The first stop was Madame Trelawney's fortune telling booth. We both decided to get our palms read. Next was wand making, taking a picture with a cardboard stand-up of Harry and getting scar tattoos. The employees seemed to be amused by our, erm, childlike enthusiasm that barely waned all evening.

There were little children dressed up everywhere; little Harrys and Hermiones, one Dobby, a Madame Hooch and other various witches. There weren't any Draco Malfoys, Cho Changs or Ron Weasleys, though.

Finally, it was midnight. I've never seen so many people just milling around a bookstore -- sitting in aisles, waiting for Starbuck's, reading random books from the shelves -- after closing time before. The store was quite organized in its method of getting the book into our eager little hands. As soon as JaydeKitten and I had ours, we ran to the car so we could go home and start reading.

I completed all 870 pages early Monday morning after a marathon reading session, but I needed some time to digest all of the new information before giving accurate thoughts on the book and how it fit in with the rest of the series. If nothing else, I know why the cover is blue. :)

I also watched the live web broadcast of a mini interview from Royal Albert Hall that took place June 26. J.K. Rowling interviews are amusing to watch. She's honest and a little crass. Or maybe it seems that way because she doesn't smile much during them. She doesn't change her answers to fit the age group of children who read her books. That's admirable. The mini-reading she did of part of the book was nice. Harry Potter is even more authentic in a UK accent.

That should do it for spoiler space. I can't remember everything I was going to write here...

Harry is going to die at the end of the book. During interviews, J.K. Rowling always seems to answer the question of whether she has books planned past the seventh with "what makes you think Harry's going to survive in the end?" In OotP, Dumbledore explains the prophecy to Harry: either kill or be killed. I don't think Harry will have it in him to actually kill someone.

In PS, Harry and Ron looked in the Mirror of Erised and both saw something different. Ron saw himself as Head Boy, Quidditch captain with the cup and alone. Harry saw himself with his ancestors. In OotP, Ron becomes a prefect and joins the Quidditch team. As a prefect, he has completed the first step towards Head Boy. As a player on the Quidditch team and winning the cup, he has a chance to be captain. For Ron to be alone, his best friends would have to be dead. For Harry, the only way he can be with his ancestors is to die.

This seems like crafty foreshadowing on the part of J.K. Rowling. She isn't trying to say that all desires come true but in this case, it could be a hint towards the future of this book. Or, maybe not...

Sirius dying was quite a surprise. Well, he was a fan of Harry's; so much in fact, they had to wonder if he thought Harry was James. After all of the it-could-be's, his death was so sudden and unexpected. One minute he's dueling and the next he's dead. I still say, though, if there isn't a body, there's still a chance he might be alive. With this in mind, I wonder what that veil is. Also, being from a long line of evil-Voldemort followers was a nice twist. Knowing that would make it more believeable that he would possibly give up James, Lily and Harry. Though, it also gives a lesson that one should not judge a person by their family and blood. The inter-relationships between all of the purebloods was quite bizarre.

Neville and Ginny are developing nicely as characters. Neville is becoming a stronger, more confident wizard as seen in Dumbledore's Army. His relationship to the prophecy was an unexpected twist. His getting a new wand may make him even more powerful. Ginny is becoming a fiery young woman. It's almost how I would expect Lily Evans to behave.

It's good to see that Lily and the Marauders were taken off of their pedestal and weren't complete saints. Harry needed to see that. I thought Lily and James were Head Boy and Girl, however, Lupin was the Gryffindor prefect. Does Lupin give up the Prefect-ship after the Snape/Shrieking Shack incident?

Umbridge and Fudge were really irritating. Umbridge was just plain cruel, unfair and frustrating. Fudge was completely stupid, ignorant and paranoid. I originally contributed the Voldemort power to Hitler's regime but Umbridge's and Fudge's is a close close second. The detention Harry had to go, through... banning him and the twins from Quidditch... the allowance of chains and whips in punishments... the recruiting of other students to tattle... I was just waiting for Umbridge's downfall.

The Weasley twins are the best; great comic relief. I loved their exit from the school. They are proof of intelligence beyond books. Speaking of knowledge, I wonder how many OWL's Harry, Ron and Hermione got. Will Harry become an Auror with the help of McGonnegall? Also, how did Hermione become a relationship guru? What happened to Krum? When will Ron and Hermione hook up? Is Harry and Cho's relationship really over? True, Cho was a bipolar psycho... however... Actually, I'm kind of glad it didn't work out. It didn't feel appropriate considering what happened with Cedric.

Dumbledore admitting he screwed up and made a mistake because he cared too much about Harry... he was so calm. It kind of makes you wonder, though: Voldemort came to power because someone cared too much. If the only way to stop the epitome of evil is stop caring about people, then what's the point? This is also why I think Harry dies.

Hmm... what else? Lockhart's cameo was precious. Harry yelled too much. The guest entrance to MoM reminded me of "Get Smart." Tonks was kind of out of place. Figg is a squib. Luna Lovegood reminded me of the girl in The Breakfast Club who didn't have to spend Saturday in detention. Why didn't Harry open his present from Sirius?! Harry casting an unforgiveable curse...

Overall, the entire book seemed kind of rushed and at the same time too long. I know, I know... that doesn't make sense. It was definitely a transitional book. GoF is still my favorite of the series. So, when does book 6 come out?

~* June 27, 2003 @ 1:41 pm *~