Read-along Harry Potter (part 4)
Haven't had time to write for the last two days (been busy with MyChores, unleashing a brand new design and new themes!)
Anyway, i'll carry on where i left off. There will be spoilers, obviously.
Chapter 10
Saturday 21/07/2007 18:25. Oooh, i bet Harry is about to find Kreacher in the house. Hermione only checked for human life! Or maybe Harry might find the locket?!
18:30. Ah, now this letter is interesting. Lily, James and Harry were already under the Fidelius Charm by the end of July, weren't betrayed until November, but Wormtail was already acting suspiciously, reading in hindsight. Now what are we to discover about Bathilda Bagshott and Dumbledore? Did Dumbledore keep the cloak to prevent James from doing anything foolish?
18:35. Hmm. The rest of the letter is missing. I wonder whether it has anything to do with Rita Skeeter's book?
18:40. OH BABY! It's R.A.B! It looks as if we were right! Now are any of them going to twig? Heheh! Yes, they did! Good work, Trio!
Hmm, somebody searched Regulus's room - and locked the door again? Or maybe the door just locked itself. I'm really happy we're getting to learn about Regulus after all the references in the previous book.
18:45. I'm quite nervous that if someone already came searching they were looking for the locket. Which means they know the secret. Or Voldemort knows that the Horcruxes are not safe. By the way, Trio, try the drawing room! Or find Kreacher's little nest of goodies!
Oh good! Hermione's remembered! But what happened to the locket? What did they do with it?
* * *
20:15. Urrr, i am so stupid! Having stayed well away from any Internet spoilers, i go and let my partner read the last page, and then try to tease out harmless non-committal spoilers. Then my partner goes and drops basically THE BIGGEST SPOILER OF ALL!!! I know it's my fault. I'm disappointed because it will influence how i read the book from now on. But anyway. There is still plenty more i don't yet know. I am really enjoying this talk with Kreacher. Kreacher seems to have developed more tolerable speech patterns than the other house elves, which is merciful in a long passage like this. Who knew Kreacher could be so useful! Now we know why JKR persuaded the film makers to include Kreacher in the 5th film.
20:25. Oh, poor Kreacher! Being left on that little tiny island! What things did the potion make Kreacher see? Could be clues as to what Dumbledore saw. I'll bet anything Regulus came to rescue Kreacher, thus finding out about the Horcrux. Oh wait, no, Regulus must have come looking for a Horcrux, hence the note. Oh let's just read and find out!
20:30. Ahh! That's how house elves can Apparate in and out of Hogwarts! When they are told to by their masters. It worked in the cave, too. Good one, Regulus, i really like you at the moment!
Oh my goodness, Regulus died in order to get the Horcrux. In full understanding of what was going to happen. But what made Regulus switch? Love for the house elf? Surely such a sacrifice has to mean something in the Harry Potter world!
20:40. Oh, well done Harry, getting Kreacher on side. Kreacher is starting to behave more like Dobby! Who knew that Kreacher had a soul and a heart? I'm starting to think that could be Kreacher on the front cover - helping the Trio!
Chapter 11
Saturday 21/07/2007 20:45. It's just occurred to me that there were probably a lot of people in Tottenham Court Road today looking for a shabby greasy-spoon café!
I am so pleased to see more of Remus in this book! Nice to see Remus without Tonks, too. Maybe now we'll get some answers.
20:55. Bah, not much information. Remus is certainly not happy about the Tonks situation, especially not about becoming a father. Euww, and that implies they've had sex and everything! How could JKR do that to us? We were all perfectly happy to assume Remus & Sirius were lovers.
21:05. Oops! There goes the best offer of help you could probably wish for, although i do agree with Harry that Remus should be there to look after Tonks and the baby, no matter how much i despise this stupid story-line.
Well done, Kreacher, you're turning out to be very useful! Ugh, Mundungus, you make me sick ... and now we're playing a lovely little treasure hunt with the locket! I can't believe it! Umbridge took it!
Owners of the locket so far ... Salazar Slytherin, random Slytherin descendents, Mr Gaunt, Merope Gaunt, Caractacus Burke, Hepzibah Smith, Voldemort, Kreacher, Mundungus Fletcher, Umbridge.
But did Kreacher ever 'destroy' the locket? Is it still a Horcrux?!
Chapter 12
Saturday 21/07/2007 21:15. What are all these people expecting to happen in Grimmauld Place? I expect the Ministry have told them that Harry Potter might be there, and they all want the reward.
21:10. Holy Guacamole! Snape's become Howgarts headmaster, and at least two Death Eaters are teachers. Snape is bad! There can be no explaining or excusing this behaviour, can there? Are we all just going to have to accept that Dumbledore made a mistake? What of Dumbledore and this hushed up secretive past? Is any of it true? I honestly have no idea where JKR is going with any of this. Where is McGonagall in all of this? A friendly, helpful Kreacher is a welcome change, though. Hermione was absolutely right: Kreacher just wanted some love, praise and respect, and look at the change!
