Harry Potter Reread

Hey! Look! It’s that girl who never blogs!

(🤭:0 Who is she?)

EDIT: Thank you for the feature and all the positive — Christmas comes early :sob: :two_hearts:

Its been a couple — maybe as many as four — years since I’ve read the original Harry Potter series. I’ve seen Fantastic Beasts, read the screenplays for it and Cursed Child, and watched the movies every time ABC family has a Harry Potter weekend (which is quite often, thank goodness).

In honor of the occasion, and to take you all through my reading experience, I’ll be sharing thoughts before and after every book, which I hope to get through before Christmas.

Start: December 2 2017

End: December 22, 2017

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Pre - Sorcerer’s Stone

(Before reading)

I’m honestly a little apprehensive about rereading. This Amino, and the Fandom in general, has done quite a bit to influence and change my perception on characters such as Snape, Dumbledore, Fleur, and so many others. The movies have also been fixed in my mind, so I can’t really the differences between the movies and the books.

I have found that I’m a bit disillusioned with the series as a whole, and think that the series is good but not as brilliant as I thought it was the first 3-5 times I read it. In the years since, I’ve moved on to higher fantasy and books with more sophisticated writing, and am worried that I will end up disliking it even more. Here’s hoping.

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During Sorcerer’s Stone

(The most prominent thoughts I entertained while reading)

-> The whole “Yer A Wizard” scene was a bit anticlimactic — it was dramatized in the movies

-> Did Harry’s wand choose him because it sensed the bit of Voldemort’s soul in him?

-> “There is no good and evil, there is only power, and those too weak to seek it.” Was said by Quirrell, and not Voldemort as I had thought.

-> Ron’s idea that Dumbledore sent Harry the cloak just so he could get the Sorcerer’s Stone reminds me of those ‘theories’ that Dumbledore is manipulative and uses Harry... and honestly it makes sense.

But then Harry goes on to say that maybe Dumbledore knew Harry would’ve gone after the Stone anyway and gave him the Cloak to help him... but does that not still put Harry in clear and avoidable danger? Could Dumbledore have not gotten the Stone and defeated Quirrell himself?

-> Ok Dumbledore I understand that the “recent events” were recent-ish but you really had to wait until Slytherin had thought they won to tell them otherwise? that’s a bit cruel, you coulda changed the hourglasses before the feast and then started off with Gryffindor decorations?

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Post- Sorcerer’s Stone

(Final Thoughts)

The Harry Potter books are the gateway fandom for many younger readers for a reason. They’re easy to read, and while the writing at the beginning was a little choppy and unsophisticated, the simplicity is very endearing. Everything is black and white, and good and evil are clearly defined. I thought the book was too short, though.

Rating: :star: :star: :star:

(Out of 5)

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Pre- Chamber of Secrets

I’ve seen a lot of people say that this is their least favorite book because it’s as innocent as the first but the luster has worn off, we shall have to see if that is true. I have to say I didn’t like this movie as much as I could have, but this is about the books and not the movies!

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During Chamber of Secrets

-> I understand that it’s a new book, but do authors really have to spend the first 10 pages summing up the last book? I just read it, thank you very much, and I know what’s happened already.

-> I’m getting second-hand embarrassment and am also getting very anxious about Dobby and Harry’s conversation

-> Errol deserves a vacation

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Post- Chamber of Secrets

The magic definitely hasn’t worn off yet. The characters are still cute and innocent but darker themes have definitely started to appear. I think this book could manage as a stand-alone because of all the summarizing of book one and of the clean ending, which wrapped itself up a little too quickly for my taste. I also felt that the spider scene was a little out-of-place because it was short and felt very abrupt.

Rating: :star: :star: :star:

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Pre- Prisoner of Azkaban

Though most people seem to like this movie and this book the most out of the whole series, I never really got that. People say that this is the first book that really gets into the darker themes, so we’ll have to see if that is true, as I expect it to not wrap up as nicely as the first two books, and won’t function effectively as a stand-alone.

Note: I’m very excited to see Lupin because he is one of my all-time favorites EVER. (Precious cinnamon roll).

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During Prisoner of Azkaban

-> Do they really need to summarize the first two books? Again, I literally just finished reading them and everything.

-> Poor Professor Lupin. He needs a hug.

-> Poor Sirius Black. He doesn’t deserve this.

