Deconstructing Harry Part 3: A Review in Seven Parts

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Author's note: The "thoughts-per-page" posted are the exact thoughts I had while reading that very page. They have not nor will not be edited in retrospect or changed in hindsight. I will hold off on giving my opinion of the book until I've finished reading it. Here are my thoughts on pages 201-300 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

Page 202 - Ron playing with his Deluminator as Hermione tries to study her book is some pretty funny stuff.

Page 206 - Scrimgeour noble? Who woulda thought?

Page 207 - Death Eaters have the "full might" of the Ministry on their side now and have taken over the press. They're performing abusive, illegal spells with no fear of negative repercussions. Sort of like Scooter Libby.

Page 208 - Harry's being villainized in the press, placing fear into the empty pockets of society where hope should reside.

Page 209 - A "Muggle-born Registration Commission" has been created. Ridiculous claims are being made by the Ministry stating that if you're born with magic but do not have magic in your family you "stole" it, which is cause for arrest (or worse). Keep the people down and they won't dare stand up as Voldemort destroys the world they once knew and loved.

Page 222 - Anyone surprised that Dolores Umbridge is back in the picture? Anyone thrilled? This woman made for one nasty bitch in book 5 and is probably my favorite villain in the series.

Page 225 - Severus Snape is appointed as new Headmaster of Hogwarts. I'm still not convinced he's a bad guy. Part of me thinks he's been put there to try and keep things slightly under control as the universe unravels around him.

Page 242 - That statue in the Atrium is nasty. A witch and a wizard sitting atop "Hundreds and hundreds of naked bodies, men women and children, all with rather stupid, ugly faces, twisted and pressed together ..." The statue reads, "MAGIC IS MIGHT." I predicted correctly: This one's the darkest Harry Potter book yet.

Page 245 - Dolores Umbridge makes her grand entrance. I feel all tingly.

Page 249 - Dolores using Mad-Eye Moody's eye to spy on her employees? Okay, so maybe Mad-Eye did die a heroic death after-all. Can't say I'm sure either way. Still leaning toward his being a traitor, but at this point it's getting pretty 50/50.

Page 251 - Harry discovers that Umbridge has a new title: Head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. She's keeping tabs on everyone, just like the Department of Homeland Security. Arthur Weasley's file lists him as a "Pureblood" but goes on to state that he has, "unacceptable pro-Muggle leanings." His movements are being monitored.

Page 252 - Harry finds out that he's considered "Undesirable Number One." I think it's supposed to be a revelation, but didn't we already know this in the first book?

Page 257 - The courtrooms where Muggles and half-bloods are tried are being guarded by Dementors. Or, as J.K. Rowling puts it, Dementors. Because you're not truly demented until your dementia warrants italics.

Page 258 - Harry sees someone carried off to suffer his fate for being born with magical abilities but with no wizardry in his family. He claims his father was a wizard and he is a half-blood. Umbridge says, in that condescending, fingers-on-chalkboard way she says things, that this is his last warning and if he doesn't go quietly he will be "subjected to the Dementor's kiss." It's a pretty oppressive scene.

Page 260 - "Umbridge laughed a soft girlish laugh that made Harry want to attack her." Man, do I hope Umbridge gets hers. I'd rather see Umbridge slaughtered in the end than I would Voldemort.

Page 262 - Harry unexpectedly throws caution to the wind and begins kicking ass and taking names. Most exciting section of the book thus far.

Page 263 - Harry to one of those on trial: "Get out, get out of the country ... disguise yourselves and run. You've seen how it is, you won't get anything like a fair hearing here." Alright, I'm convinced, J.K. is writing her politics into her children's novels. Good for her.

Page 268 - In a way I wish it were the Forbidden Forest. The longer the book goes on, the more nostalgic I'm getting for old locations and characters.

Page 269 - Ron gets "splinched" as the gang Disapparated (sort of like a "Transporter accident" on Star Trek). He's alive, but he's seriously messed up. Good luck getting this scene in a PG-13 movie.

Page 270 - Now that Yaxley's discovered their hideout at Grimmauld Place, the last familiar location from the previous 6 books has just been yanked away from our heroes and from us, as readers (although I'm guessing a few surprises are in store).

Page 273 - "Erecto" - Hermione. You figure out what spell she was casting and why.

Page 275 - Nearly 300 pages in and the trio's found exactly one Horcrux.

Page 283 - This thief intrigues me. "A Fred and George-ish air of triumphant trickery about him." He couldn't be a Weasley, could he?

Page 286 - "[M]aybe we ought not to wear it." Ya think?

Page 289 - Harry believes Voldemort may have hidden a Horcrux at Hogwarts! Pack up the books, gang -- looks like we're going back to school one last time!

Page 290 - "Forget Hogwarts" - Harry, defeated. Put the books back on the shelves, kids -- looks like school's out, forever.

Page 290 - "[G]ame of "pass-the-parcel." Must be a British thing.

Page 292 - "[Harry] tried to think of further Horcrux locations, but the only one that continued to occur to him was Hogwarts." Oh, J.K. -- why must you toy with our emotions this way?

Page 293 - Hermione goes all feminist on Ron. Take that Ron, you sexist pig!

Page 299 - Hurray for the alternative press! The Quibbler is printing "all the stuff" the mainstream Prophet's ignoring. That reminds me, I need to renew my subscription to The Nation.

Page 300 - Someone says "hell" in a children's book. The swearword version of the word. Anyone have a match? The Christian Right may be running out by this point.
--Alex Sandell