Harry Potter Read-Along Update
February Fortescue
June 2021
Welcome to June, the end of the Spring Term, as well as the conclusion of the HOL school year! Unfortunately, we've also reached the finish line of our Harry Potter Read-Along. It's been an amazing journey! We would like to thank each and every one of you who have participated and revisited the book series with us.
Harry Potter Read Along was originally the idea of B.J. Johnson, and began in September with Maxwell Shadow and February Fortescue writing the tasks and trivia. During its six year run, Professor Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, Professor Amy Lupin, and Arianna Stonewater have added their amazing talents to this venture.
Welcome to June, the end of the Spring Term, as well as the conclusion of the HOL school year! Unfortunately, we've also reached the finish line of our Harry Potter Read-Along. It's been an amazing journey! We would like to thank each and every one of you who have participated and revisited the book series with us.
Harry Potter Read Along was originally the idea of B.J. Johnson, and began in September with Maxwell Shadow and February Fortescue writing the tasks and trivia. During its six year run, Professor Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, Professor Amy Lupin, and Arianna Stonewater have added their amazing talents to this venture.
Now, on to our final summary...
Early March began with us reading Chapter Twenty-Eight, The Missing Mirror, and asking what your initial opinion of Aberforth Dumbledore was. Everyone who responded seemed to really like Albus' brother. Next, we were wondering if Aberforth Dumbledore's version about his family was accurate. Most of us seem to believe that it was.
The middle week of March began with us reading Chapter Twenty-Nine, the Lost Diadem. First, we asked if anyone was surprised at the change in Neville Longbottom, noting how he went from a shy guy to a leader. I think most people agreed with Professor Tarma Amelia Black, who offered that once Neville left his family and was around Harry and Dumbledore's Army, he "came into his own" and his true personality came shining through. Our next question pondered why there were no Slytherins in the Room of Requirement. Several of the answers mentioned prejudice between the Slytherins and Dumbledore's Army, as well as the Slytherins being in self-preservation mode.
Towards the end of March we focused on Chapter Thirty, The Sacking of Severus Snape, and noted how Percy Weasley seems to have changed. He had re-joined the Weasleys and was even making jokes. Most mentioned that he probably missed his family, realized he'd made a serious judgment error, and was waiting until it was the right time to return home. Our next question had us discussing whether or not it was fair to keep Ginny Weasley from fighting during the Battle of Hogwarts because of her age. I think many of us agree with Professor Sky Alton, who said as a parent she wouldn't want her daughter or anyone underage she has responsibility for fighting, but it's also selfish, because, in Ginny's case, she's fought before and should have the right to make that choice.
The final week of March found us reading Chapter Thirty-One, The Battle of Hogwarts. What did you think about the manner of death of Crabbe, who died from casting a curse he could not control, and Fred, who died while laughing at a joke? Personally, while I loved Fred, I think it showed a sort of karmic balance, because they both died as they lived. Next, we asked if people were surprised that few people seemed to know about how the Grey Lady stole her mother's diadem, and how she died at the hands of the Bloody Baron. Most people weren't surprised at all, but there were a couple of exceptions, including myself and Harry Walles. It just wasn't the sort of story Rowena Ravenclaw would want out there.
April's first full week brought us to Chapter Thirty-Two, The Elder Wand, and wondering if Lavender Brown survived the attack by Fenrir Greyback. The general consensus seems to be that she did survive, because in the book he was not fully turned into his werewolf form, and Bill Weasley survived his attack because Greyback was not fully turned. Next, we discussed why Voldemort used Nagini to kill Snape, and why Snape didn't have an antidote. My own theory is that Voldemort thought Snape was the master of his wand, and that wand would not kill him, and others mentioned he perhaps thought death by snake might be more honorable. As for antidote, they simply may not have been one.
