Harry Potter Fans *SPOILERS*

[Justme]

I just finished reading the series and I am really confused about something.

I just wondered if there were any fans here who may be able to help?

THE QUESTION DU DU DUUUUUR

Spoiler

In book 7 why does Dumbledore set Harry off on the Hallows quest? I just don't get the relevance of the hallows at all. I have thought about it but no reason seems good enough to possibly de-rail the hunt for horcruxes. So if anybody can help, answers here please!

 

[Spikefan31]

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Well, if someone has ALL the hallows, they're virtually invincible or something. I can't remember the exact details. But I too think that to introduce them, especially in the very last book, was pretty random. I wish there'd been small hints or references to them throughout the series rather than them being introduced at the last minute with no prior mention. Same with the horcruxes. They should have been vaguely alluded to in the first 4 books. But I guess J K Rowling didn't initially know where she was going with it, so...

IMO the deathly hallows are a plot device. And two of them just coincidentally happen to be the snitch and Harry's invisibility cloak. It's too easy.

Still, I love Harry Potter and am very glad that I grew up in this generation and got to experience this wonderful phenomenon. The only thing I don't like is the epilogue and the last sentence. IMO it was completely unnecessary and the book would have been better without it. It's so cliche, what with him calling the kids Lily, James, and Albus Severus *shudders*. I think the epilogue's main purpose was to wrap the story up so that no more books could be written.

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------

Oh, and in reading the 7th book, it took me so long to get my head around why Harry didn't die. And the whole being naked on King's Cross Station with Dumbledore thing? Talk about weird. 😀

 

[sisterofmercy]

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Well, if someone has ALL the hallows, they're virtually invincible or something. I can't remember the exact details. But I too think that to introduce them, especially in the very last book, was pretty random. I wish there'd been small hints or references to them throughout the series rather than them being introduced at the last minute with no prior mention. Same with the horcruxes. They should have been vaguely alluded to in the first 4 books. But I guess J K Rowling didn't initially know where she was going with it, so...

IMO the deathly hallows are a plot device. And two of them just coincidentally happen to be the snitch and Harry's invisibility cloak. It's too easy.

Still, I love Harry Potter and am very glad that I grew up in this generation and got to experience this wonderful phenomenon. The only thing I don't like is the epilogue and the last sentence. IMO it was completely unnecessary and the book would have been better without it. It's so cliche, what with him calling the kids Lily, James, and Albus Severus *shudders*. I think the epilogue's main purpose was to wrap the story up so that no more books could be written.

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------

Oh, and in reading the 7th book, it took me so long to get my head around why Harry didn't die. And the whole being naked on King's Cross Station with Dumbledore thing? Talk about weird. 😀

Just as an aside, the horcruxes were alluded to in the past books. Wasn't the diary from the Chamber of Secrets a horcrux?

I thought that the ending was predictable, I was quite disappointed with the epilogue. Great book otherwise.

 

[Justme]

THIS POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Well, if someone has ALL the hallows, they're virtually invincible or something. I can't remember the exact details. But I too think that to introduce them, especially in the very last book, was pretty random. I wish there'd been small hints or references to them throughout the series rather than them being introduced at the last minute with no prior mention. Same with the horcruxes. They should have been vaguely alluded to in the first 4 books. But I guess J K Rowling didn't initially know where she was going with it, so...

IMO the deathly hallows are a plot device. And two of them just coincidentally happen to be the snitch and Harry's invisibility cloak. It's too easy.

Still, I love Harry Potter and am very glad that I grew up in this generation and got to experience this wonderful phenomenon. The only thing I don't like is the epilogue and the last sentence. IMO it was completely unnecessary and the book would have been better without it. It's so cliche, what with him calling the kids Lily, James, and Albus Severus *shudders*. I think the epilogue's main purpose was to wrap the story up so that no more books could be written.

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------

Oh, and in reading the 7th book, it took me so long to get my head around why Harry didn't die. And the whole being naked on King's Cross Station with Dumbledore thing? Talk about weird. 😀

Yep I thought plot device but like you say so much to get your head around I thought maybe I missed something.

The epilogue was beyond awful heaven knows what motivated her to write that crap.

Also I thought Snapes so called bravery or whatever was fairly shallow, Harrys remarks to his son and naming him after him left me completely 😕😕

Oh by the way I ADORED the books (epilogue aside). I cannot wait for my kids to get a bit older so I can read them to them. I am banning them from watching the films.

 

[Spikefan31]

Yes, I'm going to force my kids (when I have them) to read the books AND watch the movies. I'll be like "You must read Harry Potter! You must love it!" 😀

Also, I really didn't want them to include the epilogue in the movie, but they have. I almost don't want to see it now 😉

Wasn't the diary from the Chamber of Secrets a horcrux?

Yes, but we didn't know it had such significance.

 

[sisterofmercy]

Yes, but we didn't know it had such significance.

I suppose it's up to interpretation in that respect then, I did get the impression that it wasn't the end of it, especially as in each of the books at the start of the series there was one object that was made out to be important. I thought that if Voldemort could use the diary in that way then it was a possibility that he could have done other things as well. It wasn't particularly clear though, Rowling could have foreshadowed it a bit better. But like you said we don't know if she had even worked out the ending at that point.

 

[TheVoid68]

It saved Harry's life. When Voldemort AK'd Harry in the forest, at that point Harry was the master of all three Hallows, therefore protecting him from instant death.