21:30. Oh. I thought Hermione might be able to use Phineas to get information. But no, that would be a bad idea. It would let Snape know where the Trio are.
21:35. Is Hermione ever going to teach Harry how to do Occlumency? Because let's face it, Snape never did much good. It can't be that hard to learn; Draco managed it! I would like to know more about what Harry's wand did, and why. Could be something to do with Fawkes's feather in it? Loyalty to Dumbledore and all that? Gosh i've just thought, what if all these people are deliberately trying to poison Haryr's mind against Dumbledore?
21:40. Oh, this Ministry plan sounds great! All that Weasley Wizard Wheezes stuff - including Decoy Detonaters!
Why did Hermione have to take Ron and Harry side-along? Perhaps Hermione is the most accurate at Apparating.
21:45. This scene is going to have such great music in the film! I can hear a wonderful tune coming out already! I'm just sure something as about to go wrong, though!
21:50. As soon as anyone takes Polyjuice, i spend the remainder of the chapter convinced it's about to wear off any second. We were clearly told in CoS and GoF that it only lasts an hour, yet there have been mentions of small cups and big cups in this book, so maybe it can make a difference. It's nearly 9am and Hermione's had at least 15 minutes already.
22:00. Oh, i've just realised who Yaxley is! The unnamed brutal-faced Death Eater who stopped Fenrir from attacking Dumbledore.
22:05. I think i see why the real Cattermole was so desperate to get to work today. The Trio could do a lot of damage, not knowing what jobs they are supposed to be doing.
22:10. Okay, so far, reasonably good; it's the end of a chapter and nothing's gone desperately wrong yet ... and there's Umbridge! Now what?! This is all rather intriguing!!
Chapter 13
Saturday 21/07/2007 22:15. Careful Harry! If that's Moody's eye then it can se you under the Invisibility Cloak!
22:30. Ohhh, Harry Potter, you and your saving-people thing! I won't deny this is most entertaining reading, but i am sure this is all about to go so terribly wrong! Well done for getting the Horcrux, though!
22:40. Oh, that was an exciting escape! I don't think it all worked, though. Ron and Hermione were slipping away. Sounds as if they weren't the real Ron or Hermione, and couldn't get on to the step of Grimmauld Place with Harry - has someone just pulled Harry away from Grimmauld Place again?
Chapter 14
Saturday 21/07/2007 22:45. Yay! Dittany again! What a useful plant!
Oh! I see what happened. Yaxley came along and now knows the secret of Grimmauld Place. Oh dear. But no real harm done. They can still call Kreacher away, can't they? How could Harry have been so silly to take Moody's eye off the door?!
* * *
23:25. Okay i'm all undressed for bed, just time to have a little think of all i've read today. I'm not at the end of a chapter but it seems safe to leave the Trio there in the woods tonight. I was very impressed by all Hermione's protection charms. It's good to see things like this - it makes it all the more real. It is such an exciting fast-paced book, where they always seem only a few steps away from very real danger the whole time.
The Ministry have become well and truly messed up, mostly thanks to that Imperiused Thicknesse. I wonder what would happen if someone managed to remove that Imperius Charm? Umbridge is getting away with all sorts of lunacy. It's horrible. I admire Harry for rescuing all the prisoners! Yaxley seems a bit slow off the mark, for a Death Eater.
One thing i would like to see is some of Dumbledore's Army. I'm sure we will, particularly Luna and Neville - they'll be there for Harry even if none of the others are. I don't imagine the whole story will be of the Trio running round on a wild Horcrux chase. I wonder how they will track down the other Horcruxes? They've done very well with the locket so far.
Things still to come: the identity of Voldemort's prisoner (or can we just assume it was Ollivander?), the shard of glass showing Dumbledore's eye, the mystery of Dumbledore's supposedly sordid past, the mystery of Harry performing unconscious magic, Harry developing both Legilimency and Occlumency, that Grindelwald symbol (there must be something more to learn about it) and the location and loyalties of Professor McGonagall. If Snape truly is evil, as appears, then i am less inclined to accuse McGonagall. It has occurred to me that Dumbledore was probably wrong about Stan Shunpike, so could have been wrong about Snape too.
I noticed another moment where Harry seemed to lose interest about living or dying. I've seen this before in Harry - very willing to give in to death, and in those moments apparently very aware that it's not a particularly bad thing. Taken with Hermione's statement that the soul does not die, and the very interesting William Penn quote at the beginning, i feel there is more to come on this. Just before i sleep, maybe i should attempt again to read that first poem, see whether i can make any sense of it!
* * *
Sunday 22/07/2007 09:15. Good morning, Trio, Ron, hope you're feeling better. Now then, how long until your next life-threatening adventure?!
