Making The Hallows Less Deathly Boring

[lokifan]

All right, dear flist, I have a question for you. The majority of fandom (whether it’s a small majority or an overwhelming one seems to depend on which corner of the interwebs you inhabit) was dissatisfied with Deathly Hallows. So if you were JKR’s editor, in a power suit and awesome boots (that goes double for you, son_of_darkness) which parts would you want changed? Chopped out, added in, cut down UNTIL IT WAS NO LONGER HALF THE BOOK AND MONUMENTALLY DULL. *coughs* Not that I have any particular bias. Would you concentrate on making it less of a minefield of plotholes you could lose a leg in, or would you just want Draco to be touched inappropriately?

Comments

[son-of-darkness.livejournal.com]

Less tents. Less "everyone grows up and marries their childhood sweethearts". More inappropriate Draco touching.

*swans around in awesome boots* >;)

[lokifan]

Less tents.

*CHEERS* YES. Camping /= fascinating adventure story. Not even if you're Arthur Ransome. And wordy mcword on the marrying of childhood sweethearts. It's really weirdly conservative, as well as unrealistic - she's on her second husband herself, after all!

More inappropriate Draco touching.

But of course. The only difficult part would be choosing who should do the inappropriate touching.

...I'll be honest, I'd pick Fenrir in a second. It's practically canon anyway, and canon!Harry doesn't deserve it after making us hear about his STARING AT GINNY'S DOT, WTF.

[tuawahine.livejournal.com]

I would have every second chapter from Neville and Ginny's points of view, showing what is going on at Hogwarts -- much more interesting than the camping, I think. And I would take out both cases of Harry using Unforgivables (same for McGonagall).

Oh, and I would have the Dumbledore/Grindelwald romance spelled out, and there should definitely be more Draco and more Snape.

[lokifan]

I would have every second chapter from Neville and Ginny's points of view, showing what is going on at Hogwarts -- much more interesting than the camping, I think.

I'd really like that! It was absolutely interesting. On the other hand, I think I'm glad that's left for fic - stuff like rage-worthy sexism with regards Ginny, and where-is-your-choice-theme-now with regards Slytherin students, would make me sad. Although I'd love to know how Draco was acting - how obvious was it that he was miserable?

I would have the Dumbledore/Grindelwald romance spelled out, and there should definitely be more Draco and more Snape.

I'd like not more Snape necessarily, but Snape alive and active and interacting with Harry, not a lump-sum of Snapeishness after he was dead.

And yes, the Dumbledore/Grindelwald romance absolutely should have been spelled out - if it was a crucial motivating factor for Dumbledore, there's no excuse for it not being spelled out. If people are still reading these books in fifty years, they're not going to have The Collected Interviews Of JKR alongside.

[woldy]

I would have told her to come up with a plot that doesn't involve either the deathly hallows or wandlore given that both are a) deeply, irrevocably tedious, and b) sprung on the reader without even the tiniest hints in the previous books.

Failing that, I agree with the excision of camping and the nauseating Epilogue, and with the idea of hearing a lot more about events at Hogwarts. I'm not sure that Ginny or Neville's POVs would really be my cup of tea, but more chapters written from Snape's POV or maybe some from Draco's would have been great. Of course, if JKR were writing from Draco's POV then he'd probably be a lot less appealing to fandom than he is through Harry's eyes ;-)

[lokifan]

I would have told her to come up with a plot that doesn't involve either the deathly hallows or wandlore given that both are a) deeply, irrevocably tedious, and b) sprung on the reader without even the tiniest hints in the previous books.

YES. They're just... not good. And the whole 'master of wands' thing made no sense, and could have made, you know, just a bit of sense with highly limited tweaking.

I like the idea of Snape's POV or Draco's. I wouldn't mind Ginny's, or Neville's - but you know how I feel about feisty!Ginny and warrior!Neville, and I think they might make me sad. Plus, I totally ship Neville/Ginny and I'm happy imagining them growing closer without canon interfering!

