Finally Joined the Ranks

Like 90% of you, I have now read all the Harry Potter books. My mother bought the first five in paperback on Thursday. I wanted to read the sixth book, so I bought and read it myself yesterday. So now, I've got some things to say about the series, and some theories of what comes next.

My overall analysis is, it's good. Despite any flaws the series might have, it's a damn enjoyable read.

A few minor overall complaints, though. First, I really don't enjoy the way magic works in the PotterVerse. 95% of all magic appears to consist of wand-waving and an incantation that doesn't last a full second. A sophisticated spell for ripping apart your opponent's face and chest can apparently fit in the margins of a few textbook pages. It just doesn't seem very substantial or interesting, compared to other fantasy settings. Second, the quality and atmosphere of the books started changing a lot after the third one. It's not really the same series it was. The atmosphere changing I can deal with, but I felt that in the fourth and fifth books in particular, there were several instances of the characters behaving strangely out of character. Particularly "angry Harry" in the fifth book, and the entire school in Goblet of Fire. It didn't really register with anyone that Harry couldn't have placed his name in the Goblet, because then the champion would've been either him or Cedric Diggory, not both. Third, for a tiny, nitpicking detail, the economy is strange. One moment, a Galleon is super precious. The next, throwing away a handful of them for something silly isn't a big deal. I'm sure not many people really care, but that sort of detail makes it just a little harder for me to immerse myself in the wizarding world.

Now, for the theory section. I don't believe Dumbledore is really dead at all. At least, not any more. Let's take a look at some of the hints in that direction:

1. Dumbledore didn't have to die. Had he not frozen Harry in place under his Invisibility Cloak, Harry would've flattened Malfoy in about two seconds. Then they could've prevented the Death Eaters from breaking through. Basically, if Harry hadn't been frozen, Dumbledore would've lived. He made sure that he would die.

2. Dumbledore needed Severus, pleaded with Severus at the end, but he never said for what. A restorative potion was never mentioned. Severus could have very well done what was expected of him from both sides.

3. Dumbledore very much trusted Snape, but we never find out why. Dumbledore very consistantly knows far more than he can be expected to. Snape was known as a double agent, and his cover was essential. Snape has now made an Unbreakable Oath to a Death Eater, and killed Dumbledore with his own wand. His loyalty is now beyond question, and can help the Order far more now than he ever could have before. This is a desireable outcome for the Order resulting from Dumbledore's death. The Death Eaters played right into Dumbledore's plans.

4. Prominant imagery of the phoenix. Not only is it the name of the Order, but - get this - Dumbledore's body burst into flames spontaneously. In the shape of the smoke, Harry saw a phoenix form and fly away. This is, I believe, a very good indication of restorative magic taking effect. Know how he said he was losing his touch, because of age? I suspect that that little problem is gone. He probably rapidly aged back to a functional age, though, unlike a real phoenix's reversion to a baby.

5. Harry's resolve to fix Voldemort once and for all is now ironclad.

6. "He will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him."

So, now Dumbledore is free to move around behind the scenes and aid the Order in secret, Snape's cover is complete, and Harry's made the decision to seek out Voldemort and destroy him once and for all, without being told to do so. Stacking the odds for the Order.

Now that I've read it, I very much disagree with those who believe that Harry's going to die. Just not seeing it happen.

Despite the outrage I've seen about it, the sixth book, the Half-Blood Prince, is one of my favorites. The relationships didn't seem "forced", as I've heard. They're awkward for perfectly normal, in-character reasons. Ron and Hermione like each other, but they're too scared to admit it to each other. But they also see their unexpressed feelings as a valid claim, so they punish each other for violations of what has never been established in the first place. And at their age, that makes perfect sense. After Ron nearly dies, they both sort of get their shit together and focus on what they really want, despite still expressing nothing. A good and reasonable reaction. The bit between Harry and Ginny also strikes me as perfectly rational. Hell, Harry's attitude toward Ginny sounded a lot like me as a teenager, trying to interact with girls. Didn't work too well. The only thing that might seem artificial about the relationships in the book is the sheer number of them in evidence. In addition to the other two, there's Bill and Fleur, and Tonks and Lupin. Everybody seems to be pairing up. But really, most of them are at the natural age to do so, and the others... Well, crises often remind people that they can't just wait forever, because "forever" can end any moment. So, I see nothing wrong there. And from my theory above, it's pretty obvious I have no real problems with the death of Dumbledore, or the "betrayal" of Snape. The characters behaved much more like themselves than they did in the previous two books. So I'm very pleased, and can't wait for the next book.

Anyway, in other news, I move to the dorms in ten days. I get my own room this year, so I'm thrilled about that. Back away from my family, back to regular income. Can't wait!