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Jul. 22nd, 2004 03:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
geebsOwel, just enjoying another day of clear vision. Managed to finally finish OotP.
What can I say, but that was an intense read. Once they got back to hogwarts, seriously, I was constantly getting pissed. I was tempted to jump ahead a few chapters several times, to take a quick peak to see if umbridge would get her come-uppance or people like Percy would learn the truth and stop being so stupid, because things would get so bad that I wanted to know that it gets better for them later. I mean, they'd get all these little victories, only to have something else bad happen. It was nice to see Fred and George do their part to thwart the high inquisitor. Oh, the title makes my blood burn, how could any parent think such a post at a school is a good thing? And well it might not be the exact case (maybe she was able to find supporters in the other houses, though highly doubtful), but to have an "inquistiorial squad" that was comprised solely of Slytherins? I mean, wouldn't it be biased to give a group of students belonging to only one house the power to take away house points?!
And the climax was quite exciting. The DA, then the OotP and Dumbledore facing off against the Death Eaters? It was nice to see other people getting a chance to fight and not having everything solely in the hands of Harry. And that's how Sirius died? Do they ever explain what that veil is, other than that its something you probably don't want to cross? I mean, its so obscure! But the adults seem to be firm in the belief that Sirius is dead. Or did Rowling imply that the second blast from Bellatrix's wand that hit Sirius was something lethal? I would think they'd all know if he was hit with the Adeva Kedavra. I got the impression she just hit him with another stunner and managed to knock him into the veil, and it was crossing the veil that killed him. After all, McGonagall took four of those to the chest and survived. But I digress. I don't want to mean to sound all macabre, but it would be nice to have a clearer impression of what happened to Sirius.
But the denouement was interesting as well. The explanation of why he has to stay at Privet Drive every summer, finding out how Prof Trelawney got hired even though she seems to be mostly a fraud, and the whole prophecy thingy. I like how the prophecy coud've applied to either Harry or Neville, but Voldemort sealed it by choosing to go after Harry. Too bad they didn't mention why Dumbledore trusts Snape, but I guess they can't answer everything. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. I wonder how they'll handle defense against the dark arts next year, I think they'd be even harder pressed to find someone to fill the position when they need capable people to take on Voldemort and his forces. Not that Harry and friends haven't been handling it on their own, but what about the rest of the shcool? And its just weird that they're going to school with children of known Death Eaters! I guess they can't get kicked out just because there parents are Death Eaters, but its still weird. I mean, Malfoy (Draco, though I guess this statement also applies to Lucius) and his cronies tried to kill Harry at the end of the year! And you'd think those teachers in the order would be wary of certain Slytherin students. And those Slytherins would know people would be watching them, so why bother staying at Hogwarts? And conversely, why teach the children of your enemy?
On a different notes, lots of new characters. Tonks seems pretty cool, very stylish. And Luna is a riot! That lion hat she wore at the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quidditch match was just too funny. Sure, she's kinda weird, but in an endearing way! It was cool to see Lupin and Moody again, though like Harry himself thought, he actually didn't know the real Moody until that year, so its kinda odd for him to interact with him for the first time even though it wouldn't feel like it was the first time. And what a mess that Harry/Cho thing was! And was Ron implying he hoped Ginny would be back to crushing on Harry at the end there? But Ginny seems to be getting around, though it was funny for Harry to finally realize that's why she was able to talk to him now. And does Neville have a thing for her? I wonder if he'll ever get a chance to avenge his parents, maybe at Harry's final confronatation with Voldemort? After all, Bellatrix did escape. That is a totally cool name by the way, "Bellatrix Lestrange".
Anyways, I'm glad Luna was able to get Harry out of his depressed "I wish everyone would just go away and stop trying to talk to me, but when I'm finally alone I feel just as bad because lonesomeness sucks but I can't stand anyone's company right now" kinda funk. After all the awful things that happened that year, it would suck if he stayed in brood mode. It was also nice for him to see he still has a wealth of family and friends, what with the Weasleys, Lupin, Moody, and Tonks telling the Dursley's they'll be keeping an eye on them and making sure they don't make Harry's life a living hell, because he has enough to worry about, he needs a break some time.
So with the books done, I can get back to TF, and there's also those Gunparade March DVDs to watch as well. But first, I think I'll give these eyes a break.
