Let's discuss the painful shit JK Rowling put her readers through:
Hedwig's death in the Deathly Hallows
Pain level: 3.5/5
I've always liked Hedwig, but more of the she's-always-been-around kind of feeling - it's true that it was deeply saddening when she died in the Battle of the Seven Potters - I had a bit of a nasty shock despite knowing about her death- but when I'd read the symbolism I could sort of understand why.
"The loss of Hedwig represented a loss of innocence and security. She has been almost like a cuddly toy to Harry at times. Voldemort killing her marked the end of childhood. I'm sorry... I know that death upset a LOT of people!" - JK Rowling
I understand and accept Rowling's explanation, but I don't like it. In fact, Hedwig is so sweet and innocent and has been with Harry for the longest time, so I don't think anyone likes it.
Screams, a blaze of green light on every side: Hagrid gave a yell and the motorbike rolled over. Harry lost any sense of where they were: street lights above him, yells around him, he was clinging to the sidecar for dear life. Hedwig's cage, the Firebolt, and his rucksack slipped from beneath his knees - 'No - HEDWIG!" The broomstick spun to earth, but he just managed to seize the strap of his rucksack and the top of the cage as the motorbike swung the right way up again. A second's relief, and then another burst of green light. The owl screeched and fell to the floor of the cage.
Dobby's death in the Deathly Hallows
Pain level: 3.5/5
Dobby is quite endearing and loyal to Harry, so his death was a bit of a blow... I was upset that he'd died trying to protect Harry from Bellatrix but it was even more depressing to see him die slowly (knife to the chest) instead of quickly like those hit by the Killing Curse.
“He did not know or care whether they were wizards or Muggles, friends or foes; all he cared about was that a dark stain was spreading across Dobby's front, and that he had stretched out his thin arms to Harry with a look of supplication. Harry caught him and laid him sideways on the cool grass.
"Dobby, no, don't die, don't die -"
The elf's eyes found him, and his lips trembled with the effort to form words.
"Harry...Potter..."
And then with a little shudder the elf became quite still, and his eyes were nothing more than great glassy orbs, sprinkled with light from the stars they could not see.”
Fred's death in the Deathly Hallows
Pain level: 4/5
I was really agitated reading about Fred's abrupt death - I'd sooner have that ingrate Percy die in his place. Percy was such an asshole.
“And Hermione was struggling to her feet in the wreckage, and three red-headed men were grouped on the ground where the wall had blasted apart. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand as they staggered and stumbled over stone and wood.'No - no - no!' someone was shouting. 'No! Fred! No!'And Percy was shaking his brother, and Ron was kneeling beside them, and Fred's eyes stared without seeing, the ghost of his last laugh still etched upon his face.”
Reading about how Mrs Weasley crying over Fred's body, George being unable to produce a Patronus after his twin's death was even more devastating.
Sirius's death in the Order of the Phoenix
Pain level: 5/5
Also the main reason why I dropped Harry Potter after the Half Blood Prince. It was considered a really big deal- I was a huge Potterhead in my primary school days; I could recite nearly any spell and tell you the backstory of each character and what happens after each scene in the books. The people close to me couldn't understand why I'd stopped reading Harry Potter completely.
Of course that affects you. I can remember just before-- just before Phoenix came out-- no, yes. Phoenix of course. Meeting a boy who said to me, "Please, never ever, ever, ever, ever kill Hagrid, Dumbledore, or Sirius." Oh, my god. And he was a really nice boy. And he-- who had some problems in his own past. And he was out-- he was definitely saying, "Don't kill any of these people who have been fathers to Harry." And I knew I'd already done it. I'd already killed Sirius and I can't pretend that looking at him I didn't feel quite awful.
Dumbledore's death in the Half Blood Prince
Pain level: 5/5
I grudgingly read this after the Order of the Phoenix simply because I felt obliged to. I remember telling my friends, "What's the point of it all when one of my favorite characters is dead?" and then JK Rowling kills off Dumbledore, another of my favorites. Thanks Rowling.
I finished the Half Blood Prince, but only read it once. A far cry from the 50-plus times for books one through four. 50-plus times each, FYI. I was getting more and more annoyed by all the good, dead characters.
But somebody else had spoken Snape's name, quite softly.
"Severus ..."
The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading.
Snape said nothing, but walked forwards and pushed Malfoy roughly out of the way. The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed.
Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face.
"Severus ... please ..."
Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. "Avada Kedavra!”
A jet of green light shot from the end of Snape’s wand and hit Dumbledore squarely in the chest. Harry’s scream of horror never left him; silent and unmoving, he was forced to watch as Dumbledore was blasted into the air. For a split second, he seemed to hang suspended beneath the shining skull, and then he fell slowly backward, like a great rag doll, over the battlements and out of sight.”
I was a little less devastated when I read about the reasons why Snape had to kill Dumbledore - Snape needed to prove to Voldemort that he was really on his side, and Dumbledore was already greatly weakened when he destroyed the Gaunt ring. Snape's fast Killing Curse was probably a more merciful death compared to slowly dying.
Remus and Tonks die in Deathly Hallows shortly after Teddy Lupin
Pain level: 5/5
Apparently JK Rowling said that she wanted to kill off Ron and Mr Weasley, but instead she killed Lupin and Tonks:
I wanted there to be an echo of what happened to Harry just to show the absolute evil of what Voldemort's doing. The fact that you leave orphans and you leave children who then have to make their way in the world uncared for and unprotected. And-- so that's why I killed the two that, you know, you know about in this book. Which I hated, hated doing because I love them both as characters.What really made me sad was that there wasn't enough of Lupin and Tonks. I really like Lupin - he's one of my favorites - a sad, lonely werewolf who couldn't love anyone before, until Tonks came along. They had a short bout of happiness, got married and had Teddy Lupin and then died. (Curls up under desk and weeps)
Snape's death in the Deathly Hallows
Pain level: 6/5 do not recommend to relive
“But this is touching, Severus,” said Dumbledore seriously. “Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?”
“For him?” shouted Snape. “Expecto Patronum!”From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe. She landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.“After all this time?”“Always,” said Snape.”
"Snape's patronus was a doe, the same as my mother's because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from the time when they were children."
Snape is really the ultimate hero of the entire series and it was so painful to relive his old memories of him and Lily Evans' unrequited love. This last part was the mother of the mother of all plot twists and I don't think I could've handled it if I'd read it at age 12. I can barely even contain myself at age 22.
----
I'm rewatching the movies and I'm anticipating Half Blood Prince and the Deathly Hallows... Viewing the first movie was magical and nostalgic. Now after getting spoiled rotten by awesome special effects from the likes of the Marvel universe, the special effects in 2001's Sorcerer's Stone seem abysmal. The movies change a lot in tone and quality from the Prisoner of Azkaban onwards, though.
10 more minutes and I can get off work! I'm so sleepy. I kept dozing and waking at the Embassy just now.
Less than a month to NY!
