I think HBP suffered a lot from its length and lack of it. While now I can go back and think 'fuck, why didn't an editor get some of GOF and OOTP cut out' at the time I was just like...'where is the rest of it...and why is what is here about Snape'.
I remember not being impressed at Ginny and Harry for the same reasons I am not impressed now. It is too simple. Too cliche and wrapped up nicely that they end up together. I know it is fantasy but it lacked realism. And while I know she was describing a teen romance her language was kind of cringe. There is that dragon again!
I found the horcrux stuff fascinating and loved that intro. I loved all the stuff we knew had been pushed back to book 6 or merely hinted at finally appearing but there was still a feeling that it lacked...something.
Slughorn irritated me from the start but in a good way. He was clearly meant to do that. It was interesting to see that through his club there had not always been SUCH a vitriol based house rivalry. Students had been able to co-exist outside of class.
I hated Dumbledore for making Harry get the memory and for not training him in combat. I'm 90% sure most of that was the long time I spent between the books reading epic fanfics where the trio plotted a war.
I was sure Draco was a death eater but at the time I was pretty convinced he wanted to be until the end of the book. I just felt it was unlikely Voldemort wanted him doing anything relevant or took him in any way seriously. I'm pretty sure I was convinced the Black sisters faked concern to Snape at the start to trick him into a vow so that they could out him as a spy. Terrible theory looking back. Snape would not fall for that for a start.
I clocked RAB immediately and remember being kind of irked when it turned out I was right. Too simple.
I remember being fascinated at what Dumbles could possibly have experienced with the potions to end up in the state he did. I also remember thinking Harry was toast against Tom if he ended up in so much of a state himself trying to help.
Snape killing Dumbledore was not shocking to me. To me it fit his character arc and him being good or bad would still have fit? I very much finished HBP like '...ok....when is the next one cause? What'. It is not one I have often felt the need to re-read. Most of my re-reads these days are just sections to check details in fanfic writing or debating plot points.
I hated what they did to Tonks. I hated that she moped like that over Remus. It was like she was a totally different character. I'm still bitter.
Fleur's entire arc was a masterpiece. She is, to this day, one of my favourite characters because of it.
spoilers
I remember not being impressed at Ginny and Harry for the same reasons I am not impressed now. It is too simple. Too cliche and wrapped up nicely that they end up together. I know it is fantasy but it lacked realism. And while I know she was describing a teen romance her language was kind of cringe. There is that dragon again!
I found the horcrux stuff fascinating and loved that intro. I loved all the stuff we knew had been pushed back to book 6 or merely hinted at finally appearing but there was still a feeling that it lacked...something.
Slughorn irritated me from the start but in a good way. He was clearly meant to do that. It was interesting to see that through his club there had not always been SUCH a vitriol based house rivalry. Students had been able to co-exist outside of class.
I hated Dumbledore for making Harry get the memory and for not training him in combat. I'm 90% sure most of that was the long time I spent between the books reading epic fanfics where the trio plotted a war.
I was sure Draco was a death eater but at the time I was pretty convinced he wanted to be until the end of the book. I just felt it was unlikely Voldemort wanted him doing anything relevant or took him in any way seriously. I'm pretty sure I was convinced the Black sisters faked concern to Snape at the start to trick him into a vow so that they could out him as a spy. Terrible theory looking back. Snape would not fall for that for a start.
I clocked RAB immediately and remember being kind of irked when it turned out I was right. Too simple.
I remember being fascinated at what Dumbles could possibly have experienced with the potions to end up in the state he did. I also remember thinking Harry was toast against Tom if he ended up in so much of a state himself trying to help.
Snape killing Dumbledore was not shocking to me. To me it fit his character arc and him being good or bad would still have fit? I very much finished HBP like '...ok....when is the next one cause? What'. It is not one I have often felt the need to re-read. Most of my re-reads these days are just sections to check details in fanfic writing or debating plot points.
I hated what they did to Tonks. I hated that she moped like that over Remus. It was like she was a totally different character. I'm still bitter.
Fleur's entire arc was a masterpiece. She is, to this day, one of my favourite characters because of it.