Summer holidays

I've been to see Potter at the cinema again but I've not really done a lot else. The last decorating touches have been done to my room although I'm sure I'll still add bits here and there for a while. I'm planning a trip of Potter filming sites somewhen in the hols and I have my Driving theory test - eeek - but apart from that not much else planned. Except that is, from my mini holiday to Cornwall which I am rather looking forward to. Not only does it mean a break from my house, the boredom, my parents and all the regular stuff it also means visiting places I haven't before, nicer surroundings and well I don't get to go on holiday with my 'rents so I'm rather glad of the chance to go away somehow. Now when I get asked 'so where are you going on your holidays this year' I have an answer and don't have to pretend I'm o.k with not going anywhere.

My Deathly Hallows thoughts - warning contains huge spoilers

Well I have read the book, and had time to think over what I read, and re-read certain sections but do plan a total re-read soon as I am for one confused about certain things, and for two at a loss of what to do without having some HP to read. I finished the book with many confused feelings, I expected so much and was disappointed at how little we found out really, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book or think it was good because it was brilliant, and oh how I cried. I still can't believe really that I have read the last ever Potter book so that isn't really why I cried (that will hit me later on I'm sure lol) but oh gosh Harry's 'death' was sooooooo emotional and sad but wonderfully written. Something in me thought no he can't really be about to die but I'd been starting to think he would have to sacrifice himself and I could see no way out once we were told he was a horcrux. I cried so much, not just few tears at the corner of my eyes proper full blown crying. The way J K included the information about his trips to Hagrid's hut just made me think about how final this book was, a sum up of all the amazing times I've had reading about the things Harry's done and now it would be over which as well as the fact Harry the character was about to face his death, so was the book which meant double the sadness. When Harry talked to Neville and didn't want to speak to Ginny was just so, awww and :( but really showed the love Harry felt for these people and what he was willing to do to ensure all of their safety. As to the other deaths, Hedwig got me, and Dobby but the end deaths in the battle didn't, partly because how quickly it was dealt with and because at that point I was expecting deaths, and bigger characters to what we did see so it was almost, an I do feel bad for saying this, but it was almost a relief that only those characters that died did. However when Lupin talked about not seeing his son that did get me lol. This book had so much action and the fact we saw Voldermort kill in the very first chapter and then more deaths straight away, then they were safe and then they weren't, all the time there was that fear of LV turning up or catching them which meant I couldn't put the book down I was so involved and wanted to know what would happen next.
There were some very funny moments though, even in the middle of so much grief and danger. Loved the Harry/Ginny stuff at The Burrow and the Hermione/Ron stuff, shame we didn't really get to see Tonks and Lupin together although we knew they were. Aside from deaths, other things that made me cry were - Hermione and her parents, that was so moving and showed just how talented a witch she is. The epilogue was also moving, but in a happy, wonderful way. I was just so pleased to see them all happy like that after everything that has happened to them all.

Some 'negative' things - a few things didn't seem to add up but that might be because I need to read it more carefully again or something. Also there was a lot of Dumbledore in this book, too much perhaps, though it was necessary and it was done well but I'd just have personally liked to have seen more of some other characters instead.

Last thing (for know anyhow) which well I feel it was probably necessary to show us Harry's feelings towards Snape but I'm a bit 'confused' about the Albus Severus thing because o.k he was very brave and he loved Lily but he wasn't a good person. He wouldn't have done any of those brave things if it hadn't been for Lily, and they say you can't help who you fall in love with but you can help what you do in your life and Snape CHOSE to become a death eater, wasn't it his own fault that Lily did get killed because he told LV about the prophecy. Forgive me if I've missed something or misunderstood but some people seem to think Snape redeemed himself and is good because he was on Dumbledore's side. But really he wasn't he was on his own side, just doing what Dumbledore wanted because he loved Lily. Having said that, his cruelness to Harry could have been seen as him just 'acting' so that LV wouldn't be able to realise Snape was a spy but, there is another but too many infact which makes me very confused lol, that Snape could stop LV reading his mind, why the need to act horrible because surely if LV could read his mind then he'd be able to see he was a spy anyway. O.k so perhaps the fact he had Lily's eyes made Snape angry or upset or guilty when looking into them but surely for Lily's sake he should have been kind or at least not so cruel. And why be cruel to Neville and Hermione? The only thing I can conclude from that is that he is not a nice man, he is bitter perhaps from his childhood but I think even then (he spent time with future Death Eaters) he wasn't nice and was very interested in the Dark Arts. His want to help Harry get rid of LV was really only because he killed Lily not because Snape disagreed with LV's beliefs or actions.

