Ending of latest Harry Potter book has some in tears

All is not well at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Just a little more than a week after the much anticipated release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," many avid Potter fans have already finished the 672-page book. But some are finding that the ending isn't exactly what they expected.

"I'm just going to say that it was quite depressing, and I cried a lot," said 14-year-old Brittany Heimo, who lives in Geneva, Switzerland, but is visiting relatives in Southeast Missouri. "I was very shocked by the last two pages."

The death of a major character and an earth-shattering decision made by Harry in the final pages have caused some disappointment in the world of Pottermania, although author J.K. Rowling had alluded to an unhappy ending before the book was released at midnight July 16.

Hayley Keith, 11, who dressed as the character Hermione last Halloween, said the ending of the book made her cry too.

"It's awful. I don't know why in the world she would end it that way," Keith said of Rowling. "It fit the book, but it was sad."

But Hayley's mother, Jennifer, who also has read the book, said she understands why Rowling ended things the way she did.

"Kind of to me, the whole series is about the continuing battle of good and evil, and sometimes evil takes its toll," Jennifer Keith said. "It's sad but it's true."

Still, both Heimo and the Keiths said they can't wait to read the next book, which is slated to be the last installment of the seven-part series.

Sebastian Winkler, 13, of Jackson said he's read all six Harry Potter books, and he thinks the "Half-Blood Prince" is "definitely the best" so far, despite the unhappy ending. Winkler, who read about three-fourths of the book in one night, said he was a little disappointed in the death of one of the main characters, but he expected it to happen. He said the ending of book six has set the stage for the series finale.

"It lets you know that there's going to be a lot of action in the next book, but it keeps you wondering about it, and you can kind of make up things in your mind," Winkler said.

Kristin Smith and Ben King, both 19, also agreed that "Half-Blood Prince" has left readers poised for book seven. Both said they were saddened by the ending, but Smith, of Jackson, said she thinks Rowling did it partially for the thrill effect.

"You know she has to do something to throw people off a little bit," she said. "No one was prepared for it."

Heraleen Bowers, of Scott City, said she has been reading the book aloud every night with her husband, Bryan, and 11-year-old son Adam, but despite their anticipation, the family still has about five chapters to go.

"It's killing us because we can only get through about three chapters a day," Bowers said. "We're just incapacitated until we can read it really, so we're finishing it this weekend, I don't care if we don't go to sleep."

wmcferron@semissourian.com

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