Of course, if JKR were writing from Draco's POV then he'd probably be a lot less appealing to fandom than he is through Harry's eyes ;-)

LOL, quite! And I'd be worried about the character going disjointed, like Remus - that line at the end of HBP, about Harry despising Draco "for his fascination with the Dark Arts", made me boggle.

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

Personally, I like Deathly Hallows a lot. It's one of my favorite ones, although I would change some things if I could. I don't think my changes would be commercially appealing though.

First off, I'd like to know more about Hogwarts, and through Draco's eyes. It must've been hell for him, I think. I'd like not to have Harry stare at Ginny's dot, too. And I'd have Harry and Draco at least become proper friends; they don't even really hate each other, not in the way I understand hate.

or would you just want Draco to be touched inappropriately?

Depending on what you mean by "inaproprately", I'd love to.

[lokifan]

Personally, I like Deathly Hallows a lot. It's one of my favorite ones, although I would change some things if I could.

Really? What do you like about it? (That's a sincere question, even if it looks sarcastic.)

I'd like to know what it was like for Draco, too. And I'm still amazed that Harry and Draco never became friends, or at least allies. I agree they didn't hate each other by the end, but there was so much foreshadowing about Gryffindor and Slytherin coming together, about Harry and Draco specifically, that I am truly amazed it didn't happen.

[kubrick041087.livejournal.com]

Well first of all I wish JKR just finished Draco's character! I feel like he was just left hanging somewhat. I mean he didn't even get to explain why he'd helped Harry when he so obviously knew it was him. Was he just scared? Did he really want to help Harry? Did he not want to see Harry die?

Also I hated the fact that she killed off all the Marauders, which are my characters! I love dearly! I don't think there was a need to kill off a new born babies parents. It was unecassarily cruel... as was killing the only Weasley that would be the worst to be ripped from them... one of the twins... again oddly cruel.

I also would have had more Voldemorts death scene a bit more spectacular. It was kind of like 'Harry shouted this, Voldemort said that, and oh look Voldys dead'.

Draco to be touched inappropriately?

C'mon Harry! You know you don't want Ginny really. Draco's right there for the taking!

Also finally... Albus Serverus? Jesus, its not bloody Twiligh, get a proper name! James Sirius I adore however... shame its with Ginny though.

[lokifan]

I wish JKR just finished Draco's character! I feel like he was just left hanging somewhat.

Absolutely! The ambiguity I would have liked, and considered an interesting stylistic touch - if his character arc had been finished rather than dribbling away. Instead all the development in HBP was squandered, and I consider Draco's character another dropped ball. To be fair, JKR had a huge number of balls to juggle - but it isn't just fangirl favouritism to say Draco was an important one.

Heh, one of the twins' death was the only one I predicted with certainty! I think it was cruel, but a 'cost of war' thing and not bad literature.

James Sirius I adore however

*dryly* I am shocked. What I wondered about was the lack of a son named after Fred - maybe George's son was already born? It seemed like Ginny had no input at all with the names.

[newshoundhdt61.livejournal.com]

I think there are two reasons Draco doesn't identify Harry when the trio is brought to Malfoy Manor. First is that if somehow by some weird freak of nature he's wrong, he and his parents are going to be severely punished, possibly killed. Second is that deep down, Draco fears Voldemort and hates being under his control and wants him defeated so he can go back to his previous life of privilege and influence, and Harry is the only one who can defeat Lord Voldemort and make that possible. Draco is quite intelligent and perceptive, and it has not escaped his notice that Voldemort seeks out Harry for this very reason. Draco doesn't care about Harry one way or the other (in canon, despite what H/D shippers would prefer); he's looking out solely for his own (and his parents') survival. He's very pragmatic.
The marauders had to die so their spirits could support Harry and give him courage, and act as his Patronuses as he walked toward Voldemort to offer himself up. All four of them have willingly sacrificed their own lives to secure a good, safe future for the wizarding world and they serve to remind Harry of the sacrifice he must make.
And as for being "unnecessarily cruel" that's exactly her point about a war. It is unfairly cruel. Death is no respecter of persons. I couldn't say about Fred, but Remus gladly gave his life, he risked it fighting, and sometimes people lose their lives when fighting a war.
And as for Voldemort's death, I totally understood why she kept it so simple. I loved what it expressed. The most feared and evil wizard of all time killed by his own spell and then just simply drops dead with no fanfare whatsover, no fancy magical bells, bangs or whistles. I thought it was perfect. Wonderfully ironic.
Now for Albus Severus. Well, not the name I expected but after King's Cross and The Prince's Tale, it was a wonderful, kind and thoughtful tribute from Harry to two brave men he respected greatly. I also think Harry had a bit of chuckle thinking about Headmaster Snape's reaction to finding out one of the Potter brats had his name! But he would have been secretly touched to have his name and Lily's green eyes connected. I thought that was quite sweet actually.