The second week of April found us reading Chapter Thirty-Three, The Prince's Tale. First up, we wondered if the story would have changed if Snape had been sorted into Gryffindor. I think Aurelia West said it best in that, if he had been sorted into Gryffindor, he would have been more of an outsider than in Slytherin and had even more fights with James and Sirius. Next, we asked about learning about Dumbledore's true plans, and why we thought Snape continued working for Dumbledore, rather than ending the relationship and giving Harry over to Voldemort? In general, the opinion was that he really had nowhere to go, and he had made a promise to Dumbledore, who trusted him.
For the third week of April, we discussed Chapter Thirty-Four, The Forest Again. First, we asked for opinions on how Harry viewed the situation with Dumbledore, after viewing Snape's memories in the Pensieve. I think most of us could empathize with Harry, and also wondered if Harry could hunt Horcurxes if he knew he himself was a Horcrux. Next, we wondered why Rowling had Voldemort chose Aragog's former home to wait for Harry in the forest. In general, people stated it was simply for convenience and expediency, while Aurelia contrasted how Harry felt fear the first time he was there, facing Aragog and his offspring and how he could never imagine driving the spiders away, with the current situation, where Voldemort and the Death Eaters had no problem driving Aragog's descendants away.
The last week in April we explored Chapter Thirty-Five, King's Cross, and wondered if devoting your life to the quest for the Deathly Hallows was as bad as creating Horcruxes? I think the most common answer was that creating Horcruxes is the worst, although looking for Hallows has the potentially to be equally as bad. Finally, we asked ourselves why Harry's "limbo" manifested as King's Cross, and what would our own possibly be? Most seemed to agree that King's Cross was where Harry began his wizarding journey, hence why it became his crossroads. Our own places varied, from hallways to hospitals.
For the first week of May, we read Chapter Thirty-Six, The Flaw in the Plan, and asked if we agreed with Harry's plan for the Elder Wand, or if we would have chosen something different? Most people seemed to agree with Hannah Lovegood, who thought it was a good plan. Next up, we analyzed the meaning behind Harry's last statement: "I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime." I believe most agreed with Professor Sky Alton, who said Harry knew deep down there would always be trouble and he would always be driven to help, but at the present moment he really needs a nice, long break.
And now we come to the Epilogue, Nineteen Years Later. The first task asked why we thought there's so much dislike over the names Harry and Ginny gave their children. One take on it was by Professor Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, who believed people were hoping to see some new names, rather than those mentioned in the series. Our final question: do you like how the author concluded the series? Some of us did, while others such Professor Will Lestrange weren't as satisfied because there's a huge gap between "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime" and two of his three kids reaching Hogwarts age. Many wish it had ended with a quiet moment between Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Harry Potter lives on, but sadly this brings us to the conclusion of our Read-Along.
Early March began with us reading Chapter Twenty-Eight, The Missing Mirror, and asking what your initial opinion of Aberforth Dumbledore was. Everyone who responded seemed to really like Albus' brother. Next, we were wondering if Aberforth Dumbledore's version about his family was accurate. Most of us seem to believe that it was.
The middle week of March began with us reading Chapter Twenty-Nine, the Lost Diadem. First, we asked if anyone was surprised at the change in Neville Longbottom, noting how he went from a shy guy to a leader. I think most people agreed with Professor Tarma Amelia Black, who offered that once Neville left his family and was around Harry and Dumbledore's Army, he "came into his own" and his true personality came shining through. Our next question pondered why there were no Slytherins in the Room of Requirement. Several of the answers mentioned prejudice between the Slytherins and Dumbledore's Army, as well as the Slytherins being in self-preservation mode.
Towards the end of March we focused on Chapter Thirty, The Sacking of Severus Snape, and noted how Percy Weasley seems to have changed. He had re-joined the Weasleys and was even making jokes. Most mentioned that he probably missed his family, realized he'd made a serious judgment error, and was waiting until it was the right time to return home. Our next question had us discussing whether or not it was fair to keep Ginny Weasley from fighting during the Battle of Hogwarts because of her age. I think many of us agree with Professor Sky Alton, who said as a parent she wouldn't want her daughter or anyone underage she has responsibility for fighting, but it's also selfish, because, in Ginny's case, she's fought before and should have the right to make that choice.
