Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Chapter 30
Chapter 30: The Sacking of Severus Snape
Best chapter in the book so far, if only because of the concentrated awesomeness of Professor McGonagall taking charge. Ho. Ly. Shit. I’ve always thought she was a bad-ass. Her duel with Snape is an incredible scene that we can look forward to the movie getting wrong. (And three Patronuses!) But the best part is her dressing-down of Slughorn:
“I shall expect you and the Slytherins in the Great Hall in twenty minutes, also,” said Professor McGonagall. “If you wish to leave with your students, we shall not stop you. But if any of you attempt to sabotage our resistance or take up arms against us within this castle, then, Horace, we duel to kill.”
“Minerva!” he said aghast.
“The time has come for Slytherin House to decide upon its loyalties,” interrupted Professor McGonagall. “Go and wake your students, Horace.”
Fuck yeah. We had to read that twice, it was so awesome.
The rest of the Heads of House are pretty much in full effect as well. I really can’t wait to see what they do in the next chapter. McGonagall animating the armor and statuary is bitchin’, as is ordering Filch to go find Peeves. Peeves, to the rescue!
(Oh, more Unforgivable Curses being bandied about. Harry uses the Cruciatus Curse, and McGonagall uses the Imperius Curse… it’s almost like they aren’t such a big deal anymore.)
Seriously, I have to stop typing now so we can read the next chapter.
No spoilers for later chapters in the comments! If you do, we duel to kill.
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In my opinion, this chapter was the “Fred and George leave Hogwarts” (from Book 5) equivalent — it is so awesome to see R, H, and H get some kick-ass help. Professor McGonagall has been one of my absolute favorite characters since Book 1, and I am thrilled to see her get to take some charge. Another character, like Ginny, whose full awesomeness I was afraid even Rowling didn’t recognize.
Speaking of whom, where is Ginny?
I was a bit bothered by the casual use of Unforgivable Curses, too. Although, I think that the use of the Imperius Curse is really only illegal because of how Voldemort uses it - making people do his evil bidding. I thought that when Harry performed the curse at Gringrots made sense, because of its necessity (also, how does he know how to perform the curse?). However, McGonnagall, who is supposed to be uptight about rules, used it much more casually and off-hand.