 

[Justme]

I kindly thank the admin for correcting the typo. I had to read the PM about it 3 times before I spotted it still =(

 

[MandaMeena]

I actually didn't mind the epilogue. It sorta made me happy. At first, I was sort of put off because I had thought for the longest time that she would end the series with the word "scar." But I can definitely see the poetry in the ending she chose. For Harry, the adventure really started at the train station. The train is what transported him into the world of magic, it Hogwarts, the only place he really felt at home (other than the Burrow, I suppose). As for Snape's bravery, I get it, and I can definitely appreciate it.

 

[Justme]

I actually didn't mind the epilogue. It sorta made me happy. At first, I was sort of put off because I had thought for the longest time that she would end the series with the word "scar." But I can definitely see the poetry in the ending she chose. For Harry, the adventure really started at the train station. The train is what transported him into the world of magic, it Hogwarts, the only place he really felt at home (other than the Burrow, I suppose). As for Snape's bravery, I get it, and I can definitely appreciate it.

Hmmm I suppose he was brave, I think it's more his motivation I question.

 

[Washburne]

Hmmm I suppose he was brave, I think it's more his motivation I question.

I don't disagree that it felt a bit shallow or at least started like that. But with everything Snape went through to help Harry no matter what the reason was I don't see anything wrong with Harry giving his son his name. I mean, he didn't like Harry, Lily was long gone and it had been so much easier to just join Voldemort. Not like he ever got rewarded for what he did.

 

[Justme]

I don't disagree that it felt a bit shallow or at least started like that. But with everything Snape went through to help Harry no matter what the reason was I don't see anything wrong with Harry giving his son his name. I mean, he didn't like Harry, Lily was long gone and it had been so much easier to just join Voldemort. Not like he ever got rewarded for what he did.

Fair points but still Snape didn't seem to care if Harry died beyond his feelings for Lily. The last exchange he and Dumbledore have in the pensive he makes it clear he doesn't give a toss about Harry and seems offended at the very suggestion.

 

[Flannen]

Fair points but still Snape didn't seem to care if Harry died beyond his feelings for Lily. The last exchange he and Dumbledore have in the pensive he makes it clear he doesn't give a toss about Harry and seems offended at the very suggestion.

I can see what you're saying but I think that the whole thing was just incredibly painful for Snape. I think the fact he seemed like he didn't care was because it was much easier for him to be like that. I think it was too hard for him to let himself care.

I honestly found Harry naming his son after him to be perfect. I've always seen it as a way of not only honouring Snape but also Lily. When Dumbledore says "My word, Severus, that I will never reveal the best of you?" really sums up how painful the whole thing was for Snape to deal with, to the point that he could not bare for it to even be mentioned in any way no matter whether it really demonstrated who he truly is.

I also think its hugely significant that its Albus Severus. Harry chose to have both of those names together. Snape sacrificed as much for Harry as Dumbledore did. And even though its seems like his motivations were base, I think it's really because he found it too hard to acknowledge his real motives.

 

[Justme]

I can see what you're saying but I think that the whole thing was just incredibly painful for Snape. I think the fact he seemed like he didn't care was because it was much easier for him to be like that. I think it was too hard for him to let himself care.

I honestly found Harry naming his son after him to be perfect. I've always seen it as a way of not only honouring Snape but also Lily. When Dumbledore says "My word, Severus, that I will never reveal the best of you?" really sums up how painful the whole thing was for Snape to deal with, to the point that he could not bare for it to even be mentioned in any way no matter whether it really demonstrated who he truly is.

I also think its hugely significant that its Albus Severus. Harry chose to have both of those names together. Snape sacrificed as much for Harry as Dumbledore did. And even though its seems like his motivations were base, I think it's really because he found it too hard to acknowledge his real motives.

More good points, I am coming fresh from finishing it just a couple of days ago. I haven't really had time to ponder it.

I think you two have probably convinced me that the naming was a good thing.

I still hate the epilogue generally though 😛

 

[Flannen]

More good points, I am coming fresh from finishing it just a couple of days ago. I haven't really had time to ponder it.

I think you two have probably convinced me that the naming was a good thing.

I still hate the epilogue generally though 😛

lol, don't get me wrong, I think the epilogue is flimsy, a cop out and Rowling not having the balls to risk not rounding it off in a way resembling smacking you in the face with a brick. I would have preferred something like Tolkien did; an appendices at the end with what happened to them, kids etc but not in a story form.

And I agree, my feelings towards the whole Snape thing (as well as a lot of others) has come from multiple readings and an incredible amount of thought!

 

[Justme]

Yep an appendices would have been perfect. Perhaps a couple of Newspaper clippings, nothing major just announcements or minor stories. I love that idea actually, it would have been great and relatively easy for Rowling.

Being a teacher Flannen does it remind you of when a child has obviously finished their homework on the Bus? That's what the epilogue reminds me of.

 

[xaphania]

Apparently JK Rowling wrote the epilogue years and years before writing the final book--some time shortly after starting to write the series--and it definitely shows in both the writing and the plot.

I really love the idea of newspaper clippings, she should have done that instead!

 

[Flannen]

Yep an appendices would have been perfect. Perhaps a couple of Newspaper clippings, nothing major just announcements or minor stories. I love that idea actually, it would have been great and relatively easy for Rowling.

Oh man, newspaper clippings would have been amazing. Just other ways for us to see what they ended up doing. Maybe an extract from a book Hermione had written? I love this idea!

Being a teacher Flannen does it remind you of when a child has obviously finished their homework on the Bus? That's what the epilogue reminds me of.

LOL, totally. I have heard she wrote it way before as well but it yes much more reminiscent of bus journey homework!

 

[Spikefan31]

I actually read the epilogue before starting the book. 😀

 

[Flannen]

I actually read the epilogue before starting the book. 😀

Dude, don't tell me that you're one of those people who reads the last page of books first?! I had a tutor at uni who does that.