(no subject)
I have no idea how to start. I'm hoping this will be a good way to process everything.
I think I need to start with Remus/Tonks.
I always found lots of chemistry between Remus and Tonks during the 5th book. But, as a devote Sirius/Remus shipper, I felt it was just J.K. Rowling messing with our minds. I had assumed (and hoped) that Jo would stay ambiguous on the whole thing, because something like that would never confirmed in a children's book. But I loved the idea of Tonks having a crush on Remus.. because, well... I have a crush on Remus.
I'm okay with Remus/Tonks. Really, I am. I think they are excellent for each other. I think Tonks loves him very much. She will take care of him, she will have his back, and now, because of Tonks, Remus isn't going to be lonely. I love that, and it makes me so happy! But I still can't really wrap my mind around it. And I know that everything R/S is still possible, with everything that happened during their school years and during books 3-5. Sirius is dead, I understand that, and Remus has to move on... But I just can't see him with anyone other than Sirius. It doesn't seem right!
I have a sudden urge to read lots and lots of Remus/Sirius fanfiction. *tries not to mope*
Oh, and to all the Harry/Hermione and Ginny/Enter-Name-Here shippers out there, I only have this to say:
HA!
A complaint: Why no Sirius? Yes, yes, I know he's dead, but... I dunno, there was just nothing about him. I understand how Harry, as a teenager, did his grieving by not talking about him, but Siriusly and Remusly, it seemed like everyone had forgotten about him! Well, not Tonks... but we all know how that turned out.
The One Thing I was looking forward to in the 6th book, was a talk about Sirius between Harry and Remus. It was not there. Jo, that would have been perfect. Why not?
I don't know what to say about Severus. I am totally blown away. I think the Vow (And OMG, how erotic was that?) definitely played a part and will MOST definitely come into play later.
Erm, I wish I could elaborate, but I'm so flabbergasted that he would turn like that and KILL DUMBLEDORE? During that part in the book, Severus didn't seem like... Severus. In my mind, something was terribly wrong and he just wasn't acting himself. That sounds weird, but I dunno.. that's just how I felt.
Dumbledore was so amazing in this book. We saw so little of him in the 5th book, so it was great to get a lot more of him this time around.
For the longest time, I thought that the Half-Blood Prince was Lily. But since the person was just too damn amazing at Potions, I began to suspect that it was Snape, but I assumed he was pure blood. Also, I got confused about Snape's handwriting. Unfortunately, after the fact, I realized that if I had remembered Snape's small, cramped handwriting from his DADA O.W.L.s, it would have given it away immediately.
I found everything we saw about Tom Riddle's past to be incredibly fascinating. Jo put everything together so, so well. Not too much to be said here, but that it was just brilliant.
I loved Draco in this book. Well, y'know, not love because I liked him or thought he was a good guy. I mean... obviously not. He was just so sad and heart-breaking this time around. For some reason, in my mind, I pictured him totally different. Nobody's appearances really changed in my mind, but Draco changed significantly. I picture him so much older now. And to see him crying in the bathroom... That part really ripped my heart out and then stomped it around in the dirt for a little while. Especially afterward, when Harry accidentally attacked him with that hex.
After reading OotP for the first time, I remember immediately imagining what would happen in the 6th book. But after reading HBP? Holy cow, I haven't the slightest idea!
Ooh, I meant to mention this earlier. I was so afraid that Remus was going to die in either this book or maybe in the 7th book. The fear increased after hearing exactly what he's been doing for the Order. But now, with all this business with Tonks, I feel a little bit better about that. Plus, for her to squish R/S like that, and then kill Remus? Oh my God. I don't even want to think about it.
Oh, and, erm, where was Mad-Eye Moody? Yeesh.
I know I'm forgetting a lot of stuff, but it'll come to me later and I'll talk about it then.