09:25. Okay, so the mystery deepens. What could Voldemort be after from Gregorovitch, if not an answer to the wand mystery? What is 'it' that Voldemort wants but Gregorovitch no longer has? And who was that golden-haired boy whom Harry recognised? Someone younger than presently, since it was in a memory. Oh, by the way, Harry has just had a little lesson into how to do Legilimency! Think it'll come in useful?
Chapter 15
Sunday 22/07/2007 09:30. Interesting - whoever wears the locket is impaired in their magical ability. I wonder if Umbridge ever noticed that?
Hooray! They feel cheerful and hopeful again. I don't enjoy the tense moments between our precious Trio. Oh, wouldn't it be awful if there's a big argument and they fall out? Keep together, guys!
09:40. Oooh, Harry thought of Gringotts! That's a personal favourite of mine. Go and look there, please!
Oh dear, this is not going so well, is it? Hermione may criticise Harry for being a poor leader, but Harry's two best instincts, Hogwarts and Godric's Hollow, have been shot down by the other two. I reckon they should just go anyway. Anything rather than this endless waiting and arguing. And why can't that stupid locket go inside Hermione's bag or Harry's pouch? Why do any of them need to wear it?
09:50. Hmm. Ted Tonks has made friends with goblins. I didn't know humans and goblins could get along so well. Maybe the Trio can join in. Oh, and Ted is Muggle-born, but magical.
Ahhh! Dean Thomas is there! YAY!! And this Dirk Cresswell we keep hearing about, who sounds like a rather powerful wizard, by what Mr Weasley said. Is Dawlish on the good side? I can't remember now.
10:40. Er, sorry which sword is a fake? The one Harry pulled out of the Sorting Hat? Which means Voldemort could have found the original?
Hooray for Xeno Lovegood! Totally on Harry Potter's side! I don't believe Xeno could be evil ... i still want to know what's up with that symbol, though. How amusing they're all sitting talking about Harry, who is so nearby. Go on, show yourself, Harry. I'm sure it'll be safe!
10:45. There's all this talk about using the sword on Voldemort. I'll laugh if that's what happens in the end. Not that they're trained in Muggle duelling. Maybe they ought to learn! I bet Voldemort isn't too hot at it!
10:50. Oh, clever Dumbledore! Your genius never ceases to amaze me! So Dumbledore made a copy, knowing that the Ministry wouldn't give it to the Trio, so now they've just got to find the real one ... which Dumbledore could have hidden long ago, knowing that death could be imminent ... and the real sword can destroy Horcruxes! Bingo! But watch out it doesn't burn your hand in the process.
Had Dumbledore told Harry where the real sword is but Harry hadn't realised at the time? That sounds ominously as if i should have noticed something in Half-Blood Prince!
10:55. Oh yes! Good point Hermione! Dumbledore clearly did not place absolute trust in Snape.
Oh come on Ron. Somebody take that stupid locket from around Ron's neck ... please?!
11:00. Well, there goes Ron, then. I love Hermione for staying. Harry and Hermione make a much better team, i think. Ron will be back, but let's hope they get a few little adventures just the two of them in the meantime. Oh ... but why don't they go team up with Dean, Ted and Durk, and the goblins?
Chapter 16
Sunday 22/07/2007 11:10. Oh yes! This symbol again! I'm dying to learn what it means. I think there must be more to it than just being Grindelwald's mark. It looks as if Hermione is trying to interpret it. Oh! Maybe Grindelwald owned this book and drew the symbol in it!
11:15. Haha! Harry could have looked up that thing about Godric's Hollow six years ago! Everyone else in the world has been curious about it.
*giggles* i have, on occasion, been known to gasp so dramatically that someone thinks something dreadful must have happened! Oh good, so they're off to Godric's Hollow, at last. I'd like to meet Bathilda Bagshott - should be interesting.
11:25. Awww, Hermione took Harry's hand to offer reassurance. I'm becoming such a little Harmony shipper of late! Well, whether or not they fall in love, i always said they make a good team. Maybe they'll find something interesting in the graveyard ... like that they are secretly related ...?!
Oh my gosh, i've just realised how symbolic this is of the nativity story. It's Christmas Eve, Harry's just seen a vision of a mother and father holding a baby; the baby who would grow up to be the saviour of the world.
11:30. "Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also" - i'm sure that's a quote from the Bible! Didn't Jesus even say that? I'm not sure how i feel about Jo going overtly Christian on us!
Some concrete proof of the timeline of these books. It also shows that Harry's parents were only 21 when they died. The movies always seem to show James as nearly 40, which i always thought must be wrong!
*gasp* another life after death remark! And Harry thinks of lying under the ground with Lily and James. I really want to know what Hermione believes when it comes to life after death. I am sure Jo won't go into the whole heaven and hell idea, but an impression that death is not something to be feared, that would be nice. That was a really sweet ending to the chapter. And i noticed the kissing gate got two mentions! ;)
Chapter 17
Sunday 22/07/2007 11:45. The dark mass at the end of the row of houses. "I open at the close" - oooh i do hope i'm right about this bit!
