Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.
"You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella.
Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head.
His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles," she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!"
The boy looked up, "Really?"
"Of course," said the grandmother.
"Why just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles."
The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and softly whispered, "Wrinkles."
6:05 p.m. // this is my reality \\
you have yet to see me shining
I won't take this lying down
maybe you just need a friend
as clumsy as you've been
no one's laughing
nothing but honesty
why do we fall down? so we can pick ourselves up again
10:46 p.m. // this is my reality \\
7:46 p.m. // this is my reality \\
10:58 p.m. // this is my reality \\
I miss my fishie :(
9:19 p.m. // this is my reality \\
6:41 p.m. // this is my reality \\
7:17 a.m. // this is my reality \\
10:12 a.m. // this is my reality \\
Somebody ought to have helped us, she thought, watching him neatly transfigure a Biro into a hinge pin. We were only children. We oughtn't to have had to figure it out all by ourselves. .. repairs . resonant
2:06 p.m. // this is my reality \\
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I was actually reading the first half of the book thinking, this so isn't as good as Underwater Light (which was finished - OMG - before the book came out, so I read the last chapter right before I went to see Fantastic Four and then to Chapters). I think part of it is that I was used to the fastpaced, dangerclimaxalmostthere speed of fanfiction in general, but mostly UL, so the speed of HBP was a change.
But the part that is the most memorable for me, where I was at the edge of my proverbial seat, was in the caves. Reading as Harry forced Dumbledore to drink that potion was so emotional, even if we didn't know what Dumbledore was thinking. I was so afraid there of him dying - until I remembered that the cover of the book had him and Harry, and the fire, and I realised he couldn't dye from the potion, not yet.
As for Snape killing him... I don't think he's evil. As terrible as it was, it's too obvious. I think he did what he had to do. I don't like him anymore for it, but you're not meant to like him.
I did enjoy the fleshing out of minor characters, like the first insight about Narcissa, and of course Draco. His character's really become more interesting, because, much as fandom had fleshed him out, in canon, all he really was was a nuisance to Harry, rarely substantial to the story. Now it's becoming more interesting. The traincar scene was pretty interesting, showing that Draco wasn't an idiot, that Harry doesn't always beat Draco. It's nice to see some development of their relationship.
The plotline of the Horcruxes I really enjoyed, it was a nice twist on things, and I liked getting that backstory on Voldemort. I just think that there are so many more to be found and destroyed left for the last book - it feels like there won't be much else. I was personally disapointed with Harry saying he wasn't going to go back to Hogwarts, because I think that the setting lends to the story, having both the fight against evil in the forefront, but the school setting in the background. But we'll see when the next book comes out.
And finally - ships. Of course. First, Harry/Ginny. Much as I like that Ginny's character's grown up, been fleshed out, given some spunk, some attitude, I have to hate it, because she just isn't skinny blonde boy. But excluding that, I thought Harry's 'inner monster' was ridiculous! My goodness, what a terrible way to skim over puberty and hormonal changes. And while Harry was less ALLCAPS and angsty, I still didn't like the way he had those terrible nasty, unnecessary thoughts about his friends - I don't see him as being that petty. Especially with Dean.
Ron and Hermione were nice, I've always seen them together, and it just keeps and Harry/Hermione away XD
But lastly, Remus/Tonks?!?!? *glare* Terrrible, and unnecessary. Not everyone has to be paired up and happy you know. And I'm just generally not a big fan of Tonk's character. I find she plays far to large a role in the story, in proportion to her contributions, and the reason she plays these parts isn't very good. She isn't some old friend of her parents, nor was she ever near Harry before OOTP - she just got plopped into the story and started taking on these fairly significant roles. Grr arg. They should've left Remus alone.
But all in all, hero arc complete, just in time for the final book, the final climax. I'm excited. I did enjoy this book, more than OOTP, and I think I will reread it at some point in time lol. And going to the midnight book party was fun, I'm glad Seema let us bud in the line XD And I'm looking forward to some awesome fanfic soon ^_^
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And so my week's passed somewhat eventfully, but really, far too much to recount in one blog post, and really, not that necessary. So for now... :)
[ETA:8.34] (just for fun) Harry, however, had never been less interested in Quidditch; he was rapidly becoming obsessed with Draco Malfoy.
8:03 p.m. // this is my reality \\
HARRY: You get paid for this?
RON: Hermione! When’d you get here?
HERMIONE: Pshhhh, I was here the whole time. Also, this class sucks. Which I know, because I was here the whole time. My Ancient Runes class is a lot better.
RON: Wait a minute… aren’t Runes and Divination at the same time?
HERMIONE: …Yes.
RON: So how are you taking two classes at once?
HERMIONE: I’m not, stupid.
RON: Except… for the part… where you totally are…?
HERMIONE: … .. HP - POA in Fifteen Minutes
4:58 p.m. // this is my reality \\