Not even close to finish but...
Due to many unwanted and long-lasting interruptions, I'm currently only up to chapter 4 but have skimmed through other selective sections. To put it simply: I probably am one of the most vindicated-feeling person on earth at the moment, and HBP is at the same time my favorite book ever.
JKR ships H/D, S/H, S/D and S/H/D threesome happyhappyyay! She deliberately wrote H/G as the cheesiest couple ever had their "romance story" published to sink the bloody ship without appearing to. No, I'm not deluded, in fact I think every single canon Draco fan who has repeated over and over again in the past few years how he is exactly the way he has been portrayed in this book should get an extra huge benefit of doubt when it comes to self-delusion. We won, suckers, and you know who you are. And yes I freely admit to pettiness, though I'll just do it this once. I hope. Ok I won't *gloat* (but I'll rave) if no one practically asks me too ;-)
Snape is so not evil ohmygod, I'm 99% sure!!!!!! He killed Dumbledore to protect both his and Draco's ass, and his explanations in chapter 2 about why he sometimes worked against Voldemort's interests, I really don't buy them! Okay but with Snape it's a bit more subtle, I'll have to finish the whole book before I can theorize more coherently!!! Though NO MATTER whose side he's on, I love this character completely and irrevocably.
I fucking love Narcissa, ohmygod I just... She really touched me in chapter two when she fought so damn hard to protect her son. I know, she's most likely a cold uncaring bitch to other people's children, not saying her love for Draco redeems her but!
What Rowling really surprised me with, though I had so believed in the beginning and still sometimes wondered, was that Draco after all really is Harry's opposite number. I would elaborate on this later but firstly: Both had to kill or be killed; Both the most competent in their year on their respective side; Both had their mother used a protective spell on them; Draco borderline light with his not being able to kill Dumbledore, Harry borderline dark with his attempt to crucio, and let's not even go into the many many personality traits they share/leadership position within their little group and house. OH, MY, GOD. And adding in all the Harry obsessing over Draco goodness, can this book possibly have been ANY better a gift to H/D shippers??????
ETA: I had in my prediction list that Hermione would be taken down a notch for a mistake she makes in HBP, AM I GENIUS OR WHAT?! <-- okay that's enough. I'll shut my self-riteous fat mouth.
ETA2: Snape/Narcissa het Snape-ship OTP. NO KIDDING. I really think Snape did this all for Narcissa, he didn't have to, saying he'll try WAS enough. And he was staring into Narcissa's crying blue eyes when he gave his promise! And and, I love how Narcissa *obviously* has always been on good terms with Snape, she's the one who sees the real Snape NOT LILY EVANS!!!!!! Okay I don't really know this as a fact yet, but!
JKR ships H/D, S/H, S/D and S/H/D threesome happyhappyyay! She deliberately wrote H/G as the cheesiest couple ever had their "romance story" published to sink the bloody ship without appearing to. No, I'm not deluded, in fact I think every single canon Draco fan who has repeated over and over again in the past few years how he is exactly the way he has been portrayed in this book should get an extra huge benefit of doubt when it comes to self-delusion. We won, suckers, and you know who you are. And yes I freely admit to pettiness, though I'll just do it this once. I hope. Ok I won't *gloat* (but I'll rave) if no one practically asks me too ;-)
Snape is so not evil ohmygod, I'm 99% sure!!!!!! He killed Dumbledore to protect both his and Draco's ass, and his explanations in chapter 2 about why he sometimes worked against Voldemort's interests, I really don't buy them! Okay but with Snape it's a bit more subtle, I'll have to finish the whole book before I can theorize more coherently!!! Though NO MATTER whose side he's on, I love this character completely and irrevocably.
I fucking love Narcissa, ohmygod I just... She really touched me in chapter two when she fought so damn hard to protect her son. I know, she's most likely a cold uncaring bitch to other people's children, not saying her love for Draco redeems her but!
What Rowling really surprised me with, though I had so believed in the beginning and still sometimes wondered, was that Draco after all really is Harry's opposite number. I would elaborate on this later but firstly: Both had to kill or be killed; Both the most competent in their year on their respective side; Both had their mother used a protective spell on them; Draco borderline light with his not being able to kill Dumbledore, Harry borderline dark with his attempt to crucio, and let's not even go into the many many personality traits they share/leadership position within their little group and house. OH, MY, GOD. And adding in all the Harry obsessing over Draco goodness, can this book possibly have been ANY better a gift to H/D shippers??????
ETA: I had in my prediction list that Hermione would be taken down a notch for a mistake she makes in HBP, AM I GENIUS OR WHAT?! <-- okay that's enough. I'll shut my self-riteous fat mouth.
ETA2: Snape/Narcissa het Snape-ship OTP. NO KIDDING. I really think Snape did this all for Narcissa, he didn't have to, saying he'll try WAS enough. And he was staring into Narcissa's crying blue eyes when he gave his promise! And and, I love how Narcissa *obviously* has always been on good terms with Snape, she's the one who sees the real Snape NOT LILY EVANS!!!!!! Okay I don't really know this as a fact yet, but!