hobgoblinn | Where Have I been? (Reply)

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Well, I'm moved, though there is still an impressive mountain of boxes in my living room. If I've missed anything vital, please let me know. If I'm flaking on something I promised, please e-mail me or comment here and I'll get the message. I've had some technical difficulties, some real life distractions, and a whole lot of brains sucked out by Harry Potter fanfic over the past couple of weeks, when I have been able to get online. Kudos to

clavally for her fic recs list (see her journal sidebar), which I have exhausted now. Didn't read all the Harry Potter ones, but I started most of them and was pleased with the new ideas and fantastic writing. I was also humbled to find that my two long fics also made her list under Buffy recs-- thanks! (I'd read most of the Buffy ones and add my voice to hers-- go check them out.)

I saw

antennapedia's predictions, so I'll also make some Harry Potter DH predictions behind the cut, for your mocking pleasure:

Snape is not evil, and his experience fighting his way back to the light when he was Harry's age will be instrumental in Harry's own coming to terms with his power, and his own darkness. I'd love to see JKR explore ways Harry might help Snape with his remaining darkness, (not in a sexual way) but that kind of complexity is a bit beyond her, I think. I'll look forward to the fanfic there. But there's just too much groundwork laid for this, and some thematic things that don't make sense if she doesn't flesh this out in some way-- either Harry making the connections himself from clues/ memories left behind, or in some confrontation with Snape that finally reveals the truth.

Of course Harry himself is a horcrux. Also of course, Dumbledore's portrait and/or memories will make clear Snape's actions were on his orders and inescapable due to the magical contract, possibly more than one (Narcissa/Snape, Dumbledore/Snape).

Snape will die, probably in some last sacrifice giving Harry his shot at Voldemort. So will McGonnigal, Hagrid, and Harry himself. Some member of the Weasley family will also die, possibly more than one. I'm hoping Remus lives, and Tonks, but with JKR's perversity, we can't be sure.

I think Percy is evil. Though I'm not sure I care if he is or not, he's so bloody sanctimonious.

Ron and Hermione will be left to carry on. Hopefully, Ron will get fleshed out into enough of an equal partner/ counterpoint for Hermione, but again, that's a little much to hope for. Having read way too much Hermione/Snape fanfic lately, I have a hard time with the canon pairing. There's an inherent inequality to Ron and Hermione-- she's just so much brighter than he is, and he's had such a struggle taking second fiddle to really everyone in his life. He's noble and good, but I still have a hard time seeing it, and I don't think JKR is going to help us much there, if only because that's not where her interest lies. But the life going on motif would make the most sense from the two of them, loyal friends left to honor the fallen by rebuilding the world.

We'll get more historical background about Harry's parents. Snape will fit into this in some fashion. We'll also get why Snape changed sides, and why he took the Mark to start with. Again, the thematic groundwork for that has already been laid.

That's enough for the moment. I'd be interested to hear what questions you'd like the final book to answer (spoilerish or not). I apologize for the lack of comments of late, and hope everyone is well. I also hope, and somewhat fear I won't be able, to write my Summer of Giles something soon-- time is getting close and I really have nothing worth sharing yet. Meta, anyone?

Hob

(by the way-- the new Harry Potter soundtrack Rocks! As does the itunes store.)