-> Ok I’m just really mad at this book because everyone is getting it COMPLETELY WRONG about Sirius like come on. I like that headcanon about the real reason Lupin quit his job. Yet another reason I don’t like Dumbledore as much as I did when I first read the series.

-> I literally almost started crying in my biology class because of the fact that Sirius signed Harry’s permission slip for Hogsmeade :sob: :sob: Sirius deserves to be happy, honestly.

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Post Prisoner Of Azkaban

I have NO idea why I didn’t like this book before reading it. I’m still not 100% on board with the movie but I love this book so much now, so far it’s become my favorite book. I know that’s like a 180-degree change but it’s true! It’s also not a stand-alone, and it feels like truly part of the series.

This book is so much harder to read knowing what’s coming next, I hate knowing but at the same time glad so I can prepare myself.

Rating: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

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Pre- Goblet of Fire

I like this one because it’s the first truly long one. Based on previous readings, I think this is the one where things get ~real~ and the plots are more developed. I not really liking the movie for this one (mostly because they cut out the Quidditch World Cup). I really loved the Quidditch World Cup xD.

I loving this one because of the different schools and cultures we see, both at the World Cup and at the Triwizard Tournament. But I do know that I don’t like the cover art of this book really at all, Krum and Fleur don’t look like I imagined at all.

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During Goblet of Fire

-> Words cannot describe how much I love the Weasley family

-> Rita Skeeter is creepy as heck, why on earth would she want to go into an empty broom cupboard with Harry that’s so weird

-> Halfway through the fourth book and we are still getting background information from Sorcerer’s Stone, is this necessary?

-> Dobby freed is such a cute situation — how Dumbledore said Dobby could call him names :joy: :joy:

-> Do Wizards have alarm clocks? I thought it was a bit odd that Harry hadn’t anything to remind him to wake up after he fell asleep in the library, except he certainly wasn’t intending to... but how do students get up in time for their lessons?

-> Mrs. Weasley I am ashamed of you, poor Hermione getting a tiny egg just because of an article in a gossip magazine

-> Bill x Fleur OTP

-> Bet you Sirius would have wanted to see James and Lily during Priori Incantatem

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Post Goblet of Fire

Well, the ending of this book was pretty sad, but Hermione’s blackmail was pretty satisfying. Every time I read Sirius’ and Lupin’s names it’s sad because I know what’s coming up, but overall I think this book was really well written and more mature than even Prisoner of Azkaban. JK Rowling does a really nice job of transitioning the maturity of the books as Harry gets older.

Rating: :star: :star: :star: :star:

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Pre- Order of the Phoenix

This used to be my favorite book, we’ll have to see how that holds up. I that this was definitely the darkest book so far, however.

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During Order of the Phoenix

-> I’m glad that there’s not as much backstory being retold, and we can move on to the focus of this story.

-> There’s so much angst in the second chapter like wow. This is fanfiction-level angst.

-> Aweh it’s a cute little professor (ish) reunion

-> Impressions of the Weasley family: Ginny’s cute, Bill’s mature, Percy’s completely and totally awful.

-> I wish they would have casted Sirius and Remus (and James and Lily for that matter) as the actual 30ish people they are, they look so much older in the movies and it doesn’t suit them at all (although, that being said, the actors were grand)

-> Sirius and Remus got Harry a t Christmas present :relaxed: :yum:

-> *muffled sobbing is heard*

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Post Order of the Phoenix

So, this book was and still is definitely my favorite book. It’s long, which I like, and there’s lots of Remus and Sirius, which I love, and it’s only getting more and more real. I think the writing is becoming more sophisticated as well, but I didn’t like how moody and angsty Harry was 80% of the time and how that was a focus in the beginning of the book. Dumbledore’s Army is also my favorite thing in the whole world.

Rating: :star: :star: :star: :star: + 1/2

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Pre- Half-Blood Prince

One of my friends says that this is her favorite book in the series, though I’m not sure why, because I dislike this book quite a bit. I know the movie wasn’t that great either, and I feel like there’s little to no plot like in the other books. Also, I feel like Dumbledore gets pretty manipulative in this movie, so we’ll have to see how it compares to the book.

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During Half-Blood Prince

-> Did I drop this book in water? Why is there a water mark on the first page?

-> Slughorn reminds me of Lockhart very strongly.

