Top Three Countdown: Day 1

Here we are! I've been humming Etta all morning--"At laaaast, my looooove has come alooong..."

Last November, when the movie was originally scheduled for release, seems like a lifetime ago. There's nothing better for a fan than this moment right now, hours away from a new movie. The worst? The moment the movie is over, and the countdown in our heads begins again, for HP7.1.

The plan is to see HP6 this morning, fingers crossed that there aren't any summer camps in attendance. It's going to be glooooorious.

And in celebration of today, here is my most favorite HP moment of all time!

The Mirror of Erised!




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The tenderness of this chapter calls to mind all the great childhood classics--Anne of Green Gables longing for a home, Annie loving on Daddy Warbucks, the Pevensie children sent off to live in the country, Heidi and her grandfather, Huck bonding with Jim on the river...Orphan stories, all, speaking to our deepest fears as children, that we will be parentless and alone in the world. This is Harry's story, too, and the Mirror of Erised, which reflects one's most fundamental desires, shimmers and produces a family for Harry.

The boy returns to it night after night, imagining what might have been had Voldemort not selected him as an enemy. It is only when Dumbledore interferes, advising, "It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live," that the spell is broken, and Harry is cast back to the reality of his orphan life.

Heartbreaking and beautiful, this chapter from THE SORCERER'S STONE is my favorite, and an early indication of the depth and wisdom this series would offer. Again, the scene is reproduced in the final chapters of DEATHLY HALLOWS, when Harry's family returns, ghost-like, reflection-like, to offer the only thing they can in Harry's darkest hour--the knowledge for Harry that he has been loved.

Ah.

Review of the movie to come, AFTER Jedi J has seen it:)

Countdown: Two Days!

Okay, if you're one of the midnight showing people, it's only 16 hours for you. As I like staying awake for my movies, it's two days for me.

I'm cheating on this one. My #2 favorite HP moments both involve a kiss:

The Silver Doe chapter:




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I'm certain I've said this before on this blog, but The Silver Doe is my favorite chapter in all of HP canon. The entire series rests on the trio's strength as, well, a trio. Here is where it all reaches it's decisive and dramatic point. The trio succeeds or fails here. When Riddle Harry and Riddle Hermione emerge from that locket for a makeout session, we aren't sure how our boy Ron will take it. For a moment, we think he's possessed, that it's over for Ron, but he comes through like a champ. The series again reveals it's structure--Ron's journey begins in book 1 with a kickass chess match, and here, against the locket. Both times, he proves why the Sorting Hat put him in Gryffindor.

And, of course, THIS. KISS. YAY.



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Man, we waited a long time for this one, slogged through a bunch of fanfic to get our fix, and kept our fingers crossed that these two would snog before either one got killed by Voldie. JK delivered, as usual, and gave us a satisfying but not overly saccharine resolution to this relationship. I read that Watson and Grint have already filmed this scene. It better be hot, or I will, will, um, write a VERY angry blog post about it. There. Quake in your boots, Watson and Grint.

I've saved my bestest moment for last. Check in tomorrow, and then, go see the damn movie.

Top Three Countdown: Day 3

On this, the Half-Blood Prince movie's eve-eve, I'm ready to announce the beginning of my TOP THREE HP MOMENTS!

Numero tres:

Dead Dobby!




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Sorry. Was that too flip? Dobby's death really did move me, more than any other death in the series (yes, more than Dumbledore's). The house elf plight, given short shrift in the films, is an important thread in the novels. The elves are the lowest rung of the magical ladder, and yet, they are, arguably, the most powerful creatures. Their love of service and passivity make them easy to push around. But not Dobby! Dobby rescues the trio and friends at their most dire hour, sacrificing himself for them, foreshadowing what Harry must do later. It was a lesson Harry had to learn. That he digs Dobby's grave by hand is also testament to Harry's gratitude to Dobby. After all, Dobby is Harry's biggest fan. And I'm Dobby's:)

Everything about Dobby's funeral is perfect (and in complete contrast to Dumbledore's extravagant ceremony). Luna's speech is a tear-jerker, and the headstone, "Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf" is the ideal tribute.

One Week Countdown: Day 6

Number 6 on my Half-Blood Prince Movie countdown of my favorite HP moments is:

Neville's Destiny




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I love how history repeats itself, first with the James/Lily/Sirius generation and the creation of the Order, then with Harry/Hermione/Ron, etc. and Dumbledore's Army. The most poignant element of the cyclical nature of this rebellious group is Neville's backstory.