Anyone with any thoughts/opinions feel free to leave a comment. :)

My Deathly Hallows experience (no spoilers but will be in next blog, above)

So, the 20th came, whether I was ready for it to or not. I awoke still unsure where to go to get my book from that night but eventually decided about lunchtime that a local store would be more convenient and probably just as good. As it happens I don't know, not having been to any others, the London ones would I'm sure have provided me with much more theorising opportunities before the book was released and the overall experience and build up to the book may have been better but I'm sure I would have been waiting around, and to get the book much longer and it wasn't possible to get there early enough. In terms of decoration and the quiz that happened the event I went to itself was good, I'd have liked to have been picked for the quiz though, as I knew a lot of the answers and I felt it could have been better organised. It also annoyed me that some, perhaps most seemed not to take the Potter world as seriously, I'd have liked to have had company of the sort of people who visit the forums and have been discussing what will happen furiously but oh well. I did wear my Luna Lovegood costume although not it fully for all of the time as when I arrived in the evening, there were only 5 or 6 girls in front of me, none in proper costumes, and although several more costumers turned up later on, as well as many many more people there were no really good complete canon costumes which was a little disappointing. When I got my book, about 15 minutes after midnight I quickly made my way across the busy town I was in, in my robes, holding a wand and the book which I'm sure provided amusement for the drunk passers by. I avoided most spoilers by avoiding both the Internet and T.v/radio mostly as well as all newspapers and magazines I also took my mp3 player to the queue party which I turned up loud when people who I thought may shout things walked by and once it was midnight. I did still see and hear some though, some I now know to be false, others true partly and completely however whether the people who said them were aware what they were saying would turn out to be true I don't know, but for the most part I doubt it.

Once home, I began to read straight away. I read only 2 chapters however before stopping and instead writing my thoughts on what I had just read, trying to guess what it meant and what may happen, intending to do this often, and take my time to read the book. Saturday came, I read some more and then visited my family, some of which already knew the answers from the T.V. I soon realised I would have to finish the book quickly if I was to avoid being spoilt before I reached the end if I wanted to be able to leave the house or watch T.V and so Sunday came and I read almost continuously until I was almost at the end of the main part of the book. Now, with just a page left, which I am trying to delay reading but the temptation to find out what she changed the last word to threatening to cause me to finish the book completely so soon. I think I rushed the reading rather quickly, almost skim reading at parts near the end in my desperation to discover the answers. I regret this to a point but it means I am able to re-read it without the feeling of having already read it as there is much I missed and so much to get my head around. I still don't want to finish the book however, even if there is still much to be discussed on forums and the fandom will continue it is an end of something. To have the possibility of not having any more Potter to read... ever. I know she may write more in the distant future or perhaps just an encyclopedia but that is so unsure at the moment. The world I have come to love; to live, will be over. No more adventures will they participate in, no more fun shall they have. But I know it must end, all good things must come to an end so they say but still I do not read that... last page.

6 days... my Deathly Hallows theories (contains HP spoilers)

