McGonagall: Her description of Snape's leaving as having "done a bunk" is lovely. I like it when the strict and proper façade shows a crack of humour. It happens quite a lot, but I find it still effective.

Harry: He is right that Dumbledore would never have considered holding the children of Death Eaters hostage. Which I suppose backs up the earlier point that Dumbledore had thoroughly given up the earlier doctrine of Greater Good. Just in case anyone still had doubts.

He also confirms his heroic nature by saving Malfoy and Goyle. Not terribly surprising, perhaps.

Ron and Hermione: It is becoming increasingly difficult to speak of them apart. Ron makes himself useful again with the basilisk. Good. Hermione is suitably impressed and surprised. He takes a sensible and morally right decision on house elves and is rewarded for his good sense. All well and good. I am not sure I am a great fan of how it is written, but that may just be me. A little too farce in the face of death. But then, that is a quality I have praised in Rowling before, so I shouldn't complain. She is also the one who restrains him and makes him see sense when he wants to revenge Fred.

Mrs Longbottom: While I find it hard to forgive her her early treatment of Neville, I love her in her current incarnation of proud, fighting grandmother. "He is fighting" "Naturally. I must go and join him".

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle: It is fitting, I suppose, that Harry will have to overcome or face this anti-trio which has always been his opposition at Hogwarts. It somewhat undermines Draco's recent struggles, though. Although I suppose he draws a line between cold murder and battle for the wrong side. He is showing strain, though. And it is interesting that their dynamic has changed. Malfoy's position has suffered, and despite still being the brains of the operation, he is no longer in control. Am I wrong in seeing an attempt to avoid a killing in his stopping Crabbe and Goyle's rampant destruction of the room and his general tempering? It also strikes me that Malfoy seems to want the item Voldemort does not want them to know about. It may be wishful thinking, but I cannot help think that he is a budding Regulus Black. The two of them have clearly embraced the Death Eater way without a second thought, shooting Avada Kedavra curses everywhere.

Fred: The first casualty. And the only one we see on-screen, I believe? It is well done. I like the way she gives them that last moment of happy banter, Fred recognising Percy's good character, laughter being (I think) one of the main traits of … I was going to say the Weasleys, but I wonder whether that is not just in my head -- certainly of the twins. And then the world explodes.

Peeves: I like how he bands together with the teachers when there is an outside threat. I suppose if he is a poltergeist, he is in theory created from the (repressed?) emotions of the students who have lived there throughout the years. It therefore makes sense that he would be mischievous in general, but stand by the school in a pinch.

Neville: I really like how he keeps using plants to fight.

The teachers: it is perhaps a little caricaturish, but I like how the teachers use their specialities to attack. McGonagall with desks, Trelawny with crystal balls.

Hagrid: Does he actually get eaten by spiders? If so, there is some poetic justice to it, but I cannot believe I do not remember it.

Voldemort: I cannot help being amazed at the hypocrisy with which he chides Harry for letting his friends die for him instead of facing him directly. But then, Voldemort never did pretend to be a good guy.

The dead: That scene with the grieving Weasleys and Lupin and Tonks laid out is horrible. It does not make me cry, but it makes me feel as if I have lost something. I find it very hard to accept that Lupin is dead. Especially with so little ceremony. I much prefer The Shoebox Project ending.

Snape: Vindicated. To a degree, at least. I am very weak when it comes to a romantic storyline, and I really like Snape's love for Lily, especially as it has been so subtly hinted at throughout now that we know what to look for.

I love how "Dumbledore" is the password for his office. And how he tells Lily that being muggle-born does not make any difference. And how there is an allusion to his father disapproving of magic, which might explain a lot (it is interesting that both Snape's and Voldemort's fathers are muggles apparently discontent with their magical wives). He does appear to have an innate (or at least very ingrained) idea of muggles and muggle-borns being inferior. I wonder what it comes from. If his mother, being a pureblood Prince, married a muggle, it is unlikely she would be the one to instil them in him, unless she is thoroughly disillusioned by her marriage and has taken up the view. Hmm. Speculation. I liked seeing him stop Phineas Nigellus's use of "mudblood".

I really, really love Snape distressed at the thought of Lily's death, his despair when she dies and his refusal to have his love for her revealed.

His reaction to being called a coward in book 6 is also packed around with more context in the memories, as Dumbledore calls him brave and suggests they sort too early (which goes back to the scene where he is first separated from Lily, after the sorting -- I like the suggestion that it could all have ended differently). Anything to do with Dumbledore must resonate extra powerfully at that moment.

I love Snape's reaction when he is first told he must kill Dumbledore. The irony is lovely. And I love his reaction when told that Harry must die. The patronus, the answer to Dumbledore's question of "after all this time". I realise I am listing scenes here. It is one of my favourite chapters in the whole series. It is such a delicious mix of emotion and explanation.

Petunia: So much about Petunia is explain by this peek into Snape's memories. We have seen suggestions of it before, of course. Her envy dictates her whole reaction to magic. She is fascinated by it, and when she cannot have it she rejects it wholesale. Sour grapes and all. Doesn't she call Lily a "freak" in the firs book as well?

Lily: I like Lily. She has integrity from the get-go.

Dumbledore: Also wonderful. His disgust at Snape's admission that he would ask for Lily to be saved as a reward for delivering her son. His treatment of Snape in distress. And his temptation to put on the ring of the Gaunts.

I wonder whether Dumbledore felt confident that Harry would survive Voldemort's attack. I cannot remember what he tells him in King's Cross, but I cannot quite believe that he can so calmly let Harry die.