I took last friday off and had myself a 3-day weekend (it's a little-known fact, but according to EMBL rules, if you work on a sunday, you're allowed to take 2 days off at a later time – I love my contract).
I spent most of friday and saturday reading the last Harry Potter book. I'm pleased with the outcome. I'd read the abridged version as reviewed by the Guardian: Harry Potter took was waiting in the Dursleys' house in Privet Drive. They were sent off and would never be heard from again. His reverie was interrupted by the arrival of Arthur Weasley, Ron, Hermione and 10 other familiar characters. “We've got to get you out of here,” said Arthur. “The protective charm runs out when you are 17, and You Know Who and the Death Eaters will be after you. Six of us are going to take some Polyjuice potion to create some decoy Harrys.”
Harry knew he was up against it this time. A favourite character from an earlier book had been killed off within the first 80 pages. That Rowling woman meant business. “OK,” said Harry, grimly, as Ron and Hermione embraced. “There might have been time for that kind of adolescent awakening in books five and six. Now, it's time to get serious.”
Hermione recovered her customary poise. “You're right, Harry,” she replied. “The Ministry has been taken over by Voldemort, and the Order of the Phoenix is compromised. Nowhere is safe. You must continue your quest for You Know Who's Horcruxes.”
The scar on Harry's forehead burned, but an intense migraine was a small price to pay for giving the reader a chance to find out what Voldemort was doing and catch up with more back story.
It was the morning of Fleur's wedding to Bill Weasley and Harry, Ron and Hermione were examining the strange bequests they had been left in Dumbledore's will. “Why have we been given this effing rubbish?” Ron laughed. “I've told you before that book seven is not the place for jokes and swearing,” Harry answered sternly. Just then he saw Ginny passing. He didn't know why – though he suspected it was something to do with letting the reader know that although he was a goody-goody on the outside, he was a rampant horny hetty on the inside – but he kissed her passionately. “Stay safe for me,” he whispered knowingly.
“I've found a strange mark in this book,” exclaimed Hermione. “What do you think it means?” Harry frowned. “I've no idea,” he murmured, “but my scar will start hurting again soon and we'll find out.” Sure enough, the tingling sensation soon returned. As he came out of his dream, which revealed yet more back story about Dumbledore, Harry intoned solemnly: “It's the sign of the Deathly Hallows. We must find them and the Horcruxes.”
Harry, Ron and Hermione had criss-crossed the country getting out of ever-tighter scrapes with wizard spells, but still Harry felt no nearer to knowing what to do. Yet he had the strange feeling everything was becoming clearer. “I'm leaving you two,” Ron declared one day. “I need to create some narrative tension.” Harry was lost again but a Patronus spell led him to the Sword of Gryffindor. He had to step naked into an icy pool to retrieve it. “I knew getting the lead part in the school production of Equus would come in handy,” he thought.
“I'm back,” said Ron, as Harry's scar continued to reveal yet more of the seemingly endless back story. Sometimes Harry didn't know if he was awake or asleep, alive or dead, as so many old characters flashed through his mind. “Don't worry,” said the figure of Dumbledore. “This time, no one knows what's going on either.” So Harry made his way back to Hogwarts to face Voldemort. It would end as he had always known it would. With everyone wondering what JK would do next.
And yes, it was quite accurate. There were a few things in the book that did annoy me though. First off, I don't mind that they killed off a bunch of characters. It was done in context, and nothing was too gratuitous. But the whole Percy thing, I-was-a-prat-but-I'm-better-now-forgive-me, was completely unnecessary. Then Harry is killed. Sorta. But doesn't die. Again. And then it's all better. Yes, I can understand the whole justification of the thing, but still. It bugged me.
Rowling still left herself a way out for spin-offs and more books by means of her last chapter “19 years later”. I'm pretty sure it's not the last Harry Potter book that will grace the shelves, though I'm thinking that the next one will be a while in coming – if only to let the woman have a break from writing and a chance to play with all of her money.