I read Harry Potter multiple times during high school, but just reread the series over the past half year or so while I was traveling to/from work. It is still a great series but of course now there are some nitpicks that bother me now when I'm older haha. Of course, spoilers below...
Was Harry really that close to Sirius? They only knew each other for 2 years, from the end of the 3rd book to the end of the 5th. The 4th book he was in hiding the whole time, only talking via fireplace, and besides the summer before the 5th, Sirius was confined to the mansion the entire school year. Besides the summer at Sirius’ mansion, I feel like they saw each other in person for only a few times. When Harry is a parent at the end of the series, he only has spent 2 out of his 30 years knowing this person. Did they even mesh that well? Sirius even acknowledges once that he is disappointed Harry is not more like his father.
This is related to how Harry names his kid James Sirius. I get how the best friends are “reunited” through this, but honestly I would expect Harry (or Ron/Hermione) to name at least one of their kids Rubeus. Hagrid is Harry’s first true friend, muggle or wizard, and probably besides Ron/Hermione, whom he spent the most time with in person during Hogwarts. He is one of the few people who genuinely is always there for him because he is pure-hearted and cares for them as people, no ulterior motives. And what does Hagrid get in return? No recognition whatsoever…or maybe one of them named their pet after him.
I remember thinking the 2nd book was the worst growing up, but after rereading the series I definitely think it’s the 5th. It takes forever for the plot to progress in the beginning. A lot of wandering dialogue interspersed with teenage angst. Took forever to actually get to Hogwarts where the plot finally picked up.
The 6th is my best book in my opinion, reads like a mystery novel more than any other while going deep into Voldemort’s past, Malfoy’s secret plan, the Prince’s identity…
The 5th book mentions the Ministry’s entire Time-Turner stock being destroyed. I feel like the pivotal goal of either side, good or bad, should have been to create their own or acquire illegal ones. If you are able to rewrite time, I don’t see how you could lose.
Everyone in the books can basically blot out the whole second half of June as crazy stuff happening. The books always climax at the same dates…
James and Lily were only 21 when they died, I guess the movies made them seem a lot older…
I believe objectively that the worst death is…Fred. A lot of adults were killed but at least they had already accomplished great things in life, and left behind a legacy/offspring. Fred’s death was like killing 2 people, because he and his twin were inseparable. George has to live the rest of his life running the business without his best friend. The Weasley death will forever haunt the family. Fred had his whole life ahead of him. For the same reasons, I would rate Cedric’s death as a lot higher than most would.
Oh and I tried getting through Cursed Child but I couldn’t even finish half of it, it was pretty bad…