What can I say, but that was an intense read. Once they got back to hogwarts, seriously, I was constantly getting pissed. I was tempted to jump ahead a few chapters several times, to take a quick peak to see if umbridge would get her come-uppance or people like Percy would learn the truth and stop being so stupid, because things would get so bad that I wanted to know that it gets better for them later. I mean, they'd get all these little victories, only to have something else bad happen. It was nice to see Fred and George do their part to thwart the high inquisitor. Oh, the title makes my blood burn, how could any parent think such a post at a school is a good thing? And well it might not be the exact case (maybe she was able to find supporters in the other houses, though highly doubtful), but to have an "inquistiorial squad" that was comprised solely of Slytherins? I mean, wouldn't it be biased to give a group of students belonging to only one house the power to take away house points?!
And the climax was quite exciting. The DA, then the OotP and Dumbledore facing off against the Death Eaters? It was nice to see other people getting a chance to fight and not having everything solely in the hands of Harry. And that's how Sirius died? Do they ever explain what that veil is, other than that its something you probably don't want to cross? I mean, its so obscure! But the adults seem to be firm in the belief that Sirius is dead. Or did Rowling imply that the second blast from Bellatrix's wand that hit Sirius was something lethal? I would think they'd all know if he was hit with the Adeva Kedavra. I got the impression she just hit him with another stunner and managed to knock him into the veil, and it was crossing the veil that killed him. After all, McGonagall took four of those to the chest and survived. But I digress. I don't want to mean to sound all macabre, but it would be nice to have a clearer impression of what happened to Sirius.
But the denouement was interesting as well. The explanation of why he has to stay at Privet Drive every summer, finding out how Prof Trelawney got hired even though she seems to be mostly a fraud, and the whole prophecy thingy. I like how the prophecy coud've applied to either Harry or Neville, but Voldemort sealed it by choosing to go after Harry. Too bad they didn't mention why Dumbledore trusts Snape, but I guess they can't answer everything. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. I wonder how they'll handle defense against the dark arts next year, I think they'd be even harder pressed to find someone to fill the position when they need capable people to take on Voldemort and his forces. Not that Harry and friends haven't been handling it on their own, but what about the rest of the shcool? And its just weird that they're going to school with children of known Death Eaters! I guess they can't get kicked out just because there parents are Death Eaters, but its still weird. I mean, Malfoy (Draco, though I guess this statement also applies to Lucius) and his cronies tried to kill Harry at the end of the year! And you'd think those teachers in the order would be wary of certain Slytherin students. And those Slytherins would know people would be watching them, so why bother staying at Hogwarts? And conversely, why teach the children of your enemy?
On a different notes, lots of new characters. Tonks seems pretty cool, very stylish. And Luna is a riot! That lion hat she wore at the Gryffindor/Slytherin Quidditch match was just too funny. Sure, she's kinda weird, but in an endearing way! It was cool to see Lupin and Moody again, though like Harry himself thought, he actually didn't know the real Moody until that year, so its kinda odd for him to interact with him for the first time even though it wouldn't feel like it was the first time. And what a mess that Harry/Cho thing was! And was Ron implying he hoped Ginny would be back to crushing on Harry at the end there? But Ginny seems to be getting around, though it was funny for Harry to finally realize that's why she was able to talk to him now. And does Neville have a thing for her? I wonder if he'll ever get a chance to avenge his parents, maybe at Harry's final confronatation with Voldemort? After all, Bellatrix did escape. That is a totally cool name by the way, "Bellatrix Lestrange".
Anyways, I'm glad Luna was able to get Harry out of his depressed "I wish everyone would just go away and stop trying to talk to me, but when I'm finally alone I feel just as bad because lonesomeness sucks but I can't stand anyone's company right now" kinda funk. After all the awful things that happened that year, it would suck if he stayed in brood mode. It was also nice for him to see he still has a wealth of family and friends, what with the Weasleys, Lupin, Moody, and Tonks telling the Dursley's they'll be keeping an eye on them and making sure they don't make Harry's life a living hell, because he has enough to worry about, he needs a break some time.
So with the books done, I can get back to TF, and there's also those Gunparade March DVDs to watch as well. But first, I think I'll give these eyes a break.