[koishii-hime.livejournal.com]

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HERE. D: like. where did all my draco character development go? Also Harry was totally just an angsty RAAAAGE boy at the end. :'( everyone just went totally flat. well 'cept for neville who is now cool and stuff but yeah. it was like.

D: camping, for srz? and everything else was just left behind. like. WHAT death eater professors?! where did all this stuff come from!?

[lokifan]

I do too! I'm loving the comments - my flist rocks.

where did all my draco character development go?

I know! His character arc just dribbled off into nothing. There was no development. And the last time we saw him (aside from the epilogue, which I consider irrelevant as far as character development goes) it was a comedy moment where Ron smacks him and he falls over?! NO.

everything else was just left behind.

I know! So many subplots were just abandoned.

[lokifan]

PS: I don't think Harry was just about rage. He totally brought the RAAAAGE with his crucio, but the walk into the forest wasn't like that.

And Neville... I liked his arc. He had an actual character arc with development, which will always please me. But that fact that someone who was very passive had to become 'super warrior' to triumph - well, it makes sense in wartime and in the wizarding world's warrior culture, but I find it problematic.

[newshoundhdt61.livejournal.com]

I actually loved Deathly Hallows. One of the things I really enjoyed about the book was the wandlore; I thought that was absolutely fascinating. I love when she deals with magical in a theoretical way. I also thought the Deathly Hallows legend was absolutely brilliant. After reading the chapter King's Cross, I loved Dumbledore even more and some of the things he said at the end of OotP made a great deal of sense. He truly loved and cared for the boy who he thought of and looked on as a son and JKR conveyed that perfectly. I thought JKR did a great job weaving in some old details from previous books, Griphook, the dragon at Gringotts (from the very first book!) the ghoul in Ron's closet plus the spattergroit. I could go on and on, but all these details were introduced in earlier books, some only hinted at, but I thought she did a marvelous job tying it all together. Especially with the Expelliarmus versus Avada Kedavra in the final battle (mimicking the battle in book four). I found much of the book to be very simple on the surface, but also very complex if you were looking for deeper issues.
I understand that many of us love some of her secondary characters (Ginny, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore)and wished she would have given them a bit more ink time, but they are just that, secondary, and I don't think it's fair to expect JKR to devote as much time to them as to Harry and the trio. They are there in support of Harry's story, they aren't the main focus. I think that's why they work so well in fanfics; the characters remain undeveloped and so we, as writers, have a lot of leeway in how we portray them.
I thought DH was masterful and she kept everyone in character so perfectly.
I also understand that many readers did not like the epilogue, but to me, the bottom line is that as much as we enjoy playing with the characters, they belong exclusively to her. She was kind enough to share with her readers the future she saw them experiencing, and although, it wasn't quite the way I imagined it, I thought it quite a beautiful touch to know that Harry was happy and enjoying a wonderful family.
And I definitely did not see any of the trio as flat or one-dimensional in this book. And Harry was in no way an angsty or raging at the end. He was calm, cool and collected and braver than I honestly expected him to be.
Brava, JKR. Your series was a complete masterpiece and Deathly Hallows was the piece de resistance.

[lokifan]

One of the things I really enjoyed about the book was the wandlore; I thought that was absolutely fascinating. I love when she deals with magical in a theoretical way.

