The description of Snape's pain as similar to that of the dog in the burning house is perhaps a little unsubtle, but it is quite a powerful clue. I am still a little baffled that anyone could think that Snape was bad. Even after the killing of Dumbledore, there are so many indications in the text. Not to mention that "Snape is evil" would be a wholly unsatisfactory ending. If it was going to turn out that way, it could not have been revealed in the second last book. In fact, I think it has been impossible since book 1.

The role of Regulus. I know bragging is not really the done thing, but I am still terribly proud of having worked out the identity of R.A.B immediately when I first read the book. Perhaps it wasn't as hard to work out as I thought at the time. It is not a buried clue, after all. It is just a matter of recognising the letters. Still….

The way everyone asks Harry whether it is true is quite effective. It gives a sense of the disbelief. And it certainly mirrored my reaction when I first read it. Dumbledore's death (even if I knew it was quite likely to happen, what with the narrative imperative and all) really seemed quite impossible to me. And that was reinforced by Rowling's tendency to make deaths abrupt and unprepared things which are not dwelt on until much later.

The lull, or the feeling of wrapping things up and clearing the board here … is that just me? Dumbledore's funeral feels a little like a recap. No, that isn't the right word. An overview of the main points. Something is ending here, and the next book is very different. There is a narrowing of the focus.