hbp
As randomly listed thoughts have rather gone out of vogue, here be my actually organized HBP musings.
Harry: Quite pleased with his development, now that he's actually achieving some, as opposed to book five's I'M OLDER BUT MORE EMO!1 turn. From Sirius's death straight through Dumbledore's, he matures. He's steeling himself, building himself up for What's Out There, but without shutting out the outside world, as so many had feared. However, he should really stop -- reading books, because honestly, Harreh, this is twice you've been outsmarted and generally played by paper and ink. Bad form. Incidentally, Harry, you are also Not Straight. You call Tom handsome five times (yes, we counted). Tall, dark, and confined-to-a-book does seem to be your type, though, because the way you looked at young!Voldy was almost as embarassing as the way you read young!Snape. We get it, he can be your prince and storm your castle walls anyday. Lastly: what attracts you most is "the woody smell of a broomstick handle"? *eyebrow raise* Don't be absurd, obsession is the new Quidditch. So is invisibly-following-arch-enemies-through-the-hallways and I-need-to-see-the-place-where-Malfoy-keeps-coming-secretly, or any version thereof (hint: grab a mirror). Stop using Ginny; she is just a cover for your true desires to have darkside buttsecks with Tom, Severus, and Draco.
Draco: OH MY. I couldn't have asked for better. Not, mind, that I'm precisely pleased with him as a person, per se; but as a character, this development and new visibility is delectable. Previous, he was smug, dependent, arrogant, confident in his 'invincibility', whiny, self-absorbed. He was in quite serious danger of slipping off Harry's and everyone else's radar, dismissed as all talk and no game, posing no threat to the larger still-unfolding situation, a cardboard playground bully. (And how we despaired.) But in this book, Draco did two Somethings that starkly changed his role: 1. He lets the Death Eaters in: An action self-conceived and self-implemented that has gained and requires Harry's and the Order's full attention. 2. He cries in a bathroom. By Myrtle's reading, he's sensitive, lonely, (lonely!), isolated. What a new reading on Draco Malfoy this is. He's strongly cast as capable and intelligent (if a bit careless under pressure) - but most striking is his ferocious LOYALTY. Loyalty to his family, above Lord Voldemort. And, apparently, above himself. When he leaves Hogwarts and the reader, he is scared, conflicted, angry (at everyone + himself -- rather as we thought Harry would be), by turns doubtful and fantatical, and on the run. He's desperate. He's volatile.
Snape: Evil or not, did not murder Dumbledore; rather, did his bidding, to the end. garlandgraves's theory on that night is required reading.
R.A.B.: Regulus somethingA Black. Well spotted, general fandom.
Wazlibs Weasleys: Love them. And no way will they emerge unscathed. I'm predicting: Percy (either post-redemption, though, or not at all) and Ron. Perhaps one of the twins, but I harbor gut-feeling!doubts.
Things romantical:
Ron/Hermione was, is, and continues to be adorable. Loved Hermione's attacking canaries. And how, when necessary (i.e. the funeral), they come together so effortlessly.
Harry/Ginny would not have felt random had this been the only book we were dealing with. Because it was planted quite early on within this book, right down to the first Slughorn class when Harry smells, within the love potion, Ginny's flowery scent (though he doesn't immediately identify it as hers). But considering the background to HBP, their romance did throw me for a loop. However, am not in arms about it ... especially as, by all appearances, they've never had a private conversation ...? That = odd.
Lupin/Tonks: WHAT. Blackcest was so much more appealing. And Lupin, my friend, why did you have fewer lines than previouslygenderless!Blaise?
Bill/Fleur: Fleur, you are hilarious.
But honestly, all this romance business, and all the fandom wanking about sunken ships, is really secondary, as romantic love has never been the focal point of the series. That's not the grounding relationship, the sort of lowest-common-denominator; THAT is friendship. THAT is what the the final Harry/Ron/Hermione scene demonstrates above all else - two members of the Trio have not strictly platonic feelings, but that is secondary to their first and most essential function as friends.
Spells: Are there, in fact, more dueling spells than, like, Petrificus Totalus, Impedimenta, Expeliarmus, and about two others? I feel like Harry learned zomg so many with the DA, but has applied none of those new skillz. Wah.
Overall: LOVED this one. New best of series. Cannot wait for year seven, even though saying goodbye will break me.
**Worthy Links / Required Reading
garlandgraves's Dumbledore's End, Snape's Betrayal, R.A.B.'s Note, and Mundungus' Thieving
maegunnbatt's 5,000+ words of HBP reactions.
monochromal's Response to Harry and Draco and H/D in Book Six