I like wandlore myself, and I love theories of magic. Which was part of why I didn't like Deathly Hallows - it didn't make sense. If taking a wizard's wand makes you its master, why have there been no repercussions from Expelliarmus before this? The climax of the third book had that spell flying everywhere!

I do think she did a good job hinting at things that would happen later on - that's absolutely one of JKR's strengths. But there were subplots left dangling, so I don't think she tied it all together that well.

Especially with the Expelliarmus versus Avada Kedavra in the final battle (mimicking the battle in book four).

See, that mimicking isn't as interesting a literary device as it could have been; it doesn't hint at something deeper the way 'Draco took Harry's hand, switching up PS' in the Fiendfyre scene did. More to the point, the fact that Harry needed to learn nothing more to defeat Voldemort boggled me. He never even worried about how he'd kill Voldemort himself, about whether he'd have to use Avada Kedavra - what was Harry thinking?

I found much of the book to be very simple on the surface, but also very complex if you were looking for deeper issues.

This is true. It's... well in a sense it's a strength of the book. There's a lot to discuss there, so objectively I can admire it. Subjectively, I find HP's morality extremely disturbing, and the themes often made me like it less.

I understand that many of us love some of her secondary characters (Ginny, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore)and wished she would have given them a bit more ink time, but they are just that, secondary, and I don't think it's fair to expect JKR to devote as much time to them as to Harry and the trio.

Neither do I. However, it's a cardinal rule of writing supporting characters that everyone is the star of their own story. I don't think they should be there to support Harry's story at the expense of logical characterisation for them, and I think that's what happened for many of the secondary characters.

My problem with the epilogue, although I agree they're hers, was that it was an anticlimax. If you're writing the epic tale of a war, you don't then follow all that drama and emotion with 'well now that's been over with for years and we've all moved on.' It's an emotional disconnect for the reader. Harry and Ginny back together at Fred's funeral, or Hogwarts' reopening - any time that showed healing but wasn't so vastly far on - would have been a lot better. Still, I can see why you liked knowing Harry had a happy ending. That makes sense to me as a reason for liking it.

And I definitely did not see any of the trio as flat or one-dimensional in this book.

Me neither, although I think there were characterisation problems. I do think Harry was raging for much of it, even at the end - which isn't a criticism, because that makes sense. People who are calm and collected don't torture people for relatively minor infractions the way Harry did, though.

[klashfor.livejournal.com]

The world always needs more inappropriate touching of Draco.

I'd want: more info of what was going on at Hogwarts, less House Elf/owl killing (to me it felt like she was doing it for shock value)less camping, more Draco development.

MUCH LESS RANDOM LORE THAT WAS ONLY INTRODUCED IN THE LAST BOOK. It really pissed me off, like a cop out to neatly tie everything together.

And 'all was well'? Fuck that noise.

Also, the death count was not high enough for a battle of that magnitude. And yeah maybe something that didn't include everyone having happy marriages and children. REAL LIFE PEOPLE. It doesn't work that way.

To be honest, it was my least favourite book. It just confused me. It was such a let down.

[lokifan]

The world always needs more inappropriate touching of Draco.

I couldn't agree more. :)

Definitely there should've been more info about Hogwarts, since it was by far the most interesting thing going on! Definitely more Draco development - so much potential in the sixth book, wasted. I didn't mind the House Elf/owl killing - I thought Hedwig, the snow-white first pet, was a fairly heavy but okay metaphor for the death of Harry's innocence. And frankly, Dobby annoyed me. So let Dobby die!

Fuck 'all was well' with no lube. *nods*

I agree with you about the death count, too. It didn't feel like a huge, complex battle in the end - the Order weren't doing much during much of the book, etc. And YEAH, real life doesn't have everyone playing happy families with their childhood sweethearts! Her habit of being all, 'and then x married y...' in interviews annoys me too.

To be honest, it was my least favourite book. It just confused me. It was such a let down.

Cosigned times a million.

