by Jennifer Hodge
Member since:
August 31, 2005

JOIN OTHER HARRY POTTER FANS TO TALK ABOUT "HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS" (CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 25 ON MONDAY, JULY 23rd from 2-3 p.m. ET) NO SPOILERS, PLEASE!!!

July 23, 2007 12:36 PM EDT
views: 125 | comments: 44

THE WITCHING HOUR: Give Your Two Knuts About “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has finally arrived!!!!  We are sending out a howler to all Gather Muggles, witches, warlocks, and villains to join us in the Gather Books Essential (books.gather.com) this evening from 2-3 p.m. ET to talk about Chapters 1-25.    

PLEASE, NO SPOILERS ALLOWED!! If you do, we will have to send some Dementors and Death Eaters after you.   

VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB 

We will be hosting a virtual book club in the Gather Books Essential (books.gather.com) this week. 

Monday, July 23rd through Friday, July 27th from 2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET (books.gather.com)  

 

WIN A BORDERS GIFT CARD 

Each day, we will post a Potter trivia question at the end of each Witching Hour.  If you answer correctly, your name will be put in a random drawing to win a $20 Borders Gift Card. 

The winner of the Borders card from Sunday, July 22nd is Denise B.  Congratulations!!!   

 

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2007 EDITION OF "THE WITCHING HOUR" 2-3 p.m. ET 

If you answer the following question correctly in the comment thread below, you might be the lucky winner of a $20 Borders gift card in our daily random drawing.  Good luck! 

 

Hermione smells freshly mown grass and what else when she smells Felix Felicis?   

DISCUSSION ON CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 25 
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Comments: 44

EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:01pm EDT
Hi, everyone! :)

(I was in self-imposed communication exile until I managed to finish the book yesterday afternoon.)

Trivia: parchment

These were some of my favorite chapters of the series. I have always loved Prisoner of Azkaban because of all of the backstory and history it provided. These chapters do a lot of that, as well. I LOVED getting to go into Godric's Hollow and I felt a little weepy as Harry saw his old house and visited the graves of his parents. (It was also REALLY exciting to see that Rowling included the year on the headstones - a bit of timeline confirmation is a beautiful thing!)
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:04pm EDT
I liked Godric's Hollow as well. However, I had a bad feeling about Bathilda Bagshot.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:05pm EDT
I was actually surprised at how young Harry's parents were!
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:11pm EDT
What did you think of Rita Skeeter's book excerpt in Chapter 18? At the time, did you think what she wrote was true? Or did you have faith in Dumbledore?
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:13pm EDT
I was too. But then again, didn't Molly say something earlier about how, during the first war, everyone was hurrying to get married - or something like that?
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:16pm EDT
My recollection of some of the details in the other books can be a bit hazy sometimes. But that would make sense.

I have to say that I was disappointed by a couple of things up to Chapter 25. I think their foray into the Ministry of Magic could have been more exciting. And the part where they were moving around in the tent dragged on a long time.
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:17pm EDT
The only thing that I believed was the letter to Grindelwald because those words WEREN'T Rita's, but I was certain that Dumbledore was speaking in hypotheticals or was trying to trick Grindelwald.

As an aside, every time I read "for the greater good," all I could think of was the movie "Hot Fuzz." I kept chanting it every time it came up. Between that and my calls of "It covets the Precious" regarding the locket Horcrux, I think Rowling would've been mortified with the lack of seriousness I was bringing to the story. ;)
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:18pm EDT
That's funny. I haven't seen "Hot Fuzz," but I have heard reference to that line.
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:23pm EDT
I agree with you. I was mad at Ron for leaving, but, it did kind of pick up the story a bit (the characters were obviously frustrated with it, too). I was glad when he came back because I never like a Harry-Hermione duo (like when Harry and Ron were fighting in Goblet of Fire?) because we need Ron's bit of wit to offset the drama of Harry and Hermione's studiousness.

I was having a hard time figuring out (throughout the book) how much time had passed-what with the absence of school feasts to indicate months...
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:29pm EDT
It sounded like it was weeks and that they were incredibly bored. And tired, hungry, and cold.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:31pm EDT
I loved the radio broadcast of Potterwatch. It added much needed humor to the book at that point in time.
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:36pm EDT
I loved going into the Malfoy Manor and seeing what was going on there. It has been nice watching them get put in their place time and time again by both sides... While I was reading, I was wondering what was going through Draco's head. Knowing that he failed at the task that he was set to do... then seeing first hand (rather than in tales from his father) of the might of the Dark Lord, I just really wondered if he was feeling regret at all. He seemed to be mortified in the beginning of the book as he watched Charity Burbage float over the table. Then, when we see him again in Chapter 23, he's also very nervous at the thought of Voldemort showing up ag their house again. It was good to see this change in him.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:42pm EDT
The first Chapter was a good launching point. It set the stage nicely and reintroduced some of the more loathsome characters.

In Chapter 3, I thought Dudley's reaction to leaving Harry a little odd. I was so glad to see the Dursley's ride of into the sunset never to be heard from again. I loved the actors who have played them in the movies. They could't be more perfect for the roles.
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:45pm EDT
Heh - I thought that Dudley had somehow been Imperiused as was spying for the other side.
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 2:48pm EDT
HEY I won!!! Sorry I'm late
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:48pm EDT
I think the saddest point up to Chapter 25 was when Dobby died. After Hedwig, that was a real blow to the cast of characters.
Kris M. Jul 23, 2007, 2:50pm EDT
I was horrified by Moody's eye on Umbridge's desk. Good Lord, I knew she was evil but I didn't know she kept trophies like some witchy serial killer!
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 2:51pm EDT
YES!!I always thought Dobby would be Harrys' house elf someday
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:52pm EDT
Congrats, Denise!!!