Neville's visit to his parents at the hospital is a bit of brilliant storytelling. His mother, Alice, hands him a gum wrapper, obviously unaware of who her son is, and Neville pockets it, tenderly. I imagine that he keeps little wrappers with him, and later, when Neville becomes the man he should be, these, along with the image of his parents, fuel him.

I love, too, how the Boy Who Lived could have been Neville. Voldemort chose his enemy, and easily, his red gaze could have turned on Neville. This speaks to the overriding theme of the novels--that it is our choices that define us. Truer words were never spoken (thanks, JK). Neville makes all the right choices when it really matters.

Two Week Countdown: Day 7

One week to go! This time next week, all the anticipation will be a thing of the past.

My #7 best HP moment is...

Angsty Harry!



The Order of the Phoenix, though a dark, dark book, stands out in my imagination as an authentic rendering of teenage angst. Harry goes through a lot (understatement of year) and reacts predictably--isolating himself, begrudging his friends, indulging in whine after whine. The film captured this well, too. And so, angsty Harry it is for number seven.

And as a "Week to Go" treat, here's some Wizard Angst, courtesy of the Potter Puppet Pals!



"I feel cranky and pubescent today and I don't know why!" (shake, shake)

Two Week Countdown: Day 8

Eight! Eight! Eight!

My #8 favorite HP moment comes from Deathly Hallows, and is shippy again (I'm saving the more poignant, less shippy moments for later in the countdown, natch):

"Always the tone of surprise."



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Why I like this: All through books 1-6, we blame the failure of the Ron/Hermione relationship on Ron. Truly, the boy is thick. But he isn't all to blame. Hermione dishes out a particular brand of superiority that's hard to fall in love with. In this scene from DH, the members of the Order, having Polyjuiced themselves to look like Harry in order to get the Boy Who Lived to safety, are attacked by Deatheaters. Hermione arrives safely at the Burrow first, and has to wait for Ron to arrive. When he does, she embraces him while Tonks commends Ron's prowess with a wand. Hermione, characteristically, responds in disbelief. Hence Ron's clever retort: "Always the tone of surprise," which he uses again later in the book.

For the first time, Ron is calling Hermione out on her treatment of him (though in a gentle way). The girl learns her lesson, though, gushing about "her man" in one of the final chapters and leading to the shippiest moment of all...

NOTE: Jedi J has been posting her favorites in the comments. Check 'em out! And thanks J:) Now, where IS that V?

Two Week Countdown: Days 12 AND 11

We're nearly out of the double-digit wait, folks!

My #12 pick for best Harry Potter moment is Fourth of July themed, and something I've posted before:

Weasley fireworks!

#11 is also related to the Weasley twins:

Potterwatch from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!



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I think it's super sweet that members of Dumbledore's Army and the Order are broadcasting clandestine anti-Voldemort radio shows. It all has this underground revolutionary flavor what with the code names (Rapier! Ha!) and everything. Hope this scene stays in the films.

Prof. H

Two Week Countdown: Day 13

It's 13 days until HBP! And time for...

My #13 favorite moment from the Harry Potter series:

Charlie Weasley adopts Norbert!



Art by my favorite fan-artist, L. Berghol

Here's one not in the films. In fact, Charlie is the missing Weasley in the cinema, mentioned only by name here and there. In The Sorcerer's Stone, Harry and Hermione save Hagrid's hairy butt (not for the first time) by arranging for Charlie Weasley, the second eldest Weasley and dragon expert, to take Norbert off of Hogwart's property.

I love Charlie for that, and also, because he remains an uncorrupted character for me, the way he looks frozen in my imagination, and not altered by the films. The truth is, whenever I read the books now, I see Radcliffe, Watson, Grint and company, in my head. But Charlie is just my version of him. BTW, he's a total hottie in my mind:)

Two Week Countdown: Day 14

So, here we are in the two week wait for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In an effort to pass the time, I'm going to share my fourteen favorite moments of the HP series, one a day, until premiere day.

Number 14...



Snape at Spinner's End, which we will see in this flick. I love how we get to see Snape's home life here, the absolute snubbing he gives to Bellatrix, and the humanity we begin to see in Narcissa Malfoy, a humanity that we know will be very important at the end of the series. This chapter is perfection.

How about you, V.? Jedi J.? What's #14 on your list?

Prof H.