Harry Potter reread = complete. So many emotions. Super long review, mostly as a cathartic release for myself. 
 First, as I've said in past reviews - listen to the audio version! Jim Dale is just perfect. I would describe myself as a "physical book" reader, and I was pretty sure nothing could beat holding the gigantic HP volumes in my hands, taking in the cover and chapter artwork, and drinking in Rowling's incredible story. But I would say the audios are in the same league as the books. For someone who has read the series countless times, listening to Dale's narration was a whole new and fresh Harry Potter experience. He had me crying and laughing many times throughout the series. Mostly crying in the last book. So many RIPs :( . 
 There's one word that immediately comes to mind when I think of the Deathly Hallows. EPIC. I remember thinking that the first time I read it and I still think it today. The flight from the Dursleys with the Polyjuice Potters was the first terrifying moment (Rowling had teased that she did not shy away from killing characters off, so I feared for everyone's life). Dumbledore's backstory was a welcome slower portion of the book that wasn't jam packed with action but was equally enthralling. Rowling effectively paints Dumbledore as a great but flawed man, leaving us all wondering (along with Harry) what his true backstory was until the very end. The break in at the Ministry, the escape from Malfoy Manor, the gloriously terrifying exit from Gringotts...Rowling takes the Trio to all ends of the magical world she created, and fittingly ends their journey at Hogwarts. 
 Which brings us to the most EPIC moments of the series - the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry's realization and subsequent commitment to his destiny, and the final duel. Usually the lovey-dovey stuff that comes with Harry's sacrifice would have me rolling my eyes (like Voldemort was in the final standoff) but it works when Rowling does it, because over 7 books she has built characters that feel real and incredibly lovable (and incredibly hard to say goodbye to). Here are some of my final thoughts on the main characters: 
 Harry: With every reread I love and appreciate him more. He is thrown into hard and terrifying situations that require copious amounts of bravery, and he never fails to live up to the challenge. He is often confused and heartbroken and angry and straight up tired, which he should be after everything he goes through, and him having all of these emotions makes him so relatable. That "final" walk into the woods, that unbelievable sacrifice he willingly makes, just sums Harry up perfectly. I also love how he starts out the series alone at the Dursleys, but he learns along the way that he doesn't need to do everything alone - there are so many willing to offer their help and love. 
 Hermione: She has to be one of the greatest female heroines in literature. Her smarts and quick thinking keep Harry and Ron alive countless times - I'm not sure they would've had a chance against the horcruxes without that little bag. In addition, she is a steadfastly loyal friend who never wavers in her commitment to Harry and his mission, no matter how scared she is. Year One Hermione never would have dreamed of missing a year at Hogwarts. Year Seven Hermione never would have dreamed of leaving a friend alone for the sake of studies. Her evolution as such a strong and brave character was fun to watch. 
 Ron: Ron is one of those people you constantly want to slap but you still love anyway. He makes mistakes, but he always makes up for them when he realizes he was being a huge git. Case in point - rescuing Harry and grabbing the sword from the depths of an icy lake. While he wavered at crucial points, in the end he was by Harry's side. And how great was the scene where Hermione gushed over Ron's ingenious plan to kill the cup horcrux? Little Ronniekins definitely grows up a lot -from the red-haired boy with a smudge on his nose to killer of horcruxes and one of Harry Potter's greatest friends. 
 The rest of the Weasleys: Percy's return? Cried. NOT MY DAUGHTER YOU B*TCH! Laughed and cried. Fred? Sobbed. Ginny? Fiery and brave to the end, totally pro-Harry/Ginny. Definitely my favorite wizarding family. 
 Dumbledore: I forgot how intriguing the speculation surrounding Dumbledore in Book 7 was. This is something Rowling (or a ruthless editor) could have cut (which the movie saw fit to do), but I think without it all, Dumbledore would not have been as complete. Until the 6th book, you get little to no hint of his troubled past. He just seems like an omniscient, amazing wizard who can do no wrong. Book 7 brings him down to earth, something that made him even more admirable for me. He strays into dangerous territory, acknowledges his weaknesses, and acts accordingly moving forward. Despite his missteps in youth, I think he is quite deserving of his title of Greatest Wizard Ever (except Harry may have trumped him by the end). 
 Neville: Sweet Neville. His evolution has to be the greatest of all characters - he goes from the boy who keeps losing his toad to the wizard who rallies the troops against Voldemort. And his triumphant scene vs. Nagini? EPIC EPIC EPIC. Who doesn't love Neville Longbottom? 
 Hagrid: He's one of the constants throughout the series. He needed such a big body to house his humongous heart. His love for Harry, Dumbledore, weird and dangerous animals, and everything in between never wavered. While he was only at the beginning and the end of the final book, the scene of him carrying Harry to the castle = rivers and rivers of tears. 
 McGonagall: I think she may be my favorite character. Or at least there is a three-way tie between her, Harry, and Dumbledore. Something about her just resonates with me. She expects nothing but the best of people, which sometimes comes off as strict but most of the time makes her one of the most stoic and dependable people in the series. As Dumbledore's right hand woman, she often has to act without completely understanding why, but she acts anyway. She likes rules but is also willing to bend them for the sake of good. And her love for Hogwarts and its students is immeasurable. When Harry comes back to Hogwarts she barely misses a beat and prepares the castle for battle as best she can. She even faces off against Voldemort toward the end, and I would expect nothing less from her. She's someone you know you can count on through thick and thin. My list of role models is now Tina & Amy, Malala, and Professor McGonagall. 
 Snape: The guy is a huge huge jerk, but that Pensieve chapter really put everything into place. If Harry is able to forgive the awful way Snape treated him, I guess I can too. What he did takes a lot of guts. But he's still a jerk. 
 I know I'm forgetting people...Luna, Lupin & Tonks, DOBBY!!!...but I'll be here forever if I don't stop. 
 Finishing The Deathly Hallows left me exactly how I felt the first time I read it - I like to call it PHPSD - Post Harry Potter Stress Disorder. How, exactly, am I supposed to just move on with my life when people I love have been ripped away? What are Harry and Ron and Hermione doing RIGHT NOW? I MUST KNOW. Okay, I'm being dramatic. But I think Rowling's greatest asset as a writer is her ability to develop a world and characters who seem so real that it's almost unbelievable that they are completely made up. Considering her books consisted of things like owls delivering mail, dragons and goblins guarding a bank, and a sport played on broomsticks, this is really saying something. Saying goodbye is hard to do, but it's nice to know the books will always be on my shelf (or my iPod) to revisit again.