I think you're right that Lily's patronus was a doe and that's why Snape's is one too. I like it's inclusion here because I never thought it would be him, based on that form. Tonk's changed when she was falling for Lupin. I wonder when Snape's changed for Lily. I'm going to reread the Snape chapter tonight. I'm remembering a comment from Dumbledore about his patronus still being a doe after all this time.



Do we ever figure out if one of them was "used up" when Voldemort came back the first time? Still got Tiara, Cup, Nagini, Harry and what's in Voldemort's new body. I always got the impression that they destroy something he's used to regenerate, which was thereby a normal object.



I didn't like this at first, but after reading it again and connecting the earlier Death Eater appearences, it works for me.




Wand lore gets confusing and there seem to be some nuances to how you can "win" a wand. Just simply taking it does not seem to be enough. Even with Draco's, later on, Harry doesn't feel 100% comfortable with a wand that he's one magically. I would have liked it if this was fleshed out more in early books, but I guess that would have taken some of the surprise out of the latter chapters of this installment.



Discovering them in fable form is entertaining. I enjoy the choice aspect of the Hallows (both over horcruxes and how they're used) and that it's been weaved into the story through earlier installments. I think it's easier for Rowling to integrate them because there aren't as many of them as there are horcruxes. Gives Harry and easier path to defeating Voldemort, at least at first. His realizations about wand lore and to finish the horcrux task first are somewhat surprising coming from dear old Harry.