So the last Harry Potter book comes out in 6 days and many answers will be revealed, and not surprisingly there is much speculation about what will happen. I have become increasingly concerned that everything seems to point to Harry sacrificing himself in some heroic way for the cause but I'm not sure I want that to happen, unless it means he goes beyond the veil and gets to be reunited with his parents (which would be interesting, as in the first book there is the Mirror of Erised which shows his hearts desire of being with his parents, meaning it would be a nice ending, and a good reference back to the first book and the last challenge in the 'obstacle' course to get the Philosopher's Stone). If that was to happen, however it might also be nice for Ginny to jump in after him so they can still be together, unless she will wait to be reunited when she's older, although then wouldn't Harry have stayed the same age as when he died, I'm not sure how that would work.
Thinking to Voldermort's demise, well everyone think he's a baddy he'll die but I thought perhaps he might just lose his powers to become muggle Tom Riddle (the prophecy only refers to the Dark Lord when saying only one can survive) again which he despised. This would make sense with what Dumbledore always said that there are fates worse that death, and this was one of Voldermort's greatest flaws however this line having not been included in the film makes me wonder if that means it isn't important enough. I'm also not sure how that would come about as J K has used backfiring curses and things before, so would she echo the start again or think of something original, I'm not sure. I don't really like to think he'd use the Gryffindor sword or the killing curse as it would make Harry a direct/brutal killer which he stops Lupin and Sirius becoming in book 3 (or perhaps just int he film I'm not sure) saying he didn't think his father would want his two best friends becoming killers and it would be dropping to the Death Eater's and Voldermort's level however I'm not sure Harry would be happy to let someone else do it so perhaps as is said all along 'love' will kill him in an indirect way because of Harry but I'm unsure how that would work either.
In terms of ships (who gets with who) got to be Hermione and Ron, Harry back with Ginny, Remus and Tonks, Bill and Fleur. I would have liked Neville with someone but J K's dismissed Luna, and also I'd like to see him get revenge in some way over Bellatrix and see his parents make some degree of recovery which would probably make him happier than gaining a girlfriend. I did wonder if there had been something between Remus and Lily though, after re-watching film 3. There are some interesting lines said by him to Harry on the bridge and J K has said that something in that film that was included gave her goosebumps or something because it gave clues for future books or something like that though what that would mean to the story I don't know but that would probably be something he discovers when he visits Godric's Hollow or talks to Aunt Petunia, perhaps that's the thing that means there's more to Petunia than meets the eye, that she liked him or knew him or something, I don't know perhaps not, but I think she knows something more than Harry knows or something.
As to other characters dying, I'm really not sure who it will be, at least 2 major characters that she didn't intend to die suggest at least one of the trio because she had previously said in an early interview that the trio would survive, most likely Harry. Or if it is one of the other two, it could be because the other is in danger and they are sacrificing themselves but to get them together eventually and then to kill one of them would be cruel as they would have such a short time 'together'. I really would like to see Neville and Luna survive lol but I just don't know if they will. I think Hagrid's life is very much in danger too but to kill yet another of Harry's 'family' figures would be so cruel and no longer necessary as Harry has already realised he can't keep letting people get killed stopping him from being hurt which is really why the other deaths of significant characters have needed to happen as well as to keep it 'real' as J K as said I think.
Lastly, for now, to Snape - after watching the new film, I'm tempted to believe he is on the Order's side although that does not mean he is a good person (as Sirius said, which interestingly was included in the film, the world is not split into good people and death eaters) although I did keep changing my mind a lot when reading different theories and thoughts and re-reading and watching the books and films. When I read the last chapters of Half Blood Prince I do think Dumbledore knew what Snape was going to do, and I don't know but perhaps, I think that he was pleading for him to do it, rather than to not, and the look of repulsion is at what he's doing as opposed to at Dumbledore, because otherwise we would hve seen him look at him like that before even if it was when Dumbledore was not looking his way. Although perhaps not, oh I don't know lol, that is what makes these books so good, these things can't be worked out for definite yet clues are there to be discussed, but we will know soon, though whether we'll get all the answers we want is debatable. If J K's said 'never say never' to more books, some things may not be answered (perhaps to be in an encyclopedia type thing) and that also suggests perhaps Harry survives but then again she said something along of the lines of there being a clear ending which could suggest otherwise. I don't really know if another book could work, an encyclopedia would make more sense I think, but part of me wants to think another full story, awhile into the future could still be a possibility.

Post any comments if you have any thoughts on what I've said or your own theories, if your a big HP fan with no friends who are really interested and want to chat about HP theories this week before it's too late and the last book comes out that would be cool too, so just give me your email or myspace address and I'll add you or just say and I'll give you mine if you'd rather. :-)

My Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix film review (film and book 5 spoilers)

