Thanks for the ping rk.... I just finished it last night shortly after midnight... I was glad I was alone because I WAS crying in that last 100 pages....
Whew, what a ride... I need a good night’s sleep and some time to re-read some parts...
One thing I must say, it certainly started out rough and never lightened. Killing Hedwig in the beginning really whacked me. It made me expect that nobody was safe and I was sure Hermione was a goner at that one point.
I really liked the “19 years later” finish. It lifted my spirits seeing a happy ending.
I liked it, too. People can call it schmaltzy or sappy or whatever they like, but I liked it and I suspect most people did, too.
I would've liked one that was a little sooner.
Maybe Harry standing as best man at Ron's wedding and telling him, "No, you can't borrow the cloak ..." as Hermione is about to walk down the aisle. "Blimey" (and imagine the explanations that would have to be made to the Muggle half of the family)
Or Ron standing as Best Man as Harry's wedding, but then I couldn't see Hermione as Ginny's Maid of Honor.