OMG! His half-brother!!!!!

Yes! I was going to say something yesterday, and then I thought no, you're reading fast enough, you'll get there.

Mouse: oh look, something ended up substantially bigger than Harry anticipated. That's never happened before.

I think most of my vampire irritation was centered around Susan -- that plotline always bored me to tears. They do continually pop up, but I also agree with you that the recurrent cast is one of the best things about this series.

Just wait until you hit the eighth. I liked that one.