I wasn't all that broken up by Dobby - I kind of felt like he was the JarJar of the Potterverse (though he did do some important things). The burial/funeral was VERY moving, but I was more touched by the changes in Kreacher over the series.

I hated Hedwig dying. Poor Harry just couldn't get a break.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:52pm EDT
Kris, that was a bit maudlin. I'm glad Harry was able to grab it and give Mady Eye's eye a more proper burial.
Chris Carlisle Jul 23, 2007, 2:54pm EDT
Hermoine smells freshly mown grass and new parchment.

I finished the book on Sunday morning. I have to say it's the strongest of the 7 in the series.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:54pm EDT
Did anyone guess that Dumbledore had the Elder Wand?
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 2:56pm EDT
me too, I was disrespectful to mad eyes' memory
yes Kreatcher was very touching
Kris M. Jul 23, 2007, 2:56pm EDT
Not me, not even close.
Speaking of Hedwig, I was also a little disapppointed Harry never thought of her again after her death. He'd have to miss her -- just a line here or there would've been nice...
Chris Carlisle Jul 23, 2007, 2:57pm EDT
The whole Dobby incident felt wrong while reading it,and a bit forced. Granted they explained later how and why he was sent, but it felt a bit like a "deux ex machina" solution to the problem at hand.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:57pm EDT
Chris, A lot of people finished the book. I can't wait to open up this chat and talk about the whole thing. But it will have to wait until Wednesday. I know there are others who are still making their way through.
EB White Jul 23, 2007, 2:57pm EDT
Elder Wand - Never would've guessed. It seemed like something too dark for someone so good.
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 2:58pm EDT
Whoops I forgot to answer the trivia question: NEW parchment and... then she was cut off.
Jennifer Hodge Jul 23, 2007, 2:59pm EDT
Just in time Denise!
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 3:00pm EDT
I remember once someone saying it was an ugly wand but I didn't make the connection until Harry was trying to make his decision of where to go first.
Kris M. Jul 23, 2007, 3:00pm EDT
I keep wishing I was a kid -- if this is fun for us, think how you would've been at 12 or so, dressed up and waiting at one of those parties. Also, this is the kind of event we'll never see again in the book world -- what a childhood memory it'll make for the kids!
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 3:03pm EDT
I felt the same way about Hedwig, he never said anything about her again. And I must say I rather thought Harry would get Fawks the Pheonix, but I guess he was free to go and didn't choose Harry.
Denise B. Jul 23, 2007, 3:06pm EDT
E.B. I like the reference to "MY PRECIOUS" thats kind of how it made me feel too.
Janet "Jax" B. Jul 23, 2007, 3:33pm EDT
parchment paper I think.
Janet "Jax" B. Jul 23, 2007, 3:33pm EDT
Sorry I missed it today....got busy at work
Christopher L. Jul 23, 2007, 4:11pm EDT
Fresh mown grass and new parchment.
Joy S. Jul 23, 2007, 4:32pm EDT
Hermione smells newly mown grass, fresh parchment, and a third scent which she does not reveal to her potions classmates (that presumably has something to do with Ron Weasley), when she smells the love potion Amortentia. This has nothing to do with Felix Felicis, which imparts good luck to the person who drinks it. As far as I can remember, Felix Felicis doesn't have a particular smell.
LaRie C. Jul 23, 2007, 4:44pm EDT
I'm rather surprised not to find any comments understanding the entire Dobby incident especially his death. That was the turning point of Harry's whole quest. Until Dobby died I don't think he really knew what he was doing or why. I think that Rowling was very inspired to have the story turn on Dobby's death. Dobby is the quintessential symbol of freedom and love of freedom of choice. Harry had to make the choice of what to pursue, and only he could do it. This part is perhaps Rowlings' most inspired writing. I loved the entire series, and as the light seemed to go on for Harry here, it did for me as well. Until then I wasn't sure if my conjectures about what would likely happen were right or not. After that I was completely certain of the outcome. I can't confess that I knew exactly what would happen, only that his pursuit of the Horcruxes rather than the Hallows was the correct path to follow. I came nearer to tears on these chapters than any but the last few. I congratulate Rowling for a well-written book!
Sherri M. Jul 23, 2007, 5:40pm EDT
I also finished the book on Sunday. I can't wait for Wed.'s discussion.
And I too think he should have spent more time on the death of his owl, because it should've giving him the same result of closing his mind to LV as Dobby's death did.
cherry v. Jul 23, 2007, 10:31pm EDT
I guess I'm a little late. It was bloddy great though.
Denise B. Jul 24, 2007, 8:10am EDT
JOY - you're right I just looked it up it is the love potion!!! LOL I didn't catch it I just remembered all the smells being talked about. YOU"RE good!!
Jenny M. Jul 24, 2007, 11:47am EDT
You are quite right about Dobby's death. Dobby was such an important character; he showed Harry what it is to give up your life for someone else.
von m. Jul 24, 2007, 2:36pm EDT
I cried for like 1/2 an hour when Dobby died it was so sad, I was so good to Harry and was like I don't know but so perfect
Maria L. Jul 25, 2007, 2:36am EDT
Dobby's death was a real blow but very appropriate. The way he worshipped Harry, he really wouldn't have wanted to die any other way. I was very sad to see what JK did with Lupin and Tonks. Lupin is one of my favorite characters. I am really glad that he and Harry cleared the air I really didn't want anything to damage that special relationship.

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