Oh my goodness, that's so sweet. The tribute to the Potters and all those messages from well-wishers. My eyes are swimming with tears. This book is truly lovely. When i re-read this, when i know what's coming next, i'll be able to really appreciate this. As it is, i'm hanging on the edge, certain there's a disaster about to appear. I bet somebody saw them in the graveyard, and is probably tracking them now.
11:55. Can we trust Bathilda, after dishing the dirt on Dumbledore? The locket seems excited or agitated ... one or the other.
12:00. Is this unknown theif Aberforth Dumbledore, perhaps? And why can't Bathilda speak? Is it a silencing charm, or has Rita Skeeter done a terrible damage to Bathilda? Okay, Harry, it's bad enough Bathilda taking you upstairs. Please master your temptation to touch Bathilda's arse! Heheh!
12:05. Uh oh. Either Bathilda's an Animagus or this is Voldemort in disguise.
Woah! Did they get away? Useful they can Apparate now, hey!
didn't pain cease with death? - another Biblical reference.
12:10. Ohhh! I've just seen what's coming! We're flashing back to that night when Lily and James died. Come on, JKR, please, give us some revelations. We're hungry to know more!
Wow! For once Lord Voldemort considers it unnecessary to kill. That's progress! Maybe Voldemort's been in therapy! I wonder what happened to that boy whom Voldemort did not kill that night?
12:15. As long as she was sensible she, at least, had nothing to fear ... i feel we're getting SO CLOSE to answers!!
He could have forced her away from the cot, but it seemed more prudent to finish them all. Big mistake, Lord Voldemort, huge mistake! But who else was there? What happens next?!
12:20. Oh dear. Well that gave us not much more than we already knew ... or did it? It confirms that Voldemort saw Harry as one inexplicable danger that needed to be removed. Ahhh ... he had killed the boy, and yet he was the boy ... i think i'm beginning to see where this is going. In killing Harry, Voldemort ended up dying. Harry and Voldemort are so alike in so many ways. Are they like different portions of parallell universes, somehow linked? It seems as if they have been linked as one again just here.
12:25. And now Voldemort has seen the picture of the theif. Probably not a good thing. Was this whole Bathilda meeting a trap? They didn't find the sword, did they?
12:30. "Mend it. Please." - That's icy cold, from Harry. The sort of insensitivity Ron would have. I wonder where they can get a new wand. Or ... can Harry learn wandless magic?!
Chapter 18
Sunday 22/07/2007 12:35. Maybe snakey Bathilda had said all the lies to Rita Skeeter. Maybe it wasn't the real Bathilda at all. Curious about not being able to remember saying it. I definitely think Rita's done a lot of damage, and used cunning and wickedness to do it.
12:45. This whole Rita Skeeter book sounds like some sort of hyped-up poppycock to me. I bet Harry's going to take it all to heart, though. I read Dumbledore's letter as urging Gellert Grindelwald to be careful; not to do the right thing the wrong way. With great power comes great responsibility. I think i've heard Dumbledore say that to Harry before. Let's see what Harry & Hermione make of it ...
12:50. I don't know much about Nazi history, but wasn't this "for the greater good" part of their campaign, too?
Oh good. Hermione doesn't believe Rita Skeeter's twists on the story.
12:55. Oooh! I felt those shivers as Hermione's hand lightly touched Harry's head. I bet all the Harmony shippers are jumping up and down with glee at this point. Shame, i'm more of a Trio shipper. I want all three of them back together, to live and love equally, without an odd one out.
Chapter 19
Sunday 22/07/2007 13:00. Oooh, this silver doe sounds like a beautiful Patronus. Oh, you stupid kid, Harry, running off after a Patronus, leaving Hermione alone, without a wand, not knowing where you are!
13:10. WOOHOO!! Ron's back! Ron saved Harry and Harry is practically naked. Certainly needs some comforting warming cuddles, i think! :) Oh no, wait, Ron's soaking wet too!
"You know. You still want me." The Trio shipper in me screams in delight! Until i re-read it and it says "If you still want me". You bet, Ron! I was just lamenting that you weren't there. Now we can have the happy Trio back together again!
13:15. Stab it, Ron! STAB STAB STAB! Forget that all that bad stuff it's saying is probably true! Just get rid of it!
13:20. Aww. What Ron needs now is a nice big cuddle, plenty of reassurance ... and chocolate!
Harry: "I love her like a sister" - ohh ... i've always thought they were like brother and sister, too. What if they are? Is there any truth to the sibling theory?!
13:25. Yep! Ron's made up for being a coward! Now go back and find Hermione and all be happy together! Aww! A proper hug, and everything! This book is becoming just the soppy love story that i wanted, but thought i'd only ever get from fan fiction! :)
13:30. Ahhh ... all that time they avoided saying Ron's name, and Ron could have heard them if they did!
13:35. And the Trio are back together, and i'm crying again!
