it seemed a bit of a cop out killing Sirus. And not only killing him, but killing him in a way that wasn't really killing him, if that makes any sense.

It was a bit sad that Harry and Cho didn't sort things out, but a guess that was all part of the Harry is a moody teenager thing. And boy was he a moody teenager!

PLEEEEEASE MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU PUT IN A SPOILER IT DOESN'T SHOW UP ON THE SEARCH PAGE!!!!!

Thank you!

I think it is very unfair that she left it where she did. How did their OWLS go? Has Harry got enought to become an Auror? I may have to wait years to discover!!!!

I thought it went on a bit - could have done with some serious editing. I'm interested to see how she'll deal with late teenage for a child readership - already felt it wasn't always quite on the nail about 15 year olds.

Janh, how do you stop messages showing up on the search page?

I finished the book last night. Couldn't put it down. Just loved it. Would put it somewhere between book three and four in my list of favourites.

I don't want to say anything about the plot until Jan tells me how to 'hide' it.

From what I can tell you can't stop the messages showing up on the search page, but the title says it all, so don't read the messages!!!

Or I guess you could put your first line (as this is what shows up) as.

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then post the spoilers.

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Sirus dies!!!!

just putting this to test it!

I think that worked, though I'm sure someone will tell me it didn't

Pie has got the idea!

Sorry I didn't make it clearer but that's what I meant...I accidentally spotted about the victim while posting my screech so that doesn't matter now but pleeeeeese make sure no-one else can see before they want to!

PS from what I've read so far (up to about p 140) I think this book has the best start by miles. Azkaban was my favourite so far but I'll wait and see how this pans out.

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Thanks Pie and Jan,

I promise to be careful. Well, the whole 'who will die thing' had me on the edge of my seat. I think it was clever of Rowling to tell us that one of the major characters bites the bullet. I spent the whole book going 'Not Ron' 'Oh please not Hagrid' 'Mr. Weasley - well if you have to' 'Oh no, not Neville'!

I think by the time I was half way through the book I had a hit list in my mind.

You know, well she can kill off Trelawney, Hooch, Sprout, Percy , Crabbe or Goyle.

I'd rather not see Mr. or Mrs. Weasley, Snape, Draco ('cos I think they're such great baddies), Seamus or Lupin get it in the neck.

I'd really miss Sirius (gulp!), Lee, Fred and George.

If she touches Hermione, Ron, Neville, Hagrid, Dumbledore or McGonagall, I'll wring her neck!

It definitely added some cool tension.

Haven't finished it yet. I'm on about page 200. Don't have much time with a 2 year old!! Couldn't help reading this thread though when I read 'Don't read this if you haven't finished the book'. I just can't believe that Sirius dies, (haven't got to that part yet though). Better go and have some very long baths, that's really the only time I get to read. I did love the others though.

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I think that Percy will turn out to be a plant that Dumbledore has placed in the Ministry to feed information to the Order of the Phoenix. His parents don't know this so that his cover will be accepted by the men from the ministry.

I still think that Harry will fall for Ginny in the end. Luna is a red herring. And Ron and Hermiony will get it together, but that was less obvious in this book than the earlier ones.

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I thought that Luna had a thing for Ron and it was this that was going to force Hermione to admit she likes Ron.

hmb - I like you idea of Percy as a plant for the Order.

I finished it this afternoon, thought it was excellent.

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There were an awful lot of new puzzles though. Who was the other person who could see the horse thingies? Why couldn't Harry see the horse thingies before? He witnessed his parents death. What was the mirror all about? And I am dying with curiosity to find out more about Petunia. Is she really a witch? What was the howler all about?
Oh! I can't wait for the next book, but I hope we don't have to wait 3 years.
Best line: " It unscrews the other way"

I really enjoyed it but agree that it needed much better editing - lots of things left undone or forgotten about at the end - eg: what was all that business with Hermione and the house elf hats? it never went anywhere! Very angry about Sirius' death, especially as it was such an anti-climax. The Luna and Ron thing that seemed to be brewing at the beginning was forgotten about too. I thought she described angry, hormonal teenagers pretty well without being too graphic and I loved Grawp although again I think she forgot about him a bit. Why didn't Snape get into trouble for ending the "Remedial Potions" lessons?

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Love the Percy as a plant idea! Hadn't even thought of it.

I actually like the idea of Harry and Hermione together. I think it would mirror his parents realtionship if he ended up with a muggle-born.

I guess the other person who saw the thestrals could just be some miscellaneous Slytherin kid who had seen someone die.

Maybe Harry couldn't see them before because he wasn't aware that he saw his parents die. Or maybe he didn't actually see it.

I didn't understand why Harry didn't use Sirius' present to communicate with him in the first place.

I don't think that Petunia is a witch. There would have been signs before now. But I didn't understand Dumbledore's cryptic message to her either.

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And what was the 'weapon' that the Order were guarding - surely it can't have been the prophecy (can't see that would be much of a weapon)?

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The prophesy was definitely the weapon Ange8. Dumbledore says it himself on page 740 -

"This is the weapon he has been seeking so assiduously since his return: the knowledge of how to destroy you"

Thanks nerdgirl - that's what I get for reading the book til 2am at night - lousy recall!

I know Ange8. I fell asleep on the damn book last night! We are such pathetic creatures!

I was in the middle of replying to all the questions below then had a power cut! Can't be bothered now, will try again tomorrow!