almost time

I have been reading "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in order to prepare for "HP and the Deathly Hallows," which you might have heard is coming out July 21. Whenever I read a Harry Potter book, I develop a compulsion to read-read-read until the book is finished. This compulsion ultimately results in gloomy withdrawl and that vicious sorrow of having to reenter this (real) world. (Note to self: Obsession can be a painful, dangerous thing.) I hope to force myself to take things more slowly during "Deathly Hallows," no matter how badly I want to know what will happen next, and how everything ultimately turns out.

I do hope that the following characters in particular do not die:
• Harry
• Hermione
• Anyone named Weasley

Of course, the only character on whom I wish death is Voldemort. I would like to see Draco do something surprising. I believe Snape is ultimately NOT a villain. I expect Peter Pettigrew to repay Harry for sparing his life in "Prisoner of Azkaban." I also expect to get another glimpse or more of Harry's parents and perhaps Sirius, in some form or other. In any case, I'm glad it's about time to read whatever it is that J.K. Rowling has written.