So I'd heard quite a bit about the film beforehand and also expected a lot to not be included from the books and things to not be as I imagined them as I have always preferred the books and disliked some of the aspects of the films. The opening of this film made me think this was going to be the same, the park was weird, the dementors seemed to have a huge effect, the other kids were there to start with and the actual dementors have been changed for the worse, since when have dementors grabbed at people and been skeletal? BUT I liked the dialogue between Harry and Dudley in the park and the way the others just laughed at Harry's wand, I also thought the way they filmed the dementors with Dudley was interesting, as you can't really tell if Dudley can see them or anything that may help guess what will be revealed in Deathly Hallows.
The scene in Privet Drive with Uncle Dursley and Aunt Petunia was just a bit weird and didn't feel right but I'm not really sure why. Tonks didn't look as I imagined but her personality was good, not that she had a lot to say. Moody and his stick rather than a wand and no explanation of the protections over Grimauld Place was a bit disappointing however, quite liked Grimmauld Place otherwise though as well as Kreacher.
Such a shame about Sirius as he is a great character, loved the stuff between him and Harry and really felt Harry was sad during those scenes, yet it moved on so quickly and in the scenes with Dumbledore at the end there was no real mention of it, no desperate search to try and find a way to contact him again (like asking Nearly Headless Nick). I did like the Voldermort vs Dumbledore battle though, good effects and loved the possession of Harry stuff, some good lines and acting. On an acting front, Bellatrix was awesome, as was Luna (loved all her lines, she so stole all the scenes she was in lol) but Hermione just seemed a bit too over the top in the delivery of the lines a lot of the time although Emma does a good job at other points. Back to Luna, even though I know J K Rowling has dismissed the suggestion of Luna and Neville getting together there were some interesting moments in this film to suggest otherwise. One time Luna, as calm as anything in the middle of the battles, said to Neville 'that was really good' or something along those lines and also Neville grabs Luna to pull her out of the way at some point and I;m sure they even hold hands which is so adorable. Both characters are, so put together it equals mega adorableness lol. I also liked the bit with Neville talking about his parents to Harry, I may have cried a bit (only just had tears in my eyes for the death later on however, partly because it moved on so quick).
The Occlumency was good but quick, as was a lot of the stuff, didn't see Lily in Snape's memory though, don't know if I missed her or if she wasn't included in the end, I know she was cast.
There were quite a few things, like the Ministry set (especially the veil) and Mrs Figg, that I thought looked wrong in a way but still worked for the film. The veil stuff was interesting, I need to watch it again really to be sure so this could be incorrect but I think Bellatrix says Avada Kedavra but then Sirius sort of stumbles (it's not really made clear) and then goes into the veil, rather than falling straight down dead like we've seen in the past with the killing curse but then again it may just have been the way it was done or I could be remembering wrong so I'm still unsure whether that means all people who die go behind the veil or if it's just because Sirius fell through it that he will. I'm leaning, however, more to the thought that everyone does, but I also think you can't just walk in and back out even if your not dead, so if Sirius did just fall in, he'd still be dead if that makes any sense.
I'm sure there was more I wanted to say on the film but I can't really remember now (oh yeah I did like the look Ginny gave when Harry was staying behind with Cho after one of the DA meetings, and I thought the film had a lot of funny moments, liked the goat walking by Aberforth in the Hog's Head, nice touch for book fans) but I may come back and add things later on lol.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix London Premiere and LeakyMug

I arrived at about 12pm, grabbed some lunch and took what I thought would be my place for the stars to arrive at 5pm. Some minutes later however, I discover an extra section, already closed off where the really early risers are waiting patiently and see the arch ways where the guests will walk through, therefore I move. A little later still police turn up and decide to tell us where we are standing is the drop off point and so we move again, this time, to the place we shall remain, give or take some pushing and shoving, and moving temporarily to allow a van to get through.
Time seemed to pass slowly but eventually the guests began to arrive, and so did the rain, and thunder, and more rain. I missed the main trio but saw most of the other guests arrive however many went straight through the arch into the main area, some did walk along where we were but I only managed to get Evanna Lynch's (Luna Lovegood) autograph which I thought was cool, she is pretty awesome, brilliant Luna looks wise, looking forward to seeing her in the actual film - love the fact she was/is a huge fan too and was chosen from the open casting last year.

I have some photos and some my dad took, though with many umbrellas about it wasn't very easy to get any at all let alone half decent ones, but I might post them if I get around to it lol.

After the premiere, I went along to Piccadilly Theatre to watch a live LeakyMug (www.leakymug.com ) which turned out mainly to be about the film which although quite interesting I was a little disappointed as would have liked to have listened to more Deathly Hallows theorising.

The actual film comes out next week so hopefully I will go and see it, should be good, especially looking for clues for Deathly Hallows, with regards to what is left out or how certain things are done. :)

O.k so why did I say that?

Today, I spent 7 hours (an hour or so more that for the Luna casting last year, despite arriving for this an hour and a half earlier than that time) queuing at Earls Court to have my photo taken and then go into a room with the casting directors who were looking for someone to play Lavender Brown in the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. When we were all in there they told us to say our name and age, this bit I managed fine, wasn't shy or too quiet but then had to say something about myself. Now I wasn't the only one to go for the funny option with random facts but looking back I really shouldn't have said 'I really like queuing' and probably should have said 'My dream job would either be an actress or a director' but no,I went for the funny option and couldn't think of anything distinctive to say about myself. They were like 'awww good' when I said it and really I doubt they would not ask me back on the grounds of saying something silly an irrelvant if they'd thought I had the look for the part but still, looking back it's bugging me a little. I did have a laugh waiting to go in, chatting to the other girls around me and I have to say if the oppertunity arose I'd do it all again, though I may well go a little earlier.
I haven't definately not got the chance to go back for a screen test yet, as they were ringing some people supposedly tonight and tomorrow but I'm not overly hopefull.
Now I be rather tired, got up at about 7 this morning, and had been to a family wedding party in the evening yesterday, not getting home until about half 12.