Ohhh, chapters 16 and 19 were two of my very favourites of the whole book. Such lovely tender stories contained within those two chapters. Beautiful! :)
Anyway, i'll carry on where i left off. There will be spoilers, obviously.
Chapter 10
Saturday 21/07/2007 18:25. Oooh, i bet Harry is about to find Kreacher in the house. Hermione only checked for human life! Or maybe Harry might find the locket?!
18:30. Ah, now this letter is interesting. Lily, James and Harry were already under the Fidelius Charm by the end of July, weren't betrayed until November, but Wormtail was already acting suspiciously, reading in hindsight. Now what are we to discover about Bathilda Bagshott and Dumbledore? Did Dumbledore keep the cloak to prevent James from doing anything foolish?
18:35. Hmm. The rest of the letter is missing. I wonder whether it has anything to do with Rita Skeeter's book?
18:40. OH BABY! It's R.A.B! It looks as if we were right! Now are any of them going to twig? Heheh! Yes, they did! Good work, Trio!
Hmm, somebody searched Regulus's room - and locked the door again? Or maybe the door just locked itself. I'm really happy we're getting to learn about Regulus after all the references in the previous book.
18:45. I'm quite nervous that if someone already came searching they were looking for the locket. Which means they know the secret. Or Voldemort knows that the Horcruxes are not safe. By the way, Trio, try the drawing room! Or find Kreacher's little nest of goodies!
Oh good! Hermione's remembered! But what happened to the locket? What did they do with it?
* * *
20:15. Urrr, i am so stupid! Having stayed well away from any Internet spoilers, i go and let my partner read the last page, and then try to tease out harmless non-committal spoilers. Then my partner goes and drops basically THE BIGGEST SPOILER OF ALL!!! I know it's my fault. I'm disappointed because it will influence how i read the book from now on. But anyway. There is still plenty more i don't yet know. I am really enjoying this talk with Kreacher. Kreacher seems to have developed more tolerable speech patterns than the other house elves, which is merciful in a long passage like this. Who knew Kreacher could be so useful! Now we know why JKR persuaded the film makers to include Kreacher in the 5th film.
20:25. Oh, poor Kreacher! Being left on that little tiny island! What things did the potion make Kreacher see? Could be clues as to what Dumbledore saw. I'll bet anything Regulus came to rescue Kreacher, thus finding out about the Horcrux. Oh wait, no, Regulus must have come looking for a Horcrux, hence the note. Oh let's just read and find out!
20:30. Ahh! That's how house elves can Apparate in and out of Hogwarts! When they are told to by their masters. It worked in the cave, too. Good one, Regulus, i really like you at the moment!
Oh my goodness, Regulus died in order to get the Horcrux. In full understanding of what was going to happen. But what made Regulus switch? Love for the house elf? Surely such a sacrifice has to mean something in the Harry Potter world!
20:40. Oh, well done Harry, getting Kreacher on side. Kreacher is starting to behave more like Dobby! Who knew that Kreacher had a soul and a heart? I'm starting to think that could be Kreacher on the front cover - helping the Trio!
Chapter 11
Saturday 21/07/2007 20:45. It's just occurred to me that there were probably a lot of people in Tottenham Court Road today looking for a shabby greasy-spoon café!
I am so pleased to see more of Remus in this book! Nice to see Remus without Tonks, too. Maybe now we'll get some answers.
20:55. Bah, not much information. Remus is certainly not happy about the Tonks situation, especially not about becoming a father. Euww, and that implies they've had sex and everything! How could JKR do that to us? We were all perfectly happy to assume Remus & Sirius were lovers.
21:05. Oops! There goes the best offer of help you could probably wish for, although i do agree with Harry that Remus should be there to look after Tonks and the baby, no matter how much i despise this stupid story-line.
Well done, Kreacher, you're turning out to be very useful! Ugh, Mundungus, you make me sick ... and now we're playing a lovely little treasure hunt with the locket! I can't believe it! Umbridge took it!
Owners of the locket so far ... Salazar Slytherin, random Slytherin descendents, Mr Gaunt, Merope Gaunt, Caractacus Burke, Hepzibah Smith, Voldemort, Kreacher, Mundungus Fletcher, Umbridge.
But did Kreacher ever 'destroy' the locket? Is it still a Horcrux?!
Chapter 12
Saturday 21/07/2007 21:15. What are all these people expecting to happen in Grimmauld Place? I expect the Ministry have told them that Harry Potter might be there, and they all want the reward.
21:10. Holy Guacamole! Snape's become Howgarts headmaster, and at least two Death Eaters are teachers. Snape is bad! There can be no explaining or excusing this behaviour, can there? Are we all just going to have to accept that Dumbledore made a mistake? What of Dumbledore and this hushed up secretive past? Is any of it true? I honestly have no idea where JKR is going with any of this. Where is McGonagall in all of this? A friendly, helpful Kreacher is a welcome change, though. Hermione was absolutely right: Kreacher just wanted some love, praise and respect, and look at the change!