The final week of March found us reading Chapter Thirty-One, The Battle of Hogwarts. What did you think about the manner of death of Crabbe, who died from casting a curse he could not control, and Fred, who died while laughing at a joke? Personally, while I loved Fred, I think it showed a sort of karmic balance, because they both died as they lived. Next, we asked if people were surprised that few people seemed to know about how the Grey Lady stole her mother's diadem, and how she died at the hands of the Bloody Baron. Most people weren't surprised at all, but there were a couple of exceptions, including myself and Harry Walles. It just wasn't the sort of story Rowena Ravenclaw would want out there.
April's first full week brought us to Chapter Thirty-Two, The Elder Wand, and wondering if Lavender Brown survived the attack by Fenrir Greyback. The general consensus seems to be that she did survive, because in the book he was not fully turned into his werewolf form, and Bill Weasley survived his attack because Greyback was not fully turned. Next, we discussed why Voldemort used Nagini to kill Snape, and why Snape didn't have an antidote. My own theory is that Voldemort thought Snape was the master of his wand, and that wand would not kill him, and others mentioned he perhaps thought death by snake might be more honorable. As for antidote, they simply may not have been one.
The second week of April found us reading Chapter Thirty-Three, The Prince's Tale. First up, we wondered if the story would have changed if Snape had been sorted into Gryffindor. I think Aurelia West said it best in that, if he had been sorted into Gryffindor, he would have been more of an outsider than in Slytherin and had even more fights with James and Sirius. Next, we asked about learning about Dumbledore's true plans, and why we thought Snape continued working for Dumbledore, rather than ending the relationship and giving Harry over to Voldemort? In general, the opinion was that he really had nowhere to go, and he had made a promise to Dumbledore, who trusted him.
For the third week of April, we discussed Chapter Thirty-Four, The Forest Again. First, we asked for opinions on how Harry viewed the situation with Dumbledore, after viewing Snape's memories in the Pensieve. I think most of us could empathize with Harry, and also wondered if Harry could hunt Horcurxes if he knew he himself was a Horcrux. Next, we wondered why Rowling had Voldemort chose Aragog's former home to wait for Harry in the forest. In general, people stated it was simply for convenience and expediency, while Aurelia contrasted how Harry felt fear the first time he was there, facing Aragog and his offspring and how he could never imagine driving the spiders away, with the current situation, where Voldemort and the Death Eaters had no problem driving Aragog's descendants away.
The last week in April we explored Chapter Thirty-Five, King's Cross, and wondered if devoting your life to the quest for the Deathly Hallows was as bad as creating Horcruxes? I think the most common answer was that creating Horcruxes is the worst, although looking for Hallows has the potentially to be equally as bad. Finally, we asked ourselves why Harry's "limbo" manifested as King's Cross, and what would our own possibly be? Most seemed to agree that King's Cross was where Harry began his wizarding journey, hence why it became his crossroads. Our own places varied, from hallways to hospitals.
For the first week of May, we read Chapter Thirty-Six, The Flaw in the Plan, and asked if we agreed with Harry's plan for the Elder Wand, or if we would have chosen something different? Most people seemed to agree with Hannah Lovegood, who thought it was a good plan. Next up, we analyzed the meaning behind Harry's last statement: "I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime." I believe most agreed with Professor Sky Alton, who said Harry knew deep down there would always be trouble and he would always be driven to help, but at the present moment he really needs a nice, long break.
And now we come to the Epilogue, Nineteen Years Later. The first task asked why we thought there's so much dislike over the names Harry and Ginny gave their children. One take on it was by Professor Scarlet Leslie-Lewis, who believed people were hoping to see some new names, rather than those mentioned in the series. Our final question: do you like how the author concluded the series? Some of us did, while others such Professor Will Lestrange weren't as satisfied because there's a huge gap between "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime" and two of his three kids reaching Hogwarts age. Many wish it had ended with a quiet moment between Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Harry Potter lives on, but sadly this brings us to the conclusion of our Read-Along.