No thoughts yet?
Just finished a few hours ago....
SPOILERS
I'll have more to say later, after I have time (lol) to digest it properly, and maybe re-read it again when I'm done with my re-read of the first 7 books (currently paused near the end of Book 3).
I will say this:
* It has FANTASTIC character moments and insights (of course Harry and Albus, but also Draco, Ginny... even Hermione from the first alternative timeline)...including into characters I didn't think we'd get more insight into, like Dumbledore and Snape, even a little new insight into McGonagall. Great character moments for the new characters too: Scorpius and Albus. Even the pathetic character of You-Know-Who... and not THAT You-Know-Who, the new one!
It really does go deep in some places, but not in a preachy way, but in a
"this is tough, life is tough, no one has all the answers, but I think I know this little nugget of truth at least" kind of way.
*Cedric Diggory is remembered, and the Triwizard Tournament forming the core of the middle portion of the book/script was quite good. I agree that his off-screen evolution is surprising, but with the butterfly effect, I'm sure more went wrong for him than simply losing in that AU. Also really funny how Ron and Hermione's marriage depended on him NOT taking her out to the Yule Ball. AU Snape and Hermione bantering together was also surprising and funny (and it was great to see how Snape became even more heroic with time and even more tragedy). Ron was also great and funny in this throughout.
*Poor whatever-his-name-was, Ron and Padma's son, though. Disappeared back into oblivion, a little unsettling.
*I don't really understand all of Delphi's story. Why a tattoo? Why direct the movements of trolls and giants and werewolves? Who was paying her to be raised by that woman related to the Death Eater? Why did Theodore Nott keep the prototype hidden and unused? How did she get into Hogwarts? This will need a re-read... and possibly more stories. Not critical, but definitely some questions right now. Her end was pathetic, but fitting and humanizing, her true desire laid bare. She really reminded me of Azula at the end of ATLA.
*More could have been done with Draco and Scorpius, or at least I was expecting more in the beginning, but they honestly had less issues. For what he was given, Draco turned out to be an outstanding father. And wow did he find the perfect match in Astoria. So loving and kind, from what we learned about her. Rest in Peace
And so glad to see Draco finally become friends with Harry.
*Harry's and Albus's relationship... the crux of the story, wasn't sure where they were going with it at first, and it shocked by how "real"/human it was. And with Dumbledore and his issues thrown into the mix too. This needs some in-depth analysis, that I'm way too tired to get into right now. I like how real it was, though I'm sure many will complain about it, and I like the resolution.
*McGonagall probably need to learn how to block her fireplace from the Potters and Granger-Weasleys
*Scorpius was my favorite... the light in the darkness, truly.
*the Trolley Witch!!!! I was literally LOLing when she revealed her true nature!