[(Anonymous)]

that the majority of fandom was dissatisfied with DH is not really true, I've seen it described as the best of the series by many people, (just try a forum like leaky)and I think that calling it dull it's really untrue: it had some of the most action-packed and dramatic scene of the series (the trio mission into the ministry, the silver doe, malfoy manor, the breaking into gringott, the dragon ride, the battle of hogwarts) you could argue that the scene in the tent are less full of action, but I think they're important for the trio's character's development and for their relationships with each other, and the trip at godric's hollow was very emotional, at least for me. I think it was a lot of people's favourite books, actually.

[lokifan]

Maybe I'm wrong that a majority of fandom was dissatisfied. But I do think it was dull - or rather, that the pacing was horrible, which I suppose is a different problem. There were exciting moments, but the parts in between dragged on and were boring. That's a strong contrast with PoA, for instance, where the tension and interest stayed strong outside of the big set-piece scenes.

I don't agree that the tent scenes were necessary for the trio's character development, for the simple reason that there was little-to-no character development to be seen.

[faithwood.livejournal.com]

*headdesk* You made me write an essay. I'll never forgive you.

[lokifan]

NO WAI.

*checks your LJ*

AHAHAHA! A LINE I WROTE MADE YOU WRITE AN ESSAY ON WANDLORE!

*does a dance*

[ebethfic.livejournal.com]

I liked Deathly Hallows. I was impressed that she actually managed to pull together an ending that worked. I'm reading it for the second time now and still enjoying it.

There are things I'd like to have been done differently, or bits that I thought weren't as interesting, but there's only one thing I'd change: all the Slytherins getting up and leaving. Some of them should have stayed.

I'd like to know what it was like at Hogwarts, and what Draco's life was like, but that wouldn't have fit in the book.

[lokifan]

I'm glad it's standing up to a second reading - I think that says a lot, when the first time fandom readers were probably mostly going 'was the speculation right? And is she going to kill off my favourite characters?'

I like your approach. I think I'm similar; there's more I would change, but I think that would be quite possibly my big thing. It's just so icky: a quarter of the population, chosen age eleven and then ostracised, are ALL EVIL. Particularly since in an interview JKR got it wrong and talked about how some had come back with Slughorn. WTF?!

I kind of agree that the Hogwarts stuff wouldn't have fit in the book... but a scene or two would probably have broken the tents-related monotony.

[morettaallstar.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't really want to repeat things people have said, even if I do agree with a lot of them.
So I'll just say that after November, you'll have your own personal, dedicated, re-written book 7. And the span isn't a year.

I have my own reservations about DH, though. I was expecting a lot of different things, but the thing that really stuck with me was that I kept thinking I'd already read it.
Perhaps the downside to fanfiction is the fact that so many people write in this particular fandom. Someone somewhere was bound to have a similar plot - and many people got very close.

At the time of reading, my main problem was the number of deaths.
My mother : So, how is it?
Me : I'm on page 100. I think about 30 people have died. They keep dropping like flies.
{On a completely unrelated note, the flies here don't drop. They fly.}
So yes, I was a bit disappointed in that. Looking back now, though, all the deaths make sense. It's war (sort of) and in a war there will be deaths.

My brother (who is sitting next to me on his own laptop) would have removed the deaths of Hedwig, Dobby, Tonks&Remus and made Snape die earlier. He would also have had Harry using both his own and the Elder wand. And Hermione going onto 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'.
But I'm going shut him up now, because he's going on insane tangents.
Harry beating Draco up indeed. Not without proper equipment. And a safeword. *cough*I'msonotcorruptingmy14yearoldbrother*cough*
I don't agree with him.
Hedwig - a sad death, don't get me wrong. The only death I really wish hadn't been written. First friend, first link to Wizarding world, only link in the summer. *huggles Hedwig*
Dobby - yes, sad, but not as sad as Hedwig. *shrugs* I dunno. I didn't find it as traumatic.
Remus&Tonks - there are so many levels of wring in their deaths. Their son. My larger-than-it's-supposed-to-be maternal instinct pretty much wants to strangle JKR for that. Maybe she wanted a perfect square of Marauder-deaths or something, but Tonks is the best thing to happen to Remus (after Sirius, of course, who then left Remus for James. Wait. No. That's fanfic. Scratch that.)! And then they had a child. And then they DIED. Friggin up and died. What about Teddy?! Harry is a good godfather, right, and he still has his grandmother, but I mean SHEEEESH JKR. You couldn't leave Harry the only orphan?! I realise she was drawing a parallel and stuff, but still. *crosses arms and pouts*
Snape dying sooner - no. That part of the book worked. Though how they're going to turn that into film is beyond me.
Harry and the wands - ok, that's actually a good idea. It would have beat the crap outta Voldie.
Hermione would have won that SO BADLY. They could have used that money to buy a better tent. Or something.
Interestingly, my brother would have kept in the deaths of Fred, Crabbe and Voldemort. On the other hand, he would have resurrected Dumbledore, so let's not go there.

