Question for those who have finished (SPOILER ALERT)

[MAmommy]

I was really surprised what a fast read this was - I got lucky and ds went to bed early last night so I had plenty of quiet time to read. Still surprised I finished so quickly though.

Anyway on to my question

Am I the only one who was completely taken in by Snape? All the way up until the end I thought he was on Dumbledore's side. Even after he cursed Dumbledore and was running away, I fully expected him to stop and explain that he somehow had no choice and Dumbledore knew it. Did I miss something?

[BamaGal]

I sorta was, too. I finished it in one day, and I didn't spend the whole day reading.

I wanted to believe Snape was really on Dumbledore's side, but when he made that unbreakable vow w/Draco's mom, where he swore to do it if Draco couldn't, I knew he couldn't be. I wasn't satisfied w/the explanation of why Dumbledore trusted him all this time. It sounded very unconvincing to me.

Were you surprised that it was Dumbledore who died? When I read about the mission V had for Draco, my first thought was that he was supposed to kill Harry. It wasn't until about halfway through the book that I began to guess is would be Dumbledore.

What do you make of the note in the locket? There is another wizard out there who knew about V's horcrux, and is powerful enough to get through V's protective magic to get it. If this person got one, maybe he/she got more of them. Maybe Harry will have a new ally????

So, when does the next book come out???? I need to know how all this ends!

[JJsmom]

I'm thinking that Dumbledore wasn't pleading for his life but for "Severus" (a personal plea) to take it as maybe previously discussed and promised? Similar to how he made Harry promise those things before going after the Horcrux. I'm wondering if Dumbledore was the secret keeper for the Order of the Phoeni and at his weakened state didn't want anyone to be able to get the info through veristaserum or some other means... or for Voldemort or the Death Eaters to torture it out of him...so he pleaded with Snape to end it.

Also, what's up with the tomb bursting into flames and Harry 'thinking' he sees a pheonix flying into the sky? Sounds a bit like (oh geez...what's his name ?) the wizard from Lord of the Rings...and since Rowling pulls from all the literature out there, I wonder...hmmmmmmmm...

I'm not entirely thinking Snape is bad yet...although it does give me pause that he looked at Dumbledore with such hatred...but still.

At that R.A.B.... wow...there's something to keep our curiosity piqued until the next book!!!!!!

I wanted to add that Snape HAD to do the promise with Narcissa with Bellatrix there...no choice without sending up major red flags. He never even admitted he knew what Draco was up to...kinda skirted around until NARCISSA kept adding details...and I'm sure he read her mind at that point. It sounded to me like he was playing them trying to get what it was if you read the dialogue again.


Amy

[MAmommy]

Originally Posted by JJsmom

I wanted to add that Snape HAD to do the promise with Narcissa with Bellatrix there...no choice without sending up major red flags. He never even admitted he knew what Draco was up to...kinda skirted around until NARCISSA kept adding details...and I'm sure he read her mind at that point. It sounded to me like he was playing them trying to get what it was if you read the dialogue again.

This was exactly how I had read it too! Which is why I thought Snape was good - I suppose he still could be. Afterall, if he had come back and explained himself at the end, there would be less suspense for the last book.

I also agree with you, Amy, about Dumbledore's plea. I thought it could be taken in either way - a plea for his life, or a plea to end it quickly. I couldn't decide which.

Originally Posted by BamaGal

I wasn't satisfied w/the explanation of why Dumbledore trusted him all this time. It sounded very unconvincing to me.

Me neither. I kept expecting something more.

I wonder if Dumbledore will return as a Pheonix in book 7 to guide and protect Harry.

[JJsmom]

Originally Posted by MAmommy

I wonder if Dumbledore will return as a Pheonix in book 7 to guide and protect Harry.

Ooooooohhhhhhh, now there's a theory... and other's have wondered about why the phoenix was so loyal to Dumbledore... wow...something to think about.

Originally Posted by BamaGal

I wasn't satisfied w/the explanation of why Dumbledore trusted him all this time. It sounded very unconvincing to me.

I thought so too...but what DOES Harry know other than what Dumbledore said? He kept telling Harry there was more and I'm sure there's more to the trust than Snape 'saying' he'd turned... something's missing there.

Amy

[Jenn]

Well i just finished the book and after blowing my nose a million times i am shocked that dumbledore is dead!! (i know he's not a real person, he's fiction but STILL )
I never thought in a million years he would be the one to die in book 6--i expected in the last one though....
Anyway i had always sided with Dumbledore that snape was really on their side but after he made the unbreakable vow with draco's mother, i knew harry had been right to mistrust him. I honestly do not believe, and who knows i may be proven wrong in book 7, that dumbledore dying was part of a plan between him and snape. I think dumbledore would've prepared harry more if he knew he was going to die soon. Not to mention when he said "severus...." the way he did i think it was more a surprising this can't be true sort of plea. Even dumbl. said it himself--he's wrong sometimes and i think at that moment he realized it was one of those times.
I just can't imagine a book 7 not set at Hogwarts if harry really is setting out to do what he is determined to. The book was phenomenal. I hope it's not another 2 yr wait for the next one. i just can't see Harry being able to find out where those horcruxes are on his own. Whoever R.A.B is i hope he's a dumbeldore-like character. I swear i'm going to be thinking about this book all week..........

[Anira]

OMG - I was sobbing as I was reading the part!! I cannot believe that Snape was such a two-faced person!! I actually voted for him as my fave character!

And now Dumbledore dead
I feel so sad, and I kept telling myself that there must be some greater reason that Dumbledore trusted him.

If Dumbledore, the greatest wizzard of all times, could erroneously trust Snape, I think we may be forgiven for doing so too.

Excuse me for a moment... I need to blow my nose!

[Brina]

I kind of suspected that dumbledore had to die. It is the only way that Harry could truely come into his own. It has to end with harry and voldy - mano a mano. That would never happen with dumbledore alive, he would always have Harry's back.

As for Snape, I believe that he is bad and always was. He was playing both sides, he had to truely belong to one or the other. His skill at Occlumency meant he was fooling on of the two greatest wizards in the world - there was a 50-50 chance that it was dumbledore. I think his treatment of Harry all this time - even while inside the walls of grimauld place, where it would have been okay to let down the act a bit, was some proof of his true alligiance. As dumbledore said himself, he doesn't make many mistakes, but when he does, they are huge. This was one of those mistakes.

Oh, and as for the letter with the false horcrux, I think it is Sirius' brother Regilus (sorry if the spelling is off, I don't have my books on vacation with me to look up the proper spelling). The initials fit. Regilus got far inside the deatheaters before realizing that he didn't want to be there, and then was killed very shortly after trying to walk away. Maybe he didn't just try to walk away, maybe he decided to take a piece of voldy with him.

[Pebbles]

OK my book just hit the wall, UHG, another paint job for me. I have to go by some more kleenex now!!!!

[Jenn]

Originally Posted by Brina

Oh, and as for the letter with the false horcrux, I think it is Sirius' brother Regilus (sorry if the spelling is off, I don't have my books on vacation with me to look up the proper spelling). The initials fit. Regilus got far inside the deatheaters before realizing that he didn't want to be there, and then was killed very shortly after trying to walk away. Maybe he didn't just try to walk away, maybe he decided to take a piece of voldy with him.

Nicely done Brina!!! I think you've got it....i've been thinking about R.A.B and wracking my brain trying to figure out who that is.....buti do think you may be onto something. So you think he did this before he died or you think he's still alive?? Even though he's supposed to be dead, he may not be. Look at Barty Crouch's son who was supposed to be dead. Hmmmmm......it sure will be a long wait!!!