21:30. Oh. I thought Hermione might be able to use Phineas to get information. But no, that would be a bad idea. It would let Snape know where the Trio are.
21:35. Is Hermione ever going to teach Harry how to do Occlumency? Because let's face it, Snape never did much good. It can't be that hard to learn; Draco managed it! I would like to know more about what Harry's wand did, and why. Could be something to do with Fawkes's feather in it? Loyalty to Dumbledore and all that? Gosh i've just thought, what if all these people are deliberately trying to poison Haryr's mind against Dumbledore?
21:40. Oh, this Ministry plan sounds great! All that Weasley Wizard Wheezes stuff - including Decoy Detonaters!
Why did Hermione have to take Ron and Harry side-along? Perhaps Hermione is the most accurate at Apparating.
21:45. This scene is going to have such great music in the film! I can hear a wonderful tune coming out already! I'm just sure something as about to go wrong, though!
21:50. As soon as anyone takes Polyjuice, i spend the remainder of the chapter convinced it's about to wear off any second. We were clearly told in CoS and GoF that it only lasts an hour, yet there have been mentions of small cups and big cups in this book, so maybe it can make a difference. It's nearly 9am and Hermione's had at least 15 minutes already.
22:00. Oh, i've just realised who Yaxley is! The unnamed brutal-faced Death Eater who stopped Fenrir from attacking Dumbledore.
22:05. I think i see why the real Cattermole was so desperate to get to work today. The Trio could do a lot of damage, not knowing what jobs they are supposed to be doing.
22:10. Okay, so far, reasonably good; it's the end of a chapter and nothing's gone desperately wrong yet ... and there's Umbridge! Now what?! This is all rather intriguing!!
Chapter 13
Saturday 21/07/2007 22:15. Careful Harry! If that's Moody's eye then it can se you under the Invisibility Cloak!
22:30. Ohhh, Harry Potter, you and your saving-people thing! I won't deny this is most entertaining reading, but i am sure this is all about to go so terribly wrong! Well done for getting the Horcrux, though!
22:40. Oh, that was an exciting escape! I don't think it all worked, though. Ron and Hermione were slipping away. Sounds as if they weren't the real Ron or Hermione, and couldn't get on to the step of Grimmauld Place with Harry - has someone just pulled Harry away from Grimmauld Place again?
Chapter 14
Saturday 21/07/2007 22:45. Yay! Dittany again! What a useful plant!
Oh! I see what happened. Yaxley came along and now knows the secret of Grimmauld Place. Oh dear. But no real harm done. They can still call Kreacher away, can't they? How could Harry have been so silly to take Moody's eye off the door?!
* * *
23:25. Okay i'm all undressed for bed, just time to have a little think of all i've read today. I'm not at the end of a chapter but it seems safe to leave the Trio there in the woods tonight. I was very impressed by all Hermione's protection charms. It's good to see things like this - it makes it all the more real. It is such an exciting fast-paced book, where they always seem only a few steps away from very real danger the whole time.
The Ministry have become well and truly messed up, mostly thanks to that Imperiused Thicknesse. I wonder what would happen if someone managed to remove that Imperius Charm? Umbridge is getting away with all sorts of lunacy. It's horrible. I admire Harry for rescuing all the prisoners! Yaxley seems a bit slow off the mark, for a Death Eater.
One thing i would like to see is some of Dumbledore's Army. I'm sure we will, particularly Luna and Neville - they'll be there for Harry even if none of the others are. I don't imagine the whole story will be of the Trio running round on a wild Horcrux chase. I wonder how they will track down the other Horcruxes? They've done very well with the locket so far.
Things still to come: the identity of Voldemort's prisoner (or can we just assume it was Ollivander?), the shard of glass showing Dumbledore's eye, the mystery of Dumbledore's supposedly sordid past, the mystery of Harry performing unconscious magic, Harry developing both Legilimency and Occlumency, that Grindelwald symbol (there must be something more to learn about it) and the location and loyalties of Professor McGonagall. If Snape truly is evil, as appears, then i am less inclined to accuse McGonagall. It has occurred to me that Dumbledore was probably wrong about Stan Shunpike, so could have been wrong about Snape too.
I noticed another moment where Harry seemed to lose interest about living or dying. I've seen this before in Harry - very willing to give in to death, and in those moments apparently very aware that it's not a particularly bad thing. Taken with Hermione's statement that the soul does not die, and the very interesting William Penn quote at the beginning, i feel there is more to come on this. Just before i sleep, maybe i should attempt again to read that first poem, see whether i can make any sense of it!
* * *
Sunday 22/07/2007 09:15. Good morning, Trio, Ron, hope you're feeling better. Now then, how long until your next life-threatening adventure?!
09:25. Okay, so the mystery deepens. What could Voldemort be after from Gregorovitch, if not an answer to the wand mystery? What is 'it' that Voldemort wants but Gregorovitch no longer has? And who was that golden-haired boy whom Harry recognised? Someone younger than presently, since it was in a memory. Oh, by the way, Harry has just had a little lesson into how to do Legilimency! Think it'll come in useful?
