The note about punishing Harry is a very good (by which I mean thoroughly creepy) touch. Does anyone else get the impression that she is not a pureblood? Many of the most zealous people among the bad guys have turned out to be half-blood (Voldemort and Snape come to mind, I am sure there are others), and her lie about the locket being a family heirloom tying her to a pureblood family. It just sounds off.

Ron: I want to kill him at one point. He really is the most horribly spoilt brat. Yes, there is a redeeming context in his worry for his family, but his complete disregard for the feelings of those around him, and his lack of attention to the fact that Harry and Hermione are not eating or sleeping any better than he is….

Ginny and Neville and Luna: I like the moment of insight into what is going on at Hogwarts, and how these three are the ones at the heart of the resistance. I wonder why they wanted to steal the sword. I think it comes up later, but I cannot remember whether it was because of a sense of Gryffindor pride, the knowledge of Dumbledore's will or something else entirely.