-> Ginny is such a firecracker I love her

-> Why the Cursed Child doesn’t work: Dumbledore says “You will hear many of his Death Eaters claiming that they are in his confidence, that they alone are close to him, even understand him. They are deluded. Lord Voldemort has never had a friend, nor do I believe that he has ever wanted one.”

-> Poor Remus Lupin

(How many times have I said that in the last week)

-> Harry keeps going on about how good-looking and handsome Voldemort is

-> *louder muffled sobbing is heard*

-> POOR EVERYONE I CANNOT EVEN

-> *more sobbing*

-> Yas Fleur you go Fleur

->That was an angsty yet beautiful last 3 pages :sob: :sob: :sob:

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Post Half-Blood Prince

Ok, the writing is phenomenal in this book. I thought beforehand that his was the most boring book but it’s definitely one of my favorites now — right after OOTP and POA. It’s also great at creating a sense of foreboding and the foreshadowing is on point. It’s so sad though ;-;

However, I feel like there there was a *little* too much obsessing over Draco Malfoy for my taste.

Rating: :star: :star: :star: :star:

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Pre- Deathly Hallows

Here we go.

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-> Why doesn’t my copy have a summary on the back. I want to know what’s happening.

-> Plot hole: in the cafe Hermione said she hadn’t performed a memory charm in real life in the cafe, but she did it to her parents a few weeks before...?

-> Lupin omg I cant even :sob: your kid needs you :sob:

-> HARRY POTTER WHAT ARE YOU DOING I AM ASHAMED OF YOU. REMUS HAS ENOUGH STRESS IN HIS LIFE ALREADY.

-> Golden curly shoulder-length hair wow Grindelwald sounds like a snack

-> Ok why does Depp have spiky white hair in Fantastic Beasts if in the books Grindelwald had curly blonde hair? Hello Book-Grindelwald is so more much of a looker and not so OLD (but that’s a lengthy casting problem cough cough Sirius Remus and Severus cough cough)

-> I was watching a documentary about cats at the same time as I was reading about Harry piecing together the Deathly Hallows with Ron and Hermione and the typical epic music was accompanying the show and I got hit with the feels so hard

-> Harry’s Obsessions: Draco Malfoy, The Deathly Hallows

-> At least Remus had a little happiness in his life :sob:

-> Oh look the whole gang’s back together, and by that I mean literally every character in the series

-> Even Dumbledore had considered that the Sorting was too early, at 11, and I probably agree. At 11 I was a definite Ravenclaw, but even last year if I was to be re-sorted I would have probably ended up in Slytherin.

-> SNAPE YELLS AT PHINEAS FOR CALLING HERMIONE A MUDBLOOD :sob: :sob:

-> Harry Potter is such a true Gryffindor: He’s the main character and he needs more appreciation for everything he did.

-> Also grown up Draco sounds like a snack too

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Post Deathly Hallows

Wow. All I can say is, wow.

Rating: :star: :star: :star: :star:

Not a five because it wasn’t perfect, but I still enjoyed it very much.

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Post Harry Potter Series

I’ve forgotten how good these books are. The writing definitely got better, and really improved from the fifth book on, and rereading has really made me see how short the films fall when comparing. I want a true to the books film series now, but you can’t have everything, can you.

I love all of the characters — they’re all so well developed, even though I don’t agree with Dumbledore’s using a teenager to do his work and Snape’s bullying (not to mention Harry’s instant forgiveness of him)

I was inspired to retake the tests on Pottermore, and I was again sorted into Ravenclaw at Hogwarts and Thunderbird at Ilvermorny. Originally my Patronus was a wolf but this time I got a hyena: they are similar so I decided to keep the wolf. My wand was mostly the same: Phoenix feather core, 12 and 1/2 inches, hard flexibility. The wood changed from Laurel to Pine, and I rather like Pine wood more, and perhaps I will get a Pine wand at Universal Studios in the spring.

So, there’s my epic Harry Potter reread. I will always recommend this series to anyone, and rereading is such a rewarding experience that I encourage everyone to do it!

:v: ,

Booky

Sources

Images from Instagram

GIFs from Le Internet

Harry Potter (the internationally best-selling book series, dontchaknow?)

The TPL art is by upthehillart, seriously go follow them the art is AMAZING :green_heart: