Is it July, yet?

So, I just finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and my faith in Snape- waivers.

I have complete faith in Dumbledore. I believed with every fibre of my being that Snape was on the side of the angels right up until chapter 27.

I can come up with reasons that almost completely convince me that Snape is a good guy, even now. But he Stupify-ed Flitwick. Or did he? That was obvious to Hermione and Luna in hindsight; however, we never read a verification from our favourite charms teacher... so, maybe, Snape is on the side of the angels.

But Dumbledore was pleading. Didn't he have to press Harry to remember his oath all through the last couple of chapters? If Snape is on the side of the angels, he's got a wandless Dumbledore to back him on the roof, and a bunch of Death Eaters around him who think he's on their side. Snape is the Order's best source of information on the doings of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, not compromising his cover is of extreme importance. If he's on the side of the angels, is he going to want to keep Draco Malfoy innocent more than provide the help he vowed to give? I have no difficulty believing that Draco's innocence is more important to Dumbledore than his own life- Dumbledore is a hero. Dumbledore may have been pleading with Snape to preserve Draco's innocence, asking him to take on another measure of guilt upon himself. And that expression of loathing and hatred on Snape's face? I'd loathe that action, and I might even spare a touch of hatred for someone asking me to do that.

The only two characters I can think of who Rowling has misled us with (I do not count Barty Crouch posing as Moody, that is the entire point of the Polyjuice Potion) are Gilderoy Lockhart, but his artificiality is apparent from the get go; and Percy Weasley, who is rules-bound from the beginning and shown to be two-faced as early as the fourth book. Otherwise, good guys are good, bad guys are bad and people are people. Snape would be the third, either way. Either he's a real jerk who is on the side of the angels, or he's a bad guy who's able to fool the good guys (including the REAL Mad Eye Moody).

My mind is not made up, but I'll learn the truth this July. I'm hoping that there will be another party at my bookstore. My best friend, Erin, and I went to the one for the release of book six and we had a great time (we were in the first or second group to get books).

Three remarkable kids

I was introduced to three remarkable kids several years back, by my best friend, Erin. Their names are Harry, Ron and Hermione, and anyone who has read J.K. Rowling's Hogwarts series knows these kids.

Erin received book three, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, from another friend for her birthday. She had an hour and a half commute to work, so she read it and then she passed it along to me with the comment, "These kids rule the world!" I had a bit of a commute myself, so I read the book and was immediately enchanted. I went off and got books one and two, to fill myself in on the doings of these children, got the 1-4 box set and books five and six when they came out.

I really enjoyed the books, I love the characters I'm supposed to love, I hate the characters I'm supposed to hate (I have to remind myself that I am morally opposed to relieving someone of their soul and that Dolores Umbridge is a fictional character, because if anyone deserves a Dementor's kiss, it's that 817c#), and until book six I was pretty fond of Snape. I trusted him unquestioningly. Then, book six came out, and - my faith wavered. I didn't want him to do it. I didn't want Draco to do it either, I didn't want anyone to. I know I'll learn the truth this July.

I've never reread book six. It was too painful. But to get ready for July, I'm rereading the series. I've read the first five, I'm starting book six tomorrow, and I'm confident that Snape is on the side of the angels. I'll revisit this after I've reread book six.

Like riding a bicycle...

So, back when I was 26 years younger, I got a lovely Fuji Gran Tourer bicycle. Burgundy with French handlebars and 12 speeds, I loved riding it for 3-5 years, then other interests began taking over, and my best friend moved to another city and biking to see her was no longer an option. I kept my bike, refusing to sell it when my folks sold theirs, I couldn't imagine wanting any other bike.

Fast forward 21 years... I house/dog sat for a friend and, lacking a car, I figured I'd ride my bike. But first, I needed to get it serviced. 2 new tires and tubes and a good lube, and she was ready to go. I got on, and realized that 21 years is a long time. No, you don't forget how to ride a bike, the old saw is true, but you sure don't get right back into the swing of things! I could barely control that bike, I'd forgotten the trick of balance.

So, I get the bike home, and as I'm not sure of the local laws, I get a helmet and I get on, just to ride around the block, nothing too ambitious. I didn't make it. I didn't crash (barely) but I could barely steer and had to walk my bike down the sidewalk, because my balance was so bad, I couldn't stay on the sidewalk. That was really demoralizing. So, the next chance I got- I bought gloves, knee and elbow pads, and got back on the next day.

I don't know if it was the practice or the confidence that I was less likely to die of road rash, but I made it all the way around my block, including the section on the sidewalk. I even managed not to crash when my pedal scraped the curb, downhill! Okay, so I'm disgusted at how hard I'm finding it to ride my bike, but I'm really enjoying relearning it. I'll keep using my crash pads until I'm really confident, but I am getting back into it, and I still love my bike.