Chapter 15
Sunday 22/07/2007 09:30. Interesting - whoever wears the locket is impaired in their magical ability. I wonder if Umbridge ever noticed that?
Hooray! They feel cheerful and hopeful again. I don't enjoy the tense moments between our precious Trio. Oh, wouldn't it be awful if there's a big argument and they fall out? Keep together, guys!
09:40. Oooh, Harry thought of Gringotts! That's a personal favourite of mine. Go and look there, please!
Oh dear, this is not going so well, is it? Hermione may criticise Harry for being a poor leader, but Harry's two best instincts, Hogwarts and Godric's Hollow, have been shot down by the other two. I reckon they should just go anyway. Anything rather than this endless waiting and arguing. And why can't that stupid locket go inside Hermione's bag or Harry's pouch? Why do any of them need to wear it?
09:50. Hmm. Ted Tonks has made friends with goblins. I didn't know humans and goblins could get along so well. Maybe the Trio can join in. Oh, and Ted is Muggle-born, but magical.
Ahhh! Dean Thomas is there! YAY!! And this Dirk Cresswell we keep hearing about, who sounds like a rather powerful wizard, by what Mr Weasley said. Is Dawlish on the good side? I can't remember now.
10:40. Er, sorry which sword is a fake? The one Harry pulled out of the Sorting Hat? Which means Voldemort could have found the original?
Hooray for Xeno Lovegood! Totally on Harry Potter's side! I don't believe Xeno could be evil ... i still want to know what's up with that symbol, though. How amusing they're all sitting talking about Harry, who is so nearby. Go on, show yourself, Harry. I'm sure it'll be safe!
10:45. There's all this talk about using the sword on Voldemort. I'll laugh if that's what happens in the end. Not that they're trained in Muggle duelling. Maybe they ought to learn! I bet Voldemort isn't too hot at it!
10:50. Oh, clever Dumbledore! Your genius never ceases to amaze me! So Dumbledore made a copy, knowing that the Ministry wouldn't give it to the Trio, so now they've just got to find the real one ... which Dumbledore could have hidden long ago, knowing that death could be imminent ... and the real sword can destroy Horcruxes! Bingo! But watch out it doesn't burn your hand in the process.
Had Dumbledore told Harry where the real sword is but Harry hadn't realised at the time? That sounds ominously as if i should have noticed something in Half-Blood Prince!
10:55. Oh yes! Good point Hermione! Dumbledore clearly did not place absolute trust in Snape.
Oh come on Ron. Somebody take that stupid locket from around Ron's neck ... please?!
11:00. Well, there goes Ron, then. I love Hermione for staying. Harry and Hermione make a much better team, i think. Ron will be back, but let's hope they get a few little adventures just the two of them in the meantime. Oh ... but why don't they go team up with Dean, Ted and Durk, and the goblins?
Chapter 16
Sunday 22/07/2007 11:10. Oh yes! This symbol again! I'm dying to learn what it means. I think there must be more to it than just being Grindelwald's mark. It looks as if Hermione is trying to interpret it. Oh! Maybe Grindelwald owned this book and drew the symbol in it!
11:15. Haha! Harry could have looked up that thing about Godric's Hollow six years ago! Everyone else in the world has been curious about it.
*giggles* i have, on occasion, been known to gasp so dramatically that someone thinks something dreadful must have happened! Oh good, so they're off to Godric's Hollow, at last. I'd like to meet Bathilda Bagshott - should be interesting.
11:25. Awww, Hermione took Harry's hand to offer reassurance. I'm becoming such a little Harmony shipper of late! Well, whether or not they fall in love, i always said they make a good team. Maybe they'll find something interesting in the graveyard ... like that they are secretly related ...?!
Oh my gosh, i've just realised how symbolic this is of the nativity story. It's Christmas Eve, Harry's just seen a vision of a mother and father holding a baby; the baby who would grow up to be the saviour of the world.
11:30. "Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also" - i'm sure that's a quote from the Bible! Didn't Jesus even say that? I'm not sure how i feel about Jo going overtly Christian on us!
Some concrete proof of the timeline of these books. It also shows that Harry's parents were only 21 when they died. The movies always seem to show James as nearly 40, which i always thought must be wrong!
*gasp* another life after death remark! And Harry thinks of lying under the ground with Lily and James. I really want to know what Hermione believes when it comes to life after death. I am sure Jo won't go into the whole heaven and hell idea, but an impression that death is not something to be feared, that would be nice. That was a really sweet ending to the chapter. And i noticed the kissing gate got two mentions! ;)
Chapter 17
Sunday 22/07/2007 11:45. The dark mass at the end of the row of houses. "I open at the close" - oooh i do hope i'm right about this bit!
