Never Fear, No Spoilers Here (But don't read comments)

Don't read the comments (though this post reveals nothing of story value) if you haven't finished the book. You've been warned. I take no more responsibility.

I walked into Barnes and Noble Saturday morning around 9:30. I was handed a souvenir poster which said "3,440 pages read, only 784 more to go!"

I just finished those 784 pages not 20 minutes ago. It took me 2 days, only because "the guy" had this weekend off, and I wanted to see him too. Bad timing for a book release.


I wanted to get to the end, to see how it all turned out, but as I approached those final 100 pages, a bittersweet sense came over me. This was it. My last 100 Harry Potter pages. When it was over, it was over. There wasn't another year at Hogwarts to come.

I knew. I knew at that last 100 pages how the story would end. Not the details mind you, but the core issue. Though JK did try to throw me. Clever girl.

I cried, but laughed through my tears (Go Prof. Trelawny! And that's all I'll say about that). That's the mark of a good read. I cheered, I screamed, I had to go back and reread not only parts of this book that I didn't grasp at first, but to refer to OTHER books (is that what happened? I forgot, and I just reread the damn things.)

And now, I'll probably wait a few weeks and re-read the whole thing all over again, to make sure I understood the finer points and to take it all in again.

So have you finished? Tell me in comments - for this post only please. IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED, PLEASE DON'T READ THE COMMENTS. I don't want to be responsible for revealing anything, because I wouldn't want it to happen to me. I'll respond in the comments to anyone needing to connect, as I do, to someone that's finished the book and wants to discuss it at length. :)

The Final Countdown

It's a Harry Potter party! And it's happening here in comments!

First, help yourself at the end-of-year feast. Sit with your respective houses, people! I've waved the magic wand, and, after catching something on fire, I've managed to whip up the pudding and pastries. Help yourself as you mingle.

A little mingling conversation: The last book: Who's going to bite it? What are the other horcruxes? Any insight? I'll be responding in comments, and all of you respond to each other if you want. Let's see if we can't get a TON of comments before midnight Friday. It's like a HP marathon! Check back, see what your fellow bloggers have to say. Post more thoughts.

If you post after you get the book, please, I beg of you, don't post spoilers!

If you're behind on your book reading, I wouldn't read these comments if I were you. You've been warned!

Thursday 13 v. 63 - Random Harry Potter-ness

Thirteen Random Harry Potter Things
Tickets to opening night of the movie on July 11? Check. Book reserved and ready to pick up at 12:01 a.m. on July 21? Check.

1. Which Harry Potter personality are you?
   Find out your Harry Potter personality at LiquidGeneration!


2. Daniel Radcliff was interviewed on the Today show Wednesday, and also Regis and Kelly, He's a cute kid. He's turning 18 in July. Emma Watson will be on the shows on Thursday.
3. I'm going to write a strongly worded letter to the next newspaper with the headline "Will Harry Die in the Next Book?" That's why we read it, you morons. Geesh!
4. I've had tickets to opening day of the Order of the Pheonix for 3 weeks. I was a big nerd, and signed up to be notified THE MINUTE they went on sale.
5. "The guy" is reluctantly going with me to see the movie. He said he'll be ok as long as I don't dress like a character.
6. I won't be dressing like a character for the movie, but maybe for Halloween. ;)
7. I'm debating on going to the Harry Potter party at Barnes and Noble so I can get my book at midnight on the 21st. I don't think I'll convince "the guy" to do that with me.
8. Daniel Radcliff says he doesn't think Harry will die in the last book, but he'll have to pay a big price.
9. I've reread the last two books in preparation for the last book.
10. I've re-watched all the movies to prepare for this movie.
11. The Harry Potter theme song has been my ringtone for months. Maybe I'll have someone call me before the movie starts. :)
12. Despite this list, this quiz says I'm only 21% obsessed with Harry Potter.
13. Stay tuned for my reaction to the movie. I'll update in the a.m. UPDATE: Saw it. Loved it. But BOY did they leave a LOT of stuff out. I was suprised that the movie wasn't longer. However, it may be one of my favorites - a group of movies where the sequals aren't crap. I can't wait to see it again.

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Thursday 13 v. 45 - The Harry Potter One

*****Spoiler Warning if you haven't caught up on your Harry Potter reading

13 of My Theories for the Last Harry Potter Book

1. Dumbledore's not dead. When someone dies with the killing curse, they fall on the spot. Dumbledore spun around hung in the air a bit, then fell. The body could've been his brother.
2. Snape isn't the bad guy. You have to mean the killing curse, really mean it, to have it work. Snape hesitated (and Dumbledore begged him) and see number 1 above.
3. Harry is a direct descendant of Gryfindor. He's a Leo (which is the Gryfindor lion), and only a "true Gryffindor" could've called the sword to him when fighting in the Chamber of Secrets.
4. Ron & Hermoine will kiss. JKs been working up to this forever
5. Malfoy turns from the dark side. He had an attack of his conscience when he was assigned to kill Dumbledore.
6. Wormtail won't get his just due. Not everything works out in JKs world
7. There's something about the Dursleys. Harry's aunt has some kind of deal with Dumbledore. I can't wait to find out what it is.
8. Will Sirius be back? Will we find out what is behind the curtain? I don't think he'll be back in the true sense, but more along the lines of what happened in Star Wars when Obi Wan appeared through the "force"
9. Harry will teter on the edge of the dark side. His anger will be strong.
10. I think there might be a house elf force in the war against evil.
11. Harry is the last Horcrux. I don't thinkVoldemort meant to do it, but I think the last bit of his mortality was passed to Harry when he gave him the scar.
12. I think she's going to kill off Ron. JK has said she's killing off 2 main characters in this book. Ron's one of my favorites, so I think it's him.
13. I think JK is going to kill Harry. There's the prophecy, there's my theory in number 11, and she's talked about not wanting other people to continue her series after she's gone. I'm going to forever hate her if she does that.
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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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Pimp My Potty

I came across this contest in my Web surfing yesterday. I'm thinking of entering, but it's probably more of a guy thing. You'd never have to leave the john.

Speaking of potty, have you guys seen the shirtless Harry Potter pics? A) Somebody needs to tan badly B) My friend says he has a good body for a 17 year old, then wanted to scratch her eyes out for wanting to look at it again. :)

And Virginia politics is in the toilet (front page news, I know). If you live in Virginia, please please please email your state representatives and tell them they are on crack if they pass new legislation that would up the gas tax to pay for transportation. It seems that they do not buy gas, as they clearly don't understand that the price is too high already. Plus, the entire state would have to pay extra to fund roads in only one section of the state. (Northern Virginia clearly has more issues than, say, Podunk, where I was raised.)

Note how I tied three totally unrelated posts together? I'm so good.