Some initial thoughts on Deathly Hallows SPOILERS

I'm up to chapter 22. That's the chapter that has the same name as the title.

I thought I would wait to post till I was done with the book, but I have some thoughts I thought I'd post now. These details will be SPOILERS to anyone who has not read at least thru the end of chapter 22. So you have been warned.

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Okay, there's enough spoiler scrolling buffer whatever you call it.

My theory is that Petunia is "the source we discussed" who told Snape the date Harry would be removed from Number 4 Privet Drive, but didn't know the plan. I don't buy the Hagrid getting drunk story, don't think any of the others who were in on the plan are untrustworthy either.

I'm still trying to decide what the blue eye in the mirror is all about. I wondered if it might be Mad Eye, but that doesn't seem to make sense. I can't think who has blue eyes besides Dumbledore and Mad-eye.

I hope that we see the Dursleys again. I was kind of disappointed the bit with them wasn't longer. And I'm still kind of disappointed that they didn't go to Number 12 Grimmauld Place, but since we don't know where they are, we don't know if they're getting their just deserts or not.

The Polyjuice Potion containing Harry's hair turns a clear, bright gold color. When Harry's wand does that mysterious thing where it fires at Voldemort of its own accord, it shoots out gold flames. Coincidence?

I don't think the real reason the DE's knew who was the real Harry was because he used the Expelliarmus charm. But I could be wrong. I think it has something to do with his wand or his connection to Voldemort.

Remorse can kill. Page 103. Ron asks if there isn't a way to put your soul back together and Hermione says there is, but it's excruciatingly painful. Harry asks how you do it, and Hermione replies, "Remorse. You've got to really feel what you've done. There's a footnote. Apparently the pain of it can destroy you." Very interesting. Though Hermione "can't see Voldemort attempting it somehow."

"I open at the close" -- at the close of the year? of the school year? of the school? I can't think what else would close.

Was anyone else struck by the similarity between the scene where they all get bequests from Dumbledore and the scene where the Pevensie children get gifts from Santa in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe? I thought that was a brilliant scene.

I was struck that the Deathly Hallows turned out to be very similar to some of the predictions I'd heard. A wand was definitely mentioned. And though many people thought maybe the Invisibility Cloak was a Horcrux, this means it can be a Hallow and not a Horcrux. But I'm sort of confused, doesn't Harry still have to destroy all of the Horcruxes even if he gets all of the Deathly Hallows? And I'm kind of bothered by the fact that these items come from Death. That's a bit dark, for objects that could help Harry defeat Voldemort.

Anyone else think Grindelvald is still alive? We've only ever read that Dumbledore "defeated" him, though I wish we knew whether Hermione read chapter 22 of Skeeter's book.

Xenophilius Lovegood wasn't at all what I pictured, but when they got to the 2nd floor of the Lovegood's odd-shaped house, I found it almost identical to the way I'd imagined Mr. Lovegood's office. The printing press, the books stacked all over. I imagined it very cluttered. Only I didn't think of a building that was round. I hope Luna's okay.

I thought we were getting to the point when Ron and Hermione were finally going to kiss, when Ron came back, and instead she goes and punches him. :::::sigh:::::

I'm wondering what's up with this sign of the Deathly Hallows. Krum seemed so sure it was -- well, he seemed to be describing the Wizarding equivalent of a swastika. Seems strange that Mr. Lovegood's explanation is so completely different.

I was struck by the irony that each of the trio thinks a different one of the Deathly Hallows is the most desirable.

A plot hole: Hermione says she modified her parents' memories, but then when they are in the cafe and they modify the memories of the two Death Eaters and the waitress, she says she's never done it before.

My 8-year-old read at least part of the ending on Wikipedia yesterday. So far he's managed not to tell me what he knows. though I better get finished soon because it's getting hard for him to keep quiet about it.

I have a whole 2 pages of funny quotes from the book written down already, and I'm only on chapter 22. Though I've found I'm writing down less of them as I get deeper into the book.

One more note. I want to get confirmation on this but I'm about 94% sure I'm right. I believe that, during all of the first 6th books, the word "God" is never mentioned. It's not used to talk about God, it's not taken in vain, no one says "Oh my God." I've really paid pretty close attention to this and I don't think I'm wrong. "Merlin's beard" gets substituted a few times. And the first six books make virtually no mention of any Christian symbols. They celebrate Christmas and Easter, but there's no mention of going to church, pastors or priests, the Bible, etc. So, on page 74 of DH, when Harry finds out that George is going to be okay, he says "Thank God." Later, on pages 165 and 274, people say "God" or "My God" in a way that, as I tell my children, doesn't mean they're talking to Him. This kind of talk is not allowed in my house. I'm pretty sure there's at least one other reference I've already read, but I can't find it now. Hopefully I will when I re-read. Then, when Harry buries Moody's eye, he carves a cross on the tree as a marker. Of all things, a cross. I just wonder why we're seeing these kind of references when they were markedly absent from the first 6th book.

I'll be back with more when I've read further.