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[swatkat]

I'm done with HBP. Was done in the morning, but I needed some time to be coherent. Becase this? Is the best book ever. The best in the series so far, certainly. I laughed, I cried, I bitched about the dearth of certain favourite characters, but mostly, I was in awe. I mean... the history! The slow falling in place of everything! The darkness! The Harry! Oh man, the Harry! I love him so much I can't even speak. *sob*

JKR totally reads fanfic and knows all about slash. I wouldn't be surprised if she has a LJ out there somewhere, where she religiously follows the Snitch. I want to have her babies.

A spoilery post follows.

Comments

[msgenevieve.livejournal.com]

If it doesn't, I'll find another way

I hope so, because I need to talk to a sane person whose opinion I value about the fact that I am currently mourning My!Hermione because she was. not. in. this. book.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Oh, she was there! She *was* there, working hard for her NEWTs, feeling a little bit elated when Slughorn appreciated her because appreciation is always nice, even though he's not someone to be trusted, of course, she knows that perfectly well, and getting jealous and angry when Harry was cheating – okay, he's her best friend and she shouldn't think like that but it's cheating dammit, and feeling puzzled and bewildered with Ron, and wondering what the hell is wrong with *her*, and getting suspicious and worrying and reading and reading and reading… She was there. We just didn't get to meet her a lot. This is the problem with the one-person POV, see? Most of the times Harry was so far removed from Ron and Hermione, and most of the things that they did together had something to do with their love lives – no wonder she seemed a bit different.

The thing with Ron and Hermione is that they often manage to bring out the absolute worst in each other, especially when it comes to something like this. Then there's teenage hormones. It was one thing with Krum, it's another thing altogether with Hermione having to deal with teenage hormones and feeling confuzzled because what the *hell* is happening to her, and why is she feeling and acting like this? It's even more problematic because there aren't any books out there to tell her what to do (because I don't think Hogwarts keeps that kind of books, and Hermione doesn't read trashy magazines, thankyouverymuch, and the ones she's peeked (not hers, Ginny owns them) in are very silly anyway). So she's doing what she can, which includes going out there and getting groped by MacLaggen (and then realising what a stoopid thing it was, surely she could've chosen someone smarter, like that guy in Ravenclaw who's been giving her the eye) and chasing Ron with those birds (this is pissed-off!Hermione. remember the girl who slapped Draco?). Confunding MacLaggen? And then scolding Harry for using the Felix Felicis? That's so perfectly Hermione – doing exactly what she wants to do when *she* breaks the law (Polyjuice potion, sending Umbridge to the Centaurs), and then scolding Harry about it because that's illegal. And when Harry snarks back? It's even more perfect, because that's how much they've grown – they can now snark at each other (Harry and Ron do the same thing all over the book, like in the Quidditch sessions) and still be best friends. We also got to see Hermione's basic strengths – asking the right questions and often thinking the right way, and one of her most important failings – her distrust in improvisations and impulse, though she does well when she's impulsive. And the fact she doesn't tell "I told you so" and confesses that she couldn't have guessed that the HBP was a 'potential killer' instead of rubbing it on to Harry? She's grown so much! And the final decision to leave school with Harry and Ron? Can you imagine how hard it must've been for her, to leave *school*, her studies, her NEWTs, just like that? And yet, how easy, because it's Harry and Ron going away to face god knows what danger, and where they go she has to go, no matter what the consequences are… *sob*

Both she and Ron had lesser roles in this book, but I think that was bound to happen. This is Harry's journey, and if things hadn't been the way they are now (all set for the classical hero's quest), we couldn't have been ready for the final battle. I think you would have found it a lot easier to find our Hermione if Hermione was doing her usual figuring things out for Harry – but this time Harry had Dumbledore doing it (and how!).

Mm, does that make sense?

Swatkat

Looks like I'll have to install MSN. Will do that ASAP.

More thoughts...

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

The crying was a bit annoying, but I'm fanwanking it with past evidence - Hermione does tend to get weepy under emotional stress like this (PoA). If her best friend is getting killed? She'll be there, hexing people right and left. But emotional stress, especially when it comes to something to do with Harry or Ron? (and Ron does have a gift for being at his worst when it comes to girls. just think how treats Hermione in PoA. and Padma. and Lavender) And combined with the stress of the NEWTs, the disappointing result of the OWLs (yes, she was disappointed), the fact that Harry is *cheating* and doing better than her, that too from a suspect book? And that she's feeling a bit left out because Harry's doing everything and they can do nothing but listen and give opinions, and Harry's not listening to her anyway? Could be.

Re: More thoughts...

[hesychasm]

I just dropped by to see what you thought of HBP. And dude. These comments are things of beauty. ABSOLUTELY, Hermione was in character. I am still not getting this...sense of self-entitlement about JKR's work that keeps making people proclaim she wasn't.

Hey

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

Nice to see you here. I've been stalking you for a while - especially because I owe you feedback. *blush*

I am still not getting this...sense of self-entitlement about JKR's work that keeps making people proclaim she wasn't.

I'm not sure which is more ridiculous - the Hermione is missing campaigns or the Tonks killed the Puppies hatethreads (WTF? He's dead! Why is it wrong for Remus to move on? And apparently, the concept bisexuality is absent in fandom).

Swatkat

[msgenevieve.livejournal.com]

*hugs you*

Thanks. I needed that.