Wow, loki, people keep wordvomiting all over this post. There's lots to say, that's true, but I think this is all for now.

_{[It's 6.]}

[lokifan]

after November, you'll have your own personal, dedicated, re-written book 7. And the span isn't a year.

:DDDDDDDDD

I'm doing NaNoWriMo too, but an original rather than fanfic novel.

I didn't mind the deaths; Dobby was incredibly annoying, and anyway somebody had to die after the Malfoy Manor thing. Hedwig had to die because of the whole 'loss of innocence, coming of age' thing. Of course, that made it extra sad! And yes, I was sad about Tonks and Remus - I think Tonks should have lived. Particularly since as it was, her storyline is: young hot career woman with cool powers meets man, falls in love and loses her powers, gets pregnant, gets married, gets killed. FEMINISM: UR DOIN IT WRONG, JKR.

I wish Snape had died later, actually. It drives me crazy that Harry, the smug little bastard, never had to deal with annoying, living, spiteful Snape AND accept him as a hero. It would have been good for him.

Why would he have kept Crabbe's death? That was by far the saddest for me. Not because I mourn Crabbe, exactly, but - the guy stuck by Draco through his insane schemes for six years, BECAME A GIRL FOR AGES AFTER LUCIUS WAS IMPRISONED, was generally a steadfast friend. And then betrayed Draco half an hour before his death. It really upsets me that Draco's last memory of one of his best friends, who stuck by him - picked up his ferret self! - will be betrayal and near-murder. *sniffles*

I love the wordvomiting! Somewhat unexpected, heh, but awesome.

I leave the internet for a few days...and I miss my favorite ranting material...

[subtle-shades.livejournal.com]

See, I have so many opinions on this topic that I'm not even allowed to speak on it in RL anymore.

1. No Deathly Hollow. There wasn't enough build up to them in previous books.

2. Rather than boring me stiff while laying around in a tent, send the trio to DO something - preferably something that involves ACTIVELY hunting horcruxes and death as opposed to having Stuff Hit Them In The Head.

3. Loving Ginny was the result of a cunningly administered love potion. The chest monster was too creepy for anything less. She's a canon stalker!

4. Plots, like sharks, must move or die. Sadly, JKR's stopped moving and promptly died. Fix this.

5. Every other chapter from Neville, Snape, and Luna's perspectives. Neville b/c he's the actual leader of the Resistance. Luna b/c her POV would crack me up. And it might even be oddly insightful. Snape b/c his job was dangerous and stressful and no one was ever even slightly grateful until after he died.

6. 1/4 of the population cannot be labelled 'EVIL' or 'WORTHLESS' at age eleven. Do something meaningful with all of your sneaky Slytherins. Ambition, like knives, isn't necessarily a bad thing.

7. More Snape and Draco - particularly if neither of them is being reduced to an idiot or a victim of raging stupidity. (Seriously, everyone on that tower saw Snape burst in at the last moment to kill Dumbledore so why would Voldemort be under the mistaken impression that Snape disarmed him? The brain boggles.)