Oh my goodness, that's so sweet. The tribute to the Potters and all those messages from well-wishers. My eyes are swimming with tears. This book is truly lovely. When i re-read this, when i know what's coming next, i'll be able to really appreciate this. As it is, i'm hanging on the edge, certain there's a disaster about to appear. I bet somebody saw them in the graveyard, and is probably tracking them now.
11:55. Can we trust Bathilda, after dishing the dirt on Dumbledore? The locket seems excited or agitated ... one or the other.
12:00. Is this unknown theif Aberforth Dumbledore, perhaps? And why can't Bathilda speak? Is it a silencing charm, or has Rita Skeeter done a terrible damage to Bathilda? Okay, Harry, it's bad enough Bathilda taking you upstairs. Please master your temptation to touch Bathilda's arse! Heheh!
12:05. Uh oh. Either Bathilda's an Animagus or this is Voldemort in disguise.
Woah! Did they get away? Useful they can Apparate now, hey!
didn't pain cease with death? - another Biblical reference.
12:10. Ohhh! I've just seen what's coming! We're flashing back to that night when Lily and James died. Come on, JKR, please, give us some revelations. We're hungry to know more!
Wow! For once Lord Voldemort considers it unnecessary to kill. That's progress! Maybe Voldemort's been in therapy! I wonder what happened to that boy whom Voldemort did not kill that night?
12:15. As long as she was sensible she, at least, had nothing to fear ... i feel we're getting SO CLOSE to answers!!
He could have forced her away from the cot, but it seemed more prudent to finish them all. Big mistake, Lord Voldemort, huge mistake! But who else was there? What happens next?!
12:20. Oh dear. Well that gave us not much more than we already knew ... or did it? It confirms that Voldemort saw Harry as one inexplicable danger that needed to be removed. Ahhh ... he had killed the boy, and yet he was the boy ... i think i'm beginning to see where this is going. In killing Harry, Voldemort ended up dying. Harry and Voldemort are so alike in so many ways. Are they like different portions of parallell universes, somehow linked? It seems as if they have been linked as one again just here.
12:25. And now Voldemort has seen the picture of the theif. Probably not a good thing. Was this whole Bathilda meeting a trap? They didn't find the sword, did they?
12:30. "Mend it. Please." - That's icy cold, from Harry. The sort of insensitivity Ron would have. I wonder where they can get a new wand. Or ... can Harry learn wandless magic?!
Chapter 18
Sunday 22/07/2007 12:35. Maybe snakey Bathilda had said all the lies to Rita Skeeter. Maybe it wasn't the real Bathilda at all. Curious about not being able to remember saying it. I definitely think Rita's done a lot of damage, and used cunning and wickedness to do it.
12:45. This whole Rita Skeeter book sounds like some sort of hyped-up poppycock to me. I bet Harry's going to take it all to heart, though. I read Dumbledore's letter as urging Gellert Grindelwald to be careful; not to do the right thing the wrong way. With great power comes great responsibility. I think i've heard Dumbledore say that to Harry before. Let's see what Harry & Hermione make of it ...
12:50. I don't know much about Nazi history, but wasn't this "for the greater good" part of their campaign, too?
Oh good. Hermione doesn't believe Rita Skeeter's twists on the story.
12:55. Oooh! I felt those shivers as Hermione's hand lightly touched Harry's head. I bet all the Harmony shippers are jumping up and down with glee at this point. Shame, i'm more of a Trio shipper. I want all three of them back together, to live and love equally, without an odd one out.
Chapter 19
Sunday 22/07/2007 13:00. Oooh, this silver doe sounds like a beautiful Patronus. Oh, you stupid kid, Harry, running off after a Patronus, leaving Hermione alone, without a wand, not knowing where you are!
13:10. WOOHOO!! Ron's back! Ron saved Harry and Harry is practically naked. Certainly needs some comforting warming cuddles, i think! :) Oh no, wait, Ron's soaking wet too!
"You know. You still want me." The Trio shipper in me screams in delight! Until i re-read it and it says "If you still want me". You bet, Ron! I was just lamenting that you weren't there. Now we can have the happy Trio back together again!
13:15. Stab it, Ron! STAB STAB STAB! Forget that all that bad stuff it's saying is probably true! Just get rid of it!
13:20. Aww. What Ron needs now is a nice big cuddle, plenty of reassurance ... and chocolate!
Harry: "I love her like a sister" - ohh ... i've always thought they were like brother and sister, too. What if they are? Is there any truth to the sibling theory?!
13:25. Yep! Ron's made up for being a coward! Now go back and find Hermione and all be happy together! Aww! A proper hug, and everything! This book is becoming just the soppy love story that i wanted, but thought i'd only ever get from fan fiction! :)
13:30. Ahhh ... all that time they avoided saying Ron's name, and Ron could have heard them if they did!
13:35. And the Trio are back together, and i'm crying again!
Ohhh, chapters 16 and 19 were two of my very favourites of the whole book. Such lovely tender stories contained within those two chapters. Beautiful! :)