8. Just kill Voldemort but not with an Unforgiveable. In fact no Unforgiveables for any of the good guys.

9. Dumbledore was his own brand of evil. Someone in canon needs to recognize that.

10. Embrace your lately announced Dumbledore/Grindlewald connection!

11.I'm resigned to Ron/Hermione even though I'm not sure I like it. But Harry=//=Ginny for Point 3. If Harry has to get married and pop out spawn (and any child of his will be evil and prone to disaster) I'll take Harry with any one of 4 blonds: Fleur or Gabrielle Delacour, Luna Lovegood, or Tonks. (Why yes, I do want him to wait a bit before marrying any of them.)

12. Astoria? Seriously? She has more personality in your fanfic than the entirety of canon. That said, I want a cat fight between her and Pansy since the author had anvil-sized hints about Draco/Pansy.

13. Harry only ever describes 7 girls: bushy, big-toothed Hermione, pretty Cho who cries, gorgeous but not addictive Fleur, gorgeous and saucy Gabrielle, freckly and jealous (and only after the chest-monster pretty) Ginny, Luna who is not hot but is pretty when she dresses up, and Tonks whom he describes in minute detail every time he sees her. That's it. Harry has a thing for blonds. That said, Harry describes nearly every single guy he ever lays eyes on - including Oliver Wood, Cedric Diggory, his roommates, and every male Slytherin in his year. Am I really supposed to believe Harry is entirely straight?

14. More Barty Crouch Jr. b/c I have a soft sport for him.

...Erm, I'll stop now b/c I strongly suspect the first part of my list is scaring you.

Perhaps you see why this subject is banned around me?

Re: I leave the internet for a few days...and I miss my favorite ranting material...

[lokifan]

LOL. I've discussed it a few times with my family, but it always degenerates quickly into them telling me Draco is awful and me saying he isn't. Sorry it's taken me so long to reply - I myself have no home-interwebs just now, so I'm doing this in my university library.

#2 - OMG YES. The characters were so limp; there are only so many 'suddenly, by chance' moments an author is allowed, and JKR went WAY over her limit.

#3 - My preferred explanation, since Harry heard Draco was definitely up to something, nearly killed him, never mentioned him again and got into a relationship with Ginny, is that Harry is a creepy sadist, was massively in denial, or both.

#4 - Best metaphor ever!

#5 - That could work. Also, Snape's relationship with the Malfoys continues to intrigue me; I'd like to see his feelings about Draco.

#6 - YES, YES, YES. It's incredibly twisted, this viewpoint, and I hate it. Particularly since it doesn't even make sense on a literary level. There was SO MUCH foreshadowing of the houses coming together. Harry glared at Draco and swore they'd never be friends. And he was RIGHT?! I really do splutter in amazement at this - I can't think of a single other book where a statement like that isn't smashed to bits.

#7 - YAY MORE SNAPE AND DRACO. Especially Harry having to deal with Snape being alive and nasty but good.

#8 - Hmm, yes with caveats. Unforgivables for the good guys IF they're acknowledged as bad, bad things, not PRAISED for fuck's sake. Especially since logically, Harry should've been practising AK on insects or something: how did he expect to beat Voldemort before he knew about the Elder Wand?

#9 - wordy mcword.

#10 - YES. If it was a crucial part of Dumbledore's motivations, as it apparently was, then it should be in the book. If people are still reading in fifty years, they won't have The Collected Interviews Of JKR with them. Frankly, the fact that she didn't do more than hint when it was apparently a massive character thing is pretty homophobic.

#11 - Why them, specifically? I can see Luna, but Tonks is too cool for Harry and I love Bill/Fleur.

#12 - See, I kind of like that Draco got to marry someone who WASN'T his childhood sweetheart. And while I think Pansy was actually more moral than Draco, I think JKR would disagree - she was kind of filled with bizarre hate in interviews even before Pansy did anything - so I feel like it's a point for authorial intent of Draco's redemption that he didn't marry her.

#13 - LOL. It's interesting as well that he never feels anything for Hermione. I'm glad he didn't, but - straight seventeen-year-old boy in a tent for months with a girl his own age, and NOTHING? Were his hormones on strike for lack of Draco?

#17 - Heh, I don't see where he'd fit in, but so do I. He really hurt my bestest boy, but he's still awesome. And got brainwashed by his Evil Government Daddy, which makes me root for him.